A fine madness at the Midnight Hour!

damedini — Tue, 31 May 2011 04:52:07 GMT

~~Weirded out~~ Pissed off

Having been on a busy Toronto street today when a fire engine tried to get to an emergency, but no one (but me) got out of the way, I posted to teh Toronto community that people should pull over. My post was deleted because "it's not Toronto related" and I was advised to post it to my own journal. Where almost all readers are living in another country. I am not amused.

So hey, readers who are not in Toronto (or don't drive) please make sure that if you do come to Toronto, or steal a car here, you pull over for emergency vehicles.

damedini — Thu, 27 May 2010 01:37:19 GMT

I finally re-read Seannan McGuire's Rozemary and Rue adn enjoyed it! So now I'm reading A Local Habitation. And liking it!
Also reading Heat Wave, by "Richard Castle". Loving that as well! It's not the rehash of the episodes that I was expecting.
Before that I adored God of the Hive, by Laurie R King, and Demon Hunts, by CE Murphy.

Book Review - On The Edge by Ilona Andrews

damedini — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:11:00 GMT

I really enjoyed this. It's a new take on modern urban fantasy, with magical and non magical worlds meeting in a between place called "the edge", where magic is weak and residents make do the best they can.

I saw most plot events coming, but with eager anticipation of how the details would be worked out. I do recommend this; it is engrossing, light and amusing reading.

Toronto area peeps!

damedini — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:45:41 GMT

I have to rave again about Caeli Cottage!!!!! It's on Queen East, near Leslie (end of Gardiner). Good ambience (not fancy, very earthy but perfect), OMG fabulous burgers. Seriously, Best Evar! Fabu beer, cider and whisky selection. And tonight, the best, most perfect pie pastry I've had in a restaurant. Crisply flaky, light and yum! elizalavelle and I had the burger du jour (she had swiss and mushrooms, I just had Swiss), which comes with salad. She had sticky toffee pudding, I had the Bailey's chocolate tart.

The burgers are huge and flavorful, served simply with hot mustard and yummy cheese (different daily), green salad on the side.

This is a test.

damedini — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:12:54 GMT

Public entry so I can look without being signed in and see what my LJ is doing when I'm not the one looking at it.

This is only a test.

Had this been a real entry, it would have been locked and interesting.

Or at least locked.

Hey folks!

damedini — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:53:08 GMT

View all Toronto events on Eventful

It would rock my world if she could come here! Please push the button?

OMG HAPPY!!!!

damedini — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:27:09 GMT

Nothing earth-shattering, just the relief of a long, sunshiney weekend after too many grey weeks of hard work. I am pumped!

Plans include housework, garden stuff and a lot of aimless nothing.

damedini — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:41:03 GMT

My evening involved Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry and a pile of shimmering silk. Really, does it get any better?

More book rapture, same book!

damedini — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:55:21 GMT

Finished Street Magic, by Caitlin Kittredge tonight. It ended way too soon! Not that the story was incomplete, I just want very much more. It did end in a way that could allow a sequel and I dearly hope that one is planned!

For those who like well crafter fantasy with a goodly dose of horror, this is for you! Nothing gross, or overtly scary, just dark themes and a bit of what- if that'll leave you wondering. Kittredge crafted an excellent story and I hope for many more from her. She's now one of my must-buy authors.

New Book rapture!!!!!

damedini — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:31:18 GMT

Street Magic, by Caitlin Kittredge. Not out yet, but many many of you (looks at three Buffalo ladies!) will enjoy it muchly. It's a story set now-ish in London. Streetcop Pete has to solve a series of hideous crimes before the monster strikes again. Magic, horror, strong heroine - I can't put it down, seriously (I have it on my phone for streetcar and lunch reading and I ran my battery from full to half tongiht because I couldn't stop!). I'm about 2/3 through and I foresee a loong night reading tomorrow!

I'll let you know more when I actually finish, but this is an author whose books I will buy no matter what.

damedini — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 04:10:48 GMT

Finished the book Dreadful Skin by Cherie Priest tonight. I simply couldn't put it down for the last 100 pages. Technically it's wonderful - she takes the very difficult technique of changing character viewpoints (presenting I think a total of 6?), but does it so well that it's as easy to follow the changes as it is to follow changes in a conversation in front of you.

The story is odd (as are most of hers) and compelling. I adored it and recommend it highly.

damedini — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:02:07 GMT

Just finishing Fathom by Cherie Priest.

