rolanni: (Default)
2025-06-10 09:30 am

Doctor on Deck

What went before ONE: All righty, then!

In my small, as yet uninvaded by Marines corner of the US, where it is cloudy, cool, and damp, I did go see the chiropractor, which was good, because back pain had continued escalating, until I was forced to sacrifice one of my precious Meloxicams to stem the pain and it was exactly like throwing a snowball at Hell.

I'm not gonna lie: getting smacked with a hammer in precisely the places I hurt most wasn't fun. OTOH, the relief was damn' near immediate. I came home, threw down some muscle relaxants, in order to get ahead of the cycle, got an ice pack and laid down in the bed, where I was immediately joined by Rook in what may be his first solo nursing gig. When I woke up, he was still curled against my knee, and I had Firefly and Tali bracketing my hips, so obviously this was considered a Serious Event by the care staff.

I have another appointment with the chiropractor tomorrow afternoon, but the absence of pain is a benediction, as ever.

I'm out for the rest of the day, obviously, but hope to be functional tomorrow.

Everybody stay safe.

Oh! Someone had asked about my neighbor: I've seen him round and about, though not to talk to -- so I guess he's Clearing Stuff Out.

'night

What went before TWO: The names! The names! Obviously, I knew about the Sasanoa, but Upper Hells Gate and Hockomock have somehow eluded me for 35 years...

Cruise the upper Sasanoa River through Upper Hells Gate into serene Hockomock and Montsweag Bays. These tidal channels connect the Sasanoa River, Back River, and Sheepscot Rivers and once served as the primary rout for transportation between coastal communities like Bath, Wiscasset, and Boothbay. Their brackish waters host abundant fish and wildlife and serve as beautiful backdrops for photography opportunities. -- Maine Maritime Museum Tours

Tuesday. Mizzling and cool. Trash and recycling are at the curb. It would be nice if it didn't rain on one Trash Day so I could finish getting the Winter Boxes out of the garage before it's Winter again.

Breakfast was oatmeal with inclusions. Lunch may well be the leftover pretend chicken parm.

I am sneezing. Happily my back does not hurt this morning, so I may do so with impunity.

Follow up with chiropractor at 3 today; sewing at 5 (or, really, whenever I get there); grocery shopping after. In-between, one's duty to the cats, and the work of the house. I could, yanno, throw in a load of laundry, if I'm feeling particularly ambitious.

Two of the cruises offered from the Maine Maritime Museum hit the six lighthouses along the Kennebec River, and, Readers, I Am Tempted, because there's no other way I'm going to be able to view these lights. All I need to do is figure out if I can cope with two to three hours trapped with strangers and their kids on a tour boat, and what I'm going to do about not burning to a crisp.

Last night, the cats and I finished up Season 1 of Ncuti Gatwa's Dr. Who, and, having now seen the Whole Arc, I applaud Mr. Davies' storytelling (yes, yes, I know; y'all are experts on Everything Who; allow me my discoveries in their own time). Firefly Did. Not. Approve. of Suketh. She threw herself onto the couch and aggressively snuggled against my side, purring, and occasionally looking up at me. I had to assure her several times that Ruby would Fix It, with help from the Man Person.

Ah. And today marks 300 days of traveling with Perry Wink in Finch. A melancholy celebration in its way, but, hey -- any excuse for a party.

The younger staff members are playing tag in the back hall; Trooper is asleep on the co-pilot's chair.

Have a picture of the rose bush:


rolanni: (Default)
2025-06-09 10:22 am

The Luck in Action

What went before ONE: Well, that was more excitement than I wanted from lunch.

First, I spilled almost an entire box of elbow macaroni over the kitchen floor -- I always try to catch things. Often I do catch them. Even more often, the result is worse than if I had just let whatever it is fall.

Rook came rushing to the scene of the catastrophe, looked at the mess, looked up me ("Mom. What the Hell?"), then assisted in clean-up by finding the macaronis that had taken cover under the cabinets, and smacking at least one to its Forever Home under the stove.

Eventually, I got back to the cooking part of the process, and it was lunch, and I even have leftovers for lunch-in-future.

Rook's been practicing taking selfies:

 

 

 

 

What went before TWO: Well. A Compleat Change of Plan.

I did get some writing done, but after lunch, I noticed that my back hurt, and my hips hurt, and my knees hurt, and -- you get the picture, I'm sure. So! I took a couple aspirin (I'm holding on to the High Test until I'm sure I have a doctor who can prescribe more, OR until aspirin doesn't do the trick), and then I -- wait for it -- took a nap.

Woke up somewhat less achy, approached the keyboard, and remembered that today's shopping trip to the freezer had Revealed An Error.

I was out of blueberry muffins.

Clearly, that situation could not stand, and a batch of blueberry muffins is finishing up baking as I type this.

Next, I need to go back down to the basement to see if I still have blueberries. Which tangentially reminds me that I ought to be making a grocery list. (EDITED TO ADD: I have blueberries.)

So! Minor amounts of writing completed today.

Here, have a snippet: "No, Bechimo had accepted Theo Waitley as captain, and there was nothing that could induce one of Korval, be she kin or be she clan, to relinquish a ship that was in her hand. She had been adamantine, had Captain Waitley, and admitted no error – which had only made him more determined to reft the ship from her."

Oh.  The muffins are out:

 

 

 

 

Monday. Glary, damp and coolish. Windows are open in my office.

Breakfast was . . . different from planned, due to the fact that the cottage cheese appeared to have Mystery Inclusions. So! instead of half a blueberry muffin with a side of cottage cheese, I had half a blueberry muffin with cream cheese. Lunch is likely be a sweet potato, since I'm not feeling All That ambitious.

I hereby report an Instance of the Lee-Miller Sloppy Luck. I had cut two roses off the new bush two days ago, and put them in a bud vase on the dining room table, where they remained, undisturbed and cheery, until!

. . .I'm guessing last night. Maybe early this morning. A Person Unknown -- *cough* Tali *cough* -- knocked the bud vase over onto a pile consisting of a SanDisk mp3 player attached to a pair of headphones, which was sitting on the case (closed) of another pair of headphones, which was next to a large book.

Reader, most of the water was still in the vase. The mp3 player was slightly damp, but is working. Both sets of headphones are untouched, as is the book. The tablecloth was a little damp, but it needed to be changed, anyway.

I did not sleep well last night, and my back is still bothering me. It occurs to me that the chiropractor was not attached to the hospital that left, so perhaps a phone call to see if I still have an In there is in order.  (EDITED TO ADD:  I still have an In, and better yet?  An appointment for this afternoon.)

