Being a Bum Isn't All Bad

New publisher to query. Wants the first three chapters. They say they want something "different." We'll see. I am almost ready to start writing again. No more excuses. Repeat after me. No more excuses. Point finger and say, "no more excuses."

You are absolutely right. No more excuses.


This week I've kicked 'way down and relaxed. Sleep until after 8:00. Read the Globe in bed drinking coffee and talking to the cat. Breakfast at 9:00. Email at 10:00. Not a productive way to start the day, but sooooo nice.

I'm still dealing with issues like last paycheck being fouled up and a few post-retirement financial things. Nothing can ever be done in a phone call or a letter. It takes 4 phone calls or one letter and 3 phone calls. You have to make a pest of yourself.

Beautiful day today. Non-Januaryish 55 degrees. S.O. and I drove down to Providence to visit the RISD Museum, a little jewel box with a great exhibit. We were there to see the Degas and 6 Friends at Dnieppe, before it disappeared on the 15th. Artists always seek each other out. There was a little coterie at the French seaside in Dnieppe in the summertime. Everyone knew everyone else. Very congenial with lots of cross-pollination. Late enough in the game that photographs were part of the exhibit. The men were handsomer than the women, although there was a very nice painting of Virginia Wolf.

We had a cheap lunch at the Eurocafe. Sandwich and soup, no wine. The "no paycheck" budget has kicked in.

This evening we watched a weird movie about the Marquis de Sade called "Quills." Too much violence for my taste, but it did have its moments. Sade was one for the books. Literally. Figuratively. Obsessively. However you like. Haven't read him since I was in college and then in French. Compelling but repulsive as I recall, kind of like the film.

The Marklin train we want to see is now set up on the dining room table, waiting for photography and parts inventory. I hope it's not there for the duration on winter. If it looks like weeds are beginning to grow up through the tracks, I can always have a dinner party.

I have four 5 South Beach Diet recipes and one Dr. Atkins type casserole to cook for the coming week in hopes of dropping the pounds gained over the holidays. The cookies and candy are all gone. That should help.

Well-rested and chubby,

Grapeshot