The losing streak is over, but not without some stress in the last couple of innings. We're back to 30 games over .500.

Now we just need Big Z and Hardin to get healthy.

At least we don't have the White Sox's problems.

• 10:44 It's a lazy morning in the Thomas house. Next up, changing Caitlin's g-tube button. There's nothing quite like DIY medical procedures. #

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• 09:07 I had a wondeful time at the Xiu Xiu concert last night, even though that was a terrible audience. Now it's time to write. #
• 11:21 I'm very pleased with this morning's rewrites. Now I must get the girl. I hope she enjoyed her Wal-Mart adventure. #
• 16:24 I'm drained after driving back and forth from Easter Seals for Caitlin's OT. I really hope they open an office in DeKalb someday. #

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We had a good time last night at the Xiu Xiu concert, but it was an odd scene at the House. It’s usually the club for the aging hipster set, but there were quite a few kids drinking and being somewhat obnoxious. Xiu Xiu’s music is fragile and emotional with moments of silence in between songs. The drunks filled those quiet moments with heckling and loud hook-up conversations mere feet away from the band. I came awfully close to losing it.

Other than that, the opening acts were not my cup of tea. We ended up having to go to Walgreen’s to buy earplugs midway through the first opening act. I just don’t enjoy my ears ringing the next day as much as I used to.

Today is an exciting day for Caitlin. Her school program does trips out into the community every Friday in order to teach the kids some independent life skills. The first trip is to the glamorous Wal-Mart in town. We sent Caitlin with some money to buy more Star Wars Galactic Heroes figures. That made a happy little girl.

While Cait’s shopping, rarelylynne and I are writing on side-by-side laptops. The romance never ends. :)

• 09:16 The day is gray and moist. That's perfect writing weather. #
• 13:55 I hate to see my old high school in the news that way. :( #

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Here's a quick blog post before the remnants of Gustav dump on us...

Caitlin is still thriving at the new school. The team keeps telling me how impressed they are with Caitlin's intelligence. We're all on the same page about what she can do. This comes as a huge relief. Caitlin's progress depends on having an excellent team, and it looks like that's exactly what we have.

With the Cait doing so well, I've actually resisted staying with her and hovering. This means that I'm fully back into the writing swing of things. I made some nice progress with my revisions on my novel this week. I just hit a scene that needs a major overhaul, but I'm pleased with how I'm planning on fixing it.

In the afternoons, I'm still chugging along with the Doctor Who writing while watching the girl. The Mad Norwegian seems pleased at my progress. It's a little tricky finding enough time along with all of her therapy, but I seem to be managing it.

rarelylynne is still buried in her writing.

In other news, I'm going to see Xiu Xiu at the House tonight with Sarah and David. It's always nice when a good band comes to our little town. I also got some Doctor Who swag in the mail. This makes a happy Michael.

My old high school (the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy) is in the news after a member of the custodial/maintenance staff was arrested for possessing child pornography and molesting a toddler.

Horrible, just horrible.

• 10:12 I can't focus. Why didn't those revision fairies take care of this manuscript? #
• 16:12 I finished the entry from hell. It ended up being a good day of writing. #

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I had a very good day of writing. Revisions on the novel went well at ye olde Panera, and this afternoon I finally slayed a certain entry in Fluid Links. Everything should be easy after that one.

Caitlin is really thriving at her new school. I am very proud of my little girl.

Next up, dinner and book club at the library.

• 09:27 I left Caitlin at school. I'm freaking out. On the plus side, I now have some time to write/revise. #
• 13:15 Caitlin did fine without me. I got some writing done. Hooray! #

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I did it. I left Caitlin at school with her experienced personal assistant and teacher. Trust can be hard, but there’s really not much for me to do there today other than hover. Nobody needs that.

So here I am, back at ye olde Panera. I’m about to start my revisions again with a goal of handing a manuscript to rarelylynne by no later than November 1. I’m also planning on workshopping the beginning of the novel at Windycon. Word on the street is that some of the best authors in the business tend to lead the workshops there.

• 08:27 I am up, and we are watching The Golden Girls. It's the one where they sit around the table and talk about old clips while eating. #
• 20:41 We had a nice day at the Japanese Gardens in Rockford. #

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We took a family outing today with our friends Sarah and David to Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford. It was lovely with lots of waterfalls, fish, and trees.

Caitlin is getting better. The food stays down, and the sinus headaches seem smaller. That means she's back to school tomorrow.

I'm going to be brave and actually leave her this time. The time has come to make a push on those Murder Ballads revisions.

• 21:33 Caitlin made it through the day. Her sinuses now seem full, so it looks like this is just a bad cold. Poor little girl. :( #
• 11:04 We all slept in today. Caitlin is still out. This is a day that will involve extreme laziness. #
• 17:08 We just watched the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Wow, what a mess. Thank goodness it was from the library. #

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• 08:42 Cait made it through the night. So far, she's kept down her Pedialyte and meds. #
• 13:43 Hurray! Caitlin made it through lunch! #

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For those of you have Facebook accounts and a vague interest in my nonfiction writing, there is now a Group for Mad Norwegian Press:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=37658990055

Please join up for all of the latest updates and such.

• 12:32 Caitlin had a great first day of school. My little girl makes me so proud! :) #
• 14:20 Caitlin threw up again. I hope it's just a cold. :( #
• 18:23 Caitlin kept her meds down. #
• 20:58 Caitlin didn't keep down her last meds (still no fever or other symptoms). It looks like I need to call the Pedie in the morning. #

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kevinsom just gave me the 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook for a belated birthday present. I had resisted its sirens call for months. Now I am back on that slippery slope.

The reviews for it are great, so I'm excited to play. We're rolling up characters tomorrow for a new campaign.

Now what am I going to do with all of those bloody 3rd Edition books?

The Cubs won again. I'm running out of nice things to say. :)

The good news is that Caitlin had an excellent first day of school. She was bright and energetic. Caitlin showed off her skills for everybody. The new staff seems great, and I reconnected with Caitlin's school SLP.

The bad news is that the vomiting came back during lunch. I'm pretty sure that she has my cold. There's no congestion, but it tickles my throat. I think she's experiencing the same thing.

At least we have three days off for her to get better.