heavy mist, then lovely sunny and warm. temps 26
Turned onto a glorious day. Sunny and warm - just got out of the pool. Pretty tired, but very happy. We got up just before 5am - fed and walked Trudy, then hopped in the baby blue beetle, to drive to Sherbrooke for a 7am appointment with the dealership to fix a couple of things. Again. We hope this is it. Love the car - just adore it. But this hobby of going to the dealership is getting a little wearisome.
Still, the pay-off (and it isn't trivial) is that we get to go to Hovey manor for breakfast while we wait! Which is exactly what we did.
But I have to tell you that our drive to Sherbrooke this morning was stunning. All misty through the mountains and forests. Breath-taking. Got there about 6:45. Got a rental...and headed to Hovey. Arrived there about 15 minutes before the breakfast started, but they know us so well, they let us in early for coffee and croissants, cheese and granola, and this wonderful fruit compote.
The dining room has a bank of french doors looking out over the rose garden, then the lake beyond. Magical.
then we ordered breakfast and decided to go with the chef's 'inspiration' - two poached eggs on a bed of broccoli and smoked ham and covered in bechemel sauce. Dear Lord - it was as wonderful as it sounds.
Headed back to get the car and drove, with the top down, an hour and a half to Granby to meet with two friends, one of whom is quite ill. Had a marvelous lunch together.
As the day progressed I checked the email on my blackberry with mounting horror as more and more messages poured in, all of which needed replies and many of them not simple replies! Finally got home about 4pm and have spent the last two hours getting the business taken care of.
if there's been a shock about life as an author, it's the amount of 'paper work'...all the ancillary work. Still - better than no one caring or noticing. But it gets a little overwhelming at times. Thank God for Lise who got forwarded at least two of the more hefty requests.
It's a beautiful evening. Am off to fire up the barbeque - prepare two books to be mailed - announce the Facebook winners. Turn the corn on the cob on. I'll tell you - this makes a pretty spectacular office!
Showing posts with label email. Show all posts
Showing posts with label email. Show all posts
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
Revenge of the Swedes
sunny, hot and humid, temps 32
Am in Montreal now...arrived yesterday morning, leaving Michael in Sutton with his son...give the guys some private time. And I had a dentist appointment. And a few things to do here. Did an interview this morning with Hannah Sung at CBC for the book club...some questions their readers had. Then hopped in the car to zoom to Ikea for bookcases. Now that we're set-up in the new apartment we realize we need more bookcases. No real surprise there.
I got there about 10:30 and the lot was already 2/3rds full. I whizzed around, since we don't need anything else - though I was really temped to buy a few sofas, some lamps and a new kitchen. But resisted. Got two book cases - then found them in the self-serve.
Self-serve?? What do they think we are? As you might have gathered I'm not exactly petite, but even I could barely wrestle with the boxes from the shelves. I finally had to ask a young worker to help. He did but didn't seem happy - never cracked a smile, or said a word. But even he grunted a little dragging a box from the second shelf.
Managed to get the boxes from the trolley into the car, then from the car to the apartment. But nthe real delight was still to come.
Putting the ducking things together. I'm going to hell for sure. And I think my right thumb has a permanent ridge where that 'key' fits. Had to made two bookcases. Michael said I should wait until he arrives tomorrow, but the truth is, we don't work so well together. One of us gets bossy. To be fair, we take turns micro-managing each other...and since neither of us reacts well to that you'd think we'd stop doing it to each other. But we don't.
But now, they're both done and look great. Now we can finally unpack the last of the boxes. That I will save for Michael.
Rented and watched two DVD's from the first season of 30Rock. I almost never catch it on TV, but when I do I love it. Thought this was a great chance to start getting caught up. It's hilarious.
Spoke to Michael. He and his son did a Cowie for breakfast, and are now lounging by the pool, reading. Off to the theatre tonight. Sounds like they're having a blast.
Time for me to take a soft drink, some fruit and the manuscript for book 6 onto the balcony and do some more fine tuning. Love this stage of the process.
Am overwhelmed with responses to my newsletter give-away - two advance copies of THE BRUTAL TELLING. I always try to respond to each one, but there are hundreds. But I figure if I just do 25 a day I'll eventually get through. And I really appreciate the notes from people, and that the reason I get to do this is because people have discovered the books and support them. The least I can do is write back when they take the time to write. It just takes a little time.
