Iraq war from American point of view

From electoralvote: Juan Cole, a professor of history at the University of Michigan, has written a short, but riveting article translating the war in Iraq into American terms. Very sobering.

Anyone else out there in my situation?

I am curious: does anyone know of any other sf/fantasy working novelists who are also holding down a full-time job AND mothering young children, say, elementary school age? I know a lot of writers who are doing two of the three jobs, but not all three. Would be esp. interested to learn of others on LJ.

Glare report, 9/23/04: Trying to get a handle on Jack

Words: 175
Stopping because: I am stuck and I am literally nodding off over the keyboard
Notes: Still stuck trying to write a scene I trying to write yesterday, where Jack gets introduced to Ingrid (at the farmer's market) and I think, okay now, here's where he pulls out the charm but I can't think of a single thing for him to do that is calculated to charm a six-year old. Again, this is that discomfort about Jack: I am at a total loss to think of how he reacts to anything, and I don't know how to write a guy who is a trickster who oozes charm. I said yesterday that I don't know how to write a simple declarative sentence because I got to the point where Solvieg hears him behind her and turns to him and--and what, for heavens sake? I put him on the stage and he is a mute puppet who refuses to say anything. Do I have to totally rethink my perception of who/what he is? How?

Will try to read some more of that book on writers' block.

Mood: Still frustrated, but with a twinge of pride that yes, I did sit down and glare at it again, despite how crappy I think it is. Note please that for months that I have thought is crappy and so have avoided doing anything on it. Now, I have had a shift in my emphasis and so I sit down every night and contemplate how crappy it is, but I'm actively trying to do something about it! This is progress, people!

Please be aware that my reports will probably include quite a bit of whingeing for awhile until I get this beast moving again. You have been warned. But at least I'm trying!

Report on the girls

Pretty good, overall.

However, we need to get the homework situation evened out between the two of them. Fiona cries because in sixth grade they give her so much homework. Delia was crying last night because her teacher has given her no homework at all and she's so bored with all the third-grade stuff her teacher is giving her since she did it all last year.

Hopefully, we'll get this all straightened out in their conferences next week.