Tag: life after the apocalypse

Starting the day with sunshine

Monday. Sunny and already warm. All the windows are open and the cats are lounging in the breeze from the sliders in Steve’s office.

The first load of towels needs to be taken out of the dryer and the second load put in.

The area rugs and runners are outside and over the rails, taking the sun. My deck chair and table are set up and ready for use.

Regarding the deck chair. When I got it out of the closet where it overwintered, there were five springs taking shelter beneath its skirts. FIVE.

For book club, I’m reading A Gentleman in Moscow, which I’m enjoying. It strikes me that this may have been what Theo of Golden was striving for, and, err, didn’t achieve.

Since I just recently read Balance of Trade, I started Trade Secret last night, wherein I note that the Young Gentleman reveals to us The Plan. I believe that Jen Sin reviled the Young Gentleman’s clan in Salvage Right, and also said something about The Plan, which I will need to check.

Honest to ghu, this universe is tight. The authors must’ve have a million databases. *cough*.

I have a couple titles that will fit in the small blank stars on the front of the Starry Shirt, so I’m getting those ready to be embroidered.

And! I have not yet heard from D2D customer service, which is not surprising, and I really don’t expect to hear from them this week.

I believe I need to step out for a few minutes to hit the TJMaxx in-town, and also the Hannaford. P’rhaps I’ll get the car washed. I have a pass, after all.

How’s everybody doing this fine Monday morning?

Dammit, Universe…

And, I’ve hit a snag in the republication project.

Draft2Digital has produced Content Guidelines, to wit:
What are the requirements for self-certifying erotica content?
You must accurately declare the presence of specific erotic themes during the publishing process. You are required to disclose if your work contains any of the following:
Incest or Pseudo-Incest: Sexual relations between family members, whether biologically or non-biologically related (including step-relatives).
Bestiality: Sexual relations between humans and real-world animals. (Note: Fantasy creatures such as shape-shifters or aliens are not classified as bestiality).
Rape for Titillation: Content where the dominant theme is non-consensual sexual relations intended to titillate the reader.
Age Play: Consenting adult characters role-playing or pretending to be babies or children.
Dubious Consent (Dubcon): Scenes exploring the gray area between consent and non-consent where the receiver’s willingness is unclear.
Non-Consensual Sexual Slavery: Erotic depictions of kidnapping, imprisonment, or trafficking. This is distinct from BDSM, which relies on informed consent and safe words.
We do not accept content with pornographic images or content that glorifies taboo subjects such as sexual exploitation of children or rape.

. . . Given the squeamishness of the audiobook company that backed out of its contract because Chapter Whatever-It-Was, I’m guessing that D2Digital will find The Fey Duology to be in violation of its terms of use.

This? Is disappointing. To say the least.

The other, somewhat disturbing thing about this new policy is that books that certify “erotic” content will not be offered to libraries. I’d like to know if the libraries know that they’re being “protected” in this manner. And, I do have right here a review from Library Journal stating that Duainfey is “for most libraries.”
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Sigh. This has been a good day for Stress Eating. At least it was strawberries. Mind you, strawberries and whipped cream, but it could’ve been worse.

So, the Plan. I’ll continue getting the book together while I’m waiting for D2D to answer me (surprise! They warn of higher-than-normal customer contacts. Gee, I wonder why.), and based on their answer, I’ll … figure something out.

You’d think the people who are trying to suppress “erotica” would understand that hiding things in the corner, or forbidding certain things that people want, like, oh, I dunno? Abortion? Oh! Alcohol! Only drives it underground, where it warps and becomes deadly.

Yes, well. Back to work.

This day has not been as productive as I had envisioned.

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Despite the best efforts of the universe, I did get some useful stuff done today. I include washing the dishes and vacuuming the dining room, living room, and bedroom in that.

Tomorrow, I need to research how/how much it will cost to register the copyright for The Fey Duology (we had always assigned and noted an ISBN, and published the copyright notice, which, until the late shenanigans with the AIs, provided protection as it showed Intent. The Anthropic Settlement teaches us that there’s no protection without you spend money for it. Well. Lesson learned.), fill out the necessary forms, and maybe even finish formatting the book.

After which, it can languish until I get some Answers from D2D.

