Feel like I woke up, found the local rag on the front lawn after sunset and discovered it’s Wednesday. Page count this week is on the low side, though it started well enough, and there are a few days left yet. Work–or my inability to leave before 7pm the last few days–is to blame. Fall term beats up the staff at most schools, especially the one person departments. Time passes easily at least.

While I avoid discussing work too frequently, as of late there’s an odd vibe in the halls worth noting. Not exactly a rumor, but more of a shared exchange between myself and coworkers, and one that’s recurred with so many different people, it can’t be a coincidence. As people pass me in the hallway they stop, pat my shoulder, and say, “Don’t quit. We like you.”

Why they do this I have no idea, though the culprit might be legacy. I’ve lasted longer than most of my predecessors. In another three months, only one beats me on tenure. Perhaps they envision some sort of tech guy expiration date. Usually by now, the tech guy either gets canned or bolts.

The funny thing is, I know why they leave, yet for all the oddities about the position, this is the best job I’ve ever had. So I’m staying.

Incidents like a fist fight in the cabin seconds after take off make me leery of flying. When did airplanes turn into flying Greyhound buses? With less room, fewer amenities and stuff em till they riot seating policies, I’ll stick to trains, cars and boats.

…are filled with voice messages, junk solicitations, and email about projects that were due three months ago. Almost makes me want to avoid time outs from the office. Oops. Was that my outside voice? In the end though, it was a Monday – complete with three teachers converging on my office bearing dead or dying laptops.

By Wednesday I’ll clear what remains of the landslide out of my path. Then back to the edit grindstone.

Maybe it’s wrong to have this much fun. I keep waiting for the work part of editing to strike. The first fifty pages of Team Eagle Eye suggestions are in the pocket, which leaves about three hundred more to shift through, revise and cut. Or some combination of all three.

Certainly this will become more taxing over time. And that’s OK. The middle needs the most attention; I budgeted the lion’s share of June for that.

I contacted several of The Eight for another read through, though it’s more likey just the The Four. They will have less time compared with their first round of reviews. Which makes sense, since this is a much cleaner draft.

November 2005. That’s when I handed the novel off to The Eight for the first round of feedback. Jesus, where did the last six months go?