You know you’re deep deep in revisions when you’re standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom at 1:30am and staring at yourself wondering “have I already brushed my teeth tonight?”  And then you realize that yes, your breath is minty fresh and your toothbrush is wet and, oh yeah, it’s still in your hand.  So you did brush your teeth.

It reminds me of a favorite family story of mine.  My uncle is a rather brilliant professor but can also get very caught up in his thoughts.  According to family lore, one time he was stopped in the stairway at his university by a student and they were discussion something or another.  After the conversation my uncle asked “Was I going up the stairs or down the stairs when you stopped me?”  The student told him he’d been going up the stairs to which my uncle replied “Good!  Then I’ve had my lunch!”