Friday, July 03, 2009
A Day Off
That means a day off from my weekday job...it only allows me to work more at home then. I get to wear what I want is really the key and, of course, work at my leisure. Today I definitely got into the leisure part. We took Max to the dog ranch for his week of vacation and then came home and watched one episode of The Closer. Not a high stress day.
Then finally I got my lazy bones up and did put in some quality time pulling weeds and dead things up in the front yard. I am now officially sore from working. Not to mention the attack from the rose bushes who hate it when I try and rip all the morning glory off them for survival. The yard looks better, more work to be done, but a lot closer.
Okay enough of my rambling...go enjoy your update!
Elisa
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Thursday, July 02, 2009
Quiet July
The kids landed safely in Denver earlier this afternoon and should be winging their way to OKC as I type this. It's going to be weird without them around. Very quiet that's for sure. Max will get me and E as houseguests tonight. I didn't want him to be scared and lonely with no one in the house. Then he'll head on his week vacation to the Bone-a-Fide Dog Ranch. I hope he has a good time.
Tomorrow E is off work for the 4th of July holiday weekend. Not sure what we'll do on the actual 4th. Probably just hang out. E has yard work planned and I need to start spiffing up the place for real estate photos. I much prefer cleaning to yard work.
Happy belated Canada Day to our neighbors to the north!
Tamara
posted by Tamara - 3:28 PM -- Email this post: Link to this entry
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Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Too Hot, Too Humid
My brain won't work. Except in cranky mode. It seems to be doing quite well in that today.
I was standing in the garden just now, trying to get cool, and I looked up at the moon. (It's dark here and there's a bright half-moon playing hide-and-seek in the scattering of clouds. Hope the clouds mean rain - maybe it'll be less humid if it does.) Anyway there I was, looking up at the moon and thinking about the up-coming anniversary. In just under three weeks it will be the 40th anniversary of the first time a human being set foot on another planet.
Think about that for a bit. A human being set foot on another planet. Ok maybe the moon isn't really a planet but the sense of awe, the feeling of wonder is still the same. Six landings, twelve people. That's all. Just twelve people have stood on another world and looked back at this one. What do you do, what can you possibly do, after you've done that?? Do you always yearn to do it again?? I wish I could have done that. I wish I could feel for just a moment what it feels like to go into space. Maybe some day it will be as commonplace as a flight across the Atlantic which in some ways will be great. But it will be a shame to no longer have that sense of wonder.
See you next week. Good night and may your God/s go with you.
Ze
posted by zero2aries - 3:19 PM -- Email this post: Link to this entry
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Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Still Learning
Even at my age, (which btw is as old as my tongue and a little bit older than my teeth and that's all I'm saying on the subject!!), I'm still learning new things. Just this weekend I learnt some important facts. I learnt that if you are out of proper washing powder (laundry detergent) it is a good idea to go to the corner shop and buy some. I learnt that it is not a good idea to scrabble around in the cupboard under the kitchen sink until you find the bottle of Stergene liquid (which is for hand-washing silk and similar delicate fabrics) and think to yourself that'll do. I especially learnt that it is not at all a good idea to measure out a complete cap full and put it into the drawer of an automatic washing machine at 40c.
Well, not unless you plan on washing the kitchen floor and all the cupboard doors as well as doing the laundry. And you planned on using half an ocean of bubbles to do that. In case you were wondering Stergene bubbles well. Very well. Tom-and-Jerry-Cartoon sort of very well. Overflowing out of the soap-drawer and round the door-seal well. And it needs three extra rinse cycles to get it out of the clothes. Not to mention two hours of mopping to get it off the floor. But boy does it make the floor tiles clear & shiny.
Now some hype for you.
Press Release 30.06.2009
It's here!
Sweet Afters from Read These Lips is our third collection of distinctive stories from talented lesbian authors. Joan Nestle, co-founder of the Lesbian Herstory Archives and iconic lesbian activist, honoured us with a fascinating story of one lesbian's joyous life celebrated by those who shared it. Janis Spehr sent in a breathtaking narrative of a housewife struggling to escape a dead-end life. J.E. Knowles, Georgia Beers, JD Glass and Amy McDonald each gave a glimpse into the complexities of significant relationships. Vicki Stevenson reminded us that happy beginnings can happen anywhere, and poet Natasha Carthew offered three short but intense poems for all who have longed and loved. For the first time, we are featuring a photographic exhibit by JRen, who also shot this issue's beautiful covers.