Otherwise, today is a writing day. No, really. I mean it.

Looking forward to the rest of the week, tomorrow evening is sewing, after which I'll go to the grocery. Wednesday, I am to reside in a State of Anticipation of the arrival of the Home Visit Nurse, sometime between 8am and noon. Thursday morning Ashley will arrive, and Friday morning, I get a haircut.

I should sometime soon see what's to do in Bath, so I can have some fun and find out where my doctor's new practice is. Maybe there's a Reny's.

That's the news from the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory.

What's happening with you?

Pics from yesterday:


rolanni: (Default)
2025-06-03 09:44 am

Now you tell me that I'm crazy; it's nothin' I didn't know

What went before One: Yanno? I'm finished for the day. No, I don't have a localer doctor. None of the doctors that are less than 50 miles away are taking new patients, which isn't surprising, really. I have my name on a "Hub" list, which I'm going to have to count as . . . a winnish sort of outcome.

Waiting for the plumber and will be going to Reny's and to Hannaford after that window closes.

What went before Two: I keep forgetting that if you want something today, you don't go to a store for it.

So the plumber came by and fixed the toilet situation. I gotta get me one of those air-harpoons. I went to Staples, because I wanted an SD card that cost less than the Earth today, then to Home Despot, which also did not have what I wanted. I will now be buying these items online.

I have newly washed clothes to put away and socks to dry, Coon Cat Happy Hour to serve up, and a glass of wine to find. Maybe two glasses of wine. Three? It could happen.

Everybody stay safe; I'll see you tomorrow.

Tuesday. Sunny and gonna be warm. Trash and recycling at the curb. Windows OPEN in my office.

Breakfast was rice crackers with cream cheese, strawberries on the side, putting the kettle on for my second cup of tea.

Laundry's almost done. I need to clear the dishwasher and change out at least one cat fountain, do my Greater Duty to the cats, and also do some banking/accounting. I should go to sewing circle this evening so I don't get out of the habit, and! going will force me to choose new project from those I have on-hoard. Oh, and I promised the guy at Houle's I'd stop by the showroom today.

Busy, busy.

One of the ... remarkable -- because I'm about to remark upon it -- aspects of coming home is how pleased I am to have My Own Stuff around me. And while I was Right to take a "studio" at Corning, and Corel dishes are perfectly reasonable, it was almost an active pleasure this morning to reach into the cabinet and pull out a proper purple-glazed dessert plate for my crackers, and the right little bowl for the strawberries.

So, that's what's going on around here -- I still have way too much Stuff to do, but I can kind of see a glimmer, looking forward, which might be what I like to call Normalcy.

Today's blog post title courtesy of Fleetwood Mac, "I don't wanna know"

Three cats in my office; one in the dining room, adjacent to my office, sitting in my chair. Of course.

 

 

 

 


rolanni: (Default)
2025-05-08 09:24 am

Sunshine!

What went before, short form: So, yesterday morning I discovered a new and disturbing discoloration on the back of my calf, about the size of my palm. I spent some time thinking about that, my inclination being to Just Ignore It. Had it be Steve, now, I would have nagged him to go to the clinic, or at least call his doctor, and finally I decided that -- in all fairness and in the spirit of While One Stands Both Live -- I should do the same for me, so! to the clinic I went.

Examination, measurements, conversation, and ultrasound later -- nobody knows what caused the broken blood vessels, but the discoloration is not a sign of a DVT -- that's a blood clot -- and that's really all that interests me.  Oh, and the disturbed area may be treated with warm compresses, elevation, and Tylenol.

It was not a very productive day, otherwise. I rewarded myself with ice cream and going to the local Reny's to buy socks. Because buying socks is always in order.

Thursday. Sunny! Going to be warm(ish), though not so warm as it eventually got to be, yesterday. The windows are open. For now.

Breakfast was oatmeal with cranberries (a fat free food! it says on the package) and walnuts. Lunch with be a sweet potato.

Consumers for Affordable Health Care called me back as I was at breakfast and they too! gave me the number for Legal Aid for the Elderly, which is on my list to call as soon as I have my second cup of tea to fortify me. I can't wait to hear how they can't help me, either.

I have more things to do than I have time to accomplish, but I'll see what I can make happen.

Window wash/gutter cleaning scheduled for noon. ASL at 5:30. Cat bowls have been refreshed.

Rookie came up into my lap after I finished my oatmeal -- we have this thing where he visits me after breakfast (and after lunch, if his schedule allow), and this morning, Tali came by, saw the lap was occupied and jumped up anyway. She snuffled Rook's ears; he snuffled her cheek. She stood there on my knees, a little uncertain, but unwilling to get down -- so Rook got down and strolled off to have a bite of cat food. Tali turned around a couple times, bumped my chin with her head, tried to eat the blood pressure cuff while it was doing its thing, then bumped me again and jumped down.

So -- progress.

What's progressing in your vicinity?

Oh -- Proof of sunshine, and! How many cats are in this picture?


rolanni: (Default)
2025-05-02 11:02 am

I want to fly like an eagle, to the sea

Friday. Rainy and cool.

Breakfast is rice crackers, cream cheese, applesauce. Waiting for my tea to brew.

I need some things at the grocery. The jury is still out whether I'll get them in town or in Belfast. There's a Reny's in Belfast, which may tip the scales.

So, yesterday was very strange. At one point, I was running a (minor) fever, and I just felt -- unwell. I cancelled out of ASL class, which was a bummer, but might as well not give whatever it was -- assuming it was giftable -- to my classmates.

This morning I feel -- OK. No fever. Not so exhausted I can barely drag my tail downstairs to perform one's duty to the cats.

So, that's all good.

I have a less-drafty schedule from BaltiCon Programming (The final schedule may happen next week. Maybe.). There is room on Saturday morning for a FOL breakfast at -- eh? 8? 8:30? 9? We will not be having a Stuffed Animal Tea, unless I can work something out with either the consuite or the Green Room, so, yanno, watch the skies.

In other news, the WIP now weighs in at 34,667 words, which looks like Holy Smoke! That woman wrote yesterday!, but is mostly cut 'n pasting/minor reworking from Salvage Right.

This is a matter of +/-3400 words, and will likely be less as soon as I get smart enough to figure out how to further streamline the needed action while providing Necessary Context. In a +\-100,000 word novel, this is Very Small Potatoes. Nonetheless, I anticipate hearing from the folks who howled their heads off, asserting that half of Mouse and Dragon was "nothing but" the ending of Scout's Progress, and they were thereby Cheated. I suspect that this unhappy anticipation is what has kept me from moving forward on this section, even though I've known from the start of the project that it's going to have to go down this way. I do know that most people will Get It, but I hate getting yelled at in email. Or at all, really.

