Dan left this morning for his six-day bike ride with his buddies: Ben Guido, Steve Berg and Joe Stuber. I’m not sure of their route. I think it is around northern Wisconsin. I’m sure he has told me a number of times, but I’m geographically challened, and that kind of information just doesn’t stick. Yesterday he said he was in Mineral Point.
What I DO know is that I am pretty much alone for the next six days. Ahhh… I say “pretty much” because I’m not really alone:
This is Penny. Penny is Jolene’s dog. After a three-year experiment, Jolene decided to move back to Wisconsin from Tennessee. She will be staying in our house until Dan and I return in the spring. And now, she and I will be able to fly together to Madrid for our Camino. We leave October 10th. Coming up fast. I feel prepared.
The book continues to be a challenge. They said that they didn’t have to give me any money back because they already invested so much time in it. I don’t believe that. In any event, there’s not much I can do about it. I told them that I wasn’t going to contest the money; I just want to be released from the contract so I can move on. My next step will be to appeal to their humanity and just explain that we’re not a good match. We’ll see.
On August 13th, we went for a pontoon ride on the Milwaukee River. It is such a great way to see the “back door” of the riverfront properties. The passenger list included Dan and Kathy; Russ and Mary; Dan’s sister, Denise, and her husband, Randy; Dan and me. It was a beautiful day.
After our boat ride, we headed over to Bay View to have dinner at Ni Burmese. They were not open yet, so we spent our free half hour at a bar across the street watching the end of yet another fabulous Brewer’s game.
This is the second time I have eaten at Ni Burmese. My first experience, with Timmy, Tom and Kathy was great. That time I had the lunch special, and I don’t recall being asked for a heat level. This time, I chose the lamb curry and asked for a level 3 spice – thinking Mexican, which I can usually handle. I ate one bite, and my mouth of was fire. Others ordered a level 1, and theirs were plenty hot. I took my leftovers home, and even after adding a lot of yogurt, I couldn’t eat it. But that was on me. The food and the ambience are beautiful. I experienced a new taste sensation in the salad with tea leaves. Very good. I will definitely go back.
We spent the last few days of Denise and Randy’s visit with Dan’s family: one night a dinner at Tom and Sandy’s and one at Johnny Pizzas in Oconomowoc. The dinner at Johnny Pizzas was preceded by a BIG game of cards. Or should I say a game of BIG cards.
I love these birds that are in a glass cage at Mickey’s residence, Shorehaven. At first I thought they were fake. They are so unique.
On August 30th, we had dinner here for “the two Sues,” two friends I worked with as medical transcriptionists. This was our second attempt at a get-together. The first time we had to cancel because Boskoe (of Sue Nikolic) was having heart issues, and then this second time, we had to semi-cancel because Jim (of Sue Mostowik) tested positive for Covid. I came up with four happy volunteers to fill in: Tim and Ana and Jay and Ann. And I especially made roasted mushrooms for you, Jim! Maybe next time.
On the 1st Kathy and Dan hosted a birthday party for Sara, Marie and Wesley. I took the opportunity to give the girls their sweaters, and they gave their mom the pine-cone flower project.
Sara sent me this text a couple days after the party: “Cordelia transcribed a letter to one of Marie’s former teachers. Here’s what it said.”
That’s a keeper.
On the 2nd Dan and I drove to Kaukauna for one last visit with my Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Jim, beore we leave on our Caminos. My cousin, Peggy, initiated the visit and asked us to come along. We were joined by my other cousins Mary (Bonnie’s daughter) and Sara (Jim’s daughter). It is always nice visiting “up North.”
We had a cherry tree go down recently. Dan cut it in slices, which we will use for a footpath in the birdhouse flower bed to the left.
Here are a couple of videos of our yard that I made to send to my friend, Elaine, in Escalon, CA.
Elaine’s 85th birthday was September 1. I made her this, which is the same quote as the one I did for Mary’s birthday.
And that brings me back to today. About an hour ago, I received an email from Austin-Macauley that they released me from the contract!!
Yesterday I sent them this email:
“I am writing to follow up on my previous email dated August 25, in which I shared my sincere wish to be released from our publishing contract. I want to clarify again that I am not pursuing a refund or seeking further compensation of any sort.
Having reflected on our entire correspondence, the editing process, and the numerous amendments and concerns I’ve raised over these past months, I feel it is apparent to both sides that our editorial approaches and overall vision for my book simply do not align. While I respect your company’s standards and methods, it has become clear to me—both professionally and personally—that we are not the right match for this project.
I am simply asking, human to human, for your understanding. Publishing a book is such a personal and vulnerable experience, and trust in the process is essential. My trust in this collaboration has understandably eroded over time, and I would be grateful for the opportunity to move forward elsewhere.
Please consider releasing me from my contract, so I can start anew with my manuscript. I am not seeking to lay blame or escalate matters—just to graciously part ways.
Thank you for your understanding and consideration.”
Today they sent me the Release document. I am SO happy. Now I can move on to try and get picked up by Authors Equity. It’s a long shot, but…you never know.