Trying not to blow away

It's New Year's Eve and we're under a wind advisory here in the Nation's Capitol. Believe me, it's really noticeable outside. At least it isn't doing anything else. Except for one weird weather pattern earlier, which I'll go into.

My part day at the new assignment started on a surreal moment with a fire alarm. I was still sitting in the receptionist's area waiting for my contact to show up! Weirder still it was snowing/sleeting/raining/something outside briefly. Whatever it was was coming down nearly at a diagonal with all the wind involved. A little freaky to say the least.

After work, I tried hard to avail myself of Borders' sales, but I couldn't find anything that remotely tempted me. So I swung by Noodles & Company for a warm lunch before trudging to the warmth of home. I plan to curl up with cartoons and other assorted television until the ball drops.

Steampunk Christmas story

Some covers are just guaranteed to make to go "Whoops, what's that?" That was the case when I spotted the George Mann's "Affinity Bridge" cover in this Tor books blog. Was that an airship I spied? Indeed, it was yet another steampunk Victorian story, this time a mystery set in 1900 England. The book won't be published in the States until later next year alas. Mann's British publisher Snow Books has commissioned a short story in the same universe, called "The Shattered Teacup". You can both download it as a pdf or as an audio book. The voice actor manages fairly well with the different voices and accents. It's a very old school detective story, which is a nice relief from all the darkness and angst. The steampunk touch in this reminded me more of "Clash of the Titans", but in a good way. You'll understand.