And! The votes are in! I'll be foraging in town today.

What else? I'm still kind of reading the book club book, with a chaser of The Teller of Small Fortunes. It's been slow going because I've been so damned tired. I may really try to knock off early this evening and, oh, watch Dr. Who.

Oh, and I need to find someone to paint my garage. Actually, I think I probably need somebody to rebuild my garage, but I'm not sure how that might be made to happen. Well. Research. That'll be fun.

That appears to be the contents of my head, and my tea's almost gone.

What's going on with you, this fine Friday?

Today's blog post title brought to you by Mr. Steve Miller -- the other Steve Miller -- who notably wrote this song in 1976, when I'm told that music was Pure and nobody wrote about politics or social action in their books.  "Fly Like An Eagle"


rolanni: (Default)
2025-04-09 09:57 am

You can make or break; you can win or lose

Notice Today's blog post is picture-heavy.  Some days are like that, Mrs. Miller.

What went before ONE:  So, here in Maine, where it's snowing, the US Government has pulled the funds that pay for school lunches in Maine, because there are trans students in school sports, and! it has just pulled correctional funding because there's a trans prisoner in a women's prison.

This, according to the US Government's Speaker to Animals in the service of "protecting women."

What fun.

What went before TWO: This of course makes it very easy to type...

What went before THREE: Snowing harder. Hands still hurt.

1260 new words today, and that's the end of the new scene.

Trooper is yelling his head off, which is going to get tiresome RSN, and won't make Happy Hour happen faster. It's just -- clocks, man. SO unobliging.

I was able to schedule a mammogram at Thayer in September, and therefore cancelled the one at Sebasticook. There were a couple of confusing points, such as -- Where do you want the report sent. Which, given my PCP has gone or will shortly go, poof! was a puzzler. I finally recalled to mind my surgeon at the cancer center, so that's who will receive the report. The other one was -- Have your records sent over to us. Oh, yeah, sure. How? Oh, just call their file room, they do this all the time. Uh-huh.

I ended up calling the women's health department, explaining what I was told and they were able to send the electronic files on while I was on the phone with them.

I also signed a service agreement, which will take care of my lawn mowing and the upcoming winter's snow removal.

So, yanno -- progress made on several fronts. Go, me.

Speaking of progress -- I did wash the sheets, but now I have to fold them. So, I guess I'll do that, and let Trooper yell out here all by his onesie.

Everybody stay safe; I'll see you tomorrow.

Wednesday. Sunny and cold. About 2.5 inches of snow on the front step; trees coated with white. Ref pic below.

The Weatherbeans are calling for sun and 40F/4C today and warmer tomorrow. Already, the snow's falling off the trees. Friday should be quite pleasant. Saturday and Sunday, you ask? Mixed snow and rain. What else?

Given Conditions, today will be more writing, lucky characters; also ASL homework. I should also Scrutinize my travel arrangements, and nail down an appointment in Corning to make some glass.

Breakfast was cream cheese on rice crackers, with a side of grapes; second mug of tea to hand. Lunch will be soup and salad, because I'm lazy.

On the Fashionista Front, the pearl studs worked out well yesterday, so I may put in the sapphire studs today. They'll look nice with my green-and-black-check flannel shirt.

It appears that the morning wrassle-and-scream session is now a Tradition for Rook and Tali. They have at it mightily for, oh, six minutes? Then Rook rolls over and shows his belly, Tali licks his head and they go off to their morning nap spots. Cats, man. They passeth understanding.

Oh, another thing to do today. I'll be attending AlbaCon remotely, if I can figure out how to tell Zambia that.

. . . and that's really all I've got. As a spectator sport, writing is even more boring than chess. No, I misspeak. Chess isn't boring at all, to an informed onlooker. So I've been told. Golf, then. Writing is more boring than golf. There's a tshirt.

What are you doing today that's boring?

Here, have a picture of Trooper the Wise. And Grumpy. Can't forget Grumpy.

Today's blog title brought to you courtesy of Mr. Glenn Fry, "The Heat is On."


rolanni: (Default)
2025-04-08 08:54 am

She could kill you with the wink of an eye

What Went Before ONE: So there I was in Five Below, wandering about and wondering, among other things, who would WANT Stitch headphones, when -- my phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and it said Sebasticook Hospital.

On the off-chance that someone I knew was actually in the hospital and needed me to do something for them, I answered.

My mammogram, previously scheduled for September 12 at the hospital around the corner from my house? The hospital which is closing in May? Said mammogram has been rescheduled for the same time at -- Sebasticook Hospital. In Pittsfield. 30ish miles away.

I hate this timeline.

Also -- lunchtime.

What Went Before TWO: A mixed afternoon.

I have determined that the Subaru's navcomp operates while I am playing a CD in the single-disk CD player.

I have determined that I can play Sirius XM from my phone to the car's speakers via bluetooth and the navcomp will speak to me.

I have determined that I can bluetooth navigation from phone to the Subaru, but Sirius XM will not play from the car when I do so.

I have determined that I can bluetooth both Sirius XM and navigation from the phone through the Subaru's speakers and both will work; which is to say, the music will play and when the navigator needs to speak, it simply yells over the music.

I have determined that there are no (zero, zip, zilch, NO) copies of Diviner's Bow at the Augusta Maine Barnes and Noble. The lady on the customer service desk put in an order for three when I asked her to do so, but she allowed as Corporate might not "let them" have the books, ref previous "timeline, this one, hate it."

I'm going to get a cup of hot chocolate, then I'll unbox my bread slicer, which was delivered while I gamboled about Central Maine.

What Went Before THREE: Preliminary bread guide report.

I washed it, put it together and cut the last of the loaf using it. It made one straight thinner slice, and one slice slightly thicker, but I stress here that we were using the end of a loaf that had already been abused by my lack of skill.

I will likely be making a new loaf tomorrow, and will update my report then.

So far -- it goes together like a dream. I don't see any splinters and the crumb catcher is kinda cool.

What Went Before FOUR: So, I determined that I would use Steve's old phone as a navigation/music device in the car. Which is a sensible use of resources, and preserves the charge on my phone in case of need.

So, I opened his phone, and then freaked out, because I was going to have to delete things, and what if he came home and wanted his phone and I'd gone and repurposed it?

Yeah, I know. But it's a hard habit to break. For most of my life, he's always come home again.

Happy ending -- I can keep the apps, right? But they don't have to be littering the front screen. I can just leave Sirius and Google Maps there where I can get at them.

