I meant to have pictures at this point, but have yet to get the camera to speak to my computer. I know everyone says this about the place they grew up, but there is no more beautiful place in my world than Annapolis Valley. But I know the rythymns here. I know when it will rain because I can taste it in the air. I know the heat is oppressive and bad just from the way the sun comes in the windows. I can appreciate the fresh breezes, the winding drives, green fields, Bay of Fundy version of the ocean  and yes, even the bugs (Nova Scotia has the non-mutant size variety of where I currently live in Manitoba. I swear, that's the only place where I've hit a mosquito, seen it shake it's head and come back for more. I am not kidding). It's what I grew up with. It's what I've always called home.

Moving away gives one a sense of how things are different, true. Different customs, different traditions. Different accents (to the lady from South Carolina on the Digby Ferry, I apologize, I really did just love your accent).But all the places I've ever lived, I've been more amazed at how people are the same. There is always the popular kid, the loner, the geek, the jock, emo, the gay, lesbian, bisexual, the band fiends, the musicians, the science nerds, whatever you grew up with, there are others, everywhere. At least, there are where I've been. Every. Damn. Place.

Still, there's no place like home.

I

Day Five

AHHH! I do NOT like the mean thing my hooman calls Ferry. My hooman put me in a bigger box, and walked away. Then many rooms-on-wheels came in, some with the big metal boxes on the end. It was loud, and growly and smelly. There was a fish smell. I wanted to cuddle with my hooman (I know, a sign of weakness. I hope no other cats are reading this) but she wasn't there. And then the loud noises started, and the rooms went up and down, side to side for hours. Finally, my hooman came for me and took me up a long metal ramp, underneath there was lots and lots of water. I was so happy, I cuddled with my hooman for a whole 10 minutes. Then my UNCLE came and brought us to GRANDMA's! I was so happy, I didn't even try to run outside for a whole hour!

Day Three

My hooman is a FOOL!!

We have left the palace. She put me in the torture bag, put me in the room-on-wheels (at least I was not wedged between the short ones this time) and we travelled again.

I have used my mind control to force my hooman to give more 'rest stops' where I can stay in the room-on-wheels. This room is cool at least.  At one 'rest stop' I saw a bird that I thought I would catch to see if my hooman would stop this foolishness. My hooman caught me and would not let me leave without my pink torture devices.

There was a number of stops this time, where my hooman tried to get me to walk(!) on the Leash and Harness again. The rough stones of the concrete do not sit well with my delicate paws.  She is a FOOL! It does not matter that we saw a giant 'moose'. The beast looked like it could Eat my hooman. Why would I want that?

Day Two : Whotell

I am a Goddess, worshipped as befits my station in the natural order of things. I have windows to watch the bugs on the ground and sun myself. My food and water are constantly refreshed. My human keeps my litter box cleaned, but even she is exaulted from her connection with me. SHE has a staff to take away my litter donations, to make her bed in the morning, to bring fresh towels, as any of my priestess should. My hooman would be a fool to leave this temple.

I hate titles.

I am never any good at naming my work. It always comes at the end. Never the working title that I will stick with for the rest of my WIP. No, it goes down to the bloody wire. Meh. Such is life. Got a vampire novella first draft done last Saturday. Printed off the pages and have been hacking through them on and off this week. Lots of red ink. One of my summer students looked over my shoulder at the library and said, "Did you get anything right?" I tried to explain to her that this is the part where I take it a part and rebuild it so it's even stronger. That it's called editing. And not all the pages have red. She didn't believe me.

So that's that. I'll be finished the run through tomorrow. Then I start the 2nd draft. This one feels more solid than Raya, at least. So that's a plus. We'll see.