First, the reading:

I have successfully finished Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (which was fun) and The Mealworm Diaries (which would be more impressive had I remembered to put it on my list of half-finished books in the first place). But, I started yet another book: Smile, a graphic novel by Raina Telgemeir. It’s very cute and girly and is well on its way to becoming the first graphic novel I ever finish.

Next, the writing:

I just finished the first draft of an early reader. It may or may not ever see the light of day, but it was hugely fun to write. Also a good exercise to have to fit character, action, and style into 6000 words. The whole package is so teensy… I’m kind of in love. I’m sure that soon I’ll fall completely out of love, as I begin to see the problems in the manuscript (for example, at the moment it starts on Monday, ends on Saturday, and has only two days in between), but it’s good to enjoy infatuation while it lasts.

And finally, the lack of arithmetic:

It’s official. The teachers are striking next week. Then there are two days of school, followed by two weeks of spring break. If I don’t surface on this blog every once in a while, send help. Preferably in the form of an umbrella-carrying magical nanny. And send a nice book with her, too, okay? Because some of those things on my current list are just too darned dark.