And then the phone rang. . . .
Perhaps I should have suspected when I overslept by an hour this morning. But then I do sometimes oversleep by an hour, although not nearly as often as I shoot awake an hour early and, immediately besieged by stuff, am unable to get back to sleep again. And then hellhounds and I had quite a nice walk–it’s not raining, we chose a path which proved quagmire-free*, and the only dog we met was (a) behind a fence (b) friendly.**
When we got home, the phone rang. It was the dentist.
I have a dentist’s appointment tomorrow afternoon. I thought it was next week. Do you realise what this means?
It means I am going to the dentist on CHALICE’s publication day.
DESPAIR.
This also meant that I couldn’t meet Melanie, who is getting married on Saturday***, tomorrow afternoon, up at Third House, where she’s going to be stowing a few guests, to show her which cupboard hides the boiler, which the extra towels, and which the skeletons, or possibly the tigers. So I rang up her mum, and we agreed that I’d give the spare keys to Peter, who is playing bridge with her dad tonight, and effect a transfer. †
The phone rang. Vicky, wanting to know why I hadn’t come to the once-a-month-practise-at-the-next-village-tower-that-we’re-keeping-open-mainly-because-it’s-there-and-has-ringable-bells-and-bells-don’t-stay-ringable-if-you-don’t-ring-them which was last Monday.††
The phone rang. The house-alarm company††† wanted to know why I hadn’t rung back to reschedule (the appointment they cancelled).
Then Computer Man showed up to do 1,000,000 things to various computers, the chief one being that I’m finally being hauled over to my own domain name as email host or whatever you call it and of course this isn’t going smoothly, why on earth should it go smoothly???? He was also heard to remark through teeth he was trying very hard not to clench, that most people have, at most, (a) a desktop (b) a laptop. The End. I have . . . well, I have four that are in regular use–the desktop and three laptops–and let’s just not count the superseded and/or half dead ones tucked away on shelves and lying on tabletops, which are occasionally pressed into service when Things Get Like That. And the palmtop. Which has an unpleasant habit of forgetting how to synchronise with the desktop. When Computer Man is here sometimes the phone rings and it’s for him. Yaay. I can almost like ringing phones when they’re not for me.
What is it about computers that they merely lead you further astray? So I’ve got this composing software, right? The problem now is that now Oisin has taught me how to stuff dynamics into the muddle . . . the playback sounds cheaper than a spoon against a tin can. So I asked Computer Man to ask his boss about external computer speakers. His boss is the original Computer Man, who started the company, whose gift has always been for sales, so now the phone is ringing again for me. . . .
The phone rang. My vet wanting to discuss the squirting yellows.
The phone rang. It’s the builder. Remember the Story Thus Far? Third House had been booked–finally–for work to start in September. Now. A fortnight ago. And then the builders noticed (fortunately) that no one had ever actually checked about the interior walls being weight-bearing for the new attic floor to be dropped on. Which took another month (while the structural engineer and the architect pointed fingers at each other). The answer is no, they are not weight-bearing, and will have to be made so. I’m trying to tell myself at least we found out now, and not after they started the work. So the builder is ringing up with the final price estimate‡ and the glad news (although I admit I was expecting this) that they can’t start work till Christmas at earliest. Which means January. If I’m lucky.
Isn’t this day over yet?
* * *
* Harder than you might think. In the first place, of course, if you’re going to walk over countryside that has been rained on a lot recently, it’s probably going to be squishy. But the thing that kind of fascinates me is the way new quagmires appear for no visible reason. Makes you wonder about what the magic gnomes are really up to. New fresh quagmires also appear in response to other quagmires being filled in. There’s a new one growing at the edge of a really spectacular one that the town council finally filled in this year: you know, the kind of thick malign sludge where you expect alligators, or, lacking alligators, for alligators to burst spontaneously into being. I’m sure some of that weirdly ridgey mud was actually eyes. http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/act-plan/a-plan28.htm The alligators are currently rebuilding. We went past it today. It’ll be the Alligator mississipiensis Hilton by the end of the winter.
** The same could not be said of two small children also encountered. They took one look at my beautiful, friendly^, charming, bright-eyed, shiny-coated^^ hellhounds, and started screaming, jumping up and down, frantically waving their arms, and rushing back and forth. Hellhounds, of course, wanted to join in on this action, although I could see them trying to decide what the proper approach was: Chase? Offer a toy for interesting physical discussion? General cavorting? Yo, mum, will you please find the off switch and press it? I diverted disappointed hellhounds off in a different direction and while Chaos managed to relieve his feelings by chomping down on the tail of my sweatshirt and trying to drag me off to his lair while growling ferociously^^^, Darkness did his leaping in the air, bracing one forefoot delicately against my chest for more precision in aim, and licking my face trick. He’s getting really good at this. I swear that he now pauses, suspended, for a moment or two, to finish artistic licking.
