No profound thoughts tonight

My living room tonight

I’ve been thinking about Bernie and Hillary a lot lately and intended to be profound about that contest—but I just heard a tentative report that she won NY. (As did Trump). My thoughts were going to come out on the side of Hillary, even though so many people hate her—maybe I’ll write about that soon. Meantime, if you come across a Facebook site “Becoming Anti-Bernie,” I’d suggest you read it. https://medium.com/@robinalperstein/on-becoming-anti-bernie-ee87943ae699#.ro9xvspp6

But instead of being profound, I have to confess I pretty much frittered the day away. There are things that were on my to-do list this morning that are still there, and I can’t point to a whole lot I got accomplished—posting some marketing things for The Gilded Cage, answering emails, etc. There were painters here most of the day, and that’s not conducive to concentration. The put plastic down to protect the floors, especially in the dining room where they were patching water leaks in the ceiling, and I was leery about slipping on it. They were most kind about either moving it or taking my hand to help me. But still it was a distraction.

Do want to make sure you all know I’m giving away free copies of The Gilded Cage on Goodreads—you can enter April 23, so don’t dally. Here’s the link: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/182909-the-gilded-cage

Went to lunch with two special friends at Nonna Tata and had what is probably my favorite lunch—braseola with a vinaigrette potato salad. Several years ago, when I first ordered it the waitress said, “I don’t know. It sure smells funny.” Good marketing. In case you don’t know, braseola is the Italian beef version of prosciutto. It comes dressed with greens, grana cheese, and a light lemon vinaigrette. Delicious light lunch—really an appetizer, but enough for lunch for me (especially if I come home and have some chocolate).

During lunch yesterday and today I kept trying to think of the name for trimming trees or bushes into three tiered, rounded balls. A web search yielded “poodle trees” which I thought apt but not what I was looking for. Tonight out of the blue I thought of the word—topiary. I quickly wrote the three friends I had lunch with yesterday and today, and one wrote back, “Ah, good, now I can sleep.”

Would you believe at 9:45 I was waiting for a nine-year-old to be delivered from a baseball game (they lost)? He’s home now and, I think, off to bed. Will follow him soon.

Tomorrow: a busier day: got to finish that to-do list and rewrite the first 2000 words—did some online research on the actual case in the back of my mind, and I need to rethink things.

 

Ah, Texas spring weather

March is not going out like a lamb. Today started out drizzly and gray but ended on a note of bright, late-evening sunshine. In between, we had massive storm warnings and some pretty severe weather, mostly I think to the south of me. I just got a good steady rain, the kind spring gardens need. Jordan arrived to work on the garage sale items but one look at the TV weather coverage convinced her she wanted to get home and put her car in the garage.
Jacob came to me and asked with real concern, “Is your car in the garage?” I assured him it was, and he said, “Okay. But stay in.” Then he let me kiss him (yeah, you read that right) and they were gone.

I did a bit of book sorting today—four piles turned into seven—books I want, antique children’s books, cookbooks I want, books I don’t want, books that are water damaged beyond hope (only three), and books for the garage sale—I have it in my head browsers will want cookbooks and non-historical children’s books. I may be all wet—like many of my books. I did photocopy one recipe for ranchero sauce that I wanted from a pretty worn cookbook, but I’m keeping my battered copy (my mom’s really) of the Good Housekeeping cookbook. So good for basics. Also my first edition Joy of Cooking.

Good news: we’re making progress on storm recovery. An AT&T man was here for a good two hours this morning and—yay!—the huge new TV in the sunroom works. I think that drying equipment Blackmon Mooring used was really powerful. I washed the last of the mop-up rugs. The floor people will start either Friday or Monday. The adjustor was worried about remaining dampness in the insulation but Lewis is sure the drying equipment got it all—and the restoration company’s sophisticated equipment showed that it did. Tomorrow the exterminator comes because the adjustor saw that huge rat in the attic.

And I think the contractor is ready to go to the city for a permit for the cottage. All these big money transactions make me very nervous.

I did a good bit of proof-reading today on the pre-print The Gilded Cage and have so far found nothing of concern. Need to keep getting review copies out.

Cancelled my usual Wednesday night dinner because both Betty and I were tired and we feared being caught in a storm. I’m getting a bit tired of tuna and cottage cheese! Maybe egg salad is next.