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And, just for the record, once we were able to talk to a person, I was able to book a room at the special rate, no problem.

I went online to book the hotel for Readercon, but there were no rooms available so my wife called. They make you talk to a robot before you can talk to a person. The robot says, "It sounds like you're trying to book a room. Can I just send you the link to book online?"
"No. I want to talk to a person."
"Are you sure? It's easier to book online."
"No. I want to talk to a person."
"Reeeallly? I can just send you the link."
"No."
"Really, really?"
"No!"
"C'mon! Just give it a try!"

Robots, man.

In the shade, the kids mashed up the strawberries & filled the pie crust. They used a little of their family's own cream to make a bit of whipped cream to put on top. Then they cut it up & shared it out to everyone.
Cecelia inspected it. The red strawberries, brown crust, & white cream looked simply scrumptious. She sampled it experimentally. "It's glorious!" she breathed. "The crust is so flaky! What's the secret?"
"Ain't no secret," Kasseh said. "Just butter. Lots & lots of butter."

#wss366

"We've decided what to get!" Kelli announced.
"We?" asked Cecelia.
"We're going to pool our money and have strawberry shortcake!"
"Aren't strawberries expensive?" asked Kasseh.
"Nuh-uh!" Kelli said. "Not right now. There's so many right now they can't sell 'em fast enough!"
The kids negotiated a big box of overripe strawberries for song and Kelli bought a large pie #crust from the bakery that had set up a booth selling bread, rolls, and more at the market.

#wss366

On Wednesday, my son called because the car wouldn't start. So we jumped it and drove it to the shop to get a new battery. On Thursday, we picked it up and left the other car that needed an oil change. When we went to pick it up, the mechanic said it needed a new driveshaft center support bearing, so we ended up leaving it there. Today, we picked it up and, on the way home, the tire-pressure sensor started blinking then stayed on. Sigh…

We finally got a chance to stop by Drawing Board Brewery in Florence. I love their fancy signage. I got the Onyx Black IPA, which is very passable. #WesternMass

Youtube suggested this to me, because they obviously know exactly what I like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpIX-MosJpI

Cecelia dozed in the warm, still afternoon, leaning up against Kasseh.
A sudden brisk breeze kicked up from the east. They spotted a line of dark clouds racing toward them.
"Hey!" a voice hailed. "Storm's a'comin'!"
A farmer waved & gestured them toward a barn.
Kasseh shook the reins & brought the horses to a trot. Just as the first drops were falling, they brought their little wagon into the barn.
In moments, they heard a boom of thunder. Rain, then hail, began hammering the roof.

#wss366

ial irisoj, burĝone prokrastadas… atendas ion / for some reason irises, still just budding… waiting for something #hajko #haiku #esperanto

There has been a General Faculty Meeting only one other time in my memory during my 28-year career at #UMassAmherst which was when Jack Wilson, the President of the UMass system, fired John Lombardi, the Chancellor at UMass Amherst, and then tried to establish himself as both President AND Chancellor to advance his wackadoodle "One University" plan, that would have tried to pretend that all of the UMass campuses were just one entity, as a way to game the university rankings. He backed down.

The faculty of #UMassAmherst have called an Emergency General Faculty Meeting for Monday, May 20 to consider a vote of no confidence in the Chancellor resulting from the police action on May 7 to disperse anti-war protesters. https://www.umass.edu/senate/events/general-faculty-meeting-may-20th-2024 #WesternMass

Everyone, it seemed, wanted the opportunity to introduce themselves to the new Baron. By the time Curtiss had made his way to the bar, his patience had worn thin.
"What will you have, Milord?" the bartender asked.
"Can you make a #Grand Mal?"
The bartender looked askance at him but then, shaking his head, began opening bottle after bottle, pouring one shot of liquor after another into a tall glass.
Curtiss accepted the glass, took a sip, & sighed. It was going to be a long night.

#wss366

#WritersCoffeeClub Other than writing, what's your go-to creative outlet?

Hmm. Teaching? Photography? Making? Programming? Cooking? Botany? Entomology? Herpetology? Dance? Flaneur?

Due my chronic lung condition, I have an order from the pulmonologist to not attend indoor events where participants aren't masked. I have an accommodation to teach remotely and the Faculty Senate has enabled me to serve as Presiding Officer via Zoom. But graduation is hard: there were two faculty gatherings by my department this week that were both indoors. I can't attend the fancy commencement dinner or basically any of the graduation ceremonies. It's hard to feel so excluded.

I put up the mosquito netting and hung my *izakaya* lantern, which calls for a small reward.

Why should anyone follow someone who says, "Don't @ me"?

It's been a long time since I found a four-leaf clover. Rather than picking it, to keep all the luck for myself, I left it there for someone else to find. #mosstodon

"Draw!" Updraft bellowed, naked steel in his hand.
Curtains sighed & turned to face him.
"We don't have time for your theatrics."
"Theatrics!" he screamed. "I'm not going to take your disrespect anymore. Draw, curse you!"
Curtains, in turn, drew his blade & set himself *en garde*.
Updraft got a wicked grin on his face & sprang forward, when five enemy mercenaries ran into the clearing, swords drawn.
Curtains & Updraft smoothly stepped past one another & placed themselves back to back.

#wss366

According to @philipbrewer, my new motto should be, "No cream for whining."

#WritersCoffeeClub Have you ever attended a writers fair/festival to promote your work? Would you?

I've now attended many science fiction conventions (Arisia, BayCon, Boskone, Watch City, WorldCon, etc.) to serve on panels, offer readings, & help operate a vendor table for my publisher where my books are for sale. It appears to me that this kind of activity is *de rigueur* for anyone who wants their writing to be discovered. It's easy to write a book — it's hard to get people to buy your books.