^ All right, overly friendly. Still friendly
^^ No one but me–and all the readers of this blog–has to know the awful yellow squirting truth
^^^ I try not to think too much about what other people may think about little scenes like this which are . . . perhaps somewhat frequently enacted. I already know that hellhounds in themselves are, as a woman introducing herself as a neighbour remarked yesterday, distinctive. We don’t really need any extraneous notoriety.
*** I’ve told you, haven’t I, that I’m ringing a wedding on Saturday that I am expected to go to? Stand by for bulletins on managing a going-to-a-wedding dress in a bell tower. People do ring in skirts. I am not one of them. There’s a second wedding right after that that we’re also ringing for . . . except I’m not. Vicky, making out the lists, automatically took my name off the second one. No, no! I want to ring! Otherwise I’m going to have to go to the party and mill around and talk to people! Sigh. But that would leave Peter to go by himself and he feels about parties pretty much the way I do.
† Then I forgot to give Peter the spare Third House keys, and went haring after him after he left for bridge but he must have been hiding behind a tree or something so I just went straight on to Melanie’s mum’s house and gave them to her. And then when Peter got back from bridge he said, oh, and I handed the keys over.
What? I said. I didn’t give them to you!
Oh, he said, I got them out of the drawer.
Which means Melanie’s friends now have both sets of spare keys, which is not a tragedy, except that it’s one more thing to get lost, and these people may be the most anally retentive responsible key-keepers in the universe, but they could get sucked into the rampant space-cadet atmosphere around here, and . . .
†† This is a long story unsuitable for a family audience.
††† Yes, I have a house alarm for the cottage. I have a house alarm because I didn’t want to be the only one on the street that didn’t have one, you follow me?
‡ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUGGGGGHHHHH
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Holy commas, that’s a lot of phone ringing. I would cry if my phone rang that much. Time to turn it off. Be brave tomorrow at the dentist. I will think good thoughts for you, and the ferrets will do backflips in your name. (Well, they will try.) I hope it goes well!
Yes, I HATE the phone ringing. And it’s usually very well behaved. I visit people whose phone machines are saying things like ’5′ and ’7′ and I blanch and have to sit down.
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Children! Sitting with friend and dog yesterday, two fathers out with kids nearby were loudly discussing work, oblivious to their three toddlers. One marches straight up to our dog, pulls tiger mask down over his face, leans in … and GROWLS. I immediately say in gentle voice (so dog doesn’t react) “Ooh I don’t think that’s a good way to make friends do you?” Plus how not to get bitten advice… Fathers still oblivious (sigh)
****** trying to drag me off to his lair while growling ferociously
at which point I say loudly for general edification “No, you can’t play now Teasle!” or “what a naughty puppy you are!” Works 99% of the time and the rest are just beyond help.
****** This is a long story unsuitable for a family audience.
which makes me desperate to hear it ;)
Very glad the dog was nice, the alligators didn’t rise from the swamp and that you had dry paths. Here’s Hazel to help you smile (and she sends you good wishes for the dentist as do I)
http://southdowner.livejournal.com/6337.html?view=31681#t31681
I keep *forgetting* that we’re, you know, in public. I don’t think of it till LATER when it’s TOO LATE. At the time I’m saying things like, ooh, ooh, but wouldn’t you prefer a nice caribou? I’m kind of old and tough. Oh, caribou, I haven’t tried *caribou*, maybe you’d actually EAT caribou . . . yo, sonny, that was FLESH, stick to the sweatshirt, will you?. . . .
Hazel is very smiley. :)
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****** Hazel is very smiley. :)
How can a dog be smiley and beady eyed simultaneously? She looks cute, but if I did it I’d look seven kinds of shifty :)
BECAUSE SHE’S A DOG. Also human *ears* are very unsatisfactory. They barely wiggle at all. :)
****** BECAUSE SHE’S A DOG.
Now I know I’m spending too much time with the wrong species lol (Note to self – must get out more ;))
****How can a dog be smiley and beady eyed simultaneously? She looks cute, but if I did it I’d look seven kinds of shifty :)****
This is a great picture. Bull terriers have a great smile–the egghead emphasizes it, I think–and the beady eyes are ALL gleam, so no room for being shifty!
Don’t read this if your teeth still hurt.
