Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, random fun, Rapid City, Thoughts on June 15, 2023| Leave a Comment »
For various day job reasons I’m feeling a wee bit tired. I have no deep thoughts about this, just a sense that I could really use a vacation (yes, another one! 😉 or at least a tiny little break.
Time to browse the weird and wild world of Google Street View, courtesy of this site:
How many times can I hit the Random button before it gets old? …
Wait, there’s a giant statue of a quarter-pound burger in Rapid City, South Dakota?! Of course there is🙂
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, @tordotcom, creativity, Fiction, free fiction, genre fiction, Writers, writing on June 14, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Tor.com has released its free fiction bundle, in case you want to explore such things!
Download the Tor.com Spring 2023 Short Fiction Bundle | Tor.com
Our Spring 2023 Short Fiction bundle features stories by:
A.C. Wise
E. Lily Yu
Eugenia Triantafyllou
Yoon Ha Lee
Kemi Ashing-Giwa
Jeffrey Ford
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Thoughts on June 13, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Yesterday’s goals were far-reaching but I am happy to report that, with the help of a foolishly optimistic outlook and a healthy dose of yaupon tea, I completed all but one task.
(That final task was to make banana bread muffins, and while I was looking forward to them, let’s all be honest and admit that extra tangy lemon meltaways and dark chocolate brownies are always going to be higher on the list.)
So it’s still Tuesday (the worst!) but things are still looking pretty good.
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Posted in Food and..., tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, Thoughts, whee! on June 12, 2023| 1 Comment »
Today, for reasons, I am attempting to put in a full day’s work, work out, edit a story, and make not one not two but three different desserts. I don’t usually drink coffee or tea but decided that if there is a time to caffeinate, this is it.
Will I achieve my goals or watch my plans careen into a topsy turvy tower of uncompromising reality?
(cue dramatic music)
Tune in tomorrow to find out!
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, bees, Thoughts on June 11, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Busy day today, and the good news is that I made up with Excel, we did a ton of yard work and now have outdoor space for the summer, pruned trees, trimmed lawns, happy birds, and the clover is in full flower. It was a very satisfying day. In fact, you could say that I’m as happy as a bee in clover.
And I am pleased to say that they were very happy indeed.
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Posted in Likes, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Thoughts, Writers on June 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »
I used to love those wooden block sets with marble runs cut in the long bits, and direction changing holes through the blocky bits. (It’s possible that an alternate version of me grew up to be a toy engineer. Which would be awesome.)
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, #longfreakingday, Thoughts, Writers, writing on June 9, 2023| Leave a Comment »
I have a complicated relationship with Excel. Yes, that Excel. When we first met I was befuddled, confused, even a little repelled, but eventually I was drawn to its mysterious ways, its challenging formulae, and its captivating possibilities.
We became a team, a good team, despite a few hiccups.
Today, though, my sojourn with that uptight paragon of calculation was nothing but hiccups. I’d hoped to get in some writing today but instead I’ve been banging my brain against a wall of day-job data.
I’ll work out my Excel issues soon and we’ll be back to a happy, constructive partnership, but for now?
It’s time for a break.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, genre fiction, Kickstarter, Writers, writing, yay on June 8, 2023| Leave a Comment »
I belong to SF Canada, Canada’s professional speculative fiction organization for writers and others. A post popped up on the forum from another member, about a Kickstarter he was doing for the Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction. I particularly liked the fact that this is Volume One.
Yes, please.
Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume One by Stephen Kotowych
I backed it. So did a lot of other people, if the fact that the campaign funded in 45 minutes is any indication. It blew through five stretch goals and I imagine the creator is furiously dreaming up new rewards right now.
It’s a good problem to have. Can’t wait to see the results, and I hope that Volume One is the first collection of many.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, genre fiction, Thoughts, Writers on June 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, health, nature on June 6, 2023| 1 Comment »
We woke to hazy, yellow skies and multiple air quality warnings. Putting the trash out was an odd experience. The morning air smelled like a winter’s night by a wood-burning fireplace. In June.
While still dry from the recent heat wave, Ottawa is not on fire but a lot of the areas around us are. Many of those places are upwind.
The internet may be a hive of scum and villainy but I do love that it has a map for everything. Searching for “wildfire smoke map ontario” brought me to this informative site:
Well, that explains it.
Ottawa’s air quality is currently rated a 7, or high risk. What does that mean?
At-Risk Population:
- Avoid strenuous activities outdoors. Children and the elderly should also avoid outdoor physical exertion.
- Find out if you are at risk
General Population:
— Ottawa, Ontario – Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) – Environment Canada
- Reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors, especially if you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.
In good-ish news, a high-quality mask will provide a reasonable level of protection against smoke and its particulates. As a population, we are much better equipped for such events than we were pre-pandemic so, I guess that’s something?
I also see that the smoke is blowing south to the States. Sorry, family.
Stay healthy, stay safe!
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J.R. Johnson 
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