Mindseas

365 Project--Week 19

2009-12-31T23:39:39Z

On Friday, we had a white Christmas!

On Saturday, rain came to wash away the snow. Here's a bedraggled chicken in the park.

On Sunday, the woods around my house were quite soggy, and the little almost stream out back looked quite nice.

On Monday, I noticed some wet cat prints.

On Tuesday, the wind blew fiercely. Here's a view of the bamboo. I didn't catch a real gust, though.

On Wednesday, I ran past the half-frozen park pond.

Today, Thursday, I awoke to new snow.

Happy New Year, everyone!

365 Project--Week 18

2009-12-24T14:44:11Z

On Friday, I inspected my fish pond through its plastic cover.

On Saturday, as the snow began to fall, I joined my running club for a festive out and back on the tow path. I saw two swans on the river during my run. It actually didn't snow a lot until much later in the afternoon.

On Sunday, we dug out from beneath the snow.

On Monday, Pif helped me work out some of my patternistic diagrams.

On Tuesday, I stepped outside early to watch the sun come up beyond the snowy woods.

On Wednesday, I had to wait at a railroad crossing while taking Louise's car in for its regular maintenance.

This morning, Fermi brought us an early Christmas present, but I took it back outside and let it go.

Have a great holiday, everyone!

365 Project--Week 17

2009-12-17T19:30:49Z

On Saturday, I went to my face-to-face writing group's Christmas party, held in a church, where they had this Christmas tree.

On Sunday, I enjoyed our outdoor lights after having replaced them once again when they stopped working after a big wind.

On Monday, I was out for my usual run beneath a crisp, cold sky, when a wedge of geese swooped in for a landing beyond the trees.

On Tuesday, as Pif and I strolled the garden, she found a couple sprigs of cat mint beneath the leaves.

On Wednesday, I walked to the library for research material for my latest story idea.

Today, Thursday, I'm reading Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (Principia) for my Newton story.

365 Project--Week 16

2009-12-11T23:23:01Z

On Friday I did Christmas shopping. Pif's all ready to help with the wrapping.

On Saturday, Louise and I went to see the movie "Brothers," since the main characters' home was actually my sister's house (at least the exterior and entrance hall shots).

On Sunday, I saw a vulture enjoying a meal of fresh possum a couple blocks from my house.

On Monday, Ben had put up our Christmas tree with my old bubble lights.

On Tuesday, Pif worked hard to help Louise with her game.

On Wednesday, it rained a lot. Here's a shot of our rain gage.

On Thursday, I had a miserable run in a strong wind. This is the flag at a local school.

Since I'm a day late posting, here's a bonus mystery picture for today:

365 Project--Week 15

2009-12-04T00:50:38Z

On Friday, there was pirate toast at our house. Yar!!

On Saturday, I had a pleasant run on the towpath with my running club. (They are so far ahead of me you can't see them.)

On Sunday, I spotted a mantis sunning itself among the dead leaves.

On Monday, I ran in the rain, among the geese.

On Tuesday, the ladder came out, and I took down the Halloween lights and put up the Christmas lights.

On Wednesday, I took Ben and Vikki to the train station. They were off to attend a lecture by the inventor of the C programming language.

On Thursday, it was back on the ladder because some of my Christmas lights weren't lighting and I had to change them around.

365 Project--Week 14

2009-11-27T03:33:38Z

On Friday, the non-alcoholic vanilla extract Louise ordered for making whipped cream arrived

On Saturday, I sighted a buck in the woods in the early morning.

On Sunday, I did another session on WiiFit. amy34 has blogged about the joys of riding a flying mount on WoW. In a similar vein, I really enjoy flying on WiiFit.

On Monday, I walked to the local train station (it took an hour and twenty minutes) and rode into Manhattan, where I met safewrite at Planet Hollywood for the SFWA reception. The party was fun, though noisy. I got to say hello to two fellow Taos Toolboxers--Saladin and Chris--and met some interesting writers and editors. Afterwards, Wendy drove me through Manhattan on the way to my house.

