Water cooler diaries

Joni Cole had one of those days when she was certain she was the most unproductive, scattered, exhausted woman in the world. You know the day, "...a very bad day when I was dealing with a  family illness, a lull in my freelance writing business, and a four-year-old daughter who refused to wear socks, despite freezing temperatures." Out of desperation, as it often happens, rose an idea: Cole wanted to know what other women were doing that very moment, and if they were as perfect and productive as she pictured. Or not.

On March 27, 2007, more than 500 women kept a diary of their work day, adding entries throughout the day. An orthopedic trauma surgeon. A school custodian. A truck driver. A mine geologist. A stay-at-home-mom. A boxing promoter and matchmaker....The result is "Water Cooler Diaries," by Cole and B.K. Rakhra, the third book in their  "This Day in the Life" project. This latest book highlights the dairies of 35 women, and entries like this:
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