Massive Pre-Wiscon Update

I didn't get the job. (But they were nice about it.)

I did get the flu.

I'm over the flu.

I visited Alcatraz shortly before I came down with the flu. Got a mild sunburn. Must remember to wear hat when head's shaved.

Alcatraz was fun. As a long-term San Francisco resident, of course I had never gone until visitors from out of town (in this case, Steven's mother) asked us along. But it was really rather interesting. Also popular, alas. It was nice to visit in nesting season and see large parts of the island cordoned off for the birds' sakes.

In the Alcatraz museum, there was a display of the 40's men's magazines that helped popularize the mystique of the prison by their lurid stories (I am paraphrasing the exhibit text). One of the magazines had a cover blurb that ran:

"Obsessed With A Four-Letter Word That Starts With 'M'"

Of course, the magazine was behind glass so I didn't get to see what the word was. We amused ourselves for the rest of the trip home by brainstorming what they could have possibly meant.

Mist? Mink? Mops?

Mule? Mars? Muff?

Mail? Moon? Monk?

More?

Finally, we settled upon "muon." Obviously, the story was about the exhilarating scientific chase for this rare atomic particle.

Cosmo departed yesterday; no more Monster in the Closet. I finished my review last night; it was about four days late. At least I had a real excuse.

I learned how to take my temperature better than before -- boredom meant I got a lot of practice in. I discovered that sticking the thermometer under my breast is as effective as doing it under my arm. I also found a better spot under my tongue, that gives more accurate (i.e. consistent with other spots) readings.

The garden suddenly has a lot of nasturtium blooms, all at once. And the morning glories are coming in. I may cut down the arugula so I can see the pretty black velvet flowers, whose name I don't remember, that have come up again this year. The lemon tree continues to pump out fruit like there's no tomorrow.

I haven't written in two weeks. Soon my head will explode.

Tonight I pack for WisCon. My flight is terribly early in the morning. You won't be hearing from me for a few days.

OK, one more

Why not?

( The SF and Fantasy book lists  )

and a final note

I keep forgetting to mention this.

When I went to see Bend It Like Beckham (a fine, excellent movie, especially if you like girls and soccer, and I am firmly in both camps), the theater was almost empty. I was surprised, but not too surprised -- I did go to the last show on a Wednesday night,after all, not a big movie night. Though I keep hearing the movie's so damn popular that perhaps I should have been more startled than I was. I guess I'm just used to being a minority taste.

Actually, the theater *was* empty, except for me and the boy, when we arrived not ten minutes before showtime. Completely, utterly empty.

And it was our anniversary.

But before any naughtiness could begin, alas -- even merely antisocial naughtiness like razzing the previews aloud or talking back to the screen -- we were joined by one lone woman, two aisles back.

Later, two other couples snuck in, just before the movie started.

Darn.

Maybe next time.