Category: Blog

Books read in 2025

7   Painting the Blues in Gretna Green (#2 Midlife Recorder), Linzi Day (e)
6   Midlife in Gretna Green (#1 Midlife Recorder), Linzi Day (e)
5   The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (Author), Kyle McCarley (Narrator) re-re-re&c-read (audio)
4   The House in the Cerulean Sea,  TJ Klune (e)
3   A Gentleman in Search of a Wife (Lord Julian #5) Grace Burrowes (e)
2   A Gentleman in Pursuit of the Truth (Lord Julian #4) Grace Burrowes (e)
1   A Gentleman in Challenging Circumstances (Lord Julian #3) Grace Burrowes (e)

It used to seem to me that my life ran on too fast

What went before:  I’m looking to reacquaint myself with Gordy Arbuthnot and posted a Scavenger Hunt on FB, to make sure I had all the places where he has appeared and/or been mentioned in the Universe So Far.  This brought up a splinter — what had a very long time ago been thought by its fond authors to be the start of the second novel staring Shan and Priscilla (this being before we learned that “nobody” wanted to read about traders), and where it might be found.  The splinter is entitled “Shan and Priscilla Ride Again,” and it is collected in Pinbeam Books chapbook Splinter Universe Presents:  Might-have-beens and first thoughts from the Liaden Universe®.  Amazon link provided as a courtesy.

Moving on . . .

Friday. Sunny and cold enough.

Breakfast was a blueberry muffin with a side of cheddar cheese. Lunch will be … potatoes. Potatoes have potassium, which is good for what ails me, so I’m told.

I was going to Just Get To Work Today. I mean, that was the plan, but having eaten breakfast — I don’t feel so hot, so I’ll just be taking my second cup of tea to the Command Chair and continue with yesterday’s modest researches. Normally, I would do this from the comfy chair in my office, but the antibiotic I’m taking forbids me “direct or indirect” sunshine. Sigh.

Perhaps later I’ll be able to address the Mess on my Desk.

What’s everybody doing today?

Today’s blog title brought to to you by Steve Winwood, “Back in the High Life”

Tete a tete:

Yeah, still sick

Thursday. Blue skies, cold, tiny glittering snowflakes drifting about in the light breeze.

Yep, still sick. In fact, I feel somewhat less well than I felt yesterday, when I felt sick enough to go back to the clinic.

The plan for the day is to drag the laptop and a couple of research books to the Command Chair, in order to make some notes in between staring out the window and drinking tea. I’ve already set up the timer for med intakes.

Breakfast was oatmeal with the last of the cranberry nut mix as inclusions, with a side of cottage cheese. Lunch — I have various soups, and also salad things, so lunch will be Something.

And that’s all I’ve got. Hopefully, the meds will start kicking viral butt, and improvement will be swift.

What’re y’all doing today?

Anything can happen day

What went before:  On this day in 2024, we here at the Confusion Factory found that our podcast at Legendarium regarding Hellspark and why you should read it right now had aired.  This is the last podcast Steve and I did.  Here’s the link.

Yesterday, I was pointed to this ancient blog post regarding the craft of writing, which I offer to those who may be interested.

Wednesday. Sunny and cool.

Breakfast was hummus and naan, cheese and crackers, dreamberries, and tea. Second cup of tea just finished brewing.

I? Am sick. Again. I s’pose I should go back to the clinic, only — I don’ wanna. So, I’m drinking my second cup of tea while I type this broadcast to the universe, after which I will dispatch my duty to the cats, and then I’ll go to the clinic and chat with them about checking for opportunistic pneumonia. Steve two or three times “got over” a bad cold only to land in the ER with pneumonia, and while I wouldn’t have told you my late bout with the flu was anything like “bad,” I am so not a doctor. . .

What else? Ah. As reported yesterday, there will be no (NO) hardcover edition of Sea Wrack and Changewind. I’m very sorry, but my skills proved inadequate to the task. Those who desire a paper copy may of course purchase the trade paper edition (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948465299). The ebook edition remains available wherever electrons are sold.

Facebook tells me that “a friend” has reported a profile that is pretending to be me. FB assures me that it is investigating, and if it’s found that this profile violates “community standards,” it will be deleted. I suppose if it’s not found to violate “community standards” it will be allowed to remain, at which time I will either vanish in a puff of pearl-grey smoke OR there will be two of me, and we can share the housework. Watch the skies.

