Eneit

Term 1 holidays ...

2017-04-06T10:50:02Z

It's been a bit hectic, but how in the heck have we gotten to the end of first term already? I've managed to almost complete Ep 1 of Season 3. Season 2 is nearly ready to be launched into the wide world. The boys are doing amazingly well this year. I have five new labral tears through shoulder, and life continues on :)

Emotional couple of weeks ...

2017-02-23T10:45:13Z

Last week I got the news that my cousin had died. It wasn't unexpected and it was a release from pain, and if I'm totally honest - that he survived all the dumb things to get to the age he did was remarkable, but still the news was a blow. Then I recieved a call from one of my ex's aunts (I introduce the aunts to people as my aunts, I kept them in the divorce. It's kind of true - these two elderly, very religious ladies gently and proactively, kept me in their lives.) One of the aunts had died, it was very sudden, and although I could be grateful she didn't suffer, and linger - still the loss was immense.

This week was the funerals.

For the aunt, it was a hyper religous one and a half hour long service in the beautiful old church where she had lead the choir for over sixty years. The priest had not only known her personally for many years, but had been with her when she died, having given her the last rites ... Oddly I sat in the church, and listened to this service and felt nothing. I know good things were said but the whole ceremony felt like a theatrical event, the words said by rote; meaningless, altered, stretched and sung in ways that made them near incomprehensible. There was no connection, no emotion. I, who cry at sad adverts, found myself dry eyed at the funeral service for a woman I love very much.

By comparison my cousin's funeral the next day, held at the funeral home and conducted by the funeral director who had never met my cousin, was respectful and deeply personal. My cousin had written a poem that the director read, telling us he was driving his V8 in a direction he'd never gone before; leaving his love with us always, while he went off for this very long road trip. My cousin's flaws and dumb life choices were honestly acknowledged, along with the equally deep and abiding love we had for him and the trust he'd earnt, that always kept us hoping that one day he'd beat off his demons. The mourners were invited to come up if they had anything they wished to share. So many spoke freely about their connection to him, and the loss he would be to them. There wasn't a dry eye in the room - including those of the funeral director and his staff.

writerly stuff

2017-01-26T05:17:56Z

Book 3 has been put on hiatus until the second week that the kids go back to school. Monday, I expect to be a wreck - Baby J starts high school. Tuesday looks like I'll be babysitting grandchildren. Wednesday I'll be helping my Dad plus the granddaughters start primary school. Thursday more doctors visits (for the kids, this time, not me,) plus, it's my birthday so family time is in order. Friday is potentially free, but I'm not holding out too much hope lol.

But I've seen the cover art for Book 2 making lots of gorgeous progress, hopefully the next writerly stuff will be to announce it's finally out :)

school holidays

2017-01-13T04:53:41Z

Trying to write when the boys have extended time off school ... doesn't really compute. Apart from a few bibs and bobs on the non-fiction project the most writerly thing I've been doing has been editing the books about to come out, and discussing cover art for all of Season Two with my publisher and art director.

And deal with the heat.

The year continues to take

2016-12-28T07:47:57Z

It's almost as if it wants to take some of the very best people with it. Since Rick Parfitt died three more people who inspired me, and enchanted my world when I was younger, have passed. George Michael (I wasn't a fan, but I liked the way he came across in interviews.) Richard Adams, Vera Rubin (I can't believe she was never awarded a nobel prize for her work!) Then today's news of Carrie Fisher. As a child, there were very few female leads who could kick arse when required. Leia was one of only a very few in either miovies or books, who felt real. Then Carrie Fisher emerged from Leia's shadow to be brutally honest, and funny about her life with mental illness and addiction. Carrie the person was so much more of a hero than Leia to me because yes, she was failible, no her life wasn't picture perfect, but she dealt with it through honesty and humour, and said to the world, "This is who I am, deal." This afternoon I read this, and it absolutely brought me undone.

