Well, that settles that question...

The question of whether we're going to the fireworks on Monday, that is.

Sigh...

WINSLOW -- The Winslow 4th of July Parade Committee has barred a peace group from having a float in the parade, saying it does not fit into the theme of keeping the American spirit alive.

Waterville Area Bridges for Peace & Social Justice asked to participate in the parade but received a letter from Parade Chairman David Morissette denying the request.

"We are all about supporting our troops and our veterans and feel that any anti-war message or protesting is just not good for our parade and our spectators, even if it's done quietly and peacefully," Morissette's letter said. "We are not against what you stand for, we just don't feel it is what's best for the Winslow Family 4th of July Parade."

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Filling out Forms and Other Saturday Thoughts

Pretty day out there -- blue sky, fluffy white clouds, nice breeze. All the windows in the house are open and the cursed AC is off, off, off!

kinzel has heroically agreed to do the errands today, and I'm in the office filling out forms. SRM Publisher's application for EZ Pass is as done as it can be at the moment, and I now have the challenge of the Dragon*Con Guest Application form before me. My, goodness, what an ...odd form. In order to be considered, guest applications must include a photo? Erm. I don't think I actually have a photo of myself. Since I don't take a good picture as they say, I try to stay on the operator-side of most cameras. There are some pictures of kinzel and me about, but really, he's the photogenic one.

As those who have been following along at home will doubtless recall, this was the year that we were going to stay home. Despite that -- and much to our astonishment -- we will be at Dragon*Con, and possibly even on paneling, if I can figure out the forms by deadline. If you're going to be there, too, stop by and say hi.

The writer brain is slowly starting to wake up again. Whoever said that writing a book was like having an extended case of the flu had it right on. For me, at least, there's a recovery period during which I read voraciously, watch movies and basically veg out. This can last months,during which I operate in the belief that the just-completed manuscript burned out all the remaining writing synapses and I'll never be able to do it again. I am in awe of writers who go from one book straight into the next in a blaze of white-hot creativity. Wow.

Yesterday, I started a short story, the first of two that I want to do about a character that we've always known existed, but who has never actually gotten to page. I don't expect to make lots of speed on them, but I do feel the itch in the fingers...

Back to the forms.