Month: August 2010

Friday is the new…okay, just Friday

Last night, just before I went to bed, I learned that a recent story from Kaleidotrope (Will Kaufman’s “Eris Sinks Pluto,” April 2010) had been named to the editor’s shortlist for the next Best American Fantasy volume. This isn’t the same thing as it being included in the volume, or even necessarily among the honorable mentions, but it was one of several stories selected by series editor Larry Nolen and passed on to the volume editor, Minister Faust. I thought it was exciting news.

Of course, in the same breath, it was announced that the series, sadly, won’t be continuing. The volume, with or without Will’s intriguing story, won’t be printed.

Oh well. C’est la vie.

Today, on the other hand, was just a regular Friday around here. Went to work, came home around 2 o’clock, did some light grocery shopping, and put together my new kneeling chair. I’ve sat in it a little, but I think it’s still going to take some getting used to. My back has actually improved quite a bit in the weeks since I bought the chair, but we’ll see.

And that, such as it was, was my Friday.

Random 10 8-13

Wow, last week’s lyrics turned out to be really difficult, apparently. Hopefully you’ll all have better luck guessing these songs…even if it is supposedly the most unlucky day of the year…

  1. “Carry on Wayward Son” by the Oak Ridge Boys (orig. Kansas), guessed by Occupant
    My charade is the event of the season
  2. “Walls” by Newcomers Home
    The other half was all the way up to you
  3. “Tattoo Vampire” by Blue Öyster Cult
    Grisly smiles that don’t flake off
  4. “The Picture” by Loudon Wainwright III
    Because she thinks he’s wonderful when he is not so sure
  5. “Clementine” by the Decemberists
    So we got in your car with our kickabout hearts
  6. “Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin, guessed by Occupant
    It’s near beyond the moon
  7. “Language City” by Wolf Parade
    I’d infer, it’s best to avoid the law
  8. “Short Fat Fanny” by Larry Williams, guessed by Occupant
    Whenever I’m around her I’m on my p’s and q’s
  9. “Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley, guessed by Occupant
    And the desk clerk’s dressed in black
  10. “Wig in a Box” from Hedwig and the Angry Inch, guessed by Kim
    I put on some make-up and some LaVern Baker

Good luck!

Thursday is the new Tuesday, too

Another day like pretty much any other. I finished reading Half the Blood of Brooklyn, which was quick and bloody, if maybe not quite as good as the two books before it. I didn’t move directly into the next book in the series, though, despite having a copy with me on the train. I think I need to take a short break, even just for a day or two, from Joe Pitt and his fellow New York vampires.

We had a fair amount of rain here today, but it was actually quite pleasant because of it. As temperatures have come down recently — and after the hot July we had, where else could temperatures go? — the humidity seems to have cranked back up. But with the rain came a pretty nice breeze and pleasant walking-around-Manhattan weather. (So it’s good those vampires are fake…right?)

Anyway, happy as always that tomorrow is Friday.