Geo-thermal

mainly sunny, hot, temps 29

Beautiful day! Lots of deer flies...annoying little bug***s.

I spent the last two days (one night) at the spa Eastman, to celebrate our friend Louise's 50th birthday. We had a blast. Massages, walks. A lecture last night on reflexology. This morning Louise helped me practice for two french interviews today. A TV interview - which was very fun, but very stressful - and a radio interview, with Radio Canada - with two other authors, Johanne Seymour and Andre Jacques. Both write crime fiction. So that was easier...others to take the burden.

enjoyed both a great deal! One of the great things at this spa is that there were no TV's or phones in the rooms, and guests were asked (told) not to use cell phones, laptops or blackberries in the public areas. Unbelievably relaxing to not even see them. But - for the first time ever - I forgot my blackberry at home...and so had no way to contact Michael, since there were no phones in the rooms! Luckily Louise has a cell and she lent it to me. So a couple of calls a day...a nighty-night and a good morning.

Felt very strange.

This afternoon I headed home to Michael and the chaos. It actually wasn't chaos, it just appeared that way. the geo-thermal is going in and I have to say, it's not exactly like a calm walk through the forest. there were two massive earth diggers, men laying piping, others draining our old oil tanks and others removing the old furnace - to be donated to a family who needs one. Poor Michael was here all day yesteday and reported that it was extremely stressful. I arrived home mid-afternoon and immediately lost all benefits from the spa.

It was seeing our beautiful lawns dug up, And the noise. Wow, does that wear fast. Still, there was nothing we could do except trust. And by 7pm, the diggers had left, having filled in the holes and leveled the earth. Quiet was restored. And phil and rob were working in the basement, to get it all hooked-up.

We were hoping to be finished today - but something sprang a leak and they realized they just couldn't finish tonight. So they went off to the guest cottage - and now I finally get a chance to sit down and write you.

You know, this is all wonderful...but when we yearn for peace and quiet and find both shattered, it gnaws away. Still, I'm very lucky to have good friends to celebrate birthdays with...and the chance to go to a spa. And the chance to put in geo-thermal.

Tomorrow it's back to editing. had some thoughts while away. I think they'll work. We'll see.

Oh, Danny and Lucy at Brome Lake Books are having some trouble with their computers and other stuff - so if you're trying to order the vive gamache mugs and either haven't heard back or are waiting for them, they asked me to ask if you'd mind holding tight for a few days until things get sorted out. They also asked me to tell you not to worry - they'll get to all the emails and orders and the mugs will be sent out asap.

we're starting up the geo-thermal tomorrow morning....I'll let you know how it goes. Fingers crossed!!!

Snow-mo

gorgeous day - mild, light snow - perfect winter day. temps minus 2

What a change from Monday! It's like we suddenly walked into a different (heated) room. the cold snap ended and now it's unseasonably mild. But wonderful. Just cold enough to keep the snow.

Did a big french interview yesterday morning. On Radio Canada...their flagship radio show - goes nationally. With Christiane Charette. When my Quebec publisher told me about the interview I almost wept. And not tears of joy. I knew I couldn't turn it down - way too big, and way too important - and I had to support the released of the second book in french, Sous la glace. But I find it hard enough to find the words to describe what I'm doing in english....trying in a second language is torture. and I sure didn't want to either become so frightened my brain froze, or manage to speak, but sound like a slow three year old. And do a disservice to the books.

Ugh.

So I agreed to the interview, and it felt like falling slowly off a cliff, as the day approached. I read over and over an interview I'd given in la Presse with Nathalie Petrowski. she and I met last week for coffee and we talked. In english. Then she translated what I said into french.

I went over and over that interview - making note of key words. Then I called in the Big Gun. My friend Susan, who helped prep me for french interviews last year when the first book came out. susan agreed to meet me at Radio Canada for breakfast yesterday, and go over some french answers to possible questions....and just get my mind in gear. How wonderful, and patient, Susan was.

finally it was time. It feels like every nightmare I ever have. Showing up for an exam and realizing i haven't been to class all year, and certainly haven't studied. Or finding myself on stage in front of hundreds of people in a play - but I haven't learned my lines.

And then - I'm suddenly naked.

At the very least, as I walked toward the studio, I knew I might make a balls-up of it, but I probably wouldn't suddenly find myself naked.

