The wolves are howling, howling wolves.
What are they howling about? What do they say?
Quote-a-thon:
"The wolves were howling"
"Shoot kid, maybe they are"
"I'm not ready to make nice"
"Speak friend and enter"
I think I might have to marry the first person who recognises all these quotes, knows where they're from and has even a basic understanding of what they mean to me - and why I still check hollows in trees - those up high for one thing and those at the bottom of trees for another.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Great films
I find that the best movies I've ever seen are ones that not a lot of other people see. They're not the blockbuster "tentpole" mega-million dollar budget films typically for me. Oh, I've seen some bluckbusters that are good. But the ones that have stuck with me the most tend to be small productions.
Probably my favourite modern movie is one called The Namesake which hardly anyone has heard of and won no major awards. But it's one that I thought was quite possibly the best example of storytelling and cinema I have ever seen.
I saw a really good small-time movie last week thanks to the Sylvan Lake Film Society. It wasn't as amazing as The Namesake, but it was its own kind of awesome. It was funny and inspiring and I loved it! The Stone of Destiny is a movie about, well, the "Stone of Destiny" of Scottish history and legend. And when everyone woke up on Boxing day hooting and honking horns... Well, I got a little verklempt!
Other favourites: Casablanca, Wizard of Oz and Star Wars (the original and its two sequels only) - which just goes to show that I do like some very well known films as well.
Other other favourites: Shaun of the Dead, Serenity, Escanaba in da moonlight, Sweeny Todd, The Birdcage, Calendar Girls, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, Lord of the Rings trilogy: Fellowship, Two Towers and Return of the King and The Outsiders - all of which shows that my favs aren't all "high-brow" and that I do like some silly stuff. Some of these were big, some very small, some serious, some funny..
Probably my favourite modern movie is one called The Namesake which hardly anyone has heard of and won no major awards. But it's one that I thought was quite possibly the best example of storytelling and cinema I have ever seen.
I saw a really good small-time movie last week thanks to the Sylvan Lake Film Society. It wasn't as amazing as The Namesake, but it was its own kind of awesome. It was funny and inspiring and I loved it! The Stone of Destiny is a movie about, well, the "Stone of Destiny" of Scottish history and legend. And when everyone woke up on Boxing day hooting and honking horns... Well, I got a little verklempt!
Other favourites: Casablanca, Wizard of Oz and Star Wars (the original and its two sequels only) - which just goes to show that I do like some very well known films as well.
Other other favourites: Shaun of the Dead, Serenity, Escanaba in da moonlight, Sweeny Todd, The Birdcage, Calendar Girls, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, Lord of the Rings trilogy: Fellowship, Two Towers and Return of the King and The Outsiders - all of which shows that my favs aren't all "high-brow" and that I do like some silly stuff. Some of these were big, some very small, some serious, some funny..
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Did something stupid
Looked at a picture of myself about a month before I got bronchitis... healthy and more fit than I'd been in a while.
Then just for morbid curiosity's sake, I brought up a picture of myself from a couple of months after I had to take steroids to deal with the lung complications that came after the bronchitis. Bad idea.
Very BAD Idea.
Then just for morbid curiosity's sake, I brought up a picture of myself from a couple of months after I had to take steroids to deal with the lung complications that came after the bronchitis. Bad idea.
Very BAD Idea.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Lazy weekend...
Mostly. I did disassemble the stove to clean under the stovetop *YUCK* and I'm doing laundry right now. Other than that I've mostly been sitting around eating junk food and reading crap online.
*sigh*
Oh, well.
Plus, it snowed all day and last night. Hello! Mother Nature, it's SPRING! Make with the warm weather and flowers already! Not SNOW! There's been quite enough of that already thank you.
*sigh*
Oh, well.
Plus, it snowed all day and last night. Hello! Mother Nature, it's SPRING! Make with the warm weather and flowers already! Not SNOW! There's been quite enough of that already thank you.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Spring has sprung!
