Reading

Entry tags:

The evening report

Well.

I've finished putting together Civilized Behavior, including the front matter and the blurb. I haven't compiled it yet. Weighing whether to make a call for tyop hunters before compiling. Probably the sensible way to go about it. So! Watch the Skies. In, yanno, an easygoing and relaxed sort of way.

A reprint opportunity came in this afternoon, so I did get that story out.

Checked my story cards, the previous Constellations, and pertinent contracts, then wrote to Madame the Agent, asking her to find if Baen might be interested in a sixth Constellation. There is one story still under Exclusivity, but that ends in November, and even if Baen wants another collection, there's no way it will be out before November.

Trooper did not eat at Happy Hour.

Our appointment with the vet is at 8:15 tomorrow morning. They wanted us early, so it would be as quiet and peaceful as possible.

Referencing the above, I may or may not be around the internets much tomorrow. Thank you for your understanding.

Everybody stay safe.

Cat census from earlier in the day:

Wednesday's Comic

Zere is already PLENTY ov generals shoutink down here.

Entry tags:

Quiet, normal day

What went before ONE: Waiting for the vet to call back.

Yanno what? I think I won't be going to needlework tonight. I think I'll just sit here and work on entering corrections into my chapbook, which is both comforting and cerebral.

Trooper is in the box on the corner of my desk, where he can get the sun and the breeze from the open window. Tali is on the cedar chest, where ditto. Firefly is on her towel on top of the dresser in the bedroom, where she can look out the front window, and also take the breeze, and Rookie is napping in the box on the corner of Steve's desk.

What went before TWO: Only need to amend the back matter in the chapbook, then I can do a test layout, scream in horror, fall on my sword, and go back to the drawing board.

Trooper will be going to the vet on Thursday morning. He did yell for Happy Hour this evening, but gooshy food is too tough to chew, and the gravy is boring.

It's time.

I think I ate ... something for lunch, though I can't tell you what. Oh, wait. Rice. I'd made a fresh pot of rice. I'll have to do better about the evening meal, but I think I'll get the About the Authors fixed up, first, so I can move right on with being horrified by the compilation, tomorrow morning.

Everybody stay safe; I'll see you tomorrow.

Wednesday. Was foggy when I got up. Now cloudy and sullen. Windows are open, though it's still a bit chilly. Lawn guys are next door, doing their thing.

Didn't sleep well last night, but that wasn't exactly unexpected.

Trooper had breakfast in three parts and did manage to work his way through almost an entire 3-ounce can of Fancy Feast pate, with a little end-of-plate help from Firefly.

My breakfast was cottage cheese mixed in with the tiny bit of leftover macaroni salad, which was surprisingly tasty, and black grapes. Second cup of tea brewing. I'll probably succumb to the siren call of the last cookie pretty soon.

On today's to-do: one's daily duty to the cats, and smol walk. Call the hospital, which sent me an "electronic bill" on 8/27, which I forthwith paid electronically. Yesterday in the mail, comes a paper bill for the same amount, and the same services. Ahem. O! MaineGeneral, I, too, would like to be paid twice, thrice, yea! four times, for the same work, but that so rarely happens*. I feel your ambition, MaineGeneral, and I understand it. But try it on somebody else, hey?

Otherwise, I intend to work on the chapbook -- front matter! almost forgot! Blurb! eek! -- and Trooper is signalling his readiness to get down to cases, by climbing into his box and going to sleep. So, business as usual. That's good.

I bought a tween-weather coat, courtesy of Land's End's sale. It arrived yesterday, and it's the weirdest thing I've ever seen. I mean -- it fits. It has outside pockets of sufficient depth for such things as car keys, and cold hands, but it also has . . . what seem to be meant to be inside pockets -- quite large pockets; my tablet would fit comfortably -- but. While there's stitching along the bottom of the panel, it's not attached to the coat -- by which I mean, if you put something into these pockets, it will fall out the bottom. So, yeah, I'm thinking I'll be getting out some thread, and maybe some fabric tape, for belt-and-suspenders, and just make those things usable. Probably not today, but who doesn't need projects for the future?

