blur

Jeff and I are meeting with our real estate agent tonight, and checking out more places this weekend.

After a while, the houses all begin to blur together. Living rooms ... bedrooms ... basements ... backyards. Even apart from the potential of moving to a new home, it's fascinating from a people-watcher's point of view, to see so many different personalities expressing themselves in style of home, furniture, lawn decorations.

We're still not entirely decided on whether we want to move into a house or another condo. We like the idea of living in a house, but are we really prepared to cope with maintenance and other hassles that go with it? Will our neighbours drive us nuts? Will we drive them nuts?

We've only been on one house hunting expedition with the real estate agent, however. I suspect the one this weekend will help make up our minds.

I'm starting to revise my novel, reading through the entire thing, fixing plot inconsistencies, editing and revising. I find that I get the most work done on it offline, where I'm not tempted to pick up e-mail or check to see if anyone's posted in Blatherchat or posted any LOTR report comments.

My favourite place to write is in coffee shops, mainly because they usually have comfy chairs but also because I like the noise and action around me. Sometimes I just order a coffee or latté but don't drink it, just setting in nearby to prove that yes, I did order something so I'm allowed to sit here. I bring noise-blocking headphones and put on some Kim Robertson harp music to help mask out whatever horrible muzak is playing on the speakers. Yeah, I know I just said I like working in coffee shops because of the noise, so why the noise-blocking headphones? I like the noise and action, but I don't like being able to distinguish words of conversations going around me, if that makes any sense at all.

Sent out two more queries, sent in my article and photos for Country Connections magazine, continuing work on two consulting jobs re: online communities, continuing to work on my novel. I love my work; I could do this forever.

Links/News:

One year ago, I started fiction writing again, the first time since the whole Inkspot adventure.

Two years ago, I was being teased about my Canadian accent at work.

"Spirited Away" debuts in North America on Friday after smashing box office records in Japan. (Reuters)