Kelly McCullough writes fantasy, science fiction, and books for kids of varying ages. He lives in Wisconsin with his physics professor wife and a small herd of cats. His novels include the WebMage and Fallen Blade series — Penguin/ACE, School for Sidekicks, Magic, Madness, & Mischief and the forthcoming Spirits, Spells, & Snark — Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan. His short fiction has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies. He also dabbles in science fiction as science education with The Chronicles of the Wandering Star — part of an NSF-funded science curriculum — and the science comic Hanny & the Mystery of the Voorwerp, which he co-authored and co-edited — funding provided by NASA and the Hubble Space Telescope. Kelly on Twitter, Facebook, G+, ello
Monday Meows Cat Blogging
August 14, 2018 in Cat Things, Friday Cat Blogging, Pets and other friends
I haz plan!
It look like dis.
Want!
I haz vegetables!
I like vegetables…
I fetches dem!
Monday Meows Cat Blogging
August 6, 2018 in Cat Things, Friday Cat Blogging, Pets and other friends
Two cats, both alike in dignity…it us!
I think that’s supposed to be “households…”
How can two cats be “both households in dignity?”
Here we go again…
Wake me when it’s over.
Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona where we—
I haz dignity! See!
We’re trying to do Shakespeare here and you are ruining it!
I haz dignity, but no spear to shake. How about my tail?!
We have an artistic charge, and…this is never going to work, is it?
Why would this time be any different?
Are we plotting to take over the world again? I love that! NARF
Wrong media property. Okay, that’s it, I’m out.
I love him, but he’s exhausting.
Now, in fair Verona, where we lay our…lay…lazzzzzzzzz
Monday Meows Cat Blogging
July 30, 2018 in Cat Things, Friday Cat Blogging, Pets and other friends
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Woodpecker.
Woodpecker who?
What part of woodpecker don’t you understand?
Please don’t get him started.
I implore you, don’t!
That way lies madness.
Truth. Bitter, dark, truth.
Hey now, lay off my brother.
Yeah, lay off…wait, is that me? I’m still hung up on “woodpecker”
With thanks to Matt, Mandy, and Neil for spare cats.
Monday Meows Cat Blogging
July 25, 2018 in Cat Things, Friday Cat Blogging, Pets and other friends
Ima just frog on out of here.
I like frogs…
I like whiskey…
Two great tastes…
Stop. Right. There.
Go here instead.
I’m in.
I’m not blurry, that’s the whiskey.
You and me both, lady, you and me both.
Community Means Helping People
July 24, 2018 in Musings, Politics/Public Service, Speaking Up
I had an experience today that reminds me of why I support the social safety net and why I wish we were doing better at creating and maintaining those systems.
I biked to a doctor’s appointment this morning. When I pulled my bike in under the shade of a tree to lock it up, I noticed a young woman sitting there, somewhere in the 19-25 year old range. She was looking more than a little ragged around the edges, and tired, and she was on her phone.
I nodded at her, but I was very careful not to pay too much attention to her. As a burly white guy I know that it is incredibly easy and not unreasonable for women to see me as a potentially serious danger. I figure I pretty much register as the threat equivalent of a puma entering your space. As I was locking my bike up I couldn’t help overhearing her making an effort to access local social services in hopes of finding a safe place to sleep.
Once I was completely locked up and ready to go in, I pulled out a $20 and offered it to her, saying I’d been in rough places too, and I hoped she found what she needed. Then, as soon as she took it, I immediately went in to my appointment. Again, I wanted to be as minimally threatening as possible.
When I got done with my appointment I came back out to my bike. The woman was still there, but no longer on her phone. She didn’t make eye contact, and I made sure to do no more than nod in her direction and then ignore her as I got my bike loose and put my gear back on. Just as I was about to start pedaling and after it was obvious I wasn’t going to bother her more she called out, “I wish you safe travels.” So I wished her luck and went on my way. I don’t know if she found what she needed, but I hope she did.
I would have liked to have done more for her, but it was clear from her body language that she was very wary of me, and I feel it’s important to respect that because I’m quite aware that while personally I am not a threat to her, for her demographic she has every reason to be super cautious around folks like me. So, all that I can hope is that through my taxes and my efforts at supporting good social services as a local elected official that the resources are there for her to access.
As far as I’m concerned, being there for people like her who are in obvious need is one of the important reasons for government to exist, and it’s why I would cheerfully pay more in taxes to make those resources available. I’m glad I was able to help a little, and I would happily have helped more, but I think that it would be better for community and general well being if there were stronger systems in place to make sure that help is available on an institutional rather than a personal level. It’s a hugely important investment in people and the community we are all collectively a part of. I don’t want people like that young woman to have to be afraid of those who are offering help.
Monday Meows Cat Blogging
July 17, 2018 in Cat Things, Friday Cat Blogging, Pets and other friends
Squirrel! We’re gonna need to stage a raid!
About that…
Here’s my plan.
Dude, that’s just wrong.
No, that’s war, baby!
Clever…
I’m afraid of giant birds.
Who isn’t?
Me. I kill them with fire and then eat them roasted.
With thanks to Matt and Mandy for the spare cats and Matt’s raid art.
Monday Meows Cat Blogging
July 9, 2018 in Cat Things, Friday Cat Blogging, Pets and other friends
Look, we iz a science fiction convention.
I iz Cat of Honor!
I be your liaison.
I your biggest fan.
I champion cosplayer!
Which character iz you?
FeatherCAT!
As Cat of Honor I judges costume contest. You 7.6.
I 8.7 at least. Bad judge, no treat.
I cosplay the CoH! No one can tell us airport.
No ebil twins!
Dead dog party!
Monday Meows Cat Blogging: Remembering Pippin
July 3, 2018 in Cat Things, Friday Cat Blogging, Pets and other friends
Those of you who have been following my cat blogging for a while know that in addition to our own floofs, we have a few recurring guest cats. Sadly one of our frequent fuzzy friends has passed from this world. Pippin was a big fluffy powder puff who was much adored by his humans, Matt and Mandy. He was generally much less impressed with me, but that was because we most often interacted when I was playing substitute human while Matt and Mandy were off having adventures, and I was hardly adequate compensation for the lost time with his loved ones. I’ll miss him.
This is the 1st picture from the 1st time I cat sat. He was not impressed.
That was a theme.
Though, he liked Laura well enough when she was available
Here he is with his “brother” and age mate, Birkie.
And his baby “sister” Trilly.
Mostly I saw him like this.
He loved his food.
Even to the point of tolerating indignity for treats.
This is one of the last pictures I took of him after he’d slowed a bit.
Dignity in all things.
And my favorite picture of him.
Goodbye, Pippin, I’m glad I got to know you. (More pics follow)
But I’m out of heart for captions.
Monday Meows Cat Blogging
June 25, 2018 in Cat Things, Friday Cat Blogging, Pets and other friends
I am a turkey, eat me!
The hell…
That looks delicious!
No, I’ll show you delicious.
Delicious looks more like this.
Is that tequila? I like tequila.
I shall stalk and kill the…
HOLY SHIT, IT’S ALL LIME! I should not have swallowed.
Monday Meows
June 19, 2018 in Cat Things, Friday Cat Blogging, Pets and other friends
Holy shit, is that?…
OMCG!
Eek!
I can’t look!
Bear up, fellow cats!
Yeah, chill, I was just leaving.
Wait, it’s only a turtle?
Oh, thank the cat ghods.
We can relax at last.
I’ll be under the couch, chillin.
And I shall become a liquid.
You McCullough cats are sooo strange. Very unjellicle
