(personal) A sad day...

I have been pondering the frailty and fleetingness of human life today and yesterday. I found out that the guy who got me back into writing, the man who could basically be considered my mentor, lost his wife yesterday. Very suddenly, from illness. And it got me thinking. Not only of the sadness, but of the wonderful people that I have come to know in the blogosphere.

Any one of us could go, at any time. And if I did suddenly die, what would I leave, besides unfinished manuscripts and plans that never came through? I would leave all the people I loved, all the people I touched and that touched me. I would leave my family, and the wonderful friends I have made over the years.

My heart goes out to Tee and his daughter, and I can't imagine what he's going through. Pip Ballantine, another printmate of our's, has organized a fund to help with bills and stuff. If you'd like to help out, I know they'd appreciate it. There are rumors of an auction coming too - this was highly unexpected and has hit them hard.

And hug someone you love today. Let them know how much they mean to you.

(personal/writing) People rock!

Seriously. In just over a day, we raised over $9k for Tee and Sonic Boom. Over $9K!!!!

Restores my faith in humanity.

And in 3 hours, I wrote 1248 words in my outline! Woot - book is FINALLY going somewhere! With luck, I should finish by this weekend and have the book well in hand by the end of the month. Might not hit deadline (unless I decide to go for broke, hermit and do nothing but book and Birka and work the rest of the month - tempting), but will be very close.