As an aside

Pertaining to the wine discussion below.

I opened a bottle of chardonnay late last week. Inserted the corkscrew. Twisted.

The corkscrew went in much too easily. Took a good look at the top, and realized it was a screw-top. I know that cheaper wines have always had screw tops, but this wasn't bottom of the line wine. I had heard that winemakers were trending away from corks, but I didn't know how far the movement had gone.

I still haven't gotten used to plastic corks...

As an aside

Pertaining to the wine discussion below.

I opened a bottle of chardonnay late last week. Inserted the corkscrew. Twisted.

The corkscrew went in much too easily. Took a good look at the top, and realized it was a screw-top. I know that cheaper wines have always had screw tops, but this wasn't bottom of the line wine. I had heard that winemakers were trending away from corks, but I didn't know how far the movement had gone.

I still haven't gotten used to plastic corks...

A Monday

Saturday evening, I screwed up my courage and emailed Chris McGrath about the ENDGAME cover. Would he offer the original for sale? If not, would it be possible to obtain a print? I already have one original, the cover that Jean Pierre Targete painted for CONTACT IMMINENT(click the lady with the pageboy hairstyle in the upper right hand corner), so I had an idea what the cost might be. Could I afford it? Not really. But I love the image that McGrath created. If it proved available, well, that's my girl up there. She's not exactly as I envision her, but the overall sense of the thing is so right that I can overlook details.

Anyway, I heard back today. There is no original painting, since the cover was done on Photoshop. Chris McGrath will, however, send me a print. I'm happy with that. A little relieved, actually. Because if it had been available...

A Monday

Saturday evening, I screwed up my courage and emailed Chris McGrath about the ENDGAME cover. Would he offer the original for sale? If not, would it be possible to obtain a print? I already have one original, the cover that Jean Pierre Targete painted for CONTACT IMMINENT(click the lady with the pageboy hairstyle in the upper right hand corner), so I had an idea what the cost might be. Could I afford it? Not really. But I love the image that McGrath created. If it proved available, well, that's my girl up there. She's not exactly as I envision her, but the overall sense of the thing is so right that I can overlook details.

Anyway, I heard back today. There is no original painting, since the cover was done on Photoshop. Chris McGrath will, however, send me a print. I'm happy with that. A little relieved, actually. Because if it had been available...

less than a day to go

Get yer red hot Tuckerization right here!

less than a day to go

Get yer red hot Tuckerization right here!

It always happens when I'm brushing my teeth

Still thinking through the changes to the beginning of ENDGAME. Another "why don't you do it this way" fell into my head, which in turn led to a mental reworking of several chapters. Kicks the immediacy factor right up there, that's for sure.

The next weeks are going to be busy.

I hope I'm not steering this thing into a ditch.

It always happens when I'm brushing my teeth

Still thinking through the changes to the beginning of ENDGAME. Another "why don't you do it this way" fell into my head, which in turn led to a mental reworking of several chapters. Kicks the immediacy factor right up there, that's for sure.

The next weeks are going to be busy.

I hope I'm not steering this thing into a ditch.