As in, “hopefully things are returning to.”
Word of the Day
hypocoristic, adj. 1. a pet name, esp one using a diminutive affix. 2. endearing, as a pet name, diminutive, or euphemism.
Apparently from the Greek hypokoristikós, “diminutive,” which in itself derives from some long list of words… but the sources don’t make them very clear. Something about kor (“child”) and and istikos, “-istic.”
Space Marine News
Things seem to have slowed down, for which I’m grateful. New reviews are popping up: people seem to be enjoying the book! Yesterday I did an interview with Dark Matter, an Australian fanzine, and I’ve been invited to give something to the anthology. So I am pondering a short story about space marines.
Daughter at 5 Years
One of my favorite “get a hug” ploys is to ask for a Daughter-blanket. “I need a daughter blanket!” I will complain. “I am so cold!” And obligingly Daughter will climb up to wherever I am and flatten me: she’s a lot heavier now than she used to be when I first started teasing her about being my blanket…!
Anyway, the other day I asked for a daughter-blanket and she settled herself on me with her head on my chest. And I said, “Ahh… I am so content. I now have a daughter blanket.”
She answered, “And I have a Mommy pillow!”
Just like that, effortlessly, and yet I marveled. She had taken my perspective and flipped it to look at the situation from hers, picked up on how it affected her, and characterized it.
It still astonishes me that only five years ago she could barely figure out how to drink milk and open and close her fingers.
Creative News/Plans
Continuing to work through my audiobook queue, add books manually to B&N (the Kickstarter book and Godkin are up now), and work on the Jokka novel. The latter has sprouted linguistic considerations that I suppose I should have seen as inevitable… so I am trying to find some time to draw language drift charts. Because I am crazy that way.
Also, I’m finally getting back to work on the remainder of the Black Blossom Kickstarter stuff. In particular, I discovered that the “passports” they give aliens… are scrolls! In beautiful little cases. So to make C’s I’ve ordered real, honest-to-goodness vellum (calfskin). I’ve never used anything like that, I’m looking forward to trying!
Elsewhere (The “Random Health News” Edition)
• Lightning Strikes May Affect Migraine Sufferers. This was fascinating and a little creepy.
• Zinc Keeps Immune System in Check. If you wanted to know why taking zinc helps you fight colds… I guess other people wanted to, too.
Quote of the Day
The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel. —Steve Furtick
