On Memorial Day, I had a couple choices. I could hang around the con hotel and watch Balticon die, or I could get in my rental car and cruise off in search of history. As you can see, this is not a picture of the con hotel. We are looking south across the Miller Cornfield. […]

If you’re sick of me talking about Implied Spaces on this blog, you can go to John Scalzi’s blog and read my essay about Implied Spaces over there. Yes, Mr. Scalzi has very kindly allowed me to contribute to his Big Idea feature.Now if only the book would show up in the stores. (Tapping foot, […]

So I returned from my idyllic week in the mountains to this:1. A refrigerator that has more or less given up the ghost.2. The dryer, ditto.3. A cat with a serious, serious, serious attack of diarrhea. (You do not want me to post a cute cat picture here, no you don’t.)4. An elderly man afflicted […]

Only the highlights, now.Sunday dinner, by Walter:Royal roast leg of lamb with saffron and raisin sauce (shahi raan).Chicken smothered in aromatic herbs and almonds (badaami murgh)Chickpeas in ginger sauce (safaid channi)Spinach cooked clarified butter with ginger and spices (saag)Hot curried watermelonSaffron pilafDessert: mangoes caramelized in butter, brown sugar, and brandy, with cream.Monday:“The Curandero,” by Daniel […]