Reporting on Electron-Free Friday and Other Matters
Saturday, July 11th, 2009 10:28 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rolanniWe took yesterday off. Yes, we are grasshoppers. No, the work in hand did not evaporate while we were gone, more's the pity.
Despite this, we had an excellent day, driving down to Old Orchard Beach in the early and dry Maine morning. Once there, we discovered to our dismay that our favorite restaurant has put its opening time back an hour, no doubt in response to the eons of rain driving tourists away in droves, so we had the opportunity to explore another restaurant. After, our walk on the beach was enlivened by watching a small-boat come into the very breakers to pick up two passengers and take them out to the fishing boat anchored just beyond. A curious thing altogether, as we didn't receive news of the closure of clam flats due to the red tide until somewhat later in the day.
It was also a fine morning for watching dogs chase balls. Dogs are silly.
Since we were doing things we didn't usually do, we decided to go to the zoo, so off to York's Wild Kingdom we drove, only to find the gate fee of $14.50 per each too rich for our blood, white tiger or no white tiger.
Back to the car we went, wandering across to Eliot eventually, hoping to find our sometime associates Ms. Crowell and Mr. McIntosh to hand. Alas, they were elsewhere. We left a card and moved on.
We came home by not-exactly-the-straight-route, stopping for dunch, or possibly linner, at the Lucky Panda, and so to home.
Today's first task is to try to unravel our preliminary WorldCon schedules, which are. . .complex. I am, for instance, scheduled for a panel against Steve's signing, which seems. . .less than optimal for everyone, since I have no signing. Though I guess a book signed by only one of us could be a collectible.
I discover that I'm moderating two panels, which for one is absolutely perfect, since I expect we're talking about TV/movie kick-ass chicks*, of whom I know slightly less than nothing, and so will be able to ask questions of those more knowledgeable than myself. (*In my day, Nancy Drew lived in a series of books and wasn't exactly kick-ass, though she was certainly feistier than other heroines held up for girls to admire. I'm guessing, but cannot prove, that the recent movie "fixed" that.)
The other panel -- Why are there so few older female characters in SF? -- poses a question worth exploring, though as a moderator I feel I would like more than the viewpoint of three aunt-aged ladies (myself included) represented. Perhaps the moderator may need to draft someone from the audience. *evil grin*
There's also the puzzlement of how this WorldCon envisions readings. I'm scheduled for an early-con reading with two other writers, both excellent fellows; while Steve is scheduled to read very late in the con with yet another excellent fellow. Since Steve and I usually read together, this particular question has never come up before.
In health news, MRI of the knee is scheduled for Tuesday evening. I am cautioned to wear clothes without zippers or metal buttons. I have no pull-on clothing; I no longer even own the all-purpose denim skirt. *feels like an idiot for having to buy clothes to get an MRI in* The post-MRI doctor visit is scheduled for the afternoon of July 29, a work-day, of course, so I have to reschedule myself again or get another doctor's appointment -- in September. Grrr...
After I parse the WorldCon schedule, I'm headed for the couch to finish reading Saltation, so I can be up-to-the-minute for tomorrow's big Story Meeting.
The mail has arrived; royalty check still AWOL. *looks at checkbook. winces*
Hope everyone is having a lovely Caturday.
Despite this, we had an excellent day, driving down to Old Orchard Beach in the early and dry Maine morning. Once there, we discovered to our dismay that our favorite restaurant has put its opening time back an hour, no doubt in response to the eons of rain driving tourists away in droves, so we had the opportunity to explore another restaurant. After, our walk on the beach was enlivened by watching a small-boat come into the very breakers to pick up two passengers and take them out to the fishing boat anchored just beyond. A curious thing altogether, as we didn't receive news of the closure of clam flats due to the red tide until somewhat later in the day.
It was also a fine morning for watching dogs chase balls. Dogs are silly.
Since we were doing things we didn't usually do, we decided to go to the zoo, so off to York's Wild Kingdom we drove, only to find the gate fee of $14.50 per each too rich for our blood, white tiger or no white tiger.
Back to the car we went, wandering across to Eliot eventually, hoping to find our sometime associates Ms. Crowell and Mr. McIntosh to hand. Alas, they were elsewhere. We left a card and moved on.
We came home by not-exactly-the-straight-route, stopping for dunch, or possibly linner, at the Lucky Panda, and so to home.
Today's first task is to try to unravel our preliminary WorldCon schedules, which are. . .complex. I am, for instance, scheduled for a panel against Steve's signing, which seems. . .less than optimal for everyone, since I have no signing. Though I guess a book signed by only one of us could be a collectible.
I discover that I'm moderating two panels, which for one is absolutely perfect, since I expect we're talking about TV/movie kick-ass chicks*, of whom I know slightly less than nothing, and so will be able to ask questions of those more knowledgeable than myself. (*In my day, Nancy Drew lived in a series of books and wasn't exactly kick-ass, though she was certainly feistier than other heroines held up for girls to admire. I'm guessing, but cannot prove, that the recent movie "fixed" that.)
The other panel -- Why are there so few older female characters in SF? -- poses a question worth exploring, though as a moderator I feel I would like more than the viewpoint of three aunt-aged ladies (myself included) represented. Perhaps the moderator may need to draft someone from the audience. *evil grin*
There's also the puzzlement of how this WorldCon envisions readings. I'm scheduled for an early-con reading with two other writers, both excellent fellows; while Steve is scheduled to read very late in the con with yet another excellent fellow. Since Steve and I usually read together, this particular question has never come up before.
In health news, MRI of the knee is scheduled for Tuesday evening. I am cautioned to wear clothes without zippers or metal buttons. I have no pull-on clothing; I no longer even own the all-purpose denim skirt. *feels like an idiot for having to buy clothes to get an MRI in* The post-MRI doctor visit is scheduled for the afternoon of July 29, a work-day, of course, so I have to reschedule myself again or get another doctor's appointment -- in September. Grrr...
After I parse the WorldCon schedule, I'm headed for the couch to finish reading Saltation, so I can be up-to-the-minute for tomorrow's big Story Meeting.
The mail has arrived; royalty check still AWOL. *looks at checkbook. winces*
Hope everyone is having a lovely Caturday.
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Date: 2009-07-11 06:50 pm (UTC)In subsequent novels, she is an important supporting character, but she is not the main character, nor do the stories follow her thoughts and actions the way the first two books did.
So while she certainly qualifies as "interesting older woman in sf" she is not "older woman as female protagonist", IMHO.
I'm trying to think of other older women in literary genres, and I think that you'll likely find more in the mystery genre (Miss Marple, among others) since usually the protagonists merely need to be able to think, not have children nor perform feats of derring-do nor be an ornament.
Sharon, maybe you can take a Liaden female character who is hitting that age--oh, Kareen yos'Phelium maybe? It seems to me that the move to Surebleak might be fertile ground for a mid-life identity crisis... especially with Pat Rin at last fully claiming his adult melanti.
just saying... :D
Edited to add:
ARRRGH! I completely forgot about Lynn Abbey's Emma Merrigan in the "Time" novels