Plus, I Forgot This One
People: OMG, OMG why are you not answering? Call me back RIGHT AWAY!!!!!
Me [calling them back]: hello?
People: You know that thing, a week from tomorrow, that isn't really all that important? Yeah, just checking on that.
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June 30, 2006
How My Day Goes
People: How come you don't have computers set up in this room?
Me: Because you never told me you needed computers set up in that room.
People: Well, we totally do.
Or,
People: How come you set up computers in this room instead of this other room?
Me: Because you said: set up computers in this room.
People: Well, we were wrong.
June 23, 2006
John Henry
John Henry had his third checkup since he finished chemo yesterday. His x-rays are still showing no cancer, which is amazing and awesome. It's been almost fourteen months since he broke his leg and he is over eleven and a half. He looks good and he acts great. He now only has to go back every three or four months for checkups. What an excellent boy!
He has had a really great oncology resident who's been taking care of him for the last year--she started her residency just about the same time he started his chemo. For the first time, she wasn't there when he went in this time--she is getting ready to start a new job in another state. He not only has a new oncologist (who will also be very good and, lucky for John Henry, is a woman--cuz he likes the women) but the vet tech who came out to get him when I dropped him off is a MAN. So, all in all it was a very adventuresome adventure for John Henry.
June 20, 2006
Chainsaw on Hand
I received, reviewed, and returned the page proofs for 'Chainsaw on Hand' which looks like it will be in Asimov's in March, 2007.
I don't know if other people have favorite lines in their own stories, but my favorite line in 'Chainsaw on Hand' is:
You decide that if you're going to be surprised today it's not going to be over chickens.
June 19, 2006
More Dog Stuff
because people (you know who you are) have been bugging me for more posts...
This is the best dog toy ever.
It also comes in little dog sizes, but little dogs seem to also like the big one. Although it knocks them over when it bounces into them.
Also--and this cannot be repeated too many times--when I go out for a walk with my dog I do not say to myself--man, I hope people will bring their also-leashed dog up to ostensibly 'meet' my dog, but really so that they can get inextricably tangled together to the point where either eventually one dog gets hurt or there is a big fight. Also, the proper response when I say, 'no, our dogs cannot meet,' is not--'why, is your dog mean?' (And if you have a little dog, why on earth would you want a big strange dog anywhere near them? People, you have brains for a reason.)
I took Billie in to the vet school last week to get blood levels done and (I hope) a liver test done--since phenobarbital can affect the liver over time. I say I hope about the liver test because although I told them twice that that's why I wanted to come in and I fasted Billie for 12 hours (which they knew I was going to do and knew I had done when I went in) they didn't charge me for the liver test. So, we may have to go back again in a little while. They are so busy out there that sometimes I'm pretty sure that I am just not saying the right secret code words.
Billie also went in and got her regular shots from her regular vet. He reminds me that although she is still occasionally having mild seizures, I am very lucky that they are mostly under control. He also said that the noise sensitivity that she started exhibiting about a year before the seizures started is probably seizure related (not loud noises per se, but repetitive loud bass noises).
John Henry goes in for his third followup cancer check this week. It's been almost fourteen months since he broke his leg. He is eleven and a half. He looks very good and his quality of life has been really good for the last 10 or 11 months at least. I am very pleased.
Pictures some time this week.
June 16, 2006
Simple Rules for Life
Anyone who uses the word meritocracy in any discussion is automatically disqualified from continuing to participate in said discussion
"I've never noticed any discrimination against me so it's obvious discrimination doesn't exist," is not a valid argument.
Anyone who says 'well, women don't like SCIENCE' needs to definitively respond to the following: In the last thirty years veterinary school graduating classes have gone from a handful of women per class to more than 50%. Veterinary medicine is commonly referred to as SCIENCE.
If you have never heard of unconscious bias, you are probably going to feel pretty stupid about some of the things you've said when (if!) you finally do understand it.
Men telling other men what they can and can't say to women (while at the same time telling women what they really ought to do) is pretty damn funny.
June 12, 2006
Best New Paranormal Romance
Paula Guran has posted the table of contents for Best New Paranormal Romance.
It looks like Magic in a Certain Slant of Light will be in most excellent company.
June 03, 2006
Writing News
--I got the contracts from Asimov's for 'Chainsaw on Hand.' Sometime soon (I hope) I should be finding out when it will be published.
--'Magic in a Certain Slant of Light' is going to be in Best New Paranormal Romance. Which I think makes me a romance writer.
--I seem to be finishing nothing lately. If I knew what the stories were about I'm sure I could finish them. Chance, you may mock me at will....