Sweet Afters is about the last course, the indulgent pleasure afterwards. We hope this issue of Read These Lips satisfies in the best way.
Now avail able for download from ReadTheseLips.com.
Enjoy the book.
Evecho and Linda Lorenzo
Editors.
Ze
posted by zero2aries - 2:24 PM -- Email this post: Link to this entry
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Monday, June 29, 2009
Ramble from phair
Phair once again shares with us.To all the good people who sent emails of support and suggestions regarding my recent visual complication, thank you. I'm trying to get back to each of you individually but it is slow going some days. Please be patient with me, I will get to all of you – promise – but it might be 2010 at this rate.
Okay, so the latest on my eye is the exact same as it was the last time I rambled. There remains a round dot of fluid surrounding an old scratch on the retina creating a watery pool in the dead center of my right eye's view. The retina specialist said it would be anywhere from six weeks to six months for resolution. Don't you just hate it when highly educated and well-trained experts in their field are absolutely right with predictions you'd rather didn't happen. Ya, me too.
I'm determined to keep on a schedule with my updates for Empire and Bright Day. There will be postings weekly or every ten days but it will be one story or the other and not both as I originally planned. I'm aiming for both stories to be completed before Labor Day.
Completion is actually an attainable goal considering what a bust summer is turning into here in the Commonwealth. We've got rain. And, more rain. And, wind and rain. Then the sun comes out and heats up the saturated ground making it feel more like a swamp than a sea coast. This only lasts a few hours before the rain starts up again and it gets cold. Really cold! I've used the heat more in June than I did in March. Blah! The ocean isn't even good enough to photograph for the website. It's all fog baby. Blah!
At least, the Red Sox are working hard! Love those boys! I knew big Papi would pull it together...but I was worried about the man.
Again, thank you all for your kind thoughts and good wishes!
best
phair
I do hate it when the predictions that are not to my liking are right. Hence Good Luck, phair. We wish you the best.
Now back to the updates, enjoy.
Elisa
posted by E - 4:41 PM -- Email this post: Link to this entry
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Sunday, June 28, 2009
Hype!
Keen news from Bedazzled Ink....Bedazzled Ink is very excited to announce the pending publication of Year's Best Lesbian Fiction 2008, the first annual collection of lesbian short stories published in 2008, selected from over eighty nominations by Fran Walker, author of Lavender Ink: Writing and Selling Lesbian Fiction and judges, Lynn Pierce, moderator of lesfic_unbound and Joan Opyr, author of Idaho Code.
This year's stories originally appeared in Read These Lips: Second Helpings, Haunted Hearths and Sapphic Shades, Periphery: Erotic Lesbian Futures, Khimairal Ink, and Toe to Toe: Standing Tall and Proud. These remarkable stories are by newly-published authors through veterans such as Nebula winner Mary A. Turzillo and Campbell Award for Best New Writer winner Melissa Scott, and range from literary to dark fantasy to light-hearted contemporary fiction. A little something for everyone for the perfect summer reading.
a.. "Sweet Baby Dyke" by Renée Strider
b.. "Silent Journey" by DeJay
c.. "One Horse Town" by Melissa Scott
d.. "The Abomination of the Blue Hibiscus" by Ovidia Yu
e.. "Gay Day" by Sandra Barret
f.. "Mind Games" by Tracey Shellito
g.. "Water Rites" by Mary Douglas
h.. "Games With Chance" by Andi Marquette
i.. "Ewaipanoma" by Mary A. Turzillo
j.. "Kissing on the Ferris Wheel" by Meg White
k.. "Words Like Candy Conversation Hearts" by Kathleen Bradean
l.. "To Dance With No Music" by Lois C. Hart
m.. "The One I Left Behind" by M. Christian
For more information visit:
nuancebooks.wordpress.com/books/years-best-lesbian-fiction/.
