(no subject)

Yesterday I...
a) wrote column 63
b) went into the city to teach my current Torah reading student
c) worked with Sofrut I
d) went swimming

Regarding a), that means the Torah is 15% done.
Regarding b), I observe that when I teach adult women, they have a tremendous lack of self-confidence, which has an extremely marked effect on what they do. If they believe they can do it - it sounds fine. If they give up halfway through, it immediately sounds distinctly less good. A funny thing.
Regarding c), Sofrut I is working through Mishnat Soferim now - the Mishnah Berurah's version of how the letters ought to be formed. As we go, we're noting how MB differs from Keset about these things. Sofrut I also involves pizza and, this week, cake, which is super :)
Regarding d), splosh!

Today I am attempting to write column 64, but have had a Bad Quill morning. I think that Really Bad Quill days are a direct consequence of Blunt Knife days, but sometimes a knife doesn't feel very blunt so one doesn't notice, and just puts it down to poor cutting. So I took a break. The break is now over. Toodle-pip.

(no subject)

Sometimes this job can just tie you up in knots. Bad Quill Mornings are frustrating and highly inefficient, not to mention the cause of Poor Writing, and I was having a Bad Quill Morning, so I changed knife blades, on the theory that a lot of Bad Quill problems are caused by Blunt Blades. What I temporarily forgot was that new scalpel blades are extremely sharp, and I managed to slash my wrist. Unintentionally. So I had to wait for it to dry up, and my wrist is constricted by a Huge Plaster.* Can't get blood on one's work.

Then it was STILL a Bad Quill Day, despite the new blade and it having turned into afternoon. So there I was just getting tied up further and further in worse and worse frustration - and sometimes there's just nothing you can do but take Time Out. I have time built into my schedule for this, it's okay, just tiresome. Talking of which, I am more tired after this one Bad Quill Partial-Day than I was after all of yesterday, and yesterday involved a heck of a lot more running about.

So. Tomatoes sliced with oil, vinegar and thyme: coming up.

* that's a Band-Aid, for you transatlantics