::Writing and editing went well yesterday, although I devoted more quality rather than quantity to Mind Sweeper. I used to become frustrated if I didn’t clear twenty or more pages per day, but over the years I have realized it’s better to take the time to get it right than rushing through the important task of finalizing a manuscript.

Twenty or more pages may not sound like much to someone who does not write fiction, but it is a great deal of work. A few years ago twenty or more pages of new material would take me up to nine hours, while editing the same amount often goes much faster.

However, nowadays I don’t fret so much. Perhaps this is a result of growing older, and realizing that every day is not “do or die.” I’m still of the mind of barring consistently negative people from my social sphere (and in fact abruptly drop those who have nothing but ill to say). I will do everything in my own time and still keep deadlines, but without the self-driven stress of yesteryear. The physical and mental side effects just aren’t worth it.

Now that I recognize how far to push myself in a healthy fashion, I seem to have acquired more patience in how I go about achieving my goals. It’s honestly very good, and my only regret is the length of time it has taken me to understand it.

Considering the disastrous state of our economy at the moment, it stands to reason that most of us are seriously tightening our belts. Fuel, food, real estate and common daily purchases have skyrocketed into an incomprehensible realm.

Yet after reading this article I came to a few conclusions:

• 10 little expenses that add up fast

Not buying or using coffee and cigarettes tops the list, which leads me to assume the author of the article (Bank Rate), has little or no personal interest or preference in either. Frankly, I’d rather have several cups of coffee and skip breakfast and lunch altogether to save money. Since I rarely eat breakfast, it’s not such a hardship. As for cigarettes, find me a qualifying substitute for soothing rattled nerves and I’ll quit this instant. Since I’m not keen on becoming addicted to prescription medication, I see no end in sight right now.

Some of the other expenses listed in the article (alcohol, bottled water, manicures, car washes, weekday lunches out, vending machine snacks and unused gym memberships) do not apply to my daily life on a regular basis. However, “interest charges on credit card bills” is a nonsensical notion. With a rough and tumble Republican-fueled American economy, how else can people get out of a jam except by using a credit card - if they are lucky enough to possess one not already bloated with charges?

Whoever wrote the article is obviously out of touch, independently wealthy or simply a complete idiot.

::Yesterday was finally cloudy, although the heat was still oppressive. There was just enough rain to make the air humid and suffocating, so I spent most of the day indoors with the cool of central air and amongst my many oscillating fans.

I was able to edit the first three chapters of Mind Sweeper, blissfully uninterrupted by the telephone or other communications sundry. Because I have other projects in the works, concentrating on a specific story almost requires “slipping into character” to recapture the nuance of the tale and its occupants.

It’s actually quite enjoyable, however. I doubt there is any other “job” on earth that allows such eccentric freedoms. I consider myself blessed.

It’s no secret that I enjoy the “hidden object” forms of computer entertainment to be found at Big Fish Games. For the most part I like the games I’ve downloaded and tried, however there is a growing list of others I find to be boring and a waste of time.

One in particular, Nancy Drew: The Curse of Blackmoor Manor is atrocious. Because it is a “large file” download there is no trial version of the game, therefore one has to buy it in order to even play. I hated it from the get-go. Visually awkward and clunky, the game is slow and boring with no "escape" when Nancy "talks."

I sent a message to Big Fish Games expressing my disappointment with the game and being "stuck" with the product because I had to buy it in order to try it. I never expected to hear back from them, but to my surprise I received a message from their customer service department:

My name is Stacy, and I'm happy to assist you. I am sorry you did not enjoy Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor. I wouldn't want you stuck with a game you don't like, so I've voided the game and issued you a 100% off Replacement Game Coupon Code. You can redeem the Replacement Game Coupon Code for any game on our site. Thanks again for the feedback. We are always interested to know what our customers think of the games we offer. This helps our Game Operations team choose which games to offer in the future.

Kudos to Big Fish Games: their quality of attention to their client base ensures I will be a repeat customer in the future.

This article gave me slow burn:

• Africa's women last and least in food crisis

I’ve always felt men are grown adults who can take care of their own basic ay-to-day needs, which is why I’ve probably never made an ideal wife. However, children are a different story: they are dependent on their parents or others for such needs until a certain age, but men are quite capable of looking after themselves.

I understand the cultural differences in Africa, but they are appallingly lopsided. I simply find it outrageous.

The MSNBC article by Kevin Sullivan via the Washington Post detailed one day in the life of a woman named Lingani living in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. She sleeps on a concrete floor while her husband rests in his own double bed with a thick mattress. She goes outside the home to work for money – sweeping streets – where she makes $1.20 per day. What she earns has to be enough to feed her entire family. Polygamy is rampant where she lives, so she is often feeding second and third wives as well as children. Her husband has no job as work for men is scarce where she lives, but he does receive a pension as a retired police officer yet never tells his wife how much money he gets.

The cost of food has risen in Africa just as it has everywhere else, so Lingani has to make do with very little to feed her family, not to mention eating last with a small portion for herself.

As I said, I understand the maternal instinct to care for children, but I cannot comprehend a grown man allowing his wife to go hungry or to sleep on a concrete floor while he has a double bed all for himself. What kind of real man permits it? And why are men such greedy pigs the world over? How can any civilized society tolerate such a thing? It seems to prove the old theory true: familiarity breeds contempt.

I am convinced one thing is much the same in any culture: the more one does for a person, i.e. a woman “looking after” a man, the worse one is treated. You’d think men would be a little more appreciative instead of being resentful, disrespectful and demanding even more. Where does that crap come from? If someone put my needs ahead of theirs I would certainly hold them in high regard instead of treating them like garbage. Apparently men don’t think that way, which bears out my long-held belief that they don’t have an iota of common sense in any culture.

I was infuriated by the MSNBC article needless to say, but my rant is over for today.