Sunny, warm, temps 30
Gorgeous day in Montreal. Yesterday threatened a bit, but turned out beautifully. Some accounting needed to be done, then lunch with friends, then Home Depot, to get some stuff (including in this case the not-proverbial kitchen sink) for the quickly approaching renovations. We went from having no idea what we really wanted - and not much of an opinion - to experts, in about half an hour. Sadly, as often happens, Michael held one expert opinion and I another. But Home Depot solved the dilemma by not having my 'opinion' available...so we ended up with Michael's. And for the life of me now I can't remember what the difference could possibly have been.
We're off to see Harry Potter in about an hour. It's playing all over Montreal, of course. But among the theatres is the Imax - in 3D. So we bought tickets to that and will be going with the three Mounts. We're all extremely excited. Oddly, I read all the books, except the last. Can't explain why I didn't read the last one. Perhaps I didn't want it to end. I also didn't read the last Colin Dexter Morse book. Too sad.
Spent 4 hours today - from 10am to 2pm dealing with Rogers Canada, trying to get Michael a new blackberry, and to fix mine. I could have, of course, simply upgraded. Mine is quite old. But I'm used to it, and I like it, and it just seems wasteful too. So I had to hop in a taxi and find some small office downtown, crammed between two restaurants, where a man fixed blackberries and iPhones. After a couple of tries, he did it! Feels great. Especially given the big book tour coming up...didn't want to be without a blackberry, or with one that only semi-worked.
Off to do some work on the August newsletter (being sent out by Linda August 1st) - then the Mounts are picking us up at 3.
Talk to you soon -
Showing posts with label blackberry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blackberry. Show all posts
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
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!!!
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!!!
Sunday, 24 January 2010
One More Sleep
Sunny - but rain expected - temps minus 5
Lovely morning, but a bit of a mess expected overnight and tomorrow. Hope it doesn't affect the flight! I try not to worry, since it's clearly pointless - but it bubbles up every now and then.
I've been very lucky with flights. The only time the weather played a big role while on tour was two years ago. I needed to fly out of Montreal in March for an event in Connecticut - I was supposed to leave Sunday, but a massive blizzard arrived and the airport was shut. I went to the airport at 4 am next morning and it was - of course - chaos. I was on a wait-list, but finallyn got on a flight to NYC around ten am...the even was 1pm. The PR man at Minotaur met the flight, whisked us into a waiting limo and off we zoomed. Missed the lunch, but made the actual discussion. Then I had the whole week of travel, from NYC to Detroit, to Arizona and California ahead of me. A little tough to start off so stressed and tired - but everything else worked out very well.
It's amazing, really, when you consider the number of lights, and connections, over the years while on book tour.
So - fingers crossed for tomorrow. Always a great feeling once the plane takes off, breaks through the clouds and we're on our way. Phew.
I've decided, after some agonizing - to leave the blackberry at home and the computer. My intention is to see if there's a business centre and blog a few days - but not everyday.
Funny - but this was a harder decision that it probably should have been. The problem with having both with me is I have almost no self-control. And it would be deeply sad to spend time on a blackberry or computer when paradise and Michael await.
So - no temptation. The Apple is left at home.
Our friend Cotton is dropping by our Montreal apartment in a few minutes. She's staying here a few nights while we're gone and we need to show her around. Besides that it will be a quiet day. Watched the US Women's Figure skating last night. Nail-biting. Beautiful.
Off now to water the plants asnd check-in to the flight online.
Thank you for all your well-wishes!!! We'll see you in St. Lucia!
Lovely morning, but a bit of a mess expected overnight and tomorrow. Hope it doesn't affect the flight! I try not to worry, since it's clearly pointless - but it bubbles up every now and then.
I've been very lucky with flights. The only time the weather played a big role while on tour was two years ago. I needed to fly out of Montreal in March for an event in Connecticut - I was supposed to leave Sunday, but a massive blizzard arrived and the airport was shut. I went to the airport at 4 am next morning and it was - of course - chaos. I was on a wait-list, but finallyn got on a flight to NYC around ten am...the even was 1pm. The PR man at Minotaur met the flight, whisked us into a waiting limo and off we zoomed. Missed the lunch, but made the actual discussion. Then I had the whole week of travel, from NYC to Detroit, to Arizona and California ahead of me. A little tough to start off so stressed and tired - but everything else worked out very well.
It's amazing, really, when you consider the number of lights, and connections, over the years while on book tour.