***and started screaming****
Well, there are always several viewpoints on a situation. Not saying that these observations apply in any way to the specific situation you were in. BUT. Consider that some people are hardwired to respond much like prey animals (they get diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and such.) Consider the case of the child who won’t walk down the quiet, cul-de-sac street because there might be a dog, who runs inside from the back-yard when it hears a dog barking in the distance, who has been through months of talk therapy and such to get it calmed down, and then – after hours of “don’t worry it will-be-fine’ talk – goes to the park next door for 20 minutes, huge victory, yay AND THERE IS THIS HERD OF DOGS rushing towards us (off-leash I freely admit) being “friendly” (moving fast, mouths wide open to dispaly the lovely clean teeth, barking happily….). The child bolts in terror. The dogs join in this great new game. The mother (yes, you guessed the name) snarls at the dog-owner about leash-laws…….and looks forward to another 6 months of calming-down, “yes you can go out in the driveway and I will be there and no dogs will chase you” talk.
The point is, children are short (the faces are much nearer the teeth. Imagine Connie’s likely response to tiger-sized dogs bounding up to her), inexperienced, volatile and highly valued by their parents. They shouldn’t really be allowed to approach dogs- nor dogs to approach them – without close adult supervision on both sides (and I know that you, Robin, being a proper hell-goddess, provide such.) Mini-rant over, and hopefully no irrevocable offense. But the “they were being friendly” concept really gets me going.
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You’ve read this blog. I have NO GOOD to say of people who let their dogs off lead if the dogs are ANY LESS THAN PERFECTLY UNDER CONTROL AT ALL TIMES. Which LESS is 99.99% of off lead dogs. Some slack *may* be allowed out in the countryside where small children aren’t likely to be found (at least not on their own feet), but only if the dogs genuinely ARE friendly.
But this is why the hellhounds are **rarely** off lead. And in my particular case, the mum should have corralled her children, because they were behaving stupidly, and she doesn’t know my hellhounds are friendly. And her kids were small enough that friendly hellhounds *could* have knocked them over. No, they won’t get the chance–but that’s because *I* am a responsible dog owner. She was not behaving as a responsible mum.
There there. There there.
::hands apple cakes fresh from oven::
I think you need a good nap!! LOL
PS. Your hellhounds have now extended their influence to one of my pet lambs. (very impressive btw) He is refusing to drink. Will. Not. Do. Not. Want. That.
Arrrrgggghhhhh
Well, i’ve been talked into a course of antibiotics. Sigh.
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I threatened Charlie with those too (and I always deliver on threats). So today he got a dose. I think his tummy hurts a little and all manner of joy will be had while trying to fix this…. Meanwhile his sister would drink just about anyone under the table ….
Oh well. Girls are better. :) But I’m still rooting for stubborn Charlie (having two of them myself).
****Well, i’ve been talked into a course of antibiotics. Sigh.****
Hopefully this will knock the campy six ways from Sunday and give the hellhounds’ guts a chance to settle down, and they will be able to respond to other treatments. If you give them probiotics at the same time, their intestinal flora might have a chance to restablish themselves.
Yes well that WAS the plan. :(
::hands apple cakes fresh from oven::
Did I miss that one? I have apple pies and apple scones, but I don’t think I have an apple cake. What gives B_twin_1?
Good heavens. I have a Favourite Apple Cake. I’ll post it some day.
Did I miss that one? I have apple pies and apple scones, but I don’t think I have an apple cake. What gives B_twin_1?
It was my very first batch! An old friend used to make them and I have wanted to make them for ages. So the other day I found a recipe and I did. In her memory. :)
’ve told you, haven’t I, that I’m ringing a wedding on Saturday that I am expected to go to? Stand by for bulletins on managing a going-to-a-wedding dress in a bell tower.
What, no hired tux? :)
No, no! I want to ring! Otherwise I’m going to have to go to the party and mill around and talk to people!
Not necessarily. You could go and stand quietly near the food table, obtain as much free champagne as you can reasonably hold, and any time someone approaches, you can get a faraway look like you’ve just recognized someone on the other side of the room, and move rapidly in that direction. Then you wait a reasonable time before calculating another vector back to the cheese plate. This has been a tried and true party strategy for me for many years…
What, no hired tux? :)
******* I’ve been suffering Social Pressure. I’m a wuss really. I’m entirely willing to go looking like a berk when I’m doing a signing or something and it’s just me. But as soon as it’s some kind of group thing I go all mushy.
No, no! I want to ring! Otherwise I’m going to have to go to the party and mill around and talk to people!
Not necessarily. You could go and stand quietly near the food table, obtain as much free champagne as you can reasonably hold, and any time someone approaches, you can get a faraway look like you’ve just recognized someone on the other side of the room, and move rapidly in that direction. Then you wait a reasonable time before calculating another vector back to the cheese plate. This has been a tried and true party strategy for me for many years…
********** FIDDLESTICKS. You’re MADLY social.
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Right, so apparently WordPress ate my reply to this the other night…
********** FIDDLESTICKS. You’re MADLY social.
Oh contrairey! :) I am social in small groups of people I already know and like–but I am at core a huge introvert. Weddings and with great crowds of people I don’t know are HORRIBLE, and the station-self-by-the-cheese-plate-and-avoid-eye-contact method of getting through the evening has been a standby for me, I kid you not.