And I do believe that's quitting time. Tomorrow, we make bread -- and new words.

Everybody stay safe; I'll see you tomorrow.

#

Tuesday. Grey and cool. Rain and snow on the menu, say the Weatherbeans. Trash and recycling are at the curb.

There will be no bread baking today, as my hands are not up to it. (Yes, I have a Kitchen Aid. The Kitchen Aid does not put itself together, measure ingredients, or shape the loaf. Or for that matter, put the loaf in the oven.) This is why we have the spare loaves in the freezer, and today I will make a withdrawal. As the spares are already sliced, the updated review of the bread slicing guide will be delayed until the next baking.

On Bad Hands Days, the hands are reserved for writing, and for one's duty to the cats, so that's my schedule for the day.

Breakfast was almond butter and cherry jelly on a whole wheat English Muffin. There's leftover homemade stirfry for lunch.

I have here before me yesterday's installment from the New Yorker cartoon calendar, which features a man and a woman on a desert island, and the woman is saying to the man, "I wouldn't mind being rescued now that I've finally grown my bangs out."

I was wandering around the house taking the cat census. Rook was under the ledge of my standing desk, so I sat down to take his picture, whereupon he stepped across and took over my lap.

What are your companion animals doing today?

Today's blog title brought to you by Sweet, "Ballroom Blitz."  NOTE:  If you are now or have ever been a fire marshal, do not watch this video.

Cat census:


rolanni: (Default)
2025-04-03 09:07 am

Physician, have you nothing to ease the pain of living?

What went before: So, Northern Light Hospital in Waterville is trying to refer all its patients to Maine General. I know this because the office of a Maine General Spine Surgeon called me to tell me that I had been referred by someone I'd never heard of for neck pain. In the course of sorting that out, I actually spoke with someone at my PCP's office, and she did confirm that, not only the hospital, but ALL the clinics, and specialty offices attached to the hospital (with the exception of the continuing care facility on the hospital's campus) are closing down dead on May 27. This means, among other things that I will be driving 120 miles, round trip, to see a PCP, if one can be found at Eastern Maine Medical. Inland will also happily fix me up with Reddington Fairview, in Skowhegan, which is chronically overworked, or, oh MDI Hospital, which is very nice, but -- it's on Mount Desert Island.

The FAQ on the We're Abandoning You Page (it's not called that; it's called The Transition Page), chirpily informs us that making sure any on-going prescriptions are up-to-date is very important, because the hospital realizes that it may "take some time" for people to find a new PCP.

The hospital also acknowledges that one of the several reasons it's shutting down is because of staff shortages, so one wonders where the hell they think the people its abandoning are going to find doctors, since a bunch of them are BEING FIRED, and probably moving out of state.

What a freaking mess.

Well.

I guess I'd better make some lunch, hey?

Some time later: Got some reading of the WIP done. Will do more tomorrow while Ashley is here, and I've pulled back to Steve's office to give her room to wield her equipment.

One of the Afternoon Thoughts was that Steve's cardiologist is going down with the hospital, and that I was glad Steve didn't have to stress through that. Of course, he's also my cardiologist, but that seems much less of a *particular* blow. I'll miss my PCP more. That Thought led to the subsequent thoughts, that I'm glad Steve is missing, oh, yanno, the dissolution of Democracy, and the general demise of the world. I kinda wish I could miss it, too, but -- I told the characters I'd do this book for them.

In other news, Trooper is telling me that it's Coon Cat Happy Hour and he's pretty nearly right, so I'd better go see if I have enough plates and cocktail napkins, and little paper umbrellas.

Everybody stay safe; I'll see you tomorrow.

Thursday. It's...raining, and the temps are just above freezing. Supposed high temps for the day in the upper 40sF.

I had taken all the cat toys up from the living room floor and piled them up on top of the ball racer, and put the pile on the sofa so Ashley's vacuum has a free run. Rook has cleared all the toys off of the ball racer and is playing with it. So, there, Mom! Oh, and now the girls are interested. Photomentary at eleven.

Again! I thank everyone who has left a review for Diviner's Bow. Keep 'em coming! Also? You guys read hella fast.

Breakfast was sausage gravy on whole wheat/multigrain toast. Kettle's on for my second mug of tea. Lunch will be -- eh. I'll check the freezer and see if I have any soup. If today's weather has a Theme, soup is what it's good for.

Ashley texted that she might be a little late, which, given the weather, is prudent. I'm here until 5:00 anyhoot.

I? Am never going to learn how to count in ASL. Or maybe I mean to say that I'll never learn how to count fast in ASL. Which is OK. I mean, I don't particularly count fast in English. I count slightly faster in Spanish, because it became music for me somewhere along the line, and more about matching cadences than counting. Also, it's my contention that you don't need to count in sign. If somebody asks you how many kids you have, and you have three, you pat three invisible heads. If somebody asks how many cats you have, you make the sign for "cat" until you're done.

As soon as I dispatch this letter, I'll be pulling my work back to Steve's office, where I've activated the heat pump, so it ought to be nice and toasty.

How's everybody doing today?

Today's blog title is brought to you by The Star Fox by Poul Anderson.  I attribute the quote to Cynbe ru Taren, but it's been at least 60 years since I've read The Star Fox, so I could be wrong.  Great quote, though.


rolanni: (Default)
2025-04-01 01:06 pm

The Tuesday Report

What went before: No new words written, but notes put down. Straightened up the mess I made downstairs, did the dishes, performed my duty to the cats, staged the trash for tomorrow's grand parade to the curb, did some ASL homework.

That's gonna have to be enough for the day.

I realized as I was Spacing Around that tomorrow is a Double Whammy -- not only the second New Book Release Day without Steve, but also the anniversary of the day we moved in together, in 1978.

Well.

I'm done for the day -- a little early, which unfairly does not mean that Coon Cat Happy Hour is early.

Everybody stay safe. Remember to check your ebook reader tomorrow morning to make sure that Diviner's Bow has downloaded properly and is ready to read.

Tuesday. Book Day; Diviner's Bow hardcover, ebook, and audiobook officially hit the shelves.

Sunny, windy, and thereby chilly here in Central Maine. Trash and recycling were picked up while I was out running errands. There's news of a cat litter delivery, but I'm not sure if that isn't for tomorrow.

Went to the post office and picked up a package; a kind friend sent me some Lundberg black rice. Went to the UPS store and flang the heart monitor into the hands of the intake person. She asked me if I wanted a receipt, but I told her I didn't care what happened to it. Tried to stop at the new local bookstore, but was informed that she doesn't open til Thursday. Spent a pleasant few minutes chatting with the owner of the used bookstore in the basement.