Take care and will talk to you tomorrow.
Am in Montreal now...arrived yesterday morning, leaving Michael in Sutton with his son...give the guys some private time. And I had a dentist appointment. And a few things to do here. Did an interview this morning with Hannah Sung at CBC for the book club...some questions their readers had. Then hopped in the car to zoom to Ikea for bookcases. Now that we're set-up in the new apartment we realize we need more bookcases. No real surprise there.
I got there about 10:30 and the lot was already 2/3rds full. I whizzed around, since we don't need anything else - though I was really temped to buy a few sofas, some lamps and a new kitchen. But resisted. Got two book cases - then found them in the self-serve.
Self-serve?? What do they think we are? As you might have gathered I'm not exactly petite, but even I could barely wrestle with the boxes from the shelves. I finally had to ask a young worker to help. He did but didn't seem happy - never cracked a smile, or said a word. But even he grunted a little dragging a box from the second shelf.
Managed to get the boxes from the trolley into the car, then from the car to the apartment. But nthe real delight was still to come.
Putting the ducking things together. I'm going to hell for sure. And I think my right thumb has a permanent ridge where that 'key' fits. Had to made two bookcases. Michael said I should wait until he arrives tomorrow, but the truth is, we don't work so well together. One of us gets bossy. To be fair, we take turns micro-managing each other...and since neither of us reacts well to that you'd think we'd stop doing it to each other. But we don't.
But now, they're both done and look great. Now we can finally unpack the last of the boxes. That I will save for Michael.
Rented and watched two DVD's from the first season of 30Rock. I almost never catch it on TV, but when I do I love it. Thought this was a great chance to start getting caught up. It's hilarious.
Spoke to Michael. He and his son did a Cowie for breakfast, and are now lounging by the pool, reading. Off to the theatre tonight. Sounds like they're having a blast.
Time for me to take a soft drink, some fruit and the manuscript for book 6 onto the balcony and do some more fine tuning. Love this stage of the process.
Am overwhelmed with responses to my newsletter give-away - two advance copies of THE BRUTAL TELLING. I always try to respond to each one, but there are hundreds. But I figure if I just do 25 a day I'll eventually get through. And I really appreciate the notes from people, and that the reason I get to do this is because people have discovered the books and support them. The least I can do is write back when they take the time to write. It just takes a little time.
Take care and will talk to you tomorrow.
Thursday, 30 July 2009
The scent of summer
sunny, hot, beautiful, temps 29
Glorious day - again. Nice breeze - a little humid but most hot days here in Quebec are. Did a couple loads of laundry and put the washing on the clothes line to dry. perfect weather for it. Nothing like the scent of line dried laundry.
Now there's a summer scent...
line dried laundry
peaches
fresh mowed grass
heat sizzling off asphalt
phlox
barbequed burgers
lemonade
These things I have loved...
Lovely, quiet day. Nancy, our computer surgeon, came by at 10am to fix my email...it wasn't receiving on my personal account. Now I need to get in touch with her again, because while it is now receiving, it isn't sending from that account.
Still, everything else is going along perfectly. Awaiting family visits this weekend. It's a long weekend for most of Canada, just not Quebec. Weather is supposed to be spectacular so it'll be reading and swimming and barbeques...and the Knowlton literary festival. Such fun to be in the audience, enjoying and not performing.
Be well...hope you've enjoyed your day.
Glorious day - again. Nice breeze - a little humid but most hot days here in Quebec are. Did a couple loads of laundry and put the washing on the clothes line to dry. perfect weather for it. Nothing like the scent of line dried laundry.
Now there's a summer scent...
line dried laundry
peaches
fresh mowed grass
heat sizzling off asphalt
phlox
barbequed burgers
lemonade
These things I have loved...
Lovely, quiet day. Nancy, our computer surgeon, came by at 10am to fix my email...it wasn't receiving on my personal account. Now I need to get in touch with her again, because while it is now receiving, it isn't sending from that account.
Still, everything else is going along perfectly. Awaiting family visits this weekend. It's a long weekend for most of Canada, just not Quebec. Weather is supposed to be spectacular so it'll be reading and swimming and barbeques...and the Knowlton literary festival. Such fun to be in the audience, enjoying and not performing.
