http://otterdance.livejournal.com/205664.html

It is indeed the place that inspired Yhakobin's house. In reality it's the Getty Villa museum in Malibu. I didn't have a strong idea of what Y's house should look like until I happened to visit there. The layout is a little different, but things like the fountains, the inner garden, and overall style are there.

Just thought I'd share that. :-)

I have the bike. I have the permit. I have the helmet. I'm about to have the jacket. Now all I need is some courage.

With no family around for the holiday, I decided I wanted to go to the beach. The only other time we attempted to go to the beach on a holiday we tried to go to Malibu at midday, where there is what amounts to the Great Wall of China in the left lane of the Pacific Coast Highway, making it impossible to get across to a parking lot, where you wouldn't be able to find a space anyway.


So, we got up at 3:30am, packed up the dogs and drove over to the Huntington Dog Beach, south of LA. It was a grey and misty morn, there was plenty of parking, and just enough dogs and surfers to be sociable. It was the first time we've let Emma off the leash and we weren't quite sure what to expect but she is great, running in huge circles and figure 8's of joy and coming back when she's called. She likes other dogs, and their people, too. Except for darker skinned men in hats. That seems to be a constant. Some history there.

And I kept a promise to Molly, who loved the Atlantic, and let her get herself wet and sandy in the Pacific before she checks out. She also had a ball, and I kept having to drag her out of the surf when she tried to get out to swim. The shifting sand took her back legs out from under her and she couldn't get up, so I waded in time and again, jacked her up, and helped her back to dry land, though she was not especially appreciative. She still loves the water, where ever she can get into it. Emma liked the beach, but had fun outrunning the waves after they drenched her a few times. Bosco--- he goes along and likes to walk, but hates to be wet.

An added bonus was the great sea shell picking.

The morning's haul. I have no idea what they are specifically. Bivalves, mostly.


Joy!



More joy!



And more.



Me, in my beach gear, otherwise known as the least flattering outfit I own.




Quiet Joy.



The Old Dog and the Sea


Met Seregil's Dogs (if they were white)



The Ride Home


Home by 9:30, gardened til 11:00 and it got too hot. Chilling now until tonight's fireworks.

Mysterious Galaxy is a terrific independent bookstore, and a great place to have a book signing. I arrived early and was informed that the pre orders for signed books was the largest they'd ever had, and they were amazed at how many foreign customers there were. By the time it was all over I'd signed aroun 100 books. Not bad!

The crowd was large and asked great questions. What I thought would be a one hour event stretched to three hours and I had a great time talking to everyone. Special thanks to my hosts, Patrick and Sam. You made me feel very important. ;-) If anyone got a pic of me with them, please send me a copy. My cameraman goofed.

In addition to the presale books, I signed a stack of copies of Shadows Return for the store, which can be ordered through the Mysterious Galaxy link on my my website Supplies are limited!

Some pics, of course. I did not write down names, so apologies for applying my own descriptions. If you'd like to send me your name, I'll add them. :-)

The Throne of the Goddesss on High. That's store manager Patrick looking evil behind me.



Birthday Girl, Rebecca. She turned 17 that day and I was part of her present!



Lynn Among the Giants



Me with some friends from last year's ComicCon. The girl on the right showed up dressed as Duke Mardus, with a wonderful helm. She was one of the first people I'd seen dressed as one of my characters, and the first I got to see in person.

"Who in Bilairy's name is that? And what the f**k is he doing on my shelf?"







(A self portrait Matt was going to throw away.)

It's been one of those days. Too many things to do and not enough mental focus to accomplish much for most of the day.

Molly had another bad seizure last night and I've been keeping a close eye on her. She slept out in the living room last night, so we didn't see the seizure, but could tell by her behavior early this morning that it had been a significant episode. She was outside when I wandered out to the kitchen and saw her about to walk into the deep end of the koi pond. I got to her in time, but realized then what had happened. Temporary blindness. Hours of disoriented restless wandering, then the crash and heavy sleep.

So when I finally sat down to write around 5 pm, I wasn't sure I'd get anything done. I cast a Tarot spread just for the heck of it (and to procrastinate a little more) and the overall direction was encouraging, and calming. I put on my Enya mix and went to work.

Five hundred words in I pause and realize that I feel more peaceful than I have all day. The evening light is tinting the neighbor's stucco orange. The breeze is cool and gentle through the open window behind my desk, and makes the laundry on the clothes line ripple soothingly. I can hear the wind chimes now and then.

That tight knot in my chest is gone.

Looking around, I found other images of serenity.


My office staff, minus ZIng, who shirked desk-sitting duty today. Molly, Oscar, and Bosco.


A stuffed tiger my grandmother found in her front yard when I was little. His name is Daniel Striped Tiger II. It's not plagiarism, since I was only five and loved Mr. Rogers' show; gentle, soft-spoken Daniel Stripped Tiger was my favorite citizen of the Neighborhood of Make Believe. He's always peaceful, which is why I keep him around. And he holds fond memories of Grammie Hale, too.


Even the otters are napping. I have no idea how she got on the couch, much less with her baby sewn to her paws.


I wish you all a peaceful evening, too. :-)

From friend Diana S.