(no subject)

If you found that the best version of a favourite story had been put online, would you think "Forget all the things I have to do today, I'm going to read a bit first?" Of course you would. Then would you think the universe was out to get you when only the second half is findable?

I could go to my bookshelf. I have any number of transcripts and translations (including one in Old Occitan) of the Song of Roland sitting there, looking winsome. I've never read the Digby manuscript online, though, and I can read the edited versions anytime.

I want to play! But it's the opening sequences that are my favourite playground right now. My least favourite sequence today is Roland's death scene. I normally love laisses similaires, but today I want Roland to die once and just get over it. He never could get over himself, though. Definite personality flaw, right there.

Anyhow, this means I shall be at all the places I need to be at today, and CSFG and Conflux folks will hear me muttering quietly when there's no scintillating conversation to distract me. "Carles li reis, nostre emperere magnes, Set anz tuz pleins ad estet en Espaigne" will be the mutter. If I hadn't stopped to blog, I could have gone to the last page of the digitalised manuscript, another favourite section, but I can do that later, so I shan't be forced to mutter "Ci falt la geste que Turoldus declinet."

Oops, the Blackwell edition has somehow snuck into my handbag. How very forward of it. It has Stephen Baxter for company.

(no subject)

A thousand congratulations to Jason Fischer. He's had a lot of publishing success recently, and now he has a new baby as well. 2008 has obviously been watching out for him and in 2009 he will reap the rewards and get no sleep.

I owe him bigtime for having this baby. There's a baby produced for every single CSFG anthology. If he hadn't had one then Scott or I might have had to!

ETA: My typing these last few days is the product of some very interesting weather. This is a blanket apology for any side effects from interesting weather over the next few days. I am weather-sensitive and this is one of the ways it shows.