Anne McCaffrey was the first fantasy author I read. I fell in love with the Dragons of Pern and had to have the entire series no matter what.
The Crystal Singer was also one of my fav reads. I've read her work repeatedly over the years, and I found inspiration within those pages.
Anne, along with the late Andre Norton, sparked my imganiation to write on my own stories. I've never written of dragons, nor of telepaths or sentient ships. I chose my own worlds to build, but it is thanks to Anne that I first felt the urge.
Ms McCaffrey was a great exponent of paying it forward, guiding careers and co-authoring with Elizabeth Moon, Mercedes Lackey and Jody Lynn Nye to name three.
I always thought she should have been made a Grand Master of the genre years ago rather than in 2005 - but that's just me.
Today, an astonishing talent has passed and leaves the world poorer. But her body of work will live on.
As my Nano reward, I'm going to re-read her collection and appreciate her art all over again.
Showing posts with label Woe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Woe. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Fed Up
...with the freezing of Google Chrome. I don't know why it kept doing it, but I finally dumped it for Firefox. I did try a number of fixes, including at least two virus hunts - all failed after I did routine maintenance and started up the search engine again.
The only problem was the loss of all my bookmarks [insert much cursing] and I have to remember them and re-bookmark; I'm sure I shall fail.
Now, I shall get back to the remembering.
The only problem was the loss of all my bookmarks [insert much cursing] and I have to remember them and re-bookmark; I'm sure I shall fail.
Now, I shall get back to the remembering.
Friday, October 01, 2010
Death of a Great
Bernard Schwartz has died of a cardiac arrest at the age of 85.
I remember him with fondness - he was an actor I crushed on, many, many people crushed on him.
Who is Bernard? Trivial Pursuit players know, but his stage name is Tony Curtis.
I loved his movies. Suppose They Gave A War and Nobody Came?, The Persuaders with Roger Moore, Some Like It Hot weirded me out a little, Taras Bulba, The Great Race, The Defiant Ones... so many great films.
The black hair and mischievous eyes, buff bod (when he was younger).
His daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis, says it perfectly:
"My father leaves behind a legacy of great performances in movies and in his paintings and assemblages. He leaves behind children and their families who loved him and respected him and a wife and in-laws who were devoted to him. He also leaves behind fans all over the world. He will be greatly missed."
I know I'll watch re-runs of his movies on the teev.
I remember him with fondness - he was an actor I crushed on, many, many people crushed on him.
Who is Bernard? Trivial Pursuit players know, but his stage name is Tony Curtis.
I loved his movies. Suppose They Gave A War and Nobody Came?, The Persuaders with Roger Moore, Some Like It Hot weirded me out a little, Taras Bulba, The Great Race, The Defiant Ones... so many great films.
The black hair and mischievous eyes, buff bod (when he was younger).
His daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis, says it perfectly:
"My father leaves behind a legacy of great performances in movies and in his paintings and assemblages. He leaves behind children and their families who loved him and respected him and a wife and in-laws who were devoted to him. He also leaves behind fans all over the world. He will be greatly missed."
I know I'll watch re-runs of his movies on the teev.
Monday, April 05, 2010
Ginger rules
Uh, huh. Felled by food poisoning. Not so bad... now; a good dose of ginger marmalade on an English muffin and I'm near cured. It's the ginger, a natural nausea suppressant that dates back hundreds of years. For some, it's used to treat seasickness and in Asia, the common cold by making a tea. Should I contract a cold this winter, I'm giving it a try. I hate being sick - it's unproductive and makes me snarky.
Australia also went off Daylight Savings Time this weekend. Which means I'm up before sunrise and earlier than I want. I just can't sleep in that 'extra' hour. It takes as long to get used to standard time as it did getting used to DST back in... whenever (I swear they keep changing the dates just to piss people off). It used to be from the end of October to the end of February - now it's the beginning of October to to the end of March. Who makes the decision to muck around with time anyway? Time is time; it's relative, it flies, it's now.
It's time I got some work done...
