Okay, what's up with all this aggressive cancer? I have one kind, my husband has another, our former president has yet another, and I feel like wherever I turn, I'm tripping over the stuff. Is this an actual uptick, or simply a function of the fact that We're Old and more likely to get sick?

Happy announcement! My story "Yarns," which originally appeared in Asimov's, has been selected for THE BEST AMERICAN SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY 2025. I am extremely chuffed and in brilliant company, as you can see. Preorder link in first comment.

Home chemo pumps are quite the nifty invention. I go to the infusion center once a day to get the empty drug bag replaced with a new one, and otherwise the little machine ticks happily along.

Lent's traditionally a time to come to terms with mortality. My diagnosis of High-Grade Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma on 3/21 has made that startlingly literal, but it's also -- so far -- been one of those cancer cliche situations that's pushed me to reshape priorities in positive ways.

Back to cat photos! Our older cat, Caprica the ginger tabby, loves crossing her paws, all lady-like. Young'un tortie Alara, who adores Big Mama Caprica, now does the same. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

Friends who follow me here but not on FB: I'm now officially a lymphoma patient, after over two years of concern and scans and nothing they could access for biopsy. I'm relieved to have an answer and grateful that I'll be getting treatment, which I'm told will help me feel better quickly. Allons-y!

This elliptical is occupied. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

New scarf just off the loom. Pamina has claimed it because it goes so well with her fur and eyes. Fashionista kitty! #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky #weaving #craft #fiberarts

The state of the couch. #proofofcat #cats #catsofbluesky

Cat, bisected. #proofofcat #cats #catsofbluesky

Alara prepares to pounce on the wily watch reflection! #proofofcat #cat #cataofbluesky

My latest weaving project, clasped weft on a Clover Sakiori loom. The process is very relaxing, and the fabric should be very soft, although I'm still adjusting to the new-to-me loom. #weaving #loom #craft #fiberarts #yarn #creativity #makingstuffastherapy

Yawn sequence. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

Hiding #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

BlueSky! You haven't seen my cats in days! I know you've missed them! #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

I started a new dishtowel for my husband. This is the fourth towel (all with different weft colors) on this long warp. I may have room for a fifth. #weaving #loom #craft #fiberarts #slowcloth

A friend sent me two balls of gorgeous alpaca yarn from Peru. I'm weaving the yarn into a lovely plainweave scarf, a simple project that's a nice vacation for my brain in these dismaying times. #weaving #loom #craft #yarn #fiberarts

One of the stranger feline configurations. #proofofcat #cats #catsofbluesky

Caprica salutes you. Good night, BlueSky. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

Alara blessing Caprica. #proofofcat #cats #catsofblueskya

Caprica washes my hand. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

Three cats on a bed. #proofofcat #cat #cataofbluesky

Wishing a blessed Imbolc and St. Brigid's Day to all who observe! To honor the first stirrings of spring, one of my twenty-six air plants is producing a pup! This never gets old. #plants #gardening #spring #renewal #wheeloftheyear

Here's a dishtowel I'm weaving for my husband. #weaving #loom #fiberarts #craft

My novelette "Yarns" is on the Locus 2024 Recommended Reading List. That story faced some publication challenges -- which I won't rehash here -- so I'm especially happy to see it getting some love. #writing #sff #dystopianfic #locusmag

Cats, just because. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

I need to go upstairs and go to bed, but someone's lying on my arm. If you listen, you'll hear her purring. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

Alara looks up. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

New pendant. I'm not sure how secure the wirework is (although the stone's also glued in place), but I like the piece. I'll sell it -- I hope -- at a small craft fair in April. Fine silver, pink scolecite, cubic zirconia. 1.75" inches long, including bale. #craft #jewelry #metalclay #makingstuff

Caprica wishes you a happy Caturday, and swears to defy tyranny by telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

Caprica and Alara are holding hands. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

Tonight's lineup. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

US folks: it's also MLK Day. Let's honor that life and memory by working for justice and remaining kind and decent.

Three's a crowd. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

My plans for Monday: getting my teeth cleaned, going to an oncology appointment about a worrisome mass on my spleen, and taking my husband to a follow-up cardiology appointment after a TIA he had a few weeks ago. Somehow all of this feels very fitting. Especially the spleen part.

Look! It's a cat! #proofofcat #catsofbluesky #cat

I hope my hundreds of new followers really like cats. Here's a slightly blurry Tuesday-morning blep for you. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

I've gotten almost 40 new followers today. I'm puzzled about why. Are you real people? Are you bots? Did I wind up on a starter pack somehow?

The reed is 2/3 sleyed! Alert the media! #weaving #craft #loom #fiberarts

Pamina the Beauteous. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

Alara on the alert! Someone's coming down the stairs! Danger! #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

Threading heddles: 232 down, 288 to go. Because this is fun for me. #weaving #craft #looms #fiberarts #arewethereyet?

Happy Gotcha Day to tortie sisters Alara and Pamina, who came home with us a year ago! They're total loves, and neither their two humans nor the Senior Cat in the household can imagine life without them. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

The "stay" command in cat. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

Alara is half on my lap and half lying on old lady Caprica. Too cute! #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

Last night's moon. #moon #sky

Alara, bird-watching from our kitchen windowsill, wishes you a happy Caturday. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky

Three heads are better than one. #proofofcat #cat #catsofbluesky