Sorry to be neglectful of the blog, but I’ve been Snow White/Sleeping Beauty under the spell of some very strong cough syrup and super-strong antibiotics, both of which make me sleep all day and all night. Very vivid dreams, but I’m so tired during the day I’m not getting anything done – reviewing or e-mailing or even calling people on the phone. I’ve had a nightmarish bout of bronchitis – the kind that hurts when you breathe out or cough – which I think is on its way out, but boy have I been medicated! The docs are always super cautious b/c I have asthma. I was even told I’d have to get another pneumonia shot. I had one about ten years ago, but they said it might have worn off and the new ones are much more effective anyway against more strains of it. So, when I’m done with my current chest thing, it’s off to get flu and pneumonia shots. And maybe my tetanus, which is overdue. Good thing I’m not scared of needles these days.
The reading at Northwind went very well (especially considering the antibiotics/cold meds I was on that day) and the crowd at the Port Townsend reading was bigger than I expected, warmer, more responsive and bought more books. Lots of people came up afterwards to mention poem images they had liked or poems that had inspired them, which was really nice. Ronda Broatch, a good friend, gave another great reading too. I was back in bed by 9 pm – no post-reading partying – but I was glad I went. Yesterday on his way to his art class, my husband was stopped on the street by a gentleman who asked, “Aren’t you the husband of the author of Becoming the Villainess?” Hee. Life in a small town! And Glenn made me a beautiful “light box” in the class.

So, all in all, trying to focus all my energy on getting well. It’s boring, but hopefully it will mean a healthy AWP trip (for once!)
Anyway, drink your orange juice, take your vitamins and keep well!