Shaddup, crickets, I'm try'nta talk here

All right, enough of this radio silence. Here's what's been going on in the last month or so, plus or minus the next week:

* cluegirl and I have our (please, gods) last recording session for Pretty in Scarlet this weekend, along with some Murder Ballads band photos for the back cover and a trip to the bank to start up our official band checking account because the shit, as the young'uns say, is about to get real. After that we have mixdown to do, and then mastering, and then off into the world it goes! Catt and Joel did up a few preliminary mixes of "Strowler's Song" and Five," and having heard them I find myself on rooftops in the rain screaming, "Why is this album not in my sweaty little hands yet?!" (It's been a long year.) I say this every time, but now I have empirical evidence that Pretty in Scarlet will knock your ever-lovin' socks off. Further updates to come.

* We visited the kids and grandkid weekend before last. rain_herself finally got to meet Duncan, who succeeded in charming her into warm putty, like he does. Abbey's discovered LARPing, which gives me the jibblies a bit; Nik celebrated his 14th birthday with a mess o'cup stacking gear and (our gift to him) a set of glow-poi.

* I'm really liking Worcester. I wasn't expecting that.

* ( Cut for gross stuff. Gums are involved. )

* The most wonderful feeling: after you've gone all Godzilla on a double-batch of Thai green chicken curry, being reminded that you can make more.