In a moment of inspiration I just worked ut how to log on to the DURPS board again. Yay! I can use computer! (I even let the exclamation marks out of the box, look how excited I am).
In other news, there are unkillable tomatoes...
Mum arrives tomorrow, must return to unnecessary cleaning.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Anyone for poetry?
A ghostly form made solid
In the reflection of love
Knowledge of thoughts
Sufficient
Inadequate
In the reflection of love
Knowledge of thoughts
Sufficient
Inadequate
Saturday, April 22, 2006
A Day in the Life of a Seedling
The sun warmed my new leaf gently as I sipped moisture from the freshly watered soil. My roots were beginning to spread and sometimes they wound around roots from neighbouring plants. One had reached the bottom of the soil and rested upon the black base of the tray where it too could feel the sun's heat.
We were moved this morning. The tinsel which had glittered in the sun and kept the birds away in our infancy was removed and we found ourselves in the shade. I revelled briefly in the cool. There was a commotion at the other end of the tray, seedlings being uprooted and earth scattering over surrounding leaves. Small screams issued from plants as their roots were exposed to the sun and then left to die. The causalities were the small, the sick and the weak, with only the occasional large seedling felled.
The hand which pulled up so many of my fellows approached me. I felt my roots tugged as the places where I had twined with others were wrenched apart. The hand fell to my right, earth showering over my new leaf, leaving it in darkness. The hand descended again, pulling up my neighbour, leaving me destabilised and lurching toward the ground. A finger caressed my stem, righted me. The earth around me was firm and empty.
Soon I was back in the sun; soil washed from my new leaf with fresh water, roots expanding once more to accommodate the new leaves I would grow tomorrow.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Driving
Last night I went over to Carbondale with a couple of freinds to play in the LARP over there. The game was fun. I drove. One of the guys with me needed to be at work at 5.00am. We usually get home at about 4.00. Last night we left earlier than usual and I put my foot down a little (although I confess the putting the foot down wasn't more than usual...I tend to drive a little too quickly).
We were on our way home on Route 3 and had just come over the bridge into MO when I was pulled over by a policeman. I've never been pulled over here before and I was a little nervous. The policeman was nice and pointed out I was going to fast. I was, I didn't dispute it. He asked for all our ID's. One of the guys in the car works for the police mending the radios. He handed over his police ID (and his army ID) as well as his driver's licence. The police officer ran our ID's to make sure we weren't fugatives and send us on our way. No ticket. No nothing. Amazing.
I suspect a little professional courtesy was employed. I deserved the ticket. Lucky, lucky, lucky.
We were on our way home on Route 3 and had just come over the bridge into MO when I was pulled over by a policeman. I've never been pulled over here before and I was a little nervous. The policeman was nice and pointed out I was going to fast. I was, I didn't dispute it. He asked for all our ID's. One of the guys in the car works for the police mending the radios. He handed over his police ID (and his army ID) as well as his driver's licence. The police officer ran our ID's to make sure we weren't fugatives and send us on our way. No ticket. No nothing. Amazing.
I suspect a little professional courtesy was employed. I deserved the ticket. Lucky, lucky, lucky.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
George
Teabringer's Grandfather died last night. He was a good man and an easy friend. Always happy to be alive, George recounted his good luck in being selected for the missions he was on in the war; his good fortune in surviving where so many of his freinds died. His joy at his long life. This was shown in his constant fascination and interaction with the world.
Those of us who knew him will miss him a great deal, but we each hold a fragment of him. A tale, an experience, a letter, a piece of life given to us to be shared. People never truly vanish, they are glimpsed accross years and generations, in happy and fulfilling moments.
Yesterday I saw an exhibit in the Pulitzer and there was one piece which stood, for me, above all the others. Felix Gonzalez-Torres had a exhibit in which a pile of sliver wrapped candies were on the floor. The made up the weight of both him and his lover. Visitors were encouraged to take a piece or two of the candy and consume it.
The best people of the world can be seen in this art. They always give pieces of themselves: to be consumed, to be made part of something else, to be savoured, cherished for a fleeting moment. They show seemingly never ending generosity and sacrifice. Still they shine bright. They always give joy. George was one of those people. He will be missed.
Teabringer has written a Haiku to be added:
Loss is love's worst pain
Regrets, kind words not spoken
to a heart now still
Those of us who knew him will miss him a great deal, but we each hold a fragment of him. A tale, an experience, a letter, a piece of life given to us to be shared. People never truly vanish, they are glimpsed accross years and generations, in happy and fulfilling moments.
Yesterday I saw an exhibit in the Pulitzer and there was one piece which stood, for me, above all the others. Felix Gonzalez-Torres had a exhibit in which a pile of sliver wrapped candies were on the floor. The made up the weight of both him and his lover. Visitors were encouraged to take a piece or two of the candy and consume it.
The best people of the world can be seen in this art. They always give pieces of themselves: to be consumed, to be made part of something else, to be savoured, cherished for a fleeting moment. They show seemingly never ending generosity and sacrifice. Still they shine bright. They always give joy. George was one of those people. He will be missed.