Ah. You can see the inside pockets, here

I think that's all I've got this morning.

How's your day shaping up?

_______
*Actually, that's a bit of a cheat. As a writer, I do occasionally get paid for the same work multiple times. I can't, however, think of one occasion when that happened at a day-job.

This week on FilkCast

We are taking a break this week, too many miles in the car last weekend.
Annie Lore, Valerie Housden, Graham Leathers, Mitchell And TJ Burnside Clapp, Renee Alper & Stan Logan, Jordin Kare, Mary Bertke, Tera Mitchel, Urban Tapestry, Judith Hayman, Bill Maraschiello, Steve Macdonald & Mary Ellen Wessels, Downtown Freddy Brown, Juanita Coulson, Anne Passovoy, Meg Davis

Available on iTunes, Google Play and most other places you can get podcasts. We can be heard Wednesday at 6am and 9pm Central on scifi.radio.

filkcast.blogspot.com

Entry tags:

And suddenly! It's Tuesday

What went before: Finished correcting the first 40 pages of Civilized Behavior; only 100 more pages left to go.

Everybody stay safe; I'll see you tomorrow.

Tuesday. Sporadically sunny. Warm. Said to be heading for warmer, still, though not hot. Trash and recycling at the curb.

Trooper has had two -- three! -- tries at breakfast. The third try -- after he had rejected the contents of the bowl I was carrying back to the kitchen and he stopped in front of me, made eye contact, and screamed -- I put the bowl down in front of him. He stared at it. Rook and Tali came to see what Grandpa was getting that was Special, and he had a couple...eight? licks to kinda spite them, then turned away. Also, that pound I was so pleased he'd gained, all the way back on August 27? He's lost it with interest, according to today's weigh-in.

Yeah, contacting the vet is on my list, right after I have a cup of tea on the deck and sort out my thoughts and feelings. I'm remembering talking with Steve, after we let Belle go, and he said, "Y'know? I think Belle was sicker than we knew."

My breakfast consisted of an oatmeal-raisin-walnut cookie. Probably I should do something a bit more, in a while.

I intend to work on the chapbook today. Needlework group is this evening. And I think that's all I've got.

How's everybody doing today?

Later that same morning: Sigh. The New England Donor Services, with which organization I have not found myself in charity with since it first brought itself to my attention by calling me at midnight of the day Steve died, to ask me a bunch of intrusive questions and persuade me to donate usable parts to the Greater Good. . .

The New England Donor Services, I say, not only saw fit to send me a medal in Steve's name (for, yes, after getting up, very calmly in what I now know to have been an Altered State, I looked them up, saw they were legit, thought of what Steve, the author of "Charioteer," might actually want, and called them back to give permission), for being a "hero" for giving the Gift of Life -- and also saw fit to send me a thin volume of tips for survivors, in which such burning questions as "Am I still allowed to wear my wedding ring?" were addressed, and which still from time to time, despite my stated preferences, takes it upon itself to contact me --

Has contacted me again.

They're having a walk -- to repeal death, I guess? No, wait. They need death. Well. -- and they're making a Day of the Dead quilt, and I'm offered the opportunity to "share my loved one's 'donation story'".

I'm pretty sure I've previously asked New England Donor Services to never speak to me again, and, yes, I've asked them again, just now.

But I really did not need them in my mailbox today.

Here, have a picture of Tali inna bookcase. That'll make us all feel better:

Entry tags:

Second Sunday; First of September

Second Sunday. Sunny and warm.

Trooper making the day more difficult than it strictly needs to be by screaming for food and then not eating. I suspect his tooth is hurting him again, but there's nothing I can do about that today, and I'm not sure how many shots of antibiotic he's good for.

Last night, I was restless, so I sorted through some of the sdcards from Steve's stash, and found an entire card that's the car camera videos of us taking a drive on April 22 2023. The camera is set up to look out the back window and into the cockpit, so I have about 30 minutes of little 2 minute clips of Steve and me talking to each other as he drives us through Winslow and out to Fairfield. Talk about your mixed blessings...

