tahitian vanilla

Today is a good day. Last night was not such a good night. I had to send Christopher upstairs to shush Leo Who Sleeps With the Bongos, but they've got their interaction down so pat now that Christopher didn't have to speak, just put his fingers over his lips to indicate quiet. It worked.

Then all was fine until George got scared of the thunderbooming storm, and needed to go out, and then smelled like wet dog skunkdog. We had to light incense to sleep for the smell.

But the night before we'd smartly went and got provisions for our lunches today. And so had nice breakfast burritos, which is not a bad way to start the day, and then to work. I called and was told George could be de-skunked (somewhat) by the groomer for $5 bucks on top of a shampoo and such. So I made the appointment and he's there now.

Went to the post office mid-morning, taking a break from work, and mailed out Say...aren't you dead? to the far corners of the world, and California. It's always cool to go in with a stack of things that are going so many places. Contributors, subscribers, reviewers keep your eyes on the mailbox. And if you'd like a review copy, or to order one, just shoot me an email and we'll fix you up.

As a bonus, bought cool reptile and amphibian stamps.

Work, work, work, have sushi for lunch, leave early to go pick up George the Dog and Christopher. George still smells pungently of skunk, as does the house. There's an intriguing package from Ms. Link but I don't have time to open it. Drive, drive, drive George to the groomer, where he is very sad to be dropped off. Drag Christopher from window where he is watching the painful sight of George, seated, being dragged into the washroom. (I'm sure he's fine the moment we leave and women start cooing at him. In this respect, he's a lot like his fatherly type.)

Over to Tar-jay for Fabreze and Tahitian Vanilla candles, which smell scrumptious. Post office stop on the way home, because it's rainy and we don't want to walk. There's a lady with a shopping cart and a bag of stuff living in there now. Sometimes outside, sometimes in.

Christopher comes out with submissions and an armload of maps he's requested from various Kentucky county chamber of commerces for his novel. (He's also started a secret blog, sort of, or has created one and will start it and then it won't be secret. It's going to be a chronicle of the writing of the book and also have short shorts about the counties in the book.)

Then we came home and OPENED THE MAGIC BOX WITH PRESENTS IN IT!

You know how yesterday I was kvetching about having too much stuff to read? (Argosy and Trunk Stories are both worth your time and money; loved the WITCH WEEK column in TS.) Well, behold, as an early Christmas present comes the answer: an advance proof copy of Karen Joy Fowler's forthcoming THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB.

Yay!!!

You should all go pre-order right now.

Plus, there was an awesome flying Mexican dragon creature that will be wonderful dangling from the ceilling in the office. Double yay!!! And this on top of other lovely presents.

So, a good day. Maps, and clean dog (hope, hope), and the exact book I want to be reading (if I can wrestle it from Christopher's death grip...). And a dragon.

Life is sweet.