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January 2023

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I haven't made a post since the 9th of June. It isn't that I haven't been around--twitter and email have just been where I've been hanging out, when I have felt up to it. Mostly, this is because I have been sick with the most horrible cold I have ever had in my life. I don't get sick that often, but when I do, I fall like a dead trunk. A dead tree trunk struck by lightening.

A week ago Friday night, my little English Springer Spaniel, Claire, died unexpectedly.

She was getting on in years, but was only 12, so seeing her rapid decline (we're talking about 3 hours total here) was shocking. She died before I could get dressed to take her to the ER--it happened that fast, with me, my son, and my two huskies there with her. It has been (as it always is) interesting to see how the change in pack dynamics influences how the huskies behave. Maddox? Not so much, but Shelby has been wildly affectionate and silly. Is she glad Claire is gone? Maybe? She had spats with Claire, but that hadn't happened in ages. She woo'd at Claire alot that last hour--so strange, but that's Shelby.

In any case, the two are fine, I am finally almost entirely recovered. Finally.

Work has been nuts--we're still several people short, the admin we wanted took another job, I still miss Jeremy and Cody like crazy beans, the stupid stupid idiots. It is so quiet, and we are very busy. I am working on a project that is a wee bit boring (researching 38 crossings in Seattle, WA), but watching shows helps.

But Kevin, Chris, Juan and I are enjoying soccer talk, as we're all into it. Watching Italy vs. New Zealand. I had Italy 2-0, but NZ came out with a lucky(?) goal in the first seven minutes. I like this commentator, who is Scottish--he just has no patience with Italy's dramatics. Every time one falls to the ground he expresses his disgust. LOL. Nick got bored and is taking a nap. LOL. This has been a fun match to watch. Or maybe I just like the Scottish commentator?

Current reads: WARBREAKER by Brandon Sanderson, the writer who is finishing the Robert Jordan series. It is well, well done, with a lead character that has some of the best dialogue I've read in ages, and a magic system that I find entrancing.

FEED: A Zombie book by Mira Grant. I don't usually do zombie books, but this one is engrossing.

I cried to itunes about losing the GRRM audiobooks I paid so much for when my computer was stolen, and they let me redownload the first one. Not all of them, just the first. :*( But relistening to it after all these years is interesting. I hope he finishes the series, sigh. I hate the thought of not knowing what happens to all those characters.

There is so much that GRRM does in his writing that I really like--the multiple POV is something I enjoy working with, and what I am doing with AF. I think I need a new title for it though (was Altered Fates, which sounds more like science fiction than fantasy). So I will think about that.

Embracing the fantasy again has been amazing. I've pulled it apart, literally. Taken three POV's out (10 was a wee bit!), and a fourth POV has been moved from one male character to a female's character. I have taken out a huge thread as a result, but it was not a good thread, and detracted from what should be the main story. That is where I was going wrong so many years ago--I just couldn't see it. I do now. Time and finally being able to divorce myself from the bitterness surrounding this story has made it all fresh and new again, and you can bet I will not ever ever let anyone else destroy what is a good thing. Critique partners can be great, but when you land with one who has her own agenda, and let that near-destroy you, well... That's what happened to this book. And me. Stupid, huh. Absolutely it was.

Now my task is to go through what I have, smooth it out, and then take each character's thread and make each one as solid as possible. And make some other major decisions, but am feeling good about it, and I finally have several people I trust to bounce things off of. That is SWEET.

Yawn--I am feeling kind of sleepy, too. But I need to get a hair cut today! I just realized it is Sunday though--will have to wait until this afternoon. LOL.

Tags:

fantasy

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Sorry again about the pup. :(

I am lazy today.

Thanks bb... I miss her barks! It is really weird to come home and not have Claire barking, since the huskies do not bark and have absolutely zip guarding instincts.

I am about to be lazy now that the soccer match is over, and think I will snuggle into bed I got up early to watch the first one. Then, Nick abandoned me! I had to watch by myself! Hmph.

I am bore out of my skull, but writing like three different things at once. Kid is folding laundry.

I admire your kid for doing the laundry. I love that tiff does her own, but I swear between me, Kelly and the towels, it always ends up mountains tall.

I did not get to writing this weekend. This is ridiculous! Did get other stuff done so that is good.

Aw man. :( I'm so sorry about your dog. I did not now that. Reminds me of my English Cocker Spaniel, my blond little thing. :( I misse her so much. *Hugs.*

This World Cup is being ridiculously fun to watch and just plain awful at the same time. The comments on twitter and being in a different country and all makes it double exciting, as well as all the drama going on. xD But dude, most matches are just bad... I participate in a radio show with girls talking about the World Cup, and mostly I just rant. xD But anyway... Usually I'm very elitist when it comes to soccer, I much prefer to see the big guys and the bigger players making it through to the next rounds because it makes it more exciting, but I can't STAND Italy anymore. xD So yay for New Zealand!

