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Thursday night I finally conceded defeat, printed out what there is of Crystal Dragon and on Friday morning plunked it down on [livejournal.com profile] kinzel's lap. I then spent the next while running errands and Not Thinking About The Book. I stopped at the Animal House, where Scrabble was on work-study before she came to us, to pick up some cat food to get the resident felines through the weekend, and was warmly greeted by Brady, yet another outplaced cat looking for a permanent position. Brady is a portly orange-and-white shorthair, about five years old. Unfortunately, he's been on outplacement for some while. When I first met him, back before Thanksgiving, he was into the Compleat Scardey Cat thing, and was done -- DONE! -- with humans, a pox on all their houses. His opinion has gradually softened, largely due to the wonderful handling of the Animal House folks, who never met a cat they didn't like. The last couple times I've been in the store, though, Brady has made a special point to seek me out and give me Large Ankle Hugs.

"He really likes you," Tom commented as Brady followed me to the counter and jumped up to head-butt my shoulder.

"And I really like him. But I have four cats."

"'nother cat's no problem. Hey, I'll throw in a bowl."

"No."

"Test drive him. Take him home, let the other cats check him out. If they don't like him, bring him back. Nothing ventured --"

"No."

"Suit yourself. Nice cat, though. Likes ladies. Hey, Brady?"

"Tom."

"Yeah, yeah. OK. Ya gotta try, y'know?"

"I know."

So, after the Animal House, gym, the bank, and the grocery store. It was a pretty day and it was relief to only be thinking about mundane things. Once or twice, the backbrain tried to put forth story ideas, but I ignored it.

Back at home, I made two online job applications, then packed up some more signed Crystal Soldier, then the back-logged SRM orders, read some more Indian abduction histories and variously goofed off 'til about 10 p.m., when [livejournal.com profile] kinzel finished reading and we had dinner.

Yesterday dawned sunny and blue. We got up early, divested ourselves of the mail, ate breakfast at Governor's, and went for a ride in the sunshine. Bangor-Brewer-Orrington-Bucksport-Belfast-China-Windsor-Augusta-Home, with a short stop in China to look at the pretty used Subarus, and another in Augusta to check the bookshelves for Crystal Soldier and to chat with Stew, the guy who takes care of the science fiction and fantasy section. During the ride, we talked a bit about the book, the characters, those things that had been promised, and those things as yet unaddressed. Back home, we had a late lunch of spaghetti and garlic bread, then [livejournal.com profile] kinzel went downstairs to download and noodle with the newest Linspire while I retired to the blue chair with a book.

I read a book from cover to cover in one sitting -- something I hadn't had the leisure to do in some time -- and about 9 p.m. met [livejournal.com profile] kinzel for a sandwich and a glass of wine and so to bed.

This morning started with pancakes. [livejournal.com profile] kinzel's already signed a Big Buncha Books, and I've got bread rising. Time to get off the machine for a while and find my signing pen.

Date: 2005-03-20 09:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kristine-smith.livejournal.com
with a short stop in China to look at the pretty used Subarus

*fan of Subarus here*

Date: 2005-03-20 10:49 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kinzel.livejournal.com
So...

we really like the little blue car -- Rolanni even got in it and sat there to make sure there was sufficent headroom (which the original round of Saturns did not, among others) ... so who knows about Imprezas, anyway? We could use a car with better mileage on the PO run; right now it's costing us about $3 to $4 in gas alone just to go to and from the PO Box!

Date: 2005-03-20 02:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rolanni.livejournal.com
*fan of Subarus here*

Speak to me of Subarus. I've always had, um, Big Cars -- at least, I've always had cars with Big Engines (Ninety, officer? Are you sure? Ahem.), and I'm a wee bit leery of a four. The car [livejournal.com profile] kinzel mentions is an Outback Impreza, all-wheel-drive. I kinda like the look of the Forester, but I don't think I need that much vehicle for just noodling around the nabe and the occasional Saturday morning drive.

Date: 2005-03-20 04:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kristine-smith.livejournal.com
I have a 2002 Forester. I decided on the model because I wanted a small SUV. It ranked well in safety (2nd behind Toyota RAV4 at the time), and is built on a car chassis which means less chance of rollover in an accident. I wanted the all-wheel drive and found it helps. But years of driving a pick-up truck in snow and rain has given me a different outlook on handling--if the tail doesn't swerve and shimmy, I'm happy.

I've been very happy with my Forester. Had it for about 3 years, with *knock wood* no issues beyond regular maintenance. Overall, Subarus have a good reputation for reliability. [livejournal.com profile] christymarx is a Subaru owner, iirc, and could offer info--she owns a car, not an SUV.

I drove Big Cars (80s Bonnevilles, 70s Lincolns) until the mid-90s, so I know whereof you speak. I then moved on to a full-size pickup truck, which still offered the room, although perhaps a little less zoom. I won't be pulling big loads with my Forester, but I enjoy driving it, and I can park anywhere.

And I did get my first speeding ticket ever while driving it. 80 in a 65, just outside C-ville VA. The smaller models may be peppier. Is this a good thing, one wonders?

Date: 2005-03-20 09:38 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alfreda89.livejournal.com
The last couple times I've been in the store, though, Brady has made a special point to seek me out and give me Large Ankle Hugs.

You are doomed. Doomed!

You have been monstrously busy. This is often a good thing. Hope it feels productive. Do you usually do the first pass, and [livejournal.com profile] kinzel the second?

Looking forward to CW--

Date: 2005-03-20 10:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kristine-smith.livejournal.com
Didn't Brady Anderson used to play for the Balmer Orioles?

Does he have sideburns?

Could be a Fate thing going on here.

Kaygo, who never thought she would get a second dog and has since lost her office to the Mickelator.

Date: 2005-03-20 02:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rolanni.livejournal.com
Didn't Brady Anderson used to play for the Balmer Orioles?

Y'know, I think he did. No sideburns on this Brady, though -- very smooth he is. Looks like a banker.

Date: 2005-03-20 07:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alfreda89.livejournal.com
I have a friend who swears that getting another cat/kitten or a dog would cause my feuding cats to side together against the newcomer.

Almost desperate enough to try it.

Date: 2005-03-20 02:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rolanni.livejournal.com
Usually, we talk the book out ahead of time and then, yeah, I do the first draft, then [livejournal.com profile] kinzel does the second draft, fixes all my clinkers, resurrects characters I've killed, helps out my space battles, untangles my military protocol, and in short makes it stronger book. Alas, Many Things have Conspired against Crystal Dragon, including the introduction of a second project into the household, which turned out to have...timing issues.

I really feel bad handing off an unfinished book; OTOH, I'm at a ravine -- I can see the other side of the story, but I can't see how I'm going to get there. [livejournal.com profile] kinzel hadn't actually read the whole book, in order, start to finish, so we couldn't brainstorm the bridge. He's now finished reading and is now into Thinking.

And in the meantime, we sign books and pack boxes.

Date: 2005-03-20 07:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alfreda89.livejournal.com
Still sounds productive.

I need to go look for your theory of what is promised and what is delivered. It made sense to me--

online job applications?

Date: 2005-03-22 05:55 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
please don't stop writing, even though we know great writers have to eat!

Re: online job applications?

Date: 2005-03-22 07:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rolanni.livejournal.com
Eating is important.

I've been able to write while working full-time before, the SFWA job being the notable exception to that, so the goals of being able to eat and being able to write are not incompatible :)

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