overcast, spitting, damp and cool temps 6
Michael's out of surgery and home - sitting in the living room in his sweats drinking a HUGE cafe au lait and eating a pastry. All is right with the world!
Phew.
His eye is covered with a big blue plastic patch (someone not long ago hilariously commented on the blog that he could take up a second career as a pirate, if need be. 'Have you ever been to sea, Billy?' Arrgh).
Hardly any pain - just a bit of scratchy feeling. I went out and got him some Tylenol - and the coffee.
We arrived at the Montreal General around 8:30...they took him right away to change and prep, and I had to go three floor up to the waiting room. Four hours later they took him, and an hour after that he was finished. By 2:30 we were home.
The doctor is VERY pleased with what he saw. And now Michael just needs to stay quiet - so his plans for the triathalon are on hold. Very disappointed too that his plans to train for the Iron Man must be cancelled.
We have a 6:15 appointment tomorrow morning (I KNOW - can you believe it???) for the doc to see if it looks like he saved the eye. The operation was for glaucoma - sort of. Michael's had glaucoma for 30 years and it has been brillaintly managed - but an operation he had about 10 years ago to relieve the pressure finally failed. We all knew it would and just hoped in the meantime another procedure might have been developed. Basically, his eye has been leaking and if it kept up he'd go blind before too long - but just in that eye, thank God. And - how fortunate!!! An operation has been developed to repair this very problem, involving a shunt - which i keep think of as a railway event, or a tap. I suspect it is neither.
So tomorrow, more news... But it's looking great - and we will live in the great good fortune of today - to have the operation over!!! And mouths full of pastry. And being together.
Mostly, Michael and I want to thank all of you. For your active prayers, for your thoughts and good wishes. For your messages, written and unwritten, but all received.
People have far worse things in their lives...many of you are facing worse things, I know. And yet you take the time to reach out to us. Michael has asked me to thank you sincerely. And I thank you too.
Bless you. Thank you.
Showing posts with label Thank you. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thank you. Show all posts
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Thank you
clear, cold, highs minus 14
GREAT news! The paperback sales of A FATAL GRACE are booming in the US! Just heard from the publishers - and they're thrilled. And if they're happy you can just imagine how I feel. Wow. It's so exciting to think of people hearing about the series then buying the books.
I mention this for a couple of reasons - it's a huge event in my publishing life and I wanted to share it with you. But equally important I know people hear about the series through you. I know how many of you have been spreading the word - in some cases accosting complete strangers - well done! And I'm SO grateful.
It's so difficult getting the word out. I've been extremely lucky, but even so it's hard work. And a shattering number of wonderful books bob to the surface then sink from sight. There are just so many books out there.
that's still, of course, a possibility with the Three Pines series. We haven't quite hit the 'tipping point' yet. But I think we're close. And I know it's because you're such great support.
Thank you! And I'm afraid I'll be calling on that support again in a few weeks when the third book, THE CRUELEST MONTH, comes out in the United States. But, you know I hope, that I don't expect you to do anything. And don't feel badly if you don't tell anyone about the books. That's not expected, not what this blog or this experience is about. It's not necessary. Some people are good at it, and some not. Frankly, I'm not so good at it. It's excrutiating for me to approach a stranger in a store and tell them about my book. I feel like I'm melting.
I still try to do it (though don't always find the courage) - but then they're my books. I really don't want any of you to feel you should do the same thing. But I also do know most of you have told family and friends and that is massive.
I'm going on too long about this, and feel I've been a little flat-footed - but I'm thrilled and wanted to share the delight!
Great news too - I've finished the party scene. Will spend today going back over it...already I see a few small holes or wrong words. Things that occur in the night, or while watching the primary returns, just before my mind goes numb.
Had to decline an invitation to tour Canada's Northwest Territories next winter. I;'ve never been there and I hear the Arctic is amazing. I'd have loved to go but amazingly I seem quite booked already and just couldn't find the time. Next winter I'll be researching and writing the next book, in Quebec City, then doing the next US tour, the Hawaii (yup) for Left Coast Crime, then UK for British stuff. This is all a year away. But what fun. Still, I asked if they'd mind inviting me again the next year and I'll make time. It's not book sales there, it's a literacy push.
I was in the bath yesterday afternoon (where else) and heard a squirrel trying to get in through the roof. They can be quite destructive. My options were to call out for Michael, get out of the bath, or phone Anthony or Lise (only because she's our external common sense).
I stayed in the bath. Once out I noticed that the TV antenna was missing. Not a tiny rabbit's ear contraption on the roof, but quite a large tower planted in the ground next to the house. Either our squirrels know Roger Clemens or that scratching sound wasn't them.
As you probably know, a good writer notices things - so it's both humbling and disconcerting to realize someone could walk off with our communications tower and me not even notice.
Of course there's also the humbling evidence of laziness. Oh, well. At least I'm clean and hydrated and that's all that matters.
Off to the office today. Hope you're well and I'll write tomorrow.
GREAT news! The paperback sales of A FATAL GRACE are booming in the US! Just heard from the publishers - and they're thrilled. And if they're happy you can just imagine how I feel. Wow. It's so exciting to think of people hearing about the series then buying the books.
I mention this for a couple of reasons - it's a huge event in my publishing life and I wanted to share it with you. But equally important I know people hear about the series through you. I know how many of you have been spreading the word - in some cases accosting complete strangers - well done! And I'm SO grateful.
It's so difficult getting the word out. I've been extremely lucky, but even so it's hard work. And a shattering number of wonderful books bob to the surface then sink from sight. There are just so many books out there.
that's still, of course, a possibility with the Three Pines series. We haven't quite hit the 'tipping point' yet. But I think we're close. And I know it's because you're such great support.
