My day did indeed improve. I think I packed everything despite my sinking suspicion that I didn’t. It’s only a 2 day trip so it’ll be fine regardless… right? dropped me at the airport and there were no lines to speak of to get through security. I sent the two laptops, shoes, carry ons, fleece vest and Freedom Bag through the x-ray machine, not at all comforted by the fact that the TSA thinks it is safer if I separate out my liquid and gel toiletries into a ziplock bag. I feel no safer having to put my laptops in individual bins nor more secure knowing all my fellow passengers have taken off their shoes and walked across the icky floor as well. I can’t even muster up the suspension of disbelief for the illusion of security.

When I got on the plane the flight attendant asked me if I was from here in Philadelphia… always a hard question for me to answer with a yes or no, but since he was asking as I was getting on a flight I went with, “Yes.” His response was to congratulate me on “your Phillies making the playoffs.” I laughed, “Oh, thanks but I’m a Red Sox fan!” He apologized profusely - clearly he’s met some Red Sox fans who would have been offended by the mistake.

I took an earlier flight than usual this week. I like arriving when I’m not already tired. As an added bonus, I could actually see things on the ground during the descent into Providence. Like trees… glorious early autumn trees, still gloriously green for the most part but with little sparks of color here and there. A branch here, the top half of another tree there, Autumn is starting to creep in and send up its warning flares that Winter is coming. I was delighted and grinning like a Chesire Cat the whole descent.

Checking into the hotel was pain-free. I’m at my current favorite - other people’s favorite too apparently since it’s often booked by the time I try to make reservations. I like it because it’s convenient and comfortable and has enough space to spread out without feeling like you’re always in bed. (Some hotels I’ve stayed in require sitting on the bed in order to work on the desk. Not this one!)

Anyway, now I’m at Starbucks in Mystic, CT. I went through a print copy of the story I’m working on. I’ll need beta-readers sometime later this month if anyone’s interested. It’s a short story, fairly self-contained, but the beginnings of a world. I’m not sure the story is interesting enough on its own though. (I did put it down for 4 years. But this weekend I not only cleaned and completely reorganized my desk I also started editing this story again!) Hopefully I’ll be able to read my own handwriting when I get home. I didn’t bring an electronic copy with me and while the technique of completely retyping a story to edit it intrigues me, I don’t intend to try it out this week. Why is my editing hand so much messier than my normal handwriting?

My world needs more little cafes and coffee shops. I used to write in the cafe in the Chapters in downtown Vancouver in the evenings and on those long weekend afternoons when I didn’t have plans or my plans had been rearranged by the weather. It was terribly convenient to the hotels I ended up staying at most of the time and had lovely views of the city.

The weather here is gorgeous. Gorgeous. Cool, clear and crisp My favorite weather. Happiness thy name is sub-65-temperatures-with-low-humidity.

tags: , , , , , , , ,

Related: