Phone Call

There is a conversation to be had today that I am dreading. I've been at odds with a magazine I write for about payment for some articles. Each of us has taken an opposing view of the situation and today at 5 we are to talk in a final attempt to resolve the matter.

I like everyone I'm dealing with. I just dislike conflict. I feel I am in the right, yet they hold the purse strings and so I see this as them holding more of the power.

I'm trying not to blow the conversation up in my mind before it's had. Maybe they're willing to concede and it will be a pleasant conversation. Maybe. My guess though, is that each side is ready to dig in their heels. I have a compromise position I'm willing to fall back on but I'm not adverse to walking away from the magazine and future assignments. However, I hope it doesn't come to that.

Meanwhile, it will be a long day until 5 pm.

This & That

My poor little blog readers... I have nothing to entertain you with. The temperatures today are predicted to be sunny mid 60's, I'm spending the morning book writing and the afternoon doing a bit of paid writing. (Someday those will be the same things...) But there is nothing to report but tidbits of life.

• Last summer's running group reformed on Sunday as we did 13, 11, 10, 8, and 5 mile runs, depending on when each decided to turn back. =)
• Blair is working on our taxes. The good news is that I made a lot of money last year. The bad news is I didn't withhold taxes on that money. Can you say, "Owe the government copious amounts of cash....?"
• I pulled a muscle in yoga and, for the moment, can't lift my right leg more than 4 inches off the ground. Makes getting dressed that much more interesting.
• I'm half-way finished with a new book of cat stories, a follow-up to Lessons In Stalking. I've got about 15 stories complete and ready for review. I need 5 more stories to round out the book. I'm staring at the cats hourly, hoping they do something cute.
• We made brownies last night and I decided nothing but brownies would do for breakfast this morning. I'm now on a massive sugar high yet can do little more than think about the one brownie that remains in the kitchen...

I told you... pretty calm life. I'm off to goad the cats into doing something at least mildly amusing.

Kung-Fu Kitty

Blair and I have started a nice little morning ritual where he feeds the fish and then we sit together on the couch in semi-darkness, sipping coffee and watching them eat. Sometimes we talk, sometimes we don't.  It's a peaceful opening to the day before "the world" intrudes.

Of course, if you have cats, "the world" always intrudes. The other morning we were sitting quietly, contemplating the fish when suddenly kung-fu cat appeared and attacked the fish tank.

"WAH-HAH-HEE-AIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE-YAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Lucy leapt onto the dining room chair and pummelled the glass barrier. Her paws were a blur of karate chops. Fish scattered, Blair and I both jumped and kung-fu kitty, having made her point, leapt off the chair and raced out of the room.

"Is she high? Blair asked, brushing spilled coffee off his robe.

I have no idea what gets into her. After 80 billion attempts, you would think she would have clued in by now that the fish tank is impenetrable.  Apparently she thought ancient Eastern martial arts held the key to success.  Hopefully she's learned her lesson.

Although I'm concerned she hasn't give up. I saw her studying a book of dark magic the other day.

Be very afraid...

Yearly Physical

"Get a physical" has been on my New Year's list for about the past 8 years now. 2008 is the year--ta-dah!--I finally get to check that one off.

I had my "yearly" physical today. Everything is a go. Cholesterol was in the mid-range which, while acceptable, surprised me. I expected it to come back low.  My iron is low, but only 1 point below the acceptable range so nothing to be concerned about. Everything else is status quo. (See "What's New?" "Nothing" entry of Wednesday.)

I found a doctor who is also a runner--very important as non-running doctors often tell you to quit running at the first hint of an injury while doctors who run tend to dig deeper and evaluate if there really is a need to stop or slow down on the running.  We chit-chatted about running, races, and PR's during the visit. I like him. He sat with me for at least 30 minutes, if not more, and went over every detail of my bloodwork and family history. I can't remember the last time a doctor spent more than 5 minutes in the same room with me.  Very refreshing.

I couldn't recall the last time I had a tetanus shot so they gave me one today.  Can you say, "Can no longer raise my right arm above shoulder height?" That shot packs a wallop. Hopefully I'll regain use of my limbs by tomorrow. (BTW, a shout-out to my best friend who had a boxing session with her trainer last night. She's so sore today she literally "can't hold a pencil." Productive day at work, Trish?)

Here's to all my reader's health!