The weekend was lovely, even if I didn't get to be a hermit and work as much as usual. I've been extremely social and otherwise exothermic for the past several weeks, and I wouldn't mind going into seclusion for a little while to restore balance and catch up on lost work. Maybe I'll manage it. I've got a lot of stories to write.

I did manage to work for a few hours on Saturday afternoon, and did 4,000 words to finish a reasonable draft of the Spelling Bee story, "From Around Here." I think it basically works, though Heather confirmed my suspicion that the ending is rushed, and that there's also some unnecessary dithering and some implausible behaviors that need to be respectively cut and grounded. That's the main project for Wednesday, and I should be able to get it done and sent off to the editor this week. So that's good.

To be somewhat chronological about it:

Heather and I had a giant sushi dinner on Friday night, to celebrate our recent successes (year's bests, book sales, award nominations, etc.). We got way too much food. But it was amazing. Crazy monkey rolls! Yum!

Saturday morning Heather and I rose and took our weekly constitutional down to the lake. She had an appointment, so I browsed in the bookstore (buying a book on Adam Worth, which is sort of half-assed research material for the fourth Marla Mason book, which I hope I get to write), and sat in Cafe di Bartolo for a bit. Then we headed over to the Coffee Mill for one of their vast cheap breakfasts (pancakes, eggs, and bacon for about $6! It's a big yummy plate of food!), and afterward strolled through the Farmer's Market, picking up veggies and juice and coffee and whatnot for the week to come. Back home I did the aforementioned writing, and around 5:15 we headed for the train station and into San Francisco, where we met Susan Groppi and Jen Fu (my friend Aubrey wasn't feeling well and didn't make it, alas). We ate tapas, and drank sangria, and there was much merriment!

Then it was off to Writers With Drinks, where Lori Ann White read another good chunk of her story-in-progress. Other people juggled, told jokes (the one about George Bush raping a unicorn was pretty funny), read vegan lesbian bondage erotica, etc. A good time was had by all, and I saw lots of nice people I knew. Afterward we all chatted and strolled and whatnot, but Heather and I went home before too long. We were tired, and the east bay was far away.

Sunday we rose and stumbled around blearily and made shopping lists and errand lists and then went to San Leandro for a birthday party! My managing editor's daughter just turned 6, so there was much rejoicing, tons of delicious food, etc. We were only able to stay a couple of hours, unfortunately, because of the million errands we had to run.

We spent the rest of the afternoon zipping to and fro, buying assorted groceries and supplies, and generally getting things done. Back home I managed to squeeze in a little necessary housework (and replant my sundew, which was outgrowing its little pot) before making dinner. Holly came up, bringing our nephew, and Heather and Holly watched some dance-related reality show while Aleister and I played Marvel super hero fighting games on my computer. For, like, an hour and a half. Pretty fun.

After they went home, Heather and I collapsed into heaps on the couch and watched the feature-length pilot of Riverworld on the Sci-Fi Channel. We hadn't seen it before, and it was pretty good! Shame it didn't get picked up as a series.

Monday morning came way too quickly.