Five Things Make a Post

1.  In light of Mozart’s continued ill health, I will not be attending Boskone.  Steve is still planning to attend.  If Mozart takes a amazing turn for the better, I’ll come down with him and cut a swath through the dealer’s room, but at this point, that’s not the way the smart money bets.  Y’all have a good time for me.

2.  “The Gift of Music,” by Sharon Lee is available to be read, obligation-free, at Baen.com.  “Gift” takes place in Archers Beach, Maine.

3.  The Compleat List of Baen Hugo Eligible Works published by Baen authors is here.

4.  All pre-ordered signed and/or personalized copies of Carousel Sun have been mailed.

5.  Have I mentioned how very, very fond I am of this song?

Today is yesterday’s tomorrow

Today! Jasmine Sprite, Princess of the Night, Warrior Princess of East Winslow, Nemesis of the Springs, Scourge of Lizards, Professor of Centrifugal Studies, and Brat, celebrates the conclusion of her second month, and the beginning of her third month of residency at the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory.

All hail, Princess Sprite.

Coincidentally, today also sees the publication of “The Gift of Music” at Baen.com, at noon EST.  The story may be read for free, no sign-ups, no fees.  Sprite thinks this is part of her Royal Celebrations, and we’re just letting her think that, OK?

If you like the story, feel free to pass the link on to friends, and others who partake of fantasy and science fiction.

Now, here’s a picture of the Princess, to tide y’all over until noon, when the story publishes:

The Princess is IN  SMALL

 

#SFWAPro

Ice and the ACA

We are having Weather.  Rain, freezing rain, ice pellets.  Our cars are coated, as is the driveway and the road.  When the town plow went by, a couple hours ago, it sounded like it was plowing glass.

So, staying in is the plan, here at the Cat Farm.  Tomorrow’s plan had involved a drive in a southwardly direction, but that may have to be put on hold, dernit.  Never mind the ice (the weatherbeans had been calling for 45F/7C today, and it hasn’t gotten much above 35F/2C — and that’s an important 10-or-5 degrees) — but there are flood warnings all over the state.

Argh.

In slightly more cheering news — frequent readers of this blog will recall that, through sheer stubborness and not a little good luck, Steve and I enrolled in the Federal Government’s Health Marketplace (Maine being one of those states with a Republican governor, who steadfastly refuses to allow a state exchange, because Socialism).  We’re paying $200-ish less each month in premiums for what looked like, on paper, to be superior coverage.

Today, I had my first test-drive of the new coverage.  Two drugs that I take daily had to be renewed, so I called the drugstore and did the deed.  Since I had new insurance, the pharmacy aide had to look up some things and make a couple phone calls, but at the end of all that is this. . .

The total for filling my two prescriptions at my local drugstore, for a 90 day supply of each, which is what I always get, and which, under the $700-ish/month Anthem plan used to cost me a total of $136.92, today cost me $60.50.

So far, I’m a satisfied customer.