Retrievers 4 update and random Lifery

[lauraanne_gilman]

Been slow slogging, the past few days, mainly due to Personal Life things. Managed about 1200 words today, but I think I've also solved some of the structural problems that were digging uncomfortably and making me itch. Book four in an on-going series has all sorts of construction problems you don't get in a first or second or even third book; every time you extend the story, you have to make sure all the supports are in place and that they don't interfere with the flow of the floorplan. And, at this point, I've learned enough to (hopefully) build with an eye toward the fifth extension-to-come, as well.

I really, really want to go somewhere for two-three months and do nothing but build story. And occasionally emerge long enough to cook. Alas, Life insists on interfering.

On the plus side, I got a quick lesson in wine store CSI today -- I opened a (sealed) case of wine, only to discover eleven bottles, not the usual twelve. My boss took the opportunity to teach me how to determine if the case had been opened and bottles removed in transit, or if the case had been mispacked originally, and various other bits of shrink investigation. I wonder how long it's going to take before I use some version of this knowledge in a story....