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Monday, November 16, 2009
See, told'ja it was good. A lot of people seem to be articulating on the points I couldn't quite make, and I'm glad, because it saves me the trouble of doing it myself. :)
There's spoilers in these reviews so don't go there unless you've seen it, or just really want to know ahead of time what happens. But I have to say that even I, spoiler queen of the universe, would really recommend you don't read spoilers this time. It's worth it.
Can't wait 'til xmas! And I haven't really felt that way since I was a kid. I know it's going to be sad, but wow...I still can't wait!
I attempted some decluttering today. I unearthed a bunch of zines and zine-sized envelopes. If you want me to send you some zines paypal me two dollars for the postage. (my email address is in my profile info--don't forget to include your mailing address)
If you don't know what I'm talking about, this journal started as a paper zine back in 2003. The issues I have left include an article about mushrooms and an article about urban nature in Austin among other things. I may try to slip other goodies into the envelopes if I can get away with it.
- Boneshaker discussion up at Publishers Weekly - Spoilers ahoy, for this is a bookclub discussion. Today’s subject matter is the plot and pacing, and I believe that tomorrow will tackle the setting. Please feel free to chime in if you’re interested; and as always, ping me if you have any questions (though I’ll stay out of the bookclub conversation unless I’m invited).
- Many, many thanks to the CCLaP - For that fine organization has written a positively epic review of Boneshaker. I take back everything I ever said about the Cubs.
- Shameless Nebula plug - I don’t usually do this kind of thing (let the record reflect, virtually never), but it’d be really swell if Boneshaker’s momentum was nudged by a Nebula nod, for which it is eligible this year. And besides, wouldn’t it be cool to see a steampunk title make the list?
And now for today’s stats for the fabulous urban fantasy adventure about a neurotic vampire/thief and her wealthy blind client, now with Bonus! Cuban drag queen and military intrigue:
Project: Bloodshot
New Words Written: 2057 (meh)
Present Total Word Count: 74,169 words
Goal: 95,000 words by December 12
Things Accomplished in Fiction: Secret negotiations, conversations, and twitterpations; the fruits of investigation are discussed and considered; plans are made; the hipster ghoul has some objections but nobody listens.
Things Accomplished in Real Life: Started a new day-job project; did a little housework; threw in a couple of loads of laundry; contacted PBS and arranged to have my old car donated thereunto, because I have an unholy love of Neil deGrasse Tyson* and Antiques Roadshow, and anyway it’s easier than trying to sell the thing–given all the minor (but copious) things that are wrong with it. Better to see it go to a good cause, I say; and I’ll take the tax deduction, too.
Reason for Stopping: Time to go pull the laundry out of the dryer. Might return to work later this evening, while the husband is off being a ninja.
* I nearly squeed myself to death on a recent episode of NOVA scienceNOW wherein the good astrophysicist was playing basketball with my favorite cognitive theorist. It was sparkly-eyed nerd-hour bliss, I tells ya.
[Crossposted to/from my website. If you'd like to comment, you can do so either here or there.]
This is a very late edition of the Monday Morning Video, twenty-fourth in a series of videos intended to help you get your work week off to a better start.
Since I again wasn't feeling well this morning, instead of skipping, as I did last week, instead I'm posting two videos celebrating a third subject: the recent 40th Anniversary of Sesame Street.
First, the Man of Steel substantiates his favorite sibilant:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hRKBPTu8vw
Then Patrick Stewart solos sublimely about whether this is a B or not a B (yes, that is a question):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA7lv1SDzno
Current mood:  silly
Thanksgiving time is upon us again and for most of us United Statesians that means an orgy of overeating above and beyond our normal gluttony. For those who have chosen not to eat animal products it means a horribly awkward time in which a beloved family ritual is transformed into an exercise in walking on eggshells--sorry! I know you don't eat eggs, I just--
Fortunately there's a handy guide on how to host a mixed vegan/non-vegan Thanksgiving. You should definitely read it, but here's what it boils down to:
1. Everyone should treat everyone else like adults. No need to feel ashamed for wherever we fall in the diversity of choices of how we eat, and no need to be a dick about it, on either side.
2. Don't be insulted that the vegans refuse your delicious food. Butter, honey, and gelatin all count, as do animal ingredients like wine clarifiers and confectioners' glaze.
3. It's not impossible to make some foods vegan, if you want everyone to have a chance to eat. You don't even have to bend over backwards.