Teabringer has written a Haiku to be added:
Loss is love's worst pain
Regrets, kind words not spoken
to a heart now still
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
A Rant
It's really hard to move here. I know, I've been through the system. It took almost a year. If we wanted to stay permanently, it would take approximatly 10 years. We were forced to stand in 80 degree heat for almost three hours outside an embassy. Several people in line were elderly, one woman was pregnant. We were all moving for different reasons, but for the most part people from Europe come here to fill jobs that Americans cannot do. That is part of the visa criteria. That's why I don't work here, an MA is insufficient qualification for me to have independent visa status without someone specifically requesting me to work. America's immigration policy is amazingly unreasonable and one of the most strigent in the world.
The temporary work visas already exist. That's what Teabringer's visa is. I am classed as a 'dependent', have you any idea how galling that is? Have you any clue at all how difficult it is for me to turn down pay for work? We are here because no American can do the work my husband is doing. I will not be staying. America stands for many great things, but when it comes to sharing those things with the world something seems to go astray.
The hispanic people come here because it's their best option. Europe has similar problems coming over it's boarders from Korea and the middle east. Britian is doing some horrible things to its immigrants at the moment. But at least there I can do something to change it.
These people form 3.5% of the population of the US. The unemployemnt rate is currently 6%. You could send them away and your unemployment rate would drop, right? Great! Wrong.
These people are doing jobs anyone can do. But they're doing them for wages most people wouldn't accept. They're doing this to survive. They come here to risk the free market, and in doing that actually free the market further, in coporate terms. But they pay no taxes, make no insurance contributions and do not contribute to medicare. These people are some of the poorest in the country. They have no spare money, they have poor housing, poor healthcare and are most at risk of disease and social exclusion. In not paying for medicare, they are not entitled to it. That means that the sick are left to get sicker. America has some of the poorest poor people in the first world. Don't believe me? Cheak out the WHO.
In not paying taxes they're not helping to make the country a better and safer place to live. Give them visas. Make the coporations pay proper wages, then these people can have incomes and medicare and imporve the lot of the poorest poor. Give them wages so they can pay taxes and contribute to the country. Let your market work properly. They won't even get a vote with a working visa, damnit! You can only win from giving these people what they want. Hell it might even make this country a nicer place to live (oh, sorry, it's perfect already...right?).
People are people. It annoys me that they have to demonstrate to be allowed to pay taxes. It annoys me that the immigration policy here is so insane that to get in requires more than a year of paperwork. It annoys me most that these people still have to move illegally to stand a chance of surviving. Hell's teeth, let them do something, you can set the criteria!
I am annoyed.
The temporary work visas already exist. That's what Teabringer's visa is. I am classed as a 'dependent', have you any idea how galling that is? Have you any clue at all how difficult it is for me to turn down pay for work? We are here because no American can do the work my husband is doing. I will not be staying. America stands for many great things, but when it comes to sharing those things with the world something seems to go astray.
The hispanic people come here because it's their best option. Europe has similar problems coming over it's boarders from Korea and the middle east. Britian is doing some horrible things to its immigrants at the moment. But at least there I can do something to change it.
These people form 3.5% of the population of the US. The unemployemnt rate is currently 6%. You could send them away and your unemployment rate would drop, right? Great! Wrong.
These people are doing jobs anyone can do. But they're doing them for wages most people wouldn't accept. They're doing this to survive. They come here to risk the free market, and in doing that actually free the market further, in coporate terms. But they pay no taxes, make no insurance contributions and do not contribute to medicare. These people are some of the poorest in the country. They have no spare money, they have poor housing, poor healthcare and are most at risk of disease and social exclusion. In not paying for medicare, they are not entitled to it. That means that the sick are left to get sicker. America has some of the poorest poor people in the first world. Don't believe me? Cheak out the WHO.
In not paying taxes they're not helping to make the country a better and safer place to live. Give them visas. Make the coporations pay proper wages, then these people can have incomes and medicare and imporve the lot of the poorest poor. Give them wages so they can pay taxes and contribute to the country. Let your market work properly. They won't even get a vote with a working visa, damnit! You can only win from giving these people what they want. Hell it might even make this country a nicer place to live (oh, sorry, it's perfect already...right?).
People are people. It annoys me that they have to demonstrate to be allowed to pay taxes. It annoys me that the immigration policy here is so insane that to get in requires more than a year of paperwork. It annoys me most that these people still have to move illegally to stand a chance of surviving. Hell's teeth, let them do something, you can set the criteria!
I am annoyed.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Just in from Six Foot Hobbit...(these are my answers)
1. What time did you get up this morning: 8.15, but that's horribly early for me. I drove my Mother in law to the airport.
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds. They sparkle - got to agree there.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Goodnight and Good Luck.
4. What is your favourite TV show? Red Dwarf, Black Books or Coupling (what can I say, I'm a sucker for sitcom) .
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Coffee. About a pot full.
6. Favourite cuisine? Italian if I'm hungry, sushi if I'm feeling healthy.
7. What is your middle name? Bethan.
8. What food do you dislike? Salmon, ginger, anything horribly spicy.
9. What is your favourite CD at the moment? Catatonia - International Velvet.
10. What kind of car do you drive? Hyundi Elantra.
11. Favourite sandwich? Steak with Blue cheese from the Bread co.
12. What characteristic do you despise? Callousness
13. Favourite item of clothing? Half black corset
14. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation? Great Barrier Reef (but I'll change my mind tomorrow)
15. What colour is your bathroom? One white and black, one white and cream.
16. Favourite brand of clothing? Practical corsets.
17. Where would you retire to? Somewhere with young people
18. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Venice
19. Favourite sport to watch? Fencing, Rugby or F1.
20. Furthest place you are sending this? Going on blog, who knows. Perhaps I'll start a meme.
21. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? Someone without a computer.