Today, I got to working on the 2025 chapbook, because I actually came up with a title, that being CIVILIZED BEHAVIOR: Adventures in the Liaden Universe(R) No. 36. I may have found a cover -- I have two mocked up and trying to decide if I like the blue-on-blue abstract, or the two little kids sitting together on a swing, staring at the moon in the clouds while birds fly all around.

For those who may be curious, this chapbook largely deals with the Matter of Colemeno, two stories and an outtake from Ribbon Dance. Also, the text of my speech at Balticon, accepting the Heinlein Award. I'll have to check, but I may now have enough stories to make a sixth Constellation.

I have a bunch of corrections to make in the chapbook manuscript, but first! Second Sunday dinner, which will be a chicken burger onna roll with cheese, some baked beans and macaroni salad. A picnic, hey?

How's everybody doing today?

Well. In regard to Constellation Six, it looks like I have 98,617 words of short story. If I throw in the Heinlein speech, I've got 99,413.

Guess I'll talk to Madame the Agent...

Yeah, it's the kids on the swing.

So I finally just got a pack of chains, because the monofilament wasn't making me happy, and that was before it degraded in the sun.

Ornament, blown glass, made in the Corning Glass Studio, by Sharon Lee.

Current Mood: thoughtful

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At Seven am

Why are morning hours so long?
Each one lasts at least two hours
By lunchtime it is teatime
By teatime I am ready for bed.

My favourite day starts after nine am
and rushes through to lunch
at two pm

Why are afternoon hours long
When I get up too early?
The whole day drags by slowly
until eachc hour lasts three at least

My favourite day starts after ten am
and rushes through to lunch
at three pm

Current Mood: tired
Current Location: Back at Schildhaven in Den Haag
Current Music: Millcon4!

Entry tags:

Done Since 2025-08-24

Subject: Done Since 2025-08-24 Tags: done, links, Music: Millcon4! Mood: tired Location: Schildhaven in Den Haag

This is a day late because of both MillCon this weekend, and the end of the month. It's also going to be a bit short on narrative, because the con report deserves its own post, and also because it's 9pm and the trip back was nine hours by three trains and two taxis.

Kaleidofolk's half-hour concert set consisted of: Toolmakers, Life Cycle Of Flowers, Lord Of The Buffalo, Ship Of Stone, Bells Of Norwich, and Millennium's Dawn. We'd wanted to include Staying Home Tonight but didn't have time for it. Sunday night I sang Windward and The Shuff That Dreams are Made Of.

Not exactly a link, but under Thursday you'll find both my packing checklist, and a list of stuff I should have taken but didn't.

( Notes & links, as usual )

Current Mood: tired
Current Location: Schildhaven in Den Haag
Current Music: Just back from MillCon. Audio to come later

"Rabbit rabbit rabbit!"

Welcome to September, 2025!

Monday's Comic

Yes, of course, run along

Code deploy happening shortly

Per the dw_news post regarding the MS/TN blocks, we are doing a small code push shortly in order to get the code live. As per usual, please let us know if you see anything wonky.

There is some code cleanup we've been doing that is going out with this push but I don't think there is any new/reworked functionality, so it should be pretty invisible if all goes well.

Mississippi site block, plus a small restriction on Tennessee new accounts

A reminder to everyone that starting tomorrow, we are being forced to block access to any IP address that geolocates to the state of Mississippi for legal reasons while we and Netchoice continue fighting the law in court. People whose IP addresses geolocate to Mississippi will only be able to access a page that explains the issue and lets them know that we'll be back to offer them service as soon as the legal risk to us is less existential.

The block page will include the apology but I'll repeat it here: we don't do geolocation ourselves, so we're limited to the geolocation ability of our network provider. Our anti-spam geolocation blocks have shown us that their geolocation database has a number of mistakes in it. If one of your friends who doesn't live in Mississippi gets the block message, there is nothing we can do on our end to adjust the block, because we don't control it. The only way to fix a mistaken block is to change your IP address to one that doesn't register as being in Mississippi, either by disconnecting your internet connection and reconnecting it (if you don't have a static IP address) or using a VPN.

