I thought I had to work today. I’m obviously unable to read a calendar, because there, in plain ink, was my note on the 17th: work 2-7. Somehow I got it into my head that it was the 17th. Wishful thinking, I suppose. Then again, if it were the 17th, I would have lovely memories of a Midsummer ritual and a New Star Wars game, which I don’t, so either I’ve been mind-wiped or it actually is the 10th.

Joy! I have a 7 AM appointment with my osteopath on July 2nd! Which, it occurs to me now, is very early on the very first day I don’t have to be working. Hmmm… and also very early the morning after the July 1st concert my orchestra is playing. Well, at least I’ll need the appointment to straighten out my back after playing on folding metal chairs all night – they do horrible things to poor cellists…

CURRENTLY READING:

I think I’ve discovered a trend. If I’m blogging, chances are good I’m not reading. If I’m not reading, it’s because I’ve finished whatever book I was in the middle of.

Sabriel by Garth Nix was a re-read, and it was just as good the second time around. Strong characters; an excellently constructed world that would be a pity to waste (which to my delight he has not done; I’ve just picked up Lirael, another book set in the same world. Hence my re-read of Sabriel), and, just as I remembered, it has a slow first half and a second half that tumbles you through the concluding events.

I also read Never Burn a Witch by M. R. Sellars, the sequel to the Harm None book that had unforgivable editing errors that I complained about earlier. At least this one didn’t mis-define symbols. It’s a passable murder mystery with an occult twist; certainly better than the first one. The protagonist’s tendency to channel murder victims and receive nicely laid out visions that direct the police to the next clue gets a little hard to swallow after a while, however. I assume a mostly occult readership for this book, which is probably a good thing, because if a mass market readership were to pick it up they’d think all Witches develop stigmata when in the presence of evil, snap in and out of Twilight-Zone like trances, are overcome by messages from “the Other Side”, and so forth. Sheesh.

Must find something to put in my lonely Reading Box over there to keep The Western Way company. Oh, I’ve got a pile of stuff, don’t get me wrong; I just have to figure out what’s next.