Dispatches since 2005
The journal
Announcements, new editions, travel, diving, cooking and the working life of a novelist — 102 entries, all of them here in full.
December 25, 2023 · 160 words
The night before the night before
The night before the night before Christmas, it snowed on Santa Fe plaza. And here’s the picture to prove it. As a holiday present to ourselves, we decided on a trip to Santa Fe to catch a baroque concert, dine out with a friend, then spend the night at a classic old hotel. The weather […]
Read entry →December 21, 2023 · 60 words
Adios Mr. Zappy
I have bade farewell to Mr. Zappy with the following tender message: “I hope I never see you again.” I even got a certificate (suitable for framing) stating that I have “completed a course in radiation therapy.” I wonder if it will affect my GPA? Anyway: treatment done. Cancer dead. On to the next problem […]
Read entry →December 19, 2023 · 118 words
Two Left
Two sessions with Mr. Zappy left. Doc says I’ll continue with the exhaustion and other side effects for a couple weeks, then will return to what Mr. Harding called “normalcy” fairly steadily. Yesterday I hit the wall again, spending much of the day in bed. Today I’m feeling more chipper and am feeding myself a [&hellip
Read entry →December 16, 2023 · 132 words
Four To Go
After five weeks of nearly-daily radiation treatments, I finally hit the wall yesterday. I had my treatment in the morning, had some Wor Wonton soup for lunch, then had a session with my physical therapist. Then I drove home and was out for the count. I crashed, got up to help Kathy with the lovely […]
Read entry →December 10, 2023 · 117 words
Imperium Restored (and Cheaply)
My latest ebook is on sale for $1.98! And in multiple places! IMPERIUM RESTORED is discounted on HarperCollins’ site on the 10th and 11th of December. It’s also on offer with Amazon Gold Box beginning on the 10th. I don’t have an end date for the Amazon promotion, but it may last only the one […]
Read entry →December 7, 2023 · 229 words
Not Charging
The day started with my car crapping out due to a broken starter. So the rest of the day consisted of me waiting for AAA to try to start the car, then calling local garages to see where I could get it fixed, then finding out the earliest anyone could take it was Tuesday. Because […]
Read entry →December 2, 2023 · 229 words
14
I have lain in the embrace of Mr. Zappy 14 times now, which means I’m now more than halfway through the 26 radiation treatments in my program. I have to say it’s been trouble free. The side effects have been minor, verging on negligible. The worst is that I’m tired all the time. My naps […]
Read entry →November 23, 2023 · 268 words
Meet Mr. Zappy
Here’s the machine I visit most mornings to get zapped with x-rays. (I’ve had nine treatments so far, seventeen to go.) I lie on the gurney-thingie in the lower right, and am rolled more less into the middle of the array, after which I am orbited by scanners and projectors and some things which I […]
Read entry →November 18, 2023 · 44 words
Distant Voice
Looking through some boxes I discovered a partial I wrote nearly 50 years ago. My agent sent it back, saying it needed a rethink. Glancing through it, I’m thinking it’s overwritten. Which won’t stop me from enjoying reading this message from my younger self.
Read entry →November 14, 2023 · 276 words
Meet Mr. Photon
Today was my first day of radiation. (25 to go) The machine was very large, but it was in a cavernous room, and when the machine was in operation, the operators scurried away to a control room behind their lead or concrete shields. The treatment room was called HOPE. My job was twofold. First, I […]
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