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greygirlbeastAnother very excellent day off yesterday, and I hardly ever get two very excellent days off in a row. Today it is back to the word mines, but at least I am rested. More than eight hours sleep again last night, so I'm feeling considerably less zombiefied. The warm weather helped (60sF), though it turned rather blustery yesterday, and then we had rain last night.
As for yesterday, first I spent three and a half hours editing a Dune: Apocalypse roleplay transcript from Monday night. I know that doesn't sound like the sort of thing that a writer would do on her day off, but I find editing rp transcripts oddly relaxing in their need for precision and patience. And this was just such a great scene. You can read the transcript here. Anyway, when that was done, I got dressed and we finally made it over to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. I think we got there about 4 p.m. (CaST). I've been reading the description of a new species of Carcharodontosaurus (C. iguidensis) in the new Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, and there were some features on the Gigonotosaurus mount I wanted to see again up close (Gigonotosaurus is a close relative of Carcharodontosaurus, both part of a radiation of giant allosauroids during the Cretaceous Period). The staff was setting up for a banquet or some such, which always seems to be the case when I visit, and it hampered my access to the skeletons just a little, but not so much to have made the trip a waste. Afterwards, we just sort of wandered about the museum, visiting "old friends." There are photos behind the cut:
Behold the mighty Gigonotosaurus, one of the largest-known theropods,
This is me, trying to sneak up on the Gigonotosaurus, which was clearly distracted by people setting up tables for whatever the hell was going to happen later on. That is my favourite sweater in the world, by the way.
Another shot of the Gigonotosaurus, lunging towards the Argentinosaurus mount.
This is a stuffed beaver. I love this beaver.
The "thinking" end of a Stegosaurus
The floors of Fernbank are paved with tiles cut from German Solnhofen Limestone, dating the latest part of the Jurassic Period. You can find thousands of fossils on the floor, cut in cross section and polished. Here's the whorl of a fairly nice ammonite, with my finger for scale.
The main atrium of the museum, above the dinosaurs. I adore this architecture, especially on sunny days.
More of the atrium, and at the bottom of the picture you can see the head and neck of the Argentinosaurus.
After the museum, we got noodle bowls at our favourite Thai restaurant. Later still, we watched two more episodes from Season One of Angel ("Under Your Skin" and "Prodigal"), and then I did a little light rp on Arrakis, but nothing to match Monday night. I was actually off SL before one a.m., and in bed before two a.m. Small miracles.
Please have a look at the current eBay auctions. I really do have to find some alternative to eBay for selling my comp/PC copies, as they've just announced another hike in the cut they take, and it has become unacceptable. No, etsy won't work, as it does not permit auctions. And now I remember there was actually a little bit of work yesterday, as I had to approve the final cover layout for Tales of Pain and Wonder, and send a updated biography for the back cover flap.
Anyway. The platypus says shut up and get to work, so, here we go again...
As for yesterday, first I spent three and a half hours editing a Dune: Apocalypse roleplay transcript from Monday night. I know that doesn't sound like the sort of thing that a writer would do on her day off, but I find editing rp transcripts oddly relaxing in their need for precision and patience. And this was just such a great scene. You can read the transcript here. Anyway, when that was done, I got dressed and we finally made it over to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. I think we got there about 4 p.m. (CaST). I've been reading the description of a new species of Carcharodontosaurus (C. iguidensis) in the new Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, and there were some features on the Gigonotosaurus mount I wanted to see again up close (Gigonotosaurus is a close relative of Carcharodontosaurus, both part of a radiation of giant allosauroids during the Cretaceous Period). The staff was setting up for a banquet or some such, which always seems to be the case when I visit, and it hampered my access to the skeletons just a little, but not so much to have made the trip a waste. Afterwards, we just sort of wandered about the museum, visiting "old friends." There are photos behind the cut:
Behold the mighty Gigonotosaurus, one of the largest-known theropods,
This is me, trying to sneak up on the Gigonotosaurus, which was clearly distracted by people setting up tables for whatever the hell was going to happen later on. That is my favourite sweater in the world, by the way.
Another shot of the Gigonotosaurus, lunging towards the Argentinosaurus mount.
This is a stuffed beaver. I love this beaver.
The "thinking" end of a Stegosaurus
The floors of Fernbank are paved with tiles cut from German Solnhofen Limestone, dating the latest part of the Jurassic Period. You can find thousands of fossils on the floor, cut in cross section and polished. Here's the whorl of a fairly nice ammonite, with my finger for scale.
The main atrium of the museum, above the dinosaurs. I adore this architecture, especially on sunny days.
More of the atrium, and at the bottom of the picture you can see the head and neck of the Argentinosaurus.
After the museum, we got noodle bowls at our favourite Thai restaurant. Later still, we watched two more episodes from Season One of Angel ("Under Your Skin" and "Prodigal"), and then I did a little light rp on Arrakis, but nothing to match Monday night. I was actually off SL before one a.m., and in bed before two a.m. Small miracles.
Please have a look at the current eBay auctions. I really do have to find some alternative to eBay for selling my comp/PC copies, as they've just announced another hike in the cut they take, and it has become unacceptable. No, etsy won't work, as it does not permit auctions. And now I remember there was actually a little bit of work yesterday, as I had to approve the final cover layout for Tales of Pain and Wonder, and send a updated biography for the back cover flap.
Anyway. The platypus says shut up and get to work, so, here we go again...
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no subject
Date: 2008-01-30 07:45 pm (UTC)I noticed that the Gigonoyosaurus has little holes along its upper jaw, and perhaps the lower, I can't see all that well. I seem to remember crocodillians have them too. Are they sensory?
Thank you very much for the pictures. I must see that museum. Nice beaver with muddy paw, wonderful iron work. yummy.
Oh, and that is a terrific color on the sweater.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-30 08:05 pm (UTC)They're called foramina, and they allowed for the passage of various veins, nerves, and arteries through the bone. And yes, they're present in the upper jaw (maxillae + premaxillae) and tower jaw (mandibles).
Oh, and that is a terrific color on the sweater.
I found that sweater in a thrift store in Athens, GA back in '94 or '95, and I've worn it constantly ever since. It's mohair, and I think it was manufactured back in the '50s. I've worn that sweater on two continents, in four different countries.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-30 08:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-30 08:47 pm (UTC)you take the greatest field trips
If only we could take them more often. I think the Atlanta Zoo is next...
Fernbank
Date: 2008-01-30 10:06 pm (UTC)In the third shot, the angle of attachment of neck and skull for Gigonotosaurus looks 'awkward' amd unlike the first photograph. Is this something unusual?
Re: Fernbank
Date: 2008-01-31 04:13 am (UTC)In the third shot, the angle of attachment of neck and skull for Gigonotosaurus looks 'awkward' amd unlike the first photograph. Is this something unusual?
Nope. Nothing wrong here (though the angles of the photos can make things look odd). I think it's just at artifact of the nature of the S-shaped cervical series of theropod dinosaurs combined with the position the skull was mounted in.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-31 02:12 am (UTC)Fernbank's very cool, love the atrium.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-31 04:15 am (UTC)Gods, I write to much. I had too stop and think, What the hell were Q and S? Anyway, thank you.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-31 03:44 pm (UTC)I can think of a couple of ways you can offset your fees if you or Spooky want to drop me a line. I'm keeping my survival tactics under my hat, so won't post them publicly. :-D
no subject
Date: 2008-01-31 03:46 pm (UTC)If you're set on the auction format, you're pretty much stuck with eBay for traffic.
As I feared.
I can think of a couple of ways you can offset your fees if you or Spooky want to drop me a line.
Thank you. One of us will.