Lots has happened since last I wrote, but given when that was it's probably not terribly surprising.

I should start with: I got my rejection from F and SF. It was a nice rejection, though not as nice as the one before, and it was from Gordon and not the first reader so I'm taking it as a pretty good thing. Still, a sale would be better.

I am proud of myself though in that I got the story out to the next market on the list fairly quickly. That's a big step for me as I tend to procrastinate.

In other good writing news, I've started getting ideas again. In fact, I've gotten two in the last four days which is a veritable wonderland for me usually and downright miraculous since Clarion. Woo hoo.

Now I just need to sit down and WRITE the damn things. Still, baby steps.

And I did start writing one of them. It was one of those ideas where you wake up from a really vivid dream and just know there's a story there. I wrote down the idea, went about my day (this was at Worldcon and I didn't have much of a choice) and later that same day got the first hundred words or so written.

It's not much, but it's a start. And it does help with that sort of blank screen freeze I tend to go into.

And since I mentioned it I should say something about Worldcon here. It was wonderful, hectic, thrilling, and all sorts of other things. I met some really interesting people, including Connie Willis (fascinating woman!), China Mieville and David Brin, went to some neat panels that were never, ever about whatever they were supposed to be about. And, certainly not least of the list of good things, I got to see some of my fellow Clarionites! And I still miss you guys. Wish I'd had more time to talk to you all.

Toronto is also a beautiful city with some of the strangest names for restaurants I have ever seen, including one called the Loose Moose. We didn't eat there because it was also a bar, and while the super strength inhaler is doing wonders for my alcohol reactions it dosn't last forever, and I didn't want to risk it. And there were a few times (notable at the Tor party) where even the inhaler just wasn't strong enough.

We did eat at one really good Indian place called Raaga that was so authentic it didn't even have beef on the menu. The only complaint was that the curry was a bit mild, but sine I was eating it and my spicy food tolerance seems to be dropping the older I get, maybe that's not so bad.

Anyway, this is rambling really badly, but there's so much to catch up on, and I'm thinking much more quickly that I can type and I'm really tired so bear with me.

When I got back from Torcon I had a message that my second reader had been approved by the department chair. Yay! Small problem though. The last day to register was the next day (being the Tuesday after Labor Day). My new and shiny second reader wasn't on campus Tuesdays. I needed him to sign something to register. It was a mess.

Fortunately, I managed to beg and plead to be allowed to register without the signature sheet of the readers and got everything in just under the wire. So, in theory, I'm all set now. I'm just hoping nothing else goes wrong.

And pretty much that's where I stand. I have to write a ten page paper on anchorites, read MCTEAGUE, organize a new meeting time for my writers' group, get our lawn dealt with, get cracking on my thesis writing, oh, and I've rediscovered mini's painting. I'm doing my Warhammer army -- Eldar for the curious. I just love the avatar. (For those who have no idea what I'm talking about, don't worry. It's really not important).

I've also started reading Neil Gaiman's AMERICAN GODS. I've decided I have to start reading more novels since all I've been reading are short story anthologies and such. So, if anyone has suggestions I'd love to hear them.

Now I am going to see get reaquainted with Julian Norwich, Medieval Anchoress and Author.

Bye for now, all!