I believe I am going to stay up to watch 2016 become 2017, just to ensure it really has gone away.

a very odd year

2016-12-26T02:01:53Z

2016 has taken so many talented people. Yesterday I woke to the news that Rick Parfitt had died, and was instantly transported back to Christmas 1978 and my almost thirteen year old self: bored on a hot, dusty summer's day so I raided my brother's albums (If You Can't Stand the Heat was the new one) and really listened to their music for the first time. This was about the time I decided to not allow my brothers to play their own records if they came home drunk. I'd get up and put the records on, and take them off. Music was too important to be treated badly, as far as I was concerned. I never had teenage crush attractions to the musicians who created the music I liked (though I did feign one on Leif Garret so as to fit in at high school.) But the music itself? I just can not imagine life without music. For me, Status Quo was a big part of that. Their music is woven around so many important milestones in my life, good memories, sad memories, their music was there.

It never worried me that they shifted at some stage to become a caberet act.That music and time wasn't what I remembered best, I was just happy for them that they were still working. But the words Status Quo to me, encompasses the albums from Dog of Two heads to Back to Back. Vale Rick, and thank you for the music.

Lurking

2016-11-19T07:16:57Z

I've been around, been reading, mostly just lurking, commenting occasionally. Realised I hadn't posted anything but just lately posts would have consisted of "I hurt" or "Kids are sick" or "bureaucracy sucks."

On that last part, however, there has been some development, and it looks like bureaucracy still sucks, but in our case it's given the approval for the second M-Cat unit. In just over eleven weeks Baby J will start high school.

I am so not ready for this.

A bit damp

2016-10-07T21:40:51Z

It's been a very wet start to Spring here. The Murrumbidgee, Murray and Ovens rivers are all in flood, you can see some photos here. Where I live was built on a clay pan, so we'll have standing water for several weeks yet, and the crops are unable to be harvested. City down stream from us on the Murray, had a breach in the town levvees last night, so waiting to hear if they've gotten everyone evacuated safely.

In personal news, despite the broken body issues, have gotten edits on Ghost Ship done, and back to publisher. Already started on Season Three of the Underground series. :) Boys have been on school holidays. Today we are planning on making white chocolate and macadamia biscuits, from a recipe which claims to make 100 biscuits. Good thing I have a large oven ...

memage, snaffled of course.

2016-09-04T02:11:05Z

Snaffled from seaivy

1. ARE YOU NAMED FOR ANYONE?
Yeah, my middle name is because of my aunt :)

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
This morning, reading of a friends loss.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yep, it's messy and hard to read.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Not a fan of lunch meats. Would prefer a lettuce leaf, filled with grated carrots and cheese in summer, or bowl of soup in winter.

5. DO YOU HAVE ANY KIDS?
I do indeed. Love them all, including the inlaw kids.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Only if I was sensible enough to keep out of my way when I needed to retreat into my hermit cave. Which, I probably would be, really.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
I have been known to do so. Occasionally. But only on days ending with a 'y'

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Possibly - if there was an imperative reason to get off the perfectly sound bridge I was standing on, otherwise, not a hope in hades.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
toasted muesli with fruit and nuts.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
I can't remember when I last was able to wear shoes that required laces. I think it was in the 90's, when I was still able to go running. Broken body limits wardrobe, so no, I do not untie my shoes before taking them off :)

12. DO YOU THINK YOU'RE STRONG?
Nope.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Macadamia. Always one of my favourites.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
That they are in my space. Then I need to work out if I have to interact with them, then I look at them.

15. RED OR PINK?
Purple. Although, if it's blood, then red - purple blood would be a sign of something seriously wrong.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF?
So ... do you want to know what I dislike about myself, or out of all my favourite things, what is last on that list? I dislike the broken body, but I'm proud it's gotten me this far, and still defying medical expectations.

17. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING RIGHT NOW?
purple skirt, and none.

18. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
a handful of macadmia nuts (farmers markets yesterday, they are from a local orchard :) )

19. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The Saints (I'm) Stranded cd.

20. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Amethyst

21. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SMELL?
fresh baked bread

22. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My Dad - it is Father's day after all, so I'll be going around to visit him soon, too.

23. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH?
Pass

24. NATURAL HAIR COLOR?
Brownish-red-black/going silver. When my daughters were younger they used to say my hair was a rainbow of red lol.

25. EYE COLOR?
pale blue. Dammit, and now I've got that Velvet Underground song stuck in my head. Guess I know what cd is going on when current cd is finished.

26. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
nope

27. FAVORITE FOOD?
lots of favourites, but good pizza is always a treat.

28. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
both

29. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Galaxy Quest

30. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
black

31. SUMMER OR WINTER?
both, in summer I love winter, and in winter I love summer.

32. HUGS OR KISSES?

33. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW?

34. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSEPAD?
plain

35. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST?
documentary about the colluseum

36. FAVORITE SOUND?
my kids and grandkids laughter.

38. ROLLING STONES or THE BEATLES?
both, and Cream, and Uriah Heep, and Died Pretty, and Screaming Trees, and and and and ... I like music.

39. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE TRAVELED?
Bundaberg, Queensland.

40. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I'm brilliant at being absolutely annoying.

41. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Blackie House, Albury.

Minecraft

2016-08-30T10:17:51Z

I put off even glancing at Minecraft because I know myself, I'd get hooked and have to create all the things. After trying all sorts of lures to get me interested in it, Gelf finally said "You could even build your worlds in it - you could walk around your cities."

So, I've already created most of Maykerra, built the shuttle link system and am now starting on Belua. Then I need to create Utilis and Faern - set up the black volcanic lake, and then I can go build the other two planets :) Every time I get stuck on the correct wording, or how I want the next step to flow, instead of playing cards or faffing about on fb - I build. It's surprisingly very handy. A couple of times I've built something, and then gone back and rewritten a section of the story, because I'd missed some of the description.

Yes, I am having way too much fun with this.

John J Francis-Play Mumma Play

2016-08-28T10:51:06Z

Bits and Bobs

2016-08-26T09:36:42Z

So I finished Ghost Ship - barring an editing read through. Am creating my sci fi world in Minecraft - it's helping me sort out a few issues. Renewed and updated the website. Found out the boys don't have asthma (confirming what I thought, but the drs wanted to assess their breathing) Got sciatica on both sides, then I promptly got a virus. Started writing Season 3 as I can't edit. Then I got an email from lj telling me they'd reset my password. Hmm, hadn't requested such. When I finally managed to log in, with new password, it was only to find all the pages were now in Russian. Looked pretty, but I couldn't read it. Took a bit of finangling to get the page language set back to English. There has been much cakeness. A cake representation of the DK Mountain track from Mariokart, no less. Child was very happy.

reading programs

2016-06-09T02:04:05Z

I've been volunteering at the boys school to do a program called Reading4life. It's a 17 week program that helps kids catch up on missed reading skills. Each volunteer works with one child for the full program. The child I am working with really struggled the first few weeks. Each page read was a chore. Then he learnt I'm an author. Now I get quizzed about how many words I've written each week and what's happening with my characters. He is reading full readers each session, and has gone up three reading levels already, and we are only halfway through the program. Apparently he didn't realise people could create their own stories, and that when you read you are learning how to tell your own stories. His teacher tells me he's attempting harder writing exercises in class voluntarily.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how this little guy goes over the rest of the program, and over the rest of the year :)

coffee, music and writing

2016-06-07T13:45:36Z

My house is quiet (it's getting close to midnight, it damn well should be quiet!) I've been drinking coffee while writing. Ep 3 of Season 2 has a lot that has to happen in it, so I've had Radical Face playing in the background. Good music to write to, good beat and not too obtrusive. He's one of the very few artists I listen to while both writing and editing. Always Gold was on his 2012 release; Family Trees: The Roots. I adore the line 'You were always gold to me.'

it's definitely soup weather

2016-05-19T12:57:09Z

So I made a brocolli and ginger soup. Not entirely sure I'll make it again.

content

2016-05-14T10:07:30Z

Writing has been happening. The broken body is degenerating, but still going, and that's the main thing. Currently doing some editing, got the fire going, and boys playing quietly. Life's good

My house is quiet ...

