In which we are industrious

Ooooh, after my indulgent and relaxing Monday--there was actually a bit of work involved. I did a phone-in chat with a book group that was great fun!--it is time to be productive. I have four weeks to do the line edits on Silent on the Moor. At least, that is my deadline. I don't actually HAVE four weeks because I am traveling in May, and we will have guests. Add to that the usual end-of-school-carnival-of-insanity with five early dismissal days, uniform sales, ceremonies, liturgies, and an ACTUAL carnival, and I really have about twelve minutes to polish the book.

So, starting today, Thing Must Get Done. I'm already percolating ideas for some things I want to change, and I have very excellent notes from my editor on a few points that do need to be revisited. Interestingly enough, this is the sort of process that used to make me want to set fire to my hair and run naked through the streets. Now, in some bizarre way, I actually find it deeply satisfying to slash and burn my way through a manuscript and build something new. No, things aren't quite that drastic. Really. It will be the work of a few VERY intense days during which my family will almost but not quite disown me. But when it is done, it will be the best Moor I can give you, I promise.

And when I am finished working for the day, I will be settled happily in front of my new favorite show, The Alaska Experiment. It's on the Discovery Channel, and it just started last week. I don't care if you missed the first episode, you MUST WATCH. You will catch up quickly, I promise. The premise is utterly terrifying: four groups have been dropped into the wilds of Alaska to survive as pioneers. They have a primitive shelter, some tools and utensils, and a bit of dried food. And winter is coming. And there are BEARS. I was watching this in bed last week and I went fetal INSTANTLY because the very idea chills my marrow. I wouldn't do this if the wilderness shelter was lined in gold-dipped fur and they gave me a diamond-studded fishing pole and Louboutin waders. JUST NO. But I can have a most excellent time watching someone else do it. Did I mention the BEARS?

Comments

[Lara H.]

When is it on the Discovery Channel? I loved watching the show they did with four different families out west- Pioneer Days or some such. I would have died in about a day.

[Deanna]

Lara, new episodes are on Tuesday, 10pm Eastern. (And you would have lasted about a day longer than I would have.)

[Kari]

Sounds scary, but exciting, the kind of adventure that makes one live intensely through all of the senses. I was walking in Shenandoah National Park last year and came across a bear scratching his back (or hers, I didn't check) and it took 15 minutes before I could stop smiling. Of course, bears in Alaska are much bigger and probably more aggressive, so I wouldn't exactly volunteer for the show.