. . .I keep catching myself saying, to myself, or to the cats, or, yanno, to all of us, “Why is everything taking so long?” And, aside the universe being bored, the answer is — today? Today, if I was focused on getting the book formatted, Steve would have vacuumed, done the dishes, and cooked dinner, too. If he’d drawn the book, then I’d’ve picked up the chores, and the book would have been ready for formatting (except we’d probably still be talking about if we’re paying the copyright fee, and wondering to each other WTF D2D has got into its head) right about, oh — now.

I’m never going to get used to this, am I?

Well.

Onward.

Everybody have a good evening. Stay safe. I’ll check in tomorrow.

Here, have some daffodils:

Hittin’ the books

Saturday. Sunny. The weatherbeans give it as their opinion that it will achieve “warm” today.

Found one of Rookie’s whiskers — I don’t find them nearly as often as I find the long white sort favored by the girls — so that was exciting. Also, he managed to bank two out of three possible new balls, so I ordered in nine more (3 additional cards) from Petsmart, which declares that they will deliver these essential items today. Guess somebody in Augusta thinks it’s a nice day for a ride.

Next up, putting the kettle on and rustling up some breakfast before I hit the books.

What’s on the books for Saturday at your place?
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And, in celebration of a sunny Saturday, one of my favorite character interactions, in which we learn that Clonak isn’t … quite … a fool, after all. From I Dare:

“You fed me to them,” [Val Con] said, and his voice was, perhaps, not quite steady. “The scouts gave me to the Department.”

Clonak stared at him as if he’d taken leave of his wits. “Well, *of course* we gave you to them, Shadow! Who else did we have more likely to trump them than a first-in, pure-blood yos’Phelium scout commander? Concentrated random action. Would we waste such a weapon? Would you? I didn’t think so. Besides,” he finished, crossing his arms over his chest. “It’s the duty of the Captain to protect the passengers. Er Thom can’t have missed telling you that!”

“As close-kin, I ask that you not kill him,” Daav said into the silence that followed this. “I allow him to be twelve times an idiot. But he is also my oldest friend, and I value him.”

Nope, still a ways to go

So! I found somebody to install the dishwasher when it arrives (actually, the day after it arrives). I had thought that part was going to be the most difficult, after the whole banking mess, but — a pleasant surprise.

The tech from Andersen who was supposed to be here by 12 and then by 1:30 has yet to arrive. He did call when he realized he was running late, so I was able to have lunch.

The laundry is almost finished, and Firefly is sleeping in the comfy chair in my office. Tali and Rook came out to shark at lunchtime, but I think they’ve gone back to Steve’s office.

On the Writing Side of Things, my plan is to finish getting The Fey Duology ready to rock ‘n roll, catch myself up on the Liaden Read Along commentary, and read the Jethri books as a lump.

The last is in service of ensuring that This Idea I Had to finish up that sub-series will actually square with what’s already canon.

This means, yes, I’ll be — adjusting — the order of my complete reread of the Liaden books, but needs must, and at least I’ll still be reading in-Universe.
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On Facebook, someone commented that I had clearly always been a cat, which gave rise to this memory:

You may be on to something. The first time Steve and I went together into a neighborhood strange to both of us, we had barely gotten out of the car when two cats came charging down the street, tails high, ran right up to Steve and started slamming themselves against his knees. He knelt down, administered ear scrubbles, then kinda looked up at me, half-smiling (I might have been staring), and said, “Yeah. Cats like me.”
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So, today didn’t quite work out like I expected, but! Tomorrow’s decks are clear, so I can hop right into The Fey Duology.

Everybody have a good evening. I’ll check in tomorrow.

Are we there yet?

Friday. Sunny and cool.

Finished yesterday with a phone call from the Investigator from the finance company, who only wanted to tell me what I’ve been told eight times before, that they did not submit the check twice and the error was on the bank’s side. I told her to call the bank, but no, investigators can’t call banks to find out WTF. Nor can banks call investigators. I was a moderate wreck by the time we finished up, and spent the evening reading until I stopped shaking. I finished When the Wolves are Silent around 11 pm.

I did have a pleasant dream where I was grocery shopping with Steve, so there was that.