Bizarre, brilliant and very very weird. Read it. Especially Dicea and Bakestonedone. Just... wow.

gurgle of content

damedini — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 23:45:47 GMT

Utsi and Blueshadedlady came over for brunch. Utsi called begging a pushback on the start, which suited me. THEY CAME BEARING STARBUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'd lit a fire and baked savory* shortbread *yummers!*, plus I made a bacon and cheddar tart, and salad. Utsi brought bread, chocolate and a fruit tray!!! We sat in front of the fire and talked and ate and talked and ate and lounged and it was warm and comfy and relaxing and joy!

Now I'm going to start a load of dishes and retire into the bubble bath before an early night. I had a list of weekend projects, but they got pushed back in favor of welcome and needed happy!

With no takers on Dim Sum, I'm going to do a bit of running about tomorrow (Bux, bookstore!, Home Despot) and try to get a few things done 'round the house. Maybe Indian for din.

*ooooold cheddar with a pinch of cayenne!

Book squee!

damedini — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:17:33 GMT

In The Convent Of Little Flowers, by Indu Sundaresan broke my heart and warmed it. After I finished I had to recover a bit before posting about it. Seriously, wow. It's a collection of short stories abotu teh experiences of modern Indian people of varying circumstances. One is how the aging parents of an ungrateful child finding a heart wrenching route to peace. Another is a grown adoptee discovering that the family of her heart was family all along. I could go on but really, you should just read it. You don't have to be interested in, or knowledgable about, India to enjoy this book. Just interested in people.

Ms Sundaresan is a skilled and compelling writer, who weaves stories that are rich and layered with taste and color. I am sadly without words. I did cry. I did grin. Mostly I couldn't put it down. Which I've come to expect from her books.

Oh. My. God. SQUEEEEEEEEEEE

damedini — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:18:47 GMT

I had to share that, but I don't know if I can share the reason yet. Someone gave me something incredi-cool and I don't know if I can tell. I will if/when I can.

I can! I'm an OMG beta reader for Rachel Caine's Lord of Misrule!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Never ever before in my life!!! And I get to read it before it goes to print (to the editor?). *dies of the squee*

I also scored Feast of Fools very early after it hit shelves early!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And Tanya Huff's Valor's Trial early!!!!!!!!!!!! I just feel very lucky!

Fabulous day!

damedini — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:35:50 GMT

Friends came to visit for a fabric shopping trip and we just had so much fun. We ended up meeting another friend of theirs for nibbles and great conversation. Then I came home and vegetated. It was good. Today is gaming.

damedini — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:24:55 GMT

Work continues well. Finally getting set up and permissions organized. This morning saw the delivery of the Val day candygrams (I'd been glum because as a new hire who doesn't know many folks yet....) but I got 5!

And then my new monitor arrived! It's a 24? more inch flat widescreen! I just emailed myself a bunch of photos to be wallpaper and take advantage of such a screen! Then my boss and I crawled around under my desk, rearranging things at her insistence to make them more comfortable for me! And we had to go foraging for things as well. The building is very old and lacks adequate outlets. Guys are coming in this weekend to add more, but meanwhile there are a bazillion extension cords all over. And now my desk is comfy! And I'm informed I get moved soon to a better spot.

Also this morning was brightened by someone in the work neighborhood spraypainting snowbanks with hearts and flowers and joy!

Tomorrow I get to push the party wagon! Fridays there's a "Snack cart" with beer wine and nibblies that makes the rounds. Every employee takes a turn and new hires are tagged right away so they get known. Sounds good to me! I hope I don't crash, since I'll get first dibs on the wine.

Today is made of win

damedini — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:13:39 GMT

Not so much at the outset. TK couldn't be got out of bed for love or money. No threat, no way. Sadly, he's too big to manhandle. But we eventually got out the door.
At work I discovered it was the holiday lunch. There had been several dates "marked" and I never did work out which was the final choice. So a nice two hour lunch involving steak and dark chocolate flourless torte was had. And, Bonus! the guy I got a ride with had to stop somewhere and there was a Starbucks right there looking forlorn. I went in a got a chai (chai chai chai goodness!!!!!!!!!). Is better now.

damedini — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:40:54 GMT

Today is a wool socks and roaring fire kind of day, all grey skies, falling temps and drizzle. And I had planned to work from home, too. But TK was ill yesterday afternoon, so I was at home with him and thus feel obliged to be here today. Humph! For reasons passing understanding I failed to notice that I was wearing flipflops and now suffer for my folly.