Australia also went off Daylight Savings Time this weekend. Which means I'm up before sunrise and earlier than I want. I just can't sleep in that 'extra' hour. It takes as long to get used to standard time as it did getting used to DST back in... whenever (I swear they keep changing the dates just to piss people off). It used to be from the end of October to the end of February - now it's the beginning of October to to the end of March. Who makes the decision to muck around with time anyway? Time is time; it's relative, it flies, it's now.
It's time I got some work done...
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Blech
I'm feeling rather blech today. Aching joints and muscles, vague nausea and tired enough to want a nap. It came on around mid-morning.
Of course, the printer decided to join the desktop computer in the graveyard. sigh. Right in the middle of printing out a manuscript to edit and on the long weekend.
If I didn't have visitors, I'd curl up under the duvet and keep the world at bay. But... I do and I can't. In a few more hours, I can change the clocks back and hit the sack early; indulge in an extra hour's sleep tomorrow.
I hope this doesn't get any worse - I'm rarely sick and I have no idea where I got this dreaded Lurgy. Gotta go throw up now. Just talk amongst yourselves...
Of course, the printer decided to join the desktop computer in the graveyard. sigh. Right in the middle of printing out a manuscript to edit and on the long weekend.
If I didn't have visitors, I'd curl up under the duvet and keep the world at bay. But... I do and I can't. In a few more hours, I can change the clocks back and hit the sack early; indulge in an extra hour's sleep tomorrow.
I hope this doesn't get any worse - I'm rarely sick and I have no idea where I got this dreaded Lurgy. Gotta go throw up now. Just talk amongst yourselves...
Monday, September 21, 2009
Bad Days
Suffice to say it's been a brutal few days.
All I will say is that Saxon was sick, she died in my arms and I'm still really upset. I'll be picking up her ashes on Thursday and then attending the funeral of a family friend's father. As I said, a brutal few days.
I now understand the idea of working, of concentrating on other things, to take your mind off tragedy.
I'm waiting for the third disaster, but I really hope it doesn't happen.
All I will say is that Saxon was sick, she died in my arms and I'm still really upset. I'll be picking up her ashes on Thursday and then attending the funeral of a family friend's father. As I said, a brutal few days.
I now understand the idea of working, of concentrating on other things, to take your mind off tragedy.
I'm waiting for the third disaster, but I really hope it doesn't happen.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
The karma fairy
Some days it just doesn't pay to get out of bed, or at least go anywhere.
Thursday is my go-into-town-and-shop-day. The traffic - and I should point out that I live in the country, so when I say 'traffic', I usually mean one or two cars ahead of me, maybe three during peak hour - was a bit slow; it took a little over half an hour for a normal twenty minute drive.
But, I no complain. There were plenty of parking spaces in the local town, no problem... but...
I go to my coffee shop for my tasty little bottle of coffee cordial; tiramisu flavour. It's a treat for me and I have to ration it or I'd consume way wa-ay too much of the stuff. The lady behind the counter informs me the company has decided to stop making it. This is shattering news to me. What will I have now? Sigh. I bought the last two bottles in the shop and moved on, heartbroken.
I'm sure everyone who's ever been shopping has stood in line and had people line up behind them because the person at the counter is a) rummaging around for cash, b) trying to find a credit card that works, c) wants to exchange the item they have because this one is damaged, or d) all of the above.
For me, it was c). But, I no complain; it happens. Cue second check out chick who just arrived: "If you'd like to come to this register?" And everyone behind me makes a dash.
Normally, I roll my eyes and wait patiently. As I said: it happens.
Next shop, however, b) happens. The second register opens and everyone behind me makes a dash, leaving me nonplussed. Twice? In one day?
Next shop, and it's a new one: Five check outs are open and I figure I'm safe. One of the check out machines blows a gasket. Ahead of me, the customer presents the items and says someone else is paying for them. Oh, right... but the check out chick doesn't know how to do it and the line behind me is growing. The check out lady next to me says... "If you'd all like to come to this register?"
And I am left gobsmacked. Once, well, it happens; twice I think is bad luck, but three times? Talk about being run over by the karma fairy!
I admit it, I sulked, went off and bought some books and I can say no-one got in my way during the fifteen minutes it took me to drive home.
So now, I'm going to put my feet up and read one, damn it. Surely I can't get into any trouble doing that?
