Woke up this morning with Travvy curled up next to me and all sorts of wonderful novel-related stuff fermenting in my head.

Got up, fed Trav, brushed my teeth, zapped the last of yesterday’s tea, put the kettle on for a fresh pot, and settled into my blue chair to write all that wonderful novel-related stuff down.

Played Tom Waits’ “Get Behind the Mule” about 10 times while I was doing it. Here’s a link. You can play it too. Great song, and if there’s a definitive version this has to be it.

It was a misty but not moisty morning.

Headed off to the laundromat with Trav riding shotgun. While the clothes washed, we strolled around the airport. Trav made friends with a taxi driver.

On the clothesline, long pants (4) outnumber shorts (2). Turtlenecks (5) outnumber T-shirts (3), and all the T-shirts are long-sleeved. The presence of shorts and the absence of long underwear say that it’s still mid-fall.

Decided that if I got any (paid) work done today, it was going to be an accident. Goofed off online instead, updated my bookshelf on Goodreads, and spent a couple more hours teaching myself Dreamweaver.

Travvy jumps.

Packed Trav in the car and went off to play on the tennis court. After a long layoff, like 18 months’ worth, we’re again practicing Rally Obedience in a semi-systematic way. Trav loves to jump, and in between practice sessions I kick a soccer ball and he chases it.

Stopped for gas on the way home. Price per gallon: $3.799!!! Filled the tank for less than $50!!!! ($45.75!)

Stopped for milk at up-island Cronig’s. Travvy made more friends. Ready to drive off — was surprised when a white Toyota pickup stopped right in front of me and didn’t move. Guy got out of the pickup’s passenger side, scooped my wallet off the hood of my car, and brought it round to my window. I’d left it there while Trav was making friends.

Drove off thinking that the world was a pretty OK place.