Death of ambition
Jun. 6th, 2025 06:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jhetleyAir temperature 66 F, wind northwest about 5 mph, partly cloudy with added wildfire smoke. Dew point 63 F, high pollen, air quality moderate with AQI 57. I did not like the air when I rolled the trash bin to the end of the driveway. Planned bike ride may be scrubbed in favor of a sedate walk.
(no subject)
Jun. 5th, 2025 05:40 pmjhetleyWell, I was wondering when they would hit the rocks. How long until Musk is scapegoated for everything that breaks?
I had a tiny little tense moment last night
Jun. 5th, 2025 09:41 amjames_davis_nicollWhen a woman looked around her for her husband, who had been right behind her on the stairs but was now nowhere to be seen. I was very worried I was facing a repeat of the time not too long ago when I spent an hour looking for a missing patron.
The missing husband turned out not to have been behind his wife on the stairs after all, so mystery solved. The missing patron I spent that hour looking for was found once I thought about where she had to be to have not been found where we looked: row H or J, somewhere near seat 26.
The missing husband turned out not to have been behind his wife on the stairs after all, so mystery solved. The missing patron I spent that hour looking for was found once I thought about where she had to be to have not been found where we looked: row H or J, somewhere near seat 26.
The Witch Roads (The Witch Roads, volume 1) by Kate Elliott
Jun. 5th, 2025 09:11 amjames_davis_nicoll
An arduous journey in a prince's entourage offers a courier escape from immediate, judicial danger, at the cost of an entirely different assortment of dangers.
The Witch Roads (The Witch Roads, volume 1) by Kate Elliott
NDP display firm resolve
Jun. 5th, 2025 09:04 amjames_davis_nicoll Pursuing their vow to bring down the government, NDP ... do nothing of the sort.
I wonder if they got phone calls from voters expressing their displeasure at the prospect of an election so soon after the previous one?
I wonder if they got phone calls from voters expressing their displeasure at the prospect of an election so soon after the previous one?
Suddenly summer
Jun. 5th, 2025 06:49 amjhetleyAir temperature 56 F, wind southeast about 4 mph, hazy sky from Canadian pollution. Air quality "moderate" with an AQI of 80. We are supposed to get up near 90 F this afternoon, so any walk will be early. Political weather no more tolerable.
Well, dammit.
Jun. 4th, 2025 03:26 pmjhetleyThat mountain has killed before and will kill again . . .
https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/06/04/piscataquis/piscataquis-police-courts/2nd-missing-hiker-found-dead-on-katahdin/
https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/06/04/piscataquis/piscataquis-police-courts/2nd-missing-hiker-found-dead-on-katahdin/
Northwards
Jun. 4th, 2025 01:02 pmsartoriasI was taking to a felow customer when I stopped for sandwiches while strolling around downtown Albany last night, and when I commented on the deepeness of the verdure around me--I can't get enough of it--he said that it's been a very wet season here.
I took a walk along the Hudson, stopping at a little side canal, or whatever they are called, when I saw a bridge and inviting shadows (the sun was overly warm and the hair humid and kind of dirty). I snapped this shot:
If it works right, and you embiggen, look just above the top branch of the fallen tree. I'd spotted a pair of geeze swimming toward it, and thought they'd make a splendid shot framed by the two branches. But they never emerged from behind the top one, some twenty feet below me and upstream. I could see the ripples from them paddling, but no sign of the geese.
When I looked closer, I just spotted a black and white goose head peeking at me from beyond that branch. They were clearly waiting for the monster to lurk somewhere else.
And now I'm on my way northwards toward Montreal, which I should reach this evening.
I took a walk along the Hudson, stopping at a little side canal, or whatever they are called, when I saw a bridge and inviting shadows (the sun was overly warm and the hair humid and kind of dirty). I snapped this shot:
If it works right, and you embiggen, look just above the top branch of the fallen tree. I'd spotted a pair of geeze swimming toward it, and thought they'd make a splendid shot framed by the two branches. But they never emerged from behind the top one, some twenty feet below me and upstream. I could see the ripples from them paddling, but no sign of the geese.
