Perking away

overcast, showers off and on, temps plus 7

Well, seems Spring wasn't kidding. Normally we can expect a couple of crippling snow storms in March, but this year, it's many sunny and warm. We'll take it! I can see the daffodils peeking out already...just little green sprouts...but there. Also out are the house flies and lady bugs, and these huge bugs that look like something out of Starship Troopers. Armoured, long, thick legs. they make a buzzing sound - very loud - when they fly around. Happily they don't bite. It's more an emotional attack. They scare you to death.

We had Bal, Linda and Bethany over last night for dinner. Tony had set up the barbeque and Michael did us steak. Wonderful. perfectly cooked. Bal and Linda are like family so it was pretty relaxed. I did little potatoes, asperagus, salad and frozen yoghurt and chocolate sauce for dessert. We talked a lot about writing since Bal's writing a book and 13 year-old Bethany writes amazing, creative, short stories - when she isn't daydreaming about Joe Jonas. I'll tell you, Joe can do worse - though he might want to wait 5 years.

I don't think Bethany's impressed by the bug population at the guest cottage.

Eric, his partner Erin - from Montreal - and Joanni from the Yamaska Literacy Council came by this afternoon, after I'd done the writing for the day - to record some more narrative for the film on literacy. That was easy - and fun to see them again. They set up the studio in the dining room...and if you ever see the film you might hear Trudy mumbling for attention in the background.

Tomorrow I'm heading in to Montreal in the morning. Have studio time at CBC at 12:30 to record part of the pilot for the proposed national radio programme this summer. Script arrived Monday night. It sounds really fun...but CBC doesn't have much money and this might be a pricy show, so we'll see.

then scooting home for a meeting with Lise at 3:30 - and then next door for dinner with Bal, Linda and Bethany. Nice not to have to cook ourselves. And such a pleasure speaking time with them.

Writing going well. Am at 25,000 words, or so. About 1/4 or 1/5th of the way along. and I know where I'm going, which is refreshing.

Watching the Natasha Richardson situation. Hope she's all right.

Take care - not sure if I'll have time to blog tomorrow. By the way, Trudy seems to have perked up. For the first time we've allowed her up on our bed...that actually perked us up too!

a writers voice

sunny, cold, frost on the ground, temps minus 5

Michael took the dogs out after breakfast for a walk, and for the first time this winter Maggie made it all the way around the pond! So did Trudy, but that's not much of a surprise. But without the snow it's possible for maggie. Then, around noon, I took them out again and again we went around.

Despite it being colder today it still smells of spring. Beautiful.

Lots of work. Wrote the book (or at least part of it) this morning. Then replied to messages, sent off some correspondence snail mail. And did some scheduling for next week. We need to re-do some of the narration I'd done for a film on literacy...apparently some of the script wasn't right. So we're doing that next Wednesday afternoon. Then on Thursday I'm driving in to Montreal for a couple of hours to record the CBC Radio pilot. Then out in time to meet with Lise about a fun new project...but can't tell you about it yet. Not til we (lise) works some things out. Thank God for Lise!

Still battling away on the permissions...always a pain you-know-where, but worth it. The problem is never actually getting the permission to use the poem, but to track down who holds them.

Must run - need to write Curtis Brown in London. Be well.