I’m still reading The Blue Religion back to front, for no particular reason, except perhaps that Michael Connelly’s story is at the back and it was where I wanted to start. Most recently Polly Nelson’s tale, “Burying Mr. Nelson,” which is a delightful period story with a brilliant twist at the end. I also really liked Paul Guyot’s “What A Wonderful World,” a tale of obsession and a connection suddenly severed.
We’re getting a good wind these past two days, which is unusual around here except in tornados. There’s supposed to be a big storm coming, but it’s been getting dark for about 24 hours now with hardly a drop of rain so far. Of course, as soon as I post this the heavens will open, but I have my umbrella so I don’t care.
My car is finally ready at the body shop. Jeez, I had no idea these kinds of “minor” repairs took so long. A scrape to one side of the vehicle that covers the back panel and the door. Two weeks.
I reached page 200 of the novel in progress this morning. I also wrote the first draft of a 500-word story last night. It actually came in at close to 600 words and I edited it down to the 500-word neighborhood. I need to get it down a little bit more to fit the guidelines, a process that is something like whittling a piece of wood down to a fine point. It’s a process I enjoy, because it makes me scrutinize every word and phrase to see what it contributes to the story.
My check for my Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine story arrived last night. Yippee!
I watched Dexter from my Sunday-night tape last night. This show just keeps getting better and better. I like it that he is exploring how tiring it is for him to put on a pretense all the time, and the way he strives to get what other people have. It’s a brilliant concept. Wish I’d thought of it.
The three Monday comedies got off to a good return last night. It seems to me the idea of the crooked apartment floor (How I Met Your Mother) has been done before, but I can’t remember where it was. Friends? My foggy memory tells me that the floor in question was only perceived as crooked by one person instead of actually being “roll downhill” crooked. I also think it was brave for them to have Ted do something edgy and regrettable. Two and a Half Men is still the only show that can make me giggle.
