I always do this...

I contemplate a project, and I say "no, you can't start work on it until X" - until you finish something else, until an editor buys it, until a Kickstarter hits 50% funded, at least.

And my brain goes pbbbttttthhtt, sez YOU.

And so I give you the opening lines of "Miles to Go."

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My back hurt, my horns itched, and I was pretty sure that burrito for lunch had been a mistake.

“You’re bluffing,” I said.

“Danny, oh Danny.” The miserable fucker had the balls to smile at me. “You know I never bluff.”

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It's like I can see Danny, sitting at his desk, cowboy boots up, eyes closed, contemplating whatever case he's on, and then he opens his eyes and stares at me, and I know what he's thinking.  He's thinking "Gilman, if you don't get these stories written, I'm gonna haunt you forever."

Dude, it's not me.  I'm ready to go.  More than ready.  But with only 28 days left in the Kickstarter, and us only being 35% funded, I can't promise anything.  You know that.  You knew this was a risk, and it may not pan out.

His eyes close again, and he takes off his baseball cap, runs his hands through his hair, and settles the cap back on.  "It'll work out.  People said they wanted to read the stories, so they'll come.  They just may make you suffer a little, waiting.  Use the time wisely - go finish the book you're writing.  I'll wait.  Right here."

Haunting me?

"That's the plan, yep."

Bastard.

"You're not wrong."

This post will only be of interest to about four people...

There were two things our neighborhood needed*. A nice, upscale restaurant/bar (we have several casual ones), and a good burger joint.

Well, the upscale restaurant is poised to open (I walked by today and they had tables set up, so I'm guessing this weekend's it), and last month, a few doors down, a burger place opened.

Tonight, I decided it was time to check out the burgers.

First: it's a very bare-bones sort of place - you walk up to the counter like a fast food joint and place your order. The tables are metal, the chairs are cafeteria-style, and the ambiance..ain't. But when I walked in, it was filled with teenagers and adults, all chowing down happily. So, ok.

They have frozen yogurt, which you buy by the ounce, plus a nice assortment of what looked like quality toppings. I'll have to let someone else check that out, as fro-yo isn't my thing. They also have hamburgers (with a veggieburger option), a grilled cheese sandwich, and hot dogs. Oh, and a choice of regular fries, or sweet potato fries, and milkshakes.

I ordered a double cheeseburger (hey, I was hungry) and got lettuce, pickles, and sauerkraut on mine (basic toppings are free, you pay extra for grilled mushrooms or bacon). That cost me $6.50. Ouch. I didn't get fries, but the people eating them around me seemed happy (they look like crispy thick-cuts; I'll have to try them next time)

They give you a buzzer, and you sit down to wait, and about five minutes later they hand you your burger.

And... I almost forgive them the near-$7 tab. The burger wasn't oversized, but it was juicy, and tasty, and yeah, they use fresh Angus beef, not frozen patties. It was a three-napkin alert. My only complaint is that the potato bun didn't quite stand up to the juices (almost requiring a fourth napkin). And their sauerkraut's pretty damn good.

In short: my neighborhood now has an In-and-Out contender. I am quite good with that. :-)

[the restaurant is owned by the folk who own the pizza joint down the street. So they're investing heavily in the neighborhood. I am also good with that. Especially since, of the three pizza places in walking distance, theirs is #3 in my regard]


That said, I'd still rather go to the Alehouse for an actual sit-down meal, and not just because they've got beer.


*foodwise, anyway. we need a movie theater within easy distance, and a decent gardening supply store, but I'm not holding my breath on that...