You’ll have to let us know how it goes–both the skirt-ringing, and the hors d’oeuvre vectoring…
Stay tuned for tonight’s entry! :)
Mean, horrible day. I’m CERTAIN it’s all the fault of that dratted dentist.
>>>>BB: This has been a tried and true party strategy for me for many years…
ROTFL. I’ve used this myself…My SO’s PhD in religion is a reliably chases away the masses as well.
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LOL! I think Auden used to say he was a medieval historian. He wouldn’t dare do that now, of course, he’d be MOBBED by SF&F fans. :)
Oh my! The walk-with-dogs may have fewer quagmires. I seems to me the others multiplied, slunk away and lurked hither and yon till they could reappear as telephone rings for assorted snares, traps and falls.
Candles, chocolate and a better tomorrow (surrounds dentist with good-results charms) to you for the day Chalice formally debuts.
I seems to me the others multiplied, slunk away and lurked hither and yon till they could reappear as telephone rings for assorted snares, traps and falls.
******* LOL! That’ll be it.
Thank you!
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I checked the on line catalog at the library today … 5 reserves in the system for Chalice. I also talked to two bookstores, letting them know that if they have it I will buy it …
May your dental experience be as pleasant as my last (I’m so glad that I have a woman dentist of nearly the same age as I, who sincerely cares about her patients).
May the hellhounds experience digestive peace and morph into hungry little angels
May the phone ring only with announcements of joy and glad tidings, the computers do what you wish them to do and no more and no less, and may the weather pattern get stuck on sunny.
All the best on your big day … and remember, most folks don’t even remember the bride’s gown, much less the bell ringer’s. Although I do remember the cousin who, some twenty years ago wore a sort of a gray sweatshirty thing which came down below her knees. (sounds like it might work for both bell ringing and wedding reception … just accessorize with panache … or pink converse All Stars with sparkling shoelaces.)
I used to have some sparkly shoelaces. I wonder what SHOES they’re in? I have an *awful lot* of All Stars. . . .
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Ooh, Chalice! Excellent!
But I truly am sorry about having to go to the dentist.
But I am still excited for Chalice!
As I am currently in the happy state of post-book bliss, I don’t seem to have many words at my disposal, much less meaningful ones… but I just thought you should know that the book is *lovely* and you are *magnificent*… just in case you weren’t already aware. =)
I wasn’t sure if Chalice could top Dragonhaven for me (because I’m a bit of a dragon person and the only strong reaction I have to bees is to, well, run)… but I think it did.
I could try to write one of those back-of-the-book blurbs about how McKinley has dazzled us all again or something a little more… original… than that… but I think I’ll just settle with saying thanks. Seriously. Thank you. I’m going to read this one again and again. Starting now, actually. =)
Thank you VERY much! –And as a general rule I would say that NO author knows she’s magnificent.
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i know the feeling when the phone just won’t stop ringing andddddd what is worse is that it is usually for one of my daughters. i don’t remember having that many friends when i was their age.your story about the keys reminds me of the time i had a doctors appoitment out of town, when i came out i realized that i had locked my keys in the van along with the spare key which was in my purse in the van. can you say duh, my husband was not impressed when he had to drive 20 minute to unlock the door so that i could go home. it was not my brightest moment by far.
it was not my brightest moment by far.
********* Yes, but we all have them! :)
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Good grief! I really, truly loathe the phone – so generally I don’t answer it (except when I know who’s phoning); but then I don’t get important calls and I tell myself that anyone who wants to talk to my husband can ring him on his mobile. (Needless to say I don’t have one – that would be the ultimate nightmare! Over. My. Dead. Body)
Anyway – good luck with the dentist tomorrow! Let’s hope he’ll be less horrid than usual (that is, at least remotely human) and that all the rest – the actual work he’s to do – goes well!
My condolences on having to go to the party, as well (I’m not a party person), but I’m sure there won’t be any problem bell-ringing in a skirt! I’m sure it will all right! If others do it…:)
Others don’t twitch and wriggle. As above . . . I’ve just bought bicycle clips. :)
I *have* a mobile. It’s very useful for those ‘the train has been standing 200 feet outside of Waterloo for the last half an hour, and I’m going to be a little late’ calls. Other than that, it lies around gathering dust and going flat, poor thing.
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***Of course my appointment with Dentist from Tartarus this afternoon was more harrowing than it was supposed to be. Of course.
