Sorry about the book deal, Hec.
That means if we win tomorrow, we're the champs.
Are you and Emmett gonna sing "We Are the Champions"?
Speaking of which, Queen's Guitarist Publishes Astrophysics Thesis
The founder of the legendary rock band Queen has completed his doctoral thesis in astrophysics after taking a 30-year break to play some guitar.
Brian May's thesis examines the mysterious phenomenon known as Zodiacal light, a misty diffuse cone of light that appears in the western sky after sunset and in the eastern sky before sunrise. Casual observers, if they live under very dark rural skies, can best see the light two to three hours before sunrise as they look east, and many people have been fooled into seeing it as the first sign of morning twilight. A Persian astronomer who lived around the 12th century referred to it as "false dawn" in a poem.
...
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my years playing guitar and recording music with Queen, but it's extremely gratifying to see the publication of my thesis," May said. "I've been fascinated with astronomy for years, and I was happy to finally complete my Ph.D. last year and record my studies of the Zodiacal Light in this book."
May officially received his doctorate on Aug. 24, 2007, from the Imperial College in London. He also gained the appointment of chancellor for Liverpool John Moores University in November of that year, showing that he's not just any guitar hero.
Oh Hec, I'm so sorry about the book, and it making all you plans go pear shaped.
It's disappointing. I'd been enjoying the research so far.
On the plus side, the Tom Waits book is apparently selling pretty well and I should get a boost after I do the bus tour in LA this Labor Day weekend.
Mostly though I feel at loose ends. When you write it feels like "Ta da!" when you get published, but unless you're JKR it doesn't really change your material circumtances that often.
Then again, I felt the same way after the other two books were published so it's probably a normal part of the writer's cycle.
Are you and Emmett gonna sing "We Are the Champions"?
crosses fingers to avoid jinx
Should we prevail...Almost certainly. For all the District games we played in Antioch we sang along with "Bohemian Rhapsody" Wayne's World style as we drove there.
That does suck, Hec. But not the Emmett thing-- that sounds like good news (I don't know anything about sports), but the book thing.
Damn, Hec. That sucks.
Yeah, but it'd be worse if it were my first book instead of my putative fourth one. What also sucks is that they were interested in me doing a second book for them as well.
Oh well, rejection and disappointment are part of the writer's lot.
I can't get too down, though. When I look into the kitchen and see Emmett sprawled on the floor teaching Matilda how to play a game and they're giggling and she's babbling and they're just completely engaged I know I'm lucky.
t /sappy
Woo hoo Emmett! And Emmett's team!
I'm sorry about the book deal.
Meanwhile, I'm trying to psych myself up to go run errands. I'm already dripping with sweat sitting still. Telling myself it's not going to get cooler isn't helping me.
Kitty came back! Some might think I'm too involved with my invisible friends if they knew how much I've been worrying about that cat. It's just an awful feeling to be calling and thinking you see a whisk of tail out of the corner of your eye. I can't imagine how much more horrible it would be walking the streets looking for a child.
Happy birthday, Shir!
Sorry about the book, Hec. On the other hand, I have been entranced by the romance between Emmett and Matilda.
Happy birthday, Shir! And juliebird I'm glad your kitty returned safe and sound.
I am on my third day of insomnia, waking up around 4 am or so and not really falling back to sleep after that. My head feels a bit like I've stuffed it with cotton wool, but at least the irrational anxiety hasn't kicked in yet. (Okay, maybe it has a little, but it's manageable so far.)
I have been entranced by the romance between Emmett and Matilda.
Seriously, it's just ridiculous.
Emmett's been having some pre-teen blue/moody episodes but he bounces right back whenever he sees Matilda.
Last night we picked her up from daycare and he played peekaboo while she was in the carseat. Actually, she sort of hid behind her book and giggled incessantly while he tried to peek around it and said, "Where's Matilda? Is she hiding?" And that got him giggling.
And the other night, she woke with something like a night terror and she was sobbing and fighting us and I picked her up and said, "Do you want to see Obbie?" and she sobbed the most heartbroken, desperate "Obbie!" and I took her to him and she settled right down, and fell asleep on his chest.
And last night we couldn't get the rubber band out of her hair because it was wound too tight and he very very carefully and gently teased it out.
And when I take her to the games and we're sitting behind home plate and Emmett is catching, he'll look over, catch her eye, and she'll wave and he'll just grin from ear to ear.
