And just in case there aren't enough animal magazine articles...

I have a very pretty article in the magazine that the zoo puts out. That link is to the web version but it's still pretty nice-looking.

Since I mostly have written for newspapers and the web, and before that, boring old black and white academic journals, I am still easily fooled into thinking I sound more brilliant on shiny paper surrounded by color pictures.

Happy-ish new year

These are the two mystical forces that I believe in: the placebo effect, and the power of lowered expectations.

So, in the spirit of the latter, here's to hoping that this year doesn't get a whole lot worse than it is right now.

Highly recommended

I submitted a story a week ago to Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine (yeah, I know, I write mysteries... it was sort of a fluke).

Yesterday - after one week - I got a rejection letter. With actual original sentences in it, written and signed by a human being.

This is totally astonishing service. I wish I was a science fiction writer, it was such a pleasure doing business with them.

Success

I am happy to report that after deciding on Wednesday that I was going to give up trying to get anything done for the rest of the month, on Thursday I accomplished absolutely nothing.

It feels so good to make a resolution and stick to it.

Cry uncle

August: I concede defeat. You win.

If you asked me, I would say that I hated winter more than any time of year. But in reality if I were paying attention I'd realize August was the lowest point. I spent last August basically lying on the couch with migraines for the whole month. The year before that it was lady-part-problems. I spent a few previous Augusts lying on the same couch sick with stomach problems. This year it looks to be a reprise of the lady-part-problems.

It's not even that hot this year, so although I hate the weather, I guess that's not it. I don't know if it's the shortening days playing some kind of primeval hormonal havoc, my body crying out in protest at never getting a summer vacation longer than a long weekend, or what.

Whatever it is, I am not fighting it anymore. I will not bother feeling bad about not going to the gym. I will not resist the urge to take the pugs to an outdoor restaurant on a weekday evening and have for dinner a margarita and spinach-cheese dip, followed by a piece of cake covered in whipped cream from Whole Foods. I will not expect to finish any major projects, start any new ventures, or make any life decisions. I give up. Ambition, plans, and goals, see you in September.

Today's success story

Healthy Eating Moment: I just put a half-gallon of peach ice cream back on the shelf, and bought a box of six Chocolate Eclair bars instead.

Oh, did I mention I just got a job blogging for a site that reviews snacks?

The power of lowered expectations

Today's accomplishment: I managed to use one of those Borders checkout coupons before it expired.

Yeah, the book I was buying turned out to be already discounted so the coupon only applied to the chocolate rabbit. But I'm going to say it counts anyway.