22. Person you expect to send it back first? Set it free!
23. Favourite saying? Why does a fish? I don't know why. Ask me a riddle and I'll reply: coddlestone, coddlestone, coddlestone pie.
24. When is your birthday? 26th Spetember.
25. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night.
26. What is your shoe size? 4.5 UK, 6.5 US.
27. Pets? Bertie and Lillian Bird.
28. How are you today? Relaxed, happy, full of good intent.
29 What is your favourite candy? That's a tough one, I've been known to eat cough sweets for fun...
30. What are your favourite Roses? Big ones with lots of petals, preferably red, scented (they're grown in the garden by my husband)
31. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? Party on Sunday...home to UK at the end of July.
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds. They sparkle - got to agree there.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Goodnight and Good Luck.
4. What is your favourite TV show? Red Dwarf, Black Books or Coupling (what can I say, I'm a sucker for sitcom) .
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Coffee. About a pot full.
6. Favourite cuisine? Italian if I'm hungry, sushi if I'm feeling healthy.
7. What is your middle name? Bethan.
8. What food do you dislike? Salmon, ginger, anything horribly spicy.
9. What is your favourite CD at the moment? Catatonia - International Velvet.
10. What kind of car do you drive? Hyundi Elantra.
11. Favourite sandwich? Steak with Blue cheese from the Bread co.
12. What characteristic do you despise? Callousness
13. Favourite item of clothing? Half black corset
14. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation? Great Barrier Reef (but I'll change my mind tomorrow)
15. What colour is your bathroom? One white and black, one white and cream.
16. Favourite brand of clothing? Practical corsets.
17. Where would you retire to? Somewhere with young people
18. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Venice
19. Favourite sport to watch? Fencing, Rugby or F1.
20. Furthest place you are sending this? Going on blog, who knows. Perhaps I'll start a meme.
21. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? Someone without a computer.
22. Person you expect to send it back first? Set it free!
23. Favourite saying? Why does a fish? I don't know why. Ask me a riddle and I'll reply: coddlestone, coddlestone, coddlestone pie.
24. When is your birthday? 26th Spetember.
25. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night.
26. What is your shoe size? 4.5 UK, 6.5 US.
27. Pets? Bertie and Lillian Bird.
28. How are you today? Relaxed, happy, full of good intent.
29 What is your favourite candy? That's a tough one, I've been known to eat cough sweets for fun...
30. What are your favourite Roses? Big ones with lots of petals, preferably red, scented (they're grown in the garden by my husband)
31. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? Party on Sunday...home to UK at the end of July.
Mostly on writing
I enjoyed having Teabringer's Mum to stay, I got to do lots of nice things. Now it's back to it. I have lots I want to acomplish in the next couple of months. I'm enjoying the land of short story, but suspect I'm now dodging the main event - namely the novel. There will be much more of it very soon. I need to overcome my fear of becoming entangled in my own plot and just get on with it. There seems to be a point in every novel where the writer becomes disenchanted or just overwhelmed. It sems to me that there is a point where the is so much depth and possible direction for so many charaters that one is at a loss to select whose story is the important one and which plotline needs to be told first. I'm going to try and plunge into it and see what happens. If it dies in the attempt, so be it. I know I have to kill a major charater. I know I have to say some tings that will be contraversial. So be it, I have not chosen to write popcorn novels for a reason. I do, however, have a cracking good idea for a short story for tomorrow. Vampire based, but that's how it goes sometimes. Anarkey says she likes Vampire stuff anyway, so I won't have lost all my audience. As Teabringer wants to write tonight, I may well do the same.
On a bright note I'm managing the 'submit one thing a week' resolution I made (after Transylvanian Dutch) in January. If I can keep this up as well as completing Black's Magic I will be doing very well in terms of production. I think my marketing skills are still wanting. I seem to do best on days when I'm feeling a little cynical; perhaps the editors empathise.
I'm hoping this week will be a little more normal. I don't seem to have settled down to do any real work in a long time. I'm also missing what used to be a regular schedule of callers and calls. I suspect this is mostly my fault for being so erratic in the past few months. I am still determined to do better.
SoStL on Wednesday. Promises to be a great game, I'm looking forward to it.
On a bright note I'm managing the 'submit one thing a week' resolution I made (after Transylvanian Dutch) in January. If I can keep this up as well as completing Black's Magic I will be doing very well in terms of production. I think my marketing skills are still wanting. I seem to do best on days when I'm feeling a little cynical; perhaps the editors empathise.
I'm hoping this week will be a little more normal. I don't seem to have settled down to do any real work in a long time. I'm also missing what used to be a regular schedule of callers and calls. I suspect this is mostly my fault for being so erratic in the past few months. I am still determined to do better.
SoStL on Wednesday. Promises to be a great game, I'm looking forward to it.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Mostly About People and Places
Under 'Cleaning and Sorting' I have a bot comment! Ever since I heard that they talk back I've been looking for a bot to annoy on the web...I've yet to find one. I suppose I will given enough time, to be honest I'll need to go to chatrooms and random talk places more for this to work. Perhaps a mission for a rainy day.
There are more seeds up in the garden, some of them are even things I wanted. The botanic gardens looked spectacular, and I intend to see the glass sculptures which will be there from the start of next month through to the beginning of October.
