A Curious Statistical Anomaly

As you may remember, SFRevu and Gumshoe Review go live on June 1st so things are a bit crazy in my dining room office right now. I’ve got several reviews to write up, even more to proof, several to coerce Paul into writing, the cover images to make up, and of course pinging the other reviewers for their material. Amidst all this chaos, I remembered I’d had a total brain freeze — I didn’t get any interviews for either zine this month. Mea culpa — I’ve would have beaten my head on the dining room table but the migraines have taken care of that anyway.

Anyway, in the midst of my despair I was making another cup of coffee and looking out the kitchen window, which is on the second floor, and there was a movement in the trees straight out from the window. In a small opening in the leaves there was a bird’s nest. I looked and squinted and — yes, there was a bird on the nest.

The thing is that you can only see the nest and the bird from the kitchen window. The way the tree is set and the branches around the area from our deck and from the yard you can’t see the nest at all. I tried various locations, hoping to get a better picture than through our kitchen window. But no luck, so back to the kitchen. I took the photo paired with this post. It’s with the telephoto lens through a window (not a very clean one….shrug) but it came out pretty good. I don’t know what kind of bird it is. I’m not good with birds especially at a distance through a telephoto lens on a nest. If anyone knows what it is, please let me know.

I still feel awful about dropping the ball on the author interviews but life goes on — as this little mother bird so aptly embodies. Today, as I looked late this afternoon, she seemed a bit nervous or fidgety — kept moving and then looking down and poking below her and then resettling. Wonder when the eggs are going to hatch. Since I don’t know how long she’d been there before I noticed her I have no idea.

I love living in the country — life if all around.

We’ve been going to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival for several years now. This year we went on Saturday. We got to the fairgrounds about 10:30 a.m. The fairgrounds opened at 9 but the parking was already up into the hills above so it was a bit of a hike down to the gate. There was a pretty fair sized crowd. Of course, since it’s over an hour’s drive and I drank coffee on the way the first stop or line was for the restroom. Then it was off to admire the animals and the fiber.

Since the parade of sheep, sheep shearing, sheep farming lectures, and sheep judging goes on all weekend, it not uncommon to see people out walking their sheep. Of course, some of us who can’t afford sheep must find appropriate substitutes to walk around the fairgrounds with.

There’s so much going on and so many vendors that it’s often difficult to see everything. So we missed the sheep dog demonstrations, the auction of spinning equipment, and many of the lectures and demos. Though we did stop for awhile to watch the women who were making socks on sock knitting machines. It’s rather fascinating to see them crank the handle and have a sock slip out the bottom. It looks like it is more difficult to make multicolored or patterned socks. We stood and watched this woman for a while but the observers were packed pretty tightly in a building that was getting warmer by the minute, or so it seemed.

One of the problems is that May, while relatively cool, can be in the upper 70’s to lower 80’s and then walking around in the open air or in enclosed barns can be a bit overwhelming. So, naturally we had to take a break and eat. One thing there is plenty of is lamb — lamb burgers, lamb sausages, lamb gyros, lamb just about everything. We tried the lamb burger and lamb sausage. Really good, especially if you can grab a piece of shade to sit in and wash it down with old fashioned lemonade (the kind made by using a real lemon, sugar and the lemon is plunked in the glass.

One booth I always stop at is Goldings. I own a couple of his spindles and love the balance and the way they spin. In fact, I have several other spindles but like the feel of these more. I usually stop at the booth and look wistfully at the spinning wheels. While there are many artisans at Maryland Sheep and Wool — this is where you can truly see that a tool can be both functional and beautiful. These are the kind of tools you want to have around you house because they make you feel special while doing something you love to do. And yet, they are all perfectly balanced, rugged, and work as they should.

I didn’t buy much this year. I picked up a pound of soy silk to spin, and enough sock yarn for three pair of new socks, and a cable needle. Mostly, I just enjoyed the color, texture, and feel of many fibers. Maryland Sheep and Wool is a feast for the senses. If you’ve never been and you love fiber, fiber animals, and yarn it’s a great festival. It’s always the first full weekend in May. Check it out.

