Peaceful day

sunny, mild, temps 23

Gorgeous September day. One of the trees outside our window has started to turn. Each autumn is different in Quebec. Some are exceptionally colourful - others almost dull. Depends on all sorts of things...like precipitation and temperatures. I'd say more, but I'd just be making it up. Not sure yet if this fall will be stunning, but the tree outside the window sure is. And when the light catches it, it's like being in a glorious, cheerful cathedral.

Like so many others around the world, we're thinking of this anniversary. September 11th. And how it changed all our lives - but mostly the lives of the families of those lost on that day - and subsequently. All over the world.

We're having a quiet day. Beginning to think seriously about what to pack for a two month tour that takes me from Arizona to November in London. Long underwear and a bathing suit. And perhaps a few other articles of clothing. I think we should start a whole line of Author Tour clothing. All made of cardboard. Disposable after a couple of weeks - biodegradable - and then you pick up some more.

Or, better still. Edible. So that on long plane rides we can nibble at our sleeves. And that way, at conferences and events, you can tell which authors have been on the road for a long time. Those with gnawed dresses and socks, or standing only in the underwear, but having a trace of a tie attached to their cheek, have probably been out for longer than is good for them. We could call the clothing line, 'Good Taste' - or 'Tastes Good'.

The dry cleaning went in today. Am trying to decide if I should take my sweats - for relaxing in the hotel room when I'm not working. A luxury, to be sure, since sweats are bulky. I bought on pair of sox designed to be quick drying, for overnight washing in the sink.

somehow, doing my laundry in the hotel room at night isn't quite how I saw my publishing career going. But I have to admit, a two month tour bodes well for the success of the books. It better- or I'll eat my hat.

Be well today.

Fourth Draft

overcast, bit threatening, temps 24

Not sure what to wear today...started in sweats, moved to flannel, then to half and half. Woe is me.

Lovely quiet day, reading the manuscript. Up to page 197 of 244. Was hoping to be finished by now, but had some phone calls and an interview to do. have a French TV interview on Friday, so was chatting with the publicist about that. The general message seemed to be, 'Don't merde it up.'

'I will do my bookshelf,' I told her in French. 'And will manufacture to wallpaper leave.'

'Merde,' she said.

So, I'm pretty confident.

Read out on the screen porch, sipping cafe au lait and eating fresh peaches. More woe. Plodded around the pond with Trudy, where we looked for geese and bass, but found mosquitoes and poop instead - so all was not wasted.

tons of emails, of course. The fall tour is taking shape. looks like I'm leaving here Sept 20th and returning sometime in late November. All over Canada, the US and off to Britain. then over Canada and US again. So I really need to finish this manuscript before I leave in Sept.

But am taking Saturday off from the manuscript to volunteer at the SPCA adoption day in Knowlton. It's for the dogs at the SPCA Monteregie, the local no-kill shelter. I'll be one of the 20 dog-walkers. From 11am to 3pm. the hope, obviously, is to find homes for some of these dogs. We're sort of thinking of finding a brother or sister for Trudy...an older dog, perhaps. It's hard because we have such a great relationship with Trudy - it's very different having just one dog...we really focus on her and have a quite special relationship. But we also know that Trudy's a very social dog, who loves other animals. so we think while she's happy, she might be happier with a sibling. But it would have to be a very special dog. We'll know her/him when we see her/him.

I think I'm a little more enthusiastic about another dog than Michael is. He loves just having Trudy. So we're in no rush. Have to wear Michael down. That can take a while.

Off tomorrow morning for breakfast in Cowansville then visiting Jacques and Louise about 9am. Then home to work, then off to dinner with susan at the guest cottage.

had great fun with susan yesterday. She came for a swim, then relaxed dinner of barbequed corn on the cob and burgers...Susan (who's a great cook) showed us how to do Mexican corn....barbeque it, slather with butter, then sprinkle cheese like parmesan, and cayenne pepper...and finally squirt lime on it.

Delicious.

Susan also made this wonderful lemon custard sort of dessert, with raspberries and peaches and whipped cream.

Oh, oh - now I'm hungry again.

Speak to you tomorrow.