And I thought my cat was strange….

Does it make anyone else vaguely uncomfortable to watch the cat…enjoy herself?

You can read the full update at The Slush God Speaketh: but meanwhile, here’s the short form.

Okay, so I’ve waded through most of the submissions now. I’ve still got 27 in my inbox that I haven’t read yet. Everything else has either been rejected or been set aside for further consideration (or possibly inexplicably lost–possible, but unlikely).

Modern Mechanix has an amusing 1922 ad from the Perfect Voice Institute

IS THAT the way you go after a job? You may have a fine set of brains but you must have a voice to prove it.

If you are not as successful as you might have been, start out right by confessing to yourself that something is wrong. There is something which prevents you from appealing to those who have an influence on your income.

Perhaps Your Voice is to Blame!

Have you ever considered that the trouble may lie with your voice? Your contact with the world depends upon your five senses—sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing. Certainly you try to dress well and to be pleasing in the sight of others. Probably you have developed a fine firm handshake. When you entertain friends at dinner you serve food that will please their taste.

But—do you do one single thing to make your voice pleasing to others? Remember that your voice is the one thing which puts you in audible touch with the world. Your voice is to you what the telephone is to your community. Your voice can make your future or it can spoil it.

You get but one chance at any big job. Are you sure that your voice won’t kill that chance?

You should see the illustrations and read the rest of the copy.

I spent yesterday huddled under the covers and alternated between idle, mindless surfing, and typesetting. Rob picked up some hot and sour soup for me, which is my favorite comfort food for when I’m feeling ill.

Toward bedtime, I thought I was probably starting to turn the corner, because I had the urge to write, and the writing didn’t suck (I double-checked this morning). The fever broke during the night. Hurrah.

I’m left with a sore throat and a mild cough. It means that I can do some housework, but going to the studio is out of the question. Hopefully tomorrow. I still have six chapters to record.