I’m sure out there somewhere is a nice blues jazz number with that this title, “Medical Insurance Blues”. However, it’s two days later and I’m still seeing red. Here’s the background. I have allergies — lots and lots of them. Basically, if you say I’m allergic to the world you’ve got it. I don’t even bother with the skin test anymore because the very last time I had one everything reacted so they tested for the base (no reaction) and for the needle invading the skin (no reaction). So, now I have them test my blood (RASP test). The doctors explain (patiently I might add) that the test is not sensitive enough and we should do the skin test. I counter with “Do the blood tests and if you need the skin test for some items, we’ll do those.” I’ve never been asked to retake a test because everything tests high enough.

Now for the problem. It’s pollen season in force big time down here in Maryland. My eyes have been itching like crazy and at times I wish I could do the cartoon thing of popping them out of my head and running water over them. So, I’ve been using the over the counter allergy drops and tears and anything else I could find. Finally, I gave up and saw the doctor. He gave me a prescription (hereafter Rx) for some eye drops. We dropped it off at the pharmacy but had to wait to pick it up the next day.

Go to pick it up and insurance has refused to pay for the Rx. Why, you might ask. Are you ready for this one. The insurance won’t pay because, get this, over the counter eye drops work just as well as the Rx ones. I just love the way an insurance clerk, whom I have never met, and who doesn’t have a medical degree, and who has never talked to my doctor, can make such judgments. Yes, statistically, for some people, maybe the over the counter drops work just as well. But to make this declaration without ever asking if I’d used over the counter drops is pure bottom-line bean counting.

Will I fight this? No. This is the third time they’ve done this. Insurance is Anthem BC/BS PPO — the plan is a good one and generally they’re okay but every now and then they come up with these gotchas. I fought for one drug and finally got them to pay for it but it took 5 months of fighting and faxing documents and getting papers signed and made out by the doctor. But I couldn’t afford the over $110/month to pay out of pocket for the drug. It was exhausting and depressing experience and in this case not worth the effort.

The doctor gave me a sample and I’ll use it sparingly until the season is over. The insurance covered it last year and maybe they’ll cover it again next year, but this year they decided to make me suffer. The thing is it would be easier to take in some ways IF the insurance company would at least acknowledge that they’re playing with my health. When they refused the sleeping pills about two years ago they said, and this is almost a direct quote from the manager of the telephone support.

We’re not making medical decisions and we’re not stopping you from getting the drug. You can get it anytime you want, you just have to pay the full price for it.

I just love the way they can distance themselves from the suffering they cause. What did I do about the sleeping pill. I decided to do without. It’s easier since I quit work and now work at home. Every now and then I just can’t sleep until after being awake for 36 to 48 hours.   I usually finally manage to sleep 8 hours and then I’m back to my normal 4-6 hours a night (if I’m lucky). Somedays, there just aren’t enough spoons within reach.

What I know is that I’m lucky. We have insurance through the company my husband works for, and many people don’t have any at all. I did find out that people with no insurance pay more for drugs than people with insurance. I’m not talking about the copay. If you pay attention to the sheets that come with your Rx, in some places they say the drug costs X and the insurance pays Y and your co-pay is Z. Then if insurance won’t pay, you usually pay the cost, X. However, if they make out the payment sheet thinking you don’t have insurance it’s usually X+some number B. So not having insurance costs even more for health care.

None of the present candidates have a decent health care plan. Mandatory health care unless the government is going to pay for it all isn’t going to do anything. If people can’t afford it now, they can’t afford it when it’s mandatory. Do govvies really think people don’t have it because they’d rather get a six pack? People don’t have health insurance because A) they have pre-existing conditions that run the cost through the roof or B) they’d rather feed their kids and keep a roof over their heads or C) they’ve got A and B. Let’s face it medical care should not be a profit making proposition.  I mean who came up with the brilliant idea to put the health of our citizens in the hands of someone whose business model makes money by NOT providing healthcare?  In America, we need free basic medical care for all citizens and clerks should not be denying things that a licensed doctor has prescribed for a patient. Why bother to license physicians if office clerks can over-rule them.

