Tweet and low

[pjthompson]

Mom drove herself to medical treatment bcs she wanted to & I’m trying not to feel guilty. It’s a fine line betw protective/infantilization. 10 Feb

Our $7500 plumbing job began today. Come on, Lotto! 10 Feb

Mom survived the wilds of Inglewood on her own. My guilt is temporarily assuaged. 10 Feb

The story that 1st inspired me to write this novel also got cut. Strange how revisions sometimes go, how necessary becomes superfluous. 10 Feb

I feel tingly and godlike. Richie & Divonne LaRue hit the cutting room floor, gone from my WIP! Well, into my OFF file anyway. Just in case. 10 Feb

Let’s hope the Egyptian army justifies the peoples’ faith in them. 11 Feb

God bless the Egyptian people! 11 Feb

jadewalker Retweeted by pj_thompson Spread the calm. Do nothing for 2 minutes. No really. Take 120 seconds for yourself and just relax. donothingfor2minutes.com 11 Feb

In other important news: all they had in the cafeteria this morning were banana nut muffins. Blech. I ate one anyway. 11 Feb

I spent the entire weekend cleaning up messes. Tired, fragile, hormonal so I’d best hide under my desk today. 14 Feb

Neil Gaiman: the writer as rock star. I mean that with utmost respect. He’s unique and awesome. 14 Feb

Vicarious happy! Happy happy happy!! 14 Feb

Our $7500 plumbing job turned into $8000 over the weekend. 14 Feb

Mirrored from Better Than Dead.

Comments

[jandersoncoats.livejournal.com]

$7500 plumbing job?

Here I was complaining about my $750 plumbing job.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

They had to lay a whole new sewer pipe. We've known it was coming a long time and put it off as long as possible, but those 50 year old clay pipes just couldn't cut it anymore. Plus, the city planted magnolia trees along the parkway. The roots had choked off what life those old pipes had.

[darkspires.livejournal.com]

Ah ha! If the trees from the city choked off the pipes by invasion, there should be a way of making them responsible for at least some of the cost. Trees are heavy and they will send roots to the nearest water source, which is why city planners should look at infrastructure very carefully before planting anything. FYI, they also have insurance squirrelled away for such oversights.

You won't get if you don't ask. They aren't psychic and won't know the problem unless you tell them they are at fault. The trees they planted must be at least a tree inch caliper for streetscape. They will be invasive and needy, particularly if the city didn't instigate a three year watering cycle for them so the roots could get below the infrastructure lines. I do know this as I have been involved in municiple tree planting.

Great to hear your mom is asserting her independence. She must be feeling better.

[darkspires.livejournal.com]

Damn, my keyboard is sticking. I meant a three inch caliper.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

No,we petitioned the city and they refused to pay. We could sue and might have a good case but it would be long and costly and cheaper just to pay the plumbing (probably). They know this so are bastards about it. Anyway, the trees have been here 50 years or more so there's no recourse from the city.

[darkspires.livejournal.com]

Bastards! They are in the wrong if the house came before the trees and I am guessing it did, or there would be no need to plant magnolias. One thing you could do would be to put a large placard in your front yard advertising what you are having done and why this was necessary. Your neighbors might also be having problems. A group sueing is an entirely different thing from an individual.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

Well...the houses on my side of the street were a development called Kentwood Estates and I think the magnolias were part of the master plan. The trees do cause a lot of problems, but the city won't take care of it. I don't have the energy right now to deal with Mom's problems and the city, so I'll probably just pay my plumbing bill and shut up.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Glad to know your mom isup to getting about on her own!

OUCHie plumbing bill!

R & D are gone, eh? Sounds like some serious overhaul is happening.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

R & D are gone, eh? Sounds like some serious overhaul is happening.

Yes, serious overhaul. I've been working on chapter one and two for about two weeks now.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Best of luck with that. I know how revisions go, but I can't remember ever getting rid of characters like you are doing.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

We'll see how it goes, if the ms. is still coherent without them. I suspect it might be. I loved writing them, but...

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

*nods* I was imagining it without their scenes and, you know, I think it will work. I suspect it might let Ramona shine a little more not to have them tainting her space, if you know what I mean.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

Yes, and as more than one person pointed out, the story ran a little long, especially in those opening chapters. R&D aren't really crucial to the story. They were crucial to me finishing a first organic draft, but they didn't really justify the amount of space they took up. I'm trying to be ruthless like that. :-D