…for those displaced, lost or hurt by Hurricane Katrina.

Though I’ve never been to Mississippi, I did visit New Orleans in December of 2003.

Neon. Liquor. Jazz. Transvestites. Good times. New Orleans had it all, and wrapped within a metropolis, the French Quarter dealt out everything your mother warned you against. Almost two years later, my liver still isn’t quite right.

Eventually, I expect New Orleans to rise again. Certainly, she’ll look different. A new take on an old masterpiece. Buildings tumble, foundations crack, but what makes a city is culture and history. New Orleans has a rich legacy of both.

Hell yeah, I’ll go back. In a heartbeat.

Welcome the latest addition – a feature borrowed without shame – that improves the browsing experience: a word count meter. Sort of a Gantt chart for open writing projects, the line graph displays real time progress on a given manuscript.

The feature serves two purposes. First, to remind myself that every project has a beginning and end, and that completion is my goal. Second, and far, far more importantly, posting the stat closes off the option of slacking. If anyone notices the meter appears jammed, dips back to the left, or moves to the right in microscopic increments over a period of many days, call me on it via comments or email. That’s correct. Consider the meter an open invitation to nag me.

NOTE: I have an important meeting tomorrow at 12pm. Any spare karma lobbed my way will be appreciated and returned many fold.

Please check back later Friday. A real update is coming.

Friday night my back flared up all nasty like, so seated in front of a computer is very unfun these days. For more than three years, I had forgotten how irritating back pain can get. Discomfort in the neck, shoulders, arm or leg is but child’s play. A sharp pain at the base of the spine: very big deal. On Saturday the chiropractor concluded that in two appointments he can crack everything into proper alignment. I may just visit twice on Monday. Anything to make the lambs stop screaming…