When I looked closer, I just spotted a black and white goose head peeking at me from beyond that branch. They were clearly waiting for the monster to lurk somewhere else.
And now I'm on my way northwards toward Montreal, which I should reach this evening.
Wednesday roadkill report
Jun. 4th, 2025 11:49 amjhetleyDead raccoon by the roadside in the next town up, looked like an adult but not as big as they get. Other blood spots on the road in other areas but no corpse ID.
Not-roadkill, a couple of geese by the cemetery pond on my way back through, couple of geese complaining but not seen up at the golf course.
First roses and rhododendrons blooming, goats-beard, hobble-bush. Canada mayflower continuing on into June. Lupines getting serious.
Headed upriver on the bike, encountered some construction in passing but no major hangups. Did not die.
15.38 miles, 1:31:04
Not-roadkill, a couple of geese by the cemetery pond on my way back through, couple of geese complaining but not seen up at the golf course.
First roses and rhododendrons blooming, goats-beard, hobble-bush. Canada mayflower continuing on into June. Lupines getting serious.
Headed upriver on the bike, encountered some construction in passing but no major hangups. Did not die.
15.38 miles, 1:31:04
Five Stories About What Happens After You’ve Defeated the Big Bad
Jun. 4th, 2025 10:07 amjames_davis_nicoll
Mission accomplished! Quest completed! Now what...?
Five Stories About What Happens After You’ve Defeated the Big Bad
Touring After the Apocalypse, volume 4 by Sakae Saito
Jun. 4th, 2025 08:59 amjames_davis_nicoll
Exuberant Youko and stoic Airi continue their tour through the remaining wonders of post-apocalyptic Japan. Carpe diem!
Touring After the Apocalypse, volume 4 by Sakae Saito
Lethargic morning
Jun. 4th, 2025 06:55 amjhetleyAir temperature 54 F, wind near calm, cloudy with added Canadian smog. Waxing moon last night had a bit of yellowish haze. City crew mowing the park -- wonder how many times they'll get swallowed by the bog *this* week. May try to get a bike ride in.
Young People Read Old Nebula Finalists: Mikal's Songbird by Orson Scott Card
Jun. 3rd, 2025 02:25 pmjames_davis_nicoll
In an uncommon turn for famed author Card, he presents a very special boy in very difficult circumstances faced with great responsibility. What will the Young People make of it?
Young People Read Old Nebula Finalists: Mikal's Songbird by Orson Scott Card
Life in the North Woods
Jun. 3rd, 2025 12:40 pmjhetleyA couple of trails are closed up in Baxter State Park, due to an active search. Those trails go to the peak of Mt. Katahdin, and are a bit strenuous. We hiked both, decades back. Looks like someone signed the register book to go up one and down the other. And never signed themselves down and safe.
Thing that adds "fun" to the situation, is that one of the trails is the end of the Appalachian Trail, and there will be through-hikers coming out of a long stretch (100 miles) of wilderness to finish off their marathon.
Thing that adds "fun" to the situation, is that one of the trails is the end of the Appalachian Trail, and there will be through-hikers coming out of a long stretch (100 miles) of wilderness to finish off their marathon.
Two Comments
Jun. 3rd, 2025 09:01 amjames_davis_nicollThis sure is different from how RPGs were covered in the news in the 1980s.
It never occurred to me that people would be worried about playing wrong. Would-be gatekeepers complaining that people play wrong, sure. I am sure that started in 1974. But I didn't consider performance anxiety.
It never occurred to me that people would be worried about playing wrong. Would-be gatekeepers complaining that people play wrong, sure. I am sure that started in 1974. But I didn't consider performance anxiety.
Port Eternity by C J Cherryh
Jun. 3rd, 2025 08:50 amjames_davis_nicoll
Made-to-order slaves fear their eccentric owner will tire of and dispose of them... until a calamity renders the issue moot.
Port Eternity by C J Cherryh
Nothing to see here
Jun. 3rd, 2025 07:03 amjhetleyAir temperature 49 F, wind near calm, fog at the airport but clear out my window. Canadian smoke starting to make its way to the Atlantic. Foraging morning, appointment afternoon. Probably no walk.