@mlcvamp.bsky.social
Today's Good Things:
Follow-up appointment with the hand specialist. Good news! The X-ray showed the bone completely healed. The doc said I was further along than he'd expected and should use the hand normally to increase muscle strength.
Follow-up appointment with the hand specialist. Good news! The X-ray showed the bone completely healed. The doc said I was further along than he'd expected and should use the hand normally to increase muscle strength.
February 9, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Today's Good Things:
Follow-up appointment with the hand specialist. Good news! The X-ray showed the bone completely healed. The doc said I was further along than he'd expected and should use the hand normally to increase muscle strength.
Follow-up appointment with the hand specialist. Good news! The X-ray showed the bone completely healed. The doc said I was further along than he'd expected and should use the hand normally to increase muscle strength.
Today's Good Things:
Service music by Wellspring (the folky band).
Guest preacher, who spoke on what it means to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, also what it means for salt to lose its saltiness -- e.g., when it's scattered or spread too thin. WE can be spread too thin.
Service music by Wellspring (the folky band).
Guest preacher, who spoke on what it means to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, also what it means for salt to lose its saltiness -- e.g., when it's scattered or spread too thin. WE can be spread too thin.
February 9, 2026 at 12:02 AM
Today's Good Things:
Service music by Wellspring (the folky band).
Guest preacher, who spoke on what it means to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, also what it means for salt to lose its saltiness -- e.g., when it's scattered or spread too thin. WE can be spread too thin.
Service music by Wellspring (the folky band).
Guest preacher, who spoke on what it means to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, also what it means for salt to lose its saltiness -- e.g., when it's scattered or spread too thin. WE can be spread too thin.
Today's Good Things:
Predicted "snow showers" last night didn't materialize, so we didn't have to start over with the pavement-clearing.
Despite the intermittent high wind all day, we still have electricity.
I worked a little on the March newsletter.
Predicted "snow showers" last night didn't materialize, so we didn't have to start over with the pavement-clearing.
Despite the intermittent high wind all day, we still have electricity.
I worked a little on the March newsletter.
February 8, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Today's Good Things:
Predicted "snow showers" last night didn't materialize, so we didn't have to start over with the pavement-clearing.
Despite the intermittent high wind all day, we still have electricity.
I worked a little on the March newsletter.
Predicted "snow showers" last night didn't materialize, so we didn't have to start over with the pavement-clearing.
Despite the intermittent high wind all day, we still have electricity.
I worked a little on the March newsletter.
Today's Good Things:
Some of our regular staple products on sale at Giant.
A new episode in the Extra History "worst tyrants" series, about the first Emperor of China.
Some of our regular staple products on sale at Giant.
A new episode in the Extra History "worst tyrants" series, about the first Emperor of China.
February 7, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Today's Good Things:
Some of our regular staple products on sale at Giant.
A new episode in the Extra History "worst tyrants" series, about the first Emperor of China.
Some of our regular staple products on sale at Giant.
A new episode in the Extra History "worst tyrants" series, about the first Emperor of China.
Today's Good Things:
Sunny and up to freezing (low bar to achieve!).
Watching the latest episode of STARFLEET ACADEMY.
Continuing to investigate flights to Germany in the summer, concluding that the only way to get a nonstop trip is to fly from Dulles.
Sunny and up to freezing (low bar to achieve!).
Watching the latest episode of STARFLEET ACADEMY.
Continuing to investigate flights to Germany in the summer, concluding that the only way to get a nonstop trip is to fly from Dulles.
February 5, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Today's Good Things:
Sunny and up to freezing (low bar to achieve!).
Watching the latest episode of STARFLEET ACADEMY.
Continuing to investigate flights to Germany in the summer, concluding that the only way to get a nonstop trip is to fly from Dulles.
Sunny and up to freezing (low bar to achieve!).
Watching the latest episode of STARFLEET ACADEMY.
Continuing to investigate flights to Germany in the summer, concluding that the only way to get a nonstop trip is to fly from Dulles.
Today's Good Things:
In the news: Government shutdown ended.
Above freezing again. Our sidewalk has been cleared all the way from the front steps to the driveway.
In the news: Government shutdown ended.
Above freezing again. Our sidewalk has been cleared all the way from the front steps to the driveway.
February 4, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Today's Good Things:
In the news: Government shutdown ended.
Above freezing again. Our sidewalk has been cleared all the way from the front steps to the driveway.
In the news: Government shutdown ended.
Above freezing again. Our sidewalk has been cleared all the way from the front steps to the driveway.
Today's Good Things:
Daytime temperature almost up to 40; overnight predicted to stay above freezing (if barely).
I shoveled another patch of sidewalk.
Daytime temperature almost up to 40; overnight predicted to stay above freezing (if barely).
