Spring and Hats (and Royalties!)

Coffee in the Los Angeles skyline mug, "Fake It" by Seether on iTunes. I have started this post before the Sprout and the Spouse are even out the door--maybe I'll get it up before late tonight this way.

Contractors. Working with them is always a crap shoot. Even if you only deal with well-recommended people they can still be blind squirrels and their recommendation to you the occasional acorn. The torrential rains yesterday--falling as they did before all the concrete work at the studio was completed--left a beautiful muddy trail that shows exactly the path the water takes to get off my property, and it's not down the drive all the way to the street (and then to Mexico and freedom) as I was promised. No, it's halfway down the new part of the drive and then off like a shot straight across the flowerbed-to-be and into the two neighboring yards. I'm pretty sure that's against code. It's definitely un-neighborly, and it annoys the heck out of me because I don't want the topsoil to be continually washed out of the flowerbed.

In addition to his lack of leveling skills, in the process of putting in said driveway and the accompanying sidewalk, the contractor nicked the water line by my water meter. Oh boy. He called a plumber to fix it, but the leak is on the city's side of the meter so he can't touch it. His assistant said he called the city to tell them, but I have my doubts. I also have my doubts as to whether he pulled the necessary permits for doing any of the work in the first place. More oh boy. And more proof that being an artist who is also a small business owner means wearing lots and lots of hats. Today's hat is the tough contractor-wrangler hat a la Crocodile Dundee. I am woman, here me roar.

Today's kiln load is a slump for orders shipping tomorrow. Yesterday's fuse load had three new collaborative piece in it--new in both shape and color, and I can't wait to see them today. One of them is hot pink, garnet red and black. It might be too dark, it might be stunning. It's definitely a stretch.

I close with the big news of the week--I got my first royalty check for A Beginner's Guide to Kiln-Formed Glass! I understood I wouldn't be seeing any royalties (on account of the advance) for a long time, but the first half of the advance was paid off with some to spare based on sales through December 31. Christmas is saved, shoes for everyone! Here's hoping the trend continues. It would be cool if royalties would pay my concrete, shed, and landscaping for the studio.