A new species of reader

brilliant sunshine, temps 4

Cooler than normal, but at least it's sunny!

this is a fun photo, sent yesterday by a reader named Annie. It's of her cat Phoebe reading Bury Your Dead. Belongs in a TS Eliot poem!

Got up early to drive Michael and his son Vic to the airport. They're off to Chicago for a guys weekend. Meeting oldest son, Mike, there. Mike is celebrating his 50th birthday, and Michael is celebrating his 77th. They staying on the Magnificent Mile, and going to a Second City show, and doing a Frank Lloyd Wright tour tomorrow - and going to another show Friday night.

They do this every year on the birthday weekend. last year the three of them did New York.

I have to say that Chicago is one of my favorite cities. don't get there nearly often enough. Last time we were there, a couple of years ago, Michael and I went on a fascinating river tour. Amazing stories from the history of that city.

Then, once I dropped them at the airport, I scooted home and then off to Nick's, on Greene Ave, for coffee with the head of the film studio. We talked about the films of the first two Gamache books.

It is such a different process - and while I'm an Exec on the project I thank God it's not my job to try to put the deal together. Money, production partners, other countries. all very intricate.

Anyway, right now it looks good. So interesting, though, to get some insight into how the film business works. I can't tell you much right now (it seems to involve farm animals, photoshop, and a few studio execs) but will fill you in as soon as I can.

A day away from writing today. have a newspaper interview in a few minutes. Watching Anatomy of a Murder - old Jimmy Stewart film. We own it, so this isn't the first time I've seen it. wonderful.

thanks for the casting suggestions, by the way. I'm making notes!

Michael back

overcast, cool, temps 11

Cool front came in yesterday...very strong winds. but good sleeping weather! I wrote yesterday morning then instead of driving straight to the Burlington Airport from Montreal, to pick up the guys, I thought I should drive home to sutton, drop my bags off, then head to Burlington...which is what I did. The forecast had been for torrential rains, but they never came - at least, not before getting home from the airport...thank heaven.

Got to the airport with about an hour to spare...their jet Blue flight got in about 6pm. The driving yesterday was wonderful. Easy - but also relaxing and wonderful to listen to music, and just let my mind go. float. Imagine the scenes in Three Pines. Conversations Gamache would have with Clara. Conversations between suspects. Where various scenes would take place. Some issues I'd forgotten that Gamache needs answers to. Very fun.

Took the proofs for Bury Your Dead with me to the airport, thinking I could sit over a coffee and read them. But I couldn't find a restaurant or place for coffee there (it's a terrific but quite modest sized airport). So I waited at their gate and read.

their plane got in half an hour early. Now, I ask you, how does that happen on a flight that is itself only an hour long. Did they break the time barrier? but it was great to see them!

We got back to Richford, VT, yakking all the way, then stopped for gas, and stopped at a restuarant Michael and I rarely go to, called The Crossings. Very old fashioned. Not sure it's changed in 40 years. Same decor, same menu. Very comfortable and comforting.

So I got really caught up there. They went to two broadway shows, had lunch at Sardi's, dinner at the Oyster Bar. Another dinner at Broadway Joe's. they walked the elevated park...not sure that's what it's called, but it's where the old elevated rail went...instead of tearing down the rail the city of new york simply turfed over it, planted trees and flowers and now people can walk quite a distance through downtown...or actually slightly above downtown. It isn't finished yet, but the guys had a great time. The took a tour of the NY library. Visited the Neighborhood Playhouse, where Mike (Michael's oldest son) was a student many years ago. They just went, went, went.

by the time we got home they were exhausted. So we went to bed and awoke today to lots of rain, and cool.

It's Mike's birthday - indeed this trip was to celebrate Michael's, Mike's and Vic's birrthdays! So we put candles in the hot cross buns for breakfast and sang.

