Fore!

I don't play golf.

So why, you might ask, did this anti-social homebody choose to spend the entire day on a golf course?

Because I love my sister-in-law. (She's actually not my sister-in-law per se, but she's still family.) And, she's the president of the local chapter of her college alumni association and they sponsor a golf tournament every year, the proceeds of which benefit a scholarship fund to send students from our county to her college. Okay, plug it: It's Austin Peay State University. Anyway, they do this tournament and I told her I'd help out because there just aren't enough folks in her chapter who are able or willing to pitch in.

Last year I used the opportunity to promote my books by putting a postcard with a fun-size bag of M&Ms stapled to it in each of the goodie bags. Now there's a marketing strategy for you - the way to a reader's wallet is through his stomach?

Back to the top.

After I spent 7-1/2 hours out in the fresh air (i.e. wind gusts 10-15 mph) and sunshine today, I finally had to call the WGH to come pick me up because the SIL was not going to be able to take me home and my car was at her house, where I'd left it this morning because I got to drive a 2006 Dodge Charger (the prize for the hole-in-one contest) to the golf course (woo-hoo).

The WGH has been working on the landscaping all day and has a couple more things to pick up, so I have to ride along. We went in one place (the Ace Hardware Co-op, I think), walked around for a minute, didn't find what he wanted, came back to the truck, at which time he abruptly turned and went back into the store, leaving the truck locked. I was so exhausted by that point that I just sat down on the front steps of the Co-op. Just sat. I must have been a sight, in my sweatshirt and baseball cap, windblown curls cascading wildly from the hole in the back, clutching my purse and tearing up at every person who walked by me. Aww, yeah, I know, pitiful. And before you start calling the WGH out on the carpet for leaving me, I do vaguely remember his saying something about checking on one other thing but I was just too dang tired to process the information. This left me in an interesting position, too, as there was a biker chick waiting outside for her S.O. She took pity on me and struck up a nice little conversation about why we were there. Sweet. In a disturbing sort of way.

Two more stops and we're finally on our way home. After leaving the house at ten of six this morning, I walk back in at 4:20 p.m. only to be accosted by The Boy, who is chomping at the bit because we were supposed to go to the mall to buy his friend a birthday present - the party's at 7.

Now, I do not swear in front of my children. Most of the time. The teens by now are jaded enough that I can get away with an occasional misstep. This afternoon I exercised tremendous self-control and did not blast The Boy to Kingdom Come with my rendition of "Mom Can Cuss You Six Ways to Sunday, You Insensitive Lout". The Boy does not grasp the subtle nuances of disheveled hair, bloodshot eyes and dragging behind that signal MOM IS WIPED OUT, KID. He's 15. All he knows is, I have places to go, people to see, things to do, so grab your keys, Mom!

Suffice to say that my normal "full day of writing" was scrapped, big time. Although spending the day outside when it was so darn pretty was not really all that bad, especially during the time I spent chaperoning the hole in one contest. You get these stretches in between foursomes where it's just you and the golf course and the sky and the wispy/fluffy clouds that look like someone pulled the cotton candy off the paper cone and let it fly off on the breeze. That's fodder for us literary types - exercises in describing our surroundings.

One other bright spot in my day was my conversation with J.T. after I got home. She's so frickin' full of energy that no matter how tired I am I can't help but feel a little boosted whenever I talk with her.

Papa John made dinner. God, I love that man.

Book of the Week: Still reading The Beekeeper's Apprentice, but I just received two ARCs via post that I need to read and review. If I can keep my eyes open long enough. Ah, well, as Scarlett said, tomorrow is another day, and I think all I have on the plate tomorrow is one soccer game. Freedom!

Read a book. Take a nap. At least take one for me. And watch out for errant golf balls.

=) JB