Went to CVS and bought makeup, which was kind of an eye-opener. Mind you, I've never worn much makeup, but the stuff I had is at least three years old, so I figured it was time for new. I've been watching Makeup for Olds on Youtube, now and again, and in a startling number of cases, the addition of makeup makes Our Model look ... older. And then I remembered that I started wearing makeup because I had a baby-face and needed to look old enough to actually be an administrative aide to the dean of a graduate school.

I will in a few minutes be getting myself the last of the leftovers for lunch, and then seeing what kind of trouble I want to get into.

A REMINDER for those who are reading and/or have read Diviner's Bow: Please leave a review -- stars are nice, too, but a review is awesome.

ALSO! If you want to talk about the book with other fans, there is a Spoiler Lounge all set up with chairs, and snacks, and drinks, norbears, and -- oh! Cake.

Spoiler Space for Diviner's Bow

And now? It's lunchtime.


rolanni: (Default)
2025-03-30 09:39 am

And the snow comes tumbling from the sky

What Went Before: So, I'm kinda tired, which I attribute to having been woken up and terrified before the day properly began. The heart monitor is all wrapped up with a note detailing its slide into insanity and ready to be dropped off at the UPS store. I've written a note to my cardiologist on the portal, explaining what happened. I've done some ASL homework, and some writing, by which I mean thinking and also writing 750-ish new words, bringing the total words thus far to +/-21,260.

I'm done for the day. I may monkey a bit with Steve's Chromebook, but it will be from the corner of the sofa, and under my comfy blanket.

Sunday. Cloudy and cold, but not precipitating. We are now under a Severe Weather Alert, but the probable accumulation of snow has been scaled back to 2 inches. There's still ice in the forecast, and ice must never be discounted, but the accumulations there, too, have been reduced.

Woke to find two turkeys making an inspection of The Long Back Yard. It's been years since I've seen turkeys in the yard.  . . . and I've been living here long enough now that I can say years . . .

Breakfast was three little leftover Chinese sweet potato piergoies, with sour cream, and an orange. Finishing up my first mug of tea. Lunch will be leftover drunken noodles (yes, again).

My plans for the day are to perform my duty to the cats, study ASL, and write new words. Also on the list was getting the kitchen trash bagged up and into the garage before the weather started, but that's been done.

So WAZE. You tell it where you want to go and it decides on the best way and that's it? There's no negotiation, other than the really broad AVOID TOLL ROADS and such like? Because while I will happily take 295 out of Maine, I am allergic to taking 95 around Boston, and would rather head west on smaller roads to gain my overnight in Cooperstown. I know this can be done because I have done it, but ship and pilot had a navigator then, and I do not have the route in my head. There was a reason Steve was our navigator. For instance, I know I can get out of Maine via Routes 2 and 4 and pay my respects to Mount Washington, as I did on my trip to Vermont, but I'm not at all certain of my routes beyond.

At this rate I may have to buy a road atlas.

The generator has just come on for its weekly systems check, and my mug is empty.

Whatcha all doin' today?

Update:  It's begun snowing

Today's blog title brought to you by Gaelic Storm, "I'll tell me ma"

Sunday morning census below:


rolanni: (Default)
2025-03-28 10:25 am

They're rioting in Africa

Friday. Sun behind the clouds, coolish. Supposed to stay that way.

We here in Central Maine stand, battered, snow shovels in hand, beneath a Winter Storm Watch. Heavy snow with sleet predicted from this evening through tomorrow evening. The danger now, aside slick roads and travel surfaces, is ice coated limbs and wires coming down.

Today may be the day the heart monitor goes back in its box and goes home to Boston. It has been progressively losing its mind, but this morning, it wants to be charged. This despite having been charged all night. I moved it into my office and plugged it into another working plug, and still it cries out for life-giving electricity.

I am so done with this device.

I tried to call the cardiologist's office, and got the It's Too Early message, which was bemusing, because I'd slept long and hard, and got up late. And yet? It still lacks a few minutes til 8 am.

Well.

I s'pose I ought to get a kettle on for tea and go find some pants.

How's your Friday starting out?

Following up.

It's now very sunny in my office. I chose to put on one of Steve's nice heavy Carhartt flannel shirts, which may prove to be overkill, but is comfy, anyway.

Breakfast was tomato and swiss cheese sandwich. Second cup of tea by my side. Possibly, I will call in lunch. If I order from Asian Cafe, I'll have enough leftovers to last the weekend.

I did speak with the cardiologist's office, and, as I was explaining the problem, the heart monitor decided that it was charged. I did some guided punching of buttons, and the device does seem to be working, for very flexible values of "working," so I can't get rid of it quite yet, more's the pity.

The cardiologist's receptionist wanted to let me know that they were *there* for me until May 28. I asked her what was going to happen after that, and she said, "Oh! You haven't heard? The hospital --" No, I said, I had heard that. What I wanted to know was what was going to happen after May 28 when I had no cardiologist. "Oh! Call your PCP." My PCP, says I, is also attached to the hospital. He's going to be vanishing, too. "Yes. But he will be able to refer you to other doctors. The hospital is working on a plan, but it's not solid yet."

By reports, the hospital knew it was going to have to close two years. And yet! They announce a month ago that they're closing in June, and it has no plan for its patients, for whom they apparently accept no responsibility. Shame on you, Inland/Northern Light. As for referring to "other doctors," I believe I mentioned here that the Other Hospital is laying off doctors and staff because they, too, are bleeding $$s.

In view of the upcoming weather, I'm going to call the vet and see if I can get another scant jar of prednisone for Trooper. I've taken to mixing it in the gravy food, because he hates the syringe and he's too strong for me to hold when he's determined. The old system was that Steve would hold the cat and I would administer the drug, but that's no longer playable.

So, aside from one's duty the cats, and going out for meds and more of the cat gravy, my plan is to do ASL homework and write.

That's it. Yes, it's a boring plan, but it's MY plan.

Today's title brought to you by The Kingston Trio, "The Merry Minuet"


rolanni: (Default)
2025-03-22 09:34 am

Big wind, tiny void

Big wind tiny void
curls in safety, softly warm
Big wind dies, void sighs

--Haiku off the cuff, Sharon Lee

What went before ONE: And the bread's out. Not a bad looking loaf, though I got a little carried away with the dusting.

Recipe here

TWO:  Big wind blowing. The Teeniest Void Kitten climbed into my lap when it started, and curled up into a knot the size of Rhode Island.

This of course makes it very easy to type.

Ren Zel and Anthora are an ... interesting couple.

