Hot in Chicago

What can I say about the trip I just returned from? Mixed bag maybe. Part of the reason I’d gone was that work was being done to my place so I had the plumbers turning the place into their worksite while I tried to do mine - work that is. While they smashed holes in walls and cut old pipes with a fingernails on chalkboard kind of sound, I was camped at my computer working on my next book and trying to proof two sets of galley pages.

Despite my efforts, one of the air conditioners wouldn’t go past fan and I got to watch the temperature rise in the living room thanks to my atomic clock. Outside the temperature was in the mid 90's with lots of humidity leading the news people to keep talking about excessive heat warnings.

Inside I managed to keep it from going above 89 degrees. I kept waiting for it to cool off at night like it does in L.A. Ha! Cooling off was going down to 82 outside, which didn’t help inside much at all.

Ah, but then I went to Minneapolis for the Knit and Crochet Show. How many way can I say what a good time I had? All the people I met were friendly and supportive. It was an interesting experience being in a situation where people recognized my name. It was also very nice hearing how much they enjoyed my books.

I learned a lot in the two classes that I took and I came home with a suitcase of yarn. As if I didn’t have enough already. But how can you turn down glow in the dark plastic yarn, or some that was made from silk saris and featured bright jewel colors and helped the Indian women who made it?

I ventured out in Minneapolis. First walking around the downtown area, then taking the bus and train to get to the Mall of America. I mean, how can you go there and not see that? The bonus was I signed copies of my books at the Barnes & Noble in the Mall and then in the downtown area on the way back. Oh, and I found two adorable dresses at the Jjill in the Mall - and they were on sale.

And then it was good by to all my new friends and back to Chicago. The plumbers were supposed to have finished by Friday, but even so on Sunday night when I got home, I found a toilet in the bathtub in one of the bathrooms. Thank heavens it wasn’t the only bathroom!

It was extra hot because the fans and the one air conditioner that worked were off all weekend. It was the kind of hot where sweat rolls down your nose even when you’re just sitting reading proof pages. It got later and not any cooler. It was almost midnight and I was watching an old Grey’s Anatomy show on ABC when I heard some sirens in the distance. The sirens kept getting louder to the point of being ear splitting and even though I was on the third floor, I could see the reflection of flashing lights. I stepped out on the front porch and saw a fire department hook and ladder truck pull up in front. When I looked over the railing, firemen were coming into my building. Uh oh. I had an instant adrenalin rush, put a shirt over my night gown, grabbed my purse and flash drives. I opened the door to the hall, but there was no smoke and no sound of people running down the stairs. Should I go outside anyway? I pictured getting weird looks from the firemen as I went outside in my nightwear. So, I waited. And waited. Then I heard noises coming from the street and when I went back on the front porch, I could see they were packing up. Finally they left. Unfortunately it took a lot longer for my heart rate to go back to normal and I missed all the plot explanations on Grey’s Anatomy and so had no idea why one of the episode’s character died.

The next morning I found out it hadn’t been a false alarm. There had been a fire in the dryer on the first floor.

It took three days after that, but the plasterer finished fixing the walls and the plumbers finally put the toilet back where it belonged. Despite all, I finished proofing both manuscripts and mailed them in so they reached my editor by their deadlines. I got back to working on my next book just before I packed up to come home.

And then as a final touch as I was going to the airport, President Obama was leaving the airport and his helicopter flew right over me. Oh, and Dr. Oz was on my flight.

Am I the only one who dreads having working done to their place?

Sleepy in Minneapolis

I am so tired I can barely type. Last night there were two scary thunderstorms. There so much lightening, it was like a strobe light. A crawl kept going across the TV screen warning of tornados and severe thunderstorms. There was a chance of high winds and very heavy rain. With all that going on, I couldn't very well go to sleep. But I still had to get up and get dressed very early because the plumbers were coming.

Then it was off to the airport and my flight to Minneapolis for the Knit and Crochet Show. I've been going ever since.

My eyes are heavy and I'm longing for sleep. I've already been to one activity. I have certainly found my people. Everyone is so friendly.