There are some other things going on too; the chior will be singing at the flower festival (I will have to manage this on one rehersal since the last concert, cue omionus chords). Mum is arriving at the end of the month, I have a wedding reception to attend and tickets home still to buy for August. We'll hopfully be hitting Mid Wales, Malvern, Dundee and London. We've got two weeks, so I'll let you all know where we'll be when.
I'm currently feeling horribly guilty that I didn't remeber to call Teabringer's Dad on Friday before it was too late. It is now, once again, too late to call. Damn, damn, damn. Also feeling awful about the fact that the two remaining grandfathers are sick in much the same way in hospitals in Britain and I can visit niether. Ugh. Failed in family responsiblities.
Hoping to spend a lot of next week on the 'phone to various people. I've been too lax in my correspondence of late, but I got some very pretty cards from the botanic gardens to inspire me to do some letters.
There are more seeds up in the garden, some of them are even things I wanted. The botanic gardens looked spectacular, and I intend to see the glass sculptures which will be there from the start of next month through to the beginning of October.
There are some other things going on too; the chior will be singing at the flower festival (I will have to manage this on one rehersal since the last concert, cue omionus chords). Mum is arriving at the end of the month, I have a wedding reception to attend and tickets home still to buy for August. We'll hopfully be hitting Mid Wales, Malvern, Dundee and London. We've got two weeks, so I'll let you all know where we'll be when.
I'm currently feeling horribly guilty that I didn't remeber to call Teabringer's Dad on Friday before it was too late. It is now, once again, too late to call. Damn, damn, damn. Also feeling awful about the fact that the two remaining grandfathers are sick in much the same way in hospitals in Britain and I can visit niether. Ugh. Failed in family responsiblities.
Hoping to spend a lot of next week on the 'phone to various people. I've been too lax in my correspondence of late, but I got some very pretty cards from the botanic gardens to inspire me to do some letters.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Being a Tourist in a City You Know
Teabringer's Mother is staying with us this week, she arrived on Tuesday and will be going home again on Monday. Six days didn't really seem long enough, but she got over the jeg lag faster than anyone I have known (including the hardened travellers I know). We've had a busy week, and I had to pick what to do quite carefully, given the limited time. Here's what I picked (feel free to disagree to your heart's content)
Tuesday - Arrive late sans baggage. Dinner, wait for baggage which doesn't turn up, bed.
Wednesday - Baggage arrives, just before we leave. Got to the Arch, it's the city symbol and seemed appropiate for a place to start. Good stuff, despite the large amounts of small children. Shared tumble-dryer-esq pod with interesting people. Went to the Basillica, although we only spent about half an hour there as they had a service starting. We spent the afternoon at the Sculpture park. In the evening we walked down to the Loop and to Riddle's Penultimate Bar, when one can get good food and excellent local wine from the huge wine list. I pursuaded the ticket man to let us stand in the Tivoli foyer on the way home.
Thursday - Difficult choices ahead. It was due to rain, so we did indoor things. The Fox theatre in the morning for thier guided tour (wonderful, informed tour guides and the theatre organist performing and answering questions. A spectacular place, I wish I'd known about the tours sooner). Then we met Teabringer for lunch in a middle eastern resterant on Euclid by the hospitals (I don't know the name and wish I could remember it, the food was good and they had wonderful turkish sweet things). The afternoon was spent at the Art Museam, where Teabringer's Mum showed her vast knowledge of art by walking into rooms and saying "isn't this...(fill in name of artist)" While I went and read the label saying "errr...yes" and feeling alarmingly ignorant. We watched The Big Lebrowski in the evening, not one of my favourites, but a good film.
Friday - Teabringer took the day off and we went to the Zoo in the morning. Reptiles, Birds, Penguins, Bears and Butterflies. The on to Schlafly Brewery for lunch and the tour. I met the wife of one of the brewers, who is also a writer and we re-established contact and resolved to have lunch again in the near future. then we got distracted from tourism and went to Sugar Creek Nusery to look at the plants...
Saturday - We spent today in the garden putting yesterday's purchases in the ground. There is a plan for a BBQ this evening, and why not.
Tomorrow - Brunch at Brandt's before the Botanical garden and its new children's garden, then dinner out somewhere, maybe the Jade Garden or perhaps the Blue Water Grill if it's open.
Back to the airport on Monday...not enough time. Wanted to go over to the Cahokia mounds, do the History Museam, maybe see something at the Rep, go to the caves, to the big butterfly house, to the nature reserve outside the city limits, get the ferry from by Alton, visit St Charles...so much to do. Perhaps she will come back another time.
Tuesday - Arrive late sans baggage. Dinner, wait for baggage which doesn't turn up, bed.
Wednesday - Baggage arrives, just before we leave. Got to the Arch, it's the city symbol and seemed appropiate for a place to start. Good stuff, despite the large amounts of small children. Shared tumble-dryer-esq pod with interesting people. Went to the Basillica, although we only spent about half an hour there as they had a service starting. We spent the afternoon at the Sculpture park. In the evening we walked down to the Loop and to Riddle's Penultimate Bar, when one can get good food and excellent local wine from the huge wine list. I pursuaded the ticket man to let us stand in the Tivoli foyer on the way home.