THREE:  What went before: So, I thought I was waiting for a box of bookmarks today, but it turns out that what I was really waiting for was a box full of Ribbon Dance mmps! Coming out on April 29!

In re BaltiCon: People are asking if there will be a Friends of Liad breakfast and/or a Teddy Bear Tea.

The Friends of Liad breakfast, which is not a con event, but a gathering of the clan to share a meal, and to catch up with each other, is definitely possible; the hotel restaurant is able to accommodate a group. I can't tell you when, because I need to find what my schedule will be.

Teddy Bear Tea: is traditionally a con event, and therefore vulnerable, as all events, to the necessities of the program.

Bottom Line: I don't have any information to share until I get together with BaltiCon Programming, and their schedule is finalized.

Summing Up: Watch the skies.

Saturday. Sunny and gonna get warm. Monday, say the weatherbeans, it will snow.

Breakfast was naan, hummus, and a mini-orange. Second cup of tea to hand. Lunch is on the knees of Zao Shen.

This morning, I need to change the strip that keeps the heart monitor stuck to my chest. No, I am not happy about this.

After that -- we'll see. Maybe I'll go for a ride, being as it's gonna be so warm and all. I haven't been to Belfast since forever. Maybe get lunch at the coop. That could work.

In other news, and in the spirit of saving the best for last -- it comes about that the anniversary edition of I DARE will be published by Baen in December. Here's the new cover; art by Sam Kennedy.


rolanni: (Default)
2025-03-12 09:47 am

In which sleeping well is its own reward

What went before: So, I pulled the trigger on my Garmin watch this afternoon after I came home. After warning me that it could be Several Days before my package would be mailed, I have a shipping notice and the news that I should see my Item by March 17, so Happy Five Years Cancer Free to me.

I sat with the manuscript a bit, but got no new-word-writing done to speak of. Tomorrow, I have "nothing" on the schedule, so I will try to buckle down and actually get some work done.

I have one more thing to get out into the email lanes, then I'm done for the day.

Trooper, alas, has caught on to Spring Forward. He is even now positing that it is Coon Cat Happy Hour, which -- it will be Old Time Coon Cat Happy Hour in just 1/2 hour.

That didn't last long.

Chorus:  Now's the time to preorder your signed copy of Diviner's Bow from The Uncle.  Here's how.

Wednesday. Sunny and cool. The 'beans are calling for Cooler Than Yesterday.

Breakfast was homemade wheat toast with cream cheese and grapes. My first cup of tea is with me here at the desk.

The loaf of bread is almost gone, so one decision on the day is whether I'm making a new loaf today or defrosting the Extra. Lunch with be chicken patty on a roll with a slice of cheddar -- a chickenburger! -- and whatever veggies seem good at the time.

I didn't go to bed last night as early as I had planned (mostly because Tali had actually come to my lap and gone to sleep while I was reading, and I didn't want to leap right up and disrupt a Milestone), but I did sleep past 7 this morning, so, go me (and Firefly and Rookie who both slept with me), for 8 hours plus of sleep, and I feel much more The Thing today, with a noticeable lack of I ache all over, which is a relief all by itself.

So, the heart monitor is annoying, though not for the reasons you might think. It's tiny and weighs pretty close to nothing. The phone part of the package runs Hot Pepper (Android 12), which isn't that many generations back. I think the Pixel 9 in my other pocket runs Vanilla Ice Cream (Android 15).

However, the phone is desperate for attention, and it every so often gets up on its hind legs and triggers the alarm for Poor Skin Contact! Which is my cue to reboot, which mysteriously solves the problem for another three hours or so. Aside that, I do have to be careful about cats who want to sleep on my chest, and also Rookie, who thinks that Thing Two (the spare unit that's kept on the charging cord on the night table) is some kind of weird cosmic spider that needs Serious Killing.

I have some letters to answer today, including a request for a "good" picture of Steve to be included on the page dedicated to the Steve Miller Memorial Poetry Contest. I have ... a few ... pictures of Steve, but none from his Performing Poet Period, that having predated my intrusion into his life. We may have to go with a paper plane, if I can find that one.

Other than that, I'm really wanting to do some work today, so maybe I'll take the spare loaf out of the freezer, after all, in the spirit of limiting distractions.

What are you doing today that's fun and/or interesting?

Ah.  Paper plane:


rolanni: (Default)
2025-03-11 09:24 am

There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole

What went before: 1,266 new words -- not too bad for a woman who thought she was going to sit down in the comfy office chair, open the laptop and -- fall asleep.

I b'lieve I will be ordering in a Garmin tracker. The insurance may pay for it, and even if not, the stress of the sporadically working FitBit is -- stressful. And it's something I can do something about.

The insurance bill for the car and the house has landed, so I'll be writing that check before I use the money for something foolish, like buying a dozen eggs. Couple other pieces of snail that I need to deal with came in, too, though nothing particularly urgent.

Tomorrow, I need to go visit the cardiologist so they can glue one of those heart monitors to my chest for 30 day. Yes, yes; I did do this before. The doctors are bored. Or fishing. It would be nice if they got bored of fishing.

I note that I am Out of Cookies. That was careless of me. OTOH, maybe I'll make scones tomorrow morning, so I'll have something nice to eat with my tea when I come home from the cardiologist.

And that? Is all I've got.

Until. . .

Tuesday. Glowering and cold at the moment. Beans are calling for a high of 51F/11C. We'll see.

In the meanwhile, breakfast was homemade wheat bread toast, cream cheese, grapes. As I remarked to Rook, who was sitting on my lap at the time, "These grapes ain't nothin to write home about, so it's a good think we're already here.'

I'll take the trash and recycling to the curb as soon as I finish my first cup of tea and find my shoes.

Oven heating for scones.

My arm that received the booster shot hurts. I realize belatedly that it is my left arm. I'm usually more careful than that, but -- can't really get a re-do. And thinking about it -- I kind of ache all over, which I ascribe in equal portion to the COVID shot and fifteen trips up and down the cellar stairs in service of getting things to where they needed to be.

After I put the trash out, get the scones in the oven, and do my duty to the cats, I'll look over what I wrote yesterday, and add in all the names that I had forgotten since the last time I used them.

The cats felt that 5 hours and 10 minutes of not-particularly-restful sleep was enough for me. On the one hand, I would have liked more sleep. On the other, I was having some very anxious dreams, which makes me feel like that guy who complained the food wasn't very good and the servings were too small.

All that said, I'm angling to go to bed early tonight, given that the Things I have to accomplish are inconveniently timed for fitting in a nap.

It's good to have A Plan.

How much sleep did you get last night?