On Tuesday, Wendy had breakfast chez moi and gave me some slush reading tips.

On Wednesday, I started reading The Best of Abyss and Apex.

On Thursday, Louise and I cooked Thanksgiving dinner. She made cranberry-apple stuffing, candied yams with pineapple and marshmallows, and cranberry sauce. I baked a chicken and a pumpkin pie. Louise made whipped cream for the pie.

365 Project--Week 13

2009-11-20T00:53:20Z

On Friday, since the weather's getting colder, I tried running with my toed socks on underneath my toed shoes.

On Saturday, we celebrated Louise's birthday with presents and cake. She received some seahorses for her crystal collection.

On Sunday, I fed my fish in the outdoor pond. The water's about 44 degrees Farenheit. The instructions on my koi food containers say to feed every other day at this temperature. When it gets below forty, I should stop feeding them.

On Monday, I patched the shed. I'm afraid that the whole thing is disintegrating, and that we will soon need a new shed.

On Tuesday, I walked past the Post Office with its red tree on the way to the library.

On Wednesday, I went outside early and found a doe watching me from the forest. A single bird repeated a two-note call, and the world was very beautiful.

On Thursday, I was reading slush for Abyss & Apex. (This is not an actual image of a slush file, but one of my own.)

365 Project--Week 12

2009-11-13T05:03:23Z

On Friday, Ben and Vikke were engaged.

On Saturday, after our run on the towpath, I joined other members of my running club at the local diner.

Sunday was my post-Halloween party (Decorations stay up until Louise's birthday).

On Monday, I saw a sundog.

On Tuesday, we noticed a mantis still hanging around.

On Wednesday, Fermi was eager to help check on the fish in the pond.

On Thursday, Pif preferred to curl up with a book.

365 Project--Week 11

2009-11-05T23:51:18Z

On Friday, Louise and I set up a mini (fake) toxic spill in my room for the Halloween drama.

Saturday was party day. Here the guests line up outside for costume judging.

On Sunday, Louise and I relaxed with the puzzle that had been one of the party activities. It was a pretty hard one!

On Monday, there was still a bee or two in the garden.

On Tuesday, we did our civic duty.

On Wednesday, Louise was cosseted by a heap of cats. Pif has given up hissing at Fermi (on the end). Slayzer (black cat in the back) doesn't hiss at anyone.

On Thursday, I made a leaf pile.

Here's a bonus picture of Louise regaling guests with a tale about her bony friend.

Now Showing

2009-11-04T15:09:49Z

My Brother has another YouTube:

Watch more YouTube videos on AOL Video

And I have a micro story at Flash Me Magazine

365 Project--Week 10

2009-10-29T22:28:35Z

Another week, and I think the theme is the change of seasons.

On Friday, Ben put the plants he brought indoors for the winter under some red and blue LED lights.

On Saturday, I noticed that one of the trees in the woods had gone all yellow.

On Sunday, while on a walk to the library (to check on Monday hours for the book sale) I encountered a large mushroom.

On Monday, I noticed a monarch butterfly in the garden. I wondered if it was migrating.

On Tuesday, it was time for the annual furniture polishing in preparation for Halloween parties.

On Wednesday, Ben found that small mushrooms had sprouted around his plants.

Thursday: When the giant eyeball comes out, you know that Halloween is near.

365 Project--Week 9

2009-10-22T20:52:55Z

On Friday morning, I saw that the bucks had been at our willow tree overnight.

On Saturday night in the rain, we found a praying mantis on one of our Halloween decorations.

On Sunday, I braved more rain to run a 5K race and win a trophy for my age group--but I had no competition.

On Monday, I finished a draft of the Infernal Museum. Here's my graphic of Imperial Tara's family tree.

On Tuesday, ladybugs swarmed in the afternoon sun.

On Wednesday, I noticed a single flower beside the mailbox.

On Thursday, I helped to set out books for the local library's sale.

