So-- I'm home. Actually we got home Sunday night, but I've been busy unpacking and recuperating and such and this is the first I've been online.

We came home by way of Montana; no, this is not between Grand Forks and Baltimore, but what the heck. We went through the Badlands and the Great American Desert and all that (which was very impressive, by the way)-- and it wasn't till we got home that I started wilting in the heat. Viva la Maryland!

So, yes, I did give in and read the new book. I had to, out of self-defense, in order to keep other people's grubby little hands off it. Have not yet sampled the fandom response, however. Am slightly perturbed that I posted Black Ice because it was unlikely to be contradicted by the new canon, and what happens? None of my other ongoing projects are seriously perturbed, *but* we get a lot of new info on how portraits work. GRAAARGH!
( a few other not-too-spoilery, fanony comments on OotP, before I read my friendslist and FAP and get unduly influenced. )

Now off to read what others have had to say. Prepared to be traumatized.