Oct. 30-31, MADISON, WI and CHICAGO. Drive up to Madison for the reading, drive back to Chicago that night. Still leaking coolant. Next day being Halloween, help my cousin Mary transform her daughter Hanna into a Tinkerbell -- with ruby slippers (Mary and Hanna star in Chapter 4 of the book), then take the Vette to the mechanic at the end of the block. Up on the lift, Vette drips green droplets like monster blood -- needs general hose-tightening, new radiator cap, and new intake valve gasket. All looked fine two weeks ago, but must not have been, because a mere couple thousand miles of vibration pushed it all over the edge. My duct tape repair, however, is holding just fine. 

Oh yeah, and the reading in Madison? The Badgers, also known as the University of Wisconsin men's basketball team, were hosting Family Fun Night a few blocks away -- packed sidewalks, empty bookstore. None of these people were at the reading. Drown my frustration in a glass of wine. A toast: To good mechanics! To duct tape! To Tinkerbell! Gooooooo Badgers!