Pre-order your copy:
bedazzledink.byethost17.com/bookpeddler/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=18.
Can't wait for the paperback edition? The ebook editions are ready for download now:
bedazzledink.byethost17.com/bookpeddler/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=16
Back to thinning or, more accurately, cleaning up after the thinning...enjoy the huge update.
Tamara
posted by Tamara - 3:24 PM -- Email this post: Link to this entry
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Saturday, June 27, 2009
Boxes and Tape
Where the hell did I leave the Sharpie? I think once we clear away some of the thinning materials things may be found once again. The house looks thinner to me. I sure hope the real estate agent agrees.
I did spend early morning power washing out back...I do actually enjoy that part. Then after lunch we started on the evil computer room. Wow, do I ever have a lot of Gumby "stuff". I have one full size flip top bin and yet I need another to finish it up.
Where the Wild Things Are toys, Wallace and Gromit toys and many sheep have all been packed away. After I feed the cats, we'll go and get a few more small bins to put the smaller stuff into. My desk is still a wreck, but above it's mighty sparse looking. Okie did the kitchen yesterday and we made a heavy dent in the living room. My view of having the "thinning" done by the end of weekend may actually be accomplished. Hope so...my motivation is running low.
The only good part of all this is that most likely a quarter or more of the house will already be packed. That's something.
My rambling stops and I'll let you get to your update. Please enjoy!
Elisa
posted by E - 4:20 PM -- Email this post: Link to this entry
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Friday, June 26, 2009
Vacation
Two days of vacation under my belt and I've managed to make a dent in the kitchen and the living room. A very small dent in the living room but a dent nonetheless.
I've also taken time just to be lazy. Sleeping in until 8 is quite nice. I've read a few comics. Finished a book and am hoping to finish another before summer session starts.
This weekend I look forward to major thinning. I'm hoping we can get enough of it done that I can mainly focus on packing up the kids for their Oklahoma trip and cleaning.
Tamara
posted by Tamara - 3:56 PM -- Email this post: Link to this entry
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Thursday, June 25, 2009
Thinning
I have a lot of "stuff". I wonder where it all came from? Oddly enough I haven't even truly begun on the areas where most of my favorite stuff is. That is sad. This weekend will be filled with stuff thinning. Selling a house in this market means more work than I want, but hey it does give me the opportunity to eventually dust all the "stuff".
Tamara busted her butt on the kitchen today getting all the countertops and such cleared off. She also did a full clean while she was at it. See I'm too lazy and have only been boxing stuff away and skipping the cleaning part for later. Hence Tamara rocks and I'm a lazy bum.
So on that note I won't be packing anything this evening, but taking the night off. I need to live up to my character flaws fully.
I hope you all enjoy the update and may health and happiness find you.
Elisa
posted by E - 4:39 PM -- Email this post: Link to this entry
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Readers, Writers & Demands
Minor rants tonight. First from a reader's point of view about a small minority of fanfic writers. Don't do it. Don't hold your fic to ransom. You know the sort of thing I mean. The author's notes say something along the lines of "I need X number of reviews before I post the next part." or "If I don't get any feedback I'll stop." Not polite. Not smart. Nothing makes me hit the back button faster. Not even bad grammar or poor spelling. (And believe me, those make me click on "back" very, very swiftly).
I understand (only too well) having writer's block and leaving your fic unfinished. I understand the kind of writer's block that leaves you with a thousand ideas which, as soon as you turn them into beginning chapters, up and leave you. So you have a dozen starts and no finishes. That's excusable. And if I had a problem with that it would be my own fault for reading a WIP. But to deliberately not post chapters because you have an ego the size of the Atlantic that needs stroking?? It makes you look like a spoilt child. If the only reason you write is for a pat on the back maybe you should consider a different hobby.
Now a comment from a writer's perspective to readers. It's great that you read the stories. It's wonderful if you give feedback. It's beyond fantastic if you are able to give constructive criticism or an in-depth critique. Fantastic but not expected, demanded or essential. It's great to know somebody is reading and even a short "love it, please continue" is welcome and very gratefully received. And it's polite of the writer to say thank you if they can.
