This weekend I've been left alone, and I plan to put the time to good use by mucking around in the garden. I have many, many plans :) The existing plants need some maintenance, and some of my herbs didn't really make it through the winter, they'll need to be taken out. I'm going to plant a bit of scented garden around the side, and I've got some wildflower matting. I've got some new herbs to go in. This year I'm tending more toward the edibles rather than the medicinals, with several varieties of thyme and some garlic and ginger. I've also got some fruit to go in. I'm going to use the bits of space around the apple trees and raised beds to put in some currant bushes (red and white, which will stand up straight), some gooseberries, and some cranberries for ground cover. That, plus some extensive weeding and so on, is likely to take up most of the weekend, alas.
Happy New Year, slightly belated. I hope this year is better for all of us than last, unless last year was pretty awesome in which case I hope you continue your winning streak.
Assuming plans work out, it looks like I'll be attending Arisia 2015. This will be the first time in many moons - the last time was 2011, shortly before I finished my undergrad degree and moved to the UK. I'm not going to be volunteering for anything or on any panels, because this is such a last-minute thing, and also because I'd like to just enjoy the convention a bit. We might arrange some kind of dinner-ish thing one night if people are interested. Who's going?
We (by which I mean myself and N) are now at Worldcon. We're in the Ramada. I am sequestered tonight on account of I haven't written my presentation yet, but will be out and about tomorrow. I may not have your contact number, due to technology hairballs, so please contact me by other means (and if you do text me let me know who you are :)
We should meet up! Leave a note and I'll PM you my mobile. I'll be there from Thursday to Sunday, though not available early on Friday AM. (If you do happen to be there and awake, I'll be giving a talk on economics in science fiction at 09:30. Feh.)
Help me out, Internets. A few years ago I read a short story, I don't remember who it was by but I don't read a lot of short stories so it was probably Connie Willis or Charles Stross. It was about two next-door neighbors who lived in a world where nanotechnology advanced so much that people just made stuff in their garages. One particular point was one guy making oranges, and then recycling the peels into socks or something. Do you remember this story? I need it! (It's a perfect illustration of the problems of an abundance economy.)
tisiphone