Of course. Sigh. I’m so sorry – and their horrid unprofessional behaviour on top of that; yes, one would think that they would take the trouble to tell you that the dentist WOULDN’T BE THERE on the day you had an appointment, but then little details like that no doubt slipped their busy little minds…I think one should consider putting some kind of curse on them – but it should be something interesting, creative and suitably nasty… (I read a list of funny curses once – excerpt from a funny magazine – unfortunately I’ve forgotten most of them, but one was: may you get the same telephone number as a taxi company with one number’s difference – now that is pure evil!)
***Others don’t twitch and wriggle. As above . . . I’ve just bought bicycle clips. :)
Well, good luck – but I’m sure it’ll be just fine! And twitching and wriggling can be good – let’s twist again, like we did last summer, let’s twist again…:)
yes, we still have a few of the old UK red phone boxes around here and I live in fear they’ll be ripped out. I *don’t* give my mobile # to anyone–I barely know how to answer it, and I DON’T know how to pick up a message. Pet hate: robot phone answerers for big corporate thingummies that demand your mobile # as part of the process. And then get testy when you don’t provide one.
I’m sure it will not make you feel better in the least, but my copy of CHALICE has shipped from Amazon, and I am eagerly awaiting it!
Also, if you’d like, I’ve recently taken up hand-dyeing yarn, and I can make you a custom colorway which Jodi can then knit into something for you. That would make you feel better, right? =)
LOL! Yes, it certainly would–but shipped copies of CHALICE are also excellent!
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Oh wow. Best wishes on dealing with the dentist tomorrow.
I’m hoping to take some time off from my one day working at the library to dash to the bookstore and get Chalice. You know, because I just can’t wait until Friday. ^_^ Robin McKinley has long been an author whose books I buy as soon as they’re published in hardcover!
Robin McKinley has long been an author whose books I buy as soon as they’re published in hardcover!
. . . . My FAVOURITE kind of reader. Yes, I know, discretionary income varies etc etc. Still . . . :)
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My copy of Chalice came from Amazon today. It’s fantastic! Thank you! I just read the entire book.
Golly! You gulpers! Thank you! :)
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On the plus side (for me, anyway), my copy came today. I pre-ordered this book on February 21st and am so thrilled to have it in my hot little hands. So, thank you! Though, I’m sorry about the dentist….
I pre-ordered this book on February 21st
******** I’m impressed! :)
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Fingers crossed, candles lit, hugs and chocolate at the ready… good wishes for you as you endure the dentist tomorrow. [I first wrote simply "good wishes for the dentist"... but if he is not good dentist, it may be rather apropos- he'll be the one needing the good luck. There you go.]
Happier thoughts-
CHALICE! TOMORROW! CHALICE!
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Hooray!!!!!!!!
So- basically, I am going to get it, if it means getting on the train to New York City and going to the Barnes and Noble on 5th Avenue. I am getting that book tomorrow if it is at all possible.
However, IF there is some reason that I can’t buy it… I could walk into town to the Madison Public Library [yes, like in The Music Man] and make them give me a copy. Maybe if I bring them some of your “I’m Sorry, I Had One For Tea and I don’t Have Room For Dinner” bars that I am making tomorrow for a house event on Friday that is called RYADN [Ruin Your Appetite Dessert Night]… anyway, I’m making them tomorrow, and perhaps I’ll make extra and bring them to the library and if I ask nicely, maybe they will find it in their hearts to let me take a copy of Chalice to read. After all, if I don’t buy it tomorrow, chances are I’ll get it as a present on Sunday [for my birthday].
Tangent/babbling over now.
YAY CHALICE
UGH DENTISTS
HOORAY for ROBIN!
General ‘Oy’ to the constantly ringing phone.
Oy.
Chocolate and Hugs and so on…
–Julia
RYADN [Ruin Your Appetite Dessert Night]…
******** LOL! And doesn’t Ryadn sound like a sword-waving heroine?
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I agree. I can see her now, brave Ryadn, astride her horse, galloping off through the forest to the dining hall, dodging the ever-present and [we are all convinced] slightly insane squirrels that are constantly throwing things or darting into one’s path or just being generally squirrelly… off to rescue students from the horrors that await them in the Commons [our dining hall], fighting off the inedible food, leading the student population over through the trees once more to a clearing where tables are set up veritably sagging under all sorts of desserts.
I just ate. Now I am hungry again. Sigh.
:)
I guess I’ll just have to make extra and eat them myself.
Not such a terrible fate, I must say.
Thanks for making me laugh.
–Julia
You’re welcome! Ryadn’s super power would be to let you eat whatever you like and NEVER GET FAT. :)
Now that WOULD be nice.
If only, if only, eh?
:)
–Julia
It means I am going to the dentist on CHALICE’s publication day.
And telling them Something Came up at work wouldn’t help, I suppose. Well, best wishes anyway! May it all be as painless as possible. (I think reading “Gawain and the Green Knight” for Brit. Lit. is wearing off on me–all that alliteration.)
No–they charge you FULL PRICE if you give them less than THREE DAYS WARNING. Cute, huh?
Which translation of Gawain? Or are you sweating the original?
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Which translation of Gawain? Or are you sweating the original?
Um, Marie Borroff, but I read the Tolkien translation some years ago. I’m blenching a little at the thought of the original, although I did try “Beowulf” in a side-by-side translation. That was really interesting actually.
Yes, I did the side by side Beowulf too. I’ve got, I think, SEVERAL Gawains, but i’m in the wrong house to check which ones. There were two new ones out recently that I’d just started to sit down and read–also side by side, for curiosity’s sake–and then, I don’t know, events fell on me the way they do. . . .
Mmm, yes I was stuck with whatever the Norton Anthology folks stuck in. But Borroff did try to keep the alliteration there as much as possible, which is nice.
By the way, I dropped a comment on this entry earlier today about Chalice. I hope I actually hit the enter button because I don’t see it. Or maybe the webgoblins ate it. But to reiterate, just in case my brain really has gone on a holiday, I loved it and it was beautiful. Thank you.
****Which translation of Gawain? Or are you sweating the original?****
The original is not that tough if you have a glossary for the words that didn’t make it into modern English, and it’s more fun (amusing) in Middle English too. When I was an undergraduate many years ago, Marie Borroff’s was the standard translation; when I was in grad school no one had yet persuaded Tolkien to publish his.
. . . Simon Armitage and Bernard O’Donogue (new translations). I forgot to check last night, and I’m back at the mews, but amazon comes to the rescue. I can’t remember when I got the Tolkien. And then of course there’s Vera Chapman. I just like the story.
Slightly off topic, but my daughter just asked me what I want for my birthday next month. Nice timing on the publication date, Robin. Thanks. Woo hoo!
Uffda. I’ve got to agree with jmeadows, I probably would have thrown my phone into the nearest available body of water. Personally, I’ve spent all week on the brink of prying open my office window to determine what sort of satisfying smash my laptop might make if I let it drop the four stories down to the street below. Fortunately for the health my computer, I came home tonight to find a copy of a certain much-anticipated book sitting by my door, which I proceeded to devour in one sitting, without even pausing to brew a Mirasol-inspired cup of tea with honey. It was an absolute perfect finish to the day, and I hope your horrible dentist-day manages to end even half as nicely.
Thank you! I’m going to go play the piano in a minute, which usually has a beneficial effect. Fortunately playing the piano does not involve my MOUTH. . . .
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****What is it about computers that they merely lead you further astray? So I’ve got this composing software, right? The problem now is that now Oisin has taught me how to stuff dynamics into the muddle . . . the playback sounds cheaper than a spoon against a tin can. So I asked Computer Man to ask his boss about external computer speakers.****
Yes, one thing follows on another. The newly-active money pit here is the digital SLR, which I bought in a kit with an image-stabilizing lens. This is a wonderful New Thing. I was going to see how the telephoto from my film SLR would work on the digital one, but now I have bagged that idea and must have an image-stabilized telephoto, for big bucks, of course . . .
****I try not to think too much about what other people may think about little scenes like this which are . . . perhaps somewhat frequently enacted.****
If they know anything at all about dogs, they might think you’re a fool for your dogs but they won’t think anything worse. If they’re ignorant of dogs but observant, they’ll figure out that it’s rowdy play. Anyone else, like southdowner says, is probably hopeless.
****Stand by for bulletins on managing a going-to-a-wedding dress in a bell tower. People do ring in skirts. I am not one of them.****
Maybe you need a Dress Party pants outfit for these occasions–freedom of movement with sequins, velvet, the whole shebang. :)
****the phone rang****
And rang and rang . . . we have days like this around here, and on those days I start thinking very good thoughts about *axes*.
Best of luck with the dentist, hope all goes smoothly.
I’m so nonplussed at actually having a wedding I’m expected to GO to. I gave all that up when the last of the last generation of Dickinsons got married off . . . the grandchildren might start any day now, it’s true. But if it happens again I will certainly have to start thinking about velvet pants with sequins. I wanted to rent a tux, and both my husband and the bride were fine with it, but Other People were not. I’ve just bought bicycle clips. . . .
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****I wanted to rent a tux, and both my husband and the bride were fine with it, but Other People were not.****
If the bride was fine with it, who else should count? She’s supposed to be the arbiter (arbitrix?), right?
