I fail at self-imposed deadlines, but whatever.

220,394 words.
578 pages.
2 3/8 chapters to go.

(Word and page counts both got a little scrambled between the last update and this one, because I switched from writing in WordPerfect to writing in Word 2007, which counts and formats differently. You know, in case you were doing rigorous statistical analyses on this data.)

(HI, GUYS, LESS THAN THREE CHAPTERS TO GO.)

oh, hockey. <3

From Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press:

Most Red Wings opted out of practice Tuesday, figuring a spirited game of soccer would keep them rested and relaxed.

During the game -- played in the bowels of HP Pavilion, where tonight the Wings hope to rally from a 2-1 series deficit against the Sharks -- Johan Franzen stormed away, requiring Kris Draper to lure him back. Eventually Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg hugged out their differences.

"Frankie was kind of moping a little bit -- we're not sure why -- so we had to bring him in," participant Kirk Maltby said. "Now everything is happy-go-lucky."

Forget the skill. Forget the toughness. I love this sport because Frankie and Hank had to hug it out in the locker room.