4. Even vegans don't like Tofurkey. Don't buy that shit.
5. It's really hard to make a good tasting vegan pumpkin pie.
6. Don't choose this special time to argue the pros and cons of veganism. I would extend this to all mealtimes. The least interesting and most awkward dinner conversation possible begins "So why don't you eat meat?" (or "animal products," or "pork," or "any food not blessed by a Rabbi") There's no easier way to ruin a meal, or a conversation. You ruined Christmas last year, leave Thanksgiving alone!
10:33AM
In my new "Code Green" comic, the US feels a sudden unfamiliar urge to share: http://ping.fm/WoRfL
10:53AM
Zombie!Move is trying to eat my brain again. Why can't things ever just work like they are supposed to?
Off to Fayetteville and a cheaper place to stay. Driving to ATL to pick up Guinness tomorrowaj still not sure where we're staying tomorrow night. I've been told I'm worrying too much.
Mav came over this morning and gave me a steroid injection and an antibiotic injection. She says I need to take two days off due to being a menace to society. Fucking Sonic... I bet I got this from dealing with all those people and their nasty money. Posted via LiveJournal.app.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The MC of the troupe, Donny Vomit, pointed out that Go Go Amy was a vegetarian. "Any vegetarians in the house?"
*dead silence*
"Well, so much for my vegetarian jokes."
Yeah, gotta love the Deep South. :) Even it the HIPPEST of crowds, we're still pretty much carnivores.
Another funny bit was when Heather Holliday did her sword swallowing act and there was something... dripping... from the end of the sword when she pulled it out. Ewww!
Been sick all day.
Creeped out of the house wearing my turquoise blazer and tie, our league colors. Went to help with the burlesque show that we were hosting as a fundraiser, but there was not much for me to do. Had some food at the restaurant, but it was overpriced and not very good, but at least it went towards. The house appeared to be close enough to packed. I hope we actually made some money.
It was fun watching pretty ladies taking off their costumes, doing little vaudeville acts and such. But it just made me feel sad and lonely and depressed, and I wasn't feeling good anyway, so I bailed out of there before the intermission even, because I didn't want to be a wet blanket. If the general public was going to see a Roller Vixen, they needed to see a bright and happy Roller Vixen, not a sad and ill one.
Holy FUCK.
Let me rephrase: Holy fucking shit.
I thought they messed with Picard the year they had him be a Borg and have a family meltdown and then go live an entire imaginary life on a doomed planet. Poor Ten. He finally gets up on his hind legs and the universe delivers a smackdown. I guess being a Timelord isn't everything.
That's all the commentary I have; no real spoilers. I'm going to want to watch this one again. The stupid background music was up so loud it was hard to hear all the dialogue. But even if I'd heard it all, I'd still want to watch it again, and that's the only time I've felt that way since "Turn Left."
Poor Ten. Poor, poor Ten. I want to give him a beer and take him to Akron. He deserves it. You finally do the right thing, and...no. No more. Watch it for yourselves.
ETA: Wow, how amazingly prescient my previous entry has become.
In the past month or so, I have found myself in positions where I needed to take charge, but was often met with hesitation from the people around me. For one, when I was at HeroCon, I was with a friend who had recently had surgery and was on a 10 pound weight lifting restriction. This means he needed help getting his bag in and out of the van. Without thinking I picked it up and moved it for him. He cringed and said that he felt bad that I was doing all this lifting while he just stood there. "I wasn't raised like that," he said, in his slow Texas draw. I knew what he meant; he was raised to be a "Southern gentleman" who wouldn't stand around while women did all the work. I get that, and I understand it. I smiled back and said "Well I was raised to lend a hand to people who need it." He smiled back and we had a silent agreement - his Southern sensibilities would have to concede to my feminist sensibilities.
Then the other day, my car battery died. I had stopped at the reservoir on my way home from school to enjoy the beautiful scenery. The weather was gorgeous, and I wanted to spend some time outside while I still can. When I got back to my car, it wouldn't start. So I called Mom and told her my battery was dead and that I needed a jump. A few moments later, she and ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) najjon showed up. She said "I don't think I have jumper cables and your dad will be home in an hour. Why don't you leave it and we'll come back and get it when he gets home?" "Nonsense," I replied, "I have cables. Pull around and pop your hood." I then proceeded to hook them up and successfully jump my car back to life.
