Mid-September

[alt_sinistra]

In New London for the afternoon, a combination of errands and catching up with two of my sisters. It is amazing how quickly things fall into place after just a week or two back at school, really - I’ve been working tidily through my list and plans, and it’s so satisfying to see things checked off.

The weather, alas, not so much - we’ve had some glorious stargazing weather the last week, but I’m afraid it’s the last gasps before the far more uncertain days of the fall and winter.

Temp - thanks again for rounding more of those up. And for the other set of used-book searching, too. Gilly - no worries that you had to cancel, I found other company, but next week? Could do lunch at one.

Comments

Re: Private Message to Aurora Sinistra

[alt_sinistra]

Antosha -

No worries on Friday next, I'm sure. For this one, the weather forecast looks miserable, which I hate, but does mean I likely needn't be up in my classroom until half-eleven or so. (Good thing, too, looking at my list of topics we should really discuss.)

The Hufflepuffs were somewhat reassured when I saw them just now, but please, do whatever you can there. And Pomona mentioned she found the conversation productive. As to the meeting - the fact you've already sorted things out with Pomona will go a long way, I suspect, and that you've plans for avoiding more of the same. (We staff are, on the whole, relatively tolerant of single incidents of stupidity that don't affect us much. It's the repetition that wears.)

As to Dolores, yes. I'll show you her actual notes from Sunday on Friday, but the problem there was her assuming she had a much better idea about the realities of astronomy practicals than she actually does. I think we've now dissuaded her (Poppy was magnificent last night, in journal comments), and I've offered the olive branch of some limited assistance with the YPL files.

And the problem with her is not so much quite the young, pretty, and blonde problem (that affects men more than women, I've found), but rather "Do let me be your big sister." Which, thank you, no. I've one of those already, and she's quite enough.

(I have not, I think, given you full score on my family. I do love them, but - well, Diane can be illustrated by the book she sent for my birthday, Unforgettable: The Best of Modern Wizarding Weddings. Name dropping and all about "the perfect small touches" and the proper social things. Diane's eldest is a second year, this year, so you'll not know her yet. My youngest sister, Tempest, is the one you have to blame for the American Witches series, and Sage is an editor for one of the publishers. Three brothers, too: Orion works at the Ministry, Storm is a woodworker - sent me the most lovely jewelry box today. Theo, well, we hope he'll figure himself out sometime very soon now, it's well past time.)

At any rate, if I can get Dolores to move into some other mode than attempted big sister, we will all be much happier. Because I am quite sure I cannot manage wide-eyed innocence with her repeatedly without losing my self-control and breaking into laughter. (Especially if either you or Raz are around. Wicked men you are.)

I would love the travel guide, if you've got it handy, but please don't put yourself out. And I'd wondered, about the blood purity, and assumed that was the case. (There's a bit about that Muggleborn Heather, in the fifth one - Up Til Dawn - that .. well, see when you read it. She is rather the butt of everyone's jokes, though.) And the various scruples from Wand's Might get entirely dropped - honestly, that was annoying, as I was wondering where Mercy was going with that.

At any rate, later, I'm sure.
A.