Blog Without A Name

A day of excitement and civic duty, here in Central Maine.

First, fortified by coffee and an excellent omelet produced by Steve, we went to the polls. Which were not crowded at 9:00ish, but not deserted, either. We cast our ballots, collected our I Voted Today! stickers, signed the petition for marriage equality (“That means,” said the man guarding the table, “allowing gay and lesbian people to marry. And divorce, too. Please read the petition and assure yourselves that this is not a trick question.”)

After that…we got rid of forty-nine zillion returnables at Joka’s, said Hi to the boss, Joe Karter (JoKa’s, get it? No? Does it help if you know that the pronunciation of the last name, in Mainer, is KAtah?) and zipped up the street to the post office.

Mail collected, we went to Juliet’s Bakery, chatted with the boss-lady, bought some cookies and eventually sailed up the hill to Home Despot. We took on blinds for the window over the kitchen sink, as the blinds that had been covering the window over the kitchen sink did not survive their removal for the painters. Also, AA and AAA batteries. We looked at rugs while we were there, since we’ll need a rug to go under the kitchen table, and located several good candidates. Had to come home and measure, to be sure, so another trip to Home Despot in our near future.

Back down the hill, into town, with a stop at The Framemakers to congratulate Amy on her new house; then to Childrens Book Cellar to exchange /g/o/s/s/i/p industry news with Ellen.

We then ran out to the Waterville Humane Society, in Oakland (Yes, the Waterville Humane Society is in Oakland. It used to be in Waterville, but the facility was inadequate and the land in Oakland was, I believe, donated.) and visited the cats. They have many fine and pleasant cats at the Humane Society at present, though none that stepped forward and made a case for joining the Cat Farm. The most likely candidate was Gabbie, a crazy quilt Maine Coon Cat done all in autumn brown, gold, and black. Miss Gabbie resides in solitary splendor in a cage in the hall, rather than in one of the community rooms. Before coming to the shelter, she had apparently never seen another cat, and did not take well to suddenly being introduced to a dozen at once. Needless to say, a new recruit to the Cat Farm must play well with others, since others we have. So, even though Gabbie immediately crawled into my lap when we (with staff permission) opened the cage, curled up, and commenced in purring, we did not bring her home. I hope that someone else will find and appreciate her, and be able to bring her to a house where she’s an only cat and properly honored.

And I feel terribly bad for her former owner, who turned her in, it said on the info-sheet, because she couldn’t afford to keep her anymore.

. . .

Stopped for lunch at the Weathervane and came on home, where I’ve spent the late afternoon paying bills and assorted whatnot.

I also printed out Dragon Ship, to date, as it has landed on my desk, while “Tinsori Light” has gone over to Steve.

I know some folks have asked for the unused chapters on the Mystery Disk to be posted to Splinter Universe. That’s not a bad idea, but it is complex in execution, and will therefore need to wait. Press of other bidness.

And now, I need to do some more bits of housekeeping before I call it a day.

I hope those reading in the US voted today; and I hope that everyone had a pleasant day.

Survived Day Two of being Exercised.  Set up the Great Disconnection of the Stove with Dead River for 7 a.m. of the day that the rug guys are supposed to arrive at 8.  Split second timing, let me show you it.

The rest of the day?  I sat in front of the computer and goofed off.  Now, it’s time to get productive and get me some dishes washed.

And maybe a glass of wine.

Progress on “The Space at Tinsori Light”
8,021/8,000 words OR 100.26% DONE

*thud*

Out into the world not as early as planned, and first to the Waterville Humane Society to drop off the many extra cans of wet cat food.  Late start that we got, we were still too early for the cats to be at home to visitors, which was probably just as well.

From the cats to the floor guy, where we talked about rugs and vinyl flooring some more, looked at samples, and made choices.  The theory is that a crew will be out on the 14th to commence ripping things up and laying things down. This timing depending on whether Dead River can be brought out to disconnect the stove from the propane tank before deconstruction starts.  I also need to call the painter and see if she can give me some of the stain she used on the baseboards, because (surprise!) the floor guys have to take up the baseboards.

Who knew?

