Summer, of sorts.
Every part of the world has its regional humor, and I think that most longtime Northern California or Pacific Northwest/Inland Empire residents would laugh in knowing agreement when someone complains about a summer turning into 'June-uary': what little sunlight there is is filtered through a heavy cloud cover; cool days, cold evenings requiring the wearing of real pajamas beneath the heavier bed coverings you pull out of the closet or trunk where you store them; lingering dampness, darkness, and other weather conditions which make a person put all of their skin-baring, colorful summer 'catchin' clothes' (to quote a jazz singer, might have been Ruth Brown) away for next year.
I have no exciting holiday travel planned, but it wouldn't be a hardship to stroll to the bus in blazing sunshine. Also, I have noticed that application of sunlight and Vitamin D cheers up usually irascible local folk, some of whom grumpily ride the bus with me.
Despite this, I have little to complain about. The late spring/summer season has been much tougher on other parts of the world: flooding (midwest/southeast), wild fires in New Mexico/Arizona, drought (Austin, TX), various insect infestations (everywhere?), punishing heat waves, and that's just the contiguous United States. Residents of other parts of the world would heartily welcome rain and coolness. So until there's a plague of frogs, summer here really isn't a problem for me.
My family friend R. seems to be recovering slowly from prostate cancer; not long ago, he was so weak and ill from chemo that he could not speak or walk unassisted, and now he's calling people on the phone suggesting meeting up for tea!
This happened:
Lovely back garden strawberries, framed by weeds (which I was diligently pulling) and some lavender. I grow less exciting things (vegetables, culinary herbs, calendula) in the garden I share but there isn't enough happening with these other plants to make a photo. The strawberries got enough sun to be fine and sweet, and I washed, hulled, and froze many of them. Others went into a cake that I took to a SF/F writers' party.
I recently attended two great readings by SF/F authors I admire:
Margo Lanagan, earlier this month (vivid & imaginative style, atmospheric settings, compelling narrative flow, strong female characters; her short stories are available in anthologies published in the U.S. but that one or more of her novels may only be published in Australia -- no problem, try ordering online)
Last week, Minister Faust (witty, layered, thought-provoking SF with heavy fantasy and historical elements, a surprising Afro-Canadian twist -- for example, there are some references in his new novel Alchemists of Kush to the historic community of Amber Valley in Alberta, where my late Afro-Canadian godmother came from)
Still working multiple jobs, like most non-techie people I know. Will anyone living in the industrialized world ten years from now have ONLY one job? I no longer believe that they will, but I come from rural people who always had multiple jobs. They were practical folk. I'm wondering where to move -- living in the expensive city I like is becoming more and more difficult, but I probably wouldn't fit well into a conservative rural setting either. Money will decide things, as it usually does.
Learned to use an engraver at work, marking institutional information on several tech and media items. Nothing exotic -- it's like holding a big, buzzing marker pen -- but I'd never done it before and found it entertaining.
Wouldn't mind having my own engraver, though I don't even own an iPod or particularly valuable tech stuff beyond the inevitable smartphone, which makes life easier for freelancers, contract workers and the multiply employed.
OK, I'm supposed to be working on a book review. Even if this summer is cold and gray, the lassitude has set in. Shame on me! A busy week of work, selling stuff, donating unused items, kickboxing and weight lifting, coupon clipping, and writing lies ahead. Back to work!
One of my recent contract jobs involved coffee shop meetings (the main office was too small to meet in ), providing opportunities to eat food such as the above fruity waffle. Alas, that job is dormant for another few months so I now have no excuses for such treats.
This entry was originally posted at http://zizi-west.dreamwidth.org/25153.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
I have no exciting holiday travel planned, but it wouldn't be a hardship to stroll to the bus in blazing sunshine. Also, I have noticed that application of sunlight and Vitamin D cheers up usually irascible local folk, some of whom grumpily ride the bus with me.
Despite this, I have little to complain about. The late spring/summer season has been much tougher on other parts of the world: flooding (midwest/southeast), wild fires in New Mexico/Arizona, drought (Austin, TX), various insect infestations (everywhere?), punishing heat waves, and that's just the contiguous United States. Residents of other parts of the world would heartily welcome rain and coolness. So until there's a plague of frogs, summer here really isn't a problem for me.
My family friend R. seems to be recovering slowly from prostate cancer; not long ago, he was so weak and ill from chemo that he could not speak or walk unassisted, and now he's calling people on the phone suggesting meeting up for tea!
This happened:
Lovely back garden strawberries, framed by weeds (which I was diligently pulling) and some lavender. I grow less exciting things (vegetables, culinary herbs, calendula) in the garden I share but there isn't enough happening with these other plants to make a photo. The strawberries got enough sun to be fine and sweet, and I washed, hulled, and froze many of them. Others went into a cake that I took to a SF/F writers' party.
I recently attended two great readings by SF/F authors I admire:
Margo Lanagan, earlier this month (vivid & imaginative style, atmospheric settings, compelling narrative flow, strong female characters; her short stories are available in anthologies published in the U.S. but that one or more of her novels may only be published in Australia -- no problem, try ordering online)
Last week, Minister Faust (witty, layered, thought-provoking SF with heavy fantasy and historical elements, a surprising Afro-Canadian twist -- for example, there are some references in his new novel Alchemists of Kush to the historic community of Amber Valley in Alberta, where my late Afro-Canadian godmother came from)
Still working multiple jobs, like most non-techie people I know. Will anyone living in the industrialized world ten years from now have ONLY one job? I no longer believe that they will, but I come from rural people who always had multiple jobs. They were practical folk. I'm wondering where to move -- living in the expensive city I like is becoming more and more difficult, but I probably wouldn't fit well into a conservative rural setting either. Money will decide things, as it usually does.
Learned to use an engraver at work, marking institutional information on several tech and media items. Nothing exotic -- it's like holding a big, buzzing marker pen -- but I'd never done it before and found it entertaining.
Wouldn't mind having my own engraver, though I don't even own an iPod or particularly valuable tech stuff beyond the inevitable smartphone, which makes life easier for freelancers, contract workers and the multiply employed.
OK, I'm supposed to be working on a book review. Even if this summer is cold and gray, the lassitude has set in. Shame on me! A busy week of work, selling stuff, donating unused items, kickboxing and weight lifting, coupon clipping, and writing lies ahead. Back to work!
One of my recent contract jobs involved coffee shop meetings (the main office was too small to meet in ), providing opportunities to eat food such as the above fruity waffle. Alas, that job is dormant for another few months so I now have no excuses for such treats.
This entry was originally posted at http://zizi-west.dreamwidth.org/25153.html. Please comment there using OpenID.