Good heavens. I've made it to the finals of the Pulp Literature First Page Cage Match, with my novella, "Medusa Gorgon, Lady Detective." Gulp! Overwhelmed! pulpliterature.com/a-round-of-a...

🛸🛸 new story today 🛸🛸 a fable, from @sandrakasturi.bsky.social

In astonishing news, I'm longlisted for the "First Page Cage Match" at Pulp Literature! I submitted page one from my mythologically noirish novella. I don't write a ton of fiction, so this is particularly chuff-inducing! Congrats to the other longlistees! pulpliterature.com/announcing-t...

Short Poem Honorable Mentions Things to Remember When Descending Through the Ocean • @sandrakasturi.bsky.social • Poetry Society Stanza Poetry Competition October Generation Ship • Akua Lezli Hope • Star*Line 47.3 The Last Valkyrie • Pat Masson • Forgotten Ground Regained 2

Monkey and I have been staying up late and listening to FIP (Radio France), probably the greatest radio station of all time. Anyway, a version of "Brasil" by the Dinner Sisters came on, which was fantastic, but I still passionately love the one by Pink Martini. Ah, Brasil. youtu.be/8PrqlkD4DGs?...

I was delighted that my poem "Things to Remember When Descending Through the Ocean" was published by @poetrysociety.bsky.social last year and now has been nominated for a Rhysling Award! poetrysociety.org.uk/poems/things...

Monty's new holiday bedding.

I have noted that on my phone, when I'm typing "we're," it always wants to autocorrect to "werewolf," so I guess I type that a lot?

Monty always finds a way.

Had a lovely time last weekend in Ottawa, and then Montreal hanging out with Pat and @michaellibling.bsky.social. Delicious salmon & conversation was had while my hubby went to see Sleep Token. Then Sunday brunch at the Chateau Laurier, which was pricey but worth it. www.fairmont.com/laurier-otta...

I just heard Martin Springett's "Sister if Theft" which uses part of a poem of mine as lyrics! Love it! Martin's an artist and musician, and you'd likely recognize his work from the gorgeous covers he did for Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar books. gardeningclubmusicandart.com/the-time-tri...

My poem, "Off the Coat of Bermuda, a Gift" got shortlisted for Pulp Literature's Magpie Award this year! pulpliterature.com/announcing-t...

Crazy weather lately. Blizzard one minute, over and done and sun coming out 20 minutes later.

In cat news du jour, we finally have proof that Fat Reggie is, in fact, a cat, and not some alien pod thing in a cat's body: He jumped into a box and just sat there like a derp. CATNESS: CONFIRMED.

Liminal Electricity Oakland, CA

Ozzie lying in this sun. His little FACE! I can barely stand it.

Oswald has recovered nicely from his intestinal surgery. He now has to have a lion cut at least a couple of times a year, to make sure no more hairball blockages. He looks so doofy now!

Look at Monty! He's so handsome!

My husband's the drummer in the band Riffs of Retribution. They had some fun with a lyrics visualizer to create this not-exactly-a-music-video. The bit with a certain giant ape cracked me up. youtu.be/EU9LvypJX80?...

Ah, Nick Cave. You break my heart and you give me comfort. Every damn time. Today's Red Hand Files especially moved me. www.theredhandfiles.com

In terrible news, I am done all of @sblackmoore.bsky.social's Eric Carter books, as well as @byharryconnolly.bsky.social's Great Way and Twenty Palaces books. Now what am I to do?? I'm bereft. Need reading recommendations for books/worlds that are as tremendous as those!

Rewatching True Detective, Season 1. Just as mesmerizing as the first time. I remember when it was airing, we watched it weekly, alternating with eps of S1 of Hannibal. The shows felt like they were in parallel universes that occasionally touched. So eerie. Try it... it is a surreal experience.

Poor Oswald is at the emergency vet going into surgery for an intestinal blockage. Same thing happened a year ago. I hope he makes it. So stressful. He's such a great cat.

Went to see The Empire Strips Back on the weekend. Pretty cheeky, funny stuff . . . though a sad lack of half-dressed Han Solo, alas. theempirestripsback.com

Lawd knows, I cannot resist some kitsch. Look at this ridiculous and awesome over-the-top golden deer bowl! I dunno, maybe for draining the blood of your enemies? Or a nice rum punch. Either/or.

Dorothy Parker to Robert Benchley, December 31, 1929. Happy New Year!

make a movie title better by prefacing it with “Jackie Chan’s”

This is such an old meme, but boy it cracks me up every time!

Tonight I will be watching my favourite Christmas movie, Renny Harlin's "The Long Kiss Goodnight." #holidayclassics m.imdb.com/title/tt0116...

I have made this monstrous trifle for today's dessert. It's kind of an improvised dish... sort of an apple pie trifle, with a spice cake base, apple butter, custard, apples and raisins sauteed in cognac, and whipped cream. And toasted almonds. It weighs as much as a fat baby or a Maine Coon Cat.

My mum made a fabulous Xmas dinner last night!

Heineken! Mon cher ami.

My husband took this slightly arty shot of our cat Monty, reflected in one of the pics. He's curled up in his hammock and is not so much "lunatique" as the wall plaque says, but more "extremely sedate."

Brian Cox as Nutcracker

Monty has had a very tiring day, what with so much lying around, napping, snoozing, and vigorous loafing. I'm worn out just thinking of it.

Finally! Most of my hate-on for "Love Actually" expressed by someone else! www.refinery29.com/en-us/love-a... I mean, I like to hate-watch things (thanks, Criminal Minds!), but the ball-retracting cringe of "Love Actually" pushes the limit of the endurable. Except Bill Nighy, who can do no wrong.

My gawd, I rewatched Twilight... it's even worse than I remember. Is it worse than Love, Actually though? Hmm. Things to ponder during the holidays.

Am working my way through @sblackmoore.bsky.social's Eric Carter series, which I am HUGELY enjoying. @dbassingthwaite.bsky.social, I think you would like this stuff *if you're not already reading it: www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00A...

Looked for this childhood Xmas anthology for YEARS. Last week the title sprang into my head suddenly out of nowhere, and I went and found it online. Thank you, AbeBooks! The satisfaction of bagging this holiday book prey at long last is ENORMOUS!

Nothing says Christmas like a string of leg-lamp lights. It's a major award! #fraGEElay

Tree has survived dismemberment and reconstruction, now with lights that actually work! Haven't been arsed to put up the decorations yet, except for the low-rent silver balls from the dollar store. Don't want to overdo and hang ALL the baubles at once. To the chaise longue to recover!

Holiday tree mid-surgical dismemberment and transplanting of new holiday lights. Get thee to a shrubbery!

In a fit of splendid vigour, I have made not one, but two pumpkin bundt cakes. I feel quite smug, really.

Fat Reggie, looking much less tremblingly nervous than usual.

Misreading du jour: Actual text: "Mages and normals don’t mix." (from @sblackmoore.bsky.social's SUICIDE KINGS. Which I somehow misread as "Mages and tomatoes don’t mix." I mean, sure? The innate sorcery in a tomato will lay low even Gandalf. Yep. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

My friend Amanda gave me this delightful Moomin advent calendar which I have been using this December. Now, it is a bit tragic that it is chocolate-less, but it's still pretty adorable. #moomin

Oswald makes an elegant showing this evening.