Thursday is my go-into-town-and-shop-day. The traffic - and I should point out that I live in the country, so when I say 'traffic', I usually mean one or two cars ahead of me, maybe three during peak hour - was a bit slow; it took a little over half an hour for a normal twenty minute drive.
But, I no complain. There were plenty of parking spaces in the local town, no problem... but...
I go to my coffee shop for my tasty little bottle of coffee cordial; tiramisu flavour. It's a treat for me and I have to ration it or I'd consume way wa-ay too much of the stuff. The lady behind the counter informs me the company has decided to stop making it. This is shattering news to me. What will I have now? Sigh. I bought the last two bottles in the shop and moved on, heartbroken.
I'm sure everyone who's ever been shopping has stood in line and had people line up behind them because the person at the counter is a) rummaging around for cash, b) trying to find a credit card that works, c) wants to exchange the item they have because this one is damaged, or d) all of the above.
For me, it was c). But, I no complain; it happens. Cue second check out chick who just arrived: "If you'd like to come to this register?" And everyone behind me makes a dash.
Normally, I roll my eyes and wait patiently. As I said: it happens.
Next shop, however, b) happens. The second register opens and everyone behind me makes a dash, leaving me nonplussed. Twice? In one day?
Next shop, and it's a new one: Five check outs are open and I figure I'm safe. One of the check out machines blows a gasket. Ahead of me, the customer presents the items and says someone else is paying for them. Oh, right... but the check out chick doesn't know how to do it and the line behind me is growing. The check out lady next to me says... "If you'd all like to come to this register?"
And I am left gobsmacked. Once, well, it happens; twice I think is bad luck, but three times? Talk about being run over by the karma fairy!
I admit it, I sulked, went off and bought some books and I can say no-one got in my way during the fifteen minutes it took me to drive home.
So now, I'm going to put my feet up and read one, damn it. Surely I can't get into any trouble doing that?
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sick? Nah, just old
Ah, yes. The cool sun moves slowly across a painfully blue sky, a light breeze brings the scent of wood smoke from chimneys, the sound of busy birds going about their daily business, the hush of waves on the shore and the spasmodic hiccups of the computer...
Just another glorious day on the coast.
Back up a minute, the what-ups of the... uh,oh; this can't be good.
This desktop unit is five years old. Yep, and some parts are even older. I'm guessing the Microsoft updates aren't compatible any longer and the computer is struggling to keep up or match what's happening out there in techno-land.
But what do you do with hardware that still works as it is, even though it's nearly an antique compared to what's on the market these days? I'm not a fan of replacing something just because it's old.
We had, until a couple of years ago, a waffle-maker bought in Germany when my Dad was based in England. It was thirty-plus years old before it turned up its toes and failed. The Kenwood mixer - bought at the same time - is still in use and shows no sign of stopping.
It's a sad comment that, in today's society, products don't last as long, nor does the technology when something newer and shinier comes along. How many people actually understand, let alone use, everything their mobile phone, pda, DVDR, cable set-top box does?
I recall being part of a test group used by my former government department, to decide which software package was the best for the staff: the new WordPerfect or current Microsoft Word? As a desktop publisher and journo, I duly put both through their paces and followed up with questions to staff.
The result? Seventy-five percent of people would use less than 25% of WordPerfect's capabilities and Microsoft came in at about 50-50. My results mattered not a jot. WordPerfect was the one they chose because it was newer and had a more attractive interface.
Then the IT complaints came in about staff not using WordPerfect to its full potential and how... different... it was to use. The Department then had to spend lotsa money training staff.
If they'd stuck with Microsoft Word and just updated it, money and time would have been saved.
But back to the computer. It's old and not getting any younger. I also have a laptop. It's loaded with Vista which sucks, so I sometimes avoid it.
The bottom line is I love my desktop unit, XP platform and all. I'm comfortable with it, physical size and all. I don't want anything else when I sit down to work. It isn't broke so there's no need to fix it. (Out and about, fine, I'll take the laptop - at home, I want to sit at my desk.)
Yet, I'll have to upgrade to a faster, shinier, newer unit. Again. A week without its comforting idiosyncrasies; it's humming and occasional beep, it's red flashing light and skip when I play cds.
