Whether you knew it or not, I used to write fiction and poetry. Avidly. Like several stories a year, worked on several novels (almost finished one). I’ve always loved writing — that’s why my degree is in writing (English with a writing emphasis, technically). Ever since I started working as a full time technical writer, my fiction and poetry slacked off. In the past five years, I may have completed three or four...
Continue reading...Writing
“The Seeker” Sucks, part 2
In October, I wrote a comparison of the movie The Seeker to the book upon which it was allegedly based, The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper. My opinion? The movie sucked rocks and hurled chunks. I love the books and this movie was something abhorrent. Reading the comments on my earlier post made me wonder what I might find using a search engine. For example, what did Susan Cooper think of the...
Continue reading...Recent Books on Equine Archaeology/History
I’ve been looking for current publications on equine archaeology and history. You would be surprised what is out there! I found four books that covered proceedings from the International Council for Archaeozoology meeting in Durham, UK, 2002. It sounds like it would have been an awesome conference. Equids in time and space, edited by Marjan Mashkour (2006). From the description: “There are methodological as well as historical chapters dealing with problems ranging from...
Continue reading...The Seeker: Movie vs. Book (Spoilers)
I have my copy of The Dark Is Rising (both a first edition paper back and a SF book club edition with all five volumes bound together) out and I am watching The Seeker (if you search for it, you’ll find a video of the movie on Google Video). The Seeker is a recently-released adaptation of Susan Cooper’s 1974 Newberry Award-winning book, The Dark Is Rising, the second book of five in The...
Continue reading...Old Poem: Polite Conversation
I have a few magazines to whom I’m considering submitting poems. Of coruse, that means dragging out all of the old poem files and reviewing what is there. This is a poem I wrote several years ago in the middle of a conflict with a friend. It’s not my best work, but some of the imagery is interesting. Comments welcome. Polite Conversation She said she was fine her tone indicating otherwise a gathering...
Continue reading...Ugly Web Sites That Work
At my day job, we are currently redesigning the corporate Web site. I am responsible for doing most of the coding for the site. During lunch, I have been reading articles on CSS, XHTML, site design, structure, management, etc. Today, Slashdot had a link to an article at Site Reference called “The Surprising Truth About Ugly Websites,” by Mark Daoust. One interesting point that the article makes is that quite a few users...
Continue reading...Shadows
Several times over the summer I’ve though caught glimpes of a shadow-cat wandering around the house. Is it my eyesight? A left-over of the floating filiments seen in migraine-inspired sight? I’m not sure. The shape always seems to be Basette-sized, slipping around the edges of my vision. It’s comforting to think she might drop in every now and then and visit. Shadows like memories filter through the morning mist like dust particles speckling...
Continue reading...One Last Purr
Basette was my Little Black Wonder Cat. She recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge on June 11, 2004. It has been so hard to try and write anything here since that time. This blog journaled her story, the intense roller coaster ride from February through June, and beyond. Funny how treating and nursing a pet through an illness brings you closer together. She was so intensely good about everything. Basette has always been my...
Continue reading...One Last Purr
Basette purred when I picked her up during the consultation with her vet this morning. We spoke candidly about the Little Black Wonder Cat(tm): treatment options, outlook, and chances for Basette to have a normal life. She had received regular fluids to flush toxins (side effect of the kidney disease). Her glucose levels, usually stabilized by her healthy eating habits, were spiking and dropping. She didn’t feel because she wasn’t consistently interested in...
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