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For my gay readers:
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May. 16th, 2008 @ 12:36 am
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Book Log
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May. 16th, 2008 @ 12:03 am
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53: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.
I'd never read this, though I roughly knew the story. I enjoyed it, although the religious writing at the end made me gag. The copy I have was published in 1944 and has wonderful woodcuts and unusual two-column typography. And now I can read Jasper Fforde's The Eyre Affair. Yay! |
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$711.50
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May. 15th, 2008 @ 07:10 pm
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We have a 5 gallon water jug, the kind you see in an office water dispenser. We put our loose change into it. Last time it was emptied, it was about a third full, and there was about $400. That was two years ago, right around the time we got married. This time, it was between a third and half full. We poured all the money into a pile on the floor, and started wrapping it into money rolls. I bought these neat little stacking trays that made it super easy to keep count. Grand total- $711.50. Not bad. It'll pay for our Wiscon hotel and a few fun things for our trip.
Today, I took it to the bank. As I laboriously dragged two very heavy tote bags to the door, a man on the sidewalk said "are those coin rolls?" I said yeah. "That looks like a lot!" I said it was two years worth. He said "wow, congratulations!" I thought that was pretty funny...
I quit the job on Monday. I went in to talk to boss guy first thing in the morning. He told me he could tell I wasn't happy, and it was bringing the rest of the crew down. The unfriendly, unhelpful, insular crew. I asked him not to mention it to people who didn't need to know, as I didn't want anyone asking me questions about it. He said, "of course I won't say anything", and I told him I'd finish out the day, since they were still really short handed. I went upstairs to do a run of delivering charts, and when I returned, everybody knew and was asking me questions. Gee thanks, boss. I was happy to turn in my badge at the end of the day.
I'm scared out of my mind for the future, but I'm relieved not to have to go back to that miserable, toxic place. It felt so good to leave, I made a cake the next day to celebrate!
Yesterday I cleaned and tidied all day, because we had ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) dirtylibrarian over for dinner. Twas lovely. I made two quiches that turned out pretty darn good. Afterward, we walked down to the ship canal. Everything is in bloom, and the air smelled wonderful. dirtylibrarian - please send us that photo you took!
No photos from me tonight, Luke has the printer plugged into his computer in order to print out the LJ icon stickers for ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) wiscon. I've been running errands during these last few work-free days. Bank today, post office tomorrow, to mail a box of clothes to my parent's house in Madison. We do this every year, we'll be stopping off at my folks before Wiscon starts, and I also borrow their big coolers for the LJ party. We have this whole Wiscon thing down to a science. The only thing that sucks about it is the terrifying airplane ride. |
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cafepressing the public domain (plus Cap Confederacy!)
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May. 15th, 2008 @ 06:29 pm
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Today is a day of happy political news and increased choices.
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May. 15th, 2008 @ 06:59 pm
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"This," she said, "is the button that causes the United State to dissolve into hundreds of sovereign city states with no overarching government except for a body that guarantees the free right to enter and exit any city-state, and assists in the process. You know, to foster competitive innovation."
"This button here?" I asked, as I lifted the plastic cover.
She left from her chair and pushed it away, "Don't touch it! Do you have any idea what a bad idea that would be?"
I scowled, "How do you even know it works?"
"It's an untested prototype but the theory is sound. I spent four decades designing it and simulating it. It works."
"If you're not going to use it, why have it?"
"It's comforting to know I have a choice," she said, "It makes me like the current system better, flaws and all." |
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Fourth Street Fantasy Convention. Why you should.
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May. 15th, 2008 @ 04:46 pm
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Ah, the glamorous life of a writer. The royalty checks have arrived, and are, unfortunately, neither king-size nor queen-size. So Will and I plan to spend the summer months here on the beautiful Endicott Homestead, conserving financial resources, making art, and hosting the likes of the delightful klages.
But I want to tell you all to go to Fourth Street Fantasy Convention.
When I first went to a science fiction convention, my native guides assured me that no one went to programming. Now, the fact is, they were wrong even about the convention we were at, Minicon, and as a result, I missed opening ceremonies and the never-to-be-repeated spectacle of the Dancing Davids.
