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Friday, July 1, 2016

Celebrations July 1, 2016 - Choices, choices...


This is my post for the 'Celebrating the Small Things' blog hop.

T0day is the first day of July, which means that we are that much closer to the end of the really hot days and the beginning of autumn, my favorite season.

Things are settling at last.  My mother is in her new home and is, somewhat against her own expectations, rather happy.  People greet her, ask her to play bridge, come by to chat...  And she is walking better, as well.  I can't ask for more than that for her.


The Jaws of  Death
For myself, I'm getting used to a new puppy:

This is Chester (or 'Chet' for short).  He is now four months old.  I had become spoiled by my old fellow who died three months ago.  I had forgotten how manic puppies are.  I think they could power a medium-sized city for a week on one day's energy.

Based on Chet's dentition and propensities, I'm thinking that he could be best depicted as a set of dentures that bounces around the house trying to 'nom' everything from food set near the edge of tables to used paper tissues (thought to be safely) discarded in the trash..

For Labrador Retrievers, apparently, the world is their trash bin.

Finally, I have a long weekend coming up.  Five days away from work.  And as it happens, I have to choose between three manuscripts to actually finish and set out for Beta-reads.

It has been too long since I published anything, and while I have some good excuses for standing idle,  it is time.

This means that I have to make a choice:

---Fantasy/Fable novella that fits in with my 'Memphis Cycle' or the Second installment of my 'Orphan's Tale' trilogy.


Fable set in Egypt

Second installment, Paris 1834

The third one is a collection of shorts from different projects.  Vignettes, chapters.  Something of a smorgasbord.  I have one piece in which an elderly High Priest tells of the day that Akhenaten (Tutankhamun's father, who shut down the worship of the various major gods) comes to the great temple of Amun in Thebes (you can say 'Opet' or 'Waset' if you prefer) with the aim of destroying the great gold cult statue of the god.  This scenario lies behind one or another of the Memphis Cycle stories.

Decisions, decisions...  But it's nice to have options and a good, long weekend to mull them over.

...Now, do visit Lexa Cain and her two delightful co-hosts L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge and Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits,





14 comments:

  1. Hoorays for Puppies and Projects - they will keep you off the road this mad weekend. So glad you now have little Chet to spoil and fuss over, but a little obedience training may go a long way to keep you both sane. Best wishes with both of the above-mentioned Ps.

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    1. I haven't been bored this weekend! I don't think Mister Puppy understands the word 'NO!' in any language.

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  2. Aww, that's an adorable puppy, but I know what you mean about the energy of the young. We got a kitten a few months ago. (Our 18 year old sweet cat passed last November.) This new baby rockets around the house like she has a jet pack on her bottom. Sometimes she misses the counter, cat condo, or whatever and falls, but still bounces back. Energy plus. If it's edible, she'll be happy to eat it.

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    1. So much for the 'finicky' cat! (I haven't encountered on in the years I've been owning cats...) She sounds adorable!

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  3. What an adorable puppy! We had a lab puppy many years ago and she sure was a handful :-)

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    1. Hi, Ellen -
      I understand that Labs are wonderful sailors. In all the time my family has owned Labs, I haven't known any good sailors, but certainly a great many good swimmers!

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  4. He's adorable! And I'm glad to hear your mom is doing well. Have a nice weekend!

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  5. A friend of mine just got a young dog, about 7 months. He bounces around like a ping-pong ball. She's little and he pulls her down the street when she takes him for walks. Other dog owners advise her to take him to obedience classes, but she hasn't yet. She's waiting for 10 months when she can have him neutered. She thinks that will work. Good luck with Chet! As for the 3 projects, do the one that makes you the most excited. Good luck! :)

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    1. Uh-oh! Ten months till training? Yikes! I'm firing up my laptop and going to town.

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  6. It's good to have a long weekend and to get to unwind sometimes. Looks like you won't ever be putting up your feet for too long with a puppy around, though! Have a fun getaway. :-)

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    1. I think you can power North America from the energy of one puppy for an hour. Thanks!

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  7. Your description of the puppy made me laugh. He's so cute. Glad to hear your mom is settling in well. Enjoy your long weekend and have fun with whichever WIP you choose!

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  8. Things sound like they are going well in your world. Always a good thing. So many decisions to make now :)

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