But that's okay. It's been about 90 degrees and sunny for 3 days straight. I don't mind a little rain -- saves me from having to drop everything and water my many gardens!! (Which always involves me somehow managing to spray water all over myself, as well!) (And the water from the garden hose is always ice cold -- which makes me then think to myself, "Why was it that when I was a little girl in Cleveland, I used to think that getting sprayed with ice cold water from a garden hose was really fun???")

Okay! Anyway!

Among the good news today is that Freak Parade is "officially" for sale now. However, I am still awaiting a final word on something before posting the links here, and it still won't be available in book stores for a few more weeks. But you know that I am going to keep you so totally posted on that, right? Right!

Also, if you are interested in a review copy and you aren't friends with me on facebook, then email me through my web site: marilynjayelewis.com However, facebook friends will be getting many announcements, so you all can just kick back for now and chill.

Okay, so if Freak Parade is officially published, what's next? You guessed it! Promoting the fuck out of it! That will of course keep both Jay & I ridiculously busy. And on another though somewhat similar note -- I am also investigating teaching a class -- so if you live anywhere near me in Ohio and are interested in taking a writing class taught by moi, then email me! (I will only be accepting 10 students per class, though, so if you are interested, this would not be an appropriate time to just kick back and chill -- you seriously have to let me know.)

Then it's off to memoirville. No, not the website . I mean the actual writing of the memoir. My memoir, in fact! (And I have to say, gang, I am really, really touched by how many of my long ago compatriots are not only willing but eager to appear in my memoir under their real names! Do you know how incredibly sweet this feels?)

All right. I'm off to do some visualizations. (And by "off" I don't mean anywhere more exotic than the chair over there that's not very far away from this desk here. But "going off" to there, instead of simply moving to the other chair, is a lot more swashbuckling-sounding, isn't it, gang?)  Before I go off, though, I want to leave you with more lovely photos from my yard!! I have some new members of my summer family to share with you!!

Here are the petunias that are hanging right outside my office (whatever you do, don't look at how badly the bottom of the window frame needs painting!! Look instead at the freakin' petunias!)




More petunias, only these are over by one of my garden gates (and, by the way, I hate my neighbors!! They had 7, yes SEVEN, perfectly wonderful towering pine trees chopped down from my fence line this past winter. I HATE them, those fuckers!!!) Okay, my lovely petunias:




If you were a loyal reader of this lofty blog last summer, you no doubt recall my much-loved and oft-coveted blue plastic fake Adirondack chairs!! They are back!!




And here is one of the reasons I love my little neighborhood and taking my 3-mile walks everyday. The glorious trees!!! This is the view of the skyline up over my arbor. It goes on forever (and so do all the telephone & electrical wires, too, apparently!):





Okay, with that --now there is thunder & lightening so I'm outta here for now, gang!! Have a wonderful Monday -- yes, Monday!! -- wherever you are and thanks for visiting. See ya!!