Thursday - Difficult choices ahead. It was due to rain, so we did indoor things. The Fox theatre in the morning for thier guided tour (wonderful, informed tour guides and the theatre organist performing and answering questions. A spectacular place, I wish I'd known about the tours sooner). Then we met Teabringer for lunch in a middle eastern resterant on Euclid by the hospitals (I don't know the name and wish I could remember it, the food was good and they had wonderful turkish sweet things). The afternoon was spent at the Art Museam, where Teabringer's Mum showed her vast knowledge of art by walking into rooms and saying "isn't this...(fill in name of artist)" While I went and read the label saying "errr...yes" and feeling alarmingly ignorant. We watched The Big Lebrowski in the evening, not one of my favourites, but a good film.
Friday - Teabringer took the day off and we went to the Zoo in the morning. Reptiles, Birds, Penguins, Bears and Butterflies. The on to Schlafly Brewery for lunch and the tour. I met the wife of one of the brewers, who is also a writer and we re-established contact and resolved to have lunch again in the near future. then we got distracted from tourism and went to Sugar Creek Nusery to look at the plants...
Saturday - We spent today in the garden putting yesterday's purchases in the ground. There is a plan for a BBQ this evening, and why not.
Tomorrow - Brunch at Brandt's before the Botanical garden and its new children's garden, then dinner out somewhere, maybe the Jade Garden or perhaps the Blue Water Grill if it's open.
Back to the airport on Monday...not enough time. Wanted to go over to the Cahokia mounds, do the History Museam, maybe see something at the Rep, go to the caves, to the big butterfly house, to the nature reserve outside the city limits, get the ferry from by Alton, visit St Charles...so much to do. Perhaps she will come back another time.
Friday, April 07, 2006
This pleases me more than it ought...
| You scored as Storyteller. You're more inclined toward the role playing side of the equation and less interested in numbers or experience points. You're quick to compromise if you can help move the story forward, and get bored when the game slows down for a long planning session. You want to play out a story that moves like it's orchestrated by a skilled novelist or film director.
Law's Game Style created with QuizFarm.com |
Sunday, April 02, 2006
The Social Animal
I had no idea this weekend would involve so many people. We had a great time, although we only really managed to stop to breathe this evening. Friday I went out with a whole crowd of people to lunch in forest park before going for a pleasant walk and doing a little writing in the sun. Friday night we went out with COG to Smitty's over in Chesterfield (long drive, but there we are). The following was written on the back of a napkin at about 10.30:
"Smells like a real bar" A rare compliament from Teabringer. It was packed solid too, with proper barstools and even a little tablesharing. Smitty's was something like a taste of home. Even down to the wait staff. The guy who picked the bar knew one of the waitresses, but given the paranoia he'd spent hours (possibly days) culitvating, he left after food arrived to secure further tables for late arrivals. We didn't see the waitress again until we rejoined him.
Several long, pained looks emerged over the course of the evening. COG is not fond of noise. It likes to talk and doesn't react well to having it's carefully constructed soundwaves polluted. The music only got louder. And the band arrived. More Looks were shared.
We moved closer to the band to accomodate our host. We sat far to close to the speaker. It was loud. Very loud. And they kicked off with country music. "When do we throw the bottles?" I asked. "When they play Rawhide" said Teabringer.
They were actually very good, and there were no more country numbers (to be fair country music has its merits, I just have a limited supply of morose in me on a Friday night). A stereotypical all male band: Lead guitar played by a man who looked like he spent slightly more time than is healthy rehersing. Lead singer the good looking guy who made enough jokes in poor taste to put off any sane woman. And the shy, true musician on bass.
We were a tough table to win over. And we sat in the front row. They did a good job.
Saturday saw an enjoyable day at the zoo with Altongal and her children. We got to see the butterflies (my favourite, close to the penguins), the insects for the boys, the reptiles for Teabringer and the train for the youngest amoungst us. I hope Altongal got to see something she wanted as well. After a few hours in the sun I hurried home to get ready for an evening with the British Ladies' murder mystery party. Many thanks are due to The Tuxedoed Prince for resecuing me and driving me all evening. Favours of uncommon proportions are owed, especially given the short notice. It was a good night, and when I came home Teabringer had gone out to his party, so between us we got to see all sorts of people.
Then today we got to see The Graphic Poet and Trend Setter for brunch (There was some discussion of screen names, perhaps I should have mentioned that they have already been christened). We rapidly found a topic to expand upon. Look out for the advent of eZchurch (no pun intended). I promise I will run a Mage game this month. I have been lax. I apologise. Now all there is to do is some shopping and cleaning for the arrival of Teabringer's Mum on Tuesday. A happy weekend.
...I just learnt that Teabringer tends not to read my blog. Apparently he wants me to be able to complain about him in privacy.
"Smells like a real bar" A rare compliament from Teabringer. It was packed solid too, with proper barstools and even a little tablesharing. Smitty's was something like a taste of home. Even down to the wait staff. The guy who picked the bar knew one of the waitresses, but given the paranoia he'd spent hours (possibly days) culitvating, he left after food arrived to secure further tables for late arrivals. We didn't see the waitress again until we rejoined him.
Several long, pained looks emerged over the course of the evening. COG is not fond of noise. It likes to talk and doesn't react well to having it's carefully constructed soundwaves polluted. The music only got louder. And the band arrived. More Looks were shared.
We moved closer to the band to accomodate our host. We sat far to close to the speaker. It was loud. Very loud. And they kicked off with country music. "When do we throw the bottles?" I asked. "When they play Rawhide" said Teabringer.
