Mailed a rejected story today, and noodled about with guidelines; still trying to figure out where to send another. I’ve also gotten behind on the various anthologies since we returned from Portland—I switched into Novel Mode (actually into E-Mail Mode, then Copy Editor Mode, before Novel Mode, but you know what I mean). Eek, she said quietly.

We dropped off one of our sewing machines to be repaired this morning; we need to take them all in, but are doing so one at a time. Less scary monetarily that way. Then we went to the Santa Ana Zoo! A zoo, huzzah! We saw capaberas and golden tamarinds and lemurs and a big ol’ peacock and hawks and owls and and a bald eagle and and and…! The Geoffrey’s cat did not reveal itself, however. And Ken steered me well away from the scorpions. And there were monkeys, but I’m just not a big primate person. (There’s a terrible joke in there somewhere, but I’ll leave it to ya’ll to come up with.)

Then we grabbed lunch at a diner where Ken used to eat, oh, 15+ years ago, and I had a yummy gyro and he an ortega burger. We stopped by my chiropractor to ask some questions regarding insurance (as we’re still trying to sort that out) and I got adjusted, which was sorely needed. One side of my neck would just not go, though. Then, off to Costco for various foodstuffs, and home again to meet someone who was buying some motorcycle parts for Ken. Ken then went back out to pick up a few more quick things.

His mom and bro Dennis came over for dinner. I’d started marinating sliced tomatoes in the a.m. to have an insalata caprese, and we were to have pasta with lemon artichoke pesto from TJ’s. As I was making dinner, Teresa called, so Ken swooped in and took over—my hero. I had a wonderful talk with Teresa; she sounds much better than she has recently, and that gladdened my heart more than I can describe.

We ate outside, which was lovely, and talked as dusk fell, and then came inside and talked more. After Mom and Dennis left, we watched “South Park” and “Keen Eddie”, and now we’re off to bed. What a wonderful evening.