Well, I didn't work at home yesterday afternoon, taking an apparently much needed nap instead and working hard in the evening. Did get a bunch done.

Sadly, I have meetings tomorrow and Thursday, so I'm obliged to be here, but Friday is a possibility. And I will by cracky work from home next week at least one day. I get SO much more done. And I love it.

damedini — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 11:51:38 GMT

I could have lived with out 7am jackhammers. Really.

I was wrong

damedini — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 01:57:42 GMT

when I said my arms were sore.

O
M
H
*whimper*
PAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the tendons that run along the tops of my forearms to my fingers. left arm: from elbow to ring finger. right arm: less finger specific but equally ouch.

Accomplishment!

damedini — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:17:19 GMT

My back fence has been in dire straits for some time. I could not find how it was held upright in the first place, so I could neither repair or reinforce this. Finally, this weekend, the winds were strong enough that they displaced the bottom of the fence. Yes, the bottom of the 4x4 fence posts were not anchored in the ground. No concrete, no spikes, no nothing. There is a 6x6 that lies along the ground, which the fence abuts, but there is no evidence of nails or screws to that. Nothing. *sigh*

Well, I got into a brainstorming session with the guys at the lumberyard. They suggested a spike, but I doubted my ability to get the fence into its socket intact. So I ended up with t-strap [ed: utsisays she knows this material as t-bar], an iron rod with a t-shaped cross section. It was seven feet high. The fence is five. I hammered two feet of tstrap into the ground right against the fence post (havig hammered the fence back into position, top and bottom, first) with a twenty pound sledge. TG for TK's stool, but I was still hammering over my head and with a twenty pounder, that's a chore.

But it's done and I have a second tstrap for the neighbor's side of the gate. To be dealt with later. I also hammered 6" nails through the 4x4 into the 6x6 to anchor that a bit better. Then nailed the tstrap to the 4x4. Then I pounded all the displaced boards back into place.

I feel so macho. Roahr! [ed: very sore arms]

Now to finish my work-work. *sigh* Laundry would be good too.

damedini — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 23:29:35 GMT

Pshew! I missed something key in the stupid, overly complex documentation, but I caught it. I need to think out how to incorporate it, but the issue is more a puxxle than a problem. Stupid documentation. We hates it.

Fire in the fireplace, Acorn squash bakking into mushy spicy joy (halved and seeded with butter, seasoning and an herb mix), the most gorgeous bread EVAR on the board and a warm blankie for my chilly toes. I still have all the windows wide because, though it's getting nippy, the air is so lovely.

My day rocked in a solitary, quiet kind of way. I spent the noons at Starbucks reading magazines I'd not had time for, then the bread bakery (I love that my neighborhood's so trendy - we get the best little shops!), then a quick grocery run. Since then I've been quiet - dutifully doing dishes (though I love both new sets so much that it's not as much a chore) and puttering. The Becoming-rotten cat did not escape today. She has a box lid that she's fond of sitting in and has spent much of her day sitting.

I am going to eat my squash when it's done, and I am debating between my book (Laurie King) and any number of movies. There will of course be a bubble bath. I intend to do laundry tomorrow and more work in my room. Have to eliminate the wardrobe and get that last patch of wall painted. I will work out the brown and metallic for the moldings this week and get them painted next weekend.

I *have* to fix my fence, but need an extra pair of hands. Anyone?

Book review

damedini — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 05:05:23 GMT

The Furies of Calderone, Jim Butcher (yes, Jim Bitcher of The Dresden Files)

Wow. And wow. I started this as my "at work" book, meaning that I expected to read it for 15 minutes a day at lunch. Wrong-o. It just held me by the throat, too engrossed to warm my cold tub, for over 150 pages. 2.5 hours.

The characters were sympathetic and interesting, but not too cosy. No Mary-Sues to mar the suspense. A high fantasy novel, this one avoided the trite and the expected. No silk-clad nobles, elves or earnest do-gooders. It was peopled with real soldiers, farners and hard working plain people. Magic yes, battles, strange creatures, but all grittily real. Even the monsters. I ... words fail. Read this. Especially: Dicea, Bakestonedone, Maverick_weirdo, damned_colonial I think, Filkerdave, sherrian.

damedini — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 19:17:06 GMT

I suppose that biting co-workers would be a CLM*

*Career Limiting Move