I never know when it’s okay to be a pain in the neck and when it isn’t. I never let anyone try and tame me down when I was doing a lot of author appearances, but when it’s someone ELSE’s show I get all nervous. And I have an *extremely* pretty Posh Frock to wear tomorrow. With bicycle clips. :)
Well, it’s always fun to have a chance to wear a Posh Frock. I normally get only one chance a year. Although Trovatore–next Sunday!–opens the opera season so early this year that I may actually wear a dress!
Oh dear. And you were having such a good run of good news lately. What a pity cycles have to turnDOWN as well as UP.
*holds thumbs, crosses fingers, toes & legs for dentist*
*hands over finest dark chocolate with champagne*
Thank you! Remedial chocolate and champagne definitely in order!
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Yes your day sounds like my week compressed. Best of luck at the dentist. And remember if it all gets to be too much going and hugging a horse relieves TONS of stress, angst, and general crankiness. Honestly it does….
**‡ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUGGGGGHHHHH**
Why is it that calls from builders almost always invoke that reaction? I almost think they gather around the phone sometimes, “Hey Ed listen to this one she has a really good whimper.”
LOL!
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Your computer man lies through his teeth – all the best people have at least three laptops. My husband has been known to sit there using three AT ONCE!
*Feeds chocolate and winces at the thought of the dentist*
Bless your husband for me please. I WILL BE SURE TO MENTION THIS TO COMPUTER MAN. :)
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I have to take a long lunch today so as not to go into overtime (I work in admin for a movie theater company, so our workweeks are Friday-Thursday) and I am SO spending the whole time in a bookstore reading Chalice. Too bad I have to work on my thesis tonight. :( I won’t be able to finish it until tomorrow!
spending the whole time in a bookstore reading Chalice.
********* Um. The bookstore would probably be glad if you BOUGHT it. (So would I, of course.) Otherwise there are libraries. . . .
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I fully planned on buying it, too. :P Unfortunately, the bookstore I went to said “Oh. We got it today, but haven’t unpacked it yet. Come back later.” And when I asked if any of their other locations had unpacked it yet, they said “No.” GAH.
So I went to another location after work (the one closest to my house rather than the one closest to my work). Where they said “Oh. We haven’t gotten it yet. Probably tomorrow.” At which point I gave up and went to their competitor, who had it.
This is why I don’t buy new books on Amazon. Because if I can’t get it the day it comes out, I go CRAZY.
One way or another, thank you! :)
I wonder if I should feel sorry for the computer man… :-P… It’s probable he’s never met someone with such a potential to crash computers…
Congrats on the book release, and good luck with your dentist!
I wonder if I should feel sorry for the computer man
********* Yes. But he could always get another job. . . . :)
Thank you!
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*****It means I am going to the dentist on CHALICE’s publication day.*****
My copy is due to arrive today. If I’m scarce for awhile, it’s because I’m reading….
*****I can almost like ringing phones when they’re not for me.*****
You know, if you glare at them long enough, they stop eventually.
*****Otherwise I’m going to have to go to the party and mill around and talk to people!*****
Oh, Aerin-sol! The horror, the horror! >;-> Ask yourself, WWA-SD?
Judith
Absolutely. All my heroines (plus Jake) are slightly rejigged versions of me. I don’t MEAN to do this, it’s just . . . it’s like Con telling Sunshine ‘I am not a clean vessel’. Nor am I.
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I hope that the Dentist didn’t too badly impair your enjoyment of Robin McKinley Day*. You should celebrate today by something involving chocolate and confetti!
*as one of my friends named today because of Chalice coming out…
Robin McKinley Day
******** Snork! Thank you!
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“Darkness did his leaping in the air, bracing one forefoot delicately against my chest for more precision in aim, and licking my face trick. He’s getting really good at this. I swear that he now pauses, suspended, for a moment or two, to finish artistic licking.”
Darkness has obviously been studying the ballet. I understand that the (much-prized) ability of some male ballet dancers to hold a pose while leaping and appear almost to hover in mid-air is termed ‘ballon’ – and it sounds as though Darkness has mastered this art. :)
(and somewhere in the comments from last night, that probably re-screened itself after you had unscreened it, is one from me saying congratulations on the new site.)
Anyway, I very much hope that the dentist today was the soul of pain-free courtesy and all went well.
Anyway, I very much hope that the dentist today was the soul of pain-free courtesy and all went well.
************ HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Ballon, huh? I’ll try and remember that. :)
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I understand your suspicion of quagmires.
I used to walk a brace of golden retrievers in my younger days who were constitutionally unable to avoid diving into any sort of available quagmire. Taking me with them, there being no sound canine reason for my denials. It’s called the “Black Swamp” area of Ohio for a reason and we lived near the Maumee river (Maumee tranlates to . . . wait for it . . . muddy river).
