Tag Archives: personal anecdotes

My Great Dismal adventure

Posted on November 19, 2021 by Matt Ruff

Last week, as research for my next novel, I traveled to the east coast to visit the Great Dismal Swamp. The swamp, which straddles the border between Virginia and North Carolina, was home to a maroon society that persisted from … Continue reading →

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Zoo note

Posted on November 16, 2009 by Matt Ruff

Lisa and I took advantage of a break in the rain on Saturday to hike up the hill to the Seattle Zoo. Despite it being a weekend the place was pretty empty, which we liked—nothing like having your own private … Continue reading →

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I’m sure this isn’t in any way hazardous

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Matt Ruff

Today was garbage day, and Lisa and I had our first yard-waste pickup in over a year. We discontinued our yard-waste pickup when we moved to our new house in Ballard, on the theory that it was silly to keep … Continue reading →

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In which Cory Doctorow helps me get a (reading) date

Posted on May 20, 2008 by Matt Ruff

Cory Doctorow is in Seattle to promote his new novel Little Brother, and thanks to Leslie Howle and Eileen Gunn, Lisa and I got to hang out with him for a bit over the weekend. It was a good time. … Continue reading →

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Ten years

Posted on May 9, 2008 by Matt Ruff

It was ten years ago today that Lisa and I—battling sinus infections that we’d contracted the week before—spoke our vows on the platform of the Bradley Beach train station. We were supposed to get married in a gazebo on the … Continue reading →

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This must be that “literary scene” the interviewers are always asking me about

Posted on May 1, 2008 by Matt Ruff

Lisa and I have been unusually social this past week. Last Saturday night we went over to Leslie Howle’s place for a dinner being held in honor of Elizabeth Hand and John Clute, who were in town for the weekend. … Continue reading →

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Is this what they mean by “freak weather”?

Posted on April 18, 2008 by Matt Ruff

Snow and lightning at the same time. It’s kinda cool, but I’m not sure the clematis is going to like it.

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Starling update

Posted on April 14, 2008 by Matt Ruff

Turns out this nesting in vents thing is a common problem. My favorite of the proposed solutions comes from Calvin W. Schwabe: * * * STARLINGS IN CRUST (Etourneaux en croûte à l’ardennaise) / FRANCE Remove the backbones from some … Continue reading →

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Not smart, just persistent

Posted on April 14, 2008 by Matt Ruff

Part of settling into a new house is learning its little quirks. This weekend, we discovered a new one: the flap that covers the external vent for the oven exhaust fan does not close completely when the fan shuts off. … Continue reading →

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A change of venue

Posted on April 2, 2008 by Matt Ruff

While I was away in France and Germany, our landlady called to say she was planning to sell the house, so since I got back Lisa and I have been busy relocating. We’d hoped to stay on Queen Anne, but … Continue reading →

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