In related news, the judge in our challenge to Tennessee's social media age verification, parental consent, and parental surveillance law (which we are also part of the fight against!) ruled last month that we had not met the threshold for a temporary injunction preventing the state from enforcing the law while the court case proceeds.

The Tennesee law is less onerous than the Mississippi law and the fines for violating it are slightly less ruinous (slightly), but it's still a risk to us. While the fight goes on, we've decided to prevent any new account signups from anyone under 18 in Tennessee to protect ourselves against risk. We do not need to block access from the whole state: this only applies to new account creation.

Because we don't do any geolocation on our users and our network provider's geolocation services only apply to blocking access to the site entirely, the way we're implementing this is a new mandatory question on the account creation form asking if you live in Tennessee. If you do, you'll be unable to register an account if you're under 18, not just the under 13 restriction mandated by COPPA. Like the restrictions on the state of Mississippi, we absolutely hate having to do this, we're sorry, and we hope we'll be able to undo it as soon as possible.

Finally, I'd like to thank every one of you who's commented with a message of support for this fight or who's bought paid time to help keep us running. The fact we're entirely user-supported and you all genuinely understand why this fight is so important for everyone is a huge part of why we can continue to do this work. I've also sent a lot of your comments to the lawyers who are fighting the actual battles in court, and they find your wholehearted support just as encouraging and motivating as I do. Thank you all once again for being the best users any social media site could ever hope for. You make me proud and even more determined to yell at state attorneys general on your behalf.

Entry tags:

Firefly’s Fifth Birthday with Rock Show side

Saturday

Opening Ceremonies for Firefly’s fifth birthday consisted of me, and my trusty meter stick, retrieving five springs from beneath the bed!

The Birthday Cat assisted by trying to wrestle the meter stick out of my hands while retrievals were underway.

It was very exciting. So exciting that Birthday Cat and spectators are now having a wee dram of cat food to recruit their strength.

Birthday Cat demonstrating singleton hall blocking technique.

So the rock show is a roaring success and I hope the vendors have a profitable weekend. When I arrived at the site, a little after 10:30 (show opened at 10), the lower parking lot was already full, so I parked up top, which was, eh, about a third full.

The room was very crowded, and I had a good time talking rocks, asking questions, getting confusing answers, and all such things that we do at shows of this nature. In fact, it was a lot of fun right up until the point when I should’ve met up with Steve at our prearranged point, so I could show him all the Very Cool Things I’d seen, and he could ditto, which I guess is never going to stop being A Thing.

I will say that things have gotten much more expensive than the last time I was at that rock show, which will have been a year or two before Steve died.

I did manage to buy a pair of hammered silver earrings, which I guess now that I have holes in my ears again, with be A Thing, and some tiger eye marbles and a piece of rutilated quart, because of course I did.

At this show people were differentiating their rutilated quartz — this piece had tourmaline inclusions, this had gold — which was instructive. There’s also a new way of cutting and polishing fragments of geodes, so that the rock the crystals live in is smooth and shaped to be a kind of holder, like an art piece. Very pretty. No, I did not buy one.

I am … very tired, despite having slept a long time last night, with the window open so I could hear the rain. I’m cooking macaroni and steaming some frozen peas, and that’s looking like lunch. Then I’ll see what else is on the schedule.

Here’s a picture of the astronomically correct moon necklace Steve gave me for my 60th birthday, and the earrings I bought today. I think they’ll make a nice set. Note: the earrings are silver. The gold glow is light from the windows.

Entry tags:

You really know how to dance

What went before ONE: All righty, then.

Agway run completed. I did not buy plants. Yay, me. I did buy monofilament string -- aka fishing line -- so I can hang the ball I made at Corning in a sunny window where it belongs, instead of skulking on my bookshelf.

Hit the Hannaford, picked up my prescriptions, bought Fancy Feast Gravy Lover's Pate, which is the preferred of the moment. Took the returnables to the redemption center. Caused consternation. Gassed up the car, so I don't have to do it on Saturday. Apparently the Rusty Lantern/Irving at Webb Road isn't supplying a means for its customers to clean off their windshields anymore, so I'll be looking for a new gas station. Shame; that one's really convenient.

