Posted on June 30, 2013 Posted by John Scalzi 22 Comments
My ALA adventures are at an end and I am soon headed home. This is all you get from me for today. But I hope your Sunday was as enjoyable as mine. Tell me in the comments, if you like.
Taunting the tauntable since 1998
John Scalzi, proprietor – JS
Athena Scalzi, editor – AMS
About the site
What's the Big Idea? Authors explaining the the big ideas behind their latest works, in their own words. See the latest Big Ideas!
Authors/Editors/Publicists: for information on how to participate, click here.
Last day, one hopes, for “Once-in-a-century Heat wave” in the American Southwest.
Six half-marathon runners in Southern California were hospitalized Sunday for heat-related illnesses. Runners in the Southern California race who required medical attention were extremely dehydrated, and some experienced cramps, said Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian….
Temperatures in Las Vegas shot up to 115 degrees on Saturday afternoon, just two degrees shy of an all-time record. The high temperature on Sunday was again expected to approach 117 degrees. An excessive heat warning remains in effect for Las Vegas through 8:00 p.m. Tuesday for potentially life-threatening heat, the weather service reports….
Las Vegas fire and rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski told the Associated Press that a man died and another was hospitalized in serious condition Saturday afternoon in heat-aggravated incidents as a heat wave blistered the sunbaked city….
The heat wave has sent more than 40 other people to hospitals in Las Vegas since it arrived Friday. On Friday, 115-degree heat in the city tied a 19-year record….
In Southern California, Palm Springs peaked at 122 degrees while the mercury in Lancaster set a record at 111 degrees, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The Palm Springs reading was a June record and just 1 degree shy of its all-time record of 123 degrees set on August 1, 1993, according to Weather Underground historian Christopher Burt.
Death Valley in California soared to 128 degrees Saturday, which tied for that location’s hottest June day on record, according to the National Weather Service. Death Valley’s record high of 134 degrees, set a century ago, stands as the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth.
Temperatures in Death Valley were again forecast to reach 128 degrees on Sunday and on Monday…
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/30/heat-wave-southwestern-united-states/2476675/
Not shabby. The theme of the day was “carpe diem”: took advantage of what’s likely to be the last partly-sunny day before a week of rain to take a hike with my husband at the State Botanical Garden, then had brunch at the renowned local restaurant The Grit before they close for a week of renovations.
Enjoy your trip home, and enjoy home!
Sent off a couple of shortstories for denial.
On the negative side: I had to go in to work on my day off.
On the plus side: my girlfriend bought nectarines while she was at the grocery store, and now the whole kitchen smells nectarine-y. Mmmmmm.
Church, lunch, naps. And then the usual afternoon game of Rook with the in-laws, which we won, which is not usual!
Relaxing in my backyard hammock, listening to a livestream of Bill Nye and a Tesla cannon at the Museum of Flight, after just doubling my donation to crowdfund a space telescope so my students can take a self-portrait in space. It’s a good day.
Elderly cancer-patient mother-in-law felt well enough to celebrate birthday at Fenway, Sox won. Not too shabby.
Olympic distance triathlon. Man was it hot for the running leg (mid-90s). The rest of the day lazing in the pool.
(Shannon – if the nectarines go soft before you finish them – nectarine cobbler. nom)
Visiting with my parents, my brother and his family. Hectic, but enjoyable.
Hot, humid, no AC, and Sims 3 Pets doesn’t seem to have an “Ask to Leave” option. Stop eating their leftovers and sleeping in their beds. Gah!…
I may, possibly, not have been doing anything productive today.
Western States 100 mile trail run today in 100+ degree heat. Not me, thankfully, but I feel for them.
Hope your city’s not gone.
Got a massage, and also peach ice cream. Not at the same time, of course.
I had tea with my husband at Lovejoy’s Tea Room in San Francisco today. And the gentleman at the next table over was reading The Ghost Brigades. (Tweeted you a shot.)
Shot an archery match, did so-so but had fun with some friends. Stopped for a great burger and beer at a small joint I don’t get to often enough.
It was great to meet and talk to you @ ALA. I didn’t get a chance to go to Lib Family Feud – hope u helped keep up the writers winning streak!
Made jam- strawberry, and apricot/peach. Also a batch of experimental pickles.
Saw “Deceptive Practice:The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay”, so yeah. There’s a story of an effect he pulled off, apparently (and I use the word advisedly) impromptu, for an unsuspecting audience of one, that brought tears to my eyes.
Bratwurst in patty form on the grill at an impromptu family reunion. Laughs and tears shared with loved ones I haven’t seen in many years. A good day indeed.
DG Lewis – I see you got there before I could :-)
I was at ALA on Sunday, but our schedules never worked to where we could come see you at a talk or signing. We did bring home a lot of books, though! (My librarian sweetie did make it to some of your talks, so I got to hear about them second hand, at least.)
John, welcome back to Ohio. I hope Darke County has good weather tonight and a great fireworks show.