It was 8C here today!! I can see a few spots where the snow has melted enough that I can see tufts of grass even! I busted out my spring jacket, and really it was a little chilly still for that, but I felt happy to be out in something other than down. The only problem really was that when I switched coats this morning, I forgot that my wallet was in the winter coat's pocket and didn't remember until *after* I'd had my sub made at Subway... Oh well, at least I don't live too far so I was able to zip home and get it and still get my lunch!
Interesting day at work... due to staff shortages (vacation and sickness), I spent most of the day working on the front desk! It's been a while =D I had to just let go of the fact that I have about a zillion things I need to be doing other than this, but still, *this* (the patrons signing out books and asking questions) this is what I do the rest for so it's all good.
Tired though! Man do I suck! Just one day spent on the front desk and running around and I'm beat! Am I that old? Or is it still the move induced flare still wearing me out... Hmm, either way, I'm glad it's Friday and I can sleep in tomorrow!
Secret of the day...
I miss Friday Harbor more than I thought I would. Not work so much (mostly because as awesome as a couple of people were - and the kids, a couple of other people were crappy enough to make it miserable for me.
But the fun and friends and beautiful scenery... those I definitely do miss.
And this has nothing to do with how I feel here. I love it here. I still feel weirdly foreign sometimes, but comfortable too and sometimes more natural than I have in 7.5 years... I'm not sure there's anyplace in the world where I'd fit in completely, and I'm not sure there's anything wrong with that.
=D
Interesting day at work... due to staff shortages (vacation and sickness), I spent most of the day working on the front desk! It's been a while =D I had to just let go of the fact that I have about a zillion things I need to be doing other than this, but still, *this* (the patrons signing out books and asking questions) this is what I do the rest for so it's all good.
Tired though! Man do I suck! Just one day spent on the front desk and running around and I'm beat! Am I that old? Or is it still the move induced flare still wearing me out... Hmm, either way, I'm glad it's Friday and I can sleep in tomorrow!
Secret of the day...
I miss Friday Harbor more than I thought I would. Not work so much (mostly because as awesome as a couple of people were - and the kids, a couple of other people were crappy enough to make it miserable for me.
But the fun and friends and beautiful scenery... those I definitely do miss.
And this has nothing to do with how I feel here. I love it here. I still feel weirdly foreign sometimes, but comfortable too and sometimes more natural than I have in 7.5 years... I'm not sure there's anyplace in the world where I'd fit in completely, and I'm not sure there's anything wrong with that.
=D
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The heart of a writer - broken?
Few things stop the heart of a writer quicker I think than finding a book that seems to be exactly what you're currently writing...
I was ordering books for my library yesterday when I came across a book that at first glance struck me as "Crap! That's the book I'm writing!!" My heart stops, my soul is crushed... Still, I put a copy on hold for me to read and then went on with the day of work.
Too busy last night but tonight I looked up the book and read a little more about it and I don't think it's the same. It does explore some of the same themes. So my heart restarted anyway!
I'll read it when it comes and see.
I was ordering books for my library yesterday when I came across a book that at first glance struck me as "Crap! That's the book I'm writing!!" My heart stops, my soul is crushed... Still, I put a copy on hold for me to read and then went on with the day of work.
Too busy last night but tonight I looked up the book and read a little more about it and I don't think it's the same. It does explore some of the same themes. So my heart restarted anyway!
I'll read it when it comes and see.
The place of a story?
I'm trying to decide if I should now set my novel in Canada.
Admittedly, prior to now I've been a bit of a coward about actually setting it in a specific town - either part (there's where now is happening in the book, then there's flashbacks to somewhere else).
Part of this is that if I set it someplace specific and real, I'd have to know that place well - and I don't really know anywhere all that well. In the States, I've lived in Ann Arbor, MI for a little over 3 years, 10-13 years ago, Fairfield, OH (Just outside of Cincinnati) for a little over 4 years, 3-8 years ago and Friday Harbor, WA (an island in Northern Puget Sound) for 3.5 years (until last fall). None I really knew well enough to set a whole life in, and none really very interesting to set a life in.
