Reading: THE RETURN OF SANTIAGO by Mike Resnick
Music: The Kingston Trio ".. from the Hungry i"
Link o' the Day: An Encounter with an Interviewer by Mark Twain

So I've discovered something about myself that, I believe, will prove my eventual undoing.

I've got an unhealthy streak of optimism.

Today for instance, it is raining. I believed the weathermen this morning when they said it was just going to be cloudy. This happens to me a lot. I also believe train schedules, bus schedules, and movie starting times.

On the plus side, I believe this is why I can reread novels and watch certain movies over and over again. Maybe this time she'll turn around and not get on that plane and instead stay with Rick. Maybe Major Lawrence won't be betrayed. Maybe the little boy will survive the seige at the Barricades. Maybe the story will take an unexpected turn.

I think it is this unhealthy aspect of my nature that keeps me going to back to my day job each morning.

It's also probably why I occasionally play the lottery.

Anyway, tonight was fairly productive writing-wise which is surprising considering how busy I've been at work and how lousy I've been sleeping lately. I sent a recently-rejected submission to a new market this morning and sent off a couple of more overdue LoCs. I also finished a review that's overdue and will likely send it off tomorrow after I've had a night's sleep before looking it over once more. I've done some other revisions, and jotted down an outline about around 700 words of a new story. Tomorrow being a writing-less-than-usual night, I feel pretty good about my production over the past few days.

I came across today's link only just today and I'm afraid I'm not enough of a Twain scholar to attest to the authenticity of An Encounter with an Interviewer. It _seems_ like something he'd write. All I know is I wish I had written it myself.

Cheers!