kiss me and smile for me

We're going to see the Dalai Lama. Being the neurotic puppy-lovers that we are, we're bringing the babies with us. And since it's only one night, instead of trying to find a puppy-friendly hotel, we're just going to stay with Shawn's Dad. Perhaps the puppies can have their hearts educated too.

We decided to fly instead of driving, which means Shawn won't need to take any time off work. It's weird how much more affordable, and how much more convenient, flying can be. Something weird is that this will the very first time that Shawn and I have flown together. Though we've both flown a LOT, everywhere we've gone together in the past, we've driven.

In other good news, the missing-in-action contractors have finally turned up to spread topsoil on our dustbowl of a yard. It's been a long wait. Hopefully the city will verify the final grade quickly so we can put down sod and finally have a lawn instead of a grey expanse of dust and clay. I don't covet my neighbours' spouse... I covet my neighbours' trees.

Meanwhile, the most recent man in a long line of men who has promised to see to the repair of damage to our driveway caused by dummies, has vanished. This is the second or third time that someone in charge of solving this problem has either quit or been fired. It doesn't inspire much confidence in the company. I sent the company president another email which he answered promptly but offered no answers to my questions. The Better Business Bureau complaint remains open... but I don't know if this particular company cares much about such things. I really don't want to deal with small claims court so I am keeping my fingers crossed that someone will help me in the near future. I hate having to chase and nag, but more than that I hate being taken for a sucker.

I am supposed to be writing right now. It's sort of creative writing except that it occurs within such a limited frame of requirements that it doesn't feel very creative. It does, in my experience, seem to be the kind of writing that pays, however. So I'm looking at it helplessly and trying to will it to write itself before Tuesday. Another writing project (more creative) has taken off a bit more recently and leaves me relieved that Shawn's sweet but misguided attempt to help me get something published in my absense didn't work out. Now that the writing wasn't published elsewhere it remains ours to publish at a better return in another place. I love how things work themselves out, sometimes, in ways we don't expect ... Meanwhile, my corporate -boring- writing sits open in front of me and calls for my immediate attention. Back to work.