I really think that these projects would be a lot harder on us if (1) we had actually stopped to think about what they would mean in terms of Household Disruption and, (2) if we had One True Vision to which the finished products Must adhere, or All Will Be Ashes.  My bottom line is that it look nice, and — especially in the case of the deck — is non-lethal.  Beyond that — and the fact that I’d really prefer not to have a rug colored eggplant, and I’m so sick of orange shag I’m ready to tear out the existing carpet with my bare hands — I suspect I don’t really care as much about the details as I ought.

After we finished setting up things with the floor guy, we came home, stopping at Mum Mum Asian Sandwich Shop to pick up lunch (fried dumplings and a spicy chicken wrap) and bring it home.  Mmmmm.

As you might imagine, we were quite worn out by our labors, not to mention lunch, so we had a nap, and, upon rising, went to work.

Having now finished today’s work, I’m outta here.

Hope everyone had a pleasant Saturday.

Progress on “The Space at Tinsori Light”
5,268/8,000? words OR 65.9% complete

For good or for ill, friend or foe, Tinsori Light was towing them in.

Remodeling Report

The painters have finished their part of the puzzle, and have departed, cash in hand.

The deck arrived in safe mode last night — decking, stairs (with bannisters!), and a rudimentary rail.  Today, the guys are working on putting in the balusters, setting up the supports for the roof, and fixing the. . .untidiness that came from ripping the old deck out of the vinyl siding.  There was a brief, bright rumor suggesting that the roof would also be done this weekend, but…alas.

Tomorrow morning, Steve and I will go see the floor guy.  Might be we can get the new floors in next week or the week after.  Still looking at Thanksgiving for the Makeover to be complete.

This part of the makeover to be complete.

Rolanni Does Exercise

As reported elsewhere, I survived my first visit to the gym.  In about an hour, I walked two miles, and did what are probably pretty minor exercise sets on various bits of equipment with names like Ab Builder, Chest Press, Lateral Pull Down, Leg Press, and my hands-down favorite, the V-Crunch.

While I’m pretty sure that I’m going to regret all this virtue tomorrow, I hope to have forgotten the aftermath by Monday, so that I can go in for Session Two.

State of the Cats

Mozart is in his hammock in the living room, Ignoring the deck crew.  Scrabble is in the rocker in my room, ditto.

Potential Tragedies

It would appear that, in all the excitement, I have misplaced the Calendar that Rules.  This is potentially very tragic, indeed, but I can’t seem to work up a screaming fit of panic about it.  Somebody take care of that for me, ‘k?

Discovered Awesomenesses

A postcard addressed to Steve Miller of the Owings Mills Millers, date-stamped Portland ORE 3 Apr 1988:  Dear Steve & Sharon — Bravo! Bravi! I look forward to Reading You!!  Cheers from Ursula — which had fallen behind a bookshelf, and was rescued by the Magic of Remodeling.

Deliveries Delivered

Steve’s canvas shirt from Cabela’s and my awesome Clearance Sale denim-lined-with-fleece shirt (honest to Ghu, $20?  I shoulda bought two.) have arrived and have been found Satisfactory.

DVDs:  The Last Starfighter (25th Anniversary Edition!) , Short Circuit (because, yanno, Number Five is alive!)

Deliveries Outstanding

“Off the Grid,” Abney Park’s newest CD.

Tasks in Process

The laundry has grown teeth and a tail.  Steve waded in and began with the slaying this morning.    He also made us a tasty spaghetti dinner.  Mmmmm, spaghetti.

Lee and Miller Upcoming Appearances

We’ll be giving a talk at Bowdoin College on Thursday, November 17, and! (because we’re insane) we agreed to participate in a Maine Writers Group Booksigning at Longfellow Bookstore in the Old Port on November 25, aka Black Friday.

Writers Doing Crazy Things

What’re y’all looking at me for?

With 9 days to go! C.E. Murphy’s Kickstarter Campaign to fund the writing of the Walker Papers novella “No Dominion,” has $11,799 in pledges.  Not too bad for an original $4,000 goal, eh?  But wait!  She’s just $201 shy of a bonus level that would put a limited, signed trade paper edition of “No Dominion” plus the bonus companion stories triggered by previous bonus levels.  Go over and take a look, why not?