If I set it in Canada (seeing as how I've moved back here) - where? Where I grew up? I haven't lived there or spent any real time there in over 13 years. Where I live now? I've only been here 4 months. I only know this town in the winter for a start!
Of course, I could set it anywhere and just do the research, but everything I've read says if I'm going to set a story someplace real and specific, I have to know that place personally.
Setting it in Canada might give more publishing opportunities here in Canada, but I think would hinder it being published elsewhere. Setting it someplace I've never been I think would make in insincere. Setting it in the States, might limit opportunities here in Canada. And setting it either no where in particular, or someplace invented and maybe even vague about the country I fear is a cop-out and pretty lame.
Decisions. The location isn't critical to the plot, but it would be a part of the story a little.
What to do, what to do...?
Admittedly, prior to now I've been a bit of a coward about actually setting it in a specific town - either part (there's where now is happening in the book, then there's flashbacks to somewhere else).
Part of this is that if I set it someplace specific and real, I'd have to know that place well - and I don't really know anywhere all that well. In the States, I've lived in Ann Arbor, MI for a little over 3 years, 10-13 years ago, Fairfield, OH (Just outside of Cincinnati) for a little over 4 years, 3-8 years ago and Friday Harbor, WA (an island in Northern Puget Sound) for 3.5 years (until last fall). None I really knew well enough to set a whole life in, and none really very interesting to set a life in.
If I set it in Canada (seeing as how I've moved back here) - where? Where I grew up? I haven't lived there or spent any real time there in over 13 years. Where I live now? I've only been here 4 months. I only know this town in the winter for a start!
Of course, I could set it anywhere and just do the research, but everything I've read says if I'm going to set a story someplace real and specific, I have to know that place personally.
Setting it in Canada might give more publishing opportunities here in Canada, but I think would hinder it being published elsewhere. Setting it someplace I've never been I think would make in insincere. Setting it in the States, might limit opportunities here in Canada. And setting it either no where in particular, or someplace invented and maybe even vague about the country I fear is a cop-out and pretty lame.
Decisions. The location isn't critical to the plot, but it would be a part of the story a little.
What to do, what to do...?
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
How my other cat helps me write
That's the Sleeman's box I use as a foot rest so I can have my chair high enough to have the right angle to type. And yes, that's popcorn on the floor. Don't ask.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Suck!
So it's Friday night. Did I spend the evening on a hot date? Did I go and see the Watchmen movie? Go out to dinner? Lounge around home writing or eating bonbons?
NO!
I spent the evening (until 9:20) in my office trying to find the information needed for my library's annual audit. Why so hard to find? Because the previous director was grumble... mumble... curse!
All kinds of things are missing which should be clearly and meticulously organised and filed in a way that is easy to use and find.
I'm probably going to run into this woman at the provincial library conference as she still works in this province. How am I going to stop myself from throttling her? I've been here a little over three months and this is FAR from the first time I've had to deal with recreating things she WELL knew she had to do - because she didn't!!
GRRRRRRRRR!!!!! RAGE!!!!!
But, then I came home and though I would normally switch channels instantly seeing "The View" come on - they caught me when they said Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Nathan Fillion was on. JDM just made my list of sexiest men ever. Nathan is no slouch either. But DAMN!! Jeffrey Dean Morgan's voice!! *swoon* Ahhh, thank you JDM, I no longer feel the need to burn my predecessor in effigy and scream until I lose my voice.
NO!
I spent the evening (until 9:20) in my office trying to find the information needed for my library's annual audit. Why so hard to find? Because the previous director was grumble... mumble... curse!
All kinds of things are missing which should be clearly and meticulously organised and filed in a way that is easy to use and find.