I found the roving I need for the class I'm teaching Saturday morning and the supplies for my class tomorrow morning. And the yarn, wow. I met a woman who has 50 sheep that she shears and turns the wool into different kinds of fibers you can knit and crochet with.


Even in this tired state, I have already gotten ideas for my books and given out a lot of bookmarks.

I can't wait until tomorrow. Now, if this would post.

Getting Ready to Go

I am trying to get ready for my next trip, which is really a trip within a trip. I’m feeling a little distracted. There is the first trip to Chicago. I’m concerned with the weather which sounds uncomfortable to put it mildly, a malfunctioning air conditioner which thanks to the Internet I think I know how to fix, and some plumbing work being done to my place which will require holes in the wall and probably lots of banging.

Then there’s the trip within a trip. I’m going to Minneapolis for the Knit and Crochet Show. Thanks the a newbie list I’m on, I have gotten some idea of what to expect and what to wear, etc., but there are the two classes I signed up for and the supplies I need for them. I sort of know what roving is, but there’s no place around here to get it. Surely I can buy it there. Then I need to cancel one hotel reservation because the sold out host hotel suddenly had rooms. I need to bring bookmarks to give out, but how many?

The dog and cats are already giving me dirty looks because the suitcase is out.

In the midst of all this preparation, I got the first pass pages of Behind the Seams and You Better Knot Die from my editor to proof read, which they need back August 1 and August 3, respectively. Guess who will be lugging manuscripts and reading on the plane? And when all those holes are being made in the walls and the pipes being banged on, I’ll be sitting in front my hopefully working air conditioner, reading.

I hadn’t really thought about it until I read the messages on the newbie list for the Knit and Crochet Show, but apparently everybody wears some of their own creations. Uh oh. Most of the things I’ve made for myself are wooly and warm and not at all right for the weather in Minneapolis. I came up with a cool idea for an evening scarf. It’s light and airy and should look really pretty when I finish it, which I have to do before the first banquet. So, when I take a break from proof reading, it’ll be crochet time. I won’t even go into the hank of yarn I had to make into a ball so I can make a light weight cowl as well to wear during the show. It’s kind of double duty because the cowl pattern will be in the book I’m writing now - Knot What It Seams.

And to top all of it off, I am planning to work on Knot What It Seams, too. You can see why I might be a little distracted.

How do you center yourself when you feel pulled in a lot of directions?

Computer Joy

At last I can get online without waiting, waiting, waiting. At last I can read my emails without having to watch that swirly thing go around and around before each email would finally open. At last I can click on a website and actually have it download. At last I’m not getting kicked off line .

I’ve had my new desktop computer since March, but getting online was never good and sometimes impossible. It turned out that while I was getting reception from our DSL router, it wasn’t strong enough.

My son got me an antenna and some kind of booster and suddenly everything is working lightening fast. I didn’t realize how much the frustration of my online dealings was coloring my computer habits. Basically, I was avoiding my desktop.

I am certainly glad to have all that speed now. I have been making arrangements go to Minneapolis for the Knit and Crochet Show at the end of July. All that checking of airline schedules and prices would have been a nightmare if it weren’t for my nifty antenna.

The Knit Guild and the Crochet Guild get together and put on a summer show and a fall show. Along with a sales area, there are classes, banquets, fashion shows and lot of people who love to work with yarn. I’m going as research for the crochet mysteries that features Molly Pink and the Tarzana Hookers and for my new series that is going to feature Casey Feldstein who puts on yarn retreats at a slightly sinister Northern California conference center. I’m also going because I love doing yarn arts. I looked at the list of vendors and I’m bringing an extra suitcase, just in case.

As I said the two guilds put on a fall show as well. This year it’s in Greenboro, North Carolina. The funny thing is I’m already going to Greensboro that same September weekend for the Writers Police Academy. It’s going to be an intense weekend of learning first hand about cops and firefighters. There’s even a lottery and the winner gets a ride along in a sheriff’s car. I don’t remember all the activities, but there was something about a shallow grave and possible bad odors.

I love doing research.

I hope everybody has a safe and happy 4th of July. What are you all doing to celebrate?