Woke up this morning, called the bank and went through five levels of experts until the fifth said, “Jeez, I don’t know why we pulled — oh, wait. Yanno? I bet we weren’t sure that said thousand.” So, we verified that the needed funds were in the account (yes). I called the finance company, explained that the bank had acted out of an Over-abundance of Caution, verified the amount due, which I carefully BLOCK PRINTED on the check, and God, may She be willing, this is the end of that.

(And, yes, I am aware that we have reached the land of Everybody Make Something Up Until we Hit on Something that Sounds Plausible and Doesn’t Lose Anybody Their Job.)

What else?

Ah. Indeed, Ray cannot install my dishwasher-arriving-on-May-6 for me, so I need to cast about for someone else.

And? There’s actually more, but I’ll reserve the rest for later, before this becomes too long.

How’s Friday treating y’all?
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* I believe it was Val Con who said that being a Scout was one-quarter being terrified and three-quarters mucking about in the mud? The same can be said of being a writer.
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Oh, hey, here’s more:

Back when I first met Steve, I operated on the principle that people — all people — were out to get me, and that I could trust no one. Which makes the entry of Steve into my life even more extraordinary, but — that aside.

I hate that we — or at least I — have returned to a place where I must suspect everything of being a scam.

This takes a toll on your soul, and I hate it. I especially hate it because for much of my life, after Steve convinced me that sometimes, people will actually be kind and helpful because there are kind and helpful people in the world, I very much benefited from the kindness of strangers.

And now? Everyone has to be Scrutinized and Weighed and the walls must be fortified. Not just the normal stuff of “You’re Old and Now You’re Prey” that’s always been out there, but the unrelenting barrage of people trying to steal from you, frighten you, and trick you is approaching lethal. And now, there are AIs added to the arsenal of the scammers.

In this brave new world…

Rainy Day and Story Notes

Thursday. Rainy and cool.

Today, I believe, is going to include a sizeable chunk of time in the Comfy Chair in my office, with a pen, a pad of paper and various notes. Which is to say — working, today.

I will be baking a couple of chicken breasts, some of which will be for lunch today, the rest of which will be leftovers.

I have a note from the finance company assuring me that they are On The Case.

In all the Excitement attending the finance company shenanigans the other day, I forgot the Biggest! News! Users of electricity have been being promised for months now that our electricity bills Will Be going down next year, and a couple days ago I got a letter from CMP, assuring me that this happy news is true!

In fact, my monthly electric bill will be doing down by!

Four dollars.

Y’all, I can’t even buy a bottle of cheap wine for four bucks anymore.

I noted several people remarking on how small alpacas are, and indeed they are much shorter than their cousin, the llama. Breed standard calls for a compact animal, and one of yesterday’s companions of the road — Obadiah — is considered Too Tall, and for that defect, he will never know the joys of alpaca fatherhood.

All that said — I’m no longer six foot tall, but I’m still way taller than the so-called “average” American woman at five-foot-three-anna-half feet. Cory, who is closer to the average, but not what I would call short, had to reach UP to fasten Zander’s lead, and had to Speak Sternly to Obie, when he casually lifted his head, putting his nose beyond her reach, when she was trying to fasten the lead.

So — alpacas are compact, yes — but they’re not small. I would not, for instance, have wanted Zander to step on my foot.

Oh! And another question — this regarding the cat balls — Do the cats like them? Yes! In fact, these are the culmination of A Quest to replace the two (similar) cat balls that Rookie carried around with him and brought to me to throw for him, and, indeed, brought to his grandpa Trooper, to show him what a ball was. The original balls are doubtless in a safe place, because they are Treasure, but Rookie doesn’t really get the springs, though he’ll compete with Tali, because — Competition R Rook — and none of the other balls in the house are quite so perfect as those which have been banked.

So! All questions now being answered: What’re your plans for the day?

Walk like an alpaca…

So that was a full day.

First up — tour of the alpacas en masse. The last time I was at Northern Solstice Alpaca Farm, it was with Steve, who may have been trying to keep me amused post-mastectomy. The star stud at that point was Space Cowboy, who you will of course understand was of immediate interest to Steve. I’m sorry to have to report that Cowboy has since joined the Great Alpaca Herd in the Clouds. Alpacas in the US rarely live past +/- 12 years and Cowboy was 20. There are a couple of other elders at Northern Solstice Alpaca Farm; one young lady is rising 18 and two more are 17.