I'm probably going to run into this woman at the provincial library conference as she still works in this province. How am I going to stop myself from throttling her? I've been here a little over three months and this is FAR from the first time I've had to deal with recreating things she WELL knew she had to do - because she didn't!!
GRRRRRRRRR!!!!! RAGE!!!!!
But, then I came home and though I would normally switch channels instantly seeing "The View" come on - they caught me when they said Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Nathan Fillion was on. JDM just made my list of sexiest men ever. Nathan is no slouch either. But DAMN!! Jeffrey Dean Morgan's voice!! *swoon* Ahhh, thank you JDM, I no longer feel the need to burn my predecessor in effigy and scream until I lose my voice.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Had a weird dream the other night...
I was drowning in my bathtub. It was one of those old urban legend stories you heard around the beer tub in university. I'd somehow passed-out and my hair had clogged the drain and the water was over my head.
But fear not! I turned off the faucet and then splashed and pushed the water out until I could breathe and then I reached back and held my hair and pulled it out of the drain. It tore and ripped, but didn't pull off my scalp and I didn't drown.
Here's the weird part. It was me doing this, but I felt nothing. I was watching from above like I was standing beside the tub looking down. The me in the tub couldn't see me but I was there. I felt no fear, no terror - nothing! It was like I was watching it happen on TV or something.
It's the weirdest thing! Am I *that* separated from my own feelings? Is the notion of feeling anything so foreign to me that it's nothing more than academic to me now?
I actually find it kind of disturbing.
But fear not! I turned off the faucet and then splashed and pushed the water out until I could breathe and then I reached back and held my hair and pulled it out of the drain. It tore and ripped, but didn't pull off my scalp and I didn't drown.
Here's the weird part. It was me doing this, but I felt nothing. I was watching from above like I was standing beside the tub looking down. The me in the tub couldn't see me but I was there. I felt no fear, no terror - nothing! It was like I was watching it happen on TV or something.
It's the weirdest thing! Am I *that* separated from my own feelings? Is the notion of feeling anything so foreign to me that it's nothing more than academic to me now?
I actually find it kind of disturbing.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Dear Mr. Holder
You anger me.
You are *NOT* an "average" American.
Neither am I.
I am not a coward.
Out of the two of us, one is NOT living in the past.
It's not you.
We are of different generations - and I am of a different generation than those of all races who deified Obama through the election process.
My generation is sick of hearing about it.
The next generation doesn't get what you're talking about - the civil rights movement is as much history to them as World War II.
There is still racism.
No one race is singularly guilty of being racist.
It's not ok for anyone to be racist even if white folks "don't understand black anger".
Just because I didn't vote for a certain candidate during the primaries doesn't mean I'm racist against him. Maybe, just maybe it was because I didn't think he had the experience needed yet. Maybe I wanted to vote for him in 8 years once he had even a little bit of international experience.
And CNN? It also doesn't mean that I'm "subconsciously racist" either.
It offends me when it's ok for the official blessing during the inauguration prayed for "black to get back, red man to get ahead man, yellow to be mellow" all positive wishes I guess if not vaguely racist, while the prayer for "white" was to "do what's right" which is confrontational and accusing.
It offends me when you call me a coward because I disagree with you that everyone needs to talk incessantly about Race.
Grow up and snap out of it and smell the fact that it's been more than FORTY YEARS since the civil rights movement. It worked. You have a couple of generations since who have grown up learning and internalising the lesson that race doesn't matter. We're not living in a utopia yet - but we're in a different world than the one you grew up in. Stop blaming me for things that happened before I was born.
Maybe it won't be completely a non issue until your generation dies off or is safely ensconced in senior homes where the rest of us don't have to hear from you any more.
Calling me a coward because I don't see the need to constantly harp on the past is not productive.
Please shut up.
Sincerely,
An angry Citizen.
You are *NOT* an "average" American.
Neither am I.
I am not a coward.
