Wednesday 18 February 2009

Glass Half Empty

On my way to work this morning, a black cat hesitated on the other side of the road. I can never remember if it’s supposed to be lucky or unlucky if a black cat crosses your path, so I decided if it ran out in front of me that meant it was a sign of bad luck, and if it didn’t… Well you get where I’m going. Either way, I wasn’t going to win. And damn, that cat knew what was up. Got word this morning that one of my nephews last night broke his collarbone free-running—ouch!—I always knew running at walls was a bad thing.

I’m only a couple of stories into Northern Haunts, and one of them sent serious shivers down my spine. Creeptastic.

Finished the first draft of a short today (Insomniac Ink); now I’m going to set it aside and get back to my novella that was a novel—Theatre of Curious Acts—I need to commit Charactercide and end the thing.

15 comments:

Jamie Eyberg said...

I think it is bad luck for the cat if he doesn't make it across the road. I don't care what color it is.

K.C. Shaw said...

I hope your nephew mends quickly. My college roommate made a habit of breaking her collarbone--twice, as I recall, although not while we were actually in school.

Charactercide! I love it!

Cate Gardner said...

I'm sure he will. He's seventeen and impatient.

Fox Lee said...

Traditionally black cats are bad luck, but I think they're pretty : )

And now you're nephew will have a manly scar to show to girls. Or boys. I don't presume either way.

Cate Gardner said...

I'll tell him that - he appreciates a good tale.

Anonymous said...

U'm about 1/2 way through Northern Haunts and have been creeped out quite a few times. Inclusing one instance of death-by-tree...

Cate Gardner said...

I can't wait to read more.

Katey said...

Poor kid, here's to a speedy recovery!

I need to get a copy of Northern Haunts still, I'm so behind the times. Something to look forward to, then. (I leave for a few days and everything happens!)

Kimbra Kasch said...

Love those creeptastic and charactercide

;)

Andrea Allison said...

I wish your nephew a speedy recovery.

I think that's what I'm doing wrong. I'd rather take a black cat home and keep it rather than avoid it like the plague.

Carrie Harris said...

I think collarbones are hazardous. I broke mine spinning around in my front yard when I was young. Hope he gets better soon, and the charactericide goes well.

Um... that didn't sound right, did it?

Cate Gardner said...

Katey, how do you manage to leave for a few days? I wish I could (sort of).

Kim :)

Andrea, I'm sure he'll bounce back (or against another wall) very soon.

Carrie, why am I not surprised. I was always too cautious and never broke anything as a child.

Erik said...

Charactercide, that is the best word I've read all week. And it's something I might need to do with my current WIP.

Katey said...

Always against my will, Cate! :D Stupid pseudo-life *grumbles*

Brenda said...

I hope your nephew gets better soon...

My dad always made an X on the window if a black cat ran out in front of the car...he said the X would give him good luck over the bad luck that the cat brought his way...when I asked how, he said that the X let black cats know that you made past me once...don't try your luck a second time...grin...