It is finished.

I have pressed the last keystrokes of Serendipity. The epilogue is ready to go to Liz. Now I just have to start imagining the sequel, Masquerade. The story is there, I just have to bring it to life. I haven't had any of the clear visions for this one as I've had for the others, except for an opening scene. The scene would be a take-off on what happened today, or should I say yesterday and carried over to today.

The people across the street had a visitor, a brother, who brought a largish puppy and let him roam all over the place. Inky slapped the dog down with a well-placed ambush and scratch, but the pup managed to tree poor Cotton in the big oak that separates our driveway from next door's front yard. When she didn't come for dinner, or come in for the night, I thought she might have gotten stuck in the garage. The boys and men were back and forth in it all day trying to collect all the things for the bathroom tiling project. So at 1 a.m. I'm outside looking for her. She wasn't in the garage, but as I called her, I could hear her meowing. I finally found her up in the tree, on the lowest branch, which is at least 12 feet up. I went in and took out her dinner, hoping to coax her down, but she was just too scared. So I left her up there for the night and said I'd tackle the problem in the morning.

Hubby was working (his day off during his vacation week and he's working. Only in the Postal Service) so I took out the ladder and set it up against the tree then sent Boy #2 up, holding onto the ladder as he went up. He couldn't reach her, so I sent him in for the bowl of food and sent Boy #1 up with it. He could reach her enough to pet her, but didn't feel he could grab her without falling off the ladder. So, I came up with the bright idea of sending up a box with the food in it, kind of like an elevator, and getting her to climb in and then lower her down. It would have been fine, if Cotton had understood to climb in. We even tried tuna, the last resort, but it was no go. So I thought I'd wait until the neighbor on the other side came home. He has an extension ladder and I knew he'd be amenable. But he didn't come home while I was looking for him, and it began to rain. Poor thing, cold and wet and hungry. We ended up waiting until Hubby came home, and he went up the ladder to bring her down. The first thing she did was find a place to pee. Then she came inside, ate, and promptly curled up to sleep.

Hubby went to the funeral of a son of some good friends of ours. I hadn't gotten a shower, so I didn't go, and besides, the boys didn't want to go and someone had to stay with them (the Girl is with her cousin for a good portion of the week--it's spring break). The boy was only 17 and died of a methamphetamine overdose. It's so very tragic because the family is a good one, with good standards and values, and here this one son went off the deep end and caused his family a lot of heartache. Then he died because of his rebellion. I have to call my friend and tell her how much I grieve with her.

My parents are here in town for the week. My brother got time off, the kids are out of school, and Hubby has a week's vacation. The only one who isn't available is my SIL, who has to work. We had a nice dinner at their house on Palm Sunday and watched The Incredibles. Fun movie!. Dad is keeping busy with the tiling project, finishing what he and Hubby started two years ago, and replacing the vanity that got ruined by those leaks over the summer. I'm looking forward to having my bathroom back!

My MIL called last week and told me that Hubby's late sister's widower's new wife (that's a mouthful) had her baby and was in critical condition. They had wanted to have the baby at home but there were complications and she had an emergency c-section. The baby is fine, a girl, but last I'd heard, mom was in trouble. This man does not need to lose another wife!

Enough for now, dinner is ready.