Barbara Hambly's Blog, page 12

Well, made it through the first day of the double-length,...

Well, made it through the first day of the double-length, double-sized, compressed-format class - and was pleased to see half a dozen students from previous PACE classes that I'd taught, who came back again for this one. I'd like to think that it means that I'm doing something right (rather than that word's got around that I'm an easy B). Most of the students haven't the slightest interest in history: like most PACE students, they're very focussed on career training, and just want to get the general ed requirements out of the way as quickly as possible, and who can blame them? Most of the PACE students are highly motivated, working 40 hours, and this is one more hoop they have to jump through on their way to the Emerald City. (Or else they're the athletes, trying to work around a gruelling training schedule - and the couple that I have in there this semester are bright, willing, and excellent attitude).

For those who don't follow me on Facebook, for the past couple of years I've gone back to long-neglected study of artwork - specifically, working on the kind of art that I've always wanted to do, which is old-school magazine-style illustration. I have a brilliant mentor-teacher, but for the past year, because of his health issues, I've just been working on my own, practicing in what time I have between teaching and writing. As soon as I'm able to - and my mentor is well again - I hope to start doing photo-shoots where the lighting is correct, but until that time I'm just scrounging scrap off the Internet. A lot of what I've done is Dr. Who fan art, because it interests me (a totaly guilty pleasure) - it's all practice in portraiture and use of colors and composition. I also (another shameful guilty pleasure) like doing Romance-cover style paintings - again, practice in colors and composition and the technique of portraiture. Those of you who've followed me on Facebook have seen most of these already. I'll put up one today, and another later in the week (since I haven't figured out the whole "folder" business).

I feel like Mad Max gearing up to cross the Wasteland: ga...

I feel like Mad Max gearing up to cross the Wasteland: gas in truck, guns loaded (it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses...)

Classes start tomorrow - two PACE (condensed) classes in addition to the regular history class I've been teaching all semester. I'll be teaching 4-5 days a week, and existing obligations on the other 3 days means it'll be 2 months before I get real rest. I've read over notes for all lectures for the first week (which will include a Saturday 4-hour marathon). Fortunately, I DID get rest over Spring Break and the Plague (bronchitis + walking pneumonia) is pretty much gone, though I still get tired really easily.

And the painting I've been fumfering around with has finally started behaving itself. (Can I post paintings on LJ?)

Laundry, tea, and bed early.

Well, the Story So Far is that the doctor took a look at ...

Well, the Story So Far is that the doctor took a look at my chest x-ray and said it looked like I actually DID have pneumonia for awhile there, but had pretty much gotten over it (presumably a mild case of walking pneumonia), but she gave me Killer Kick-Ass antibiotics anyway, to be on the safe side. I'm still VERY glad I have a week off - teach one day - then get another week off.

It always interests me the Research Paper topics my students choose at this point in the semester. About 2/3rds of the class is only in there to get a generic gen ed requirement out of the way, and totally don't give a rat's ass about US History. They're frequently have not the slightest idea what to do for a research paper, and ask me, "Do you have a suggestion?" One gentleman asked me that today and I said, "What's your major?" "Accounting." I thought a minute, then said, "Tell me about money during the American Revolution." He must have heard something about it already, because his eyes got real bright and he said, "Oh... that's good!" and looked very pleased.

Other people, of course, try to re-cycle papers about JFK. (Uh... this is 1492-end of the Civil War, guys...)

Feeling well enough - after almost three months! - to sit...

Feeling well enough - after almost three months! - to sit up for an extended period at my computer, and do the line-edit notes on "Darkness On His Bones," Asher/Ysidro # 6 (and the one in which a) we get to see some of Ysidro's backstory and b) I start World War One). I always find the line-edits vexing, because it's a CONSTANT series of "You screwed up that. You missed that. That isn't spelled right. Do you mean something else here?" God bless my dear, wonderful line editors over the years - their care and their attention to detail! But at the time, it makes me nuts. (And there's a constant stream of mental "Shut up. Fuck you. Who cares?")

Line editors are wonderful! Bless them!

