Damp Squib

May. 17th, 2025 05:40 pm
kevin_standlee: (Fernley)
[personal profile] kevin_standlee
This morning I went to the Wigwam at opening time, well before the Music, Murals and Margaritas festival main events were scheduled. I walked back home via the site of the main event and took some pictures. The weather was overcast (which I liked) but the forecast was for rain later in the day.

Partial Washout )

We could continue to hear various performances coming from the stages, although actually the prevalent sound was the various generators from the food trucks. As I write this, the event is not over (performances are scheduled into the late evening/early night). Whether the forecast additional rain ends up discouraging the rest of the evening remains to be seen. I do actually feel bad for the vendors and organizers, though. A storm like this is unusual. The weather being uncomfortably warm, not cold and windy with dust storms, was much more likely. If we didn't live right next door to the event, we certainly would not have gone to it.

Books Received, May 3 — May 16

May. 17th, 2025 09:03 am
james_davis_nicoll: (Default)
[personal profile] james_davis_nicoll


16 works new to me. 8 fantasies, 1 horror, one mainstream, one mystery, one non-fiction (about SF), and four science fiction... although it wasn't always clear into which category works fell. Only 11 works are clearly identified as series, 11 do not appear to be part of series, and there are 3 for which that question does not apply.

Books Received, May 3 — May 16


Poll #33131 Books Received, May 3 — May 16
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 54


Which of these look interesting?

View Answers

The Age of Calamities by Senaa Ahmad (January 2026)
11 (20.4%)

Cathedral of the Drowned by Nathan Ballingrud (October 2025)
5 (9.3%)

Bears Discover Fire and Other Stories by Terry Bisson (October 2025)
20 (37.0%)

A Fate So Cold by Amanda Foody & C. L. Herman (November 2025)
2 (3.7%)

The Last Vampire by Romina Garber (December 2025)
5 (9.3%)

Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibanez (January 2026)
5 (9.3%)

Empire of the Dawn by Jay Kristoff (November 2025)
1 (1.9%)

The Monster and the Last Blood Match by K. A. Linde (June 2025)
3 (5.6%)

Westward Women by Alice Martin (March 2026)
10 (18.5%)

Dead Fake by Vincent Ralph (January 2026)
0 (0.0%)

The Unwritten Rules of Magic by Harper Ross (January 2026)
7 (13.0%)

The Bone Queen by Will Shindler (February 2026)
4 (7.4%)

This Gilded Abyss by Rebecca Thorne (November 2025)
9 (16.7%)

A Mouthful of Dust by Nghi Vo (October 2025)
21 (38.9%)

Trace Elements by Jo Walton & Ada Palmer (March 2026)
37 (68.5%)

Good Intentions by Marisa Walz (February 2026)
2 (3.7%)

Some other option (see comments)
0 (0.0%)

Cats!
35 (64.8%)

Damp and Dim for the Win

May. 17th, 2025 09:50 am
rolanni: (Default)
[personal profile] rolanni

What went before: Had a lovely and informative chat with Alex Picard, the narrator for the Ribbon Dance audiobook (coming to you in August!). She was kind enough to suggest the title of a nonfiction book about the deaf communities on Martha's Vineyard, backaways -- Everyone here spoke sign language: Heredity deafness on Martha's Vineyard, by Nora Ellen Groce -- I'm on page 6 and already fascinated.

I also remembered that when we were going on a long road trip, Steve used to take on those tuna lunch packs -- which just about saved our lives on two separate train trips over the years -- when the train was so late, the various on-board provisioners not only ran out of food, they ran out of booze -- so I went out and grabbed some of the tuna things, because Murphy is real, and his Law is the great leveler.

Losing Steve really did tear my brain in half. My memory has never been my most robust mental function, and it's just gone to wood shavings on some stuff. I'm glad I decided to pack slow, because the act of getting things together to go to a convention is kicking Old Habits to the surface. I guess I should also say, if I don't immediately remember you at the con -- it's me, not you, and the Ghods of Conventions in Their infinite wisdom give us name tags for a reason.

Tomorrow, I'm taking a break in the early afternoon to go to the library and listen to Ron Currie read from The Savage Noble Death of Babs Dionne. Before and after, I'll continue to do those chores that will make coming home easier, putter at my packing, study the maps/routes. And not freak out. That's very important. I even wrote it on the to-do list.

