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Storm rolling in and I suddenly have a sixty pound lap dog. Pippin does not like storms. We got some puppy appeasement spray that you put on a kerchief and put around his neck. The spray helps some, but he still climbs into my lap skin quivering like a nervous horse. I cut roses from the patio ahead of the storm. I’ve got five vases full of flowers. The David Austin rose, GOLDEN CELEBRATION has really come into it’s own this year, so heavy with thick, sweet-scented blooms that the stems are hanging earthward pulled by the weight of roses. JOSEPH’S COAT which is a riot of pink, yellow, and neon glow red/orange is spectacular this year, too. AUTUMN SUNSET has more of it’s thick honey and orange-tinged blooms than ever before, as well. The roses have really enjoyed the slow, wet spring. Why are these blooming and the rest of the roses aren’t? These three short climbers are up against a brick wall, which gathers the heat of the sun and the cool spring air, so that these roses always bloom first, and often longest, until summer heat finds them and beats them against the very wall that helped them in the spring. Like so much in life what can help you at one point can be a problem later; depends on whether you need to be hot, or cool.

I’m wearing high-heeled boots with shorts, not by choice. My ankle tendon shortens in high heels, and the knee high boots stabilize the rest of the lower leg. My ankle is feeling the best it’s felt all day. My back on the other hand is not so fond of all these high heels, but it hurts a heck of a lot less than the ankle when it’s in flats. Saw a new doc today, and am going to try acupuncture. It’s what saved my damaged arm from surgery eight years ago. I had a surgeon wanting to cut me open just to see what was wrong, I said, no. I’d try something less invasive. Acupuncture, and weights saved me from surgery, though adding more weights lately has helped even more. Difference between the arm and the ankle injury is that the doctors weren’t sure surgery would help the arm, and they are pretty certain exactly what to do in surgery for my ankle. I’ve proven their point with the boots, shorten the tendon, and it begins to feel better, the boots just can’t reattach the tendon correctly. I think that’s even beyond acupuncture, but I’ll try something less invasive to get me through a little more of the year.  Don’t want to be on crutches in June when SKIN TRADE comes out. For those who have been asking for more than the first chapter of the new book, in two weeks when BLOOD NOIR comes out in paperback you’ll get more chapters from later in the book. A little more to tide you over until the book’s official release on June 2nd, and for those coming on June 1st you can get the book a day early and have me sign it.