But Fourth Street is what happens when everyone goes to programming. A single track of it, so you're never torn between Jane Yolen and Patricia McKillip talking about new myths for old, and Terri Windling, Deb Notkin, and Tom Canty discussing the psychoactive qualities of fantasy.
In fact, Fourth Street Fantasy is a single conversation that starts on Friday evening and ends sometime on Sunday. The participants change over the course of the day and night, but each panel, each party, each conversation in the bar or the lobby or the hall adds to the members' accumulated knowledge and growing body of ideas and energy.
And it's a conversation, not a lecture. Small convention, smart membership, all of them interested in exploring the boundaries of fantastical storytelling, whether in literature, art, music, comics, or film. Discussing them interchangeably, all on the same panel, finding the things that unite the media of stories.
If I've made that sound highbrow and stodgy, I've done a bad job. Fourth Street is fun. The excitement of that three-day conversation, of being part of the voyage of discovery, is powerful stuff. And the people you'll be hanging out with are some of the most fascinating I've ever met.
Go. Have fun. Raise a glass to (temporarily) absent friends. I'll see you there next year!Current Music: Barenaked Ladies - Light Up My Room |
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Dept of Mixed Cryptography
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May. 16th, 2008 @ 01:07 am
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Nyvpr and Obo exchange messages. Rir is listening in. |
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100 Degrees
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May. 15th, 2008 @ 04:21 pm
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Frozen Mango Icee.
That is all. |
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5/15/08: Another sale!
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May. 15th, 2008 @ 04:15 pm
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Last night's reading at Powell's went very well: just about every
chair was filled, with people from all my various communities
(fandom, writing, work, square dancing, Clarion, neighbors, and
even a few people I don't know). I read my story "Nucleon," an old
favorite I haven't read in a while, and signed bunches of books.
The 36 attendees bought 27 copies of Space Magic, out of 32
in stock, plus 4-5 other books of mine (um, by which I mean anthologies
containing one story of mine each). Peter from the bookstore says
that's some kind of record for proportion of attendees buying the
book. I'll post some pictures when I get them.
And then today I got an email indicating that Esther Friesner is
buying my story "Midnight at the Center Court" for her anthology
Witch Way to the Mall. Two sales and a book launch in one
week, not too shabby.
Other things are happening, though, some good, some not so good
(maybe very not-so-good). More news as the information becomes
available. |
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99/100
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May. 15th, 2008 @ 04:03 pm
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Intellicast says 99 degrees F, my thermometer says 100. Close enough, it's hot out there.
I think (hope) I got everything critical watered well. |
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Camille live @ Koko
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May. 16th, 2008 @ 12:00 am
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Last night's performance by Camille was nothing short of extraordinary, even non-Camille fans would have found it difficult to not be seduced by her spirit and energy. The concert took place at Koko in Camden which is a lovely small venue I had never been to before. She first appeared wearing an orange floaty dress with matching orange socks and danced around on the stage, when she finally made it to the mic she explained that she was buying time until her friend arrived in the audience, who was late. There were many French people in the audience and some of them began yelling, "Allez, Camille, allez!" Either her friend arrived or she decided she couldn't stall any longer so she kicked off with Canards Sauvages from her new album, Music Hole. Immediately her a cappella vocal skills were obvious and she sounded even more gorgeous in person, especially when she sang in French as she did for La Jeune Fille aux Cheveux Blancs. Her fellow French and Brazilian performers, including collaborator MaJiKer, were also incredibly skilled in their backing vocals and beatboxing; they were all clearly very close and enjoyed what they were doing, she often stepped away from the mic in order to let them solo. The body percussions really came into its own on the stomping and chest beating to represent a heartbeat on Home is Where it Hurts, which was one of the best songs of the evening. She sang a slightly altered version of one of my favourite songs of hers, Baby Carni Bird, which was incredible. As the show progressed Camille lost her socks and then stripped out of her floaty dress to reveal another short orange dress, like the one she wears on the cover of Music Hole. She interacted with the audience a lot throughout the evening and getting everyone to participate which really upped the energy of the room; at one point she picked up a newspaper and began walking in circles while reading out headlines and one of her French backing singers said, "Camille, I have a much more interesting question to ask than what is in that newspaper -- why did London people vote for Boris Johnston as mayor?" to which everyone cheered and some began shouting, "Boris out, Camille for mayor!" Camille looked puzzled and said, "Camille for mère? You want me for your mother!?" After dancing herself into a frenzy she sang a Camillified version of Too Drunk to Fuck by the Dead Kennedys while pretending to piss off the stage onto a steward's head, then a few more songs from her new album and Au Port which received a positive response. The encore came all too fast and I was concerned that she hadn't played the one song I really wanted to hear that night, Pâle Septembre. That was put right as she came back out for the encore and headed straight for the piano and performed an astounding version of Pâle Septembre which slowly transformed into Winter's Child, complete with thunder. She bowed and went off stage which everyone thought was the end, but the audience kept cheering hopeful for more. Camille returned wearing a long black satin dress and with the group sang Ta Douleur which everyone went crazy for and Money Note in which she took the piss out of Mariah Carey where she whispers "rich bitch" and (‘’If Dolly Parton wrote it / And Whitney Houston stole it / If Celine Dion could reach it / I’ll hit the money note.”) She then turned her back to the audience to reveal that the dress had a cut-out down the back revealing half of her ass which made everyone laugh and cry out in appreciation.
