that whoosh you didn't see was me

[lagilman]

For SFWA members: Dr. Lawrence posts about the new Nebula process. If you don't already know, you might want to take a look. And hey, both BLOOD FROM STONE and FLESH AND FIRE are eligible! M'just sayin...



Saturday opened with a brunch gathering of what I refer to as the North City Irregulars -- industry folk who live in the northern tip of NYC (as opposed to all those Downtown/Brooklyn hipsters). I was indulgent and had waffles. With syrup! We met at a local diner, and Gossip was had. Then I went home and clobbered some work (and cleaning) before heading out to the SFSNNJs "Face the Fiction" which had invited Sue Lange, Susan Wright and myself to come talk about Book View Cafe (www.bookviewcafe.com), after which Sue and Susan fled for their respective beds, while I went along with the attendees to their local diner.

You can take the girl out of Jersey, you just can't get her out of the diners.

Special thanks to Bill W, for getting me back home safe, if not quite sound.... (yeah, I went thud the moment I hit the elevator)

Also had the very...interesting experience of Boomerang being introduced to a new person, and having my usually affectionate boycat (referred to as "Mr Gregarious" by someone who knows him well) not only be uneasy when first introduced, but when encouraged to make nice, sniff the stranger's hand and then back up. Not just a backward movement, but five or six distinct steps in the direction of Away.

Hrmmm.

(Pandora, as usual, was Madame Not Appearing in this Movie)

Sunday is laundry, cleaning, cooking, revisions. Productive as hell, but boring to blog about.

Comments

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Depending upon who the person is, I'd be wondering, too, if a normally gregarious animal is nervous about a person. Rabbits--well, it's a huge red flag if Mr. Friendly (in his awake mode, that is) isn't social. Same for the horse--if Miss Mugs-Everyone-For-Treats pins her ears and isn't begging for attention, that's also a red flag. Then again, she doesn't like shouting people.

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

OTOH a friend had a cat who loved nobody except her stepfather, who in human terms was an abusive asshole. But loved the cat back. I've known cats back away from people who adore them, and dogs who fawn on the local murderer (OK, slight exaggeration). I believe they pick up stuff, but I'm not sure about animals having the same criteria for judging character that we do.

[lagilman]

Boomer was acting very out of character - he retreated when the stranger appeared, rather than investigating, he looked to me for reassurance before agreeing to sniff at the offered hand, and then he distinctly backed up, in a direct line of Away, when the stranger tried to make contact, not looking to me for reassurance at all, that time.

Whatever it was, m'boy wanted none of it.