The Random Update

First of all, I’ve been traveling, so it’s been a little more difficult to get some good content up for you folks. I was on the eastern shore of Maryland last week, and I took the opportunity to visit the mall in Washington, D.C. while I was close. Perhaps the most moving of all the monuments was the Vietnam War Memorial. It was simple–just a black marble wall with names engraved on it. And yet, for all of it’s simplicity, it was awe inspiring to read the names of those who gave their lives defending freedom. It made our bumbling in the war all the more horrifying.

The next interesting thing is that I stepped off of a sidewalk and rolled my ankle, seriously spraining it. Because I’m a dumbass, I walked on it the rest of my hike around the mall thinking that “walking it off” would help. By the time I returned to Union Station for my return to the airport and a flight home, I could barely walk. My wife suggested I go to the doctor on Friday night. I said “meh” and ignored her. She finally prevailed upon me to call an minor emergency clinic and get my foot looked at.

We went to get our new dog, which we have elected to call Luke, on Saturday morning. He was just as sweet as he was on our interview. He loved riding in the truck (although he needs to settle down), and after a few moment of apprehension he settled into our home. After he was settled, I drove (stupidly) over to the minor emergency room and discovered that my foot is broken. WTF!?! I have a Grade II ankle sprain on top of it, which means I have partially torn ligaments. I suppose the fact that the side of my foot was the size of a half-orange should have been a dead giveaway. I’m on crutches for a week, and light activity for the next three weeks.

Luke has turned out to be an interesting companion. The rescue organization thinks he’s a year and a half old; given the size and shape of his paws and his quality of his dentition, I’m thinking he’s significantly younger than that, perhaps as little as one year. This also dovetails well with his exuberant behavior, which included “counter surfing” to get several bags of doritoes that were destined for some snack bags I was building. He is settling into his routine, though, and we’re looking at crating him for a little while each day to get him used to the idea. We’ll probably also consider “doggie day care” one day per week to keep him socialized. A second dog, given the demands of a toddler and two full time parents, just isn’t in the cards right now.

I’ve started Elizabeth Bear’s Blood and Iron; I’ve noted that the reviews are very mixed. So far, I’m finding it to be intriguing, if a bit dense on the prose. I like the idea of the Fae; it’s a fantasy trope that isn’t done terribly often in the types of books that I read (who knows, it might be done to death elsewhere). The modern setting also makes it somewhat interesting, especially when mages use cell phones and the subway to get around New York City.

Kate has done a magnificent job on podcasting for Lee Stephen the past couple of weeks. If you haven’t had the opportunity to download the excerpts from Lee’s work and listen to Kate’s awesome (sexy) reading voice, then you’re really missing out. I can say, having read both Epic and Outlaw Trigger that Lee is nearing the top of his form with his story of Scott Remington. The prose is readable, fast-paced, and tight. Best of all, the work would be good for teens who are first exploring the world of military science fiction. Buying one of his books is also for an excellent cause. Head over to Amazon today!