Better yet, Darby was from show dog lines — he had a coat like white silk tassels. Well, during a drought he had a coat like white silk tassels. . .
And speaking of weddings, I think you might like this bride:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9873525@N03/1178462701/
See choice of shoes.
LOL! Definitely! Also strongly approve the black feather boa! :)
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That’s not a boa; it’s one of those Hawaiian strings of green stuff–like a lei but with leaves instead of flowers. But if it WERE a boa, that would be fantastic, too. I’m curious: Did you wear All Stars at your wedding?
Oh–oh well. A boa would have been good.
No. Cream leather boots. Seriously self indulgent. :)
Certainly you would have approved of M &M’s wedding. They both approached the tent (in what would have been a hilltop pasture except for a week of rain) on horseback … she on a white mare from the west, he on a gray from the north … she with her dress spread almost as far back as the horse’s tail … and he was in his kilt. They met not far from the tent and he helped her down with a gallant flourish to much applause.
She was supposed to change to wedding shoes upon dismounting, but forgot because a gaggle of girls suddenly appeared swirling ribbons about both bride and groom. So it was sneakers for the whole ceremony and since there was contra dancing after, why bother changing!
After the ceremony M&M climbed onto the seat of a farm wagon and together drove off, pulled by the draft horses they had taken lessons in driving.
No bells, but bag piping … and lots of ceremonial bits from a variety of ethnic groups, and religions (including sawing through a good sized log with a two person saw) followed by 12 different cakes representing their family backgrounds. Next to each cake was a framed photo of the ancestor it represented. (Guess who baked the cakes … after feeding them to the B&G and their friends at pot luck suppers for months beforehand.)
It was more fun/delightful/inspiring than any other wedding I’ve ever even heard about! And pretty cheap … pot luck meal, all held on the grounds of her farm based boarding school, flowers picked in the wild by the guests, etc.a The New Yorkers didn’t quite know what to make of it, but the rest of us loved being able to contribute things which were meaningful.
Hope this little tale distracts you from dental misery and canine frustration!
Thank you!
Chalice came, and I read it, and it’s beautiful. Thank you. I posted a review on my blog.
http://maureenelizabeth.blogspot.com/2008/09/chalice.html
Gah. I’m feeling this way about email these day. It’s a bad sign when you look forward to spam, which you don’t even have to open before you delete, much less *respond.*
…counting down the days until Hawaiian vacation….
Dawn
Ah weddings! I have one on Sunday. My oldest son, Thomas, is getting married, and I’m going come hell or high water, leg be damned. No bell-ringing, but there will be chanting, because they are both Buddhist.
I have figured out that if I wrap my leg differently I can get on these gorgeous sparkly sandals that go with my dress. I won’t have to be in them long–for the reception I will wear those cute little hospital footy thingys. I have a pair that pretty much match the dress. I plan to have fun at the wedding, but then I don’t get out much, and when I do I tend to be social. Sorry. I was sorta born that way. And if I start to hurt there’s always the drugs. (I’ll try not to make a toast under the influence.) And their having a live kareoke band, and I plan to sing “Wild Thing” and hopefully rock the house.
But I thought they had crocodiles in England!
Sending good thoughts to the hellhounds.
I don’t think we have anything native with really big teeth.
Oh, you do coffeehouses! Of course you should sing! Have loads of fun! :)
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****** I don’t think we have anything native with really big teeth.
Umm, politicians?
ROTFL!!!!! *SNOOOOOORK*
Hey, you [bad person], why haven’t you posted the link of ‘my book, okay’? And I WANT A COPY.
****** Hey, you [bad person], why haven’t you posted the link of ‘my book, okay’? And I WANT A COPY.
I’ve posted about three replies now! So at some point they’re all going to LEAP OUT at you (rolls eyes)
You have permission to do anything you wish with my Chalice/Hazel pics, and I would be very happy whatever that something was (hehe)
all 6 are here – http://www.flickr.com/photos/26303732@N02/sets/72157607355859750/
And by the way today is the 18th so Happy Chalice Day! Woo and Hoo!
Waiting for mine to come in the mail…
There is absolutely nothing wrong with that many computers, absolutely NOTHING at all…says she currently working on back up number one while back up number two hides in cupboard while primary is in melbourne having a holiday at the service centre by all accounts and purposes…which is why today I nearly YELLED at the tech people for being idiots and trying to tell me that IF the hard drive failed because they had dropped it I could just bring it in again for fixing. Err NO, did you FAIL to notice the fact I 1. live in another state, 2.LIVE IN ANOTHER STATE??? Cue 2 page letter of complaint FAXED to head office whinging about the incompentance of their staff…
Oh dear, sorry about that, its been one of THOSE days.
**********SYMPATHY*********
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