What else? Oh, performed one's duty to the cats, and took a walk.

It is now what time? Yes? Yes, you, right there in front. Ex -- yes, say again, please for the guy in the back row who's asleep?

It's lunch time!

And then? It's time to go to work.

poof

What went before TWO: I remember coming in to Albany more than a decade ago from an exceptionally long and fraught train trip which involved the train actually running out of food (long story; bad trip; it was years ago, and man did I learn to hate CSX), and Steve pulled us into the Cracker Barrel because we needed something to eat. I remember looking at the menu, then looking at Steve and saying, "There's no food here." "There's chicken soup," he said. "We'll both have chicken soup, then we can go get some real food." This was the first and only time I was in a Cracker Barrel.

Ah, memories...

Patched up what I wrote yesterday and put it in its rightful place within the WIP, which now weighs just about 65,420 words. Tomorrow, I need to sit down and plot out the next section, even though my brain wants to write the cool! action! scene! over there. I've gotta figure out how they got there, first, Brain. Gimme a break, hey?

Anyhow, knocking off early tonight to, yanno, hang away my clothes, write a couple of checks, and see if I can brainstorm not one, but two! titles. Brainstorms are considerably less fun with only one brain, in case that was a question anybody had.

So! Everybody stay safe; I'll see you tomorrow.

Friday. Cloudy and cool. Thunderstorms are on the menu.

Last night at bedtime, I made it a point to find Rookie, who often spends the night on the box on Steve's desk, and carry him with me to the bed, thinking that I would once again introduce this as an option. I put him down, and he lay exactly where and how I'd put him until I'd gotten under the covers, turned out the light, settled on my pillow and drifted off. When I drifted out, about two hours later, he had relocated to my other side, tunneled between my arm and my side, and was snoring. Also, Tali had taken over the prized spot on my ankle. I went back to sleep and woke up at 7, much refreshed.

Today cutting off cat toes is on my menu, and I managed to grab Rook as he was terrorizing his sister. I put him on my lap and began to clip his claws and he was So Good. He made no complaint, or any attempt to play Disappearing Leg, and started to purr when I flipped him over on is back to amputate his back toes. When we were finished, he just -- stayed, purring his silly, puffy purr, until Tali walked by and then of course he had to jump down to see what she was doing.

I have finished my first cup of tea. Trooper has had a can of Fancy Feast. Breakfast will be something to do with the peach I bought yesterday, and when I took the stoopid sticky tag off, the skin tore. Lunch will be ... something.

Towels are in the washer. In addition to the cutting of cat toes, the to-do list includes one's duty to the cats, a walk, and plotting.

What's on your to-do list for Friday?

Today's blog post brought to you by The Romantics, "What I like about you"

Below, a picture of one of the Agway store cats, and a picture of Tali, who is apparently taking a covert ops course from the Rivers of London foxes.

Entry tags:

books read in 2025

Books read in 2025

45 Outfoxing Fate, Zoe Chant/Murphy Lawless (Virtue Shifters)(e)
44 Atonement Sky, Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling Trinity #9) (e)
43 Stone and Sky, Ben Aaronovitch (Rivers of London #10) (e)
42 Regency Buck, Georgette Heyer (re-re-re-&c-read)
41 I Dare, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (Liaden Universe #7) (page proofs)
40 To Hive and to Hold, Amy Crook (The Future of Magic #1) (e)
39 These Old Shades, Georgette Heyer, narrated by Sarah Nichols (re-re-re-&c-read, 1st time audio)
38 Faking it (Dempsey Family #2), Jennifer Crusie, narrated by Aasne Vigesaa (re-re-re-&c-read, 1st time audio)
37 Copper Script, K.J. Charles (e)
36 The Masqueraders, Georgette Heyer, narrated by Eleanor Yates (re-re-re-&c-read; 1st time audio)
35 Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language: Hereditary Deafness on Martha's Vineyard, Nora Ellen Groce (e)
34 Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson, narrated by Frances McDormand (re-re-re-&c-read; 1st time audio)
33 The Wings upon Her Back, Samantha Mills (e)
32 Death on the Green (Dublin Driver #2), Catie Murphy (e)
31 The Elusive Earl (Bad Heir Days #3), Grace Burrowes (e)
30 The Mysterious Marquess (Bad Heir Days #2), Grace Burrowes (e)
29 Who Will Remember (Sebastian St. Cyr #20), C.S. Harris (e)
28 The Teller of Small Fortunes, Julie Leong (e)
27 Check and Mate, Ali Hazelwood (e)
26 The Dangerous Duke (Bad Heir Days #1), Grace Burrowes (e)
25 Night's Master (Flat Earth #1) (re-read), Tanith Lee (e)
24 The Honey Pot Plot (Rocky Start #3), Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (e)
23 Very Nice Funerals (Rocky Start #2), Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (e)
22 The Orb of Cairado, Katherine Addison (e)
21 The Tomb of Dragons, (The Cemeteries of Amalo Trilogy, Book 3), Katherine Addison (e)
20 A Gentleman of Sinister Schemes (Lord Julian #8), Grace Burrowes (e)
19 The Thirteen Clocks (re-re-re-&c read), James Thurber (e)
18 A Gentleman Under the Mistletoe (Lord Julian #7), Grace Burrowes (e)
17 All Conditions Red (Murderbot Diaries #1) (re-re-re-&c read) (audio 1st time)
16 Destiny's Way (Doomed Earth #2), Jack Campbell (e)
15 The Sign of the Dragon, Mary Soon Lee
14 A Gentleman of Unreliable Honor (Lord Julian #6), Grace Burrowes (e)
13 Market Forces in Gretna Green (#7 Midlife Recorder), Linzi Day (e)
12 Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent, Judi Dench with Brendan O'Hea (e)
11 Code Yellow in Gretna Green (#6 Midlife Recorder), Linzi Day (e)
10 Seeing Red in Gretna Green (#5 Midlife Recorder), Linzi Day (e)
9 House Party in Gretna Green (#4 Midlife Recorder), Linzi Day (e)*
8    Ties that Bond in Gretna Green (#3 Midlife Recorder), Linzi Day (e)
7    Painting the Blues in Gretna Green (#2 Midlife Recorder), Linzi Day (e)
6 Midlife in Gretna Green (#1 Midlife Recorder), Linzi Day (e)
5    The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (Author), Kyle McCarley (Narrator) re-re-re&c-read (audio)
4    The House in the Cerulean Sea, TJ Klune (e)
3    A Gentleman in Search of a Wife (Lord Julian #5) Grace Burrowes (e)
2    A Gentleman in Pursuit of the Truth (Lord Julian #4) Grace Burrowes (e)
1    A Gentleman in Challenging Circumstances (Lord Julian #3) Grace Burrowes (e)

_____
*Note: The list has been corrected. I did not realize that the Gretna Green novella was part of the main path, rather than a pleasant discursion, and my numbering was off. All fixed now.

Current Mood: grateful, annoyed at myself
Current Location: various places between Den Haag and Peterborough
Current Music: Millcon - very soon!

Thankful... well, it was Thursday when I wrote it...

Today I am thankful for...

My convoluted method of syncing passwords using GPG and git. Also that it actually worked the first time I tried it. (If it hadn't worked I would NOT be thankful.)
Catching our trains.
The new Framework 12 laptop, Lilac, working well enough to get stuff done.
The bright orange Eagle Creek backpack/briefcase/shoulder-bag, which is turning out to be unexpectedly usable. Would be nice if it had bottle pockets, but since it can be used in several different orientations it's probably for the best that it doesn't.
Being able to do a lot of work without an internet connection.
Having a debit card that Bunq would accept for a top-up. It varies. Also, having had the sense to save CCVs in the info file.
Many good practice sessions with my bandmates and travel companions N and m.

Friday's Comic

Weird schtuff, yah?

Entry tags:

Sinking in

What went before: Slow getting started, but once I got going, I managed to pull a couple words out of the keyboard.

+/-1050 new words, bringing the WIP to +/-65,200.

Everybody stay safe; I'll see you tomorrow.

