It has been another up and down week for writing. I have managed to put about 1,200 words to paper but that’s clearly not enough. Small distractions and disasters continue to plague me. Nothing serious has happened, just interruptions that seem to take the steam out of my creative process. For example, this morning my computer started acting up again. It would lock up or lock up and reboot itself for no apparent reason. I downloaded a malware program called “Malwarebytes” at the recommendation of my friends here but it didn’t find anything. Personally, I think my C Drive is going bad. If it continues, I’ll have Steve take it into the shop and have someone work on it.
The Suitcase Murders is going well. I have the full story in my head now so all I need is to put it on paper or in my case the computer. My detective (whose really just a beat cop at this point in his career) is about to go in and discuss his findings on the murder with the head of a new Major Crimes division. I need to outline that conversation before I start writing the dialog. That’s to make sure I include all the clues and evidence he has come up with. This will be the point where Rodriguez will be asked to join this elite force at the end of the book.
My cousin Ante Dodig and his father Niko will be visiting me here in Peru this coming weekend. They are flying in on Thursday night and will spend Friday in Lima before heading to Cusco for two days and then returning to Washington DC. They are Croatian and we are related through my grandfather on my Father’s side of the family. My Sister, Rita, went to visit them several years ago. She was warmly received by the entire family and shown a great time. I’m looking forward to getting to meet them. It should be a great day and I hope that they want me to show them a little bit of Lima before they head out.
I went for my weekly meeting with Larry at the Patio only to discover that the place has been closed for breaking some ordinance. No telling how long it will be shut down before they will be allowed to reopen. I waited for Larry out front and we walked up to Haiti (another restaurant in Miraflores) and had our coffee and chat there. The break in routine didn’t cause a break in our coverage of the usual wide ranging topics that we discuss. The most important thing we talked about was progress on getting our book published. Afterwards, I returned to San Borja for a lunch meeting with Kathy. She is leaving for the States tomorrow (Monday) and wanted to leave a few things in storage in my apartment. She’s still struggling with her divorce and trying to decide what she’s going to do once it’s over. She’ll be in the US for three months, mostly to babysit her granddaughter. I got a couple of nice e-mails for Amanda, she loves Italy. I think if she had the money, she would just stay there. Katrina has started school and is trying to keep up with her reading. Diego is off to Cajamarca this week and Steve is still doing great in University.
That’s all I know for now. I hope you had a great Sunday and will have an even better week. Only nine days until I return to the US to visit friends and family. Just a warning but my posts to the website will be rather erratic once I am in the US. I know I’m repeating but, exercise that brain as well as the body.
Elena! Thanks for the info. I’ll take a look at it!
Dear Rodney,
Re Amanda’s stay in Italy; there are some ads in The Lady magazine ( http://www.lady.co.uk) for home, pet sitters etc. Overseas appointments column, if she wants to stay in Italy cost free.
Best regards,
Elena