The rents...in the red chair...

Jon, Bec & Kids...Headed to Italy...

Rogersville Prom 2008

Skyler & Chad Prom 2008

The Pizza House

In the same location since 1958. Pizza...Great! Service...OK. Iced Tea...fair. Cash Only...Stinks. Clientele...First Rate. After Dinner Party...Fabulous.

3 (three) Stars...

Logo Contest Winner!

As you may recall...Hillenblog was sponsoring a logo contest for "Operation Security Blanket"...May 1 was the deadline to have you logo's emailed to Hillenblog...and today I announce the winning submission. Here it is...


Thanks to the winning submitter, this person has requested to remain anonymous. However those of us at Operation Security Blanket want to thank then for the support.

AMEN..! Here, Here...! I could not agree more...

Sucking all the juice out

Just got some work back from a new copyeditor hired by my publisher. She did a flawless job. She also wrecked my work. Totally wrecked it.

By sanding off every edge, removing every idiom, making each and every fact literally correct, she made it boring and dry and mechanical.

If they have licenses for copyeditors, she should have hers revoked.

I need to be really clear. She's not at fault. She did exactly what she was supposed to do. The fault lies in the job description, not the job. If the job description of your lawyer or boss or editor or client is to make sure everything is pure and perfect and proven and beyond reproach, they are making things worse, not better. (Unless you're in the vaccine business).

Almost everything you do has some sort of copyediting filter. It might be the legal eagle or the graphic supervisor or the customer service police. They're excellent at making round things fit perfectly through round holes.

Boring and ignored is fine with them, because no one complains.

Fortunately, copy editors have a remedy. It's a word called STET. Which means, "leave it alone, it was fine." Time to teach that to your editors, wherever they may be. Maybe there should be a t-shirt.

If all you want is safe, have baby food for dinner. Just leave me out of it.