Rob's Update: Getting Love From Hot Chicks!
Wherein Rob discovers that helping his wife take care of hot chicks gets him kissies!
Week 27 of 2026
Greetings all!
A very productive week as July’s heat makes these ladies quite hot:
Aren’t they lovely? The wife is certainly in favor of me associating with these hot chicks, and since I helped set up and arrange the large chicken run, she gave me kissies for my labors.
A pretty good deal if you ask me.
This project actually included a bonus which we didn’t anticipate but which is going to be quite nice, I think. You can’t see it in this picture, though you can see the shade, but there are these trees outside my office door. In order to wedge the chicken run under them as much as possible, we had to clear out a goodly amount of lower branches. This in turn created a new pathway under the trees that you can see to the right of the image. To the left, outside of the frame, is the corner of the brick wall and now we have a nice place for a table mostly in the shade.
This gave us an outdoor area which we haven’t had before, especially once we clean it up and arrange it a bit better. Quite nice.
Quite nice as well was the doctor’s visit I had this morning. I’ve plateaued on weight and a number of other things, but it’s a much better plateau. My A1C remains below even pre-diabetic range and all the other things are generally really good.
As for writing, it was also productive there. I have crossed the boundary in every book where I have to cut a bunch because I figured out a better story and now I know the path to the end. There’ll be some twists and turns, but it’s there. Plus, I’ve added some setup for books 3 and later, so that’s good too.
All in all, a good week.
Tomorrow, I’ll head down to Fort Worth to see the rescheduled Rush show. Again, I have to thank the wife for her generosity in canceling her plans so I could go. Much appreciated!
One drawback of being in Anthony is that I have fewer opportunities to write in a bar. Brewbakers was a nice spot for me, and I wish I still had that. I can’t go there, but I’m scheduling my trip this weekend with breaks. Hopefully, I can get a decent writing session on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The drive’s not long, only about 4.5 hours to the hotel, and the doors don’t open until 5:30pm on Saturday, so I’m going to take advantage of the timing.
There’s a non-zero chance that by the end of the weekend I’ll be in the final battle, and those are always the fastest thing to write for me. I’m on track to start book 3 for real during Pennsic.
Speaking of which, I’m nigh unto packed and ready to go. We’re trying out a slightly new plan. In the past, I’d hotel it at Grove City, PA, about 15 minutes from site, leading to a relaxing morning matriculating those final few miles. This year, I’m experimenting with Cranberry Township, which is about 30 minutes to the south from site. It has the advantage of having a Costco and an Aldi’s within a mile of the hotel, meaning we can get some of our final shopping done. This shopping pass is entirely dependent upon space remaining after picking up the first batch of pottery and the store fixtures from Gwen and then my rider in St. Louis. I can play Tetris, but it’s a bit of a challenge when you can’t see the pieces.
Anyway, two weeks from today, right about now, I’ll be somewhere near Dayton.
Did I mention I love Pennsic?
But I better get back to writing. Y’all have a great week, and here’s hoping your chickies handle July’s heat well!
This Week’s Show
This past week I rambled on America’s 250th by talking about something I disagreed with from Ian McMurtrie. I don’t disagree with him often, and I didn’t really disagree with him on his point, only on the degree.
To make my point, though, I referenced the Martin Koszta Affair, William Least-Heat Moon’s Blue Highways (especially his cafe calendar theory), Operation Tomodachi, Home Depot, Rodney Smith, and the 1848 revolutions.
I will say, this is probably my most personal show yet. If you don’t want to here me bloviating about my own opinion, then this isn’t the show for you 😀
Next Week’s Show
Next week I get to host the amazing Melissa Olthoff in all her dour grimness! Dour, I say! Grim, I say! Find out how dour and grim she is when we talk here:
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/273279?utm_source=live-stream-scheduled-upsell
Hey, look at me, I’ve just added something! If you have a question for Melissa, click the link below and tell me! Consider this a new feature.
Upcoming Schedule
July 21st, Michael Morton.
July 28th, will try to have something from Pennsic.
August 4th, will try to have something from Pennsic.
August 11th, Orson Scott Card.
Football Previews a-coming!
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Let me know if you have any suggestions on the website, this email, or cool story ideas at rob@robhowell.org. Especially let me know of suggestions you have for the Spotlight section.
Have a great week, everyone.
Rob Howell
Creator of the Firehall Sagas Universe
My Weight Today: 310.6lbs
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/-/e/B00X95LBB0
Website: robhowell.org
Blog: robhowell.org/blog
The Firehall Sagas: firehallsagas.com/
Facebook Author Page: facebook.com/robhowell.org/
Twitter: twitter.com/Rhodri2112