filkferengi

I still watch a fair amount of tv, but it has definitely evolved over time. Sometimes it depends on the people in my life. When my dad the contractor was alive, I watched lots of real estate and makeover shows. It gave us something to talk about [Property Brothers: eye-candy + banter = win!].

It seems like I'll enjoy a genre for a while and then go off it. My bridesmaid recommended "NCIS" many years ago, and I've enjoyed all of them for years. During Covid, I binge-watched "Shark Tank". It was a fun game to play along with, guessing who would get a deal and how it might be structured. Once caught up, however, I have no desire to watch the new season. Sit-coms feel so artificial and no longer amuse. I used to enjoy crime shows, but the women-led ensemble shows I loved went away. Now I'm going off shows and genres faster and faster. I actively seek out new shows and try them out, but 5-10 minutes in, I'm saying, "Blargh" and bailing.

Ironically, while I claim to not read much non-fiction, that's far and away what I'm watching most these days: history, science, nature, travel, "mysteries". I get most news from political comedy shows.

I was always a heavy reader, but since Covid, it's become more obsessive. I'm typically reading several hours a day. Since the eyes and hands went goofy, reading physical books is inconvenient, so it's all e-books these days. That means no library book sales, which formed a good bit of my socialization pre-Covid. Hence, even more reading. The big change is, instead of rereading every few years or decades, I'm rereading whole series every year or so.

It's an odd turnaround. I bitterly fought e-books for years, since there was no universal format. It's a good thing I gave in when I did, given how things turned out. I got carpal tunnel during Covid, and don't like to drive long distances any more. These days, I mostly keep in touch with friends via phone or email or text, with occasional in-person outings. Ze spouse & I do our walks in the nature preserve several days a week, collecting litter from the most *improbable* places. When one is the spouse of a superhero, one has certain obligations.

So, there've been personality--not changes so much as shifts, reinforcing some tendencies and letting others go. I'm not distressed or depressed, but it's interesting to step back and analyze. I'm still enjoying life every day, especially, it must be admitted, those times when I put on my aspect as the filkferengi and match folks up with books or music.

A Bujold list buddy kindly commented,

"Happy birthday. Hope it was fun."

A spit-rainy Tuesday with the kind of doctor's appointment where you pay lots of money and wait an hour for a prescription refill. Still, the blood work was good [great opening sentence for a certain kind of novel ;)], & I got a good start on the next M.C.A. Hogarth novel [_Either Side Of The Strand_]. I also hit two thrift stores and the library on the way home [25% senior discount at Goodwill on Tuesdays!], & we went out for dinner [after the be-sprinkled stroll]. Then there was the box of books.

So, yeah, all in all - fun.

:)

I kind of did a thing last night. Donald Davis is a famous storyteller from North Carolina I'd been hearing about for years. He had a free event last night at the La Grange library [well over an hour away--I got ze spouse to drive, 'cause that's how he rolls, literally ;)].

I wanted to dress appropriately. What does one wear for a storyteller? Seanan McGuire is one of my very favorite songwriters, & my favorite song by her is "My Story Is Not Done." I wore my t-shirt with that on it. Some ladies sitting near me noticed, & were very impressed. Win! [Hey, that's as close to a costume as I get.] The song is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAzxYuaok00 , & lyrics are here: http://seananmcguire.com/songbook.php?id=325

For a taste of how wonderful Donald Davis is, have a 15-minute TED talk about how story transforms the teller: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgeh4xhSA2Q

Btw, judging by how my normally composed spouse kept almost falling out of his chair, the hour presentation was well worth the 2+ hour drive.

Win!

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/17745685-new-lakerwalker-novella-impending

Squee!

Hello,

I missed GaFilk this year, because there was snow & ice, & I didn’t want to risk being stranded with no meds. January was a whole new symphony: A Root Canal In Six Visits & Two Dentists [interspersed with going to Conflikt with a zombie tooth and getting back home with a more severe lung plague than usual.

My a1c that had been 10--very diabetic!--got down to 6.7, nearly normal. Instead of the super-early morning cattle call, ze spouse & I went to the Cobb sale on Saturday. He got to try out a new breakfast place, & I didn’t have to drive--win! The extra sleep and fewer crowds were also fun.

When he went to AZ, I binge-read Wen Spencer’s Elfhome series. He hiked to Havasu Falls, a beautiful blue-green waterfall [& spent more time getting a reservation than actually hiking, which was 10 miles each way]. He hiked 56 total miles for the trip, a new record. Also, there were lots of baseball games.

Other highlights of the year included: sponsoring a book give-away to a whole school, hours before the highway exploded; my first colonoscopy [clear, yay!];
winning the song contest at my first Westercon; a long chat with Sharon Lee at the Teddy Bear Tea at Confluence; the total eclipse at our nature preserve; a bad splat & new glasses; and enjoying great music at cons with friends. Ze spouse was especially thrilled that there were new Braves & Falcons stadiums in the same year. The Braves can’t win for beans, but they got the parking right.

We also enjoyed 3 local housefilks this year, in March, July [in AL!], & December. There was a big book sale in LaGrange [where my mom grew up], so I got ze spouse to drive, using the excuse of seeing Hills & Dales, a huge estate. We had a lovely day out, & I only got 2 bags [at $5/bag].

Big news: my a1c for at least the last 6 months has been 5.7, solidly pre-diabetic!

Ze spouse & I went to a free concert by fabulous blues man Bob Malone [who plays with John Fogerty]. He did some rock covers & rocked ze spouse’s socks. Tee hee hee. The cat has needed shots, but is doing much better. I’ve begun regular trips to Half-Price Books to trade in what I can’t swap [to build up more credits & sponsor another book give-away later on].

There have also been lots of: booksales & thrift stores; lunches with friends & conversation; and lots of missing Max [my dad], Michael [our filk-dealer], & Meg [our friend].

This year, the 30th anniversary of our first date and 26 years of marriage, had some sad, but much good. We wish all of y’all peace & happiness, now & always.
Love, filkferengi & lawyerspouse

Someone requesting a cd sent me this link:

http://jstandard.com/content/tag/rabbi+howard+gorin

What a cool story!

http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/15467364-new-bujold-podcast-interview

...is here:

http://www.podcasts.com/live-from-the...

The interview starts at about 1 minute in, and runs about 30 minutes.

This was recorded on Day 4 of ConVergence, earlier this month. (Which seems longer ago than that, already.)

Ta, L.

posted by Lois McMaster Bujold on July, 24

http://blog.paperbackswap.com/jerrie-and-richard-visit-midway-elementary-to-distribute-books/2017/05/

It was just a few hours after getting home from this fun adventure, that the interstate I'd driven on exploded into flames. Fortunately, no one was hurt, & I understand the interstate's all repaired now. I'm even almost over the shock of spending lots of the day in a skirt. ;)

note: that's the shirt I wear for my Aral Vorkosigan cosplay. It's supposed to be the one the crew of the "General Vorkraft" gave him.

In Lois McMaster Bujold's Sharing Knife books, Dag Redwing is named for the Red-Winged Blackbird. Since reading the series [over and over again, as one does], that's become one of my favorite birds. Yesterday morning, as I drove out to run errands, a flock of them took flight across the road in front of me. Their dancing red and yellow shoulder-flames dazzled my eyes. As Dag's wife Fawn says about him, they made my eyes happy.

:)