Not AFK

I can't even claim my recent blogging silence has been due to being busy or "away from keyboard."

I've had a few little post items (that you'll see in the next few days), but I've been feeling pretty escapist lately. I spent a day off work (don't remember if it was a weekday or a weekend) last week simply reading a book. I recently (in the last couple months) picked up the third book in Lynn Flwelling's Tamir Trilogy and reread the first two, which I don't usually do. She's a great writer. The subject matter is a little dark, full of vengeful ghosts and blood magic, but the characterization is done very well. It's a coming of age story, but doesn't feel teeny-boppery in the slightest.
I've finally finished watching all the Get Smart episodes (will return to Stacey next time I see her!) and caught up on the TiVo.
I've been getting SOME stuff done:
- Demo in basement (found a 35 year old porn magazine - BONUS!) for the BITB project.
- Buying up a storm for the BITB project (my savings account will take a nose dive after my next credit card payment)
- Making donations of crap from the garage and basement to clear up space for the BITB
- Making up a cool acronym for the "Bathroom In The Basement" Project

- Making Homemade Oreos a la Michelle

- Making Sugar Cookies for a fairy-tale themed Baby Shower (last weekend)


- Making cards with the cool book Janiece got me
- Sending out a package or two
- Making catfood to stock up for my trip over Thanksgiving
- Editing my new writing project, Midnight City and thinking through the next steps.

Work has been a bit lightweight, though my next project is this:


OK, yes, it sounds like I have been busy, but I have had time to blog and I haven't. :/

Thought

It's blog posts like this one by Michael Ruhlman that make me think: How fascinating it would be to be married to a man who is a better cook than I am. I would eat well AND learn something new all the time. That would be SO cool.

(Logical Anne says: That can't be the only criteria. Marrying a guy who is a good cook but a real ass would NOT be cool.
Thanks, Logical Anne, for pointing out the obvious. You can take a break now.)

'Tis the Season

Even my favorite online comic has gotten on board the NaNoWriMo train.

Really looking forward to this story arc. :D Go Team Jade!

Writers in Thier Element

A four Christmases ago, I got a book called American Writers at Home from Stacey and JR. It's a really neat book about the homes of iconic American writers such as Twain, Emerson, Melville, Whitman. It's a great blending of my two main interests, architecture and writing.

In an interesting modern version, here's the website of Kyle Cassidy, a photographer who has a series of photos depicting modern science-fiction and fantasy writers. They are wonderfully varied. One thread through many of them is the inclusion of the pets. It's definitely worth a look.

And So It Begins

I'm going to cheat and post some previously written posts to start off my latest writing exercise in sympathy with the NaNoWriMo marathoners. It will hopefully continue long after NaNo is done.

Here's the plan:
- Post the episodes of Midnight City (a semi-gothic noir mystery) that were written significantly before today.
- Start writing new episodes on a MWF schedule.
- On the new episodes, give readers a chance to influence the storyline. I haven't decided if it'll be in major or minor ways, so I'll probably play around with both.
- Comments and suggestions are (for the present) appreciated. ;)

You can find Midnight City here.

(And sorry for the late posting, I was most of the day at a lovely baby shower held in honor of a good friend of mine. The rest of my day was spent tidying the house and doing chores. One of the reasons I'm not doing the full NaNoWriMo -- I'm not willing to let the house slide into disarray for a whole month. Just not in the mood for it...)

A Beautiful Thank You

Mum, remember I said the flowers were mostly buds when they arrived at my office? Because of that, the arrangement was continually in bloom for ages. Four blooms so far and one more possibly to open (or open now).

Feeling Strangely Insular

Here are some belated photos from the big snowstorm last week.
Sorry this blog has been quiet. I've had the time, I've had the subjects (like the pictures below). I guess I just haven't had the inclination. For that, I apologize.
Seeing as tomorrow is November, a month devoted to writing, I will pledge to do better in the days to come. I do have a plan for writing some fiction for NaNoWriMo, which I will unveil tomorrow (Nov. 1).

Until then, marvel at the quantity of snow on my deck!



As you can see, Matti braved the 1/2" of snow that had collected in a corner. Couldn't get much further though.

Carving Fun

Some of the fabulous jack o' lanterns made at the pumpkin carving party this afternoon. (Some had been taken home already at this point...)
I think my cousins had a good first experience with American Halloween traditions. I had roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pie, artichoke dip, hummus, carrot sticks, caramel apples, and mulled cider. Cheryl brought apple crisp. So, it was a lot of the traditional fall treats.
The process of the pumpkin carving was explained and the kids set to the task as if they'd been doing it all their lives. Even Angeles ended up making one after her husband drew the guidelines of a lovely cat profile.
A good time was had by all (and I figured out that 14 is the maximum number of guests I may have at my house when the outside is not a good overflow option.)

Thanks for blessing my house with your presence, all!