Well, dear readers, this week if flying by, like a gazelle in a 4.4 earthquake. Yes, as you probably know, we had us a little St. Patrick’s Day earthquake yesterday. We had us a little shake, rattle and roll. As has been the case with every earthquake I’ve been through, I woke up exactly one minute prior to it happening and I knew it was coming. And come it did – it started with that awful creaking noise, then a little shaking, which got very violent and then finally ended. All during it I did what I always do – I just said over and over again, “Stop it, stop it, stop it” until it mercifully stopped. I got up, went to the bathroom, then looked around, finding that nothing had been disturbed. Then I got back in bed. I fired up the iPad and went to Facebook, were everyone had posted within seconds of the earthquake happening – in other words, complete nuttiness – no checking on the damage or others, just posting immediately. This is what Facebook has done to people. It was kind of amusing in a sickening kind of way. I finally fell back asleep at eight and slept till a little after eleven.
I knew I had a light day, so I did some work on the computer, answered e-mails, and spoke in an Irish brogue to no one in particular. I really was just kind of lazy until I had to get ready for a St. Patrick’s Day dinner.
On the way there, I stopped at the mail place and lo and behold and also behold and lo what was there – the softcover copy of Red Gold (the hardcover should follow in a couple of days, if past experience is anything to go by). I opened the package and held the new book in my hands – always a magical thing for me. Here is the moment, captured by a photograph.
It won’t seem completely real until the hardcover arrives. Then I’ll place my order for books, so if you’re thinking about purchasing now would be a good time so I have a clear idea of what to order. Then I arrived at Barry and Cindy’s for the St. Patrick’s Day dinner.
For some reason, I thought it would be a small dinner party with a few of our mutual friends, but it turned out that I was the sole guest – and that was actually great. So, we had a really fun, intimate evening, with great food prepared by Miss Cindy. We had corned beef and cabbage, boiled potatoes and carrots, and for dessert a brownie with ice cream, all yummilicious. I was there until around eight-thirty, and then I headed home. Once home, I had to do some more work on the computer and that was that.
Today, I have to do some Kritzerland work – I am very behind on several releases, which is going to cause much grief if I don’t get them ready within the next two weeks. At some point, I’ll see Grant Geissman, who’ll give me the tip-in sheet for the limited edition so that Jimmy Mulligan can sign on Wednesday or Thursday. Then Grant and I will sign on Friday over a nice lunch. By then, I’ll have placed the book order and it should arrive within a couple of weeks. I’ll also book the signing. I’ll also eat, and hopefully pick up some packages, and I may pay another visit to Robert A. Harris over at Foto-Kem.
Tomorrow, we have a work session with Sandy and Lanny, and I may or may not begin to finally work on the mixes for And the World Goes Round – the engineer has been way too busy and we haven’t been able to do anything since the recording and since I heard the roughs. Once we finesse everything, then we’ll know exactly what needs to be fixed when we do the horn pick-up date, probably end of month. Thursday I have a big production meeting at LACC for Li’l Abner, and we’ll probably do more work on the mixes, which will also happen on Friday – also on Friday, Grant and I will sign and I have a Sandy and Lanny work session, too. So, a very busy week, plus I think I have a couple of shows to see, including an opening at the Pasadena Playhouse.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do some Kritzerland work, see Grant, eat, hopefully pick up some packages, book the signing, and maybe visit with Robert A. Harris. Today’s topic of discussion: What natural disasters were close to you – earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes – let’s hear the stories. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall hopefully sleep undisturbed by any shaking, rattling, and rolling.