Driveby check-in

2026 so far:

• Massively sick twice with colds that lingered for weeks (still recovering from the last one)
• Had to put my beloved boy kitty, Shu, to sleep last week (he had a good passing, but it was hard on me). His sister, Ma'at, and I are trying to adapt to new normal.
• My friend and former editor Lee Martindale passed away and I've been trying to support her widower. Next up: drafting her obit.
• My city got invaded and two people were murdered by ICE within two miles of my house (I already live 4 blocks from what is now George Floyd Square). We're still dealing with all the after effects, trauma, financial disasters, etc. It's been...a lot.
• I started a new job at DreamHaven Books in Minneapolis just in time for owner Greg Ketter to get teargassed and turn into a folk hero.
• I came into some money through Jana's dad's estate.
• Co-taught a good class at the Loft Literary Center.
• Got sick with the aforementioned cold during MarsCon.
• Have gotten Joyce Chng's terrific queer pirate collection, Sailing the Golden Chersonese, into preorder status for release next month.
• Did sundry fun things like an escape room expedition with the steampunk club, hung out with friends, saw plays and watched some entertaining TV.
• Worked on submissions for Queen of Swords.
• Campaigned hard for the Astreiant Series created by Melissa Scott and Lisa A. Barnett to be nominated for Best Series Hugo (please - Point of Hearts is the qualifying title!)
• Wrote and got an article accepted for Deep Cuts in a Lovecraftian Vein. I wrote about a Margaret St. Clair story that is a fascinating historical artifact. And problematic af.
• Got through Part Two and half of Part Three, so far, of my Data Analytics Certification program.
• Wrote some thousands of words of new fiction, about which more soon.
• I turn 63 on Monday, which is kind of wild.

More detail later after I get some sleep.