But apart from that the writer doesn't owe you anything. Not even if you paid for a book. But they especially don't owe you anything if you're reading it at no charge. So if you don't get chapters fast enough to suit you - sorry, can't be helped. Best thing to do is not start reading a WIP. If you really hate it - stop reading. And if you decide never to read that writer again, well, no problem. Don't read. That is your prerogative. What you don't do is berate the writer. You don't insult them and you do not do the email equivalent of flouncing into their presence, flicking your hair disdainfully and storming out. If you do then you're asking for whatever the writer throws at you. And it will make the writer think to themselves "why am I agonising over this story and then posting it for free when it gets me this." And they stop writing. It's not classy. And it will also make you look like a spoilt child.
End rant. (Which is longer than your updates today). So I'll sign off and do the tl:dr bit - be nice to your readers, be nice to writers.
Goodnight and may your God/s go with you
Ze
posted by zero2aries - 2:44 PM -- Email this post: Link to this entry
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Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Better
I'm better. Fit as a fiddle and raring to go. (Why is a fiddle fit?? Who decides a fiddle's fitness level?? How does a fiddle exercise to get fit anyway??). I've been cleared as infection free and I'm back to work tomorrow. I don't think I planned that very well. Oh I'm pleased to be back to work because I hate not being able to do things but whose daft idea was it to be sick for the fortnight before Wimbledon and then go back to work for Wimbledon fortnight?? Oh well, there's always the highlights programme.
A friend popped over to visit me today. She's been waiting until I was no longer considered infectious because she hasn't had mumps either. She brought me a bunch of flowers as a get well (or rather a you've got well already) present. (Giving somebody flowers means different things in Europe to the things it means in the USA). It was a small bunch of pinks (a mixture of really deep pink and dark crimson ones) from her garden. I don't think I've ever been given flowers before in my life. I'm usually the one giving flowers. It felt very, very weird. But I was touched. Of course I don't own a flower vase - not being the sort of cove who usually receives flowers. So I put them in a glass. They're now sitting regally in the centre of the kitchen table in a pint beer mug with the England football team Three Lions crest on it. See - you can make flowers butch!!
Ze
posted by zero2aries - 2:22 PM -- Email this post: Link to this entry
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Monday, June 22, 2009
Almost There
I'm in the home stretch. This is the last week of the school year. Actually it won't even be a full week. We're out of there on Wednesday. Then I get about a week and a half off before the summer session begins. The kids will be having fun in Oklahoma the month of July so it seemed like a good idea to earn a little extra money.
My three days this week consist of half days with the kids. The other half we're cleaning and sorting and organizing. It's odd for the kids to come to school and be gone before lunch. My normal routine with my student had to be changed. So far he's taken it well. Knock wood for smooth sailing the rest of the week.
Tamara
posted by Tamara - 3:52 PM -- Email this post: Link to this entry
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Sunday, June 21, 2009
Sunday
Vacation ends. A good weekend is coming to a close. Final Sunday night chores to do lay ahead. Back to the fun I head Monday. Been a splendid week with my daughter and a busy weekend for all.
Tomorrow begins a new one in which I must find some serious motivation to start thinning, cleaning and packing.
Here's hoping you all have a great week!
Enjoy your updates.
Elisa
posted by E - 3:49 PM -- Email this post: Link to this entry
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Saturday, June 20, 2009
Stupid Head
I'm out-of-sorts today. I don't know if it's because I slept like absolute crap last night or because I'm trying to get sick. Maybe it's because today has been a day of doing nothing. Well, nothing productive anyway. In the morning we went to Carkeek Park for a Rainbow Families event. Then we came home for a few hours.
After doing this update we're off to a Summer Solstice party. I should mention during the few hours we were home I tried to nap...and had a helluva time shutting my brain off. Napping in the middle of the day is hard for me unless I'm sick. Just as I was really getting into my nap, the phone rang. Good. Groggy and out-of-sorts.
Fortunately a piece of fudge, some goldfish and doing this update have cleared my head. Tonight I'm going to do my darndest to get good sleep.
Tamara
posted by Tamara - 4:06 PM -- Email this post: Link to this entry
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