Stones.

Hot today. Still hurting, although not so bad.

Woke up this morning and went back to Orca Books to buy Stainless, the first novel by the author of Brand New Cherry Flavor. I'd seen it when I was last there but passed it up as too expensive. I've revised that opinion since Cheryl and Bill have talked to me about paying me to paint their house. I like Stainless a lot so far, better, I think, than BNCF. Came home and napped restlessly in the slumbering heat.

Took Cheryl in the truck back to Home Depot to pick up some stepping stones for the pathway. No way in hell I was lifting them, so waited while she found someone working there to help load them into the truck. "Someone" turned out to be a girl. This bothered me on a deep culturally-programmed level.

Found myself resorting to a nearby mall this evening for air conditioning and entertainment. It's much like any other mall. Was absolutely stunned to see an "Olive's East" coffeeshop -- there used to be one in Southcenter Mall when I was a child, and my parents would sometimes take me there for desserts as a special treat. That was the first place I ever saw petit fours, if memory serves. This one looks just like I remember the original. I'm going to have to stop in for a bite of cheesecake before I leave Olympia.

Still haven't produced a word of fiction. I intend to correct that right now. I have some lovely fresh-ground, French-pressed coffee brewing to set my mind and fingers in motion.