RIP, Gene Wilder. Thank you for all the joy you brought to people's lives.

This entry was originally posted at http://silveraspen.dreamwidth.org/340736.html and mirrored to LJ. Please comment where you wish! (There are comments currently posted at Dreamwidth.)

Tags: not all tears are an evil, the posting project
Current Mood: remembering

Still here, still breathing, still moving forward. Mostly I've been quiet due to a combination of travel (yay) and work stuff (definitely not yay, but there are some things in the wind that are at least hopeful), but I'm still reading. :)

I think I'm going to quit crossposting to LJ, though. I know there are still a couple of people who read primarily over there, and this is to let them know and invite them to RSS or do a cross-account access thing if they like. The reason I'm not going to crosspost there any more is that I am less and less accepting of the increasing risk of malware distributed through advertising on LJ sites, and even though I have a permanent (supposed to be ad-free) account from ages ago, it doesn't maintain persistent login... which means I get flooded with ads, too.

So, no. I'll be shuttering the silveraspen journal on LJ, and will stop crossposting there entirely. Instead, you can find me here or on twitter or on tumblr (same username on all 3 platforms).

This has been your daily public service announcement.

This entry was originally posted at http://silveraspen.dreamwidth.org/338708.html and mirrored to LJ. Please comment where you wish! (There are comments currently posted at Dreamwidth.)

Tags: technology, work

Echoing what's being said elsewhere -- friends from the UK, from the EU, everyone who's being affected by this: I'm so sorry. All love and support for you in this time of upheaval.

This entry was originally posted at http://silveraspen.dreamwidth.org/338618.html and mirrored to LJ. Please comment where you wish! (There are comments currently posted at Dreamwidth.)

Current Mood: sad

My wife's the reason anything gets done
She nudges me toward promise by degrees.
She is a perfect symphony of one
Our son is her most beautiful reprise.
We chase the melodies that seem to find us
Until they're finished songs and start to play
When senseless acts of tragedy remind us
That nothing here is promised not one day
The show is proof that history remembers
We live through times when hate and fear seem stronger
We rise and fall and light from dying embers
Remembrances that hope and love last longer
And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love
Cannot be killed or swept aside
I sing them as a symphony
Eliza tells her story
Now fill the world with music love and pride.

-- Lin-Manuel Miranda

This entry was originally posted at http://silveraspen.dreamwidth.org/338295.html and mirrored to LJ. Please comment where you wish! (There are comments currently posted at Dreamwidth.)

Tags: history: orlando, not all tears are an evil
Current Mood: determined

You know, sometimes I think that stating something aloud (or in writing) is just a dare to the universe to prove me wrong. It's not rational, of course -- and yet sometimes I wonder.

Last time I wrote, I noted that my parents and I had agreed to bring Mom home from the care facility, and had established a plan of daily assistance to be able to make that happen. It took less than six days from the day she came home for them - Dad especially - to discard everything I'd so carefully set up -- and which we had agreed on together -- in favor of having someone stop by 3 times a week for an hour to "check in."

Sigh.

My less-than-enthused reaction to the news was frustrating for them, I'm sure. I damn well know the whole thing is for me. In the end, though, you can't really save people from themselves. So I'll cross my fingers, and hope it all works out for the best.

(And be ready to pick up the pieces if it doesn't, I guess.)

Anyway, they're happy, and that's what's important.

* * * * * * *

In other news, I just recently got back from another visit to Germany to see J. It was a lot of fun, which surprises no one, I'm sure. In addition to just being able to spend time together, we also visited a street festival where J's goddaughter was singing in a children's choir, walked around town through some of the parks that are built along where the old city walls used to be, and had dinner at a restaurant that J. really likes - which just happens to have recently gotten a Michelin star. (!!!) That was quite an experience, I have to say. The Internet tells me that their cuisine is officially called "New German Seasonal," which basically means that it incorporates traditional tastes, with fresh produce, etc., appropriate to the season, all presented beautifully and with incredible blending of flavor. The place is small and cosy, has an amazing wine selection, and a team of people who were all lovely. Very fancy, very nice - not for every day, but a wonderful special occasion sort of thing.

