Home, home, home, home

Somehow, summer decided to happen while I was off in the wilds of the northwest territory great state of Ohio, and I returned to partly sunny, mid-70s, and smiling people. Yippee.

Ohio was filled with family -- and sadness that our sister Sue couldn't join us for the time together. We talked and emailed, but that's just not enough, and we miss her very much.

Yesterday, my sister Libby, her husband, her two youngest sons, my brother Doug, his wife, and their two daughters all came over to mom's, and we proved that we're all pretty doggone good cooks. :-) I've really gotten lucky in the nieces and nephews categories.

We also proved that none of us (except the kids) are under 40 anymore, since every one of us in the older generations were pooped.

Today's flight home was relaxed and easy. Leaving for the airport a bit early seemed a good idea, since flying out of Canton-Akron (CAK) means a longer trip through many miles of rural roads. One breakdown could ruin your whole day. And AirTran ensures that people like me will pay the $49 for a business class upgrade by charging $15 for a checked bag, $6-12 for a *regular* seat assignment...so the $49 removes both fees, gives you a comfortable seat, and ensures that you can get all of the liquids you want (plus alcohol for those, unlike me, who wish).

But the best part was landing in Boston, being the first at baggage claim, nipping out to have a smoke, and then getting picked up by benveniste at the airport. Seeing Mike...meant it was home.

Home, home, home. Finestkind.

Home, home, home, home

Somehow, summer decided to happen while I was off in the wilds of the northwest territory great state of Ohio, and I returned to partly sunny, mid-70s, and smiling people. Yippee.

Ohio was filled with family -- and sadness that our sister Sue couldn't join us for the time together. We talked and emailed, but that's just not enough, and we miss her very much.

Yesterday, my sister Libby, her husband, her two youngest sons, my brother Doug, his wife, and their two daughters all came over to mom's, and we proved that we're all pretty doggone good cooks. :-) I've really gotten lucky in the nieces and nephews categories.

We also proved that none of us (except the kids) are under 40 anymore, since every one of us in the older generations were pooped.

Today's flight home was relaxed and easy. Leaving for the airport a bit early seemed a good idea, since flying out of Canton-Akron (CAK) means a longer trip through many miles of rural roads. One breakdown could ruin your whole day. And AirTran ensures that people like me will pay the $49 for a business class upgrade by charging $15 for a checked bag, $6-12 for a *regular* seat assignment...so the $49 removes both fees, gives you a comfortable seat, and ensures that you can get all of the liquids you want (plus alcohol for those, unlike me, who wish).

But the best part was landing in Boston, being the first at baggage claim, nipping out to have a smoke, and then getting picked up by benveniste at the airport. Seeing Mike...meant it was home.

Home, home, home. Finestkind.

Death of a fannish legend

While we were riding home from the airport this evening, benveniste said, "Charles Brown died today."

"Who?" I asked.

"Charles Brown -- Locus."

"Oh, my. Charlie."

It's not that I knew him well, but he's always been "Charlie Brown" to me. That is perhaps a function of who "raised" me in fandom and who originally introduced me to him. Charlie was sometimes annoying, usually irascible, frequently snarky, and always gracious and warm to me.

I'm very sorry to hear of his death. Fandom will be a poorer place without him in it.

Death of a fannish legend

While we were riding home from the airport this evening, benveniste said, "Charles Brown died today."

"Who?" I asked.

"Charles Brown -- Locus."

"Oh, my. Charlie."

It's not that I knew him well, but he's always been "Charlie Brown" to me. That is perhaps a function of who "raised" me in fandom and who originally introduced me to him. Charlie was sometimes annoying, usually irascible, frequently snarky, and always gracious and warm to me.

I'm very sorry to hear of his death. Fandom will be a poorer place without him in it.

My *doh* moment for the week

As the hearings began today for Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States, I kept mulling over the pronounciation of her last name. It's been in the back of my head for months.

Yes, I know how her name *should* be pronounced -- it is Spanish in derivation, and it's pretty easy to say correctly. But there was this other sound that kept intruding in the back of my head whenever her name was mentioned.

And it was accompanied with the idea that there had been a ball player with the same last name, but pronounced in this Anglicized fashion.

Baseball player. Baseball player.

*thwock*

Baseball decision. That's why I kept thinking sports reporters had pronounced the name differently.

*doh*

My *doh* moment for the week

As the hearings began today for Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States, I kept mulling over the pronounciation of her last name. It's been in the back of my head for months.

Yes, I know how her name *should* be pronounced -- it is Spanish in derivation, and it's pretty easy to say correctly. But there was this other sound that kept intruding in the back of my head whenever her name was mentioned.

And it was accompanied with the idea that there had been a ball player with the same last name, but pronounced in this Anglicized fashion.

Baseball player. Baseball player.

*thwock*

Baseball decision. That's why I kept thinking sports reporters had pronounced the name differently.

*doh*

A question, as I head for bed...

[Poll #1429455]

A question, as I head for bed...

[Poll #1429455]