Weekend update

LIME AND CHEESE SALAD
1 box lime Jello
1 1/2 c. boiling water
1 c. cottage cheese
1 c. crushed pineapple
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1 1/2 tsp. horseradish
Mix Jello with the 1 1/2 cups boiling water and drained pineapple juice. Cool and let start to congeal, fold in cottage cheese, mayonnaise and pineapple mix together. Put in salad mold and chill.

Okay, that right there is the classic green Jell-o recipe which I have NEVER made until today even though I'm a Utah Mormon. But I sort of started craving it--probably because when Bea Williams and I had lunch at her retirement center, they served this and it was GOOD and I've wanted some ever since. Besides, how can you resist a recipe that has the word "congeal" in it?

And as long as we're on the subject of Guilty Pleasures, I also watched the original "Cutting Edge" today and really. How can you not like a movie that ends with a kiss and a gold medal? GO, AMERICA!

Anyway. I did write 1000 words yesterday even though it was Saturday. And I've written 800 words so far today, even though I've been eating Jell-o and watching movies about ice skaters with non-ironic big hair.

her, i admire

today rick walton and i are going to visit our friend barbara (aka bea) williams, which makes me happy. bea is the original grand dame of utah children's writers. for years i've respected her generosity and talent, and now i find myself especially admiring her longevity in the field.

the longer you're around the world of books, the more sharply you realize how tough it is to have a writing life like bea's. even the hottest careers invariably slow down. people who couldn't miss suddenly can't place a manuscript. it's inevitable, natural. and yet bea kept working it for decades. i'm in utter awe of this.

really, i feel honored to know her.