The Bottom of the Food Chain and other stories

Despite the fact that I still get jealous every time someone else announces they've signed up for NaNoWriMo, I've decided to do something slightly less strenuous this year. Slightly. Details coming later, after I figure out how much of an event I dare make of it.

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The problem with caring for a garden is that you're defending the bottom of the food chain.

Exhibit A: Maia broke five leaves off my peace lily one night this week, and has shredded or chewed the ends of several more. Theoretically, it's supposed to be mildly poisonous, but it has never made her sick and she keeps going after it. I've taken to locking it away at bedtime.

Exhibit B: A sleek and happy squirrel charged into my corn patch the other day, raced up a stalk, and ripped into an ear of corn. With Lou and I standing not an arm's length away. Squirrels will steal corn by the ears, carry the spoil to the picnic table, and party up. Not kidding. I've seen the leftovers.

Exhibit C: I had to pick green worms off every leaf of a bunch of kale a few days ago.

Thanks to that last ordeal, I later dreamed I was eating a bowl of cereal and found a green worm floating in it. I picked the worm out with the spoon and threw it into the sink, but then I found another... and another. Horrified, I dumped the entire bowl into the sink—and it was crawling with green worms, some of them enormous. After thirteen Wheel of Time books, of course, dream-Jenna knew she was headed for Tarmon Gai'don.

It's been a long week.


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Dog caught in misdeed: "Oh no, I'm sorry, I know I was bad. Please don't stop loving me."

Cat caught in misdeed: "Two squirts with the squirt bottle? Well worth it."


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Writers' link of the week: InkPageant. Instant overwhelming by blog posts on the art of writing. H/T Shallee McArthur.

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Music of the week: my favorite old Over the Rhine song. I can't believe I've never featured this band before.



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Funny of the week: Okay, I don't know where YA Highway got this, but... haha.

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House to clean, books to write, dinner to plan, going-away party for my good friend Sarah tonight... *sniff*... I'm off.

Happy weekend, everybody!