Mariah blows the stars around and sets the clouds to flyin'

Had the plumber early. The leak is now definitively fixed and I get to put the bathroom back together.

Steve's Mission Number One today is to schlep those hundreds and hundreds of Saltations that he and I packed over the weekend to the Waterville Post Office so that they can begin their various journeys to wherever it is they're going.

It's hot, did I say?

Sat down to pay bills and made the happy discovery that the "budget" oil bill has gone up by $133/month while my paycheck has gone up by...$39.20/month. Before taxes. Um, yeah; that math works...

*Looks at closet*

The Expanding Universe Contest is going like a houseafire. It's open to anyone who has never read a Liaden Universe® novel, with a chance for bloggers to win a B&N gift card. Check it out.

*Considers posting news of the contest to the day-job's announcement list, because I'm in a bad mood, anyway, and it's hot -- did I mention that?*

A friend is shooting for the Democratic nomination to the State Legislature, so we're for the caucus meeting this evening at the Waterville High School auditorium. Where it will be hot.

Did I remember to mention here that Saltation debuted at Number Ten on the Locus Bestselling Hardcovers list, reported in the July issue, covering April sales?

Various things on today's list have already been crossed off, with several more trembling on the verge.

How's your day going?

Two Things Make a Post

1. The US Post Office, feeling, as do we all, the pinch of the Zombie Apocalypse right in the wallet, where it hurts the most, has decided to increase rates! Brilliant, USPS. Just. . .

Sigh.

When we began serializing Fledgling, in 2007, a first class stamp cost 39 cents. First class postage now costs 44 cents an ounce, soon to go up to 46 cents an ounce. Periodical mail -- which is to say "media mail," which is how SRM orders, for instance, travel domestically, will go up about 8 percent over current rates. God, She knows what's going to happen to overseas rates.

Again.

*deep breath*

2. Regrettably, I will not be going to NASFiC as originally planned. Steve will be attending. I'm sorry to miss everyone; have a great time for me!