The day after the day after....

Only two entries into the contest? Should I extend the deadline, to allow folk time to recover from the holiday, or just assume the prize I thought was so cool is in fact of interest to very few? 

EtA: as per wood_dragon's comment, contest amended to only the animal with the copy of COLLARED, no self-portrait required.

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I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving, if mandated by locality and citizenship.  Ours was lovely - 27 of our blood-nearest and heart-dearest, fed to a fare-the-well. At the end, my sister commented that we hadn't drunk as much cider as usual, and we realized it was because the NexGen was now drinking wine (and beer). Oy. ;-)

My family has a tradition of naming our turkeys, "because it would be rude to invite them to dinner and not know their name." This year, seeing as my family is from Massachusetts, the choice was obvious.

Meet Mitt.


Yes, he was a massive beast. Pilaf and roasted veggies, succotash, and applesauce, and and and... And also, 11 desserts for 27 people.  Because that's how we roll.

Then I spent a day basically hanging around with my immediate family, NOT participating in Black Friday. And eating leftover turkey, and take-out Thai. And then my brother-in-law pulled out a bottle of Casanova di Neri 1995 Brunello and said "I guess we should open this..."

Oh yes. Should have opened it two years ago, actually (the cork crumbled as we were opening it. Talk about heart-in-mouth!), but once the wine started to open and the mustiness faded, a lovely wine came forward, plum and mushroom softness, with a glorious tawny brown color that made me go "whoa." It was fascinating, seeing the reaction of non-wine-savvy family members as the wine opened and cleaned up. Some were put off by the initial taste, unable to see past it to the potential, and then were surprised by what it became. Some just didn't like it. And some saw/tasted it every step of the way, like cheering a marathoner on to the finish line, and its success becomes your own satisfaction....

Today, which is a grey, windy day, we hit the road for home.  I am not driving.  I will be working.  Because deadlines, they still might eat me if I sleep...

Small Business Saturday Self-Promo

Today is Small Business Saturday.

I am, technically if not legally, a Small Business (I work out of a NYC apartment space, that qualifies me!). So, should you feel the desire to support me, buying my books would be an excellent thing to do. It would be even MORE excellent if you did it via an independent bookstore like Mysterious Galaxy (San Diego/Los Angeles), Murder by the Book (Portland), Seattle Mystery Shop (Seattle), Posman Books (NYC), Broadway Books (Portland), etc. They all ship, and they all have signed copies of my books on-hand.

If you need, for whatever reason, to shop at a chain store, (or want a specific personalization), then feel free to request a signed bookplate. If you leave your name and address in comments in the next ten days, I can guarantee delivery well before Christmas. Channukah requires a NOW! response)

Also: if you're doing your holiday shopping, remember your local store or craftspeople!  Money spent locally stay locally, AND employ local people.

Mainly, I needed an excuse to break out the Official Icon of the rest of 2012...

I offer a meme, taken from kate_elliot

Tell me about a story I haven’t written, and I’ll give you one sentence from that story.

*goes back to the freelance, curious to see what challenges will come...*