I’m flying up to Toronto today and meeting up with fellow Blaze writer Rhonda Nelson at the airport. Tomorrow we’ll visit the Harlequin offices. I’ve been a couple of times before, but it’s always a good trip. Of course I know the editorial staff, but it’s fascintating to meet the people in the art department and the production staff who actually see to it that the books make it to press. (Yep, it’s good to meet the folks face-to-face that you’re making their life a misery as well as your own when you’re late on a deadline.) I also like meeting the people in the business office who oversee my contracts and my money.:p And that will conclude the “little business” portion of the trip.
Ewww. I’m feeling so guilty over the next part because my husband’s bogged down at work and my daughter’s going to be stuck at the office with him…but I’ll get over it. Friday and Saturday are fun days. Friday we’re doing some treetop canopy tour where you descend via zipline and then go through some caves with a section called Fat Man’s Squeeze. Uh-huh. Saturday will be a couple of hours of sea kayaking on Georgian Bay.
It was Rhonda who pointed out that activities with our editor, outside of writing, always include having to wear a helmet. (See whitewater photos in my Stuff section if you need proof.)
Well, there was that horseback riding trip in Texas that didn’t require a helmet but I probably needed one considering I fell…not off the horse. Oh no, this was before I ever made it to the stable. Landed flat on my…butt. And a great big thank-you to the cowboy who yelled up at me from the corral, in case anyone missed it, “Hey, are you okay?”
Anyway, I’m not the most coordinated human being and when my editor said, in regards to Fat Man’s Squeeze. “You just have to twist just so and sort of push yourself through with your legs while torquing your shoulders.” Grand. I’m not afraid of heights so that’s not a problem, but my general lack of coordination is no state secret. If you hear something Friday around noon that sounds like a distant scream…it’s because I’ve managed to wedge myself into Fat Man’s Squeeze.:[ Stuck parts are unhappy parts.
Okay, I’m so ready for this, I’m already pushing my guilt aside. I knew I could do it.8)
Hopefully, you won’t hear me screaming.
The weather was perfect…warm days and crisp nights. Yahoo — we didn’t see any bears!! That’s a great thing, imo.(y) I’ve seen grizzlies at a distance in Denali and that was enough, thank you. Just say “no” to bear encounters. 