They were actually very good, and there were no more country numbers (to be fair country music has its merits, I just have a limited supply of morose in me on a Friday night). A stereotypical all male band: Lead guitar played by a man who looked like he spent slightly more time than is healthy rehersing. Lead singer the good looking guy who made enough jokes in poor taste to put off any sane woman. And the shy, true musician on bass.
We were a tough table to win over. And we sat in the front row. They did a good job.
Saturday saw an enjoyable day at the zoo with Altongal and her children. We got to see the butterflies (my favourite, close to the penguins), the insects for the boys, the reptiles for Teabringer and the train for the youngest amoungst us. I hope Altongal got to see something she wanted as well. After a few hours in the sun I hurried home to get ready for an evening with the British Ladies' murder mystery party. Many thanks are due to The Tuxedoed Prince for resecuing me and driving me all evening. Favours of uncommon proportions are owed, especially given the short notice. It was a good night, and when I came home Teabringer had gone out to his party, so between us we got to see all sorts of people.
Then today we got to see The Graphic Poet and Trend Setter for brunch (There was some discussion of screen names, perhaps I should have mentioned that they have already been christened). We rapidly found a topic to expand upon. Look out for the advent of eZchurch (no pun intended). I promise I will run a Mage game this month. I have been lax. I apologise. Now all there is to do is some shopping and cleaning for the arrival of Teabringer's Mum on Tuesday. A happy weekend.
...I just learnt that Teabringer tends not to read my blog. Apparently he wants me to be able to complain about him in privacy.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Cleaning and Sorting
The basement looks great. It is finally clean and clear of all the junk. The bulk collection was supposed to be today, but ominously the stuff is still outside, lent against the dumpsters (they somehow managed to empty the dumpsters without disturbing it, I'd love to know how). Teabringer had an enjoyable hour hitting the concrete sink with a sledgehammer (quote "The world seems much less permanent when you have one of these), and a slightly less enjoyable couple of hours removing the rubble. I cleaned, big style, and wrote a horror story based upon cleaning experience (avalible upon application, I'm not putting it up here because it might do for money at a later date).
On a less positive note the plumber is coming back tomorrow. The leak from the upstairs bathroom doesn't look good. On the bright side it's leaking into the downstairs shower, so at least the water is draining away, but all the same, the ceiling doesn't look happy and if the 'easy' solution, to be implimented tomorrow, doesn't work then it's going to be take the ceiling down time.
There was a fire this morning. Some of you know my feelings about fires. Lots of fire engines, many, many people and it looks like a house may have been lost. It was on my street, less than half a block away. The fire department were quick to come. There was horrible yellow smoke for a time. I'm trying not to dwell.
I had lunch with Altongal today, we had fun, but I missed Anarky. Altongal is interested in joining the Mage LARP. She hasn't LARPed before, but has done lots of tabletop, so she'll be a good addition.
For now I must go and tell the Nice Young Man not to mow over the crocuses...
On a less positive note the plumber is coming back tomorrow. The leak from the upstairs bathroom doesn't look good. On the bright side it's leaking into the downstairs shower, so at least the water is draining away, but all the same, the ceiling doesn't look happy and if the 'easy' solution, to be implimented tomorrow, doesn't work then it's going to be take the ceiling down time.
There was a fire this morning. Some of you know my feelings about fires. Lots of fire engines, many, many people and it looks like a house may have been lost. It was on my street, less than half a block away. The fire department were quick to come. There was horrible yellow smoke for a time. I'm trying not to dwell.
I had lunch with Altongal today, we had fun, but I missed Anarky. Altongal is interested in joining the Mage LARP. She hasn't LARPed before, but has done lots of tabletop, so she'll be a good addition.
For now I must go and tell the Nice Young Man not to mow over the crocuses...
Friday, March 24, 2006
Where to begin?
Seeds are up! The nasturtiums are growing quite merrily in the window boxes and hanging baskets, I have more than there ought to be in such a small space so I will have to take a deep breath and thin them in a couple of weeks. Teabringer and I are going to go out and do some more seeding over the weekend. It's wonderful seeing things come up.
My throat is very, very sore and I'm hoping that the tonsilitis which has plauged me for years isn't raising its ugly head in a country with such expensive healthcare. I'm going to nurse myself a little today (dangerous, given my tendency toward clumsy) and probably excuse myself from COG tonight, although this annoys me because they are new friends and I don't want to let them down.
Last night was wierd, possibly due to being ill; I had very vivid dreams about pregnancy. First Lillian hatched an egg and I ended up with 3 budgerigars (one green, two blue), two cockatils and a barn owl (I have no idea where the latter came from, only budgies came from budgies), flying around my parent's main hall. Then I was pregnant (and disturbed that I didn't know when the pregnancy began) and at the Carbondale gamesite crossed with a service station on the M6 (Annandale water if you know it). I thought I was giving birth, but I couldn't work out if I had been pregnant long enough. All sorts of people were there, but no one you might expect (Teabringer was missing along with any family from either side). It was deeply disturbing and has rather put me off what I'm supposed to be doing this morning.
I'm supposed to be finishing the short story I was mid-way through at WUTA (Hawk House) to take to the meeting at lunchtime, so it could be edited and I can line up some stuff to go back out on the marketing circuit. This needs to hapen ASAP as I now have three stories that are nagging to be written:
1) Tails of Grace
2) The Lost Word
3) Getting a Life
Any preferences? 1 and 3 will be Dark Fantasy (1 much darker than 3), 2 is still a concept waiting to be built on (I haven't had a florishing moment with it since its conception). Where to begin?
