Wow! Thanks!

On Sunday evening I wrote a pitiful desperation post asking for help getting past a case of "blank page paralysis". I asked for a swift kick and got kicks, suggestions, and all kinds of words of encouragement. What a great group of blog friends you are.

Also on Sunday, I managed to accomplish a couple other things that have been on my do list - I joined the Yahoo groups for the FFandP Chapter of RWA and the Guppies Chapter of Sisters in Crime. Talk about perfect timing. Through the Guppies group I discovered a one month writing challenge that just happened to be starting on February 1. Well, a challenge is second cousin to a dare and I used to get into all kinds of trouble because of dares, so I said "Sign me up."

Tuesday morning didn't go exactly as planned. We had ice storms (here's a picture)

and school closings and my poor hubby woke up with that terrible flu I had last week, but I finally made it to my computer, opened up that blank document and started typing.

My new word count is below.

Thanks, gang. I couldn't have gotten started without you. Wish me luck on the challenge.

Can I do anything for you?

My current word count: 3007

I'm currently enjoying: Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters

Groaner of the Day: The chief of a poor Native American tribe, where there were no paved roads, no electricity, and no indoor plumbing, scrimped and saved and finally was able to send his eldest son to college. The lad did well, working hard for four years and finally graduating with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.

Arriving home after graduation, the boy was treated to a welcoming party, complete with plenty of refreshments. Shortly after he retired to sleep, the son was awakened by a call of nature. Exiting the hut, he proceeded down the road to the outhouse, only to stumble and fall because of the lack of lights.

The next day, the son decided to put his education to work. He sat down, did the calculations, and prepared construction drawings for a lighting system for the outhouse, complete with lights for the path leading to it. It was constructed and was an immediate success. This chief's son will go down in history as the first Indian to wire a head for a reservation.