With all the hiccups and pauses and odd noises, I don't think it's Swine Flu, nor a bad case of dementia; chances are, the next thing I see is The Blue Screen of DEATH. That's what happened last time and I lost a complete manuscript in the change-over.
Upgrade it is. Sigh. Maybe a new system will write what I mean, not what I've keyed in... something to think about, techno-geeks.
Just another glorious day on the coast.
Back up a minute, the what-ups of the... uh,oh; this can't be good.
This desktop unit is five years old. Yep, and some parts are even older. I'm guessing the Microsoft updates aren't compatible any longer and the computer is struggling to keep up or match what's happening out there in techno-land.
But what do you do with hardware that still works as it is, even though it's nearly an antique compared to what's on the market these days? I'm not a fan of replacing something just because it's old.
We had, until a couple of years ago, a waffle-maker bought in Germany when my Dad was based in England. It was thirty-plus years old before it turned up its toes and failed. The Kenwood mixer - bought at the same time - is still in use and shows no sign of stopping.
It's a sad comment that, in today's society, products don't last as long, nor does the technology when something newer and shinier comes along. How many people actually understand, let alone use, everything their mobile phone, pda, DVDR, cable set-top box does?
I recall being part of a test group used by my former government department, to decide which software package was the best for the staff: the new WordPerfect or current Microsoft Word? As a desktop publisher and journo, I duly put both through their paces and followed up with questions to staff.
The result? Seventy-five percent of people would use less than 25% of WordPerfect's capabilities and Microsoft came in at about 50-50. My results mattered not a jot. WordPerfect was the one they chose because it was newer and had a more attractive interface.
Then the IT complaints came in about staff not using WordPerfect to its full potential and how... different... it was to use. The Department then had to spend lotsa money training staff.
If they'd stuck with Microsoft Word and just updated it, money and time would have been saved.
But back to the computer. It's old and not getting any younger. I also have a laptop. It's loaded with Vista which sucks, so I sometimes avoid it.
The bottom line is I love my desktop unit, XP platform and all. I'm comfortable with it, physical size and all. I don't want anything else when I sit down to work. It isn't broke so there's no need to fix it. (Out and about, fine, I'll take the laptop - at home, I want to sit at my desk.)
Yet, I'll have to upgrade to a faster, shinier, newer unit. Again. A week without its comforting idiosyncrasies; it's humming and occasional beep, it's red flashing light and skip when I play cds.
With all the hiccups and pauses and odd noises, I don't think it's Swine Flu, nor a bad case of dementia; chances are, the next thing I see is The Blue Screen of DEATH. That's what happened last time and I lost a complete manuscript in the change-over.
Upgrade it is. Sigh. Maybe a new system will write what I mean, not what I've keyed in... something to think about, techno-geeks.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Not so good
Yes, it's been a few days - sorry about that - but I'm still hacking up some gruesome stuff (I don't think I'll go there, it makes me slightly nauseous thinking about it).
The good news is the joint aches have gone, I don't have a sniffle (didn't get one, in fact), but there's still the wicked cough. From my research (the internet can be a dangerous thing), I have a lower respiratory tract infection - in the bronchials.
With lots of fluids and rest, I should be fine in a couple of days. This heat and humidity doesn't help - who wants to dress warmly to keep away the draft at night when all you wanna do is run around nekkid to keep cool? And there's an image I'm sure you didn't need!
Oh, and antibiotics won't help because it ain't that bad. Death's door I tell you... Death's. Door! Yeah, you guessed it: I don't do 'sick' very well. But, jeez, I want to hunt down that mongrel who coughed on me!
More fluids, more paracetamol, and suckin' on lozenges. Should be as right as rain in a coupla days.
The good news is the joint aches have gone, I don't have a sniffle (didn't get one, in fact), but there's still the wicked cough. From my research (the internet can be a dangerous thing), I have a lower respiratory tract infection - in the bronchials.
With lots of fluids and rest, I should be fine in a couple of days. This heat and humidity doesn't help - who wants to dress warmly to keep away the draft at night when all you wanna do is run around nekkid to keep cool? And there's an image I'm sure you didn't need!
