{{{vw}}} Pancreatic cancer is evil.

While a smith was a prominent character in her book, all the stuff she'd learned and taken notes on was never mentioned. It merely informed the character and lent an easy familiarity with the subject and the tools and methods of the trade.

That was the long answer, sorry. The short answer is, it's all fodder, and you never know when a bit of knowledge is going to come in handy. Enjoy your outing.

Oh, I'm looking forward to it, even though it may not happen until July 4 when they have a public event planned. But he also mentioned something about going to a gun range, and since my RWA chapter is talking about having a gun range day this spring with a cop for all the romantic suspense writers, I'm probably going to talk to the program chair about inviting the reenactors too to give us historical people something to do.

I was really surprised how friendly and helpful the head of the group is being despite the fact I'm writing about a whole 'nother war. OTOH, maybe I shouldn't be surprised, because if the situation were reversed, I wouldn't be all, "How DARE you ask me about America in the 1780's? I'm REGENCY, dammit." I'd answer as best I could, and I love all history geeks even if they're geeky about different eras or areas.

ChiKat, this is the group I'm talking to: [link] I found their website after surfing through a surprisingly long list of black powder shooting interest groups in the Pacific Northwest, and while I don't know how historically accurate they are, I got a good vibe from them. Possibly just because most of the other were mountain man back-to-nature types, and I find war reenactors easier to relate to. Which probably says more about my own flavor of weirdness and geekery than it does about them.

I'm surprised how interested in guns I've gotten since starting this project, though only in the guns of that era. I never thought I'd be the type who'd want to handle a gun at all, and here I am bouncy about getting to play with a musket, and idly looking at websites for places that make reproduction guns for reenactors and wondering if any of them could build me a Baker rifle. You know, just to hang on my wall someday when I have a proper writer's office, and occasionally take out to play with. Though maybe I shouldn't be too surprised--I suppose it's a natural extension of my longstanding desire to learn how to fight with a sword. Which I'm still gonna do one of these days.

EMELINE IS THE PRETTIEST LITTLE GIRL IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!!!

Seriously. At this point, I'm pretty damned sure that Aimee and MM sacrificed somebody else's baby to a dark power in order to get their little girl to be that pretty.

My daughter is looking at obtaining a work visa to work in Australia.

Sail, a friend's sister has done this. She now lives in Adelaide with her new hubby -- a cautionary tale, I suppose, because your daughter might never come back again. She might have insight about the process, and I could put her in touch. My profile addy is good.

{{vw}}

Alas, I am still not really here.

My car is mostly dug out. I think I should be able to get out. I hope so anyway. It took me like an hour to dig it out, and I'm all sweaty and gross now. Should have done that BEFORE I showered. Oh well.

Pictures to come shortly.

I'm working on figuring out how to totally reorganize my budget -- I want to move to a cheaper apartment that's further away from the university, which'll decrease the amount I'm paying in rent by about $300 but increase my commuting costs by about $75. And I want to use that savings to get a car. (I'm thinking I'll buy a used car. My mother's trying to tell me that leasing would be better, but so far, I'm not convinced -- it seems to me like leasing will involve spending more money, and when I was done paying, I wouldn't still have a car.) And this is all really frustrating me to try to figure out what I can afford.

Thanks, Sparky! I knew the Hivemind would have some answers for me.

My mother's trying to tell me that leasing would be better, but so far, I'm not convinced --

Leasing is usually not a very good option. I think there are some situations where leasing is a better plan than buying, but buying the car is (in my understanding) almost always better.

Hil, I don't envy you. I hate trying to figure that kind of stuff out. Also, I have no advice, so I'm also not helpful.

Snow pictures: [link]

Hil, that's very smart of you, though I know how frustrating figuring out that kind of thing can be. I haven't worked a car into my budget yet.

vw, are those gross icicles inside or outside the house?