Ghosts YouTube

2009-10-18T00:17:33Z

My brother has a new YouTube featuring his song from the musical "Ghosts of Celilo," which tells the story of how the white man's progress destroyed the way of life of native peoples who made their living fishing from platforms over the river.

Watch more YouTube videos on AOL Video

365 Project--Week 8

2009-10-16T01:46:37Z

My second week in Portland began with a family dinner on Friday, making use of Louise's noodles and asparagus recipe. My mother, my brother Corey, his girlfriend Kim (her hair in curlers because she has to be dancing and singing on the stage for Company in a few hours), my sister, and I gather around the table.

On Saturday I went for a morning run in Laurelhurst Park with my sister Wendee and her friend Kathryn.

On Sunday, it was back to the theater for a matinee performance of Company. Rebecca and Zach accompanied me and my mom. The theater lobby featured this weird sculpture. It had a faucet nose that you can't quite see. Here I am testing how it would feel to be an evil overlord.

On Monday, Rebecca took me out to Sauvie Island and showed me how to kayak. It was a beautiful day with sightings of a pileated woodpecker, sandpipers, and sandhill cranes.

On Tuesday, Corey and Kim took me and my mother out to dinner at a Peruvian restaurant in one of his newly-renovated buildings. Here they are pointing out for me the place where a tree stood which was flattened by a truck jumping the curb. It happened twice, probably because the newly-constructed corner is too sharp for trucks to easily negotiate.

On Wednesday, rstefoff came over, and she and I analyzed her work in progress with index cards in our best Taos fashion. Here is a story in pattern:

On Thursday, I arrived back home after an overnight flight. When I stepped into my bedroom I was greeted by a cat and a life-sized Halloween countess.

I'm still a bit dazed by my surroundings, missing the routines, the family members and friends I've grown used to seeing over the past two weeks. Those contacts still feel right and real to me, but I know the immediacy will fade as days go by and new impressions form.

365 Project--Week 7

2009-10-09T00:14:52Z

On Friday, rstefoff and I attended the Lovecraft festival and were regaled to tentacles.

On Saturday, I went with my mom, my sister, and her friend Kathryn to see the musical my brother is directing.

On Sunday, Wendee, Kathryn, and I went running on the Wildwood Trail of the Hoyt Arboretum.

On Monday, my mother's pod with her belongings arrived from New Mexico, and much of the day was spent unpacking.

On Tuesday, rstefoff and I got together for a reading/critiquing session at a nearby internet cafe. We saw crows and roses along the way.

On Wednesday, my mother and I took a long walk along Hawthorne Avenue. She is posing beside a door between two of my brother's buildings.

On Thursday, Rebecca and I went to the beach and walked on the sand.

Posted from Palio internet cafe.

365 Project--Week 6

2009-10-01T17:43:43Z

On Friday, I explored the American Museum of Natural History in NYC with mnfaure and mana_trini. Here they pose in front of my (and Tara's) favorite dinosaur.

On Saturday, Louise and I walked to our local corner grocery store.

On Sunday, I again met with my face-to-face writing group, the Writers of the Weird.

On Monday, I was reading "I am a Strange Loop" in its proper setting.

On Tuesday, I found still more flowers in the garden. These are tiny.

On Wednesday, I flew to Portland, Oregon. I was met at the airport by rstefoff who brought me to her home for a short visit with Xerxes before I was returned to the airport to meet my mother and sister as their plane arrived from Albuquerque.

On Thursday, after my sister and I took an early morning run, it was breakfast time at the family's Portland house. Wendee makes muffins while discussing plans with our brother.

Posted from a Hawthorne internet cafe.

A Day in the Museum

2009-09-26T18:54:50Z

On Friday at about noon, I met mnfaure and mana_trini in front of the American Museum of Natural History, the model for the "Infernal Museum" of my latest Tara rewrite.