I shoveled another patch of sidewalk.
February 4, 2026 at 12:16 AM
Today's Good Things:
Daytime temperature almost up to 40; overnight predicted to stay above freezing (if barely).
I shoveled another patch of sidewalk.
Daytime temperature almost up to 40; overnight predicted to stay above freezing (if barely).
I shoveled another patch of sidewalk.
Today's Good Things:
Temperature rose above freezing for the first time in over a week.
I scraped a little more snow off the sidewalk.
Released my February newsletter.
Transcribed book titles from LOCUS into my month-by-month list of things to read or at least add to the vampire bibliography.
Temperature rose above freezing for the first time in over a week.
I scraped a little more snow off the sidewalk.
Released my February newsletter.
Transcribed book titles from LOCUS into my month-by-month list of things to read or at least add to the vampire bibliography.
February 3, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Today's Good Things:
Temperature rose above freezing for the first time in over a week.
I scraped a little more snow off the sidewalk.
Released my February newsletter.
Transcribed book titles from LOCUS into my month-by-month list of things to read or at least add to the vampire bibliography.
Temperature rose above freezing for the first time in over a week.
I scraped a little more snow off the sidewalk.
Released my February newsletter.
Transcribed book titles from LOCUS into my month-by-month list of things to read or at least add to the vampire bibliography.
Today's Good Things:
We survived January!
The church parking lot was completely clear and dry.
I had coffee hour duty and survived it without messing up. In fact, I now know how to work the new dishwasher. (Actually pretty easy.)
We survived January!
The church parking lot was completely clear and dry.
I had coffee hour duty and survived it without messing up. In fact, I now know how to work the new dishwasher. (Actually pretty easy.)
February 2, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Today's Good Things:
We survived January!
The church parking lot was completely clear and dry.
I had coffee hour duty and survived it without messing up. In fact, I now know how to work the new dishwasher. (Actually pretty easy.)
We survived January!
The church parking lot was completely clear and dry.
I had coffee hour duty and survived it without messing up. In fact, I now know how to work the new dishwasher. (Actually pretty easy.)
Today's Good Things:
The snow/ice on the sidewalk is softened enough that it can be shoveled (with some difficulty).
Our oldest son sent cute pictures of his new pair of kittens.
The snow/ice on the sidewalk is softened enough that it can be shoveled (with some difficulty).
Our oldest son sent cute pictures of his new pair of kittens.
February 1, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Today's Good Things:
The snow/ice on the sidewalk is softened enough that it can be shoveled (with some difficulty).
Our oldest son sent cute pictures of his new pair of kittens.
The snow/ice on the sidewalk is softened enough that it can be shoveled (with some difficulty).
Our oldest son sent cute pictures of his new pair of kittens.
Today's Good Things:
I fell on the icy snow trying to walk to the car this morning but with no real damage.
When we went out later, Les lent me his cane. It does help some.
I fell on the icy snow trying to walk to the car this morning but with no real damage.
When we went out later, Les lent me his cane. It does help some.
January 31, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Today's Good Things:
I fell on the icy snow trying to walk to the car this morning but with no real damage.
When we went out later, Les lent me his cane. It does help some.
I fell on the icy snow trying to walk to the car this morning but with no real damage.
When we went out later, Les lent me his cane. It does help some.
Today's Good Things:
Trash and recycling were picked up, two days after the usual day.
Les brought the cans up to the house and set them next to the front steps, so I can dump stuff without walking across the icy yard.
Trash and recycling were picked up, two days after the usual day.
Les brought the cans up to the house and set them next to the front steps, so I can dump stuff without walking across the icy yard.
January 30, 2026 at 12:32 AM
Today's Good Things:
Trash and recycling were picked up, two days after the usual day.
Les brought the cans up to the house and set them next to the front steps, so I can dump stuff without walking across the icy yard.
Trash and recycling were picked up, two days after the usual day.
Les brought the cans up to the house and set them next to the front steps, so I can dump stuff without walking across the icy yard.
Yesterday's Good Things (forgot to do this last night):
A tiny bit more of the sidewalk cleared.
Mail and an Amazon package arrived.
I finished another book review in the February newsletter. Now the draft of the newsletter is basically done.
Still checking the LOCUS Forthcoming Books list.
A tiny bit more of the sidewalk cleared.
Mail and an Amazon package arrived.
I finished another book review in the February newsletter. Now the draft of the newsletter is basically done.
Still checking the LOCUS Forthcoming Books list.
January 29, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Yesterday's Good Things (forgot to do this last night):
A tiny bit more of the sidewalk cleared.
Mail and an Amazon package arrived.
I finished another book review in the February newsletter. Now the draft of the newsletter is basically done.
Still checking the LOCUS Forthcoming Books list.
A tiny bit more of the sidewalk cleared.
