2:59 a.m. Well, when I least have the time to deal with it, I've just gotten the dreaded email from EarthLink that tells me I'm over my limit here at the old free homepage website. I knew this was coming and so a few days ago I got myself all decked out with a brand spanking new domain of my very own: perforatedlines.com.

I am so proud. Really. It's unnatural to feel such pride over such a piffle, but there you have it. I feel like I'm worming my way onto the web, gaining a foothold on this mountain, putting on the dog, so to speak. It's the little things, you know.

All in all, another busy day. I've had a lovely couple of phone calls, talking at length to the wonderful children to whom I've given birth. I've worked up to page 200-something on the manuscript that will not end, not to mention that I've broken the 800-page barrier on Cryptonomicon and now I'm heading to the finish -- I can just feel it. In another month or so I should have this one done and back on the shelf.

So yes, it's now nearly 3:30 in the morning, again. I've moved a whole lot of files and I hope they are intact. I've given up on creativity for the moment -- I'm now working on just trying to maintain basic personal hygiene. Keep my head up out of the bowl of gruel, change the sweatshirt before too long. It's not a pretty picture, but it gets the job done.

The smoke alarm in the kitchen is still beeping, forlornly, for new batteries.

Me, too.