Paris was--Paris. We had beautiful weather, and saw all the important sites. We lunched at the requisite sidewalk cafe, rode buses and cabs all over the city, and bought souvenirs. We sent post cards--Sally hiked what seemed like miles to find a post office. (She's almost a decade younger--I make her do all the schlepping!)

On the train back to London, the couple in the seats across from ours progressed from a mild business relationship to heavy romance, all in 2 hours and 10 minutes. In the station, Sally spotted Minnie Driver, live in person. I was looking the other way and all I caught was a flash of a famous smile and a toss of lovely dark hair.

We had the most wonderful time, but we were really wiped out when we finally got back to the hotel. British Museum and Westminster Abbey today--more later.

Amazing! With Sally's help, I have managed to get online to blog! It is nearly 5 pm here, and we had quite a full day shopping--we started at Warr's Harley Davidson, where my sister the biker chick stocked up on shirts, etc. After that, we shopped in the King's Road, Chelsea, and did we ever have a ball. We bought all sorts of cool stuff at Boot's--love the homeopathic remedies. We visited LUSH, the exquisitely decadent bath supply shop, and a Chinese herbal place. We're rising VERY early tomorrow for a day trip to Paris. Suffice it to say, the trip is a success. I visited the coolest art supply house ever.

More after PARIS.

Tomorrow! I can't believe it! I'm actually getting on a British Airways jet tomorrow and flying to one of my all-time favorite cities! And Sister Sal is going with. It doesn't get any better.

Today, I will finish drafting "Dylan", and what an adventure this book has been! I'm planning to do the revisions when I get home--just let the story cool off for a week. (Trust me, anything with Dylan Creed in it is HOT.) In fact, the pages sizzle when I touch them!

Good news at Weight Watchers last night--I've now "released" (you're not supposed to say "lost", because then you'll try to find it again :))--ta-da! 20 pounds. (That whinnying you hear in the background is my horses, looking forward to a lighter-Linda summer!) I've still got a ways to go, but truth to tell, I love eating WW style. I decide what I'm going to eat the night before, write it in my food journal, and forget it. That way, I'm not constantly obsessing about what I will eat. And I feel so good--more energy, etc.

If possible, I will send at least one blog from the hotel business center computer. Since I'm not exactly a techno-wiz, this is a crap shoot. :)

"A Wanted Man" is doing GREAT. Thank you, pardners.

Back the 18th, so if I don't manage to pipe you a message before then, look for the first episode in the travelogue on the 19th.

"Pet" being the operative term, most of the time. :)

You hear so much these days about pet peeves. I'd rather list a few of my favorite things:

My dogs, with sunlight in their fur.
My cats, cuddling close to give me cat-Reiki when I'm under the weather.
The horses, running and kicking up their heels in the pasture.
Macaroni and tomatoes
Weight Watchers' Key Lime Pie
Making ATCs
Playing with polymer clay--especially making image transfers
Getting new art supplies via UPS
My Cricut machine--whiz bang, what a dandy tool!
Reading other peoples' books :)
Studying the Civil War
Visiting ANY book store
Ditto any craft store
Going to the movies on cloudy afternoons
Mini series like "John Adams"
Peonies in bloom (not yet, but coming soon to a garden near you!)
Laughing until I cry
Hot baths with bubbles
Red wine
Going back to London, after many years away
The Park Lane Hotel
High Tea
Harrod's
The British Museum
The flower shops on every corner--color spilling everywhere you look
Choosing and sending post cards
Finding that special memento for that special someone
Time with my Sister Sally
I could go on. (And on.)
But I have a book to finish.
Oh, yeah. Finishing a book!

(You: "How late are you???")

Me: So late, I almost didn't get here at all! This book, I'm telling you, is wearing me out. These Creed men are BEYOND wild. I expect to finish the story ("Dylan") tomorrow, and do some last minute polishing on Friday morning. Today, I'm getting a new crown put on one of my teeth (I'd rather have one that went on my head), and since I slept so late, I'll probably be pulling a swing shift this time.

It doesn't help that a lovely box of metal shrines, etc., arrived from Silvercrow Creations today. My head is just buzzing with ideas--but Dylan and Kristy must come first. And Kristy was in a very dangerous situation yesterday when I finished, so I can't just leave the poor girl in suspended animation. So the SC goodies will have to wait.

Rats. It's my Gemini nature. If ONLY I could be in two places at once. :)