Things and stuff
The reason for my silence: I've been busy in sirjulian's LJ. Sir Julian is a creation of belluthien. She is writing of his life and times. I began reading it at the beginning of October. Yvette asked for constructive criticism and input from her friends. Well, I know that sometimes what people ask for and what they really want are two different things. You are criticizing a creation, a child. So I began tentatively, and found her to be very receptive. So I got a little bolder. She is still receptive! It takes a strong person to open oneself up for this kind of thing, but Yvette, you rock!
I'm no writer, but I am finding that if allowed, I can take someone else's idea and help them improve it. We have discussed technical things like grammar and usage. We have also discussed logistical issues like making sure your main character eats now and then ;), what’s appropriate for the era, and how to get daylight into a hidden room. That was fun (Yeah, I’m a geek - what can I say). We have worked on character development and pacing. I’ve been very careful to avoid changing her story too much; it’s still and will remain completely her story. But it’s nice to be able to offer advice and really have it appreciated and used. That can be a rare thing.
Now I have read everything she has written so far, and wait patiently while she reworks things based on suggestions from me, as well as her husband, father, and a few others. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of it.
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How are we?
I am taking antibiotics, which are leaving a nasty taste in my mouth. I’ve had fluid in my ears for a couple of months now. I had hoped they would clear up on their own once allergy season ended, but it’s been so warm this fall, I think the season lasted much longer than usual.
Sydney’s eating habits are erratic. He’s still way too thin, but whatever caused him to lose weight in the first place isn’t going away. He has his good days and bad ones. He certainly sleeps better because he’s too deaf to be awakened easily.
My parents are putting an addition on their house. It’s like an apartment except no kitchen. This will get the washer and dryer out of the basement and a bathroom on the first floor. Then Paul and Ashley are going to move in to the main house with their 3 kids. Paul thinks he can get a job at the prison since several employees there are close to retirement age. It will get him out of the overly-political environment of the prison he works at now, and it will get the whole family out of a very expensive part of the country to live in. I think it will be especially good for the kids. Alexis is looking forward to having her own garden with Grandpa. The addition is on a fast track and may be done before the end of the year.
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I love this quote from J.K. Rowling after all the talk by the superstitious Christians about how evil her books are:
"I go to church myself," she declared. "I don't take any responsibility for the lunatic fringes of my own religion."
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This is for homefryes (this is such a minor HP book 7 spoiler that it’s not worth worrying about)
In front of a full house of hardcore Potter fans at Carnegie Hall in New York, Rowling, sitting on the stage on a red velvet and carved wood throne, read from her seventh and final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," then took questions. One fan asked whether Albus Dumbledore, the head of the famed Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, had ever loved anyone. Rowling smiled. "Dumbledore is gay, actually," replied Rowling as the audience erupted in surprise. She added that, in her mind, Dumbledore had an unrequited love affair with Gellert Grindelwald, Voldemort's predecessor who appears in the seventh book. After several minutes of prolonged shouting and clapping from astonished fans, Rowling added. "I would have told you earlier if I knew it would make you so happy."
It’s funny, I’m not really surprised. It makes sense actually. We learn so much about Dumbledore’s past in this book, but no mention at all about his having a love life.
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On a serious note, I’m linking a post by homefryes here because I know how much this affected him. It’s a beautiful tribute, Don.
Gina Tenney - 1966-1985
I'm no writer, but I am finding that if allowed, I can take someone else's idea and help them improve it. We have discussed technical things like grammar and usage. We have also discussed logistical issues like making sure your main character eats now and then ;), what’s appropriate for the era, and how to get daylight into a hidden room. That was fun (Yeah, I’m a geek - what can I say). We have worked on character development and pacing. I’ve been very careful to avoid changing her story too much; it’s still and will remain completely her story. But it’s nice to be able to offer advice and really have it appreciated and used. That can be a rare thing.
Now I have read everything she has written so far, and wait patiently while she reworks things based on suggestions from me, as well as her husband, father, and a few others. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of it.
-------------------------
How are we?
I am taking antibiotics, which are leaving a nasty taste in my mouth. I’ve had fluid in my ears for a couple of months now. I had hoped they would clear up on their own once allergy season ended, but it’s been so warm this fall, I think the season lasted much longer than usual.
Sydney’s eating habits are erratic. He’s still way too thin, but whatever caused him to lose weight in the first place isn’t going away. He has his good days and bad ones. He certainly sleeps better because he’s too deaf to be awakened easily.
My parents are putting an addition on their house. It’s like an apartment except no kitchen. This will get the washer and dryer out of the basement and a bathroom on the first floor. Then Paul and Ashley are going to move in to the main house with their 3 kids. Paul thinks he can get a job at the prison since several employees there are close to retirement age. It will get him out of the overly-political environment of the prison he works at now, and it will get the whole family out of a very expensive part of the country to live in. I think it will be especially good for the kids. Alexis is looking forward to having her own garden with Grandpa. The addition is on a fast track and may be done before the end of the year.
-------------------------
I love this quote from J.K. Rowling after all the talk by the superstitious Christians about how evil her books are:
"I go to church myself," she declared. "I don't take any responsibility for the lunatic fringes of my own religion."
-------------------------
This is for homefryes (this is such a minor HP book 7 spoiler that it’s not worth worrying about)
In front of a full house of hardcore Potter fans at Carnegie Hall in New York, Rowling, sitting on the stage on a red velvet and carved wood throne, read from her seventh and final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," then took questions. One fan asked whether Albus Dumbledore, the head of the famed Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, had ever loved anyone. Rowling smiled. "Dumbledore is gay, actually," replied Rowling as the audience erupted in surprise. She added that, in her mind, Dumbledore had an unrequited love affair with Gellert Grindelwald, Voldemort's predecessor who appears in the seventh book. After several minutes of prolonged shouting and clapping from astonished fans, Rowling added. "I would have told you earlier if I knew it would make you so happy."
It’s funny, I’m not really surprised. It makes sense actually. We learn so much about Dumbledore’s past in this book, but no mention at all about his having a love life.
-------------------------
On a serious note, I’m linking a post by homefryes here because I know how much this affected him. It’s a beautiful tribute, Don.
Gina Tenney - 1966-1985