I feel better having let off steam. But I’m still outraged — and — my eyes still itch!

We arrived at the hotel, got our badges, and were early enough to sit in on the Charity Auction to benefit JLG-RICA. The bidding was heavy and everyone was having a great time. Auctioneer was Kate Grilley with the assistance of Sue Henry. While we were there Katherine Hall Page auctioned off an item (the winner could have his or her original recipe for a dessert in her book due out for Christmas). This item got a lot of interest and finally went for $525 dollars. This is all to help a great cause and everyone enjoyed themselves. The convention is also having a silent auction for the same cause that will end tomorrow — these items are mostly baskets based on a theme. Some are very clever but all the baskets are wonderfully creative. Hopefully tomorrow, we’ll have time to get some pictures.

This year is Malice Domestic’s 20th Anniversary. During the Opening Ceremonies, Dan Stashower noted that he’d been to all but the first convention. The ceremonies included a moment of silence for the loss of members of the mystery society over the past year after the names were read out. Next was a list of all the sponsors of Malice Domestic for this year followed by presentation of certificates for all those attending this year who’d also attended the first Malice Domestic, and then an introduction of all the Malice Domestic Board members. The Guests of Honor were then introduced and presented with gifts (Charlaine Harris, Lindsey Davis, Dan Stashower, Peter Lovesey and others). Next all the nominees for the Agatha Awards were introduced and presented with certificates. (The winners of the Agathas will be announced at the Saturday evening Banquet.)

The Opening Ceremonies was followed by a reception. Lot of munchies and a chance to talk with authors, editors, publishers, fans, and all in between and combinations of the previous categories. Many of the people that I spoke with had been to previous Malice Domestic conventions and loved coming back. One couple said that the convention was a great way for them to hear about upcoming books and to hear about them from the authors themselves. But everyone loved mysteries and solving them and the opportunity to learn more about the genre.

After the reception, Lucy Zahrey, The Poison Lady, gave a talk on poison plants. Focusing on how readily available poisons are in our gardens, our neighbor’s gardens, health food stores, and other places not usually associated with poison, she told us about symptoms, strategies, availability, and novel possibilities for writers who have characters who wish to poison their enemies. Plants discussed included castor beans, yew, monkshood, poppies, oleander, and others. She warns that people should never confuse natural and organic with safe, since most poisons are both, and definitely not safe. Recommended as a good resource for writers was Common Poisonous Plants of North America by Timber Press. Each poisonous plant was presented with the ways in which it might be used by an author in a story to commit a crime that would be interesting for readers and realistic. The lecture bring home to anyone listening just how readily available poison or poisonous plants can be found if you know where and how to look.

Next was a Toastmaster Event. Dan Stashower and Parnell Hall discussed Malice Domestic’s past and present and some of the highlights of past conventions including several incidents with handcuffs (and missing keys), a Whimsy Award that was a large stuffed groundhog in a lace dress, and other misadventures or hilarious mishaps. The laughter and gaiety made for a entertaining hour.

The evening ended with a Theater of the Air presentation of “The Adventure of the Murdered Ship”. Theater of the Air is done as an old time radio show. Starring in this evenings production was Parnell Hall, Carole Nelson Douglas, Kate Flora, Hal Glatzer, Dan Stashower, Pari Noskin Taichert, Tom O’Day, David Skibbins, and Jack French. “The Adventure of the Murdered Ship”, according to the handout, was originally broadcast January 30, 1943 and was one of “The Adventures of Ellery Queen”, a radio mystery series that ran from 1939 to 1948. The acting was smooth and the mystery, it’s clues, and the solution were clever and neat. A great time was had by all.

So, the first day of Malice Domestic leaves us tired but excited to learn more and talk to more participants and attendees.

