Today’s pet peeve: So-called “professionals” who think that typing in Comic Sans is a good idea. People, it’s an ugly font, and the only people who should be using it are COMIC book artists. Hence the name COMIC sans. The only possible exceptions are kindergarten teachers and diaper fetishists.

Here in Massachusetts, we are finally moving into the perpetually chilly days of mid-autumn. Not cold enough yet to need a hat during the day, but in the evenings, hats and scarves are definitely becoming more than fashion accessories. There’s part of me that thrills to this sort of weather: the brisk air, the cozy clothing, the beautiful drives through farmland, and all the oranges, reds, yellows and browns that beg for the small comforts of a warm fire, a mug of tea, and the company of good friends.

That’s the creative part of my brain that sees the romance in everything. The more chemical-driven part of my brain is determined that this is the season to make me miserable. The last two or three weeks I have been sluggish, headachy, lethargic, and just plain out-of-sorts. It takes significant effort for me to get started in the morning, especially before the sun has risen, and it’s not uncommon for me to be falling asleep and/or in bed by 8:45 at night. Both of these habits are going to make 50,000 words in 30 days very difficult. I’ve never been particularly fond of the daylight savings shift - I’ve preferred more of my daylight in the evenings, in the past - but mornings are prime creative time for me, and this year I’ll be glad for anything to help me climb out from under the covers early enough to get an extra half hour of writing done. I’m considering setting alarms in various other rooms of my apartment to make it more difficult to roll over and go back to sleep.

Despite these difficulties, I really am enjoying the manifold benefits of the season. The tasty winter squashes, the soups,the hot drinks, and all the hats and sweaters and scarves and socks that I can make to keep myself nice and toasty. Later this week, or maybe this weekend, I intend to try this recipe for Pumpkin Ginger Nut muffins. And last night I treated myself and a friend to a filling, homey New England meal that I haven’t had since childhood: beans n’ franks. Yum. Exactly the sort of easy comfort food I’ve been craving.

… or a-hand, depending on your preference.

I’m in the process of adding a library page, courtesy of the Now Reading plugin. Things will probably look a little strange on the sidebar for a few days (weeks? months?) while I customize to my desired specifications. This plugin will replace the All Consuming widget that has been there, because it allows me much greater freedom in organizing my library as I see fit. I’ve been using All Consuming for years now, however, so it is going to take some time to move all the data over. I may decide to simply continue using All Consuming, and use Now Reading for new library/suggestion acquisitions only.

That is the sound I’ve heard at my office desk for the last two to three weeks, because several woodpeckers have decided that the cedar siding on our building is mighty tasty. One of their favorite dining locales, in fact, is a spot directly above my window. The building next door to us in the office park has recently been re-done in concrete siding. One can only hope that they decide to do the same for us soon.

Fortunately, woodpeckers are migratory birds, so the problem will solve itself in a few months. Not soon enough to ensure my sanity after nights of too little sleep during the month of November, unfortunately. If I’m lucky, I’ll be too batty to care by then.

NaNoWriMo is creeping up quickly. The official launch of the 2007 registration season starts at some unspecified time tonight, PST. In preparation for the crazy month of November, it’s time I created a list of the things I need to accomplish between now and then.

• buy tea, booze, and chocolate
• finish unpacking (especially books, office supplies, and desk trinkets)
• cook and freeze meals to consume during nights of frantic procrastination
• purchase frozen dinners, mac n’ cheese, ramen, etc
• gather music for inspiration
• restock cat food
• go to the DMV to find out why the hell they haven’t sent me a change of address sticker yet
• clean the living room
• do all my laundry (including the hand washables)
• do something with all the empty boxes cluttering up my kitchen
• buy new name tag and scratching post for Kai
• bring Kai to the vet for vaccinations/checkup
• dig out and dust off my writing hat
• find my “1-inch window”
• acquire munchies
• write character sketches and outlines
• purchase Jer’s Novel Writer
• finish reading The Elements of Style, and On Writing by Stephen King
• buy notebook, highlighters, trash basket
• find cheap carpeting for living room and bedroom/office (not necessary)
• rework schedule for November (fit in writing time, decide which activities to drop)
• decorate/organize writing nook
• buy backup batteries for my timer
• assemble collection of movies about writers going mad (The Shining, In the Mouth of Madness, 1408, Stranger than Fiction, Secret Window, and what else?)
• bid a fond farewell to my friends, family, and sanity