After walking around the hall of African mammals right past the entrance--where I always began my daily visits when I used to work across the street from the museum thirty years ago--we went downstairs to see the Hall of Human Origins, one of the newer exhibits. Lots of material here for my primitive human characters. We then perused a hall of African peoples and displays of various types of meteors, until it was time to enjoy the Imax film "Wild Ocean."

Then it was upstairs to see the dinosaurs, pausing on the way to note the placoderm, protagonist of Miq's story that she never wrote.

We hadn't finished our circuit of the fourth floor--and I was still wondering whether the giant suspended arm bones were those of a Quetzalcoatlus--when we had to rush down for our "Journey to the Stars" in the planetarium. We were regaled to a wonderful journey with lots of spectacular galactic views that got me in the mood for my fictional empire.

After the planetarium, we toured a hall of Asian peoples and then headed for minerals and gemstones.

But alas, the museum was closing, and we were herded out.

But then I was hungry, even though my companions' stores of cookies (directly from France) and chocolate had sustained me through the galactic tour.

Luckily we found a Mexican restaurant on Columbus Avenues, rounding the day out with tacos.

365 Project--Week 5

2009-09-24T21:43:35Z

On Friday, I snapped this picture of Fermi, who had not yet experienced the outdoors, exploring the jungle of my bedroom.

On Saturday, Louise went to the new Asian supermarket in our neighborhood, and stocked up. One of the goodies promised a "moment of elegance."

On Sunday, I walked to the local QuikChek, passing a little park along the way. I always think of my fictional character when I see this sign.

On Monday, Vikke and I went to Petco to buy a harness and leash for Fermi, so that he could be introduced to the outdoors. On the way home, we passed this giant inflatable rat. There was a placard beside it, and some strikers, but I didn't have time to read what it was all about.

On Tuesday, I got together with a few former Bonniebug employees for a reunion dinner.

On Wednesday, I took a little detour from my run in the park to photograph one of our local trotters.

On Thursday, I found a garden surprise.

365 Project--Week 4

2009-09-17T17:10:53Z

On Friday, I went for a short run in my new toed shoes:

On Saturday, I went for my usual run with the Raritan Valley Road Runners. Despite the rain and some races elsewhere drawing off some of the runners, a few people--and a couple dogs--showed up:

On Sunday, I enjoyed the garden:

On Monday, I got rid of my hated old cellphone:

On Tuesday, we spotted another pair of mantises mating--and there is a story here. One of our mantises, after the final molt, had twisted wing covers, and we thought he'd never be able to fly. But he apparently chewed off the defective wing covers and flew around the house to find the girl of his dreams, who doesn't seem to mind his uncovered wings:

On Wednesday, I met with my reading group at the local library to discuss Brooklyn by Colm Toibin:

On Thursday, I saw an egret during my run through the park:

365 Project--Week 3

2009-09-11T01:39:36Z

Since moving into the upstairs bedroom after my housemate's departure last year, I have put my bed in three different orientations before achieving success--a view of the full moon shining through my window.

Friday a little after midnight:

I think that's Jupiter with the moon.

On Saturday, we observed two praying mantises mating. The female did not eat the male. They both remained in the same bush for some days afterward.

On Sunday, I built a new fence--it's just mesh, nothing substantial--around some of our trees and plants in an attempt to discourage the deer and woodchuck--the chuck can go under the fence, but he'd probably rather eat Ben's tomatoes than Louise's flowers. Here's a rare shot of this section of the yard without a fence.

On Monday, enjoying her day off work, Louise made bagels:

On Tuesday, Ben and Vikke's new kitty, Fermi, posed on top of the refrigerator near a mug picturing a cat like himself:

On Wednesday, as I followed my usual running path, I found the giant "R" of Rutgers rising up on the horizon like some ominous fortress. The stadium apparently was finished (enough) for the Monday homecoming game. On Tuesday a crew was out in the park cleaning up all the trash the fans had strewn about on their way to and from their buses.

