My Heart Became the Monastery

Begin as you mean to go on...

SNIPPET ONE:
The red was beyond excellent. Jen Sin closed his eyes, the better to savor it, and heard Val Con speak.

"I see you're refining Theo's taste. But, the jade, Brother? Surely you might have taught her to drink something a bit less dear."

"It's not quite so dear," answered the rich voice of his cousin Shan, "when you have a connection, and a discount. And the jade suits her."

What went before: So, that's 1,121 new words written today in two shifts, bringing the WIP entire to +/-56,880 words.

Had a good chat with my friends at Holy Cannoli, where I can attest that the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are still delicious.

I thought it was going to rain, and it did drizzle a little, but I had been promised a thunderstorm, to usher in a cooler tomorrow, and I'd still kinda like that, please.

Coon Cat Happy Hour has been served up and consumed, and I'm about to pour myself a glass of wine and go see if I'm still annoyed with Dr. Who, or if I can finish watching the episode I bailed on -- a week ago? Two? Whatever.

I have an early appointment with the chiropractor tomorrow, and then I'm pretty much Free until Tuesday.

But, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Everybody stay safe; I'll see you tomorrow.

Friday. Sunny and cooler. Windows OPEN. Station air is convenient, but I really prefer ambient conditions.

Woke up earlier than I had planned. Turns out that all four cats were low on snuggles, so we did that for a while before I got up and found, yanno, clothes.

The rosebush has survived another night; no sign of digging activity, though it did rain a little last night, so I'll have to re-up the hot pepper.

Breakfast was a peach cut up into cottage cheese with tea. More tea to hand, and probably more tea after that. I'll probably make salmon cakes for lunch; which is, among other things, guaranteed leftovers.

My phone updated itself last night, always an exciting time. The best new toy is a button that will allegedly identify music playing nearby. I used it successfully twice, but now it's not working, or maybe Google doesn't recognize Bon Jovi's "Lay Your Hands on Me," which I would say the chances of that are...low.

Anyhoots -- it's still early, so I guess I'd better do some of the chores I was going to do later, so I have more time to work, later.

I do have a doctor's appointment at 10, and a short stop at the grocery after, but that's all I've got to write about.

I can share another SNIPPET, for those who may be interested. Shan and Val Con are in rare form, I fear:

"However, if Val Con wishes to come the disapproving banker – "

Val Con raised his hands. "Acquit me! The red is everything that is wonderful, Master Trader, and I will prove my word by shortly having another glass. I thank you for your generosity on behalf of us all."

Shan eyed him. "I sense an upcoming bid for my cook."

"That," Val Con returned primly, "is not for me to decide."

"I believe you enjoy saying that," Shan said.

"I believe I do, too," Val Con answered, cordially.

And that said! What's everybody doing today?

Today's blog post title brought to you by Mr. Jimi Hendrix, "All Along the Watchtower"

Cat tax  Rookie and Firefly being coy, each in their own manner

What went before ONE: I am going to have to prevail upon the goodwill and kindness of the firemen to help with the smoke alarm. It is perhaps that an inner shield was not removed when the device was installed, and my hands are too week to turn the damned thing and open it.

I fear that's also going to be the case with the electric broom, though I'm pretty sure the firemen won't fix that.

Onward. I have made a cup of mocha, because I can, and have been through what I wrote yesterday, which remains good.

What went before TWO:

How Many Cats Are In This Picture?

What went before THREE: So, the generator guy pronounces the generator in good shape. He of course had to switch the power, so I'll now have fun resetting all the clocks.

But that's not why I called you here this afternoon. I am horrified by my new embroidery project.

#1: The thread is not embroidery thread; it seems to be Just Thread wound around a thread keeper, one strand and it's all kinked up because it's been wound on the card for ... some time. I figured to iron it, to make it straighter and thus easier to work with, and? It melted. MELTED.

#2: One strand of this weird thread, doubled to make the two strands called for in the pattern, means a smaller needle than I usually use, and I am not certain at all that I'm going to be able to keep the dern thing in hand.

So! Definitely something I'll be working on away from home. Or, I can possibly do a refrib, replace the stoopid thread with Actual Embroidery Thread from the Stash, and tally-ho.

That may be my best option.

But first?

The clocks!

What went before Three-point-one:  Summing up.  The weird thread is said to glow in the dark.  As I got the kit from a friend who was thinning her stash, and have no investment in the finished piece glowing in the dark, I have found appropriate colors in my Big Bag of cotton floss, and will be continuing with them.

What went before FOUR: Back from needlework. I got really involved in my project and the time flew. Good company helps.

Coon cat happy hour has been served up and I've poured myself a glass of wine.

I did a little bit of tinkering with the WIP today, but my real problem is how the scam is going to work, so I'm letting the boys in the basement work on their Powerpoint for awhile. I'm really like where this is going.

The only thing on tomorrow's schedule, aside, yanno, one's duty to the cats, and eating, and like that, is Rookie's Annual with his vet in the afternoon. I hope to write in the morning hours, but if the guys are still working, it's no big deal.

I think I may finish the green bit while I listen to These Old Shades -- this will be New Territory; I've never listened to a book while I was doing something else. I wonder how that will work.

Everybody stay safe; I'll see you tomorrow.

Wednesday. Sunny and going for warm/hot-ish.

Once again, I am Up but not At 'Em. I hope to find Motivation in a mug of Republic of Tea's strong Irish Breakfast, as soon as it's even remotely cool enough to drink.

Trooper has had his first snack of the day, with medical inclusions.

My breakfast, once I get to that part of today's agenda, will be half an everything bagel and, oh, a slice of Swiss cheese; cherries on the side.

Slept hard, but with many disturbing and complex dreams, none of which I can remember of course, except that one had something to do with Alma Alexander and a car.

Notes on the day just behind us:

1 How Many Cats Are In This Picture of course comes from Highlights for Children, where it was a recurring puzzle. I don't remember much else from Highlights for Children, but I do remember that. Obvs.

2 Listening to an audiobook while sewing is a Dangerous Game. I sat over my needle much later than I had intended, listening and stitching in an Altered State. If I'm going to make a Habit, I'm going to have to set a timer.

2a Last night's experiment, ref #2, convinces me that listening to a book while driving is not going to A Thing for me. Good deal that I like to listen to music when I drive.

I didn't have much of a plan for the day, but whatever it was, I have now taken the Command Decision to reduce it to: Breakfast, Cat Box Duty, Write until it's time to swoop up Rook and take him for his annual check-up.

. . .and my tea is gone. Best find some day-clothes.

Who's Up and At 'Em this morning?

Today's blog post title comes to you from Mr. John Mellencamp, "Lonely Ol' Night"