So - fingers crossed for tomorrow. Always a great feeling once the plane takes off, breaks through the clouds and we're on our way. Phew.
I've decided, after some agonizing - to leave the blackberry at home and the computer. My intention is to see if there's a business centre and blog a few days - but not everyday.
Funny - but this was a harder decision that it probably should have been. The problem with having both with me is I have almost no self-control. And it would be deeply sad to spend time on a blackberry or computer when paradise and Michael await.
So - no temptation. The Apple is left at home.
Our friend Cotton is dropping by our Montreal apartment in a few minutes. She's staying here a few nights while we're gone and we need to show her around. Besides that it will be a quiet day. Watched the US Women's Figure skating last night. Nail-biting. Beautiful.
Off now to water the plants asnd check-in to the flight online.
Thank you for all your well-wishes!!! We'll see you in St. Lucia!
Monday, 20 July 2009
Summer, at last!
sunny, very warm, temps 28
Glorious, glorious day! Sat on the porch and started the second edit. Did 50 pages, smelling the coriander and Japanese lilac and old garden roses.
Actually, after about 45 pages the laptop crashed...and I lost the previouys 5 pages of editing, but since it's only editings, and fairly fine-tuning at this stage it wasn't hard to re-boot and re-create. Michael always backs things up on our 'stick', then downloads it to our desktops...and when a version is finished I email to to myself...so if there's a catastrophe there will be an electronic version floating around.
Every now and then we hear about writers who lose their entire, and only, manuscripts. I cannot begin to imagine how terrible that would be. Devastating.
Wonderful day...after finishing the days editing around 2pm I made Michael lunch (I'd snacked all morning and wasn't hungry) then I hopped into Sutton for groceries...mostly milk and fruit. Peaches are in, they taste like summer - and huge, white cherries...and water mellon. I adore fruit.
The massive marshmallows have appeared in the field close to home. These are actually bales of hay, covered in white plastic to help drying...but it looks like the field is suddenly growning huge marshmallows. Also a sign of summer.
Then home to lounge by the pool with People magazine...swimming, eating cherries, sipping diet ginger ale. Replying to some emails on the blackberry. Some people who hear that are appalled, and want me to know I should set the BB aside...and perhaps they're right, but where would I rather be answering them? The emails must be replied to and what better office than beside the pool. No, I adore my blackberry. I leave it at home on social occassions...but it's a terrific way to manage my stuff without worrying about having to spend two hours in a stuffy office.
Feels great to be back at the book...and it's going well. And by the pool. The family of geese is back...I think the parents are having difficulty getting the kids to leave the nest. I wish they'd go. As romantic as they look from afar they sure leave a lot of merde behind.
Take care - will blog tomorrow.
Glorious, glorious day! Sat on the porch and started the second edit. Did 50 pages, smelling the coriander and Japanese lilac and old garden roses.
Actually, after about 45 pages the laptop crashed...and I lost the previouys 5 pages of editing, but since it's only editings, and fairly fine-tuning at this stage it wasn't hard to re-boot and re-create. Michael always backs things up on our 'stick', then downloads it to our desktops...and when a version is finished I email to to myself...so if there's a catastrophe there will be an electronic version floating around.
Every now and then we hear about writers who lose their entire, and only, manuscripts. I cannot begin to imagine how terrible that would be. Devastating.
Wonderful day...after finishing the days editing around 2pm I made Michael lunch (I'd snacked all morning and wasn't hungry) then I hopped into Sutton for groceries...mostly milk and fruit. Peaches are in, they taste like summer - and huge, white cherries...and water mellon. I adore fruit.
The massive marshmallows have appeared in the field close to home. These are actually bales of hay, covered in white plastic to help drying...but it looks like the field is suddenly growning huge marshmallows. Also a sign of summer.
Then home to lounge by the pool with People magazine...swimming, eating cherries, sipping diet ginger ale. Replying to some emails on the blackberry. Some people who hear that are appalled, and want me to know I should set the BB aside...and perhaps they're right, but where would I rather be answering them? The emails must be replied to and what better office than beside the pool. No, I adore my blackberry. I leave it at home on social occassions...but it's a terrific way to manage my stuff without worrying about having to spend two hours in a stuffy office.
Feels great to be back at the book...and it's going well. And by the pool. The family of geese is back...I think the parents are having difficulty getting the kids to leave the nest. I wish they'd go. As romantic as they look from afar they sure leave a lot of merde behind.
Take care - will blog tomorrow.
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