When I was at the Mothers' Blessing for octavialuna and koskalaka, I carried their fire bowl to the backyard for them, which prompted kerinda to comment on how strong I am. :-) And I smiled and said "Well I was married to a useless person for 10 years, so I'm used to doing everything for myself."
So I'm finding myself being thankful to my dad for not coddling and babying me because I'm female. He taught me how to take care of my car, do minor repairs around the house, mow the grass, etc. There was no gender division in the house; everyone worked based on their strengths. Dad often lifted heavy things because he could, but he was just as likely to make a nice dinner or sew a button. Mom and Dad did nice things for each other because they wanted to, and not because they thought they should based on their gender. For example, if Dad carried bags for Mom, it wasn't because he thought she couldn't do it but because he wanted to take the burden from her. And it's this kind of thinking that lead me to become the pragmatist that I am.
My ex, on the other hand, never thought of these kinds of things. He figured that because I could do something for myself that I should, always, and he never offered to do things for me. I can remember exactly once in nearly 12 years of being together that he offered to carry something for me. In a way, this pisses me off (or continues to, as it pissed me off then as well), but in another I am thankful. I am thankful because I am more self-reliant now than I ever have been before. I don't expect people to do things for me, but rather I assume they won't. Sure, it's great when someone is helpful, but I don't need it or even always want it.
I don't really know where I'm going with this, but it's been rolling around my head and I just had to take a brain dump. I used to be very bitter about the ex's uselessness, and in some ways I still am, but I'm also grateful that I never needed him. And now I don't need anyone. I can take care of myself, and that's a very good feeling to have.
Current mood:  contemplative
- Today I went to the zoo with Ellen, Avi, and Avi’s husband Gordon. I took some pictures. My favorite is probably this one.
- People have been emailing to ask where to find copies of Boneshaker here in Seattle. Apparently it’s been selling out around town (which is a good thing), and people can’t find it (which is a bad thing). Let it now be known: both the Barnes & Noble locations at Pacific Place and Northgate are well stocked with copies, all of which are signed; and likewise, the University Book Store in the U-district has a stash of signed copies (at the moment, as of this posting). Please, have at.
- If you’d like something signed to you, personally (or to a loved one … hey, the holidays are just over the horizon there, aren’t they?), you can order such a book through the University Book Store.
- Regarding electronic editions of Boneshaker — you can find the book here on the Kindle or via this listing at Diesel E-Books. This is literally all the information on the subject I have at my disposal.
- If you are a local (or even local-ish) bookseller and you’d like to get your stock signed, drop me an email at cherie.priest@gmail.com - and I’ll be glad to talk about coming to your store. It might take me a day or two depending on my work load and your location, but I’m always happy to accommodate you if at all possible.
[Crossposted to/from my website. If you'd like to comment, you can do so either here or there.]
8:21PM
Twenty minutes on the beach, and I'm sunburnt. I guess there's a reason the MTX bottle says to avoid sunlight. I'm already not allowed to have garlic in my diet. When do I develop porphyria?
10:26AM
Just to note, taking the MTX in mid-afternoon means I'm out of it for the evening, but I feel relatively human the next day. I may need to make this my regular schedule, just so I don't keep losing days.
Eating starch-free while traveling is pretty close to impossible. Oh, the Flipperz restaurant on Emerald Isle breads their chicken wings. Who does crazy stuff like that?
Voting is up for LJ Idol. If you liked my entry, I'm in the Current Events tribe. There was a bit of meta-drama involved this week, as supremegoddess1 wrote an essay basically calling out all the other contestants for various reasons. Personally, I think it took a lot of guts for her to write that entry, and I hope it works out for her. Besides, if we can't poke fun at ourselves, what's the point?
From "Curiosity" by Alastair Reid
Dogs say cats love too much, are irresponsible,
are changeable, marry too many wives,
desert their children, chill all dinner tables
with tales of their nine lives.
Well, they are lucky. Let them be
nine-lived and contradictory,
curious enough to change, prepared to pay
the cat price, which is to die
and die again and again,
each time with no less pain.
A cat minority of one
is all that can be counted on
to tell the truth. And what cats have to tell
on each return from hell
is this: that dying is what the living do,
that dying is what the loving do,
and that dead dogs are those who do not know
that dying is what, to live, each has to do.
(The whole thing can be read here.
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