Book-focused weekend. Ken’s been playing with format — shifting a margin this way then that, tweaking the line spacing, bigger, smaller. The goals are to make a readable page (i.e. with enough blank space) and to keep the page count down. These two aims run counter to each other. I’m happy to say that it’s looking like the print edition will be in the neighborhood of low-300’s. This may change but it’s a really good page count.
Still working on my blurb. It’s about 80 words too long.
Yesterday I applied for an LCCN. That’s a Library of Congress Control number which apparently helps librarians find your book. I hadn’t heard of it before yesterday. It can also lend a little credibility to a self-published book, though I’m not sure how since if you’re like me you really don’t even scan the copyright page. I’ve been STUDYING them this week.
We’re under a tornado watch. There was a voluminous and angry downpour at dawn. Branches along our walk were down. It is muggy.
I made the best turkey burgers yesterday. Really really good. Not even sure why.
Mixed in: homemade bread crumbs, cilantro and a little basil, a shallot, S&P, garlic powder and three cloves of garlic, the usual egg. Served with homemade aioli and a nice seeded, toasted bun.
We’re getting ready to go to California this week for a wedding. The two people I know who attended outdoor weddings recently reported six to eight people getting Covid. I think that makes them superspreader events?
I’ve grown a little self-conscious about masking. I’m expecting to be the only person wearing one at this wedding. Should that bother me? Maybe not if you consider I might also be one of the only guests who hasn’t had Covid.
I read twitter still. It’s grown more and more worthless but I learn about fires and floods and I watch portions of political speeches (important to know for myself how degraded Trump is). It’s where I’m learning about Project 2025.
But here’s what else I’m learning. A succession of mild Covid cases in a small but significant percentage of people results in long term health damage. People forget that it’s a vascular disease. Heart problems may result. Immune system weakening. There can be brain and liver damage, strokes and aneurysms. If Covid was just the week you lose to exhaustion and a lack of smell, I would not give a shit.
(And maybe I shouldn’t qualify the number of ugly outcomes as “small” since some of those strokes, for instance, may happen when younger folk turn 35 or 40).
It’s on Twitter where I found out that San Francisco’s wastewater count of the virus is higher than 2020 and that there’s a surge of Covid cases in Oregon. I also learned that it’s a good idea to run the bathroom and AC fans for an hour in a hotel room before settling in.
I ordered more N95 masks and I have my iodine-based nasal and throat sprays out for packing. My last booster was in March so I guess I’m good there? Not much else I can do besides stay home.
I also put basil in my turkey burgers the other day! And lemon zest and vegan mayo. Also, yummier than my same ol’ chopped fresh parsley and red onion.
Scary storm dropped here as well. So glad I was in the car!!
COVID – you *are* much safer with a mask (N95). People I know who travel a lot always wear a mask on the plane. When they got covid, (once they were in a period of non-travel. Also, our doc told us that (forgive me if this is a repeat): when airline sewer samples are taken, they are 100% COVID saturated. Just assume someone on your flight has it. Even tho it seems to be mainly a mild affliction if you’ve been vaccinated these days… well, everything you said about long covid is fairly well documented as far as our research goes as well, plus friend’s experiences with it. Our doc got covid at a family wedding last summer. I have been more lax lately, “around town”. Just last night we went to a small town (up river) movie house packed with weekenders and NYkers. Susan Seidelman spoke and signed books (we saw “Smithereens”). It was awfully sweaty in there w/warm bodies in close seating! My eyes started to drip at one point (East Village nostalgia?). UGH. If I don’t have covid w/in 3 days I’ll be the most surprised of anyone. It never occurred to me to wear a mask until I walked in the door. We were late, of course… I saw only two people masked out of probably 150. No, I don’t think they were robbers.
You are so close on your book!!! very cool. xx
PS my wordpress login access is different, and I didn’t change it – It doesn’t matter! I never use it except to access your blog. just fyi, and It’s just weird.
Oh I hope you don’t get sick! I always mask on planes and in airports. I was shocked when people just stopped. I don’t get it.
Lemon zest is a good idea!!
WordPress? I don’t know what’s up.
mask….Alyssia (her Lupus) and i (compromised lungs from my nicotine addiction) are almost always the only masked persons. At that 200 plus person 8th grade graduation event….there was one other old Asian man. At the Vagina Monologues, just us. I find self avoiding many “normal” activities because of needing to wear it…
i feel distanced and friendly back and forth conversation is stilted. I forgot it the other day at the feed store and all of a sudden realized i was yacking away with the kid at the register which felt really nice. it is what it is.
did you see the email i sent you? Laurence Fishburne? To my old master
that’s me….grace
The one I just watched was a fascinating story of a painting (recently acquired by the Met in NYC). It’s a portait of three Louisiana children that originally included a slave? Bélizaire. That YouTube? It was fascinating. The research trails that found his identity, the restoration that it took to uncover him and restore his image. A tale of literal erasure.
But no Laurence Fishburne? I’ll look again.
Found it with a quick search. What an astonishing letter! Really quite witty, understated, and yet forthright and serious. Wow. Just wow.
I will admit I’ve gotten lax coming and going without a mask. I stopped worrying about all the things you mentioned .. you’ve got me thinking I’ve been stupid lucky and I need to smarten up. Thanks for that!!
The progress on your book sounds fantastic .. I would never have know all that goes into getting a book published. Way more steps than I would have imagined. Nice you have Ken that can help with the challenging computer stuff.
Safe travels ….
Well I ate two meals a day in restaurants while in Italy! I found out that the wedding is small (25) and that a stiff breeze generally comes in off the pacific at the hour of the nuptials so I’m less nervous. Airports probably offer more opportunity to catch something.
My niece and great nephew are just getting over covid, first timers! She was bummed to break her 4 year streak. We’ve been good since we both had it 7/22 – barely an illness for him and not super awful for me. I have heard the covid count has gone up a bit this summer.
I remain careful (age, asthma, health history) and mask still…like it’s 2020 or something. But, for me just too many appointments to risk getting sick for the past couple of years. Folks look at me like I’m crazy or ask right out if I’m sick or why am I wearing a mask, whatever. I don’t care. I do not want to get sick.
As for you, yeah on the plane, busy places etc. – do what feels right for you and yours, we can’t make the world more thoughtful or careful. Lesson learned at this point.
I hope you have a most wonderful time at the wedding. Hopefully the weather will be fine and the cool breezes keep all healthy.Have fun!
“Like it’s 2020 or something.” Funny. I’ve actually never been confronted. If I were I might just tell people I have Covid.
You’d be surprised (or not) to hear the things folks say to me…and I am so over it this week. Laundry day is especially a biggie to comment on (gotta love neighbors) how much laundry I have (a week’s worth for house and 2 people) or how long I’ve taken (mostly because I won’t take every machine, in case someone else comes to do their laundry).