Each of her group did amusing solo bits during Money Note and then then bowed with Camille to the loud cheering and applause from the crowd and left the stage, but the crowd wouldn't die down and began stomping and cheering for more. They all returned for a third encore and sang Sanges Sweet and then they all huddled together around the mic to have a sing-along of Paris, complete with an a capella trumpet. Then people started shouting requests, one of them being for Les Ex which is well known in France. Camille obliged and said, "Only the French are asking for Les Ex so the rest of you English can leave!" This was the first major concert Camille had performed since the release of her new album and her and the group all seemed amazed by the responsive crowd and overwhelmingly positive response Londoners gave them which shows how popular her music is becoming here. She seemed reluctant to leave the stage and I got the impression that she wanted to keep singing for us and would have continued through the night if she had been allowed to. I was on a high from the performance myself, she was everything that I had hoped for and more.. engaging, energetic, passionate, funny, and talented. The group gave the final bows and goodbyes and left the stage to deafening cheers, Camille exiting last with her half-moon disappearing into the haze. How French.
Camille's entrance and segments of Canards Sauvages and Home is Where it Hurts,
the only video I managed to get.
Janine I
"No Boris Johnston, Camille for mayor!" (biaaaatch.)
Money Note with the "half-moon" dress. ;) "I just wanna beat Mariaahhhhhh!"
( ... )
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May 15, 2008
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May. 15th, 2008 @ 05:56 pm
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I didn’t get much fiction work done yesterday — only a few hundred words. Instead, my husband took a “working from home” day, wherein I tagged along while he ran a bunch of errands. None of it was very interesting, but it was all pleasant and different, which was helpful. Sometimes I just need to get out of the house, you know?
Today the weather is beautiful, and it’s going to continue to be beautiful for another 3 or 4 days before the sky once again descends into its perennial suck. I have all the windows open, and the front door as well (save the screen). The cat is asleep beside me, lounging on the back of the couch and catching the first sunbeam she’s seen in weeks. It’s nice. When I finish this post, I think I’m going to make myself a snack. That will be nice, too.
But anyway, here’s today’s progress on the west coast steampunk Victoriana book with zombies, air ships, toxic gas clouds, mad scientists, dead folk heroes, secret criminal societies, and Bonus! extended deleted scenes from the Civil War:
Project: The Boneshaker
New Words: 4293 (most of that today, so it’s pretty good)
Present Total Word Count: 127,560 words
Goal: 130,000 words by July 1st.
Observations: It’s going to be wicked trouble blending these two POVs, but I think it’ll be worth it. I finished Zeke’s perspective this afternoon — reaching the point at which his narrative and his mother’s narrative will reunite into one story. The end really is in sight. I just need to kill off one more guy and make an awkward getaway that may or may not be wholly successful. Then there’s just the wind-down, and the fat lady sings. Man. I can’t believe it. I love this project so much; I’m so proud of it — it’s the most ambitious thing I’ve ever tried to write, and I think it works.