We also had dinner with her parents, at their invitation, which of course was mildly terrifying for me. I'd met her dad before, on my trip last November, but hadn't had the chance to meet her mom. (It doesn't help my own sense of confidence to know that my German is what one might generously call laughable, but oh well.) But it was fine, of course, and more than fine! You see, there's a bridge in Cologne where it's a tradition for couples to put a padlock, symbolizing their affection, and then drop the key into the Rhine below. So at dinner, J's parents gave us a padlock, in case we wanted to be part of the tradition. They'd had our names engraved, along with the date I landed in Germany. :)

* * * * * * *
So, yeah. That's what's going on over here. Work-related, I successfully hit 2 of the 3 grant deadlines, and am pushing the third back to the next cycle with my boss's full and emphatic support. (It doesn't hurt that I've managed to pull off a number of other types of successes over the course of the last year. Most of it I haven't talked about here, because of privacy reasons, but suffice to say that I've done well with what I've been doing under a variety of circumstances.) Next up, I have one or two more major things to finalize, and then I can get (back) to building my own personal research career, publication list, grant funding, so forth and so on. My boss both offered and committed to protecting 2 full days a week for me out of our bridge funding to let me do exactly that ... and I have to say, I'm looking forward to having the space to breathe.

* * * * * * *
Happy weekend, everyone. I'm off to finish reorganizing various things in my house, and then to settle in with TV and maybe some chocolate before I kick off the next week. RP folks, expect to see an influx from me very soon as my creative mind begins to spark again in the absence of deadlines and exhaustion!

This entry was originally posted at http://silveraspen.dreamwidth.org/338168.html and mirrored to LJ. Please comment where you wish! (There are comments currently posted at Dreamwidth.)

Tags: family, milliways, research, there is no hashtag for this, travel, work
Current Mood: okay

Subject line attribution: Wikipedia tells me that there are several variations of this particular aphorism, dating to as early as 1600 C.E. This particular one is a popular form of the version attributed to Voltaire.

(I also rather like the one attributed to Confucius: "Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.")

Anyway, in keeping with the spirit of the subject line, this is a quick catch-up post rather than a carefully crafted narrative, the purpose of which is to share a general life update.

Family stuff. I just returned from a whirlwind weekend trip to Tennessee, both to visit my parents and to address some perceived issues with Mom's long term care. ( Details under the cut.Collapse )

Work stuff. This continues, basically. It's grant application season (next deadlines: May 27, June 6 and June 16), which is always a busy time. Other things at work that I've been involved in are also busy, but it looks like a transition is in the offing, which I'm glad of.

Life stuff. I still have thoughts on Civil War to share, but that post is sitting in draft at very nearly the character limit and needs refining into something at least vaguely resembling coherence. I am still talking to lawyers about filing suit against the insurance company. I checked in on my reading so far this year and confirmed that I've read 54 books so far, including 16 new ones and 38 rereads. I have a great deal of writing to do, and will get there eventually. Gamewise, I finished another replay of DAII and am about halfway through Skyrim. (I stalled out on Mass Effect but will go back to it next.) I have done my first hike of the year, and am planning several more, along with resuming concentrated race training. I'm also taking off tomorrow to go see J. for the Memorial Day weekend, which is something I'm really looking forward to.

That's enough for one catch-up post! More to come in the near future, really-and-truly. :)

This entry was originally posted at http://silveraspen.dreamwidth.org/337831.html and mirrored to LJ. Please comment where you wish! (There are comments currently posted at Dreamwidth.)

Tags: books, dragons, family, marvel, movies, travel

It's definitely springtime here in Colorado. Yesterday was 70F, with trees and flowers starting to bud and bloom and hints of bright green appearing everywhere. Today it's 32F and there's a howling snowstorm outside - true blizzard conditions, with whiteout or near-whiteout and high winds. They're calling for a foot of snow before 6 pm, and I think we're easily halfway there.

Never a dull moment!

Right now I'm holding open office hours for research and education at my workplace, but given the storm and coverage schedules, it's unlikely we're going to have anyone show. Fortunately, I brought my laptop along as I always do, just in case, so here's a quick Reading Wednesday update that covers the last couple of weeks.