Happily, another friend, Anne Lagace Dowson, was also a guest - invited by the brilliant producers when they realized I might not be up to a 20 minute live national radio interview. So the red light went on and Christiane introduced us...and then the three of us talked. In french. The whole time. Well - I resorted to english for a few words or phrases, but Anne translated and we went on. And not once did I feel my clothes slipping off.

I'll tell you, there's no relief like feeling that ten ton stone being released! Phew. What joy when it was over - and realizing I hadn't made a mess of it. Wow. I'm SO grateful to Susan and Anne - to Christiane for her patience. What a relief.

Then drove back home - it was snowing and I had the little car, so I took the back roads.

Arrived home exhausted, and make a tea and went to bed. At 5pm.

Today we had a breakfast meeting in Knowlton with Lise. What fun, to discuss the books and contracts and permissions and mailing with Lise over a warm muffin and cafe au lait.

then off to Granby for lunch with our friend Louise. Then she had us back to her home for tea and homemade banana bread. Absolutely yummy!!! We did a little sort of ritual - sitting in a circle with a candle....and sent away any pain and darkness from Jacques' days of illness in the home. And invited in the light. And healing. Contentment and peace.

It was very beautiful. And we could all feel Jacques' presence. The cat did something he's never done before too, as we sat in the circle. He curled up in Louise's lap.

The photo above we took in Granby when we arrived for lunch. It looked so singular - and we loved their snow hair and snow necklaces.

How unexpected life is.

A friend wrote today and ended her letter by saying she hoped we were in 'dangerous good health'. I thought that was such a fun way of putting it. I hope the same for you!

Changing colours

partly cloudy, cool, temps 15

Seasonable day - we are into autumn. Spoke to Michael this morning and he told me the mountain behind our home is now all red and oranges...as the trees change colours. He was heading out to get croissants for his cousin Marjorie and our mutual friend Kate, who're coming to visit for a few days.

I'm so sorry to miss them. And miss the leaves changing. And miss Michael.

But I'm having fun here. So important, I realize, not to look sideways, at the stuff happening elsewhere. But to enjoy and appreciate exactly where I am.

Today is the celebration of David Thompson's life. The young co-owner of Murder by the Book in Houston who died suddenly, shockingly, almost two weeks ago. McKenna, his wife, and his friends and co-workers have organized a party for today, at the Briar Club in Houston, from 2 to 5. They've also set up a fund to help pay for a lasting memorial to this wonderful man. A scholarship perhaps. For those interested, here's the info from the Murder by the Book site...

Checks to the order of "In Memory of David Thompson" (NOT simply David Thompson)

Mail for deposit to:
7 E. 14th St. #1206
New York, NY 10003

It's being organized by a terrific NYC crime writer, Alafair Burke.

Wish I could be there - but I'm here.

Sitting in the Le Germain hotel room, watching the Sunday morning news programmes, eating fruit salad and drinking coffee. More editing on the newsletter and a last minute question from a reporter. This is a great hotel and excellent room. sort of like a loft - I think that's the look they're going for. A boutique hotel but instead of that being code for 'minuscule rooms' it is actually code for small hotel, huge rooms. And very cool washroom with a glass wall between the bedroom and the shower. And huge floor to ceiling windows looking into downtown montreal. The key is to remember, when standing in the shower, that the only thing between me and people across the way are two windows.

Wonderful mention of En plein coeur on the big Quebec TV morning show today...SalutBonjour.

And lovely review of BURY YOUR DEAD on Jim Napier's website, (he also put it in the Sherbrooke Record, where he does book reviews). www.deadlydiversions.com

donna, of Hachette Canada - the publishers - is coming by the hotel in about 45 minutes to drive me to Word on the Street in Kitchener for the two events. Not sure what to wear. Turtleneck? Sweater? Coat?

Not a bad life when that's the big issue.

A small update on our friend Louise. She's putting one foot in front of the other. Asking for help from people who specialise in grief counselling. She's amazing. I speak with her often, and email every day. And when I can't speak with her, Michael does. Since he lost his first wife to cancer he and Louise share an experience, a territory, known to them.

Must get dressed. Must remember to close the drapes when I do. don't want to blind Toronto!