Out of the two of us, one is NOT living in the past.
It's not you.
We are of different generations - and I am of a different generation than those of all races who deified Obama through the election process.
My generation is sick of hearing about it.
The next generation doesn't get what you're talking about - the civil rights movement is as much history to them as World War II.
There is still racism.
No one race is singularly guilty of being racist.
It's not ok for anyone to be racist even if white folks "don't understand black anger".
Just because I didn't vote for a certain candidate during the primaries doesn't mean I'm racist against him. Maybe, just maybe it was because I didn't think he had the experience needed yet. Maybe I wanted to vote for him in 8 years once he had even a little bit of international experience.
And CNN? It also doesn't mean that I'm "subconsciously racist" either.
It offends me when it's ok for the official blessing during the inauguration prayed for "black to get back, red man to get ahead man, yellow to be mellow" all positive wishes I guess if not vaguely racist, while the prayer for "white" was to "do what's right" which is confrontational and accusing.
It offends me when you call me a coward because I disagree with you that everyone needs to talk incessantly about Race.
Grow up and snap out of it and smell the fact that it's been more than FORTY YEARS since the civil rights movement. It worked. You have a couple of generations since who have grown up learning and internalising the lesson that race doesn't matter. We're not living in a utopia yet - but we're in a different world than the one you grew up in. Stop blaming me for things that happened before I was born.
Maybe it won't be completely a non issue until your generation dies off or is safely ensconced in senior homes where the rest of us don't have to hear from you any more.
Calling me a coward because I don't see the need to constantly harp on the past is not productive.
Please shut up.
Sincerely,
An angry Citizen.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Fibromyalgia sucks ass
And all kinds of other things. For serious.
I'd really like to be able to sleep more than in the mornings. I can't wake up in the morning. I have three different alarm clocks going off at seven different times over a half hour period - and I still manage to hit snooze on all of them for up to two hours without actually waking up. Meanwhile I'm unable to sleep at night when I want to.
Still, I've got a great new computer at my great job and I actually started writing a little again (though I've misplaced a couple of notebooks full of writing and it's stressing me out because I know I've seen them recently!)
Anyway, on balance, I'm happy so I call it win!
I'd really like to be able to sleep more than in the mornings. I can't wake up in the morning. I have three different alarm clocks going off at seven different times over a half hour period - and I still manage to hit snooze on all of them for up to two hours without actually waking up. Meanwhile I'm unable to sleep at night when I want to.
Still, I've got a great new computer at my great job and I actually started writing a little again (though I've misplaced a couple of notebooks full of writing and it's stressing me out because I know I've seen them recently!)
Anyway, on balance, I'm happy so I call it win!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
How my younger cat helps me write
Or, you know, not... He is awfully cute though...
Oh, and pay no attention to the evidence of my serious caffeine addiction
Monday, February 09, 2009
It's been AGES!!!
So, I moved from Washington State - an island off the coast of Washington State to the middle of Alberta, Canada in November and started a new job at the end of November. Slowly settling in and getting in the swing of things - and getting used to being back in Canada again! It's been a while since I lived north of the border...
Actually, I feel very much like a foreigner surprisingly. I was born in Canada and grew up and lived in Canada until I was nearly 25 - but I've lived 11 of the last 13 years in the States and really, 25 is still a kid so I've really lived almost all of my adult life in the States.
I never would have believed that I would feel so much like a foreigner in the country of my birth... but I kinda do. Not in a bad way really - it's just an adjustment.
Still, it's beautiful here:
So I can't complain.
Now if only I could start reading and writing again. The muse left me when I moved west in 2005 and I haven't found her again yet.
It'll come. I have faith.
Actually, I feel very much like a foreigner surprisingly. I was born in Canada and grew up and lived in Canada until I was nearly 25 - but I've lived 11 of the last 13 years in the States and really, 25 is still a kid so I've really lived almost all of my adult life in the States.
