Hello and welcome to the August 2024 issue of Aphelion!
I have finally caught up with almost all of the
short story submissions for so far this year. Unless there is a sudden
influx of submissions, I can reduce the number-per-issue, although I
rather hope I won't have to do that. So send 'em on in, folks! I'll be
glad to have them.
Retirement is treating me well, if I say so
myself. When the weather cooperates, I can even get caught up on
household and yard work jobs I couldn't make time to get to before I
retired. The drought seems to have broken--with a vengeance, LOL! Near
daily rain has become the norm for the past few weeks. Yet, there have
been enough dry days for me to accomplish some everyday tasks. Makes
quite a change from the heat of Summer to the rains of mid-Summer.
There was a time when I thought my lawn and shrubbery would dry up and
blow away. But everything greened up nicely once the rains returned.
However, we do have to keep a lookout for trees that have been weakened
by the drought and blow over in the current thunderstorms.
I do have to be more careful, however. I'm
beginning to realize that I'm no longer as young as I once was. I tire
more easily, need to catch my breath more frequently, and I have to
pace myself more diligently when I'm doing tasks my younger self would
have breezed through. But, I have more experience now, so I don't have
to do everything the hard way anymore. I've learned a thing or two!
I look forward to every day instead of dreading
the alarm clock going off at 6 AM. I'm eating healthier. I've cut back
on how many cups of coffee I can have each day. What's more, I can
finally plan ahead to determine the best way to tackle each step of
complex jobs. Makes a huge difference.
All that said, it's time for a change of pace.
The online streaming shows "Stupid
O'clock" and "Last Man Standing" have been uploaded live to YouTube as
well as several Facebook pages for over four years now. They are
basically live-streaming chat shows covering a range of topics, modeled
on the types of conversations people have after hours at SF&F
conventions. Joe McKeel and I have archives of past shows on our own
YouTube channels. Check 'em out if that sounds like something you'd
enjoy I've put links in our Features section that will take you to the
YouTube archives of both shows.
It's high time I
shut up and let you get to reading.
Enjoy
yourselves,
Dan
ON
THE COVER
Title: Supermoon beckons in the new year
Courtesy: G. Hüdepohl (atacamaphoto.com)/ESO
Acknowledgment: Gerhard Hüdepohl
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