break

yesterday, she brought a vodka and diet coke in a tonic bottle and poured it into a glass of ice at lunch. at the end of lunch, she asked if i would spoon out the ice.

i happily did it to take my focus away from having to listen to a writer from florida inform us all that he'd read the first chapter of his novel to his writing group, and at the end of it, one of those listening stated in awe, "now that's literature." this man also appeared to have a small pillow stuffed down his pants.

we didn't go to the reading last night because it was sleeting - yes, sleeting. we got to the hotel for the evening dinner and i parked our little rental car (we now have a little rental car) on the corner and i ran in to see where the handicapped entrance was. apparently, this confused the hell out of all the employees and they directed me (as i soon found out) in the exact opposite direction.

i ran back to the car, in the icy rain, and got out the wheelchair from the back. the wind whipped my hair in my face and i couldn't see enough to get the leg supports attached, and then before i could lock it in place, it blew the wheelchair to the curb.

but i got it locked.

aunt liz got out of the car and we both froze. our hands froze and the wind burned our ears.

we went the direction i was told only to find a dead end alleyway.

luckily, heading back to the main door, a gentleman stopped and helped aunt liz walk up to the main door and another man helped me get the wheelchair in the building.

again, it's may.

we got to the table and i got liz a vodka tonic and things felt better.

the plan was to go from there to a reading, but luckily when we got back in the car, liz said it would be better to just go back to the hotel and i couldn't agree more.

she had a screwdriver and i had a bloody mary.

it's still cold and windy today, about 40 degrees, but at least there's no icy rain.

we have about an hour before aunt liz has another rehearsal and then a brief rest before a three-hour gala performance and dinner. i have no idea if either of us will make it through.