____________
Right before he started chewing on my head -- that's head, not hair -- Trooper gave me to understand that There Was No Food In the Bowls. As we see here, Trooper was exaggerating slightly:

Oh, today's blog post title brought to you by Odetta and Harry Belafonte, "There's a Hole in the Bucket."


rolanni: (Default)
2025-03-10 08:57 am

NOW, it's Monday morning

What went before: I may have straightened out the timeline. Maybe.

In other news, I wrote about 1,000 words, recasting a scene impacted by the timeline kinks.

The cats are *not* demanding Happy Hour, and I'm wondering if I just out to let it run out to new-8:00. Hmm.

Also -- I re-re-re-&c-read The Thirteen Clocks, which is every bit as silly and beautiful as I remembered.

Monday. Snowing.  Of course, it's snowing.

Breakfast is oatmeal with cranberries and walnuts, with tea. Lunch will have to take care of itself.

COVID shot at 10:30, followed by foraging, since I'll be in the grocery store, followed by We'll See How It Goes.

Nothing really more to report.

What're you doing today?

Cat pictures in lieu of content:


rolanni: (Default)
2025-02-11 08:08 am

The sun's coming up like a big bald head

What went before:

Yesterday, I went first to the Verizon store on behalf of my phone. Having called Murphy's attention down upon me by packing for a Day at the Verizon Store, I was -- the first one there, and had three reps at my beck.

The first was newish, but told me that my screen protector was cracked. I said I thought it was the screen and would be grateful if she could prove to me that it was only the protector.

This was a little too assertive (sigh), and the second rep came over to explain that I could request a protector from Corporate, or buy one at the store I was standing in and they would install it for me.

I thanked her for the information and once! again! asked if it could be demonstrated that it was the protector and not the screen that was damaged.

She looked at the phone, with the cracks radiating out from the chip, and said, "Oh, yeah; that's the screen protector."

I invited her to remove it and assure us all that it was not the screen that was damaged.

...what I tell you three times...

She shrugged and peeled the protector (which itself is some kind of glass, who knew?) off. Indeed, the phone itself was intact.

The second rep installed the new protector, I paid the first, and exchanged farewells and keep-warms with the third rep, who had wisely kept herself aloof in case somebody else came in the door, and went home, richer by an uncracked screen protector and poorer by 50 small.

My trip to the dentist was more expensive and more nerve-wracking, but all's well there, and I don't have to do it again until November.

Moving on. . .

Tuesday. Cold enough for me. Sun's an orange ball behind the trees. I'll get the trash out when it's warmer than -1F/-18C.

Waked before my time for a Cat Clean Up Emergency. First cup of tea is here at the desk with me. Breakfast will shortly be sausage and cheese on an English muffin and the rest of the pineapple, assuming it's still edible. Lunch will chicken breast and -- A Vegetable to be Named Later.

Worked past coon cat happy hour, getting my credit reports frozen, and Steve's (because I never got 'round to doing that other thing. Honest, the few things that are turning up to be dealt with now drag at me like the stuff I had to do Just After Steve left didn't. 'course then, I was laboring under the delusion that I was finishing up a few chores before I got on the road to join him at the new place. Brains, man; what will they think of next.)

Anyhow, the credit freeze is nailed down. I should probably lock down the cards I don't use often (or at all. BOA, I'm looking at you.), but that has to wait until I get the cats' chips refiled.

I ought to go to sewing today; it's been basically forever. Also I need to pick up the papers from my lawyer, and make? A phone call!

Last night, after my labors with the credit agencies, I made a cup of tea, and betook myself to my bed to read. Tali understands reading in bed, the rest of the guys, not so much, though Rook gave it a try. It worked out pretty well for me, until I had to actually, yanno, go to sleep and had to be shifting pillows out of the way so I could lay down, and by that time, I was awake again.

I think that's all I've got, and I really ought to get with breakfast.

What've you got going today?

Today's blog title brought to you by Laurie Anderson, "Sharkey's Day."

rolanni: (Default)
2025-02-10 07:56 am

Snow Date

What went before:  Yesterday was not a good day.  Nuff said.

Monday, grey and cold. Snow showers in the forecast.

Went to bed early; got up to the 6:45 alarm. Breakfast was a blueberry muffin and some English Cheddar. First cup of tea is to hand.

Today's Plan insomuch as it can be said to be a plan is to finish my cup of tea, do my duty to the cats, fill a Yeti with yet more hot tea and go camp out at the Verizon store until it's time to go to the dentist. I do have to let an InfoDump out into the cyberlanes today, but that will be AD -- After Dentist.

So, do I understand this correctly -- there's another John Carter movie (cleverly titled JOHN CARTER 2)? Thirteen years after the original "mega-flop"? The ways of The Mouse are mysterious, indeed.

What's your Plan for Monday?

rolanni: (Default)
2025-02-05 11:49 am

All's well that ends well, feline edition

Well.  Where to start?

Ah.  Thank you to everyone who read and kindly donated to "Core Values."

If you haven't read the story yet, here's your link to the introduction, which itself includes a link to the story.  You may read the story for free.  Those who wish may also donate, to the story, to the site, to the Coon Cat Food Bank, or to the author. A donation is not required to read the story.

Now we can get to the Important Topic of Tali.

Tali found the Guest Parlor too small.  Because I have a Very Weird House, I was able, after yesterday's breakfast, to close off the hallway in which the Guest Parlor is located, closing the door to Steve's office at one end, and the rest of the house, at the other end.  This gave Tali the Guest Parlor, a short hallway, a cul de sac which is glorified as the Laundry Room, and a big window overlooking the Long Back Yard.  I also put Trooper in with her, thinking he could share some more pearls of feline wisdom.

This is what that looked like, when I peered in a couple hours later.

 

 

 

 

After lunch, Trooper and I traded places.  I took my laptop back to the laundry room, and sat in the chair I'd moved in from Steve's office, and finished inputting corrections to "Core Values."  Tali several times leapt into my lap -- she gives epic head bumps -- and tried her paw at editing the story.

Firefly was still being hissy, and Rook was taking his cue from her, so I visited Tali once or twice on the evening, but my intention was to leave her in Steve's hallway until at least Thursday afternoon (I had a doctor's appointment this morning, and Ashley is coming tomorrow morning to do the cleaning).

At 5am this morning, Trooper opened the door to Steve's hallway, and let Tali out.

