I've been running at full tilt for the last couple of weeks, but for just this moment -- it looks like I have a second to sit back and vegetate. I scarcely know what to do with myself. What's this ... time? To do, like, whatever I want? No deadlines or projects that were due yesterday? Holy crap. I might just get a little work done on The Ado Ward.* In a minute.

But first, because I'm all excited about it and stuff, I must bring up some Dreadful Skin news. I know I yap about it a lot, but that's because I'm proud of it and it's selling well -- especially for a limited edition hardback. In fact, it's sold so well that Subterranean is picking up the trade paperback rights to it, too -- and sometime, someday,** it's going to be used to help launch a new imprint with that fine company. Behold -- I do a little bootydance!

In other hip-shakin' press release content, I'll be back at the University Bookstore (in the U-District, downtown Seattle) on April 4th. It's a pre-Norwescon signing, with me and some other people (to be announced, I suppose). Signing and silliness begins at 7:00. And now you know as much about it as I do. I'll post details when I get them.


So today I've got a little bit of running around to do, but much of it has already been bested by my Up And At 'Em plan of attack this morning. Before 10:00 a.m. I deposited a paycheck at the bank, mailed off (certified!) my tax payment and our e-file authorization (to the CPA), signed and mailed some books, and set myself up down at my customary coffee stop on the Hill. At present, my immediate goal is to sit here for another hour or two and get some writing done, but we'll see what my stomach has to say about that. I'm starting to get hungry.

After lunch, I believe I'll hop into the Doom Sentra and make a jaunt to (a). Target and (b). the pet store. Target shall provide me with monthly necessities, and the pet store shall provide my swimmy and furry housemates with goodies. Spain the Cat needs some more foam bouncy balls and cat grass, and Howard the Fish needs ... well, I'm sure he needs something.

I think I've figured out the appeal of this "fish" thing. It's like having a glass dollhouse with a brightly colored, sentient doll that blows bubbles. Only now, having made this realization, I want to run out and buy him all sorts of accessories. More epoxy-coated rocks. Different plants. Assorted resin figurines. Perhaps a castle or a treasure chest. Oh, if they made a pink Corvette for bettas, you can bet Howard would be the first fish on the block to own one. I don't think I could stop myself.

Actually, I've gotten it into my head lately that Howard would like a little privacy. His bowl sits on a cut-out ledge between the kitchen and the living room, so he's visible at all times. That's got to get old, you know? I mean, when I kept guinea pigs and bunnies (back when I was a kid) I always made a point of keeping a shoebox or tunnel or something for them. I can't help but feel like everybody, everything, needs a retreat.

If I seem hyper-inclined to spoil him, it's because he's just such a charming little bastard. He makes glub-glub faces, begs for food, watches us cook and wash dishes, and plays tag with our fingers when we trace them along his bowl. Yesterday he even played peek-a-boo with me from behind one of those leaves. It was the most adorable thing I've ever seen a fish do, and moriarty6 will back me up on that. I called him over and showed him, because it was so damn cute that I couldn't stand to be the only witness.

I'm wondering if a slightly larger bowl wouldn't be in order. Not anything wacky like a 30-gallon tank, but maybe one of the 2-gallon jobbies -- just so there'd be room for a hiding space, a couple more plants, and maybe one of those algae-eating doo-hickeys, so Howard could have some unthreatening company. Also, it would be nice if he had living quarters that could go longer than a week without being cleaned. At present, his bowl gets a good scrubbing every Thursday or Friday -- for if this does not occur, it gets disgustingly murky. I would not subject any fish to such conditions, much less a fish with whom I am so besotted.

But now I'm just rambling. No work is getting done, no cat nor fish grows increasingly or insanely spoiled, no shopping is being accomplished, and no pizza is being consumed. This is unacceptable, and I will now try to remedy the situation.

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* For progress updates and such, check CheriePriest.com. Hopefully, it's up right now. My webmaster general is in the midst of switching hosts, at the moment; so if you run into difficulties, that's why.
** I'll let you know when I know.