Have started using Martha Stewart recipes. I know, so corporate. But in this world where everyone is an expert, self included, sometimes I just want a simple recipe--in this case, poached chicken breasts, not exactly the epitome of edginess--with some freaking Professional Quality Control. See also: why the NPR podcast empire is so pervasive among ( Read more... )

Thanks to the lovely friending meme over at
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2013 was infinitely better than 2012. I escaped a terrible job, found a new job, and sold my first two stories. It's not perfect, but I'm grateful for what I do have. It's more than I ever thought I would achieve, to be honest. If nothing else, 2013 has shown me that most things are possible, if I work hard and work smart.

As icing on the cake, at ( Read more... )

Recently I went to Germany -- mainly Berlin, but also a day in Lübeck -- for three days, followed by Sweden -- mainly Stockholm, but also a day in Malmö -- for three more. Pictures are forthcoming ... blame J, they're on his camera.

Berlin: I didn't realize just how much of Berlin is still under construction. East Berlin wasn't able to pay its ( Read more... )

I went to Target to do some pre-summer-vacation shopping.  I achieved a very small umbrella, but was foiled in my attempts to get a cute summer dress.  EVERYTHING IN THE WHOLE DAMN STORE WAS MADE OF RAYON.  What is this fuckery.  I'd heard the price of cotton was high (thanks, NPR) but it must really be high.  Came away empty handed, since clothing ( Read more... )

I think a couple of posts vanished in the latest LJ clusterscrew. I think I tried to replace them but apologies if comments have gone *poof*.

Thanks to
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I used to have a running bet with myself whether I’d get published in Day Job (scientist, for a certain value of scientist) or Night “Job” (fiction) first. Well, that’s been answered by a review committee. In a few weeks my name will be part of the lineup for a paper in PNAS*. And some indeterminate time after that it’ll be on another piece of non- ( Read more... )

Post linking to discussions of "lost" rivers of the world.  Figured this audience might be interested.

I was away at a Thing last week/end and I spent some time flailing around trying to describe and recommend the Rivers series and the Matthew Swift series.  Rivers was easy (just steal the cover line "Harry Potter Becomes A Copper"), but Matthew ( Read more... )

Went to a party reluctantly tonight; it turned out to be an awesome function featuring copious amounts of shawarma, booze, and linguists.  Had lots of great conversations and I was very flattered by one of said linguists, who said in a tipsy wistful manner that she wished I'd been one of them.  Well.  I do too, some days, but I think it would have ( Read more... )