Things I Know I Know

...Before you call in an exorcist, it might be a good idea to look for any of a host of animals that may be making a nest nearby. Of course, if your couch slides across the floor with you on it, you can probably rule out squirrels. At that point, it is a good idea to look for help....

This is why I will always love the internets. And being a writer.

Finished my novel page for today. Realized that I am easily distracted by the internets and really important questions that I don't really need to know the answer to right this very minute.

Although I now know that the state animal of South Dakota is the coyote, the state musical instrument is the fiddle, and the state dessert is kuchen.

Posted by debco at 02:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

...but that's not what this post is about.

I put updates on Twitter, but not here. Why? Because Twitter only allows 140 characters so, you know, it's way easier. Not that you would learn much from my Twitter updates. But then, I'm fairly sure that's the point.

Anyway, my current writing goal is a page a day on the novel whether I think it's crap or not. I've managed two days so far. And I've relearned this thing I mostly have to keep learning over and over--my stuff is often the best when I think I'm totally stuck and I have nothing to say and I make myself write anyway. Sheesh.

The maybe kind of sort of puppy is looking like a pretty definitely puppy. I have sent in a deposit and everything. So I am considering 'J' names. I should warn you that I generally end up picking a name that hardly anyone likes but me. Currently, 'Jent' is at the top of the list. Chance thinks this cannot be shouted out the back door, but I have already tested it and she is wrong.

I got the December Asimov's today so the time has come to mention that 'The Whale's Lover' will be in the January issue. Tell your friends. There will be spaceships and alien planets and amazing snap-apart technology.

Posted by debco at 07:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

...that I will be getting a puppy in November.

If I do get a puppy, he was born yesterday. And he is a German Pinscher.

There are still several bits of hoop jumping before I know for sure that I'm getting a puppy from this litter, but things are looking very possible at the moment.

I am also inordinately pleased that this litter is the 'J' litter (no one I tell this to seems to understand why I think this is awesome, but it's, like, a Sign). Seriously.

In other doggish news, Billie seems to be significantly less depressed than she's been, which is good because she was making me sad and driving me crazy, both.

We've continued visiting at the hospital once a week, which she really seems to like and the people we visit like her quite a bit too. So, fun for all.

I entered one day in the dog show last week, which went really well except for the end..when it didn't. I'm probably going to a dog show in Wisconsin in a month so we should be able to make up for things then.

Posted by debco at 11:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides is looking for people who can come up with better slogans for NASA than the one NASA came up with (which, once you see that their slogan is: NASA explores for answers that power our future, you will realize can't be that difficult).

So, I think their new slogan should be:

Super!Space!Monkeys! Because wouldn't that be reason enough?

And if they were Giant!Super!Space!Monkeys! I bet the funding would just come pouring in.

In other news, I finished revising 'Cowgirls in Space' and sent it to Chance so she can tell me why it still sucks. Maybe I will write a sequel called 'Cowgirls in Space with Super!Space!Monkeys!'

Posted by debco at 04:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

An Asimov's letter to the editor says that I'm totally ruining Science Fiction (well, really Sheila is ruining it by buying my stories).

Yay me!

Posted by debco at 04:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

...this whole sordid mess could have been avoided.

Women in SF...be nice

People appalled at casual take-down notices containing many errors...be polite

I mean, really, if it weren't for the complaining tone, well, we could just ignore it, couldn't we?

Also, why do you have to say it out loud? If you would just think complain-y thoughts, well, everything would be so much less...er, complaint-ridden.

Posted by debco at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)