and...

 ... and the day after I started working in earnest on the book, I got news that I got a travel grant to Spain for the summer.  

... and we have a snow day today, so I don't have to teach and can devote the day to writing.  In fact, have essentially two weeks off from teaching, since it is Spring break. 

Since I wrote and submitted the grant proposal, I must take some credit here for making things line up in my favor.