Sharon’s Monday Goulash

[rolanni]

Thanks to everyone for their support and encouragement. I’m very pleased with “Kin Ties,” and hope you will be, too.

From the Peanut Gallery comes the question: But when do we get to read the story, now that it’s finished and all?

The answer is — soon. I need to read it one more time — the walk-through, or micro-tweak, stage — and when I can, I like to let the story rest a week after “finished” and before that last walk-through.

Currently, the plan is post “Kin Ties” to Splinter Universe on August 12.  This will give y’all something to do while we’re at WorldCon and traveling about the countryside, and also give us all time to come down from the Sugar High that was the last couple of days, what with the release of “Intelligent Design,” the Ghost Ship eBook and the Nerd Caliber interview.

In other news, I have figured out how not to drop Five Bills on a tablet computer before WorldCon while still being able to carry everything necessary to my comfort on the train.

The answer is. . .

drumroll, please

Open the kitchen coat closet and dig out the Vest of Many Pockets, said pockets easily accommodating Paladin and my camera, which I had regretfully decided I must leave behind. Why, yes, I am a financial genius, thank you.

The other thing that will, when it arrives, fit into one of the Many Pockets is my foldable sun hat. The sun hat I wear around here has a stiff brim, which makes it not so good to pack. So, new hat. My, I will be stylish, this trip.

Which leads me around to. . .can I locate that? One moment, pls…

No, I can’t find it. Just as well.

Edited to add:  Found it.

It was an article advising women that now, more than ever! it’s important in the workplace to “dress young;” that women who “look old” were in peril of losing their jobs. Said article was full of must-haves for older women workers who wanted to stay employed — trendy haircut (absolutely essential if you make the risky choice of “keeping your grey”), fashion-frame glasses, shapewear, cute shoes. I was. . .appalled. I mean, I know that We As A Culture devalue our elders — and most especially our elder women, who, face it, can teach nothing to those who come after *pause to unglue tongue from cheek*, but. . .

Where’s Ilisidi when you need her?

Today, having late last night finished a story, and thereby having Mush for Brains, is about making phone calls, and working somewhat on the New and Improved korval.com. Maybe I’ll be a total wastrel and take a nap. Mmmmmm, nap.

See you on the flip side.

Originally published at Sharon Lee, Writer. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[keristor.livejournal.com]

Noting that all of those "must haves" mean money, and quite a lot of it per item -- who sponsored the article? Bets that the money trail leads back to those who sell the 'trendy' and 'young-looking' clothes?

(Of course, if they really wanted to make money they'd make decent clothes for the 'oversized' market. After all, we are (according to governments, yours and mine at least) in an "obesity epidemic". But no, they are still too attached to "size zero"...)

[trolleypup.livejournal.com]

And NeverEverEver wear clothes with functional pockets! My urge when I see things like that is to attempt to Violate each and every one of the Rules.

many kudos to the authors

[barbinbandon.livejournal.com]

Once again . . . something to live for! August 12 can't come fast enough.

You know, that article fits right in with you wanting purple streaks. With only two more days of school, something to consider, nu?

I bought the Ghost Ship e-arc from Baen as soon as you announced it. Read it three times, then went back and re-read your books and short stories from the beginning and read Ghost Ship again. Thank you so much for all the reading pleasure y'all give.

On the shopping side

[stephanie leif (from livejournal.com)]

Would you consider putting a link through from splinter-universe to Amazon so you can collect a little piece of the action if we shop for purple hair dye or vests of many pockets because you have inspired us? Being in CA, we are out of the amazon click-thru get a cut business. I realize that they are a huge monster, but, they are a convenient monster.

Cheers,

[elbales]

That article? So very, very weaksauce. Actually if I were less tired it would probably be rage-inducing. Blech.

[saruby.livejournal.com]

As infuriating as that article is (no question, my little feminist heart was screaming and jumping up and down), there is some truth to it. I have a friend who search for many months for a job, before someone said, "color your hair, get rid of the grey". She had a job the day after she died her hair brown. Literally. The day after. OTOH, I have colored my hair for years, wear trendy glasses and well-fitting and not very conservative clothes and have been unable to get a job in my profession. So.... Maybe I just interview poorly.

[grassrose.livejournal.com]

Speaking of non-trendy 62-year-old grandmothers with frameless glasses and gray hair:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-leadership/elizabeth-warren-wicked-smart-and-on-her-way-out/2011/07/18/gIQAy4eFMI_story.html

Dang uppity females.

[magentametrix.livejournal.com]

Where’s Ilisidi when you need her?

This line made me realize why the idea of your reading the Foreigner series outloud (do you take turns or is it unidirectional?) - the names! How much energy do you spend trying to figure out how they're pronounced? Do you ever shortcut them?

I'm still having trouble with everyone in the H.P. movies mispronouncing Hermione's name!

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

We take some trouble, not as much as we should, I expect, and we're definitely mispronouncing stuff. "Shejidin" is particularly difficult for me, for some reason.

"Ilisidi," though, seems fairly straightforward: Ill-eh-sid-ee is my take, and I'm sticking to it.

Very Busy

[claire774.livejournal.com]

How do you do it? Get out the vest. Save all that $. Give advise on how to dress for success for the older lady. Write another short story for us. I hate that stiff looking helmit hair. I know, I know.... we don't like not being able to look our age if we want to. However, I've noticed in my little town that older ladies start to put on the look of old grandma as soon as they have grandchildren. I think that makes them think and feel old which isn't good. Grandma doesn't have to look old with the little blue ringlets and old looking clothes. It's not necessary in my opinion. Get some nice outfits ( I vote for K Mart. No one has to know) and adopt a cute little poodle (from a shelter, of course)...drive a mini Cooper or equivalent (around here 3/4 ton truck 4 wheel drive will do) and be a snazzy grandma. Why not?

Gus doesn't count. He always agrees with me.
C.

Don'[t mess with Grandma

[(Anonymous)]

As a 68, soon to be 69 year old, grandma with a haircut style of short white hair that I can blow dry and not think about the rest of the day, lightweight, thin rimmed "granny" glasses that don't leave dents on my nose and a daily wardrobe that consists mostly of L.L. Bean shorts, knit shirts and tennis shoes in the summer, I dress and groom for comfort...my comfort. I am a member of a Friends of the Library group that raises over $100,000 a year for the use of our local Regional Library, whose budget has been viciously slashed in today's bad economic climate. That's a LOT of 50 cent paperbacks and most of us who work to raise that amount of money are ladies of a certain age. We value ourselves and believe me, we have taught the Library Board to value us too! I understand the point the article is (sadly) making but I also know we've come a long way baby. Get out of our way or I'll run over you with my Prius!

Anne in Virginia

[attilathepbnun.livejournal.com]

*sniffs* Illisidi is busy running her planet, I expect. This probably takes too much of her time to expect her to run things here ....

August 12th?

[amandamiller.livejournal.com]

August 12th is *way too far* away....

I can see your point about the sugar highs, but I re-read the entire Liaden series plus Duainfey plus Carousel Tides just a few months ago, so it's really too early to re-read them again. But "Intelligent Design" really leaves me craving *more*.

Perhaps a 2 week break, at most? So July 29th instead of August 12th? Please?

Re: August 12th?

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

If you take it off the front end, you only add it to the back end.

Re: August 12th?

[amandamiller.livejournal.com]

Ah, but I *like* to binge on your stuff...

Much easier to go through cyclical withdrawal rather than getting small fixes at monthly intervals. The latter just keeps the addiction going without hope of reprieve :-)