2016-04-04T13:12:38Z

kids are asleep, Chris is asleep - he surprised me with roses when he got home from work :) I'm working, my house is quiet. Very, very quiet.

Why is my house quiet?

Because I have my terrifyingly fast, and eerily quiet new computer. I named it Jim - because hey, "It's life Jim, just not as we know it!"

Half a century

2016-03-21T12:52:16Z

As of last month, I have been on this planet for half a century. It got me thinking.

1 I'm hard on houses. I have lived in six homes in my lifetime (one of those was still 'home' despite me living in varying shared accomodation/flats etc) Only two of those houses are still standing. One of those is the house I am currently living in - and thus far it's survived a lightning strike.

2 I don't make friends easily, but I do make them deeply. Everyone I invited to share my 50th were people I considered family, despite lack of actual blood ties. :)

3 While making the play list for my 50th, it occured to me that a lot of the music I have grown up listening to, and loving, has had strong themes of enviromental care, acceptance of others, standing up for the rights of others. Add to that arguing politics with my elders when I was nine, and attending Womens Lib marches in the 70s - it's no wonder all these influences flow through to my writing.

4 My daughter has awesome taste in choosing a cake for her mother

New Years randomness

2016-01-02T06:37:31Z

Christmas was loud, obnoxious, and a lot of fun. Had nearly all the kids here for lunch, and the boys got spoilt rotten. New Years was quiet, the boys managed to stay up to watch the fireworks (yay for streamed fireworks) but were in bed asleep by 12.15 lol. So far 2016 has contained writing, research, music and food. It can continue this way, thank you :)

so ... where the heck did the year go?

2015-12-10T10:25:08Z

yeah, it's been a while. There's been computer issues (old computer went into deathroes, now playing with the SNC - or Slightly Newer Computer) I've been sick (again/still/sameshitdifferentday) I've been writing (notnearlyfastenough) and we've been dealing with autism issues with the boys (preteen with an asd child is ... one hell of a learning curve!) Seems I just get past one thing, and another pops up. Right now, however, I'm relaxing in a tinsel filled room, because nothing says Christmas quite like dragons and a Creeper (ala Minecraft) all covered in purple and silver tinsel, right? I thought so :)

report from flu city

2015-09-07T01:32:23Z

The boys got influenza b (normally the boys and I don't get flu shots as we don't really go anywhere, and because Chris works in hospitality, he does get them every year) I got it as well, and Chris spent most of the week leading up to Fathers Day* looking after us all. Writing went totaly by the wayside - I managed to write one paragraph all week, concentration was utterly shot. At best I logged on to facebook, and then wandered away from the computer. Mostly I slept. So, high fevers (mine lasted for five days, the boys were between four and six days) all the aches and pains of flu, and you don't want to know - ever! what it is like to have a lasting, hacking cough while suffering from costochonditus ... I do not reccomend it. In fact, as a holiday spot, Flu City sucks, just don't go there.

Yes, I know, this advice is way too late for most Australians, but I offer it up, none the less. Because I'm good like that. *vbg*

* But the boys and I were well enough to make him pancakes for breakfast, and then I made him totally awesome chicken parmi for tea - he did get some spoiling on Fathers day, but boy did he have to earn it this year.

I saw a meme on the book of faces ...

