Back to Blake today, plus making bread and washing soccer clothes. Thank goodness I'm a writer. Otherwise, when asked about my job, I would have to say, "Scullery maid."

Dinner tonight: sausage with fresh sage, garlic, and hot pepper; parsley risotto; new bread; chard with olive oil and sherry vinegar; radishes; something or other for dessert because it's piano-lesson night and I probably won't have time to make anything.

I am feeling quite driven about the writing, like some internal tyrant is compelling me, with a whip. Ah, the glories of art. At every turn it's dreadful and wonderful and then dreadful again.