Alpacas do not like to be petted, though either Zander, my guide, didn’t get that memo, or pressing up against your walking partner, (when initiated by Zander), is OK. My purple hoodie, so Rook informs me, smells really interesting.  As do my hiking boots.

Alpacas also do not like dogs. I’m told that the Number One Alpaca Predator is the domestic dog. At one point in our walk, Zander suddenly went on high alert, very deliberately bumped into me, and went still.

Turns out that a portion of the Hill-to-Sea Trail runs along the edge of the farm, and there were hikers on the trail, with their dog. Which was leashed. Zander and I waited a couple minutes in Complete Stillness, before I thought to tell him, very quietly, that dogs listen to me, that I don’t know why dogs listen to me, but they do — and that I had this for him. I pulled gently on the lead (as per instructions for If The Alpaca Stops), and we continued our stroll.

I also found out that, aside shearing, alpacas are not groomed, because grooming destroys the virtue of their wool. In fact, if a show alpaca arrives in the ring well-groomed and not dusted with hay, the judges take points off. The exact opposite of a cat show.

After our walk and another perambulation around the meadow, so that I could be properly introduced to everyone, I went on my way, deciding to stop at Augusta, which has two pet stores, and (unfortunately not, but so I believed when I set out) a TJ Maxx. At PetSmart I found Whisker City “It Drives Me Wild” soft fluffy balls — three on a card (pic below). These are crinkly, which the two that are somewhere in this house are not, but Rookie wishes me to let you know that they are Entirely Acceptable. I detached one from the card and threw it for him, and while he initially darted off with it down to Steve’s office, he soon brought it back to me so I could throw it again. We did this for, eh, six times, then he took it some where else.

After I found that TJ Maxx was gone, I went The Senator for my midday meal — crab cakes, rice, and broccoli — stopped at the Cony Street Hannaford for a minor grocery shop, and came home to find a call from the appliance store, letting me know that, nope, no dishwasher delivery next week, but the week after.

I don’t think that’s going to work out for Ray, who has another, more pressing, appointment coming up, but I’ll give him a call and see if he can recommend someone else.

And I think that’s all the news.

How’s everybody doing today?

Photo album here

Today’s blog post title comes with apologies to the Bangles, “Walk Like an Egyptian“

What I did on Earth Day 2026

Welcoming committee.  This is a guinea hen, sometimes called a peahen

These are (some of) the lovely ladies of Northern Solstice  Alpaca Farm

(l-r) Lysander (Zander, to his friends), Sharon, Obadiah (Obie).  Pic taken by Cory, who is attached to Obie by the rainbow lead.  Zander was my guide.

Working team, Zander and Sharon

(Some of) the gents:

It’s been a long week already

So, that was not how I was going to spend my morning.

In early March, I paid off the installation of the new French doors in Steve’s office. The check cleared. I foolishly thought that was that.

Until today, when I open a statement from the finance company which states that I owe them the full amount.

I call. The story at the finance company is that the check was “returned to maker” — IOW, it bounced.

I look at my account online. Nope; check cleared. However, there is a noted “returned” check for the same amount after the original check cleared.

I call the bank, which goes into their files, and says that it looks to them like the check cleared, THEN IT WAS SUBMITTED AGAIN — and the second submission bounced. As it should have done.

Call finance company back. Am told several times at length by the first line customer service person that the check bounced. Finally win a conversation with a “specialist,” with whom I go through the whole thing One! More! Time! including the fact that I have of copy of the cleared check with the finance company’s stamp on the back, and he creates a Ticket.

I’m to hear back from the Banking Experts in 48 to 72 hours. And I’m wondering if people can actually shake themselves into a decline.

Argh.

First cat fountain swapped. Guess I’d better go get on the second.
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And on the plus side of the ledger, dishwasher repair guy will be here “today.”

Guess I’d better rustle up some lunch.
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And Ray says the motor’s burned up. I have purchased on his advice, a Whirlpool which will hopefully be delivered sometime next week.

Argh.
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Home now from needlework, which I’m glad I just didn’t decide to stay home and brood.

Yanno what?  I’m really looking forward to walking that alpaca tomorrow morning.