Be well, McKenna. My head is here. My heart is in Houston today.

Time to Make the Doughnuts....

overcast, cool, temps 13

chilly day. Laid the fire in the hearth, but haven't yet had time to light it and sit there. A whole bunch of details that need to be taken care of before we leave. Happily everyone we called said, 'We'll be right over.' So got the water system at the guest cottage taken care of, got the TV's in the main home taken care of. And have spent the morning sorting, throwing out, and packing up clothing.

Wow! Does it ever feel great to go through the drawers and closets and realize how many clothes I no longer wear, and haven't for a long time. The ones in good shape we'll clean and donate...the rest get chucked. And, there're all these clothes I'd forgotten I had!! And love. It's like going shopping, without having to leave home or spend money.

Do you do the same thing? I really should be more disciplined about sorting. So this is a real godsend.

But we need more plastic containers!!! I've used them all - and there's none for Michael. But we'll be in Montreal tomorrow so can pick some more up. Have even decided....how's this for brains?...to sort the boxes into Summer and Winter. so that when we return I can just pull out the winter stuff.

And did an interview for one of the French papers.

Spoke to Louise last night and again this morning. She's very funny. Said that for the past year, when jacques health took a nose-dive, she got used to doing various things...a routine. That grew more and more exhausting. Til at the end she said she'd get out of bed, drag herself down the hall murmuring to herself, 'Time to make the doughnuts. Time to make the doughnuts.'

A reference to an old TV commercial about a doughnut maker who got up at the crack of dawn and like a zombie went about his work. 'Time to make the doughnuts.'

Everyday, for weeks and months, that was how she felt, and that was what she mumbled to herself.

Until yesterday. She said one of the hardest things was not going to the hospital. She actually drove by it...slowing down. But didn't stop.

Mostly, though, she's decided to not run away from the pain in frantic activity. Or even in television. But to sit quietly, and feel it completely. And then, one day, to feel it ease. She knows the only way to really let something go is to own it first. And she has the courage to do that. At least for today.

Thank you SO much for all your beautiful comments about Jacques and David. And Louise and McKenna. Sent off a card to McKenna - and will see her, I hope, in a few weeks.

Off to Montreal tomorrow. But just a brief visit. Will try to blog tomorrow. Thanks for being with us through this. By the way, I'll be blogging for The Lipstick Chronicles this Friday.

Hi, there...

Overcast, -13, one inch of new snow, a light breeze.

Good morning! It's awfully quiet around here. I'm not alone. Maggie and Trudy are here, but Louise is in Montreal about to catch the train to Toronto in another 40 minutes. So, I'm in charge. Michael's in charge.

Which means six dinners waiting for me in the frig for four nights and lots of free cell on the computer. Well, and I'm in charge of the Blackberry, erasing all the spam over the weekend and responding to requests when instructed to. Yesterday, while Louise was in Montreal, overseeing the installation 0f our new flat screen TV, I did a little seasonal shopping in Knowlton and Cowansville (for her). But I won't tell you what I got.

What I will tell you is my opinion of Louise Penny, mystery author. I think Louise writes the best murder mysteries ever written, clear reflections of her marvellous self (except for the murder part). She writes beautifully, her characters are unique and unforgettable, her settings are to die for and I for one never succeed in finding the killer (until I'm told), being led astray time and again by her crafty red herrings. And I'm told Chief Inspector Armand Gamache resembles me. Makes my head swell. I just can't stop talking about how brilliant she (and her books) are. And you have this skinny from an experienced and totally unbiased critic; her husband. (There, I've used a semi-colon; hangover from my scientific writing).

Anyway, I'm probably preaching to the choir. But you don't have to take it from me. Before you head out again for more seasonal shopping, with more relatives in need of reading Louise's unique mystery series in mind, please be informed that Louise received an email from her Editor, Hope Dellon, at St Martins Minotaur Press, yesterday, congratulating her on a great review of 'A Fatal Grace' by Tom Nolan in the - are you ready - The Wall Street Journal. Whoopee! The Wall Street Journal. Unbelievable!

Here's the link (I hope): http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119637721856508620.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

If this doesn't work, I can copy the review into this blog later.

At 73, this is my first blog ever. Who would have believed it. Maybe I'll tell you about my own mystery novel tomorrow...