Baby it's cold outside...

I'm not sure, but I think I'm Freelancer Number 3, of the "Three Freelancers and a Blog." Maryanne is Freelancer #1, Chris is Freelancer #2, which must make me Freelancer #3.

So...hello everyone and welcome to my blog!

That sorta sounds like welcome to my home, but it's not really the same thing. Or is it? I mean, this isn't really my home. I actually live in Michigan, not online. Then again, while I spend 95 percent of my time in Michigan, and the remaining 5 percent of my time "out of touch with reality," the truth is that about 98 percent of my overall time -- regardless of what state or state of mind I'm in -- is actually spent online, so maybe this is where I live. Huh. While I enjoy learning something new about myself and the world I live in on a daily basis, I have to say that bit of information really stunk and I'm so sorry I brought it up. I assure you I wasn't searching for a reality check.

So, yes, I'm in Michigan and yes, this is winter. I know I should expect it to be cold in Michigan in winter, but we had been spared so long I was hoping this year, at least, that winter wouldn't arrive. After all, we had to figure out how to celebrate Christmas without snow -- that was a first for us. We were up for no winter at all...another first.

Still, like it or not, winter has arrived and this week Mother Nature is making up for her tardiness. We only have about 4 inches of snow, but the cold snap that came with it is debilitating. My poor stray cat, Spooky, is freezing! But not to worry, my husband, the softy, made her a little house. (Yes, folks, I have a cat house on my porch.) Electrician that he is, he created a heated house for Spook by inserting a caged light on the inside of the house. I simply screw in a 25-watt light bulb (any color but red) and viola! Heat! Not much, but I guess it's enough for a chubby stray and a friend or two.

Anyway, now that Spooky is warm and safe, and my electrician is taking a little cat-nap before Boston Legal, I should get back to work. This year has been wonderful for freelancers -- at least it has been for me. I'm up to my ears in work, and that's exactly how I like it. I even was accepted for two Chicken Soup stories this year. And that was my first attempt at submission to that venue, so I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself.

More importantly, I have my eyes set on a big job that I've been working on for the past three months. (Don't you guys hate proposals and the waiting period between sending them out and actually receiving a response?) So far my project has passed two green lights, but I don't want to jinx myself so I can't say exactly what it is. Suffice to say it has to do with a book. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I should know in about 2-3 weeks if it's a go. I can hardly wait! And I promise, you'll be the first to know...

Until we meet again...keep your fingers to the keyboard and accept the fact that if you're a freelance writer, you, too, live online.

G'night, neighbor!