This is my absolute favorite picture of Daniel Abraham from Clarion.

Well the first big news of the day is that everyone needs to go read today's Dear Abby column. The letter about the value of journals and diaries to historians is from my mother, Sue Rowland. Be sure to check it out!

And the next big news of the day is that last night when I got to work there was an absolutely gorgeous bouquet of a dozen roses waiting for me. Incredibly beautiful roses--cream with just a dusting of pink around the outside. I melted. All night long people commented on what a gorgeous arrangement it was. I think I smiled the entire night.

And yes, Kent sent them.

I got an email from my mother yesterday telling me all about how she'd gotten a flat tire and had to change the tire. The interesting thing to me was that my first reaction was, "So you changed a tire, big deal." Then, I realized that there are a great many people out there--especially women--who wouldn't have the first clue of what to do if they got a flat, beyond call for help. Yes, I admit I was a bit blase about my mother's ability to change a tire, but I expect her to be able to change a tire, and have seen her change a tire several times before. Can your mother change a tire? I sure hope so.

Another rejection, this time from Analog. I've done a bit of cleanup and revision on another story that came back a week or so ago, and am packaging it up to go out again. I need to swing by the post office though to grab some one cent stamps. Rates go up soon, and the response times for the next market on my list are long enough that the rates will probably be different by the time it gets rejected again. (Yes, I know... nice positive attitude. Can't get my hopes up though; that's against the rules.)

And even though I didn't get to be the first to announce it, a big welcome anyway to Tamela Viglione who has just put up her own online journal. Welcome to the Not A Webring, Tamela!