Things Accomplished in Real Life: Not much, honestly. Batted some email correspondence back and forth; received, signed, and sent back a contract for my employment at the Evil Empire (as I jokingly call it). This was a good thing. There’d been some paperwork tangles, and several invoices have logjammed to the point where I’m expecting several thousand dollars spread across several invoices, sometime in the next week or two. Ah, the life of a freelancer.
Reason for Stopping: Got to a good stopping spot. Getting munchy. Want to pry myself away from Twitter and go run around outside while it’s pretty enough for me to do so.
Total Fiction Words Composed in 2008: 196,135
[Crossposted to/from my website. If you'd like to comment, you can do so either here or there.]
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We interrupt this workday...
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May. 15th, 2008 @ 03:47 pm
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small business insurance brokers?
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May. 15th, 2008 @ 01:28 pm
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Hi everyone,
I'm currently looking for some recommendations on small business insurance brokers for a friend. I've looked through memories, and she's doing her own research as well. But as usual, would like some personal reccs on some reliable, friendly, and informative brokers in the Seattle area.
If you have someone off the top of your head that you can refer, that'd be much appreciated! As always.. a big thank you!!
And any personal recommendations on who is the best provider? Looking to stay away from the bigger companies (Allstate, Farmers, etc.). I hear Metlife is pretty good generally, but not too sure after looking at their website whether they provide extensive options in coverage for small businesses. |
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Woot! Woot!
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May. 15th, 2008 @ 03:45 pm
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Little Brother by Cory Doctorow is on the NYT Bestseller list! The good guys win.
(Originally posted at Words Words Words by skzb. Please leave any comments there.)
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Dori Monson is a Coward
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May. 15th, 2008 @ 02:35 pm
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(710 KIRO's) Dori Monson had the topic of the California decision on gay marriage on his show today. He makes no obfuscation of the point that it is his opinion that gays should not be allowed to marry. He feels that civil unions are the solution, and refuses to acknowledge that they're quite clearly not the same, either legally, ethically or morally.
I called his show and, rather tongue-in-cheek, agreed with him and said that we need to return to traditional values where marriage is defined to preclude interracial unions, the vote is reserved only for white male landowners, and slavery is brought back.
He brushed aside that extreme example and then countered with the argument that marriage is intended to promote the production of children, but before I could make the point that if that's so, infertile people should be prohibited from marrying, he went off on a 3 minute speech (without disconnecting me, but having muted the line), thanked me for the call, and disconnected.
Upon calling back, his producer told me that he had to go for a break. I offered to wait until after the break and take no more than 30 seconds to rebut his points, but I was turned-down. I told his producer that I felt Dori was being cowardly and avoiding rebuttals that he can't counter or with which he disagrees.
His producer reluctantly agreed, telling me that "sometimes, yes, that happens," before going back to the whole "he had to go to a break" line.
I fully realize that talk radio is about entertainment, but I also realize that I'm free to call it as I see it.
Dori is a coward.
And he's wrong.
ETA WTF DM IS |
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,,,,,
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May. 15th, 2008 @ 04:17 pm
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I hereby declare war on my abundant, irresponsible, grammatically incorrect comma use.
But that serial comma up there-- that stays. I have my beliefs.
Despite recent tendencies to the contrary I'm pretty sure I won't delete/hide this post after ten minutes. |
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[cancer[ Discharge Cam
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May. 15th, 2008 @ 02:03 pm
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I'm hooome.
There are no more ports, lines or tubes coming out of my body, except for the expected naturally occuring ones. My wound is healing well. The dope is good. lasirenadolce has been a champion beyond reason, and I am surrounded by the love of my family and friends.
I'll be on opiates for the next week or ten days, so expected intermittent and not fully coherent communication, but by Ghu I am back.Current Mood:  pleased Current Music: the ticking of the grandfather clock |
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[cancer] The things you see in the hospital
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May. 15th, 2008 @ 01:56 pm
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This morning, six days after being admitted to my hospital room, I happened to be in the bathroom and looking at ( the nurse's call there. )
Somehow I read "PULL FOR HELP" as "PULL FOR HEEP", and was promptly very impressed that OHSU had an emergency supply of Uriah Heep.
As my dad pointed out, this train of thought was not the least bit out of the ordinary for me.Current Mood: amused Current Music: the ticking of the grandfather clock |
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And here's what I look like today
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May. 15th, 2008 @ 03:57 pm
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good