Emerson Ward Mysteries

Friday, 9/11—Up at the usual early hour. Showered and dressed, had a cup of coffee and checked e-mail. Worked on the book for a bit, then went out for a latte. Ran into an old acquaintance, mystery author Sam Reaves, at Panera Bread in downtown Evanston. Chatted for a while, bemoaning the current state of publishing.

Packed bags, checked out of the hotel and walked over to brother’s condo for a last visit before heading to airport. Warmed a seat in the airport for an hour and dined on a salad from Mickey D’s. Spent another four-plus hours in the middle seat of a packed plane to Seattle. Read a book for most of it.

Good to be home, finally.

Saturday, 9/12—Did absolutely nothing in the morning except check e-mail and play mahjong on the computer.

Afternoon spent at a tea with some folks in the apartment building Val used to manage, her three surrogate moms and assorted friends. Cute old birds. Errands after that—gas and supplies at Sam’s Club, a quick trip to Staples, then home for dinner and an evening of TV.

Sunday, 9/13—Tennis with my sweetie in the morning. Grocery shopping later, and the Sunday paper after that. Yawn.

Monday, 9/14—Electricians here early to wire an outlet outside on the deck where we can eventually plug in low voltage lighting. Newsletter stories to write. Ho-hum.

Tuesday, 9/15—Finished newsletter stories, but got another four to write up. Both interviews for cognac article postponed at last minute. Beautiful day, so Val and I went to tennis clinic during the middle of the day. Grateful for the time outdoors.

Wednesday, 9/16—Phone interview this a.m., and finished the extra newsletter stories. Played solitaire, and have been chatting on Skype with Meg who’s in Lausanne for the year at school. Amazing what technology lets us do these days.

Val’s off to take her mom to hospital for biopsy of mass in her spinal column. Could be that her ovarian cancer has spread or she now has another for of cancer, maybe multiple myeloma, which is why they’re doing a biopsy. Either way, not good news. Too much damn cancer lately.