why so many words?

I've writer's block and, as other have tried to use lj as a way to get past it, I thought I'd have a go. Can't be much worse than staring at the same last paragraph nightly for weeks on end. I'm currently blaming work, because I'm finally getting to do what I was hired for - edit the text books. We're revising the ocean text book and, with each section (from 3 to 20 (ack!) pages) that Joe has updated, he sends them to be and I go over them and make them easier to read. (You know, so they don't read like a really boring textbook, just like a boring textbook because it is still a textbook and I think that's in the definition.) While I work, I also get to do research and double check facts and I've learned more about the ocean in the past month than in any class I took (sorta), as I'm going through and rearranging the paragraphs, cutting out confusingly repetative material, getting rid of words that are too big for an intro class (equipotential!?! I think that was the most recent word and it took me some serious searching to even begin to understand it, and it really wasn't worth the effort), and generally moving things around  so they're readable and understandable. And it's a lot of fun. I really like playing with words, I like the concepts behind them (except iron fertilization, that sucked and I had to put a disclaimer in at the top saying I disapproved so I wouldn't try to argue EVERY point that this Martin jerk made. I understand the concept but it's stupid and ineffective. at this point, you're just littering.)
...
Gotta love it when people rant about something they enjoy because it makes it hard for them to do something they enjoy more.

The rest of life is going well. I bought myself a wii over Christmas (my mom had bought one (with wii fitness) for herself and Dad and I finally gave in and got one). Humorously, I am unable to hook it up because I have to buy a converter for my computer and haven't done so yet. I had some of an excuse, because this past week (starting with the Friday before last) has been so social that I haven't had a day to myself until yesterday. It was all good things, spent time with Matt and then Karen and Bryan over last weekend. Trivia (as always) on Monday, and then got together with co-workers and ex-co-workers on Tuesday (it's great, Tom is still very bitter and all his advise is about sticking around long enough to leave. Emily, on the other hand, left on much better terms and appreciated the old job, even if not really her stuff. Heather took that over and it's all administrative work - Heather has a masters in Meteorology and is frustrated with it but it is still a job at the American Meteorological Society, which looks spiffy on a resume and, perhaps more importantly, it's a JOB. Eventually, we'll get Mo and Tom (she ended up with his old job) together after she's had a tough day with Jim and it'll be 'interesting.' I'm glad I don't work directly under Jim, our director can be a seriously inconsiderate and demanding jerk. Beth and Joe are much more awesome.)  Um... oh yes, Wednesday was a surprise happy hour, at work, because the Policy Dept had just hired a Fellow and had some extra (nasty) bottles of wine, and then there was the caving meeting (with margaritas! yum! and deadly). Thursday was a mandatory building meeting - they're going to renovate, which means moving us renters about. It was good and informative and BORING. On top of all that, my stupid period was not showing up and not showing up, which it did so kindly yesterday, right before I went across the street to buy a pregnancy test. (Last period started Dec 1st, this one Jan 15th. Next time I'm going to ignore it until the two months. grumble.) 

Well, that won't be interesting to anyone except me and I'd never leave such large paragraphs in any other writing. However, I have an orange to eat and cats to play with. (I have come home to eat and sleep, they are in need of attention.)

Chao