Right now, the first 194 pages of the current WIP is printing out, so I'll have that ready to read and get back into the right headspace.

It got Quite Warm today; tomorrow is supposed to be significantly cooler, though still springlike.

The coon cats have had their Happy Hour, and are each sitting in an open window, admiring the evening breeze (not the bathroom window -- they're using the Considerably Safer crank windows, in my office).

And that's the news from the Cat Farm.

Everybody stay safe; I'll see you tomorrow.

#

Saturday. Damp and dim. Which really ought to be the name of my next band. Or -- I dunno. Maybe Damp and Dim reported on those Sites that Wu and Fabricant deemed not worth their time? Though if Wu and Fabricant wrote an entry on Star Well...

... and now you know why writers stare out of windows.

All righty, then! Breakfast was sausage patty and cheese on a buttermilk biscuit, with grapes. I Regret Nothing. Second cup of tea to hand. Lunch is in question, because of the timing of the reading at the library. I will not starve, and honestly? This opens up the possibility of ice cream.

Quitting time got a little extended last night due to Shenanigans on the part of Steve's printer. By the time I was done clearing paper jams, I was, frankly, beat. Firefly put in a Very Clear Request for reading in bed, so we read read The Elusive Earl until I fell asleep.

Speaking of updates from the road! I will of course have my laptop with me, and I'll be able to update to Facebook, but I won't be able to update my blog at sharonleewriter, which is where I point people to for daily updates.

The Plan at the moment is to post to Patreon and set access to Public. This would be easiest for me, and I'll test the proposition today, to see if Public is, indeed, accessible to anyone who wanders by, and if said merry wanderers of the internets may leave comments.

UPDATE: Only PAID members may comment on public posts, says Patreon, which may actually be the best path, as the moderator will be engaging in Other Activities.

So! Who has Plans today?

Damp and Dim cat census:

 

shoes

May. 17th, 2025 12:56 am
redbird: closeup of me drinking tea, in a friend's kitchen (Default)
[personal profile] redbird
I went to the New Balance factory store today* and, with the help of two salespeople, found a pair of shoes that I think fits. I bought it, then treated myself to a hot fudge sundae before coming home.

By the time I got home my feet hurt, which is from either trying on shoes that didn't fit, or the amount of walking I did in my old shoes. I will wear these around the house for a few days to break them in and confirm that they fit.

If they fit, I'm going to go back and buy another pair in a different color; if not, I'll return them, regretfully. I also want to see about sandals, and have a few stores in mind, but shoe shopping is so often frustrating that I wasn't going to try a second shoe store today.

*meaning Friday, which is yesterday by the computer clock.

Preparing for the M3 Festival

May. 16th, 2025 07:13 pm
kevin_standlee: (Fernley)
[personal profile] kevin_standlee
Tomorrow is the climax of the 2025 Music, Murals and Margaritas Festival in Fernley. As in past years, the big event, including performances, food trucks, etc. takes place on Center Street, which is the east boundary of the East Lot adjacent to Fernley House. That meant that Lisa and I had work to do today.

Preparing for M3 )

We're not trying to be killjoys, but we also don't want to be sued by someone tripping and falling while walking to or from a festival where there will be plenty of alcohol flowing. It's not obvious that this lot is not just abandoned "free" land, and if we didn't do this, I'm certain that tomorrow morning we'd wake up and find it covered with cars parking close in to the festival. Now they'll end up parking in the Union Pacific rail yard across the street, and I'll let UP figure out how to deal with that.

We'll be more or less trapped in the house all day tomorrow, or at least only be able to venture out on foot, but it's okay. We didn't have any plans to go anywhere anyway.

2025 52 Card Project: Week 19: Garden

May. 16th, 2025 01:16 pm
pegkerr: (The beauty of it smote his heart)
[personal profile] pegkerr
Just as I did last week, I stuffed this week's collage with color, as this is about the garden I put in this week. Each year I tell myself, "I'm going to scale it back!" and usually I don't.

