Yeah, still not writing...

[rolanni]

...though I did get the bookkeeping and balance sheet part of the SRM end-of-year done. Also Phase One of the filing. It's Rough and Nasty, but 'twill serve. Now, I need to make files for the new fiscal year, and catch up that bookkeeping and filing. The glamor never ends.

So, hey, the day-job! Rob Weisbrot, one of my faculty members, and his co-author, Professor Mackenzie, were nominated for a Pulitzer Prize -- that's like a Hugo for Best History Book. Sadly, they did not take first, but I'm pretty sure it's a honor just to be nominated for this one.

Also at the day-job it's computer census time, which is slightly more challenging than usual since I'll have six, countemsix, new faculty members coming on deck in the fall, swelling the ranks of those I serve, for values of serve, from 14 to 20, including a whole new department, population One.

Today being Secretaries Day, or whatever we call it now that being a secretary is shameful, I received a nice vase of flowers -- yellows and pinks, very cheerful. I always feel a little weird about taking gifts on Secretaries Day, since I don't consider myself a secretary. On the other hand, I don't think there's a Science Fiction Writers Day. Listening, Hallmark?

The daffodils are out! Why does the skunk not eat the daffodils, I wonder? (Note to skunk: This is not a request.) Anyhow, more cheerful yellow going on in the front yard when I got home, which was also nice.

And now, having vacuumed the house, done the dishes and straightened up the garden, I'm going to retire to the sofa and read the New Yorker. Yes, Aelliana and Daav, I'm ignoring you. I'm sure you'll be able to think of something to do to amuse yourselves while my attention is elsewhere.

Comments

[queenmaggie.livejournal.com]

Nothing eats daffodils, because they are, in fact, poisonous. One of the best bulbs to plant if you have problems with skunks, deer, chipmunks or even moles...

[jelazakazone.livejournal.com]

And here I've been wondering all this time how manage to write despite the day job. I'm so glad that you are able to keep writing as we quite enjoy your stories.

According to my calendar...

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Administrative Professionals Day (USA). Which sounds as if all the administrators would be celebrating, except maybe the others aren't professional about it? Just amateurs (huh, there's a cross-lingual pun lurking there, since amai means sweet in Japanese, so an amai chewer might be someone chewing sweets -- and popping bubblegum bubbles? But that's stretching this nonsense well beyond the limits, so I'll cease and desist).

My theory is that every day is Science Fiction Writers day, except they're writing and forgot.:-)

Re: According to my calendar...

[jelazakazone.livejournal.com]

What present would Science Fiction Writers get? I'm not sure why secretaries (administrative professionals) get flowers and candy, but it seems like there ought to be something more fitting for scifi writers.

Re: According to my calendar...

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

What present would Science Fiction Writers get?

Ray guns! Books! Ray guns and books! Err. Speaking only for myself, of course.

I'm not sure why secretaries (administrative professionals) get flowers and candy,

I have two theories.

Theory Number One: It's a nice thing to do, and people like to do nice things. Besides, Hallmark went to all the trouble to create the Special Day; it would be a shame not to observe it.

Theory Number Two: Secretaries (administrative professionals, whatever) perceptually occupy a lower rung and are in many ways treated like children. I, for instance, ought not to speak to admin, even on issues pertaining directly to my job. I ought to ask one of my bosses to be my advocate.

Mind you, I don't think that this is a mindful think (heh, heh; we're going to treat all secretaries as if they were nine years old), but various policies, traditions, and cultures conspire toward a parent-child relationship between secretaries and their bosses. Which makes the giving of sweets and pretties seem perfectly natural, if not an actual responsibility of adulthood.

Re: According to my calendar...

[hapaxnym.livejournal.com]

I vote for June 23 to be celebrated as Science Fiction Writers Day, since it is the date of the first succesful fictional trip to the moon, as described by proto-SF author Cyrano de Bergerac.

http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue29/cyrano6.html

Besides, it's almost always a pretty day in my neck of the woods and I don't believe it's being used for anything else at the moment.

Re: According to my calendar...

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

I vote for June 23 to be celebrated as Science Fiction Writers Day,

Excellent choice of day!

[victorthecook.livejournal.com]

Everyone knows that what skunks eat is (are?) Vienna sausages.

[damara.livejournal.com]

No daffodils here yet, but we do have crocuses finally.

Chocolate?

[(Anonymous)]

I thought chocolate was almost always appropriate...SFF writer or not.

My last set of Administratorial Staff did not celebrate the day but were very gracious to me when I brought them interesting arrangements of flowers. (I tried for the non-standard orchids, etc.) Then again, I KNEW that they ruled the roost and they knew I acknowledged it. We were buds.

Lauretta
@Constellation Books

daffodiles

[(Anonymous)]

In case no one has commented - pretty much nothing eats daffodiles because they are poisonous. That's why they tend to stick around and even increase where tulips and crocuses (which are edible - something the Dutch took advantage of during the later days of World Ware II) tend to fade away - the victems of mice, voles and gophers.
By the way, I'm looking forward to Mouse and Dragon when it comes out
poodlehorde

Daffodils

[(Anonymous)]

...are poisonous. Smart skunk.