Back to work, back to the regular schedule today. This is good. I’ll go no more a-roving so late into the night, at least for a while.

I’m learning the uses of a cane. It’s a bloody nuisance, for the most part. It would be handy to have one of those with a hooked handle that I could hang over my arm when I need both hands, but this one (like most contemporary models) has a mostly horizontal one. Makes a better grip that way, I guess, but tucking your cane under your arm isn’t nearly as neat a move in real life as in the movies. The thing has a way of poking things, and people.



I’ve got a link for yesterday’s stop on the Virtual Book Tour here (It’s the Virginia Beach Examiner. I get a little more print there than in the minimal treatment most of my interviews have been cut down to so far.) Today is a guest post at a blog called Authors and Appetizers. I’m kind of proud of this one, because I hadn’t the faintest idea what I’d write when the publicist pointed me there and told me to say something about food. I think what I finally produced isn’t half bad.



Here’s a scene I expect is going to be played out soon (if it hasn’t been already) in the offices of the leadership of a major political party.

Chairperson: “So we’re all agreed, we’re going to put all our influence behind the Goodness Act.”

Junior Senator: “What’s the Goodness Act?”

Vice Chairperson: “That’s the law that outlaws all evil, and requires everybody to be good.”

Junior Senator: “Is that constitutional?”

Vice Chairperson: “Are you saying you’re in favor of evil?”

Junior Senator: “No, no. I’m sure it must be constitutional. You’re right. Forget I said anything.”

Congressman From Eastern State: “Wait a minute. I’m a Satanist. We believe in evil. Our only law is do as thou wilt. Are you trying to infringe my right to construct my own personal code of morality?”

Chairperson: “No, no. We’ll carve out a religious exception.”

Congressman From Eastern State: “Well, I’m still a little offended. Better fund that new highway for my state while you’re at it, and I’ll feel better.”

Vice Chairperson: “No problem.”

Congressman From Western State: “Hey, what about me? I’ve got a large sociopathic constituency in my district. What am I gonna tell them?”

Chairperson: “Don’t worry about it. By the time this bill is done, nobody’ll have a clue what’s in it. It’ll tie up the courts for years.”

Congressman From Western State: “Great! The sociopaths and the lawyers will both love it!”

Vice Chairperson: “You’re repeating yourself. I like that.”

On Sunday morning we didn’t have to meet until 10:30, which was a gift more precious than gold to my battered body. It was also Sunday morning that I stopped at Walgreens and, bowing at last to the inevitable, purchased a cane. I’ve been having trouble with my left knee for about a week (I saw my doctor today, and she says it’s arthritis, possibly treatable with anti-inflammatories). The morning’s rest helped the leg, and also, incidentally, with another problem I had, that of of lack of sleep.

We met at the Norwegian Memorial Church in Chicago (Minnekirken). It was a gorgeous fall morning, and I wish I’d thought to take a picture of the building. The service consisted of a Norwegian liturgy and hymns, with the sermon in English. You know how I feel about mainline Lutheranism, but I found nothing whatever in the service to offend even my hypersensitivity. It was delightful to go through the readings and responses in Norwegian, and to sing the Norwegian hymns (most of which were unfamiliar). All in all, it was the most fun I’ve had in church in years. Continue reading International Vinland Seminar, Part 3 →

So it was recorded, so it was done. Lars’ tour continues at the L.A. Chronicle, if I tracked the bread crumbs properly, and somehow we missed a step over at the Hot Author. I don’t know what’s going on there, but I hope everything is okay behind the scenes.

That’s me. The drive to Chicago wasn’t actually that bad. Nice country, beautiful weather, and the 65 mph speed limit brings out the best in Mrs. Hermanson, miles-per-gallon-wise. But when I got to Chicago, my exit off Highway 90 was closed, and that was a harbinger of things to come. I couldn’t find my motel on the basis of my Yahoo map. I even invested in two cell phone calls to the manager before finally finding the place, about three hours after I should have. My searcing got me lost at one point, and I ended up in Skokie before I figured out I needed to turn around.

Also I accidentally drove past one of the toll stations (something that didn’t use to be possible, before electronic passes). But I saw a sign at a later station with a web site where you can go and do penance. So I think I won’t be getting one of those fine letters based on camera surveillance.

Managed to find the location for tonight’s opening reception. Finally met Prof. Torgrim Titlestad, and sat at his table. We chatted for a while. He’s excited that they’re about to start archaeological surveys for the site of the Battle of Hafrsfjord. That was a sea battle, but I guess they think they’ve found the location. If correct, that will be very exciting.

Also saw (but did not meet) Prof. Birgitta Wallace, former chief archaeologist at L’Anse Aux Meadows. I need to see if I can get her photo for my Vinland PowerPoint lecture. All told, I met three internet friends I’d never actually encountered in the flesh before.

I am bloody, but unbowed. What I am most is tired.

Anu Garg of Wordsmith.org has a fun list of color words this week: sienna, nankeen, gamboge, sinopia, and solferino.