Mail and an Amazon package arrived.
I finished another book review in the February newsletter. Now the draft of the newsletter is basically done.
Still checking the LOCUS Forthcoming Books list.
Today's Good Things:
It's not dark at 5:30 p.m. anymore.
Les drove me to and from the dentist this morning. Good plan, because their parking lot wasn't very well cleared.
I got the permanent crown put on the root-canaled molar. Feels reasonably OK, though I'm still aware of it.
It's not dark at 5:30 p.m. anymore.
Les drove me to and from the dentist this morning. Good plan, because their parking lot wasn't very well cleared.
I got the permanent crown put on the root-canaled molar. Feels reasonably OK, though I'm still aware of it.
January 27, 2026 at 11:51 PM
Today's Good Things:
It's not dark at 5:30 p.m. anymore.
Les drove me to and from the dentist this morning. Good plan, because their parking lot wasn't very well cleared.
I got the permanent crown put on the root-canaled molar. Feels reasonably OK, though I'm still aware of it.
It's not dark at 5:30 p.m. anymore.
Les drove me to and from the dentist this morning. Good plan, because their parking lot wasn't very well cleared.
I got the permanent crown put on the root-canaled molar. Feels reasonably OK, though I'm still aware of it.
Today's Good Things:
The sun returned. We still have electricity, so we probably came through unscathed. The snow is covered by slick ice, though. I fell once but luckily without being hurt.
Les heroically cleared off both cars. He drove to and from the gym with no mishaps.
The sun returned. We still have electricity, so we probably came through unscathed. The snow is covered by slick ice, though. I fell once but luckily without being hurt.
Les heroically cleared off both cars. He drove to and from the gym with no mishaps.
January 26, 2026 at 11:36 PM
Today's Good Things:
The sun returned. We still have electricity, so we probably came through unscathed. The snow is covered by slick ice, though. I fell once but luckily without being hurt.
Les heroically cleared off both cars. He drove to and from the gym with no mishaps.
The sun returned. We still have electricity, so we probably came through unscathed. The snow is covered by slick ice, though. I fell once but luckily without being hurt.
Les heroically cleared off both cars. He drove to and from the gym with no mishaps.
Today's Good Things:
Church annual meeting on Zoom, which we watched after a bit of hassle getting the app to work. Yay technology!
Snow / sleet / freezing rain all day. In the afternoon I cleared the front steps and the patch of sidewalk right in front of them.
Church annual meeting on Zoom, which we watched after a bit of hassle getting the app to work. Yay technology!
Snow / sleet / freezing rain all day. In the afternoon I cleared the front steps and the patch of sidewalk right in front of them.
January 25, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Today's Good Things:
Church annual meeting on Zoom, which we watched after a bit of hassle getting the app to work. Yay technology!
Snow / sleet / freezing rain all day. In the afternoon I cleared the front steps and the patch of sidewalk right in front of them.
Church annual meeting on Zoom, which we watched after a bit of hassle getting the app to work. Yay technology!
Snow / sleet / freezing rain all day. In the afternoon I cleared the front steps and the patch of sidewalk right in front of them.
Today's Good Things:
We still have electricity and heat. (Snow predicted around midnight.)
I finished the draft of the vampire bibliography update.
Deposited trash and recycling in the bins so I won't have to do that in the snow Monday.
We still have electricity and heat. (Snow predicted around midnight.)
I finished the draft of the vampire bibliography update.
Deposited trash and recycling in the bins so I won't have to do that in the snow Monday.
January 25, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Today's Good Things:
We still have electricity and heat. (Snow predicted around midnight.)
I finished the draft of the vampire bibliography update.
Deposited trash and recycling in the bins so I won't have to do that in the snow Monday.
We still have electricity and heat. (Snow predicted around midnight.)
I finished the draft of the vampire bibliography update.
Deposited trash and recycling in the bins so I won't have to do that in the snow Monday.
Today's Good Things:
Another day above freezing (into the 40s).
A herd of six deer running through front yards in the middle of the morning.
Giant wasn't much more crowded than normal. I got home around the usual time.
Another day above freezing (into the 40s).
A herd of six deer running through front yards in the middle of the morning.
Giant wasn't much more crowded than normal. I got home around the usual time.
January 24, 2026 at 12:29 AM
Today's Good Things:
Another day above freezing (into the 40s).
A herd of six deer running through front yards in the middle of the morning.
Giant wasn't much more crowded than normal. I got home around the usual time.
Another day above freezing (into the 40s).
A herd of six deer running through front yards in the middle of the morning.
Giant wasn't much more crowded than normal. I got home around the usual time.
Today's Good Things:
Over 50 degrees in the afternoon.
Les bought a new chair mat for his computer station and replaced the old, cracked one singlehandedly (helped by a crowbar to lift the heavy desk).
