I have the good fortune to attend the World Science Fiction Convention about a month from now in Montreal. This gives me the chance to vote for the Hugo Awards. One can also sign up as a supporting member (rather than attending) of Worldcon.
 

The deadline is today and my ballot has been cast. The ballot allows for a ranked choice, that is placing numbers 1, 2, 3 etc. for the various works. Below are my top fiction choices.
 

Hope you all have a great weekend. And for those celebrating Independence Day: long fuses and garden hoses are your friends. ;-)

 

Best Novel: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
 

Best Novella: "The Political Prisoner" by Charles Coleman Finlay
 

Best Novelette: "The Gambler" by Paolo Bacigalupi
 

Best Short Story: "26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss" by Kij Johnson
 

Cambell Award for Best New Writer: David Anthony Durham
 

This year we signed up for a Community-supported agriculture or CSA. We paid our fee in the winter and can now go to the farm each week and pick up a variety of vegetables.
 

The challenging item this week is garlic scapes, the curly flowering stem. No flowers though there are buds on the stems I picked up.
 

I can use some as garnish like chives. I could saute some as I might with a scallion. But I don't think that will be enough to use them all before they wilt. Maybe I could dry them out. What do you think? I know some of you all are avid cooks.

 

Last week provided a nice start to the Summer Reading Program. There were three contestants who added $3 for the Children's Literacy Program. Nice work!
 

Above is a picture of the Summer Fun Prize Pack that will be awarded each week^*. It contains:

• A DIY vacation spot, complete with sand and palm tree.
• A squirt pistol, perfect for hot days or feline disciplinary measures.
• Plastic balloon in a tube for hours of fun!
• Assortment of decorative umbrellas, the perfect topping for picnic cupcakes, fruit smoothies, or mixed beverages.
• 2009 SRP commemorative bookmark. A collector's item!

And the winner for this week is: Random Michelle! She certainly put the odds in her favor by finishing five books last week, setting the bar high.
 

As I said, an excellent start. I expect great things from you all in the weeks to follow.

 

^*Certain items may be substituted in the event that I counted wrong at the 5 & 10 store. Hawaiian shirt not included.