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I took the whole day off yesterday. I didn’t type a word on anything. No work on the book. No e-mails answered. No blog. No research. Nothing that was remotely work related. I didn’t even twitter. Even when I say that I took the day off, what I usually mean is that I didn’t work on a writing project. But I usually blog, which you guys know. I research. I do something that furthers the work. Yesterday I did not. Jon and I lazed in bed. We cuddled and talked. And no, that’s not a euphemism, dirty minded folk. I’m always a little confused as to how to write about some areas of my personal life, but usually if I mean one thing, I don’t say another. I always hated the substitution of "talk" for sex when I was in high school. I am very literally minded, and still do take things that way. I had some truly embarrassing moments in school, because I kept not understanding that when friends said, "I was talking with my boyfriend," they meant something a little less verbal.

Got up late. Watched shows on Tivo that we hadn’t had time to catch earlier. We both love "My Own Worst Enemy," with Christian Slater, as a spy/hitman named Edward. Is it just me or did that sound familiar? But his alter ego is Henry, who is a devoted family man and doesn’t know that he is the beard for Edward. It gives split personality a whole knew meaning. Except that this is a government project, and was done on purpose. We’ve really been enjoying it. I hear that it may not be long for the air waves, so catch it while you can. Jon introduced me to a website called, How it Should have Ended. They’ve done animated endings of some of the shows, that we all thought either should have ended differently, or were so full of logic holes that it needed to end differently. The Star Wars one cracked us up. But then, so did Spider Man 3, The Matrix, and the new end for Braveheart was nicely twisted. I also introduced Jon to a YouTube video that my writing group introduced me to; going viral. Now I continue passing it along to you guys. "Star Wars, an a capella tribute to John Williams". It is hilarious, and well done, and if you’re feeling down, turn this on periodically and you can’t help but feel better. Sometimes a little serious silly is just what the doctor ordered.

I went to the local Rock and Mineral Show, and bought pretties. I found a ball, like a crystal ball, but formed of opal. Yeah, you read that right. I’d never seen anything like it, and was enchanted, so it’s sitting beside my computer as I type this. Pretty, shiny, and it being opal, glow-y. Hmmm. I bought some jewelry, and some more rugged looking mineral specimens. Sometimes with minerals it’s not about the pretty, but about what it looks like, and how it makes you feel when you hold it. There can be something very satisfying about holding a piece of rock that has been cooled in the earth, thrust up into the air by some cataclysm and left to weather. It has a nice, deep, thrum of mountain and earth. I also bought a chunk of pyrite, because the price was right, and I’ve had a weakness for that particular stone going back to before kindergarten. Shiny, and sparkly, ooh.

Jon didn’t go with me to the show, because his physical therapy, though helping his leg do better, is also upping the pain level. So, he begged, off. I started to call friends, see if they wanted to come, but in the end, I decided not to. I thought, aren’t I capable of going by myself? Have I really turned into one of those people that isn’t comfortable doing something alone? For most of my life, I did things alone, because first my grandmother, then my first husband, didn’t really want to do the same things I wanted to do. In my ex’s defense he liked going to rock shows. But, when I realized that I was actually uncomfortable going alone, I knew I had to do it by myself. Part of the discomfort was the River Front Times article just came out with my picture all over it. When I’m at an event and am being Laurell K. Hamilton, best-selling author. Then I’m on and I want to be recognized and talk to people, and answer questions. But when I’m in my everyday life, and get recognized it still weirds me a little. It doesn’t mean you can’t come up to me, if you recognize me, though I do ask that you do it quietly. You recognized me, that doesn’t mean that others will, as long as we play it cool. I don’t feel famous. Does that make sense? Famous is movie stars and rock stars. I am neither. So, going out, alone, just as major publicity for this area hits, was a little nervous for me. But, as the goal is to do more publicity and get more "famous", I’ve got to get over this need to hide from it. Either do, or don’t do, as Yoda would say. I kept my glasses on, like Clark Kent, and so I could see the minerals, and read tags. I also put my hair back a little, which always helps. If I was a bird in the Peterson’s guide, one of my most recognizable features would be my hair. No one recognized me in capitol letters, or if they did, they either didn’t remark on it, thank you, or they just weren’t sure. Like I said, put the hair back, add some glasses, and it changes more than you’d think. Oh, and avoid the red lipstick. Sadly, I love the color, but it’s beginning to be a signature color for me when I’m "On", so I may have to shop for a different everyday color. Pout, on that.

I got back home with my sparkly loot. Jon had enjoyed a chance to have a couple of hours alone in the house with just the dogs. Strangely, once I got over the nerves, I enjoyed being at the show alone. I didn’t have to ask anyone what they wanted to see next. I didn’t have to debate with anyone on what we were going to buy. I didn’t feel compelled to get anyone else’s opinion, because I had no one to ask, and didn’t need to ask. It was nice. There are always so many people around me, lately, that sometimes I forget that my own company is still company, just quieter and more soothing. Years ago, I had so much alone time that it was lonely, but that was years ago, and I need to remember to give myself more alone time. It’s not lonely anymore, it’s just another way to relax.

So dinner, then we watched more Tivo shows. "Numb3rs", which was a real heart breaker this week. "Eleventh Hour", with Rufus Sewell, with those big, lovely eyes of his. We also finally started the fourth season of Dr. Who. The Christmas special was pretty sad, but the episode after was fun, and gruesome, if you thought about it, which I did. They also had the children in need special that featured Peter Davison as his doctor persona, talking to the current doctor, David Tennant. Mr. Tennant summed up how I feel about Davison, too. He was my doctor, the first I watched. But, I love Peter Davison from him being Tristan in the British drama "All Creatures Great and Small," based on the books by James Herriot. Tristan is described by his big brother, as a dissipated choir boy. Gotta love it, or at least, I did.

Then early to bed for Jon and I, and no, we didn’t go upstairs to talk. A kid free night is not to be wasted on anything as quiet as conversation.