(no subject)

I just realise that I paid for most of the SFF Criticism Masterclass out of money I was paid for SF criticism and interviews and reviews. It was the money already in my paypal account, you see.

(no subject)

My kitchen tap is seriously ill. Again. This time it's terminal. The plumber has diagnosed and is costing the options. The cheap option will last three months, maybe six or even (if I'm lucky) nine, and will require the expensive option at the other end. The question is how expensive the expensive option is. Phonecalls are being made.

The problem is that the builder of the whole block of units (whose flat this was) did something quite special (good, at the time) with the taps. They other problem is that this was over forty years ago. The designs of the bit between the pipes and taps have changed and none of the handles and etc are compatible any longer. No-one is making the right shape part for the big and important and expensive bit (I had a name ten minutes ago, but it's not nine am yet and I am facing diagnosis without coffee.)

The new young plumber is good and quick. He has made his phonecall, sourced the part and says that the whole thing can be done today for about $200 less than we thought. No interim measures, just a proper fix. While he's off sourcing parts (I live round the corner from his supplier, which helps) I will make gainful use of the bathroom sink to wash the coffeepot and put on a big pot of coffee. We will both need it.

April Australian Spec Fic Blog Carnival

The Carnival isn't yet over: http://eneit.livejournal.com/374599.html

Have a drink with Granny while you visit. She would be disappointed if you didn't. (You don't have to know Granny to have a drink with her - in fact, not knowing her is possibly an advantage.)

(no subject)

So many things are finished today. I have 2/3 of a book to read and three emails to send and maybe 1500 words to write and one more form to send then I'm all finished. I have hot running water in my kitchen and so many flat surfaces are visible in my loungeroom that the place is unrecognisable. I've sourced the 36 books I will read over the next two weeks and pick up the first batch of them from the library tomorrow, when I post the last of those forms (until more forms appear - obviously this is something my life is full of). I've paid my tuition for the masterclass and read 20% of the reading list. I've sorted out bunches of stuff that has to happen over the next two weeks. It's amazing what asthma can do (I have to keep moving, otherwise I can't breath, and keeping moving gets things done).

One more form to fill (an email one) and then i can take a break.

(no subject)

Will I be in massive trouble if I compare thick description in works by Geertz, Dening et al. to info-dumping in some types of SF (the Big Ideas variety - I possibly should work out who I'm talking about - Baxter, maybe?)? I need to consider this deeply. I think it's just Evil Gillian peeking out. But it might actually be something I need to think about.