Update

OK, here's what's going on, in a nutshell:

• Meg has been home for the last week after being in the hospital for pre-term labor twice in five days. She and the kid are doing pretty well. She's on terbutaline, a smooth muscle relaxant, to control any contractions that may crop up. As those of you who know her may rightly assume, Meg's been doing all sorts of research about her condition as has found evidence to suggest that Terbutaline may not be effective after 48 hours. So. Oh yeah, she's also on bed rest until the 7th of December, when the kid reaches week 36 and can be supported in the OB unit of the local hospital instead of requiring a trip to the regional neonatal ICU in Duluth.
• The kid is fine. S/he is rolling around, pummeling Meg most of the time. We think the kid is going to be a girl. We think she's going to be born in the early morning of Dec. 27 after Meg goes into labor on the 26th, and we think she's going to weigh between six and seven pounds. Of course, we have no evidence to support any of the above, but hey, it's first-time parents' peragotive.
• I'm doing pretty well, thanks mostly to my friends, and especially Pete who went to the gym with me last weekend when I was about at my wit's end. We played racquetball for two hours, then spent a little while beating the heavy bag into shape. That was just what the doctor ordered. Well, almost. Once Pete and I both get some pads, full contact sparring just might take the heavy bag's place more often than not.
• As I'm sure any of you who've been paying attention have noticed, the novel isn't happening in November. It was a nice idea, but life intervened. That's OK. I'll bring the novel along as it comes along. And also, I've decided that since most of my ideas come to me in little flashes, that's how I oughtta catch them. Hence, "Jack Be Quick."

I think that's pretty much the sum total of all the news from the Flying W Ranch right now, except to note that I am currently a "Sherwin-Williams Store Sales Associate." Oh, paint boy...