alicebentley

Sunday. Bright and cool. Cats are installed in the open windows. Trooper has had his first half-a-can of cat food. Biscuits are in the toaster oven and in a minute or two I'll have to interrupt myself to heat the pan for sausage patties. Apparently, it's Indulgence Weekend. Except for the part after breakfast when I need to change out the cat boxes and vacuum the basement.

It looks like the tree guy has ghosted me. This makes the fourth tree guy to do so. I'm getting tired of the game, but -- onward to the next on the list, I guess. Maybe I can go down to the river and enlist some beavers.

So, yesterday during my ride, I thought of -- many things, actually. But one thing I recalled was the Editorial Advice, 'way back in the day, that we Branch Out in our writing, due to the Danger that our names would become inextricably entangled with this light-and-silly space opera universe that had (tanked), to the detriment of our careers.

And, I dunno, maybe she was right. It was a Theme throughout our Early Years -- that we wrote a clean enough hand and if we would just Get Serious and lean harder (a lot harder) on the science in Science Fiction, Great Things could be done for us by other people. One guy told Steve to ditch the girl, that she was doing His Career no good. And that was before I got to put my name first on the universe I had created.  Several colleagues told us to ditch the romance, because that would "alienate" True Readers of the genre.

We were too stubborn, and too enamored of our own vision to take the advice of Older and More Experienced Heads -- and here we are. Our names are inextricably entangled with that space opera universe, which is neither as light nor as silly as some folks persist in believing. It did sorta damage our credibility when we produced other projects -- they were inevitably compared to the Liaden books and invariably found wanting. Steve never did finish his own novel, though he did take Jethri under his wing when I was So. Done. With. This! Kid!

On the other hand -- I said this just recently in a speech -- we had fun. Even? A lot of fun, in our personal life, and in our professional life. Yes, there were problems, and Mistakes Were Made, but, yanno? That is life. Which begins to infringe on those other things I was thinking about yesterday, on my ride.

So! Biscuits with sausage and cheddar cheese for breakfast. It was very good, as Forbidden Treats so often are. Trooper has finished eating his first can of cat food on the day, and I'm drinking my second cup of tea as I address you here.

When my tea's done, I'll get with my chores. Salad for lunch, I think -- I have lettuce, tomato, tuna, hard boiled eggs. That sounds like a salad. Oh. And olive bread. Mmmmm, olive bread.

How's your day starting out?

Today's blog post title is, of course, from Mr. Paul Simon, "One Trick Pony," -- a live version at the link, because art is hard work.  Even when you're having fun.

There was a call for a picture of the earrings I bought yesterday.  I live to serve:  rutilated quartz, silver, gold.  With obligatory black felt woven with cat fur.  Artist Trish Conant.   (There was a comment Elsewhere that they looked heavy. In fact, they're very light.  The stones are thin, as is the metal.  I wore them for a few hours yesterday after I got home, and I forgot I had them in.  Very pleased with this purchase.)

My goodness what a pleasant day.

The high point, of course, is that I quite by accident scored my ninth store on my Reny's Passport and for this achievement I was awarded! a Reny's candy bar of my choice (my choice being dark chocolate and seal salt), and a $10 Reny's gift card. Only 10 more to do, but, honestly? I'm probably not going to make it.

The craft fair was a lovely thing, very small but high quality. I talked to people about glass making, and pottery, and jewelry, and writing, bought some handmade soap (peppermint and lemongrass, since you ask), and a pair of earrings made out of rutilated quartz, which NOBODY makes jewelry out of rutilated quartz and I adore the stuff, so there we are.

I spaced around Longfellow's for quite some time and managed not to buy any plants, because then I would have to plant them, and then my back would go out, and I'd really rather not. It was hard turning down more lavender, though. Especially since it was on sale.

After I was done at the greenhouse and the fair, I went for a ride. Steve usually provided rides, but I made this one for myself and it was quite nice. I went through Readfield and Fayette, and Mount Vernon, eventually mooched over to Wilton, thence to Farmington, where I spent some time exploring The Center for Entrepreneurial Studies -- apparently the successor to the new age shop that had been on the opposite corner forever, drove through Strong and New Vineyard (deciding against Rangeley or Kingfield), Madison, stopped for a slightly late lunch at Ken's in Skowhegan, veered to Pittsfield, where I got my 9th Reny's stamp, then came home through Canaan, and over East River Road, stopping at the Dairy Queen on the Fairfield side of town for a chocolate-and-vanilla (softserve) twist inna cup.

It was an eye-opener, my ride. So much stuff has changed since the last time I'd been by certain places -- which would be anywhere from two to five years ago -- but, in all, a nice day, a nice ride, some good conversations and now I'm in for a few days, though I may venture out again next Saturday, to the Rock Show in Augusta.

The coon cats are after Happy Hour, and honestly? I could use a glass of wine my own self, so I think we'll be moving in that direction.

What did y'all do today?

What went before ONE: Back from the vet. Trooper was a Very Good cat, and spoke not one angry word to me on either side of the trip, and purred the whole time the doctor was examining him. He has lost more than the home scale had indicated, and right now the only thing we can do is ... guess.

So! We're guessing that he's not in pain. We're guessing that maybe? the steroids helped last time. And we're guessing that maybe? there's a low-lying infection that the antibiotic will root out.

Otherwise, he has Fading Old Cat Syndrome.

