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Friends
Dec. 23rd, 2009
01:00 pm - Eye candy alert
Cover art for Mouse and Dragon. I just brought the giclee of this home from the frame shop yesterday, and it really lights up the room.
*is pleased*
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pleased09:08 am - I lay with my Lady in the dark of the year/And I'll be reborn when the spring comes near
Today, we do dusting. And the ritual changing of the calendars. I'm playing seasonal music 'waaaayyyy too loud into an empty hallway. Eventually, I'll walk my time card over to payroll, wish the kind ladies there a Merry Christmas, pick up the mail, if any, set up my away-from-the-office messages, and, probably, read my book.
Hope everyone is having a similarly quiet day.
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contentDec. 22nd, 2009
08:53 am - Jack is back
Jack the Giant Killer is back home; the operation to install a new motherboard was a success. He is not yet online, due to a Situation with AVG, but I'll take care of that this evening, or possibly tomorrow evening, depending on the relative state of Other Things.
The weatherbeans are calling for maybe-snow today, and more of the same, to the tune of two to four inches, tomorrow. Today, I think, is the day to pick up the framed art for Mouse and Dragon from the Framemakers.
Only today and tomorrow and then we have winter break. *deep breath*
I figured out that one of the reasons I'm soooooo looking forward to this break is the opportunity to actually and really rest the arm with the rotator cuff injury. My physical therapist complained more than once that patients would get better soon if they would just rest, which, even he admitted, wasn't going to happen in this, the Real World. The day-job obligates me to carry heavyish things up and down from the mailroom, and to move cases full of job applications from here to there, and sometimes from Hither to Yon. Ten days without those obligations may get me the increased improvement I'm hoping for. Right now, I've hit a plateau, where I have more-but-not-complete range of motion, and much-less-but-still-some pain. I'd really like to get back to the full range of motion and pain only when I do something Stupid. Especially being as this is my good arm.
My mother-in-law called the other evening to find out how many inches of snow we'd gotten from The Big Storm(tm), and was slightly put out to be told that we hadn't seen a flake. Y'all who did get dumped on -- are you all dug out now? Are the lights on?
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okayDec. 21st, 2009
08:04 am - Snippet Hounds Take Note
Two brief snippets from Halfling Moon may be found here
06:41 am - Briefly --
While we're waiting to get a delivery date on Halfling Moon --
http://serialuniverse.com/
has two short snippets from the chapbook... and is updated at 8 AM to include a cover image...
Steve
ps .. still taking advice on yesterday's question, still hoping to get to chess tonight
pps ... we got no snow to speak of -- how's by you?
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artisticDec. 20th, 2009
10:50 am - Geek advice on webhosts
I'm need in need of webhosting advice/info a for possible shared site of which I'd have only passing or short-term administrative oversight -- which might need to provide some streaming. Could need to handle 3 to 5 domains. (This is a semi-bluesky situation and I'm trying to help with ballpark costs and startup info. Since I'd rather not have all my baskets tied to the same pile of eggs, a search for a service that works and is not my current SRM host here in Maine). Cpanel or equivalent might be nice, multiple mysql accounts and FTP and such ... some reasonable number of email accoutns -- but you know, the webhost rating services all seem to allow buy-ins, and I'd like realworld instead of shill info if it is possible. Understand that I'm not expecting to have even 1/8 time IT staff, so easy access to support is also good. Price is a concern, but first is stability and accessible support.
So,
1. Can you tell me what hosts you would absolutely avoid. Realio trulio DON'T GO THERE place ... I don't need all the gory details, just a quick filter for me to knock off the first percentage of hosts.
2. And next, services that you have been glad to work with, over time. If you have a personal tie, that's ok, but better if you're able to mention that (even if you have to send me a note in quiet to research (at) catwhisker (dot) net )
Thanks!
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contemplative09:14 am - Thanks and news, of a sort
Thanks for the suggestions and the sympathy -- very much appreciated.
Steve, who is a braver man than I am, opened up both computers, and swapped his hard drive out for mine. The hard drive boots, ergo it's probable that the motherboard in my machine has fried. Tomorrow, a trip to the computer repair place and hoping that the fix can be done quickly. This close to the holiday...who knows. If it can't be fixed quickly, then we'll go to plan b and get us a USB drive dock -- which sounds like a handy thing to have around the house, anyway.
Since chapter seven (which was, even before this happened, a Cursed Chapter) is more-or-less confirmed safe, if out of communication, on Jack's hard drive, I will proceed on to chapter eight, via The Leewit, watch the snow, and attempt not to do or confront anything that will pluck my nerves today.
And now, to breakfast.