Thursday. Sunny and cool. Weatherbeans calling for the higher 70s-in-F this afternoon. At the moment, it's too cool to open the windows.

This morning, I need to go out to collect an extension of the new prescription, which needs to be Tapered Off, who knew? And also to Agway for a couple of things, including fishing line.

I see, otherwheres, that KJ Charles is being victimized by someone who can't read reporting to Amazon numerous "errors" in Copper Script (which is good -- read it). These are, as it turns out British spelling, British sentence structure, British slang, and in a couple of cases Actual Words that said Arbiter of Error didn't recognized and couldn't be arsed to look up.

I grew up reading British novels in their native Britishness, back before US Publishing decreed that Americans were too stupid to accommodate a few extra "u"s and whatnot. Welp, US Publishing has got what it wanted, with a helping of "If I don't recognize a word, it must be a typo, because I know All The Words."

My reading of British literature reflects in my own writing, and I have once or twice had to gently inform people that, no, that is an ACTUAL WORD, GET A DAMNED DICTIONARY, WHY NOT? Ahem. And I really despair of us as a people. OTOH, ignorant people are easier to control, and we're into control, this episode, so there's a win for the bullies and the cheats.

deep breath

I said upstream that you ought to read Copper Script -- that is, of course, if Amazon hasn't pulled it for having too many errors, because Amazon has been known to do this. And, yanno, Ms Charles doesn't have anything better to do except go through an already-published book, fixing errors that aren't wrong, so it can go back into the catalog and start earning again.

I know some folks think they're dong Good Things by "reporting" errors and typos to Amazon. Trust me -- they're not. As I mentioned, oh, maybe this time last week? There are no perfect books. There are errors and typos in all books. Mostly, they don't hurt anybody (I'm not talking errors like "half my book is a scifi adventure and the other half is a cookbook" or "my book is 400 blank pages" or things of that nature). Certainly, they're not worth pulling the creator away from her new project, and pissing her off, too.

I want more books from KJ Charles, and? Abusing authors isn't the way to get more books.

Really, I ought to start a list.

Anyhow! Having ranted and perhaps educated -- Good morning! How's your day shaping up?

Here, have a picture of Rook inna sink:

Wednesday's Comic

Un vot hyu see?

Entry tags:

I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing

What went before ONE: So, fixed what I wrote yesterday, placed it in the WIP, fixed the chapter-by-chapter, and? That's probably all the writing-related tasks I'm doing today.

The WIP, still titleless, clocks in at +/-64,160 total words.

What went before TWO: Had a good time at needlework; actually remembered to stop at the grocery before I got home, have served up coon cat happy hour. Need to put away the rest of the groceries, then find something to eat.

Everybody stay safe; I'll see you tomorrow.

Wednesday. Sunny and cool. Windows in my office are open.

Google initially told me that it was going to be "rainy" today. Questioned more closely, it admitted that there was a moderate chance of rain between 4pm and 5pm. Which piece of optimism Wunderground does not support, though it's teasing me with the possibilities of thunderstorms on Friday. I could use me a good thunderstorm.

Trooper has already eaten a can and a half of gooshy food. Which reminds me that I ought to weigh him.

Breakfast was pb&j on a whole wheat English muffin. Tali came by to sit on my lap and purr while I finished my first cup of tea, so that was pleasant. Lunch has not yet suggested itself.

Today's to-do includes doing one's duty to the cats, exploring online/possibly subscription exercise programs (I know this about myself: If I haven't made a commitment of some kind, I will not Just Exercise out of the abundance of my own good sense.), take a walk, and! writing.

My embroidery project at the moment was supposed to be a shirt I want to embroider, but I haven't gotten my act in gear to decide what I want to do exactly and position the designs. So, I've been working on the little piece of handwork I was taking with me when we traveled. It was "supposed" to be an outline -- by which I mean, not filled in -- but I had started to fill it in as practice for stitching fur, and for twisting two colors of thread together. Last night, I finished the center. Pic below.

What relaxation project are you working on?

Today's blog post title once more from ee cummings: "you shall above all things be glad and young"