Thanks to everyone who has made suggestions for food. It's not that he's not hungry; it's that he forgets what food is halfway through eating it. And he absolutely refuses dry food (aka crunchies) which, if he has a tooth infection (and no, neither the vet nor I want to sedate him at this point), the antibiotic will nail it.

In short. We're doing what we can. And may I say that the medical literature for cats is really ... sparse.

Cat census below. Tali's fan club, and Rook's, will be interested to see that she takes up considerably less room on top of the supply dresser than he does.

What went before TWO: The chapter-by-chapter is complete. Tomorrow, I map holes and make notes. The WIP is, roughly, half-written. Deadline is April 2026.

Onward.

Trooper ate a whole! can! of Fancy Feast! Which is something like 3.2 ounces, but hey.

Sarah arrives early tomorrow, so I'll do a little bit of picking up before Happy Hour and my dinner.

Everybody stay safe; I'll see you tomorrow.

Friday. Sunny and cool-so-far. Windows are open.

Sarah messages that a family emergency keeps her from making our date to have her clean this morning. Sigh.

Trooper has had about a can and a half of Fancy Feast; he has not thrown up, and is now sleeping/snoring in the copilot's chair, so something's working. Fingers crossed.

Since Sarah will not be coming by, I'll deploy some vacuum cleaners and throw in a load of laundry (which I was going to do anyway), empty the dishwasher (ditto), and get to work. I need to bake some pork chops, so I'll be heating up the oven.

Onward.

Trooper as reported is in the copilot's chair; Tali is on the supply dresser, nose to the open window; Firefly's gone downstairs, I believe, and Rook is taking advantage of Conditions.

How's everybody doing this morning?

Today's blog post title brought to you by Counting Crows, "Rain King."

What went before: So, back home and groceries put away. I saw the doctor, who is not accepting new patients, but was very helpful on the topic for which I had been referred.

Got the car washed, hit the grocery store, which was notable for the things that weren't on the shelves -- rice is decimated again, also cottage cheese and yogurt. Some shelves were empty, most were full, but the variety was down -- six rows of salt and vinegar chips by the same company is kind of excessive? I bought some pork chops to make for the freezer, but gave up on trying to figure out chicken between the sizes and the prices. I had a bet with myself that I'd hit three large, and was only two bucks off.

I haven't been to the post office, so I'll do that!

After lunch.

How's Wednesday at your place?

What went before: For someone who isn't an artist, I have a bunch of crafty things around here. Today, I am grateful for my light box, which I guess nowadays is called a "copy board" on account of it isn't a box anymore, but a flat sheet of acrylic. And I remain astounded that I should even know what a light box is, but doing layout opens many strange doors.

I finished off the day by going to the post office, 5 Below, and Reny's. I thought I had managed to purchase three solutions, but only two work. Given the one that didn't work cost less than $2, I don't feel too bad about that.

Chatted with Trooper's doctor on the phone, and as a result, Trooper will be visiting tomorrow morning. Then I have phone calls and? Maybe I can finish up the chapter-by-chapter and even get a spot of writing done. That would be nice.

I think I'll be going out to the Designing Women craft fair at Longfellow's in Manchester on Saturday. It's been all summer and I haven't been to a craft fair. ...Unless you count going to Corning.

It is just coon cat happy hour, so I guess I'd better get with the program.

Everybody stay safe; I'll see you tomorrow.

Thursday. Sunny and cool; a really lovely morning. Heading for the high 70sF, the start of a climb to the mid-80sF, which we'll see on Saturday.

Up at 6. Fed Trooper his morning gravy, but declined to feed him anything more, because I'd really rather he didn't throw up in the car.

Breakfast was a cheddar cheese on toasted raisin bread sandwich. Second cup of tea to hand. I need to make a pot of rice today, and I have no idea what lunch will be.

I've read the first half of the book club book and started Atonement Sky by Nalini Singh.

Trooper's due at the vet's in about an hour, and the rest of the day kind of waits on what we find out there.

Because a couple of people have asked this now, and because I'm puzzled about why this is suddenly a Confusion, let me say this!

I Dare by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller was first published by Meisha Merlin Publishing in February 2002 (which doesn't seem possible, but let's not go there right now), in hard cover and trade paper. It was republished as a mass market paperback by Ace Books, in 2003. It was republished by Baen as part of the omnibus trade paper Korval's Game in 2011. It is being republished by Baen as an "anniversary" trade paper, with a new Author's Afterword, in December 2025. It's also been published in two or three ebook iterations.

So, to answer the question as it's been put -- Yes, I Dare was published "a long time ago." In fact, it was first published 23 years ago. It's also being reissued this year. Publishers do this. Authors like it, because it means the book is out there for new readers to find.

Baen has previously issued anniversary editions of! Local Custom, Scout's Progress, Agent of Change, Conflict of Honors, Carpe Diem, Plan B. So this isn't new territory for them.

Bonus Question: Why did I have to read the page proofs for I DARE, which has, after all, Already Been Published?

Bonus Answer: To find errors/typos. We/I read proofs from Meisha Merlin, Ace, Baen, and this pass I still found typos.

Lesson Learned: Just because a book has been published does not mean it is error-free. Or, as we say in the biz: There's no such thing as a typo-free book.

And, while we're doing the Time Warp: Agent of Change was first published in February 1988, when Steve was 37 and I was 35. I will very soon be 73, so -- been doing this thing for half my life.

So, that. I should get the car out of the garage so it can warm up in the sun. Trooper has his Standards, after all.

What's everybody doing today?

Have a picture of Perkin's Cove this morning, courtesy of Barnacle Billy's: