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Wednesday, October 8th, 2025 09:50 pm
1. After a little experimentation, I've found that it is possible to sing most popular Christmas carols (and possibly other songs) with the only lyrics being repeats of "Epstein". I suggest this for the use of protesters, as I imagine the lovely sounds of four part harmonies with a stunning effect on the bystanders.
2. Does anyone else have tinnitis? And if so, how do you manage to fall asleep when everything else is quiet? I have been listening to rain sounds on a recording, which helps, but it's hard to be relaxed and ready and just NOT tip over into sleep. Suggestions welcome!
3. Songs I have figured out (to some degree) on Native American flute: the guitar lead line to Layla (the piano interval is in C and very easy); the sax lead line to Gerry Rafferty's 'Baker Street'; the Beatles' 'Blackbird'; bits and pieces of many other Beatles tunes; the Beach Boys' 'California Girls', including the key change in the chorus that most people don't notice. If my only real inheritance from my mother's dad is his ability to play anything he could whistle, I'm very glad to have it; it has done well for me all my life even though I can read music (he couldn't).
4. I bailed at the last minute on a dental cleaning today, because I got no real sleep last night (see 2.) and I was not up to driving for half an hour or having someone's hands in my mouth for an hour. I also felt overheated and queasy, and told the receptionist that when I called, and she agreed I shouldn't come in. We rescheduled for Nov. 6, which was Mom's birthday, so I'm not likely to forget to come. It's late at night and I still do feel a bit off, so I'm calling the whole thing self care.
5. And I'm looking forward to seeing the nominations list for Yuletide. Every year there are more diverse possibilities, many of which I have no idea about since I'm not up on the latest Korean or Japanese or Chinese shows. But there are still enough oldbies like me around that I should be able to cobble together some requests and a list of possibilities to write about.
2. Does anyone else have tinnitis? And if so, how do you manage to fall asleep when everything else is quiet? I have been listening to rain sounds on a recording, which helps, but it's hard to be relaxed and ready and just NOT tip over into sleep. Suggestions welcome!
3. Songs I have figured out (to some degree) on Native American flute: the guitar lead line to Layla (the piano interval is in C and very easy); the sax lead line to Gerry Rafferty's 'Baker Street'; the Beatles' 'Blackbird'; bits and pieces of many other Beatles tunes; the Beach Boys' 'California Girls', including the key change in the chorus that most people don't notice. If my only real inheritance from my mother's dad is his ability to play anything he could whistle, I'm very glad to have it; it has done well for me all my life even though I can read music (he couldn't).
4. I bailed at the last minute on a dental cleaning today, because I got no real sleep last night (see 2.) and I was not up to driving for half an hour or having someone's hands in my mouth for an hour. I also felt overheated and queasy, and told the receptionist that when I called, and she agreed I shouldn't come in. We rescheduled for Nov. 6, which was Mom's birthday, so I'm not likely to forget to come. It's late at night and I still do feel a bit off, so I'm calling the whole thing self care.
5. And I'm looking forward to seeing the nominations list for Yuletide. Every year there are more diverse possibilities, many of which I have no idea about since I'm not up on the latest Korean or Japanese or Chinese shows. But there are still enough oldbies like me around that I should be able to cobble together some requests and a list of possibilities to write about.
Friday, October 3rd, 2025 04:01 pm
There was a delay on some of them; I wasn't sure if the person reviewing had stopped for lunch or if there was a problem.
Dark Winds (tv)
Kate Shugak series (Dana Stabenow) [and yes, Mutt is a character]
The Saint (tv)
The Equalizer (tv, 2021) [this is the one with Queen Latifa]
This Rough Magic (Mary Stewart)
I have some ideas for a couple of them.
I haven't written up my Dear Author letter yet; how could I when I haven't picked out what I want to write? I don't see nominations as being about my writing -- I put in something I'd like to write, yes, but others simply should be in the lists because I know of other people who would like to write them.
And, speaking of writing, I spent the other four afternoons this week in a free 8-hour workshop on publishing from Hay House. It was worth the time, I think, to get a better sense of how that business works and what it does and doesn't do; that has all changed a lot since I wrote my first manuscript decades ago. (You will never see that one; it has been burned, it was that awful.)
Dark Winds (tv)
Kate Shugak series (Dana Stabenow) [and yes, Mutt is a character]
The Saint (tv)
The Equalizer (tv, 2021) [this is the one with Queen Latifa]
This Rough Magic (Mary Stewart)
I have some ideas for a couple of them.
I haven't written up my Dear Author letter yet; how could I when I haven't picked out what I want to write? I don't see nominations as being about my writing -- I put in something I'd like to write, yes, but others simply should be in the lists because I know of other people who would like to write them.
And, speaking of writing, I spent the other four afternoons this week in a free 8-hour workshop on publishing from Hay House. It was worth the time, I think, to get a better sense of how that business works and what it does and doesn't do; that has all changed a lot since I wrote my first manuscript decades ago. (You will never see that one; it has been burned, it was that awful.)
Thursday, October 2nd, 2025 06:41 pm
The letter will be here soon.
Sunday, September 28th, 2025 09:45 pm
So lovely to see everyone at the con! Very grateful to know all of you and particularly grateful to Glo for the flash writing challenges. So little writing in the last five years. It's nice to know I can get thrown prompts and still come up with something coherent.
FYI if you have never attended Con*strict and you are a member of our lovely slash community please do consider attending. It is quite "boutique" and you get a lot of time to gnash over fandom(s) and fan issues of the day in addition to sharing vids and crafting skills. I was shown an interesting hand quilting method I had not seen before, there were cross stitch lessons/kits to be had, our fearless leader makes sure we have abundant wonderful snacks and drinks, and the hotel currently has a "mixer" in the evening on weekedays (if you come in early) with a live piano player! Srsly, check out the little group here and think about showing up next year. If nothing else it is a fun excuse to visit Las Vegas with like-minded folk.
Also, The Empire Strips Back is currently in town. We were unaware until Saturday night but if it is in town still next year a group of us will totally be going to that!
FYI if you have never attended Con*strict and you are a member of our lovely slash community please do consider attending. It is quite "boutique" and you get a lot of time to gnash over fandom(s) and fan issues of the day in addition to sharing vids and crafting skills. I was shown an interesting hand quilting method I had not seen before, there were cross stitch lessons/kits to be had, our fearless leader makes sure we have abundant wonderful snacks and drinks, and the hotel currently has a "mixer" in the evening on weekedays (if you come in early) with a live piano player! Srsly, check out the little group here and think about showing up next year. If nothing else it is a fun excuse to visit Las Vegas with like-minded folk.
Also, The Empire Strips Back is currently in town. We were unaware until Saturday night but if it is in town still next year a group of us will totally be going to that!