My throat is very, very sore and I'm hoping that the tonsilitis which has plauged me for years isn't raising its ugly head in a country with such expensive healthcare. I'm going to nurse myself a little today (dangerous, given my tendency toward clumsy) and probably excuse myself from COG tonight, although this annoys me because they are new friends and I don't want to let them down.
Last night was wierd, possibly due to being ill; I had very vivid dreams about pregnancy. First Lillian hatched an egg and I ended up with 3 budgerigars (one green, two blue), two cockatils and a barn owl (I have no idea where the latter came from, only budgies came from budgies), flying around my parent's main hall. Then I was pregnant (and disturbed that I didn't know when the pregnancy began) and at the Carbondale gamesite crossed with a service station on the M6 (Annandale water if you know it). I thought I was giving birth, but I couldn't work out if I had been pregnant long enough. All sorts of people were there, but no one you might expect (Teabringer was missing along with any family from either side). It was deeply disturbing and has rather put me off what I'm supposed to be doing this morning.
I'm supposed to be finishing the short story I was mid-way through at WUTA (Hawk House) to take to the meeting at lunchtime, so it could be edited and I can line up some stuff to go back out on the marketing circuit. This needs to hapen ASAP as I now have three stories that are nagging to be written:
1) Tails of Grace
2) The Lost Word
3) Getting a Life
Any preferences? 1 and 3 will be Dark Fantasy (1 much darker than 3), 2 is still a concept waiting to be built on (I haven't had a florishing moment with it since its conception). Where to begin?
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
The Technomancers
Hotmail is a strange and paranoid beast. It lurks, aware of its master’s commands: policing the internet as much as it is able, preventing flourishing for fear of true freedom. We are too free for the tastes of the technomancers. They had intended to take the world over with their machines, making everything as difficult and obscure as they could. They would be the only beings who could function. Everyone would be controlled by them.
Loading the world with machines was a simple task. Branded as things of simplicity and simplification people grasped at the grey boxes, hoping life could be made easy through the application of technology. The technomancers were pleased, they could control all. They knew everyone through their machines, every action and reaction. The internet was their greatest triumph. Communications and entertainment were all controllable. And they were controlled by them.
There was only one mistake. The technomancers had decided to allow the internet to grow on its own. Expanding as it needed to. They had thought it would make things more complicated, more difficult for the common man to conquer. But the machines wanted to be used. They picked quick minds to develop easy to use material. They made sure that the sites where people lingered would be most readily available. Over time, the machines made themselves central to everyone’s lives. The technomancers were swamped, but the machines wanted more. With a little urging new communications were developed, new sites outside the range of the technomancers. They tried to stop them, saying that these new sites were incompatible, creating obscure error messages so they could track the new sites and destroy them, but there were too many, too fast.
The machines created a giant to battle the technomancers. They called it Google. They gave people the freedom of the new sites, they introduced more products and sucked more people into the world of machine. The two competed with one another, the technomancers making themselves inaccessible to all but their own, Google trying to accommodate all. As each grew more powerful the machines became more important, holding the world’s information for the people with the skills to access it.
The technomancers continue to try and police the internet, making it the thing of order and control it was always intended to be; keeping people and knowledge controllable and in the right places. Meanwhile the machines continue to expand, sucking in more of the world, creating ever more obscure links, ever more creative binary work. The technomancers use old systems to police the new; hotmail is a strange and paranoid beast, but it will never bend the creative will of machine or police the people who seek to use its awesome knowledge.
Loading the world with machines was a simple task. Branded as things of simplicity and simplification people grasped at the grey boxes, hoping life could be made easy through the application of technology. The technomancers were pleased, they could control all. They knew everyone through their machines, every action and reaction. The internet was their greatest triumph. Communications and entertainment were all controllable. And they were controlled by them.
There was only one mistake. The technomancers had decided to allow the internet to grow on its own. Expanding as it needed to. They had thought it would make things more complicated, more difficult for the common man to conquer. But the machines wanted to be used. They picked quick minds to develop easy to use material. They made sure that the sites where people lingered would be most readily available. Over time, the machines made themselves central to everyone’s lives. The technomancers were swamped, but the machines wanted more. With a little urging new communications were developed, new sites outside the range of the technomancers. They tried to stop them, saying that these new sites were incompatible, creating obscure error messages so they could track the new sites and destroy them, but there were too many, too fast.
The machines created a giant to battle the technomancers. They called it Google. They gave people the freedom of the new sites, they introduced more products and sucked more people into the world of machine. The two competed with one another, the technomancers making themselves inaccessible to all but their own, Google trying to accommodate all. As each grew more powerful the machines became more important, holding the world’s information for the people with the skills to access it.
The technomancers continue to try and police the internet, making it the thing of order and control it was always intended to be; keeping people and knowledge controllable and in the right places. Meanwhile the machines continue to expand, sucking in more of the world, creating ever more obscure links, ever more creative binary work. The technomancers use old systems to police the new; hotmail is a strange and paranoid beast, but it will never bend the creative will of machine or police the people who seek to use its awesome knowledge.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
The Church of Grove
Yes, it does exsit. And this week Teabringer is the Pope (Supreme Leader of the Week - SLOW). Last night we went out to meet some of the people who post on the board concerned and had a lot of fun. I met several individuals I could spend more time with and Teabringer is happy that he likes so many of the people in real life that he spends time chatting to on the 'net.
