Charles

My boss and my friend, Charles Brown, died on Sunday night, on his flight home from Readercon in MA. I'm writing the editorial in the upcoming issue as editor-in-chief, a promotion that comes at a heavy price. I'll write more about him there, but I'm overcome with thoughts about him, and need to get some of this out.

Working for and being friends with Charles meant taking part in an unending conversation on science fiction, fantasy, horror, the history of fandom, food, jazz, classical music, etc., all of the above interspersed with terrible puns, the occasional shaggy dog story, and jokes you wouldn't tell your mother. He loved to teach, to cook, to share good Scotch and recommendations for music. He had an uncanny sense about people: hated anyone who was fake or overly commercial and was doggedly loyal and protective of those that he loved.

I'm still in shock that he's gone. Despite the fact that he had outlived all expectations and was having health problems, it seemed like him might just last forever out of sheer stubbornness or the need to read one more book or see one more opera. I'm left with the feeling that he might walk in or call me any moment, and we'll take up the right where we left off. I learned from him every time we spoke; the things that he taught me about the SF field, and about life, were immeasurable and constant.

I'm not ready to end the conversation.

Is it Tuesday?

Today: Two hours wasted beating back malware. Ugh. Then time with Mum at the craft store. Bought sock doll making book. How terribly maternal. 45 minutes at the dog park to appease the beasts. Clean house, nurse baby, etc. Now on to Mexican food with the hub and Kyra.

Work is on fire, apparently. Trying to field questions from home but feeling guilty about not being there. I'll be back soon enough, but still.

Then there was this, which cheered me up, no end.

Thanks to Issa for taking it! Yes, that is a tiara made of Peeps, specially for Easter.

Chris Roberson & Allison Baker came to town on a quick vacation and stopped by on the Fourth for some bbq. Steven, Kelly, and Mzmelia came over as well. We had 2-, 3-, 4, and 5-year-old girls running around, wreaking havoc, as they will. It was great, and a bonus to get to hang out with C & A outside of the con context. Less booze and exhaustion, more food and relaxation. All good!

More Pics

oh man, how cute is that?

Baby love.

Missed the Locus Awards ceremony in Seattle, which I spent many hours organizing, and the SF Hall of Fame event . Ah well. From Mzmelia's reports so far, it went smashingly. Had an impressive set of guests, half again as many as the Nebulas did, and still growing! And Seattle is beautiful in June... Next year, for sure!

Will miss Readercon and Worldcon as well. Need the hub to be able to handle both girls before I run off to any good cons. But World Fantasy is in my part of the world, so I'll be there!

Maternity

My garden smells awesome. The brugmansia is going crazy with blooms, the star jasmine is in its full glory, and I'm wondering if the night jessamine is just too much after all.



I just realized I never blogged about the baby being born. Well, needless to say, it happened! Just about the best birth I could have hoped for. Had the hub and a couple of friends -- Hanna, who was an awesome support person (thanks so much for being there!) and Mzmelia, who just made it in time for the big moment! -- there for support. My doc, Jill Foley, MD, was fabulous; and labor was short (4 hours) and for the most part painless (thank you epidural). Then 3, yes that's right one, two, three pushes and the baby was there. Nora Isabel Trombi. My own little Tootsie Pop.

Three days old.

Nora has been a champ thus far. Sleeps for long stretches at night often enough to give me hope of sleeping myself sometime soon! Kyra is, if anything, too affectionate with her. But that's so much nicer than jealous, I can't complain.



We're spending this Saturday morning in the backyard, watering the flowers and eating croissants from the French bakery that moved into the neighborhood recently. Like I said, my garden smells awesome.

Eddy's in the time continuum?

Been hiding out on Facebook. It does take all the fiddly bits of time online up, I have to say. But I like seeing what everyone is doing. I didn't realize how long it has been since I'd posted anything here.

So the maternity bag is packed and in the car. The mini-co-sleeper has been dug out of the garage and is waiting to be set up. My sister keeps going on work trips and has told me she'll give me a list of dates I can have the baby. Ha! Contingency babysitting and dogsitting plans are in place for Kyra and the mutts.

I'm constantly jostled from within by the mini Jane Fonda I am apparently cooking in there. My coworkers marvel at the ripples and bulges my belly displays. Dr. appts a thrice weekly to check on my blood pressure and make sure all is well. All is quiet at the southern border so far.

The urban fantasy issue (May) is at the printer, and Mzmelia has been covering for me diligently at conventions, though I sorely missed going to ICFA and the Nebs. And this summer I'll miss the Locus Awards and Readercon AND Worldcon in Montreal (one of a short list of cities that I have always wanted to visit and haven't made it to yet). But I'm on for the Discworld convention in September, which Z'boss is keen to do -- he's worried about getting to see Terry in the future with both of them curtailng travel. And the WFC is conveniently being held in San Jose, so is any easy one to make it to. Yay! It's my favorite con anyway, so that's something.

Then next year I should be back on a full travel schedule. Might even try to get the whole fam damily out to one, if I can wrangle it.

Dancin' with Mr. Drive-in Movie Theater Speaker

Facebook has renewed its charms for me, as another social group of mine, the Rabbit Choir/Love Props crew, reassembles online and compares notes after some fifteen(?) years. (Wow, it really has been a long time.) I spend more time enjoying the chatter of the others than actively joining in, though I do check on Facebook more now than I had for a few months. Getting to see pics of and read about Stacie, Tami, SuperDave, Chantelle, Tatiana, Gayle, Bob, etc. is something I didn't imagine happening, and it's very cool. I wish I had a bit more time to join in, but with one baby in the house and another on the way -- and the full-time job at the magazine -- it's just too hard to stay awake...

The February issue just about undid me. We haven't had to work that hard on an issue for a while, and it just wipes you out, 'specially iffen yer preggo, como yo. With sales tax and business tax and plain old income tax riding on the tail of it, along with trying to get this new blog launched for the mag, it's been quite a ride.

I did have a strange and wonderful moment of peace last night, quietly knitting and watching House on Hulu.com while the hub and babe took a bath together. It only lasted a short while, but it was good, and I didn't even fall asleep. ;)

More firings

"Call me gullible or impressionable, but I'm actually feeling kind of hopeful this week." Following her unexpected firing yesterday, Sara Nelson must be ruing the opening to her last editorial for Publishers Weekly. Nelson is a brilliant editor and strong leader in the industry, and now is the latest victim of the economic downturn: Reed Business Information, PW's parent company, launched a restructuring which includes cutting 7% of staff. Brian Kenney, editor-in-chief of School Library Journal, will replace Nelson.

This is the news brief I would have written if Locus Online covered the general publishing world like it does SF/F. I read her editorials every week, and really enjoyed her wry humor and insight into the industry. Best of luck to her, and to the other orphaned editors out there, including the Realms of Fantasy folks, Juliet Ulman, Liz Scheier, etc.