“This is not the last snowfall … But if I were that kind of grateful, what would I try to say?”

After a stop in Phoenix for YAllapalooza, I’m on my way to climes eastern and cold. Lnhammer and the tuxedo kitty gang are holding down the fort for the duration. The northeast is rather cold this week, isn’t it? One thing about traveling (and even not-traveling) is, you stumble upon fragments of other people’s stories. So here’s today’s:
A mom and teen on the rental car shuttle beside me, daughter holding a slim instrument case. Mom asks quietly, “You ready for this?” Daughter answers, more quietly, “Yeah.”

Writing for the Long Haul will be on hold until my return. Why not catch up on earlier posts in the series while I’m gone? – Elena Acoba on touching reader livesSteve Miller on building a writing lifeSharon Lee on remembering we’re not aloneBetty G. Birney on always challenging ourselvesNora Raleigh Baskin on making deals with the writing godsSean Williams on unpredictability and luckDeborah J. Ross on writing through crisisSharon Shinn on managing timeMarge Pellegrino on feeding the restless yearning to writeSarah Zettel on embracing ignorance and writing your passionsUma Krishnaswami on honoring unreasonable exuberanceJennifer J. Stewart on finding community and supportSherwood Smith on keeping inspiration aliveMette Ivie Harrison on defining successJeffrey J. Mariotte on why we writeJudith Tarr on reinventing ourselvesKathi Appelt on the power of storyCynthia Leitich Smith on balancing business and creativity

Just another helpful letter to the Internet

Dear Internet, No, no, no. I just wanted to look at pictures of baby ravens. I didn’t want to buy one. Not everything of value needs to be available for my personal purchase and ownership. You and your peeps might consider that sometime. Me P.S. Also, am beginning to suspect there’s no search term on this earth that won’t make you toss up a link to a Naruto fanfic. But hey, we all have our quirks.

So now we know!

An email sent to the San Diego Zoo last week:
Hi! I was visiting your mountain lion page at http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-puma.html, and saw that its genus and species were listed as Felis concolor. My understanding was that the mountain lion had been reclassified as Puma concolor a couple decades back. Is there still debate about the correct species name, or is this merely old information that has not yet been updated? Thanks so much for your reply! Best, Janni
And, in my inbox today (after an earlier email saying the question had been forwarded to the relevant staff), a reply:
Janni, Thank you for your e-mail. Yes, we can confirm that the scientific name for mountain lions was changed to Puma concolor. The appropriate departments have been notified. We appreciate your feedback given. Debee Customer Service Team San Diego Zoo San Diego Zoo Safari Park
So now we know!

42C / 108F / 315K

Dear Tucson, I know, I know. I’m probably just getting complacent, after our recent stretch of merely warm temperatures. It’s not like we haven’t been here before, after all, here and quite a ways beyond here. But even so, I feel the need to say: It is really quite hot out today. That is all. Me P.S. Yes, I have noticed that Phoenix is warmer still. I do appreciate that this means all is as it should be. Like I said, it’s not you, it’s me.