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anxiousDec. 19th, 2009
07:46 pm - Well, isn't that just perfect...
My desktop has stopped. Just stopped. I had opened my mail program, which downloaded the mail, reporting that some idiot wanted an acknowledgment that I had received hisorher email...then the whole machine just locked up and -- quit. I couldn't even control-alt-del out of it, I had to hit the off button.
Reported at length in case there's a fun new virus out there that's deployed with the pop-up of a return receipt box.
Anyhow, the machine won't come up, and every! single! word! that I had written today is gone, and I am...beyond sick.
Those of you expecting email from me -- it'll be an undetermined while. I have most of the book backed up to dropbox and have gotten it down to The Leewit. Not today's work of course; I'll have to totally rewrite that from the ground up.
*cries*
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depressed12:12 pm - Scavenger Hunt!
Could somebody with time on their hands and a copy of I Dare close by compile a list of the Bosses of Surebleak, the territory each controls (if known), and their estate (quick/dead)?
Wow, that's a lot.
First one in with a complete list gets a paper arc of Mouse and Dragon, if and when.
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busy10:18 am - He siddles up, he sniffs, he bends his head...
...he drinks!
Please Ghu, this water fountain will last a long, long time.
busyDec. 18th, 2009
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happy09:16 am - Hexapuma vs. the water fountain follow-up report
Hex still Does Not Believe In the new water fountain, though the water bowl remains acceptable for brief drinks. The black mountain has been disguised and put away. Thanks to everyone for their advice; I'll keep you posted on progress, or lack thereof.
The weather today is a bright, sunny and perfectly calm 0F/-17C; tomorrow to be a thought warmer. I see that my old hometown, Baltimore, is about to get whacked with a nasty snowstorm; everybody down that way stay safe, 'k?
Yesterday, or the day before, I was, as is my habit, perusing the Apple trailer site. I believe that I may wish to see the Tim Burton Alice in March, in an Actual Movie Theater. On the other hand, there's no way I'm going within ten miles of the new Robin Hood. Anybody seen Avatar yet? Is it something more than Noble Blue Indians being Exploited by an Evil Corporation? Should I put it in my Netflix queue?
okay07:15 am - Well -- looks like lots of snow -- elsewhere ... and other stories.
The Mid-Atlantic seems set to get slammed starting late tonight and into Sunday with one forecaster calling conservatively for 8 inches or so -- but with the acknowledgment there's a lot more potential to the storm ... so good luck folks. Let's see if I recall the Bal'more rush-to-the-store list: Cloverland or Koontz milk, Schmits rye bread, toilet paper, coffee...Utz chips and pretzels, Tastykakes, and an extra case or two of beer and Pepsi. What did I forget? The forecast here for the weekend clear and then partly cloudy, with no active advisories -- so there's a noreaster aimed for the Chesapeake.
Here, I have an on-call run to Augusta planned for today, if they'll just *actually call*. I also need to see if there's an open H1N1 clinic down there since I still haven't had that shot... BUT the reason I want to go to Augusta is to check the still delayed cover proof for Halfling Moon. I'm afraid when our favored printer moved to their new location in the midst of a recession -- they got really, really busy. Good for them, but it makes our turn around on these color books into exquisite torture. Once the proof is approved turnaround time means stuff is really late... sigh, I have two chapbooks I'd really done by the endo f the years andthis plan is at risk.
OK, I've done it. Got a replacement cellphone, activated the voicemail, and even ... tested txting. Now I have to see if the bluetooth works. Can someone tell me why my phone needs to talk to my GPS, though?
My plan is to get to the office pretty early -- it's cool here right now, with current temp around -4F so the office will need some warming ... and oh yeah, as time permits this weekend I will try to get the new small weather station set up. Alas, we won't be connecting direct to Wunderground -- but hey, buy lots of our books and we'll be able to upgrade next year! The old outside thermometer last about 5 years but the batteries gave-up the ghost this time by leaking... I spotted an on-sale item at Home Depot that includes an anemometer as well as thermometer and humidity readings, so I'll be ready to share far too much weather information with you year round -- and to rush to the city when the call comes in.
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chipperDec. 17th, 2009
01:45 pm - May I just say...
...that it is frelling cold out there? And that I have already been up and down the damn' hill twice, schlepping boxes? And no way I feel like going out there again, especially since my reward will be to drag fifteen pounds of green books (formerly blue books) uphill in the teeth of a minus five wind?
Why, no, I don't have a particularly good attitude. They can make me do it, but they can't make me smile while I do it.
*gets hat and gloves*
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grrr09:06 am - Advice solicited from cat people
Asyouknowbob, we rejoice in the company of three cats: Scrabble, the calico cat of all work; Mozart, the elder cuddleme; and Hexapuma, comic relief.
