I can spend an entire day reading at www.space.com, frankly I could spend everyday reading there. A recent article was on sending a small orbiter piggy backed to another rocket to study the moon dust. As most people know the regolith, or moon dust, is like tiny glass particles. These particles can be dangerous to human skin and lungs and the moon dust tends to cling to everything. Astronauts have to spend a fair amount of their time managing it.

The first thought that comes to mind is how much we are still in the baby steps of space travel. When we are just now struggling with the concept of handling moon dust problems and have to spend an approximate $80 million dollars for just the orbiter to study it. This doesn't include the man hours on Earth needed to extrapolate those results.

This may fall into venting more than blogging and I'm sure there are no new revelations herein, however, suffice it to say, I am overwhelmed and not sure how to make it all fit.

First there is the feeling of needing to keep up with all the other books coming out. I always knew there was a constant stream of new books emerging week after week, but it became so much more clear when my book The Charon Covenant was published. Now just the science fiction genre is an overwhelming amount of not only competition but choices to read--staggering.

Secondly, I own four small independent bookstores and believe it or not, they keep me beyond busy. You see I thought if we put all our books in the computer it would help us provide more variety to our customers. I had no idea that the amount of time involved in entering the books would be so overwhelming. Although everyone helps, I too spend as much time as I can doing inventory.

Third there is this writing thing. I need to finish the series for The Charon Covenant, along with the new book I've almost finished editing and am very excited about, that is, if my editor will cease with the suggestions. The thought of fitting this in to my schedule everyday is also overwhelming.

We won't even mention that somewhere in there I have a husband and son (who work with me) and ailing parents who want my time. Last but never least are my two girls, my two Yorkies that are at my feet and constantly begging for time.

Overwhelmed is definitely my word of the month! If only self-cloning were real. :)