This weekend, we’ll be covering Malice Domestic for Gumshoe Review. By we, I mean Paul Haggerty (photographer and writer) and myself (Editor, reviewer, writer, and sometime photographer). Today is opening ceremonies, the Poison Lady, a reception, and Theater of the Air (an old time radio play). We’ve covered Malice Domestic in the past and it’s an instructional, informative and fun convention. Each year we’ve had technical difficulties or some other glitch that resulted in a reduced amount of photos. Also in previous years we’ve done a capsule coverage of the entire convention. This year we’re trying something different. The plan is for me to blog the convention each day (once I get back home to my laptop). There will also be a general overview capsule report in Gumshoe Review with a link to these daily reports. I’ll add to this post this evening when we get back. Meanwhile, let me know if there some coverage or questions you’d like me to focus on and I’ll see what I can do on Saturday and Sunday.

Long ago, I started calling days when you can’t concentrate or where the least little thing causes you to go off on a tangent, shiny thing days. Sort of like cats who chase the light from a flashlight all around a dark room or the way animals just go after every shiny thing they see because it catches their attention: shiny thing days are those where there is no straight lines from task a to task b.

Today started okay. But suddenly I realized it was a shiny thing day. How did I know? Well, my first clue was when I opened the cupboard to get my vitamins and instead saw the cereal. So, I got down the cereal and realized I needed a bowl. Opened the other cupboard to get a bowl noticed the coffee. So, opened the fridge to get water into the coffee pot so I could start it. Got out the water and flipped open the top and poured. Flipped it closed and snapped on the machine. (Note: I haven’t mentioned putting the grounds in the coffee machine.)

Well, the whole day has gone like that. It took me four trips up the stairs to get the dirty clothes before I actually got them down to the laundry area. I don’t want to even count how long it took to actually get them in the machine and started. Suffice it to say that in between email got read, some even got answered, mail got picked up, plants got watered, knitting got done, interviews got written up and sent off, articles got formatted, html tags got entered, news items got sorted and put up.

However, being a shiny thing day — no proofreading or copyediting was done. As interesting as it might be to find out what things would look like afterwards, I decided to give it a pass today. Maybe housework was invented to keep people out of mischief on shiny thing days. In spite of it all, tasks got done. They just took a lot longer with a lot of interesting side trips and I guess in the end that just makes the journey even more interesting.

I just learned today when I read last Wednesday’s Washington Post Food section that I’d missed the Coffee Fest which was held from Feb 15 to 17th at the Washington DC Convention Center. On the whole it wouldn’t be that bad to miss but the paper said there’d be a contest for barristas to show off their skills making pictures in the froth of espressos. The image shows an example of such work from Aaron DeLazzer’s Milk Frothing Guide on his CoffeeGeek website.

I’ve read about Latte Art but have only enjoyed it via YouTube — search on Latte Art. I really wished I managed to see this done for real. There’s something about art that is so transitory — pictures in coffee froth, snow flakes, ice crystals on a window pane — fleeting and beautiful in a way that makes you appreciate the day and life. Coffee philosophy lives on, I guess.

For a long time, people have been talking about the Internet and how it’s killing historical documents collection because email, blogs, ezines and other forms of electronic documents are ephemeral and won’t last as technology changes. Yesterday, someone sent me a link to a blog that is historical. WWI: Experiences of an English Soldier is a blog 90 years after the fact. Bill Lamin had his grandfather’s letters and wondered what to do with them. He decided to start a blog of William Lamin’s letters to his family. Each letter will be posted as it was written on the blog 90 years after it was originally written. There’s a BBC programme about it also.

While electronic communication may or may not be ephemeral, it does have an impact on our lives now. Bill Lamin’s idea will allow us to read the worries, concerns, and daily life of an English soldier much as his family experienced it — waiting for word, hoping and praying that the next message they get is a letter and not a notification of his death or injury. This can and aught to be an wonderful adjunct to history units on WW1, a time and a war that most of us have only read about or seen in movies.

While history books may have a difficult time maintaining records of today’s world, this blog is an indication that perhaps the Internet may be a new tool in keeping our history alive for all of us now.