…since I posted, which at this time of year is kinda weird.  Very mixed couple days.  Had two major writers drop out of a book project, and one possibly drop out of another.  This is a thing that happens, and I cast no aspersions at the writers in question, but it really does focus one on what’s happening.  What else? We watched Stardust last night. It was good, but I couldn’t help feeling that it wasn’t tight enough and that Robert DeNiro’s character just didn’t quite fit. The girls will love it in about four years, though.  Been chased by some weird bug or illness or condition or thing all week. Felt blech, and haven’t read much.  Got to see one story that I liked very much (not for a project, just let see it), and browsed through some magazines.

What else? Oh, having lost track of it somehow, I found myself with no time to do my year in review essay. This is because I was dumb as a post and forgot to do it.  Turned it around in a day and a half, and moved on.  Now it’s all 2008, I guess.  Busy, busy. There has been some big news here at home, but I feel like it doesn’t quite fit here. Not sure why, but suffice to say in amongst feeling moderately horrible, one good thing was happening. We bought more fish today, and a snail (!). Whoever thought we’d end up buying a snail? Life if weird.  The tank – The Hacienda – is now full. I shan’t relate all the names here, but Orangey (formerly Courtney) and Goldy are now one of a handfull. They seem busy in there.

And here’s a picture!

There is such a thing as an unalloyed moment, but they’re very rare. Marianne and I have been telling Jessica and Sophie that they just might get goldfish and a fish tank for a while now, and today we thought it was time to make good on the suggestion. So, just after lunch time, with a quick chorus of ‘Sing ho for the expedition’ we jumped into the world’s most middle-class family sedan, and headed off to the aquarium shop.

The one we went to has been there forever. I mean, I remember buying various sorts of exotic tropical fish from the same shop when I was in my mid-teens, so it’s been there for at least 30 years. Like most anyplace that trades in life, it was a little seedy, a little magical, and a little strange. There were all different kinds of tanks and filters and gravel, there were carp and mollies and axolotls. Great, grand fighting fish and pretty simple gold fish. The girls were excited, up beat, and wanted to get into every nook and cranny.

We spent a rather enchanting time exploring before deciding to buy a small tank and two fish – a fantail called ‘Courtney’ and bronze comet called ‘Goldy’. And, just as we got ready to leave the aquarium shop things kind of fell apart. Jessica, who gets tired and whose self-control lapses when that happens, began to meltdown completely because she couldnt’ hold the fish. We had shouting and tantrums on the way back to the world’s most middle class family sedan, on the way home, all the way through setting up the tank, and through releasing the fish into their new home. It was only after an hour of this that she finally calmed down, and sat, happily gazing at her new best pals. Sophie, of course, was sweet and reasonable all through this. I’m almost convinced they don’t plan these things, but only almost.

And so Jessica and Sophie have gotten their first ever pets, if you can call fish pets.  It’s weird and sweet and stressful.  I guess that’s family life.

And, in amongst all the other good things, Night Shade have launched their new website out into the ether. Go check it out, it’s very cool.

The Preliminary Nebula Ballot is out, and Andy Duncan’s “Unique Chicken Goes in Reverse” is on it! I’m delighted. I loved all of the stories in the book, and look forward to seeing them on awards ballots all year long, but I’m dead chuffed with this firs step. I’ve got my fingers crossed it makes the final ballot and on. I’m also very pleased that Eclipse-alum Ysabeau Wilce is on the Norton ballot for her novel Flora Segunda. My congratulations to everyone on the ballot, but extra special congratulations to these too.