. . . I think that’s all the news. I’ll try to report in later, hoping that it’s NOT from the ER (oh. NOTE TO SELF: Put KIND bars in backpack).

Everybody stay safe, and healthy. And if you feel so moved, please share pictures of your pets.

Doctor, Doctor, Mister MD

What went before:  Yesterday was all errands all day.  The cover art for Diviner’s Bow is with the framer, and I should have it back by mid-February.  There came up for discussion the always interesting question of which band did the superior version of “Good Lovin'” — the Grateful Dead or the Young Rascals.  Facebook is leaning toward the Rascals.  I now open the question up to those reading here.  Here’s the Dead’s version.   Here’s the Rascals’ version.

Onward.

Tuesday. Cloudy and cool. Snowed a tiny bit on the overnight. Trash and recycling at the curb.

Woke up sneezing and hacking, so — no sewing circle for me today. Grr. I did mask everywhere I went yesterday, and a good thing too, I’m thinking.

Breakfast was an English muffin with cream cheese and an orange. I only have two of the little oranges left. *adds to list* Lunch will be … um.

Rookie decided to help me choose my day wear this morning, and as a result got locked in a closet for a few minutes. I called him; he answered; and I let him out. It’s nice to have a cat who answers when he’s called.

Having been let out, he had to go get Grandpa to Show Him, I suppose, but neither one could get the door open again.

So, I guess today is stay at home and poke at things, but not too energetically.

I think my next audiobook will be Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, another frequent reread for me. I finished reading Midlife in Gretna Green last night. I had a good time with it, and there are six (?) more, I hear.

The backbrain has been providing snips of scenes and various insights for the next book, so Not Writing is paying its dividends. I plan to continue Not Writing today.

What are your plans for the day?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Books read in 2025

6   Midlife in Gretna Green (#1 Midlife Recorder), Linzi Day (e)
5   The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (Author), Kyle McCarley (Narrator) re-re-re&c-read (audio)
4   The House in the Cerulean Sea,  TJ Klune (e)
3   A Gentleman in Search of a Wife (Lord Julian #5) Grace Burrowes (e)
2   A Gentleman in Pursuit of the Truth (Lord Julian #4) Grace Burrowes (e)
1   A Gentleman in Challenging Circumstances (Lord Julian #3) Grace Burrowes (e)

Zooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Monday, sunny and cool.

Breakfast was eggs scrambled with sausage and onion, and the last of the silly little corn cakes. Lunch … may be take out.

I have errands, including the long-put-off getting of gas, and foraging. This afternoon, I have an appointment to choose a frame for the Diviner’s Bow art.

And that’s really all I’ve got. I’ll see you on the flipside. Do feel free to talk among yourselves.

Books read in 2025

5   The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (Author), Kyle McCarley (Narrator) re-re-re&c-read (audio)
4   The House in the Cerulean Sea,  TJ Klune (e)
3   A Gentleman in Search of a Wife (Lord Julian #5) Grace Burrowes (e)
2   A Gentleman in Pursuit of the Truth (Lord Julian #4) Grace Burrowes (e)
1   A Gentleman in Challenging Circumstances (Lord Julian #3) Grace Burrowes (e)

Sunny Sunday

Sunday. Sunny 16F/-8C. Said to be headed for a balmy 32F/0C.

Later, there will be the sweeping of the steps and the walking out to get the mail. Right now, there’s a waffle in the toaster oven, and sausages in the pan. A Sunday Breakfast. Lunch may either be chicken or a yam. I leaning toward the yam at the moment, but that could change.

USPS informs me that I will be receiving the proof for the second try for a hardcover Sea Wrack. . . .

Despite having slept late, and the sun pouring into my office, I’m fighting an urge to take a nap. Perhaps another cup of tea is in order.

For those following along at home, my new read is Midlife in Gretna Green by Linzi Day.

Today’s to-do list includes the already discussed sweeping and gathering, and the preparation of lunch. Have some data entry to do, as the last credit card bills detailing 2024 expenditures have landed.

Before all that, I may really take my second cup of tea over to the comfy chair and sit in the sun while I listen to another chapter or two of The Goblin Emperor. I must say that the audiobook experiment is producing … unexpected benefits. I’m finding it remarkably soothing to just sit and let someone read to me. Of course, I know the book very well and the narrator is well-matched to the text.

So, another lazy-ish day here at the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory, and I can’t even been cranky at myself.  Really, I’ve earned this.

So, that.

How’s everybody doing?