Yeah I miss my little baby girl. Now Maddox begs alone, which is kinda sad. Shelby is not a beggar like the other two. Were. :*( No more spaniels for me though--huskies all the way for now. Although I was at the rescue site I got my Springers from... LOL.

YES WORLD CUP IS INSANE!!!!!!!! WTH? *rolls eyes* It is unreal to be guessing this badly!!! At one point I had Brazil 3-0 -- then I changed it 2-0. I REGRET! Event hen I would've got more points. oh well.

I need to do mine for tomorrow. Must not forget!

xD So yay for New Zealand!

As a former wannabekiwi, I approve of this message.

I'm sorry about your dog. *hugs*

Yay about the book though. Also you reminded me I never finished A Storm of Swords. It's still sitting in my bathroom. Hmm...

I have an evil cold now. It sucks.

Oh I hate evil colds SO MUCH. This one really got me down for way too long.

I love listening to these while I work. Makes it easier to slug through, though it is a fun slugfest. :)

Thanks babe on the puppy. She was a good girl.

I'm so sorry about your dog. *hugs*

But it's good to hear that your writing is going well. &hearts

Thanks Cats. Sigh, she is missed.

It is ABOUT to go well...mostly I've been whipping it with my evil cutting pen. But getting there.

I'm so sorry about Claire. Losing pets is wrenching since it is truly unconditional love on both sides.

She was a great pupster. She got alot more years than her original owner intended, that is for sure--she had been thrown over the fence of the Houston SPCA, dying of heartworms and more during that flood ten years or so ago. Thankfully she wasn't hurt (somehow) and we got her. :)

Glad she found her way to you!

I was so sorry to hear about your spaniel. Losing a pet is always hard and that was so sudden. :(

I'm glad the writing is going well though.

Thanks Helen--she wasn't supposed to go right before our eyes like that! But I am glad it was fast and we were here. I just was slow to realize exactly what was happening. :*(

So sorry to hear about Claire, hon.

She was a good puppy-girl. Very smart too! If real life hadn't been so difficult when she was young (during my spouse's illness) she would've been a great one for training to do agility, or get her Good Dog certification, etc. My two huskies are simply too dorky to achieve anything like that. :)

Hugs again for you and the huskies and peace to Claire.

And to you and your baby girl, too Lifty. Sad week for us both! But, we both gave our girls wonderful lives, and I am rather proud of that.

So sorry to hear about Claire. I saw something on Twitter but didn't make the connection that she had passed. I've been horrible about keeping track of you.

Jon and I caught the end of that Italy-NZ game. Good on the Kiwis for holding Italy to a tie! I'm not much of a televised sports fan at all, but we agree that the Scottish commentator was the best part of the show.

That was a crazy match! And I LOVED that Scottish commentator! :)

Me too!

I am so sorry about Claire!

I liked the premise and the characters of Warbreaker, but felt it would have been better 200 pages shorter . . . so very many scenes of basically the same thing over and over.

I'm about halfway through, and will be keeping this comment in mind. I do love Lightsong to bitty bits. I'm not a fast reader these days as I don't devote much time every day to it, but this one is definitely keeping me coming back to it. :)

And thanks--she was a great dog, was very much my spouse's girl and she missed him terribly after he was gone. She eventually became mine though, and even forgave me getting Maddox. :)

Hugs and lovin to you, C! I'm glad you were all able to be around her. And I'm sorry work is so busy!!

And your fantasy is awesome! :) (And the book by the guys finishing Robert Jordan's series is good, you say? I read a lot of the RJ series, but haven't read the new guys finishing it. I loved the first few and then the story got so out of hand. But maybe I'll check out this new guy's non-RJ book. Or tell my dad to, and then he'll loan it to me.)

See this is why I have never got into the RJ books because so many people told me exactly that. But yeah, Sanderson can weave a mean tail and wield dialogue wonderfully so I hope Jordan fans will be happy.

LOL you have only seen one tiny bit (so far?) but THANK YOU!!!!

::hugs you::

Taking out a huge thread from your fantasy story? You're a far braver woman than I!

How's the haircut looking? And why do you have to wait for the afternoon?

Hugs back, Jenny, fellow doggy-person. :)

Yup, huge thread--I will tell you about it and why, in email. You will grin at me.

No haircut! it's Sunday and the shop I go to doesn't open until after noon, but then I got lazy and didn't go, anyway. So maybe tomorrow after work. It has grown out alot, and grown uneven, and every morning is a wrestling event to get it looking right. LOL.

So sorry to hear about the pooch. :(

Thanks babe--she was a wonderful girl. Vet said having had heartworms so badly when she was young no doubt weakened her heart, and it just could not do its thing anymore. But she was great fun, quite the sweet character, smart as a whip-- I took Maddox to puppy school, and as a husky, which are notoriously hard to train (it is that catlike attitude), he failed miserably... I could come home, and in two seconds Claire would do exactly what HE was supposed to do.