Be well...hope you've enjoyed your day.
Sunday, 11 January 2009
MC Mikey-Mike
Snow, temps minus 10
Man, was it cold last night. We had to go out, as we do every Saturday evening, and it was bitter! Even by Canadian standards. But what a moon, again! It was almost daylight, except the light it threw onto the snow made everything a sort of gray. it was like walking through a very quiet Netherworld.
And there must have bgen ice crystals in the atmosphere because there was the biggest halo around the moon. Huge, and distinct. Often, when that happens it's barely there, but last night there was no mistaking it.
Today there's a gentle snow, like dust falling. It adds up, but nothing dramatic.
I've been emailing with Barbara Peters, the brilliant owner of Poisoned Pen in Arizona. It occured to both of us that really, to try to do 2 events on the day of Obama's Inauguration was folly. So we're considering moving what events we can to the next day - Jan 21st. Will let you know. It might not be possible. In which case, whoever is meant to be there will. I certainly won't be. I'll be watching the TV. (Kidding).
Michael's downstairs writing his book and listening to rap music. Usher, Will Smith, Eminem. I'll have to start refering to him by his rap name, MC Mikey-Mike.
By the way, I did want to mention that I try to respond to every email - but sometimes it isn't possible. And sometimes I think I'm responding but the BlackBerry isn't really sending. Or, last night I had a very funny message from a person named Patenaude - I tried to write back, but it kept saying undeliverable.
I mention this because I do feel badly when people take the time to write, and be so supportive, and then they think I don't care - when I do, deeply. So - if you're the Patenaude who wrote, know that I tried!
I also had an email recently from Armand Gamache. Now that was a very strange feeling. He lives in the US and was curious, understandably, how I came to use his name. I explained that 'Armand' is the name of a friend of ours, and 'Gamache' is MC Mikey-Mike's tailor in Granby. A lovely, dignified man.
Had some keys made for the house to give to Lise so she can dig out Michael's study, and just tried them. Not a one worked. Oh dear. Back to the hardware store. Pat and Tony will be staying here in our absence, of course...with their brood of dogs, but Lise still needs her own keys.
Off now - lots of nothing to be done.
Man, was it cold last night. We had to go out, as we do every Saturday evening, and it was bitter! Even by Canadian standards. But what a moon, again! It was almost daylight, except the light it threw onto the snow made everything a sort of gray. it was like walking through a very quiet Netherworld.
And there must have bgen ice crystals in the atmosphere because there was the biggest halo around the moon. Huge, and distinct. Often, when that happens it's barely there, but last night there was no mistaking it.
Today there's a gentle snow, like dust falling. It adds up, but nothing dramatic.
I've been emailing with Barbara Peters, the brilliant owner of Poisoned Pen in Arizona. It occured to both of us that really, to try to do 2 events on the day of Obama's Inauguration was folly. So we're considering moving what events we can to the next day - Jan 21st. Will let you know. It might not be possible. In which case, whoever is meant to be there will. I certainly won't be. I'll be watching the TV. (Kidding).
Michael's downstairs writing his book and listening to rap music. Usher, Will Smith, Eminem. I'll have to start refering to him by his rap name, MC Mikey-Mike.
By the way, I did want to mention that I try to respond to every email - but sometimes it isn't possible. And sometimes I think I'm responding but the BlackBerry isn't really sending. Or, last night I had a very funny message from a person named Patenaude - I tried to write back, but it kept saying undeliverable.
I mention this because I do feel badly when people take the time to write, and be so supportive, and then they think I don't care - when I do, deeply. So - if you're the Patenaude who wrote, know that I tried!
I also had an email recently from Armand Gamache. Now that was a very strange feeling. He lives in the US and was curious, understandably, how I came to use his name. I explained that 'Armand' is the name of a friend of ours, and 'Gamache' is MC Mikey-Mike's tailor in Granby. A lovely, dignified man.
Had some keys made for the house to give to Lise so she can dig out Michael's study, and just tried them. Not a one worked. Oh dear. Back to the hardware store. Pat and Tony will be staying here in our absence, of course...with their brood of dogs, but Lise still needs her own keys.
Off now - lots of nothing to be done.
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