Word count: 43,563. Not even close to where I wanted to be, but I've stopped, so I can clear my head for the 3 Day Novel Competition. Am going to get out of town for a few days (going to Drumheller to look at dinosaurs) and then back to clean my office, buy some caramel apples at a local Farmer's Market (my form of comfort food for the 3 Day) and then I'm hard at it.

Ended up going to the Fringe twice more. Once with my daughter, and once with my mom. Saw "Dough" with my daughter. A one woman show -- and excellent! All her skits (I hate to call them that, doesn't seem a good enough word for what she did on that stage) had something connected to Martha Stewart (how DO you spell her name?), but mostly they were about womanhood as we sometimes play it right now. Funny, biting stuff. My personal favorite was the shy stay at home mom's "graduation speech" in a pole dancing class. And, my daughter and I had fun. I was glad. There's been too little of that in our relationship lately. Went with my mom another day, but did't go to any plays. Just watched the buskers and walked around for a bit. Which was fine. I didn't get my all day all night, watch plays 'til you drop, but that's OK too. I had fun.

Had an interesting thing happen to me as I bussed home from the Fringe one night. Met a guy who had been in Somalia in 1992. I didn't connect all the dots until I got home and did a little investigating. Then I realized he hadn't said he was in the air force -- but the Air Borne. No wonder he looked haunted. And now, he haunts me. He may make it into the 3 Day, if he doesn't get out of my head!

Funny how the universe lines up, isn't it? I've been doing some research about the American Naval Base in Cuba, because my main character ends up there, and I wanted to make it sound as real as possible (and I'm avoiding the next step, which is her going to the alternate universe!) and a documentary came to town the other day -- about 3 men who ended up in the prison there. When I get back, I'm going and watching it. Maybe. I might not need it. I found out a supermax prison is being built there, and I have a good idea what THOSE look like on the inside. No, not from personal experience. Watched some TV, and I can guess the rest. It's too bad, too, because that stuff gives me nightmares.

THis has to be short, because I'm going to work out soon (yes, I'm still doing that!), so I can get back and not pack for our trip. My husband and I have decided to walk out of the house with the clothes on our backs, and buy as we need to. (I am taking my hair brush, though. No way I'm buying another one of those!)