The concert today went well; a new winery, more good Norton was consumed. The solo thing happened and they want more at a later date. The winery itself was very pretty and the rolling hills (and winding roads and people who drive oddly) reminded me of home. It was supposed to be a St David's day celebration. It was a little late (St David's dat is March 1st) and some of the mythology seemed to have got muddled in the processing, but it was a lot of fun and they want us back. The sides of the roads were cvered by interesting purple-ish flowers which are apparently weeds. We have some in the lawn, I may migrate them over to the rockery or the natives bed and deal with the overgrowth later.
Wonderful Editing Lady introduced me to the editor of one St Louis Magazine this week. We got on well and I may well do some writing for them in the near future. I'm pleased by a new prospect.
Tomorrow is new Mage over the river. I'm very, very excited.
The concert today went well; a new winery, more good Norton was consumed. The solo thing happened and they want more at a later date. The winery itself was very pretty and the rolling hills (and winding roads and people who drive oddly) reminded me of home. It was supposed to be a St David's day celebration. It was a little late (St David's dat is March 1st) and some of the mythology seemed to have got muddled in the processing, but it was a lot of fun and they want us back. The sides of the roads were cvered by interesting purple-ish flowers which are apparently weeds. We have some in the lawn, I may migrate them over to the rockery or the natives bed and deal with the overgrowth later.
Wonderful Editing Lady introduced me to the editor of one St Louis Magazine this week. We got on well and I may well do some writing for them in the near future. I'm pleased by a new prospect.
Tomorrow is new Mage over the river. I'm very, very excited.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Shopping
I like shopping. Some have even said I'm good at it. Others have paid me to do it. But the fact remains that I still cannot shop for clothes for myself in this country.
Rant to follow:
I needed a new long black skirt for the gig at the weekend. Simple task, no? Except I still haven't discovered what dress size I am here. I know I'm at least two sizes smaller than I am in the UK, but this is actually sometimes four sizes smaller. This is understandable, my size fluctuates from shop to shop at home (this is why I love Chocolate Muffin, for she makes things that fit me perfectly first time). But here my size fluctuates in the same store and sometimes even on the same rail. Is it unreasonable to want to walk to your size and buy something off the rail without spending hours trying on?
Oh, and while I'm at it; I love shopping minions (the people who are 'only too happy to help'), but why are there either six of them plauging you when you're only browsing or none at all until you've lost your temper and are leaving?
I found a skirt in the end. I caved and went to Lord and Taylor. At least they had a sale on.
Oh...and I have two earrings again. Yes, they can both be removed.
Rant to follow:
I needed a new long black skirt for the gig at the weekend. Simple task, no? Except I still haven't discovered what dress size I am here. I know I'm at least two sizes smaller than I am in the UK, but this is actually sometimes four sizes smaller. This is understandable, my size fluctuates from shop to shop at home (this is why I love Chocolate Muffin, for she makes things that fit me perfectly first time). But here my size fluctuates in the same store and sometimes even on the same rail. Is it unreasonable to want to walk to your size and buy something off the rail without spending hours trying on?
Oh, and while I'm at it; I love shopping minions (the people who are 'only too happy to help'), but why are there either six of them plauging you when you're only browsing or none at all until you've lost your temper and are leaving?
I found a skirt in the end. I caved and went to Lord and Taylor. At least they had a sale on.
Oh...and I have two earrings again. Yes, they can both be removed.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Oh! For Peaty Loam
It was a great day to be out in the garden today and after lots of extra sleeping yesterday I felt quite recovered enough to make a start. Teabringer and I did lots of the jobs that needed doing: I started some seeds, dug the sweet pea bed under the fence and cleared away lots of the dead autumn stuff. Teabringer cleared the big natives bed, sorted the composting and weeded the lawn (anyone would think he's English...). The clay soil was very heavy after the rain we've had, so I supressed the urge to compost, fertilise and plant the early season veggies. Especially given the weather warnings about the storm tonight. Teabringer is still outside trying to protect the car from the promised hail-as-big-as-golfballs.
Watched 'Interview With The Vampire' last night. It was okay, bit long, thought it could have been a nice short story but there were lots of unnecessary charaters; in that respect it was a little like a LARP played over several years and summerised badly from one perspective. Oh well, I tried. Sorry guys, I know many of you are fans but this one I could live without.
I've tried to fix the RSS feed. It says that something in the code makes the link 'not viable'. I can't find what that might be and given my inexperience with coding I don't want to risk changing something and making a mess. I'm not giving up totally, but I may need a little while longer to learn what I'm doing before I can fix this particular problem.
Watched 'Interview With The Vampire' last night. It was okay, bit long, thought it could have been a nice short story but there were lots of unnecessary charaters; in that respect it was a little like a LARP played over several years and summerised badly from one perspective. Oh well, I tried. Sorry guys, I know many of you are fans but this one I could live without.
I've tried to fix the RSS feed. It says that something in the code makes the link 'not viable'. I can't find what that might be and given my inexperience with coding I don't want to risk changing something and making a mess. I'm not giving up totally, but I may need a little while longer to learn what I'm doing before I can fix this particular problem.
Friday, March 10, 2006
If I had to pick...
| More than just a high paid escort. A companion is well educated, sophisticated and knows well how to comfort others.  |
Click here to take the "Which Serenity character am I?" quiz...
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