Then Michael and I hopped in the car and headed into Montreal. Michael has a hematology meeting happening here at the Queen Elizabeth hotel. Our original idea was to stay there, but I had such a great time at the Hotel Le Crystal - just down the street from the Queen E - that we decided to stay here for another 2 nights. And, after I dropped Michael off and came to the hotel, I discovered they gave me the same room.

Feels like home! And everyone remembers my name. Very impressive.

Just finished the writing for the day. I've decided to keep track of the daily word-count, but not add up the cumulative, anymore....since it doesn't really matter now. This first draft will be as long as it needs to be. The worst thing I could do now is get freaked out about length and start doing it in short-hand. Drop scenes, or make them more threadbare than they should be.

So, now I don't know how far along I am. But I suspect 2/3rds....it's important to know where I am in the story arc, for structural reasons - but not to worry about the word-count.

happy birthday, Mike!!

Happy birthday, Mari.

Michael's birthday is tomorrow. Fun to celebrate it in Montreal. He has a 7am breakfast meeting with a colleague at the conference...but we'll see what happens after that. see what he wants to do.

Speak to you tomorrow - or if not, Sunday.

Have a great weekend.

Ralph Michael

manly sunny, mild, temps 23

Happy 4th of July to all of you who are American. Hope the weather where you are is as gorgeous as here, and good for picnics, BBQ's, fireworks.

We've just returned from four days at Hovey Manor, just about my favorite place on earth. As you might know it was my 50th birthday on July 1st (Canada Day) and Michael, dear one, said we could go anywhere I wanted. So I thought about Paris, Africa, a cruise. But decided on the stunning country Inn, only an hour away.

Michael was relieved.

When we arrived in our cabin right on the lake (most rooms are in the main Inn, but a few are scattered around the lodge - this is the only one right on the lake with a private dock) there was a vase of roses. Then another, and another. I turned around and around. I'd never seen so many. I kissed Michael and he said, 'How'd you know I did it?'

So I looked for a card and found one. It read:

Have a happy, happy birthday. Ralph Michael.

'Who's Ralph?' I asked.

'Who?' he snatched the card out of my hand, then started to laugh.

'They must have mis-heard. I said 'Love Michael', not 'Ralph Michael'.'

So from then on we whispered to each other, 'I Ralph you.'

We met Danny, Lucy and Debra in the rose garden for Afternoon Tea and a discussion with Jason and Kathy Stafford about launching book 4 - THE MURDER STONE - at Hovey in October. It was a magical meeting. What an office! We schemed and planned - and if and when it gets worked out I'll let you know. It sounds like such fun. It would be wonderful if you could come!

The rest of the time we read, and ate and napped. We swam in the lake and ate lobster rolls and vichysoisse on the verandah. It was peaceful and beautiful.

And it was my best birthday ever. How lucky am I that my 50th is my best? Never would have dreamed it possible when I was 20.

At my 30th I was living in Quebec City and quite miserable. I knew no one and was very lonely. My mother came from Toronto for my birthday and we made reservations at a great restaurant in Old Quebec City (and there are many). But she got a cold and couldn't go. I remember feeling terribly sorry - for myself! Poor Mom.

At my 40th I ended up cooking a meal for Michael and his son - really wanting to go away, but still struggling to create a 'family' with his children, after years together. So we celebrated my birthday at home. His son showed up having stepped in dog poop. And I offered to wash it off his shoes.

I still remember that with a shudder. Not that he allowed me to - I mean really, who wouldn't? But that I'd offered. I remember standing in the kitchen scraping dog dung off the shoe while the two men sat outside with drinks. On my birthday. It should have been a warning. And I guess in some ways it was.

I decided, never again. It's bad enough when others treat you like crap - but I don't need to do it to myself.

And so these last ten years have been amazing. Filled with joy, some sorrow (of course), some anger, some loss - but mostly filled with light and laughter and friends and family - this decade has seen my books written and published and a re-adjustment of people in my life.

I try not to take crap anymore. From anyone. And I sure try not to give it to myself.

More than anything, this decade, this year, this day, this moment is filled with Ralph.

It's good to be home.