I got up, turned on all the lights, and prepared myself to run interference (Tali does not like to be picked up.  She will jump in my lap, but she Does. Not. Want. me to pick her up, and I had ... reservations about allowing a cat who will not allow me to pick her up roaming the house.).  Trooper, however, had appointed himself Tour Guide.  He took Tali downstairs, where the Accommodations are (she has a litter pan in the Guest Parlor, but apparently it's not the best arrangement), he showed her the food station and the cat fountain.  He walked her right past Firefly, who was hissing, and Rook, who was likewise.

Since he had it in paw, I got dressed and put the kettle on for tea.

Tali eventually went back to her hallway.  I followed her in, closed the door, and sat down.  She jumped into my lap, and we had a cuddle while chatting out her first impressions.

I let her out again when I got back from my Annual Wellness appointment (spoiler:  I'm healthy).

I must say Tali's being very smart about integrating herself.  She spent some time in the bedroom, and has explored the rest of the rooms once or twice, entirely unfazed by hissing sillies. She offers no aggression, nor does she hiss back; it's merely nothing to do with her, what those cats are carrying on about.

Occasionally, she goes back to her hallway for a breather.

And that's where we are right now.  Trooper, Firefly, and Rook are in my office with me, and Tali is exploring the living room.

 

rolanni: (Default)
2025-01-30 10:49 am

I lay it out like they do in magazines

What went before:  Ended yesterday on a low note.  I blame the grocery store.

What went before, The Long edition:  2024 was a Personal Worst. In February, I lost my best friend, my coauthor, and my spouse.  In July, I lost my heart-cat, and maybe, or maybe not, had a stroke.  In October, I turned in a book, and then did line edits, copy edits and galleys in a month.  I'm still trying to figure out how I wrote a book last year.

Onward!

Thursday. Bright and bitter cold. The weatherbeans theorize that the high temp on the day will be 15F/-9C. I'll be staying in.

Breakfast was cottage cheese, toast, and strawberries. As pictured elsewhere, Rook got in my lap and pinned me down, so I finished my first mug of tea and played Spelling Bee to Solid.

Second mug of tea is with me here at the desk. Lunch will be leftover bean loaf, and, err, veggies.

The plowguy came by yesterday evening. I was surprised, but pleased. Much later, UPS arrived bearing a Large Carton. A kind friend had sent two heated throws for the use of the cats and myself. They were frozen stiff from their all-day tour of Central Maine, so I put them in the laundry room to thaw. They are now, as per instructions, being washed before use.

I have some 1099s of various flavors to log; I'm still missing 5, which seems unlikely, until I remember that I need a total of 20.

<serious discussion>I would like to take this opportunity while we'll all together at the table sipping our beverages and preparing for what's left of our day, to assert that I am not a slacker.

I know that there are things people want me to do that would "Only take X" and questions that people may believe I am ill-naturedly refusing to answer. I fear that those things lie with you, and not with me.

As I discussed in this space (note: this would be my Facebook Wall) only a week or so ago -- I need to be very careful to protect my health -- physical and mental. Steve used to do this for me -- part of the way he did it was by answering, or explaining why he wasn't going to/couldn't answer, questions and expressed desires. I will allow that I am in no way as elegant, or as facile, as Steve was in these matters.

So, I'm asking you to please think before you tell me that This Thing would "Only Take X" or demand that I answer a question that you actually know the answer to, or can easily find the answer to. I am particularly vulnerable to people demanding that I Solve This Problem, and I have had to become very mindful of the fact that I'm not responsible for solving the problems of nations.

Now, you might be saying to yourself at this point that I've got a helluva lot of nerve asking you not to ask me things, when I ask for help pretty regularly.

In my mind, asking for help is not a demand; it's a request, as in "Hey, if you have the time/inclination/skills could you--?" (Or, "Check this font; is it san serif?") That's what people do. I help when I can; so do you -- I know you do because you help me. We're all better when we help each other. And we're all better when we accept help, when we need it.

All I'm doing is asking us all to be a little mindful. I'll do my best; and I know you'll do yours.</serious discussion>

I'm going to split the day between the domain situations, and staring into space. I will note here that "staring into space" = working, for those coming in late.

What're you doing today?

Today's blog title brought to you by Jason Kinney, "Neutra Face: An Ode On a Typeface"

rolanni: (Default)
2025-01-22 09:32 am

She thought of heat; she thought of time

What went before:  I worked on taxes yesterday, which was more challenging than I had expected.  It's not like Steve did the taxes, after all. But, in a normal year, this is the place where I would have started nagging him to get me those items and expenses that I did not have through doing the general house and business accounting. This would have gone on for . . . a while -- there was some math involved in how long he would put me off before he believed that I was serious -- and then the info would appear.

It just feels really wrong that I -- have all that information in hand. Right now, and can proceed with adding/subtracting and filling in the blanks.

Onward!

Wednesday. Sunlight an orange glow behind the trees -9F/-23C. Weatherbeans calling for a high of 18F/-8C.

I'm evaluating my need to go out today. I don't need anything from the grocery store that can't wait until tomorrow, and while I really *do* need a haircut, I'll not be receiving today. I haven't been to the post office in almost two weeks, but I'm not expecting anything urgent, and the post office lobby, where the mailboxes are, is toasty warm, comparatively. On the other hand, tomorrow's high of 25F/-4 isn't going to be *that* much warmer. And on the gripping hand! I do *have* a Big Coat. Heck, I have TWO Big Coats -- Steve's parka, and my knee-length puffer coat.

It may come down to a coin flip at 10 am.

But, first! Breakfast. Which was! Cottage cheese with a side of muffin. And tea. Lunch will be leftover split pea, lentil, and ham soup. Kettle on for second cup of tea.

Cat search update: Three inquiries written; 1 answer in the negative received.

I feel -- well, and am theoretically TNC (Theoretically Not Contagious). Hoping to stay that way.  Though I will be masking when I go out.

If I don't go out and do errands, then I'll finish what I can of the taxes with the information in-house, after which it will be the long game of waiting for other people to get their acts together and send me paperwork.

If I do venture out into The Elements to accomplish my errands, then I'll possibly take the rest of the day off, or maybe see if I can discover that last scene for the story that's been in progress far too long so I can put it up on Splinter Universe.

. . . one of the things that's been coming around on the guitar, as the vernacular has it, is the realization that I have wanted to be a writer since I was aware of "wanting to be" something. This predates Steve and cats, and I got to wondering how common that is, that people have known for their whole lives what they "wanted to be."

So, I'm throwing it out to y'all -- when did you (if you did) realize what you "wanted to be"?

Today's blog post brought to you by Bill Morrissey, "Birches"

Rook joined me for breakfast. Not that he had any of my breakfast; he likes to sit on my lap while I finish my tea, and take a bath, because, yanno, bellies don't clean themselves.