Mostly words, and some guitar, with a few carbs thrown in just because

 I made myself wait until I'd finished writing the first draft of my own book, to read Moonlight Mile, Dennis Lehane's long-awaited addition to (and probable end of) the Patrick Kenzie/Angie Gennaro series. I am not in the least objective when it comes to Lehane's work- I love it unreservedly (and he deserves every bit of that unreserve), so you might discount it when I say that this book is flat-out wonderful. But you shouldn't discount it, because I'm right- it is wonderful- dark, tense, and beautifully written. I'm not going to talk about the plot, because almost anything I say could be a spoiler, but I will say that it picks up years after the action from Gone, Baby Gone. I don't know where Lehane will go next, but wherever it is, I will follow.

 I had a bit of time to kill yesterday, waiting for a ride, so I picked up Stephen King's Full Dark, No Stars, which is a book of long short stories (or perhaps they're short novelettes). I didn't have time to read more than a few pages of the first story, 1922, but I'm hooked already.

 Since we were driving 100 miles (one way) to watch Frog Girl's Holiday Program, I did have time to listen to Crystal Bowersox's new CD, Farmer's Daughter. Last season (as anyone who read the blog back then knows), Crystal became my all-time favorite American Idol contestant (surpassing previous faves Clay Aiken and Taylor Hicks). Crystal's gritty, hard-life vocals and persona translate pretty well to her new CD, which features eight of her original songs. The CD as a whole, is more Smokey Bar Music than I want to listen to in a single setting, but individual songs (Farmer's Daughter, Holy Toledo, Mine All Mine, and Mason) will quickly enter my personal permanent music rotation. And just to be clear- there's nothing wrong with any of the songs, I'm just more of a Ballad Girl (unless I'm on the treadmill, at which time I lean toward disco). It's a good collection, and I hope it sells well for her.

And in the Carb Corner, we find Chocolate Dipped Caramel Pecan Bars, which I am making right now. I'll let you know how they come out. My guess is that they're going to be mega-yummy.

Charlie Hearse

See what I did up there? These leg cramps are killers. Get it? I crack myself up sometimes.

Anyway, thanks everyone for the suggestions for dealing with the cramps. I am going to follow Kate's advice and consult with the doctor (if for no other reason than to give her an anecdotal connection between Symbicort and the cramping), and then I'll try several of the suggested remedies. I put a bar of soap under the sheets (hey- in my house, we buy warts from each other to get rid of them, and it works. I'm not above using magic), and I'm drinking a Tonic and Sam's Choice Water right now. If the Dr says it's okay, I'll take a potassium supplement (bananas are forbidden fruit in our version of Diabetesville).

Speaking of Tonic Water- I am new to the ways of tonic, and had no idea that there was such a thing as Diet Tonic Water, though I'm glad it exists (90 calories and 24 gr of carb per serving of the regular? I think not). I would not be able to drink this unadulterated (and I'm not in the mood for Gin at the moment), so mixing it with the Sam's Choice helps. There's still a bitter aftertaste, sort of like the white pulp under the skin of a grapefruit, but otherwise, it's palatable. And if it'll help lessen the cramps, I'll drink it straight.

In the meantime, work progresses apace on the YA Fantasy, and I'm down to the foot on the second Netherfield sock.

And Shopko, a local discount store, has the coolest linkable letter Christmas ornaments in stock this year.

You buy the pieces individually, and then assemble them to make words and phrases. I picked up enough to make everyone's name (though it took multiple trips, since in my fuzzy-brain stage, I managed to forget several vowels, and a couple of consonants, entirely). Are these fun, or what?

And as a carrot (per Mary), this book (all signed and inscribed and everything) is waiting for me when I finish the YA. I dare not crack the spine until I write The End. However, it is calling me... I am trying to be strong...