Thank you! And I'm afraid I'll be calling on that support again in a few weeks when the third book, THE CRUELEST MONTH, comes out in the United States. But, you know I hope, that I don't expect you to do anything. And don't feel badly if you don't tell anyone about the books. That's not expected, not what this blog or this experience is about. It's not necessary. Some people are good at it, and some not. Frankly, I'm not so good at it. It's excrutiating for me to approach a stranger in a store and tell them about my book. I feel like I'm melting.
I still try to do it (though don't always find the courage) - but then they're my books. I really don't want any of you to feel you should do the same thing. But I also do know most of you have told family and friends and that is massive.
I'm going on too long about this, and feel I've been a little flat-footed - but I'm thrilled and wanted to share the delight!
Great news too - I've finished the party scene. Will spend today going back over it...already I see a few small holes or wrong words. Things that occur in the night, or while watching the primary returns, just before my mind goes numb.
Had to decline an invitation to tour Canada's Northwest Territories next winter. I;'ve never been there and I hear the Arctic is amazing. I'd have loved to go but amazingly I seem quite booked already and just couldn't find the time. Next winter I'll be researching and writing the next book, in Quebec City, then doing the next US tour, the Hawaii (yup) for Left Coast Crime, then UK for British stuff. This is all a year away. But what fun. Still, I asked if they'd mind inviting me again the next year and I'll make time. It's not book sales there, it's a literacy push.
I was in the bath yesterday afternoon (where else) and heard a squirrel trying to get in through the roof. They can be quite destructive. My options were to call out for Michael, get out of the bath, or phone Anthony or Lise (only because she's our external common sense).
I stayed in the bath. Once out I noticed that the TV antenna was missing. Not a tiny rabbit's ear contraption on the roof, but quite a large tower planted in the ground next to the house. Either our squirrels know Roger Clemens or that scratching sound wasn't them.
As you probably know, a good writer notices things - so it's both humbling and disconcerting to realize someone could walk off with our communications tower and me not even notice.
Of course there's also the humbling evidence of laziness. Oh, well. At least I'm clean and hydrated and that's all that matters.
Off to the office today. Hope you're well and I'll write tomorrow.
Saturday, 5 January 2008
Croissants and pastry and cheese, oh my.
Sunny, mild, flurries for this afternoon, beautiful day, highs minus 2
Before I say anything else I want to thank all of you who wrote concerning my last blog. Such kindness and support. So unexpected - and welcome. As I said to some of you, I was unsure of the wisdom of opening up that much, but in a kind of plunge decided to do it. And I'm genuinely grateful to you for making me feel good about it.
Thank you.
Well, it's Saturday around noon. Mike and Dom arrived yesterday and are staying at the guest cottage - which is great anyway but especially great given that Gary (who we're convinced now lives in the basement and sometimes makes rude sawing noises down there) is still working on our renovations. He made our cedar closet yesterday, and as he left he said it reminded him of cleaning out the pee-soaked shavings from his hampster cage as a kid.
Men. Always know the right thing to say.
Though he also called first thing this morning to say he was reading the Saturday Montreal Gazette and there was The Cruellest Month on the bestsellers list again! Gary redeemed himself - and then some. Yippeee!
Dom and Mike are walking over for lunch (a quiche made by Dom - thankfully, for all of us) then Michael and I are taking then around the area. To Kirk's antiques store in Knowlton, and the fabulous La Rumeur Affamee, the bakery right on main street that has long wooden counters, and glass display cases and barrels of fresh baked croissants. The walls are stacked with all sorts of baguette. And across the aisle are cheeses, many made locally, some by the Benedictine monks at the nearby abbey, and some imported from France. It's a dietary disaster. Perfect for Mike and Dom.
Then we'll take them up to Mont Sutton, so they can see where it is for next time, when they bring their skis.
Must be off - they'll arrive in a moment. Hope you're enjoying these young days of the new year.
And, thank you again. For everything.
Before I say anything else I want to thank all of you who wrote concerning my last blog. Such kindness and support. So unexpected - and welcome. As I said to some of you, I was unsure of the wisdom of opening up that much, but in a kind of plunge decided to do it. And I'm genuinely grateful to you for making me feel good about it.
Thank you.
Well, it's Saturday around noon. Mike and Dom arrived yesterday and are staying at the guest cottage - which is great anyway but especially great given that Gary (who we're convinced now lives in the basement and sometimes makes rude sawing noises down there) is still working on our renovations. He made our cedar closet yesterday, and as he left he said it reminded him of cleaning out the pee-soaked shavings from his hampster cage as a kid.
Men. Always know the right thing to say.
Though he also called first thing this morning to say he was reading the Saturday Montreal Gazette and there was The Cruellest Month on the bestsellers list again! Gary redeemed himself - and then some. Yippeee!
Dom and Mike are walking over for lunch (a quiche made by Dom - thankfully, for all of us) then Michael and I are taking then around the area. To Kirk's antiques store in Knowlton, and the fabulous La Rumeur Affamee, the bakery right on main street that has long wooden counters, and glass display cases and barrels of fresh baked croissants. The walls are stacked with all sorts of baguette. And across the aisle are cheeses, many made locally, some by the Benedictine monks at the nearby abbey, and some imported from France. It's a dietary disaster. Perfect for Mike and Dom.
Then we'll take them up to Mont Sutton, so they can see where it is for next time, when they bring their skis.
Must be off - they'll arrive in a moment. Hope you're enjoying these young days of the new year.
And, thank you again. For everything.
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