Wot a day! Today I was supposed to shoot some movies. Short promotional films for the Chippendale’s book. But it’s snowed so hard last night, when I woke up this morning I was snowed in. Having been in California so long, I no longer trust myself to drive in the ice and snow. I kept having visions of my self and my car wrapped around a telephone pole. So I canceled the shoot. Everyone was very understanding. But I was really looking forward to doing it, so my day started with a disappointed air as the big fat snowflakes came tumbling down. and olive has been feeling down in the dumps today. Usually I take her out in her stroller, me on my rollerskates, roller strollering, and we move so fast she goes right to sleep. But because it was all snowy today, we couldn’t. She never quite went into a deep slumber. And when she was awake she was only attentive and happy for10 minutes at a clip. Sometimes it seems the only thing that will soothe her is to be in motion. So I wheeled her in her carriage back and forth in our living room like a crazy person. That was the only time she actually went to sleep at all today. And of course when she’s awake she demands constant attention. Otherwise she gets very upset. And she has a new register in her vocal range. It’s up at the top, a very high soprano note that’s kind of like an operatic shriek. It really rattles your eye teeth. And the teeth of your eyes. And Arielle was feeling very poorly today. Last night also. She had a terrible headache. A deep one that she could not shake. Then she had a stomach ache also. Skull and belly. Up top and down below. Plus of course I am limited in how I can comfort our child. When it comes to the ultimate soother, mother’s milk, I am utterly useless. It’s hard to accept, but that’s the way it is. You can’t fight mother nature. And I am trying to write my new book. Let’s face it, it will not write itself. The problem is, it just takes so long to write a whole book. Well, a halfway decent one anyway. I was able to knock off about 1200 words between everything. A thousand words is acceptable. 2000 words are satisfactory. 3000 words make for a very good day. I am now up to 16,000 words. But the book keeps getting longer as I write it. I very carefully plotted out of this book. But the characters naturally do not want to cooperate. They keep doing things and saying things of their own volition. One part of my brain keeps saying, Stick to the outline, while the other part keeps saying Honor the muse. Meanwhile I have about a thousand e-mails to answer. And all I wanted to is write my book. I loved doing that so much. It’s a complete escape from this life I cannot control. In my book ultimately I can make anyone do anything. Would that my life were like that. Although now that I think about it, maybe that would take away all the fun. Who wants a life with no surprises? Speaking of which, when I went out to start my snow covered Harley I was missing California so much I could barely stand it. And I was cursing myself for not having gotten a new motorcycle cover. My hands got so cold as I dusted the snow off my motorcycle. And I thought, I’ll just start the bike, and it will vibrate and get warm, and the snow will go. So I stuck the key and, switched her on, and pushed the ignition, while pulling out the choke. Weekly, it turned over. The engine almost started. Or rather, it did start, and then died. Two or three times. So close to starting. Then, the whole thing went dead. Click. Dead. And that was all she wrote. I just feel lucky that I have found something I love to do that makes me money. I feel very blessed. I get so much joy out of my daughter. I married such a fantastic wife. I really appreciate my life. I just wish I didn’t have to keep reminding myself of that every 15 minutes.