Another one bites the dust… “Matchmaker” was being held at ASIM on their shortlist (after making it through two rounds of reading), but I just got the “no” e-mail. One of those rejections that hurt a little, because there were many nice things said about my writing. It’s frustrating, because the story has been to a number of markets already. It’s a good story, I know, but it’s rather light, and most places aren’t looking for light.

I have a pile of stories that need to be sent, and I’ll do that this week, when I get my head together a little better. Stupid cold…

I slept late today, and made my phone calls, and finally went out to run errands. My carrot, if you will, was the goal of buying the new Styx CD/DVD set, 21st Century Live. I’d called The Wherehouse, but they didn’t have it, so I figured I’d find it at B&N. So I deposited a check for Ken, and mailed a card to Britain (ha! and now all of my British friends will wonder if it’s for them!), and bought a few things at the drug store, and got a roll of film developed (Pirate Tourney and the TN trip, mostly). Then I went to B&N, where I discovered that no, they did not in fact have the DVD, and their computers said it was due out on 31 Dec 2025. Erm, no. I browsed for a bit, enjoying the air conditioning, and read a story by Liz Williams (whom I know from Milford) in Analog, and then I bought a bunch of Yule presents—none of them, oddly, are books. On the way home I stopped at a nonstriking grocery store for rye bread (because the yummy garlic rye I got at TJ’s on Monday had already started going bad—and yet the “sell by” date was today! Harumph!) and string cheese and brie, although I found no brie.

Then I came home and ate melon and two bowls of Pad Thai, and tried to call Teresa, but she wasn’t home, alas. I did some computer fiddling, and then Cat came home, and we spent the rest of the evening laughing hysterically over the latest “I Love the Eighties: Strikes Back” eps.

We saw someone we knew on TV tonight! The Baron of Angels, even. He’s getting jobs as extras, and we knew he was going to be on “The Brotherhood of Poland, NH”. We had to fast-forward through some of it because (a) we didn’t like the show much and (b) Cat was very, very sleepy. He was in one of the last scenes, way in the background, but Cat spotted him! (The DVR’s pause function is very clear, which is great.) Apparently he had some closeups that were cut, ah well.

I was glad for the company, because it kept me in the living room. Otherwise, since I’m taping the eps, I would have done more work. My wrist feels fine now except when I use the mouse. So I’m trying to wear the brace.

I thought I was going to have to take my brother-in-law to the airport at 5:30 tomorrow morning, but he called tonight and said Mom was taking him, and I cheered. I may still try to get up early and work, though. I took the Palm and keyboard to B&N, but as usual, all of the tables were full. I guess I have to get there at 9 when they open, grab any books I want to read, and claim a table.

I also found what sounds like an interesting coffee shop in Long Beach, maybe 15 minutes away, so I’ll have to check that out at some point. There don’t seem to be any interesting coffee shops in Westminster.

So much for early-to-bed. I started writing a quick critique for Teresa’s new story, got caught up at the Endicott Studios website (the two really were related), and then called Ken, and now it’s almost 2 a.m. But hey, I don’t have to get up at 5 a.m.! so all is well.