Member: amysisson

Hi, Amy.

Cool on the literature program from Western New Mexico University!

And wow, the Hayabusa retrieval sounds very interesting! (In fact, just going to Australia in and of itself would be awesome). The New Horizons mission was actually my 2nd launch, but the other one included one of the most regrettable experiences of my life. It was for the launch of STS-66 back in 1994. The launch was spectacular. The day was extra special because it just so happened that a documentary was being filmed at the visitor center and I not only got to meet (and pose for a photo with) an astronaut (forgot his name) but Jacques Cousteau as well. Of course I made a great effort to capture all of the day's events with my camera, only to discover at the end of the day that my camera was devoid of film! This discovery remains one of my most horrible regrets ever. Of all the times in my life to forget to put film in my camera, it just had to be that day. Too bad digital cameras weren't the norm back then!

I've also been to a landing of a shuttle at Edwards AFB in California, and that was a very memorable experience as well. A friend and I camped there overnight and got up at dawn to witness the landing. Awesome!

Hope you had a great weekend!
John

posted by SpacemanSpiff at 10:07 pm (EST) on Feb 7, 2010

Hi, Amy.

Wow, a great story! I had no problem at all, being quite familiar with the entire storyline of DS9. I enjoyed all of the series', and find it difficult to pick any particular one over the other. Of course, there were certain episodes in each series that I felt worked better (or worse), but overall I think I enjoyed each one equally. I've missed there being one the last few years.

But back to the story, I think you handled the indicators of the timeline quite well--the references to the Borg-Federation treaty, volunteers joining the Cooperative, DS9 becoming FP-1, Jem'hadar crew members--all of which keep the reader anchored in the future while at the same time allowing reflection on the nostalgia of Ezri, Curzon, "old man," etc. My favorite line: "But only one person has ever called me that." Great job!

I also envy your husband's work! What a fascinating field. Yes, I took a number of astronomy courses as electives in college the first time around (an indication of how clueless and lost I was in terms of picking a career, since my major was horticulture at the time, LOL!) and had the good fortune of taking classes (at NMSU--New Mexico State Univ) from such noted professors as Reta Beebe and even attended lectures from then-professor-emeritus Clyde Tombaugh, whom you probably know as the discoverer of Pluto. (I even got to hold one of the photographic plates with which he made the discovery!)

A few years ago I was involved with a makeshift internet volunteer campaign to raise awareness for the almost-canceled Pluto-Kuiper Express mission which evolved into the New Horizons mission. Through these efforts I got to know Alan Stern, the head of the New Horizons mission, and he kindly invited me to the launch in January 2006. What a fantastic event! I can't wait until the encounter in 2015. (Coincidentally, there was a press release from NASA about Pluto just today, announcing the latest photos of Pluto taken by Hubble).

Regarding your wish to be close to home during hurricane season...I can certainly understand that! I'm a bit lucky being on the west coast of Florida, which sees far less landfalls than the east coast, but we've had our share of close calls, too. And many say we're due for our share in terms of a big one at some point--I think it's been since the 1920's that a major hurricane has struck the Tampa Bay area severely. Before my time here, anyway.

OK, that's all for now. It's been nice chatting with you!
Take care,
John

posted by SpacemanSpiff at 6:31 pm (EST) on Feb 4, 2010

Hi, Amy.
Thanks for the nice message!

You're right--we do have a lot of books in common. (In looking at your page from my side, however, it only shows us having 212 in common rather than 290. But I seem to remember another LT friend and I had noticed inconsistencies in these figures before. And besides, 212 is still more than enough to indicate common interests).

I used to go to a lot of sci-fi conventions, but they were pretty much restricted to here in the Florida area. Prior to moving to Florida I lived in southern CA (Orange County area) from 1980 - 1990, and I did attend the World Con the year it was in Anaheim in the early-mid 80's, but that's about it as far as any outside of FL. And I haven't been to any here in several years.

I see in your bio that you've been publised in a couple of the Strange New Worlds anthologies--very cool! In the past I'd considered trying to write something to submit to them but kept procrastinating it. I've had one short story published in The Rejected Quarterly and a few others that have placed in various low-key contests, along with a couple of poems and photos, but that's about it.

I just checked and found that I have a (still unread) copy of Strange New Worlds VII with one of your stories in it; I'll look forward to reading it!

Thanks again for the comments!
John

posted by SpacemanSpiff at 7:57 pm (EST) on Feb 3, 2010

Hi, I just signed up with LibraryThing so I'm not sure how it works. I'm looking for a book I remember from my childhood, one of Lois Duncan's early novels, "The Middle Sister". It's out of print. Is there any way I can get a copy? Thank you

posted by firtree at 10:59 pm (EST) on Jan 25, 2010

Wow, I do own the most! I'm not completely shocked.

Yes, Traveling Shoes is Apple Bough. (They all got those Shoes-tie-in titles when they crossed the Atlantic.) I love Streatfeild because she was (one of?) the first to write about kids actually doing *professions*, and working hard at artistic careers at a young age.

So with the understanding that my tastes are skewed by my love of performance (and skewed by being totally rabid about these books as a kid :), my favorites are probably Ballet Shoes, Theatre Shoes/Curtain Up, Skating Shoes/White Boots, & Circus Shoes/Circus is Coming. Second favorites: Family Shoes/The Bell Family, Tennis Shoes, and Traveling Shoes/Apple Bough.

If you read a few of them you'll definitely notice the same character types and struggles popping up. I thought the recent Ballet Shoes movie came out pretty well, actually - I was pleasantly surprised.

posted by tina_connolly at 8:07 pm (EST) on Aug 20, 2009

I'm amused that you added a book subtitled "The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need" and promptly added two more screenwriting books. Obviously Blake Snyder was not the be-all and end-all he figured himself to be.

posted by Stevil2001 at 10:30 pm (EST) on Aug 14, 2009

Oh, yes, and thank you for the nice comment on my review. That was actually a book my sisters and I owned when we were teens. I've acquired most of my Scholastics as an adult. I really missed out!

posted by Sasha_Doll at 5:39 pm (EST) on Apr 19, 2009

Thanks very belatedly, Amy, for the comment! I've only just gotten back to Library Thing...for a time it was just more than I could do to keep working on getting books catalogued, but as soon as it's summer break I plan to keep at it.

I only learned of the maltshop genre fairly recently. Many, many vintage Scholastics are in this genre, especially the "T" books. (The books for older children and Young adults are numbered T and TK, mostly, although you can find maltshops in the TXs, too.)

posted by Sasha_Doll at 5:36 pm (EST) on Apr 19, 2009

Hi Amy:

Fan-geekdom indeed! You're very lucky. Sounds like a treat; a tour AND a party.

I really like BSG a lot. That's one of the advantages of being married - you learn about what interests your spouse and sometimes find something new that you can enjoy together.

And you write! Wonderful. I can't remember the exact quote, but somewhere in JD Salinger's Glass family stories is a quote about writing what you want to read... hmm. That sounds like a thread - to find the quote and ask people what they'd write.

I've always admired people who write and get published.

Have a great holiday season!

karenmarie

posted by karenmarie at 6:34 am (EST) on Dec 22, 2008

In response to your question (from last year) on whether I was associated with UND, the answer is no. I just have a general interest in regional events and history, science & science fiction. I'm from Minnesota and attended the U of M.

Sorry this response is so late - I entered my books in one large binge and haven't been back until now.

posted by cncall at 10:17 pm (EST) on Dec 18, 2008