9

sunny, mild, lovely day, temps 20

Stunning day - not a cloud. Beautiful walking weather. Michael and I had breakfast, then I headed off to check out netbooks at Bureau en Gros, which is a big office supply chain. Looking at Toshiba and Samsung, but they didn't have the types I'd found online with great reviews. Will keep looking. I think with the amount I travel, the volume of email and the need to do some writing (but not other stuff) a netbook makes more sense than a new laptop. Love my old one, even though the letter have almost completely worn off the keyboard. It's a clunky old thing, but mine.

But for traveling, I think a netbook would work.

Got my haircut by Olivier...he did a great job. Then had Linda remove my moustache with hot wax. Yikes! I have this done about once a year. I'm lucky that I'm quiet fair and the odd black, wiry hair can be plucked...so the hot wax and feathers treatment isn't essential all the time. Though they actually don't put feathers on. Instead she uses some sort of sandpaper-like strip and rip the top layer of skin (and presumably, hair) right out. My upper lip was deep purple. Not exactly an improvement - and we have quite a formal affair tonight at McGill University - the investiture of a chair in medicine.

Linda, being quite understanding, said she'd get rid of the purple by smearing a calming cream on it. When I looked in the mirror I had a Fu Manchu of green paste. I whizzed around to stare at Linda. She explained that the green hid the purple. Which was true. But it was still green. Under my nose. Can you imagine showing up at a formal cocktail in a room filled with medical specialists, looking like I had a petrie dish on my upper lip?

The haircut would have to be pretty spectacular to overcome that. And it wasn't that good.

I went into the washroom and wiped the green goop off. So now I have a slightly numb, slightly purple upper lip. Perhaps, like Queens of old, I should put a big fake mole on my cheek, as a diversion.

Or, maybe I can decide the entire room isn't that interested in me. Yes, perhaps that will be my beauty secret today. Modesty.

Came home and wrote 15-hundred words on the novella that now has a name. The Hangman. It will be published in the fall of 2010 and features Chief Inspector Gamache and a murder in - you guessed it - Three Pines! Such fun to be back there. Am about to write a scene between Gamache and Myrna. What a challenge writing for adults who read at about a grade 4 level. It sure makes me think. And simplfy my language.

Time to get my party frock on. Off to the ceremony and party, then home to watch Obama's speech on health care.

By the way, happy 9/9/09.

Be well.