We dropped out of puppy school. LOL.

I would LOVE to have a dog like her again someday, one that smart and easy to train. But not until I am husky-less, and there is so much about this breed I adore, I am not likely to make a leap back to super-trainable dog anytime soon.

I am really sorry to hear about Claire, but glad you were there at the end. ♥

I think Shelby was trying to assure you that you still had them, after Claire's passing...

I am very excited to hear about Altered Fates. I like the name. ;) But if you decide to change it, I am sure you'll think of something good.

Me too, I am glad I was. Shelby just is full of surprises, too--she lay on teh spot Claire died, and on her favorite resting spots, for several days after.

I can't think of a title!!! I hate titles. :*(

Well, I don't really think anything is wrong with Altered Fates. I don't think it is Science Fictiony, haha.
You could call it Altered Lives, Entwined Fates. Perhaps one of your beta readers can come up with a new name. ♥

Oh no! What a sweet looking dog. I didn't even know you had this dog! I thought you just had the huskies. That so very sad when they go so quickly. Glad you finally got over that awful cold.

She had slowed down quite a bit--at one point I had two springers and two huskies. Four dogs! That's alot of white paws to dry off on rainy days. Lost Scotty two years ago, and she began to dwindle and grow quieter after that. The huskies are typical huskies--very domineering of time and energy and most of all, attention.

I miss Claire snuggling up beside the bed for ear rubs--she had the best fluffy ears. :) She was a good girl and sure thought I'd have her longer. LOTS longer as we had Scotty until he was 15!

oh the pup :( she looked so sweet

i think "Altered Fates" sounds like a good fantasy title (though my brain does jump to thinking "altered states" instead LOL!)

i've been pondering original fiction recently... i might need to pick your brain at some point if you're up to it?

LOL I will ponder the opening longer--I have alot of time to do that. But yes! Altered States, I love that movie! Hmm. Hopefully I will find something better buried within it, but... maybe not. :)

Original fiction is fun to ponder! It is a lonely life compared to writing fan fiction, but you CAN have both. :) And sure! I love to chat shop. What kind of fiction do you like?

i'll have to organise my thoughts all into something coherent and email you soon - right now it's a jumble !*IDEA!kjhdfgjhawesomeMUSTwriteoohshiny!*

but it's sort of springboarded from fanfiction, and i'd like to try and carry it away from that and not fall into my fanfic writing style - which generally lacks descriptions and things necessary for original story setting

LOL I am still working on making things coherent. It is not easy. I constantly have writerly posts in mind to hammer out things, but there is so much that I would love to talk to people about, that I never get it out. This is why I have so few posts--I think too much making posts, and what to put in them so they don't happen. LOL. OY!

Springboards can be very good things. That is how I ended up with my Red, which has been a blast of a ride. So yeah, hammer it out! Sometimes just having someone to write at (lol) helps. I do that to Blue sometimes.

it's always either a matter of: i have an IDEA but no story to go with it, or i have too many stories that just will not fit all into one *thing*, and trying to sort all that out

hopefully, i'll get one this soon - writing along with wiad is helping a lot, just getting me back into MAKING WORDS

Yes, MAKE WORDS! MAKE WORDS SING!!!! I've had this idea in my head for this fantasy world for years--the whole shebang has evolved like crazy and in unexpected ways and I think maybe I needed that time to do that evolving. Your idea has a story, it just needs the time to emerge. You can do it!

I'm so sorry about your doggie.

Poor Claire.

At the end of the day, she was loved and well cared for, and that's really all we can ask. Best to the rest of you.

The World Cup...what is going ON with France?

France France, they are a mess! Last I heard the couch and someone else quit, after they sent home the player who challenged the way things were being done. The players all refuse to practice--the next match is tomorrow, so I guess maybe we'll hear something. Or not and they will forfeit, which I just can't imagine.

I really wish I could give you a HUGE HUG right now. Rough week indeed. Claire was rather blessed to have you as a friend for the time she had. I'll be thinking about you, Snookums. Love ya!

KEVVVIIIIEEE!!!

Thanks babe--she was a good one, for sure. I miss her most when I am cooking! She was my floor cleaner. :*(

CAROLYN!!!!!!!!!

Being at mom and dad's house, Lucy doesn't get to help much with the cooking...or the eating. She sits by me at the table and pouts all through dinner. She is winning them over slowly but surely though. I've seen them both hand her a snack more than once.

Not sure why my reply was anonymous, I thought I was logged in when I sent it.

The commercials I've seen for The Last Airbender make me think of AF...
If you've seen the commercials, you probably know why. ;)
I'll probably have to see it by myself because Ken's not interested. :P

Hope you're doing well. Have a good weekend!

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no way--has it really been that long? Guess so!

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