As many of you know, the third book in Laura Anne Gilman’s Vineart War series came out just last month.  (If you haven’t read these, you really should — Flesh and Fire, Weight of Stone, The Shattered Vine.)  However, Laura Anne found, as authors often do, that there are more stories in the universe than there was room for, in the novels.  And there’s one very compelling, very important, story that she’d really like to tell you.  “From Whence You Came” is the name of the proposed novella.  If you want to know more, you want to go here.

Musicians Doing Ditto

Frenchy and the Punk’s BIG Music Project, to produce two CDs of their work, surpassed the $4,590 goal.  But!  They only asked for half the cost of producing the CDs.  The whole cost would be $9,180, and they’re a slim $450 from funding the whole project.  Their campaign goes over on Monday, November 7, so you need to act quick if you want to be a patron of this fine duo.

Writing in Process

Dragon Ship, sequel to Ghost Ship
Necessity’s Child, sequel to nothing, a Tree-and-Surebleak story
“The Space at Tinsori Light,” short story destined for Splinter Universe

Writing Waiting in the Wings

Trade Secret, sequel to Balance of Trade
An as-yet-untitled-short-story for the Baen website in July

What was on that 3.5 inch disk, anyway?

The Mystery Disk described earlier this week proves to contain what is probably a Very Early Draft of Carpe Diem.  There are chapters that never got used, and some chapters which didn’t get used in Carpe Diem, but did, in Plan B.

. . .I think that’s caught everybody up.

What’s happening in your neck of the woods?

Got a couple pieces of news before breakfast that have put me in a rather low mood.  You’d think the universe would have the decency to wait until I’d had at least had one cup of coffee.

In remodeling news — the old deck is gone; the new deck is framed in.  We’re promised a railing — or possibly a partial railing — and floorboards today.

The painters are even now doing battle with the kitchen.  It’s possible that the kitchen’s winning.

The cats are deployed to their waiting-out-the-painters positions:  Mozart occupying the bottom of the bed while Scrabble holds the high ground of the file cabinet in my office.

Progress on “The Space at Tinsori Light”
2,694/8,000? words OR 33.67% complete

This, thought Jen Sin yos’Phelium Clan Korval, is going to be. . .tricky.

Ghost Ship news

Ghost Ship, by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, published by Baen in August 2011, debuts at the Number 8 spot on the Locus Bestselling Hardcover List for August, which appears in the November issue. Other luminaries include Mr. Butcher, Mr. Martin, Mr. Stross, Mr. Goodkind, Mr. Cline, Mr. Brooks, Mr. Grossman, Mr. Palma, and Ms. Armstrong.

Ms. Donaghy, the Features Editor at Goodreads, kindly lets us know that Ghost Ship is included in the first nominee list for the Goodreads Readers Choice Award, and sends a link to all the nominees.

She also explains the process:
Readers have three chances to vote:
Opening Round: October 31 – November 13, 2011
Voting open to official nominees and write-in votes.
Semifinals: November 14 – November 20, 2011
We add the top 5 write-ins as official nominees. Additional write-ins no longer accepted.
Finals: November 21 – November 30, 2011
The field narrows to the top 10 books in each category.
Learn more: http://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/314

ABOUT THE NOMINATIONS
We analyzed statistics from the 87 million books added, rated, and reviewed on the site in 2011 to list 15 books in 22 categories–that’s 330 nominations. We did not consult a panel of experts or form a secret committee of publishing insiders. Readers know what’s good and what’s great. These nominations are based on a book’s number of ratings and average rating as pegged by the more than 6 million members on Goodreads. So a nomination is truly an honor because it comes from your readers!

Ms. Donaghy asks us to do what we can to get our readers out to vote. So! If you are moved to do so, please vote; a bunch of worthy books have been nominated, so going over to take a look is worthwhile, if only from the point of view of compiling a list of books to read.

Goodreads does, I believe, insist that you register with Goodreads in order to vote.

House news

The painters were here this morning at the crack of dawn. They knocked off about noonish, with promises to return tomorrow at the same unnatural hour. The ceilings have been painted, and the walls in the hallway and the living room; and the trim has been wiped with stain. The whole effect is very nice and clean.

