Light a candle for the sweet winged mouse...

I've been followingthis for a while, but the NYT has a pretty clear article on the problem: In what is one of the worst calamities to hit bat populations in the United States, on average 90 percent of the hibernating bats in four caves and mines in New York have died since last winter.

Wildlife biologists fear a significant die-off in about 15 caves and mines in New York, as well as at sites in Massachusetts and Vermont. Whatever is killing the bats leaves them unusually thin and, in some cases, dotted with a white fungus. Bat experts fear that what they call White Nose Syndrome may spell doom for several species that keep insect pests under control.

I adore bats -- not only do they eat mosquitos (score!) but they're really almost damnably cute. Seriously. Winged, toothy mice. What's not to love?

More to the point for the human race, they're also incredibly important to a healthy ecosystem. So if you have a spare vibe to send, either for the bat populations themselves, or the scientists trying to find the cause/solution....

thoughts on magic, magic-users, and the writing thereof....

Writing Bonnie's POV, I'm discovering how very differently she approaches her core of current than Wren does, both in how she perceives it mentally and (as a follow-through) how she crafts her spells using it.

I hadn't thought about that before I started -- in any particular universe, magic is magic and spellcasting is spellcasting, right? it should follow the same basic process for everyone within a certain culture.... Nope. It's amazingly personal and tied to the way a person's brain works (are they more visual or aural? Do they tend to think in water metaphors, or air? Etc). And that's before you get into the whole messy bog of Old Magics.

Fascinating. Occasionally frustrating (what do you mean, I have to recreate an entire method of spellcasting? Why won't the way I did it for six books work for this character, too?), but fascinating.

I love my job.

there is too much. let me sum up.

The pantry is done, despite some mishaps this morning. It is verra nice. I now get to indulge my obsessive kitchen geek and set everything up Just So. Plus, despite the commotion of drilling, hammering, and unhappy cats, I managed to write 1200 new words on Bonnie #1 (working title still pending). Also signed off on the contracts for "Dreamcatcher."

And then I went off to the stable.

The Return to Riding Report Card, week 2

Again on Sancho, who is a very stubborn but otherwise well-mannered fellow. He also moves like a ton of graceful bricks, so when you sit wrong, you know it. Very good for beginners and returners like me.

He also likes the way my hair tastes. Him and Boomer both. *sigh*

Anyway, C says that I'm remembering to open up my shoulders, but the forward-leg thing is still a problem. Interestingly enough, it's only in the posting trot that it's a serious problem. Walk and canter I remember how to sit back and push down (I don't always do it, but I do remember how). My sitting trot has always been good. Posting? Not so much. Argh.

But I'm getting there. I do know all this, it's just a question of remembing it all the time. And I'm not cramming for an exam, so I can take my time getting there and enjoy the process. (IOW, dancinghorse, don't go breeding me a pony just yet. *grin*)

And, for those wondering, you know you're doing it right when a muscle in your inner leg/hip that is only used in these circumstances opens up and screams BITCH! I HATE YOU! at you. Excuse me, a bath and aspirin call my name...

And then there will be more writing.