Drinking, Dexter and why I'm not in Philly

Last week was a bit of a wash -- relaxing, but a wash, nonetheless. I met up with Aisha and her husband on Wednesday and Friday. They're traveling while they rent out their flat in London and they are looking to launch their new product. It was fun--and comforting to know I'm not alone in my idea that the best way to save money on rent is to travel (below the cost of rent.) Berlin's still in the cards.

Aisha and hubby thinks there's potential in Wombers. Lots and lots of potential. I'm going to work on "Peregrine Hawk: Assassin" first, and also start sketching out Wombers' illustrated auto-biography. I'm not going to remove Wombers' stuffing and turn him animatronic though. That would be very wrong (and traumatic for both of us.) I met up with the volunteer coordinator at MoMA for the Tim Burton retrospective this winter. It looks like a lot of fun, and the shift I asked for is every other weekend on a Saturday.

I worked on my "This American Life" Spring 2010 application. The essays and stories were not up to par with what I'd prefer, but my brain is still in recovery mode. I'm going to work on "Peregrine Hawk: Assassin (PHA)" in extreme mode this month as I want to have a few chapters and a proposal sent out to a few literary agents before the end of the month. I'm hoping to have the writing workshop have an impromptu meeting while we are waiting in line for Martha Stewart on the 14th -- Hanorah's on board, and Jessica and Phoebe are interested, and I'm waiting for Linette.

I went to my old roommate Alison's housewarming party on Friday night. It's several blocks away from me which was very good -- as I got way too drunk for my own good. On top of the alcohol, I indulged on Grand Marnier truffles. I think that's what did it--and the clue is in the vomit. I spent most of Saturday in bed watching the rest of "Dexter" and am no completely caught up. I made rum chocolate cupcakes for Phoebe's Haht Dish II house party on Saturday -- and am proud to say that I did not get too drunk (though slightly tipsy.) I also learned a new game, Apples to Apples, and though I did not win, I got two right.

I was too lazy to walk up to the medieval festival at Inwood yesterday. Lazy and I wanted to keep on reading "Dead Until Dark." It's not exactly fine literature, it's all in past tense, excruciatingly mundane in detail, and cheesy -- but it was interesting to read while replaying season one of "True Blood" in my head. I'll read other books in the series till I experience brain vomit. It is reassuring to know that it doesn't have to be good to sell -- just a good story and enough to keep people reading. Some parts were just too ridiculous, even for me, though -- and I had to keep on putting it down.

I'm supposed to be in Philadelphia today, but my bus was to leave at 6:50 AM. That's way too early for my sanity. I was to do a classroom visit at Temple Law and spend the rest of the day at Penn Law. I'm going to apply to Temple since they have low tuition (and a good legal writing program) and skipping Penn Law as the tuition is ridiculously high. I'm still not completely on board with this idea of doing law -- I think my mother is finally realizing that -- and ideally, I can sell PHA and modestly live on a book advance.