Well, it is a little smaller. I did not plant my big City Picker planters. I will still put kale and Swiss chard in one. I limited myself on tomatoes to just two plants in smaller pots. I have about given up because the squirrels get so many of the tomatoes and the ones left are usually afflicted with blossom rot. But as I do every year, I have put geraniums by the front door, herb pots on the back porch, a hanging pot of lobelia by the back door, and petunias in the four planters on the back patio.

The lilacs are blooming (Rob planted that bush over thirty years ago), as well as the bleeding hearts, and bunnies sit in the yard every day.

It is a lot of work, and I always grumble about the work and the cost. But I am always so happy when I get it done.

Description: Background: a riot of colors from flowers. Lower left: a crouching bunny. Lower right: a terra cotta pot planted with basil and a tomato plant. Center: a row of herb pots. Upper third: a white planter planted with multicolored petunias

Garden

19 Garden

Click on the links to see the 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021 52 Card Project galleries.

Fabula Ultima: the characters

May. 16th, 2025 10:35 am
james_davis_nicoll: (Default)
[personal profile] james_davis_nicoll
Alarmed by the frequency of magic-related calamities, five anonymous benefactors funded the Walman Hanton School of Mana Research. Its mandate: to seek out and deal with "burners", magical trouble-makers, and to document and where possible neutralize the sorcerous version of superfund sites.

The first Walman Hanton vigiles team was selected on the basis of their superlative magical skills. Their replacements were chosen for their demonstrated talent for surviving magical calamities.

Read more... )
rolanni: (Default)
[personal profile] rolanni

What went before:  So, a low-key day. I did some This, some That, read, put the finished sampler into the embroidery book, ironed some con clothes. I'm still trying to decide if I'll wear black-and-grey, or black-and-maroon for Opening Ceremonies, a decision I can put off for a few days yet, as both outfits will be coming with me.

For those who are coming to BaltiCon -- I have Interesting News. We have a possible location for the Stuffed Animal Tea, but! We don't have a time or day. So, at this point, it's kind of a Heisenberg Tea. More news will be forthcoming, possibly on Wednesday. As soon as I know something firm (bearing in mind that I will be spending a large amount of Wednesday and Thursday driving), I'll let y'all know.

We're getting up toward ASL time, and I still need to close the windows.

Everybody stay safe; I'll see you tomorrow.

#

Friday. Dim and damp.

Letters dispatched. Finished reading The Mysterious Marquess, and have pulled The Elusive Earl up for tonight's reading, unless it turns out to be a Dr. Who night. Zoom call upcoming, and a couple other such things as people are suddenly realizing that I'm going to be away. Laundry needs to be sorted, laptop charged and systems brought up to date

I have more this 'n that to do, including puzzling out some bits for the book after the current WIP, which may not be Jethri after all, if I'm gonna do mumblemumble with the current WIP, which I think may be Forced, given that I need to at least produce a soft landing, if not a Hard Wrap Up, and there are only three books remaining under contract (Current WIP, WIP After, Jethri Big Finish). And now you know why writers stare out of windows.

I'm slowly remembering the convention traditions -- pins, con clothes, tote bag, pens, ribbons, badge jewelry... For those who are coming to the con, I will have with me some "I Met Steve Miller" ribbons, so that those present who had, in fact, met Steve Miller may acknowledge that connection.

The cats are being very snuggly and maybe even a little clingy, which I'm guessing the memo I sent out has hit. If the teleporter worked, I'd bring them with me, but the geezinfluke is still on backorder.

I think that's most of what's going on here at the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory.

How's everybody doing today?

Today's blog post title courtesy of Mr. Bruce Springsteen, "4th of July, Asbury Park"

After breakfast cat census:


james_davis_nicoll: (Default)
[personal profile] james_davis_nicoll


Calderhill Academy is one of Pittsburgh's most prestigious schools. Why then is there a murdered woman down in the basement?

A Quiet Teacher (Quiet Teacher, volume 1) by Adam Oyebanji

Books read in 2025

May. 16th, 2025 08:49 am
rolanni: (lit'rary moon)
[personal profile] rolanni

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.


Early to Rise

May. 15th, 2025 06:30 pm
kevin_standlee: (Kreegah Bundalo)
[personal profile] kevin_standlee
Kayla woke me up at 2:45 AM this morning. While it was a pretty good day, I am definitely ready to get to bed early, as I can barely keep my eyes open here at 6:30 PM.
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