Kage Baker leaned delicately on most of her friends. A few were designated pillars of the sky; she was more apt to lean on those, though even there she was always loathe to become too needy or dependent. Most people who knew her would have offered rather more of their shoulders than she ever asked  (a truly bizarre visual, now that I think of it. But very Kage.) but she didn’t like to be a burden.

After all, most of us don’t want to do that. I sure don’t. However, when I got my sorry ass out of bed this morning and sat down at my desk, I was astounded at the number of loving, supportive comments and emails I had received.It was wonderful. These past several weeks, I have seldom sat down at the desk, instead viewing my mail on my Kindle: I made few entries, answered few emails, and in general did absolutely nothing. Pretty much of a piece with the rest of my time, lately. But today I was back in the saddle.

I don’t think I deserve all the wonderful emails I got, but I am Oh, so grateful! You astound me, always, Dear Readers, with your generous support and understanding. There were well over 100 pieces of mail this morning, and for once, most were not political. They were wonderful notes from friends. So many offers to do murder, severely harm or hex my troll: not that I would ever take you up on it, but it sure does make my black withered heart stretch and expand in joy.

Thank you all.

This is late, and will be brief – consider it the opening scroll of credits, mostly there for purposes of legality and observance of the Unities. I must admit, I did spend a lot of today reading; but that was because a new Stephen King came out Tuesday, and I had to finish it. My head would have exploded, otherwise. Many of my vices are in abeyance, in these days of exploring the diseases of senescence; but the urge to bury myself in a new Stephen King novel is as great as ever. If any of you Dear Readers are also King fans, I urge you to read The Outsider as soon as possible. It’s a good, old-fashioned one.

Anyway, that is done. I am still licking my lips for the last tingling savour of the story. But I am also sorting through several of the strange and wonderful things that have happened out in the great grey greasy world lately, and tomorrow we shall examine a few of them. Cube sats and shield volcanoes. Wattle berry cakes. Giant blue planarian worms, a meter long and (quelle horreurs!) French.

It’s a weird old world, Dear Readers. Ain’t it grand?