2015-09-05T13:51:08Z

It was a screen shot of a reddit or tumblr post, and it basically had this person give a long, and almost perfect response to a guy who said women talking too much wasn't a false stereotype, it was true. (For added efect he called the orignal poster a feminazi piece of shit, merely because they had observed that that stereotype made her laugh given men were incapable of shutting up) But the poster who responded to him, went in to great detail about the the Australian researcher who had proven statistically that no matter what the gender mix ratio was, men percieved women spoke at an equal amount to them when they had only spoken 15% of the time (this didn't change when taking either amount of words said, or amount of time spent talking into the equation) He also proved that men were sure women had spoken the majority of the time, when the playbacks proved they'd spoken no more than 30%. The figures were all on the mark, and they mantioned the reseacrcher by name, quite a number of times; Dale Spencer. They paraphrased his research to say: You only think we talk to much because you'd rather we were silent. They then took a shot at the feminazi guy with this final line: Don't fuck with me, asshole, I'm a scientist.

And I admired their style, so, very, very much. But I had to make the following comment: Lovely, but the researcher's name was actually Dale Spender, and his book was Man Made Language.

I kind of hope they aren't a research scientist ...

art exhibition

2015-09-04T03:08:30Z

I posted awhile back about my friend's rather unique art exhibition to be held in Brisbane. I was cautious about saying "Yes, I'll definitely be there." But to be honest, I didn't expect to not be able to be there. I expected to have the second cortisone injection, and then see if I could walk down to the shops and back the next day, then I was planning on booking my flight and accomodation. I knew the hotel I wanted to stay at still had vacancies, I'd booked in for a hair cut (annual pilgramage, I haven't had one since my son's wedding last year - and it will be their anniversary soon.) I had sorted out what clothes I'd be taking, and how to pack everything I'd need in one carry-on backpack/handbag because there was no way I'd be able to manage a case. I was saying I couldn't be sure, but yeah, I was sure I'd be there.

Except the body is more broken than we thought. The technician looking for the thickest area of inflammation in which to put the cortisone injection into, saw somehting odd, and called in her supervisor. Who then called my dr, and got more forms faxed through, then stood watching as the tech did an ultra-sound of my entire spine. I have a line of inflamation running from mid neck to lower back, on the side that was damaged by the car accident. I have to limit walking. At the moment walking to my back yard and back into the house, takes nearly half an hour. The physio who fitted me in as an emergency appt (who knew there were such things as emergency physio appts?) says I'm looking at a year recovery time, and even then it's not going to be 100%. I laughed at that, it hasn't been 100% since I was 16 :) So I haven't had my hair cut, and I didn't get to the exhibition, and though it runs for a month, I am unable to do the walking required to get through my little local airport, let alone anything on the other end. Yes, there are things that can be done for handicapped people, but I am not yet classified as handicapped.But for Brisbane based friends, or friends whoo are going to be in Brisbane during September, you really should check out the exhibition. I have seen the photographs, it's an amazing space, and three very amazing artists taking part. My mate posted an article about it this morning, so thought I'd share that, too. and you can find out more at www.roberthenderson.com.au

It's borderline on the simulator, Captain

2015-08-17T06:21:23Z

An I cannae guarantee she'll hold up ...

So it was the boys who got sick. Why do I feel like I've been thrown into a washing machine on fast agitation, and then under a steam roller?

Boggo Rd Gaol Art exhibition

2015-08-14T07:36:53Z

If any of my friends are in Brisbane between 30th August and 30th September 2015, then you need to get to see this quite unique art exhibition, and last chance to look at the infamous Division 2 before it is demolished. Further details can be found on Robert Henderson's site (click on the featured work photos, to get more information about the exhibition, and each of the artists invovled.) I've been priviliged to see some of Robert's work in varying stages of creation, and it doesn't matter how often I see his work, it always, always draws a deep response.

I'm hoping to get up to see it (yes, I love his work that much I'm prepared to deal with a crowded city just to see all his work in one place) that of course is dependant on me being able to walk further than I can at the moment ie: able to get through an airport etc - and that's dependant on the cortisone injections working, I have the next one in a week and a half's time. Keep your fingers crossed for me :) But providing I can get there, then I probably need to organise to catch up with some Brisbane-based friends for a cuppa.