Oh, and antibiotics won't help because it ain't that bad. Death's door I tell you... Death's. Door! Yeah, you guessed it: I don't do 'sick' very well. But, jeez, I want to hunt down that mongrel who coughed on me!
More fluids, more paracetamol, and suckin' on lozenges. Should be as right as rain in a coupla days.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Well this sucks!
I've got a touch of 'flu. I know this because I have the achin' bones, the stab of pain every time I cough and I generally feel like a bucket 'o shit without the bucket.
I also figured I'd sweat the bug out - we are at the beginning of a four day heatwave - and decided to work in the garden before the temperature rose too high. First up, a bit of trimming off some... plant or other. (I'm botanically challenged so I've no idea what it was.) Somehow, I managed to break the long bladed snipper things. It wasn't as if the dead sticky-things were that thick! Right. Okay. I'll mow instead.
I worked up a nice sweat as I did row after row until... zzzt, pop, flash and a gout of blue smoke rose from the mower. Of course, it wouldn't start again and the lawn now looks like a failed attempt at writing something rude for the satellites.
Obviously, I wasn't meant to work in the garden today, but there's no way I'm taking to my bed and mope; I just can't do it. I do feel better for the effort in the garden though, not so... achy. Maybe there's something to this sweat cure.
So I sat in front of the computer and edited the Nano book - for which I still don't have a title! I discovered it's not a good idea when you're feeling under the weather. I suck at first pages.
I thought it was a good idea at the time, but nope. Sucks. Alot. Even the new pages I wrote aren't going to reach the luminary heights of literature - or pass my own strict protocols. sigh.
I think I'll just take some more medication and mooch in front of the telly before I have to go to work. Someone there gave me this heinous bug, but I'll be careful not to pass it on.
I also figured I'd sweat the bug out - we are at the beginning of a four day heatwave - and decided to work in the garden before the temperature rose too high. First up, a bit of trimming off some... plant or other. (I'm botanically challenged so I've no idea what it was.) Somehow, I managed to break the long bladed snipper things. It wasn't as if the dead sticky-things were that thick! Right. Okay. I'll mow instead.
I worked up a nice sweat as I did row after row until... zzzt, pop, flash and a gout of blue smoke rose from the mower. Of course, it wouldn't start again and the lawn now looks like a failed attempt at writing something rude for the satellites.
Obviously, I wasn't meant to work in the garden today, but there's no way I'm taking to my bed and mope; I just can't do it. I do feel better for the effort in the garden though, not so... achy. Maybe there's something to this sweat cure.
So I sat in front of the computer and edited the Nano book - for which I still don't have a title! I discovered it's not a good idea when you're feeling under the weather. I suck at first pages.
I thought it was a good idea at the time, but nope. Sucks. Alot. Even the new pages I wrote aren't going to reach the luminary heights of literature - or pass my own strict protocols. sigh.
I think I'll just take some more medication and mooch in front of the telly before I have to go to work. Someone there gave me this heinous bug, but I'll be careful not to pass it on.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Sara Douglass
Well, bugger.
If I hadn't been in my own little world, I would have known THIS!
I don't read Sara Douglass, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate her talent or her legion of fans who love her work.
You need to send her a supporting email at sde(at)oldlondonmaps(dot)com and lend an emotional helping hand.
One of my eldest brother's friend from his uni days lost his wife to ovarian cancer and I buy a daffodil in her memory every year. She was a lovely woman who was always interested in what I was doing, a delight to chat to on a number of subjects and had a witty sense of humour. Co-incidentally, her name was Sarah.
Send an email; show your support to Sara and let her know you're thinking good thoughts for her.
If I hadn't been in my own little world, I would have known THIS!
I don't read Sara Douglass, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate her talent or her legion of fans who love her work.
You need to send her a supporting email at sde(at)oldlondonmaps(dot)com and lend an emotional helping hand.
One of my eldest brother's friend from his uni days lost his wife to ovarian cancer and I buy a daffodil in her memory every year. She was a lovely woman who was always interested in what I was doing, a delight to chat to on a number of subjects and had a witty sense of humour. Co-incidentally, her name was Sarah.
Send an email; show your support to Sara and let her know you're thinking good thoughts for her.
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