Ouch!

Got out in the yard this morning to do some long-delayed dead-heading. I started to weave my new Night Owl rose through its trellis only to discover that's evidently where the hornets/wasps have built their nest this year.

Yep, I had both hands in there. I got stung at least 3 times before I realized what it was....

At least this verifies that I'm not deathly allergic to them.

I took an antihistimine, just to be on the safe side and to keep the swelling down. There is some swelling, and one of the fingers is a markedly redder shade than the others...but I feel well enough to drive out to target to purchase some hornet/wasp spray.

I really don't have anything against them, but I don't see any reason to like wasps either. What exactly are the redeeming qualities of wasps that should make me not kill this colony?

Blood and Guts

I've spent most of the afternoon gutting a story--A Mention of Death

Had an aspect that didn't really work for the old beta readers, and even though it was, IMO, the most important event in the story, I had to toss it. Sigh.

So, I'll just move the story out six months, shuffle some things around, and hope it works this time. I'm going to try to slap the new version up on Baen's board before Friday, just to get some feedback.

I hate killing my babies. Don't you?