Doing as much as I can today, because tomorrow is Exam #2, which means grading for the next week. And I am getting very, very tired of coughing.

It doesn't feel like I'm EVER going to get over t...

It doesn't feel like I'm EVER going to get over this. And, lack of exercise makes it difficult for me to keep cheerful. Now I understand why all those people in Regency novels were always fretting about coming down with "an inflammation of the lungs" - it's a total bitch and you can't get rid of it!

However, I'm doing what work I can - though that's not very much - and so far, am planning to make it to my signing at the Black Ace Paperback Books Collector's Show this Sunday at the Glendale Civic Auditorium (a lovely venue - WAY prettier than that shed they used to hold it at up in Granada Hills! - that I first became acquainted with when they had bellydance showcases there). I always enjoy that show because of the art-book dealers there. I can always find useful and entertaining things. I'm signing 10-11, and will probably just head home afterwards and spend the rest of the day in bed.

A third relapse of the bronchitis that I've had for t...

A third relapse of the bronchitis that I've had for two months now. As with the two previous, it came about (I think) because I felt better and started back - gently - into my usual exercise routines... and also, I think, because I'm back teaching, which involves a LOT of running around. (Taking time off from teaching is not an option). Just got the rosters for the two classes I'll be picking up after Spring Break: 75 students in one, 60 in another, so that last 8 weeks of the semester will be pretty rough. I will, however, stay down and quiet all weekend, which will help.

My evil, wicked, nasty old cat Rocky has discovered that she can very tidily throw up into my house slippers. Who says you can't teach an old critter new behaviors?

Chopping up veggies for The Family Thing tomorrow. It alw...

Chopping up veggies for The Family Thing tomorrow. It always looks so cook-like, to whip together a tasty vegetable dish (snap peas, snow peas, asparagus, and water chestnuts) in minutes... because I did all the chopping the day before (except the asparagus, of course) and can just nuke the peas and dump them in the fancy dish. Ditto the pre-choppable bits of the salad, as well as making the dressing in advance. Saves time, looks easy, and gets one a reputation in one's family of being good at cooking. Besides, as one gets older there are more friends and family who need to stay away from this or that (anything with the slightest connection to olives, in this case; or to vinegar... salad dressing made with walnut oil, tangerine juice, and a little powdered mustard is the answer to THAT riddle).

Now I get to grade exams for the rest of the afternoon.

Slowly recovering from bronchitis, but it's still har...

Slowly recovering from bronchitis, but it's still hard to get up, put on my Game Face, and go teach.

WONDERFUL production last night of "The Barber of Se...

WONDERFUL production last night of "The Barber of Seville"! (It was opening night, too, so there were amazing outfits in the audience as well.) It's a delightful opera, and during the marvelous duets and quintets and giant numbers with regiments of the City Guard, there was constant dumb-show goings-on among the servants in the background: running around, flirting, changing the scenery - truly a delight. I cannot wait to see "Marriage of Figaro" in April - probably my all-time favorite opera.

In the meantime I'm trying to get over bronchitis and not succeeding. I came down with it early in January and can't shake it (though antibiotics did clear up the secondary infections) - I suspect, partly because I had to return to teaching. I teach my classes, come home, and go to bed. It's very slow going and I'm grossly behind on my writing.

The Facebook issues seem to be in hand - the problem seems to have been that my Business page was co-managed by myself and the lovely folks at Open Road publications. When FB changed their protocols (when? why? why didn't they mention this to - oh - their customers?) I got locked out of my own page, and I'm very glad the Open Road folks are working on the problem, because I'm simply too tired - and too far behind on my work - to deal with it.

Open Road has also recently released on digital most of the backlist of my late husband, George Alec Effinger. Most people know his cyberpunk stuff - When Gravity Fails and its sequels - but are less familiar with the strange, surreal, and extremely funny stuff he wrote in the '70s: Nick of Time and Bird of Time are the best, but he wrote some amazing short stories. I think he'd be glad to know those are still around and available now.

My goodness! Delighted to be able to post pix. The door i...

My goodness! Delighted to be able to post pix. The door is in Timbuktu. I am actually standing in the Dealer's Room at LosCon. I love PhotoShop.