On Thursday, I met my friend Elaine in Bradley Beach. Our walk on the boardwalk was rained out, but we had dinner at a Japanese restaurant:

365 Project--Week 2

2009-09-03T16:02:53Z

Friday it rained, but I went out for my usual run in the park. The benches were surrounded by happy picnickers.

On Saturday I went from my usual run on the towpath with my roadrunners club. Here's a glimpse of the towpath from across the river.

By Sunday the rains had receded. I attended a picnic with the roadrunners club.

On Monday, when I went out to feed the fish, I heard a strange sort of droning overhead. It was this.

On Tuesday, I did my three mile run in the park. My course begins by this reconstructed colonial village.

On Wednesday, I did my 4.5 mile run. I passed the Rutgers Football stadium, still under construction. They've been working seven days a week trying to get it done in time.

On Thursday, I took Slayzer and Yuki to the vets. They were not amused.

365 Project--Week 1

2009-08-27T18:49:56Z

Having been unable to motivate myself to post, I have decided to follow dawtheminstrel's lead and undertake the 365 Project; that is, to find a picture for each day of the year and post them weekly.

On Friday, Ben and I celebrated our birthdays together. Here are some of the presents and food.

On Saturday, Ben and I set up a small pond for aquatic plants, exchanging water with the fishpond through two tubes.

On Sunday, I drove to my first crit exchange with the Science Fiction Association of Bergen County. It was about an hour away, but I got lost. I brought the prologue and chapter one of Infernal Museum to be read aloud by another member and discussed. I joined in the discussion of other novel excerpts and short stories, but didn't read anything. I neglected to take pictures, but here's a picture of my car.

On Monday, I played Twilight Princess.

On Tuesday, I read The Patriot Witch.

On Wednesday, I enjoyed the sight of the potted orchid (inherited from Deborah), which I had put outside for the summer, blooming, while the wild turkey moved through the woods behind it.

On Thursday, I mowed.

My Brother Sings on U-Tube

2009-07-23T01:42:56Z

I guess it's actually a mini film or story-within-a-song.

Water Lily and

2009-07-16T15:44:59Z

Yesterday I was awakened early by a squeak outside my window. Ben and I rushed outside to rescue a small bunny from Yuki. It might have been the same bunny we spent the previous day trying to lure out of its unknown hiding place in the living room where Pif had left it. Finally we chased it down to the utility room and left the back door open for hours in the hopes that it would find its way out.

I took it out to a pleasant field about seven minutes away where we also have released mice from non-kill traps when we didn't want them back in the house. Hopefully it will lead a happy life there. At least our cats won't be catching it again.

I went out for my run in the park, and when I returned home, the kitchen was a mess. And I found this:

No cat in evidence! I opened the front door, and the stupid thing finally blundered its way out.

Also, I have a galactic history! I had to run the program to galactic year 140,000 to get all the characters I wanted to appear, but they've come out very nicely. I'm just tweaking name and physical description algorithms now. Soon I'll start updating my website and revising all of my imperial stories to reflect the new history. I hope this will help keep my novels on track and not wandering off to unknown endings. Like lots and lots of index cards.

The list of rulers and their cabinets comes to 229,527 words. A more detailed account including major events of each reign comes to about 245k per 20k years--I guess that's an average of about a sentence per year. I have other programs to expand key events like space battles, if I ever feel the need to have all the ships in a space battle named, etc.

And in yet another milestone, the first water lily in the pond opened today:

My Report

2009-07-09T18:42:38Z

Writing: I've been revising Tara again, sort of quilting pieces of old drafts together with the new ideas that had come up in the last year or so. And not worrying for the time being about whether it will actually fit together well.

Reading: Mostly racehorse bios in preparation for the second draft of Perikrone.

Programs: Galactic history revision has reached the 100,000 year mark, with 20,000 more years to go.

Supplies: Index cards, white and pastel, for keeping tabs of galactic emperors and deep-level racehorses.

Real Life: This morning I scooped up the robin Pif was playing with in the living room and set it free. It seemed frightened, but unhurt. The morning glories are popping out everywhere.