Scrabble prefers running water to drink, so a couple years ago, we bought a cat fountain. The fountain we bought had a waterslide design -- a black plastic mountain rising out of a central bowl. A pump at the bottom of the mountain sent water to the top, where it ran through a filter before running down the waterslide. The filter, and the reservoir bottle, were covered with a black plastic cap.
In the last month or so, Hexapuma learned how to take the cap off the mountain, revealing the filter pack. Shortly thereafter, he decided that drinking from the water around the filter was his preferred method. I didn't think that ingesting nylon/polyester fibers with one's water was ultimately a Good Idea, and so a Battle of Wills ensued.
Which culminated in the acquisition of a new fountain. This one had two bowls: the water bubbles through a hole in the top bowl and flows over the sides to the bottom bowl; pump and filter are securely enclosed in the base of the top bowl.
Scrabble has given this fountain the Calico Cat Seal of Approval. Mozart has allowed himself a sip or two.
Hex won't go near the thing.
He cries. He gets up on the kitchen counter to drink out of the sink. He sits mournfully beside the dismantled, cleaned, and dry old fountain (also on the counter). He watches in Great Amaze and Puzzlement when the other cats avail themselves of the free-flowing elixir in the new bowl.
I put down a plain bowl of water, and he did drink from that. He will sit next to the new fountain, but drink from it, he will not.
We're -- well, Steve, since he's home -- moving the plain bowl of water closer to the new fountain, and hope that Hex will eventually Get the Picture.
What else can we be doing?
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gah!06:37 am - Yes, we're still Backlogged ** with update
I'm waiting for a phone call from our print house; the color cover proof for Halfling Moon is being run yet again, and may happen today. I supposed the transition from B&W to color covers to be easier by far than it has been -- combined with the attempt to go to a faster schedule without having an in-house assistant the results have been dismaying at best. Once the proof is approved printing can go forth, but the color covers take much longer to do, given the different drying time, than the b&w did.
At this point this page is your best source for information on when Halfling Moon and combined orders including Halfling Moon will be shipped. Forgive me, but the chance of any of these orders arriving in time for Christmas is small. I'm doing what I can to keep the SRM Publisher staff (that's me, myself, and I) upbeat and on top of other orders but the running back, and forth from Waterville to the printer is time consuming.
I'll update this when I have firm information.**
Well, not a firm update, but I did get to see the proof and rather than delay things any more for the relatively minor item I saw (crossing fingers there's not more!) I went ahead and approved it for printing. The word is that they may be able to get a start on late Monday or early Tuesday, but with the drying time top consider there's not much chance we'll see anything until the week after, given Christmas week is a short week for the print staff.
Dec. 16th, 2009
09:29 am - My daddy said, Son you're gonna drive me to drinkin'
I have a new cell phone! It is beautiful. It has a slidey case, and a camera and bluetooth and web browsing and texting and a calendar and all kinds of other things that I'll probably never use, and! a screen that's big enough for the Hopelessly Nearsighted to read, in pretty! colors!
*has gadget love*
It is, of course, a Tracfone, because Who in Ghod's Name can afford a monthly phone contract with T-Mobile? My last cell was also a Tracfone, and the one before that, stretching into the chilly mists of time. I transferred the number and minutes from the old phone to the new one, and Now I Wait, phone-free, for 72 hours. I did lose about 1,000 minutes in the process (use your cell phone, much?), because they'd been transferred from the previous phone to the now-newly-previous phone, and sorta fell off the end of the table. Still, I'm not gonna starve, and it was totally worth it to get the big screen in pretty! colors!
*sigh*
In other news, our film viewing of late has been Unremittingly High-Brow. We have in recent evenings viewed Wall-ee and also Race to Witch Mountain, both of which we, and Hexapuma, enjoyed profoundly. Yes, we are shallow -- all three of us.
Today it is sunny, but cold, and I really need to find my scarf.
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cheerfulDec. 15th, 2009
11:42 am - No phone, no pool, no pets
Octupuses steal coconut shells to use as shelter
*is happy*
amazed08:06 am - Well, that's a fine mess
Roads covered in slush, several flooded in strategic locations. Walking is slightly less of a challenge. And I lost the Science! spacefish off of my car. I blame the fall of water-logged snow.
Mr. Hetley, mind your feet on the paper-walk.
Dec. 14th, 2009
05:19 pm - Then from dawn til setting sun, he practiced with that deadly gun
Oh, dear.
It appears that I have too much year left at the end of my patience.
deep breath
Seven more days.
I can do this.
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