Over 50 degrees in the afternoon.
Les bought a new chair mat for his computer station and replaced the old, cracked one singlehandedly (helped by a crowbar to lift the heavy desk).
January 23, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Today's Good Things:
Over 50 degrees in the afternoon.
Les bought a new chair mat for his computer station and replaced the old, cracked one singlehandedly (helped by a crowbar to lift the heavy desk).
Over 50 degrees in the afternoon.
Les bought a new chair mat for his computer station and replaced the old, cracked one singlehandedly (helped by a crowbar to lift the heavy desk).
Today's Good Things:
I remembered to take my blood pressure for the first time in almost a week, and it came out significantly lower than usual (117/77).
Les replaced the burned-out stove hood light fixture, which is of a very unusual, odd design.
I remembered to take my blood pressure for the first time in almost a week, and it came out significantly lower than usual (117/77).
Les replaced the burned-out stove hood light fixture, which is of a very unusual, odd design.
January 21, 2026 at 12:14 AM
Today's Good Things:
I remembered to take my blood pressure for the first time in almost a week, and it came out significantly lower than usual (117/77).
Les replaced the burned-out stove hood light fixture, which is of a very unusual, odd design.
I remembered to take my blood pressure for the first time in almost a week, and it came out significantly lower than usual (117/77).
Les replaced the burned-out stove hood light fixture, which is of a very unusual, odd design.
Today's Good Things:
Edgar Allan Poe's birthday.
Lots of sun. Light snow on the grass, but all the pavement was bare and dry -- just the right snow distribution. :)
I uploaded this week's blog post.
Got through L in the vampire bibliography update.
Edgar Allan Poe's birthday.
Lots of sun. Light snow on the grass, but all the pavement was bare and dry -- just the right snow distribution. :)
I uploaded this week's blog post.
Got through L in the vampire bibliography update.
January 20, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Today's Good Things:
Edgar Allan Poe's birthday.
Lots of sun. Light snow on the grass, but all the pavement was bare and dry -- just the right snow distribution. :)
I uploaded this week's blog post.
Got through L in the vampire bibliography update.
Edgar Allan Poe's birthday.
Lots of sun. Light snow on the grass, but all the pavement was bare and dry -- just the right snow distribution. :)
I uploaded this week's blog post.
Got through L in the vampire bibliography update.
Today's Good Things:
Snow didn't start until late afternoon, so we got to church and back with no trouble
Music by the Wellspring band.
Snow didn't start until late afternoon, so we got to church and back with no trouble
Music by the Wellspring band.
January 18, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Today's Good Things:
Snow didn't start until late afternoon, so we got to church and back with no trouble
Music by the Wellspring band.
Snow didn't start until late afternoon, so we got to church and back with no trouble
Music by the Wellspring band.
Over the past two days, Les dismantled, packed, and put away the Christmas tree.
Today's Good Things:
Rain stopped before we went grocery shopping. Some sun in the afternoon.
Today's Good Things:
Rain stopped before we went grocery shopping. Some sun in the afternoon.
January 18, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Over the past two days, Les dismantled, packed, and put away the Christmas tree.
Today's Good Things:
Rain stopped before we went grocery shopping. Some sun in the afternoon.
Today's Good Things:
Rain stopped before we went grocery shopping. Some sun in the afternoon.
Today's Good Things:
My vampire duology TWILIGHT'S CHANGELINGS is featured today by N. N. Light's Book Heaven in their Book Series Starter event.
A bit of work on the February newsletter.
Dinner at Grapes Wine Bar.
My vampire duology TWILIGHT'S CHANGELINGS is featured today by N. N. Light's Book Heaven in their Book Series Starter event.
A bit of work on the February newsletter.
Dinner at Grapes Wine Bar.
January 17, 2026 at 12:40 AM
Today's Good Things:
My vampire duology TWILIGHT'S CHANGELINGS is featured today by N. N. Light's Book Heaven in their Book Series Starter event.
A bit of work on the February newsletter.
Dinner at Grapes Wine Bar.
My vampire duology TWILIGHT'S CHANGELINGS is featured today by N. N. Light's Book Heaven in their Book Series Starter event.
A bit of work on the February newsletter.
Dinner at Grapes Wine Bar.
Today's Good Things:
The sun returned.
Another day without too much tooth pain. Maybe there is hope.
All the ornaments are off the tree.
The sun returned.
Another day without too much tooth pain. Maybe there is hope.
All the ornaments are off the tree.
January 16, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Today's Good Things:
The sun returned.
Another day without too much tooth pain. Maybe there is hope.
All the ornaments are off the tree.
The sun returned.
Another day without too much tooth pain. Maybe there is hope.
All the ornaments are off the tree.