liquid, solid, pixel

It's been a pretty good week so far. Monday night we caught dinner with a couple of Matt's ex-coworkers as they breezed through town for a training class, and I made good progress on the novel. Yesterday I got taken out on a surprise trip for early morning coffee before Matt went to work. When I got home, I meant to finish up the manuscript, but I mostly relaxed, did some lounging around online and made some crafty type stuff with beads and wire. Thank you for all the birthday wishes!

I talked briefly with both my parents in the evening. My dad has risen to be a somewhat prominent person in his field, and as we were talking he was sharing news of his latest honors with me. It always makes me glow with pride when he shares these things. I suspect it's something like how it feels when you're a parent and your kid receives some big honor at school. I don't always know if he hears me, but I try to tell and show him how proud of him I am.

I had been warned to expect a delivery, but one didn't arrive, so at some point as the evening grew late we stopped waiting and went out for dinner. It was good, though, because I wasn't sure what I wanted, and it was nice having an excuse to stall while I decided.

Decision made, hbergeronx took me out to the amusingly named Liquid Sushi for dinner. The food was excellent and the liquids were quite good, too. I'm discovering the secret shame that is Cosmopolitans. They're probably the ultimate in embarrassing girly drink, but I like them anyway. What I like even more is that every place makes them a little bit differently, and I'm enjoying discovering the variety. Last night's, made with Sake, had a very pleasant lightness to it.

This afternoon, I received my biweekly produce delivery, and a second knock on the door brought with it a dozen gorgeous red roses from nukewolf, the surprise only made sweeter with the anticipation. Turns out the original florist couldn't find my address, despite it being correct (and a very large building right on a major highway. Hard to miss! I suspect their GPS was too old and didn't show my house number), but the order was re-dispatched to a new florist and the result is beautiful. The cats have been twitching their noses curiously at the flowers all afternoon. I'm waiting to see which kitty yaks up rose petals first. My money's on the black one.

I've been browsing the Dragon*Con website, peeking at the guests and programs, and I discovered that the publisher I work for is going to be in attendance. This was the prod I needed to finally finish the novel -- I worked through the last 40 or so pages today. Now comes the part I dread: writing the friendly 'first draft cover letter'. At least there are no continuity errors, or issues calling for any sort of rewrites. Most of the changes are either grammatical ones or phrasing suggestions meant to smooth out the flow of the text. I wasn't past deadline or anything, but it still feels good to know that I can go to the con and meet my 'boss' with a clear conscience, and tell her that my latest project is done. Until I receive the next draft, anyway.

I need to run out and pick up some more crafting glue while I'm feeling industrious, and get new business cards printed up with my california phone number, but other than that, I'm feeling pretty free and accomplished right now.