What I just finished reading: First was Chaos Choreography, by Seanan McGuire, and second was Fire Touched, the latest of the Mercy Thompson novels, by Patricia Briggs. Both were enjoyable. It was nice to circle back to check in on Verity Price again and to see her tying up some loose ends - not to mention the fun of meeting Alice, too. As for Mercy's latest, I remain fascinated by Briggs's approach to worldbuilding and enjoyed seeing the new direction things are moving in now.

What I'm reading now: I'm working my way back through the Alpha and Omega series by Briggs, which is set in the Mercy Thompson world. I'm on number 3 at present, Fair Game. I'm also partway through Revelation Space, by Alastair Reynolds; I Am Malala, by Malala Yousafzai; and Saving Gotham, by Tom Farley. Of the three, I'm liking the last one best. It has nothing to do with Batman, by the way - it's a look at how Michael Bloomberg and Tom Frieden together implemented some incredible public health initiatives through policy in New York.

What I'm reading next: I'm trying this year to keep a reasonable balance between new reads and re-reads, as well as between fiction and nonfiction, so it depends a little on what I finish first. Probably next on my list are The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco, and The Digital Doctor, by Robert Wachter.

This entry was originally posted at http://silveraspen.dreamwidth.org/336146.html and mirrored to LJ. Please comment where you wish! (There are comments currently posted at Dreamwidth.)

Tags: books, weather

A few quick thoughts, in no particular order, spawned by things I've been doing and dealing with since the start of the year:

• Home improvement is a never-ending saga. Also, I cordially invite Home Depot to take a long walk off a short pier if they think I'm going to pay $1200 in installation charges for a freakin' door. (Seriously, WTF?) Which reminds me, I still owe them a detailed and documented letter to management about the entire fiasco. I'll have to carve out the time to follow up on that soon.


• I am absolutely committed to writing and publication this year. This includes RP, yes, but also includes works of fiction, nonfiction, and various scientific manuscripts. I'm aiming for a minimum of one pitch or project submission per week, and so far I've made good on that goal. Of course, we are only two and a half weeks in, but any progress in this area is positive progress.


• Dementia sucks. So does the US health system when it comes to needs related to long term care. Mom's physically doing much better in her new assisted living apartment, at least, which is a start. Cognitively, well, we're working on it. At least I'm able to navigate all the various health systems and needs on behalf of the family. Now if I could just win the Powerball next time.... ;)


• Dragon Age continues to own a piece of my soul. And I don't regret it in the least. Having finally finished my first playthrough of Trespasser, I have ALL KINDS of thoughts and feelings! Next up: making the run through with my mage character, for Reasons. It's a lot of fun.

That's all the news that fits, for now. Time to get back to work.

This entry was originally posted at http://silveraspen.dreamwidth.org/335029.html and mirrored to LJ. Please comment where you wish! (There are comments currently posted at Dreamwidth.)

Tags: dragons, family, houses and homes, medical, writing

RIP, David Bowie. You were loved, and you will be missed.

This entry was originally posted at http://silveraspen.dreamwidth.org/334555.html and mirrored to LJ. Please comment where you wish! (There are comments currently posted at Dreamwidth.)

Tags: not all tears are an evil
Current Mood: exanimate

In keeping with my good intentions and plans for this new year, I have identified a target publication and am drafting a submission letter for the first piece of writing I have lined up. I mention it here mostly for accountability purposes - that way I will hopefully not talk myself out of this due to fits of impostor syndrome or the like.

You may also notice (or may not, which is fine) that I'm writing this post in the (relatively) early hours of my morning. This is a habit I'm hoping to develop, yet again; I need to become better at being a morning person and at going to sleep before midnight, all natural and historical biorhythmic inclination aside.

On that note, if anyone has tips on how to successfully be a morning person, I would very much appreciate it.

Anyway, good morning! I hope that everyone's respective weeks are going well. I had grand aspirations for mine, beginning yesterday, but all of that has shifted into things like "it would be nice if my car worked today" and "I hope I can keep up and catch up with my work email."

One step at a time. Right? Right.

This entry was originally posted at http://silveraspen.dreamwidth.org/334042.html and mirrored to LJ. Please comment where you wish! (There are comments currently posted at Dreamwidth.)

Tags: a day in the life, new year's resolutions, writing
Current Mood: determined