I never would have believed that I would feel so much like a foreigner in the country of my birth... but I kinda do. Not in a bad way really - it's just an adjustment.
Still, it's beautiful here:
So I can't complain.
Now if only I could start reading and writing again. The muse left me when I moved west in 2005 and I haven't found her again yet.
It'll come. I have faith.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Moving is SOOOO stressful!!!!! I'm never going to make this happen!!!
And I'm so annoyed with Honda Finance, and Honda Canada, and Whidbey Island bank, and Scotiabank... Why is it so difficult to import my car?! Why, after 7+ years as a loyal customer who has often sold others on the benefits of the company and having never once missed or even been late with a payment over the ownership or leasing of three different cars, - Why is Honda suddenly certain that if they let me take my car accross the Canadian border I will stop paying and effectively steal the car?!
I have to admit, I am the sort of customer who is extremely loyal to a good product and or service, but I am also the sort of customer who holds a grudge if you misstreat me or piss me off. I love Hondas - they're great cars, good value, reliable... but I have to say, Toyota is about as good that way... and it's looking like I'm going to have to sell this car (at a loss likely as it's pretty new) and when I go to buy a new one up in Canada - I'm leaning toward Toyota - or doing all new consumer reports research to see what else meets my needs.
Aside from the car drama, I'm sure it'll all come together in the end - I'm just at that panic stage where I'm sure NOTHING is going to get done and even everything I think is ready will just fall apart... I'm really fun at parties too!
And I'm so annoyed with Honda Finance, and Honda Canada, and Whidbey Island bank, and Scotiabank... Why is it so difficult to import my car?! Why, after 7+ years as a loyal customer who has often sold others on the benefits of the company and having never once missed or even been late with a payment over the ownership or leasing of three different cars, - Why is Honda suddenly certain that if they let me take my car accross the Canadian border I will stop paying and effectively steal the car?!
I have to admit, I am the sort of customer who is extremely loyal to a good product and or service, but I am also the sort of customer who holds a grudge if you misstreat me or piss me off. I love Hondas - they're great cars, good value, reliable... but I have to say, Toyota is about as good that way... and it's looking like I'm going to have to sell this car (at a loss likely as it's pretty new) and when I go to buy a new one up in Canada - I'm leaning toward Toyota - or doing all new consumer reports research to see what else meets my needs.
Aside from the car drama, I'm sure it'll all come together in the end - I'm just at that panic stage where I'm sure NOTHING is going to get done and even everything I think is ready will just fall apart... I'm really fun at parties too!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Waiting on the moving company guy. The ferry is here I know that, but maybe he hasn't been unloaded yet. I just want this to start getting going! I think I have a place to stay at least for the first few months. Getting my car settled is going to be an ordeal, but at least I have a roof over my head when I get there!
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Thursday, September 04, 2008
So a week ago I loved the picture book I wrote. Yesterday I hated it. Today... somewhere in between. Work stress grrrrr
Now to work on it some more. . When I wrote it there was on mention of Olympics. It's pretty incidental. It's certainly not *about* the Olympics, but I'm trying to decide if the mere mention at the wrong time in relation to the summer Olympics is enough to have an editor pass on the whole thing.
Now to work on it some more. . When I wrote it there was on mention of Olympics. It's pretty incidental. It's certainly not *about* the Olympics, but I'm trying to decide if the mere mention at the wrong time in relation to the summer Olympics is enough to have an editor pass on the whole thing.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
I think I may have found the publisher I want to send the picture-book story to. I just have to work out the cover letter now. EEEK!!
And I have to work on my adult fiction book! Got a little discouraged with my writing this summer and fell off the muse-wagon a bit. I think I'm starting to get myself better together now though. I even wrote a little on it on Sunday!
And I have to work on my adult fiction book! Got a little discouraged with my writing this summer and fell off the muse-wagon a bit. I think I'm starting to get myself better together now though. I even wrote a little on it on Sunday!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)