Reviews, Recipes, and Random Slices of Life

I am a big bouncing stress ball lately. I have writing deadlines on top of writing deadlines, one of which used to be self-imposed but just became outside-forces-imposed. All of these things need to get done in times ranging from "tomorrow" to "end of June." I look forward to being past these deadlines. Sure, I did one of them to myself when I planned to write what is now being called, "Remediation Village (Probationary), Inner Mongolia" but one is finishing massive edits on "Alien/Whore/Mother" by tomorrow, and one is sending out agent queries which just got a lot more urgent, and I have a presentation to give on social media (thankfully, with others, and we're going with a pretty relaxed format) this weekend for my writing group, and crits done to get an MPC to get RV critted before the sub deadline. There is money stress, because of an not-yet-sorted-out but probably in the $1000s medical bills on top of old (smaller) debt. I wince away from money stress. There is personal-life stress, although at least I finally know where I'm at with that. There is upcoming family reunion, which is also stress over money and other things.

Phil, tromping down stairs with laundry: "Argh! Masculine husband doing laundry! Masculine laundry! Stinky laundry! Laundry full of man-sweat!"

He makes me laugh, even as he does chores that I can't right now (no lifting for another few weeks).

1. There is a strong link (in a small study) connecting use of pthalates-containing products during pregnancy with kids who have ADD, not to mention various other not-so-good possible effects.

2. Many cosmetics, lotion, shampoo, nail polish, etc. contain pthalates.

3. They usually don't list it in the ingredient list.

Conclusion: WTF, world? Gah!