Flying Time

Good Evening.

I felt so lucky, I came down after leaving dinner early and I had not one, but three e-mails from you! How wonderful!

Dinner was an early exit because I'm over Rachel all ready. I hadn't thought it possible to have two self centred people at the one time, but she and Erin take the cake. It's a race to see who can sound the best and be the best and have the best. Oh Please give me a break. And I wish Rachel would talk in English sometimes!! I mean we were at the post office earlier and she was like 'So do having exclamation points to end a sentence as grammar annoy you?' and I you know, I don't really give that much thought. If there is an exclamation point at the end of a sentence, fine, if there's not, well that doesn't phase me either...I don't know, maybe it's just one of those quirks people have.

But yes, this afternoon I ended up walking up the hill with the two Americans. Post Office and Waterstones. I brought a new addition to the stuffed animal family!! He (yes another he, Sheep is really out numbered) is a big pudgy Mouse! He was far too cute (but in an ugly way) to leave behind and he was only four pound ninety nine. He's about Eton's size with a fat belly. I'll take a photo and send it to you. I called him Hammer. Though Hammer hasn't met everyone yet because he managed to be thrown into my room still in the bag as I ran to dinner.

See after we got back (about 4:30) I got a coffee and I brought a Michael Connelly book (his new one) in Waterstones because it was half price and Janet and I both enjoy his writing style. I stopped by her flat to let her know I got the book and she can borrow it after I've read it. I ended up staying until like 6:10pm and consequently was late for dinner!! But we chatted about HAs to begin with and how the meeting went and about stuff that was brought up. Stupid stuff really but when I think about the group we have at the moment it doesn't really surprised me. I explained our theory about the force field which sucks common sense and initiative from you when you enter the drive of Pax Lodge. She laughed. And then we talked about phone cards and families and just random things. Time got away.

Thus here I am, feeling a little bad that the newest addition is still in a plastic bag on the floor, yet to be introduced to everyone. I'll do that when I am done here.

I am a fan of Jazz believe it or not. I have several jazz CDs at home, my fav is with me. They're all compilation CDs but I find jazz is great to have on as background music, it can be quite relaxing as well as motivating.

I am very much aware that what you feel sometimes seems impossible. I feel that too :-)

I've probably mentioned Carly before, my friend in Queensland who became my editor. Primarily our friendship blossomed through letters. One of the things I loved so much is that she got as caught up in my story world as I did. We created characters and referred to each other as that. We sent letters in the mail with the FBI seal on it and 'Confidential' stamps on the back. It for a time seemed like that was the real world and where we currently lived was the story. To have someone get so caught up in that was fantastic. But I lost that when I lost myself. I love being caught up in puppets and stuffed animals and characters because I can let my imagination run away with me. To share that with someone makes it all the more amazing. I never thought I would have someone I could do that with, not in the flesh. Carly was always in words. Never something in front of me. You (and your mom) amazed me because its like reality is gone and the puppets take over, it's incredible. That why I smiled so much, I found people who in some regards were like me!! Able to be lost in an alternate world....hmm...maybe I'm getting a little off track here.

I found myself looking for puppet books in the bookstore today. I want to own a puppet. You know, before you came along I didn't even know this world existed. Its incredible. And I will always be full of thanks for you for showing that world to me.

Right now I am going to head upstairs and introduce Hammer to everyone. We'll see how that goes. I shouldn't think Eton will try and eat him, it might be the relationship Sylvester has with the 'Big Mouse' (which is actually a roo!) in the Warner Brother cartoons. Eton will be scared because of how big he is!!

For now I sign off, and I hope you do focus on your homework!!!
Rachael