A Meerkat's Bolthole

My blog entry at SF Novelists (delayed by 24 hours due to technical SNAFUs) is up, talking about authorial grist for the mill, and why it's important to dive into things, rather than sitting on the sidelines.

Hopefully, I was coherent, interesting, and useful. Or at least amusing.

And now, a full day of work is tapping impatiently on the door, muttering about "vacations" and "deadlines" and such scary things...

This morning I spent a few minutes paying all the bills that will be due while I'm away at World Fantasy next week. Among the envelopes there was a small one that paid for no utilities, no already-consumed consumer goodie.

It was from my local food bank.

Long-time readers know that, along with blood donations, food banks are an ongoing concern to me. Nobody should go to bed hungry. Especially, no child should go to bed hungry. Ever.

In good times it's easier to peel off $25 for a donation. But it's in tough times that those donations are most needed.

If you can, give. If you need, go. We can't cure cancer yet. But we can cure hunger.

http://www.feedingamerica.org/ or enter "food bank" in your search engine of choice.

I'm late to the watch-this party, so I'll just say that if you haven't already viewed/heard Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama (and his rather beautiful takedown of McCain' attempted smear campaign and scolding of the GOP (of which Powell is a respected member), why not? Forget about your own vote -- it's a lesson in putting together a coherent argument and making it stick, without getting shrill (and yes guys, you get shrill too) or whiny.

Meanwhile the post-Giants throat has come to haunt me. I sound like a bad parody of Marlene Dietrich *cough wince* despite application of cough drops and tea during the game. Kids, if you're going to be shouting and yelling and letting out stadium-appropriate noise, don't schedule a phone interview for the next morning. I'm jut sayin'...

But there is News coming in the next post...

I see we've had an influx of folk in the past week or so. Be welcome! Bar's to the left, hot tub's to the right, and mind the gators!*

This is, as you may already have gathered, an interactive toy. Lurkers welcome, but participation adds to the fun. Just check out suri's laws in the profile sheet [they're quick, basic, and common-sensical] and jump right in! Self-introductions always welcome, although not required.

Also, occasionally I will declare an Open Thread. That means the space is yours to do with as you will -- ask questions, make suggestions, tell rude jokes or bad puns, or even redecorate. Just play well with the others, and pick up after yourselves when you're done.


Oh, and a special because-I-can shoutout to taikyoyo! (otterdance, taikyoyo. taikyoyo? otterdance. You might have stuff to converse about, methinks.)






*old, old, old joke from the Genie days. Just nod your head and humor the old-timers.

Barry Hughart's The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox.

Some of you are nodding wisely. You, I'm not talking to. You already know.

The rest of you. Pay attention.

If you don't already own this book *suri hugs her own now-OP omnibus copy* you really really should. And you should read it once a year, religiously, over a long weekend with the phone turned off and a glass of sake (or tea) at your elbow, and, and...

Okay. You should own it. And now you can!

Where and When to Buy

Seriously. When was the last time you heard me squee over a book? (I was right then, too.)

I was going to come in here and post a short but vitrolic rant about the NYS DMV (you guys are made of FAIL) and a certain medical insurance provider (FAIL!) but then I took a breeze through the f-list and I have decided (based on their testimony and my own experiences) that today is clearly Hate For Stupid People Day.

Tomorrow is going to be Hit Stupid People With Cluestick Day.

Don't say you weren't warned.


On the happier side, I am informed that March 20th is going to be Sweater Day, in honor of the late Fred Rogers. Everyone dig out your favorite cardigan....


EtA: I have raspberry-and-chocolate cookies. Life seems a little less annoying.

According to nycdeb, it's Freelance Writers Appreciation Week.


Just lettin' y'all know. PSA and all.

I have been informed by friends that someone here on LJ has been going around informing mutual friends that we are now "a couple."

This is not true. I am, in fact, furious at this person right now. He knows damn well who he is, and that he owes me an apology, at which point I will decide if I am speaking with him or not going forward.

Reality check, people. A relationship actually requires both people to be aware and in agreement of it. Anything else is... well, NOT. The term 'stalker' comes to mind. And if this continues, I will name names and shame the speaker publicly.

The Inevitably Incomplete Bibliography has been updated with publication dates, and also posted over at The Cosa Nostradamus On-Line. Just in case anyone was wondering what I've been doing with my life...


(y'know? It's starting to look almost...impressive. Also, having books scheduled through 2012 is... um...scary as hell. In a nice-scary way. Keep buying & reading, people! The kitties need their kibble!)

People are doing their damndest to drag me out and make me be Social. And I appreciate the effort, I really do. But right now all I want to do is hunker down with the felines and a pot of tea, and putter about with TPEMB. But one must be out and about occasionally, or so I am told. And there will be booze and grumping about the industy at at least one gathering, so it's almost like working.

And so, with that on my (alleged) mind, I figured I would take this moment to state/update for 2008 my position* on "Friending," for those who may not have seen Suri's Rule #2.

1. I think that "friend" is a poorly chosen term, implying an emotional connection that may or may not exist, and carries way too damn much emotional weight for some.
1a. That said, this is a friend-at-Will Lj. You don't need to ask my permission. If you want to put me on your list, list away!
2. Please don't be offended or annoyed if I don't list you in turn. My life is hectic, LJ is a timesink, and I have to be very careful about how many distractions I allow within reach.
2a. That said, don't be surprised if I happen to show up in your LJ occasionally, especially if you post here on a semi-regular basis. As time allows, I do journal-hop to places that seem interesting.


And now I must pack up and go catch a train...




*is it just me, or does anyone else flash back to the Bloom County cartoon where, on being asked to state their positions on an issue, Opus et al assumed contortionist poses? It can't just be me....