The painters were still at it when the guy who’s replacing the deck appeared with his crew. As of this writing, we have no deck. Hopefully, this condition will rectify itself within the next few days, though we’re told that the roof will take another couple weeks, due to our guy’s having gotten a big remodeling job at one of the restaurant’s in town that has to be done — wait for it — before Thanksgiving.

Just when we thought things were settling down, the guy called about the floor (you remember the guy about the floor), with three estimates: on-the-cheap, mom-would-be-proud, and the-one-percent. We’ll be seeing him on Friday or Saturday, I guess, to fine-tune what we want, and, if all goes well, we’ll have new floors in the front of the house by Thanksgiving, to go with the new paint and the new deck.

Does the woman never work? news

Got some words done on “Tinsori Light” this morning; gonna go get myself some more, as soon as I hit “post.”

 

Thanks to everyone who spoke to the question of the ancient disk.   A Plan has been put in motion.

Today?  Was errands in town.  We finally got the gym memberships squared away — our fault, not the gym’s — and I hope to start in with the exercising on Friday.

Why Friday?  you ask.  Why not, oh, tomorrow?

Because tomorrow, at the theoretical hour of 8:30 AM, the painters will arrive.  The guy who’s doing the deck also spoke fondly of a Wednesday start-up, but he won’t be by until noon.

I’m pleased to announce that the entire moveable contents of the kitchen and the living room (the Front of the House) have been relocated to my office, Steve’s office and the bedroom (the Back of the House). The painters will need to move the heavy furniture, which I can’t shift, and which wouldn’t fit down the hallway anyway, into the middle of the rooms and throw a tarp over the whole bidness, but the boss-lady assures me this will be no problem.

Tomorrow, I will be locked in my office, avoiding painters, music on to drown out the merry sound of the chainsaw chewing through the existing deck.  My hope is that I will have a working draft of “Tinsori Light” by the time the painters pack up and leave us, on Thursday.

Wish me luck.

In other news, have you perhaps seen Lemony Snicket’s 13 Observations on Occupy Wall Street?  If not, it’s here, and worth a look.  I’m particularly fond of #11.

 

How to save money on books, and! defeat the Evil Publishing Empire.

All of it.

It was snowing when we went to bed last night. This morning, we woke to the plaintive beeping of UPS units, which was our first clue that the power had gone out.

We lay abed a little longer, hoping that the power would reassert itself — it didn’t — then rose reluctantly to greet the day. Happily, we have a gas stove, and after a brief search for matches, I heated water for tea while Steve made up a scrambled egg breakfast.

After breakfast, I used the snow shovel Steve had foresightfully brought up from the basement yesterday to push the collected precipitation off the deck and the outside stairs. We got maybe six inches of Very Soggy snow, which spent much of the day returning to its natural, more liquid, state. I’m supposing this means black ice and treacherous driving tonight, so everyone stay safe.

After doing my duty to the Goddess of Snows, I pulled out a pen and a yellow pad and started working on “Tinsori Light.”

The power came back around 1:00; Steve made us a wonderful turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy, then we both went back to work.

“Tinsori Light” wants to be written out by hand, which is OK by me — and OK by Mozart, too, since writing out by hand means sitting on the couch with the floofy blanket and the lap desk. Mozart is highly in favor of floofy blankets and the couch.

I’ve transcribed what I wrote, and am pretty happy with what I have. I hope to continue tomorrow, but that’s not as certain as I’d like it to be, due to the rumored arrival of the painter, bearing color chips. Further rumor has her beginning to paint on Tuesday, which means tomorrow will be all about shifting the damn’ kitchen…into the bedroom.

Erk.

The good news is that the painter thinks she can have everything done in one day. If I could hear from the guy about the floors, my life would be complete. For values of complete which include going completely bonkers.

And, may I just say, apropos of nothing much, that I love, love, love, my new pastry mat? I’ve never had one before, and man! does it make kneading dough into a dream.

Hope everybody is safe and warm in the aftermath of the snowstorm.

Progress on “The Space at Tinsori Light”
1,041/8,000? OR 1.0% complete

Space is haunted.