How can you say, I go about things the wrong way

Posted on | 2 weeks, 6 days ago, mid-afternoon | No Comments

I am back from Phoenix! It was wonderful, seriously – it’s absolutely one of the best conventions I’ve ever had the privilege of attending (as a guest or otherwise); but it was also exhausting, in every possible way. Tally it up, y’all: approximately one million fabulous friends, 12-hours a day on a concrete floor, plenty of paneling, lots of signing, no small amount of shopping, a three hour time zone shift, and a full day of travel at the start and end.

It was glorious, though. I met some amazing readers, got to touch base with a number of distant chums (if all too briefly, at times), and many shenanigans did occur with Team Capybara. But you know that already – if you kept up with the tweets. Or perhaps the pictures. GLORIOUS, I say.

Right. So.

In short, I’m still playing catch-up from those four days out of town. It is positively amazing how much can back up to surprise you, even over a holiday weekend – I swear to God.

I spent half of yesterday answering email, and the other half running errands – I went to the post office, the bank, the grocery store, Ace, and Walgreens. Today wasn’t much different, except I did less running around; mostly I did load after load of laundry, unpacked All The Things, and began the task of restoring the yard. Because if you think that less than a week in late spring in the south cannot send a yard straight to hell, then you have another thing coming.

To be fair, the husband mowed the grass – and the rest had been allowed to “go” a bit before my travel … but everything needed a good watering, many things needed a major pruning, the hedge needs a serious trimming, and the weeds were starting to organize into crabby little nation-states.

Okay, most of that stuff still needs to be tackled in earnest; but I got a serious start on about half of it, and then it was time for me to lie down inside and close my eyes. It was 90 degrees out there, and I am only human. Or somewhat less than that, after carrying around bags of mulch and toting loppers and food and insecticide and running the wheelbarrow up and down the hills and dragging the garden hose in a number of directions. By the time I’d done all that, I was more drippy-faced sweat-monster than woman.

Oof.

Anyway. I think all the birds are fledged and gone. I will wait another day or two before tossing out the (now very very dead) flower basket, just to be sure. The roses got chewed on by something, but I’ve cut them back and corrected the problem. I got lunch with my husband. I did some bits of assorted housework apart from the laundry. I walked the dog, and let him smooch all over a few (wildly delighted) kids and a very nice lady who was working on her garden. I went back to Walgreens to pick up a prescription and a shower cap because my old one developed a crazypants case of smelly-ass mold while I was out. (I am kind of confused about that.)

In other news, my dad and stepmom adopted two Great Danes while I was gone – via a rescue agency near Nashville – and I am happy for them … both the dogs and the dad/stepmom, whose Dane passed away a few years ago at the ripe old age of twelve. I am led to understand they went there to adopt ONE dog. I am also led to understand that my dad is a big fat sucker. Yes, well. The record will reflect that it runs in the family.

Greyson will be THRILLED to meet the new guys, and I can’t wait to make it happen. Maybe later this summer.

At any rate, this brings us all up to date on all the exciting adventure-type things … so I’m going to log off, finish the dishes, put away supper leftovers, and maybe get to work on some of that writing business that hasn’t happened in a week, now. Much to my chagrin. Have a good foreshortened week, everyone – and please forgive me if I’m a little absent from the ‘net for the next couple of days. I might try to wrap up that draft of Maplecroft before it’s out.

Category: misc

Phoenix or Bust!

Posted on | 3 weeks, 6 days ago, in the early afternoon | No Comments

Tomorrow morning, bright and early, I’m heading out for Phoenix Comic Con! And though the trip itself will be long and boring, the weekend promises to be a blast. So come out and see me! Here’s my schedule.

Also, here’s my Twitter feed. I link it here, because the odds are very high that I won’t be doing any blogging – just snapping selfies and other assorted shenanigans, and uploading it all for your amusement.

So! Tune in, show up, be amused. That’s my suggestion.
And for now … I’m outta here!

[:: zoosh ::]

Category: misc

Nonsense has a welcome ring

Posted on | 4 weeks ago, mid-afternoon | 1 Comment

No word metrics today. I slept badly and woke up late, ending up with just barely enough time to walk the dog before spending the middle of the day getting my hair done. Then I came home and did some housework, took a short nap, managed some email and some business stuff, and made a phone call about getting more work done on the house.

Long story short, when all the extra layers of shingles were pulled away for the roof work, rotting trim and siding were revealed around the attic windows. No water is getting inside or anything, and really, it’s to be expected; the house is over a hundred years old, and this looks like original material. It wasn’t managed well over the years, and it should’ve been removed/restored with the rest of the exterior restoration before we moved in, but I will save that rant.

I resolve instead to quit being aggravated at the half-ass repairs and dumbass remodeling performed on this place over the years, and instead I shall be pleased that THIS MUCH, at least, will be done correctly – and by professionals this time, goddammit.

Anyway. Dude will be here tomorrow to give us a quote. Let’s knock this out while we can afford to, and then not worry about it anymore – that’s what I say.

In other news, this afternoon a freaked-out skittering noise gave me a heart attack, for it was coming from our living room fireplace. At first I figured, “Squirrel.” Then maybe, when I thought I heard feathers … “Baby bird.” We have had chimney swifts in the past, and ’tis the season, eh? Maybe some tiny not-quite-a-fledgling fell from a nest.

I summoned the husband. We conferred. We booted the dog out into the back yard, made sure the cat was secure in the back room, found a stray pillowcase, and counted to three before removing the cast-iron summer cover.

At first we saw nothing but darkness and old soot. Then a pair of small, panicky eyes looked up from the gloom beneath the old coal basket.* I almost had time to get, “Awwwww!” out of my mouth, but then the tiny jerk made a beeline for my forehead.

It was indeed a chimney swift. Juvenile, and fledged – barely. Freaked out of its wee birdie mind. It bypassed the pillowcase entirely and bolted for the nearest window, where it left a sooty bird-print. Unharmed and undaunted, it set off around the house, leaving bird-prints all over the ceiling and walls until we finally managed to get the front door open and usher it back outside.

Godspeed, you fluffy little bastard.

(Last I saw, it was sitting on roof across the street, so I choose to believe that all is well, and our brief guest will live happily ever after.)

And that’s all I’ve got today.

Tomorrow: Laundry, packing, printing up useful documents and instructions, and running last-minute errands. (I mean, in addition to the construction dude’s visit.) I’ll be gone from Thursday morning to Monday evening, and while I’m there you can find me at the following locations and times.

All the usual rules apply – come up and introduce yourself, say hello, hand me stuff to sign … I’m happy to be of service! Just as long as I’m not eating, drinking, or in the bathroom. If you catch me running to or from a panel, you may have to run alongside me – but you’re welcome to do so.

And now. Deep breath. Maybe a drink. Must settle in and let my heart calm down from the Surprise! baby bird incident. Good evening, everyone. Thanks for reading, and be well.


* It’s a very narrow, long chimney – a set-up for burning coal, not wood. An adult bird might be able to navigate back out again, but not a baby.

Category: misc
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