Monday, January 31, 2011

Monday

I'm fresh out of words so I'll let you get to it.

Tamara

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Where's it gone?

Time that is...anyone notice we are officially at the end of January of 2011? How did that happen? The year just started and bam, one month down. Here is hoping it goes better for so many. And please let's see a bit more Peace throughout.

Enjoy your updates and yes, I am still seeking more rambles, send them on in!

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Ramble from UK

It's always good to hear from UK....
Do you know the feeling... you are in a book store or maybe you are browsing Amazon - you NEEEEEED a good story, a book that takes your mind of all the little things that drain you of energy. Books of every conceivable nature is all around you, but no matter how many books you browse, you can't really make up your mind as to which one to buy.

One is from a favourite author of yours, but her last book was slightly disappointing. Another has several endorsements on the cover from well known writers, but non tells you what the story is about. Some have artistic covers, others looks boring, one is printed with small typesetting or only available in pocketbook format, and you want hard cover ....... lets just say that you can't make up your mind. If you are anything like me you might even walk away without any books at all!!!

It is hardly the same when we are talking free on line fan fiction. You can browse stories, pick one up and leave it after a few pages or dismiss it when you are halfway through - all it will cost you is time.

If time is a limited resource or you are just tired of getting disappointed with the stories you pick up and dismiss, you might want to know what other readers find to be "A Good Read". You might still be disappointed with a story someone has recommended since we all have individual preferences, but sometimes I bet you that you will find something you like.

Some on line archives have teasers and features that allow readers to rate or comment on stories, and this is a great help in sorting through the huge number of stories on offer. I'm especially fond of the archive and rating features at The Athenaeum.

If you want to know what I find to be "A Good Read" you can look up the blog F/F Fan Fiction Readers Corner fanficreaderscorner.blogspot.com - and a good number of you have already browsed the site due to a guest ramble from Joan !

The Corner offers a bit of rambling, a lot of "teasing" and some pointers to what I've found to be an entertaining or just plain good read.

I have a selective reading habit! I don't "do" the classics - some knows that I'm really an ignorant when it comes to the shows that fan fic's is based on. What I do - do - is the mushy romance lesfic themed uber and original stories, and I'm happy to say that there are many those on offer.

F/F Fan Fiction Readers Corner also offers "special services"! No I wont be doing you laundry or the dirty dishes. I will on the other hand help you find a fic with a specific topic ..... you might want a doctor, a gunsling or perhaps a top tennis player among the ladies featured in the next romance you read or perhaps you want to know who wins the next toaster oven. If that's the case then browse the list of topics and fic's featured under "Listmania" at The Corner.

Should you want a bit of help to get settled in the universe of on line fiction, you can look up the things I've learned wandering around the web under the tap "Tools of the Trade", and if you want a guide to the truly great reads then make use of the story rating feature offered at The Corner.

For those of you who might be writing stories and sharing them on line - don't worry - I am playing nice! I am not badmouthing your efforts. I am just pointing readers in the direction of a good read in the hope that they may enjoy your writing as much as I did. Thanks for sharing!!

Maybe we will meet at The Corner ?

UK


All of those sound like very good reasons to check out UK's piece of the internet. So what are you waiting for?

Tamara

Friday, January 28, 2011

Guest Ramble

First up..Thanks for the Ramble.
Hiya Uberites, uberesques, uberians... which do you prefer?? Anyway, I generally have an odd way of looking at life and my rambles are usually observationally bizaar.

Sorry, not today my friends. Today's is a little bit, alright a lot, more serious than I am ever known for being.

Let me get it out of the way and say the dirty word of the moment, cancer. Such an odd little word that completely changes your outlook on just about everything. As I have said before, I am in Australia, the Melanoma capital of the planet, possibly the Solar System. I always thought of it in a more esoteric, only affects other people kinda way. Well not anymore. It all began with a pimple. Really. This one just didn't go away, and after 3 months of ignoring it, I went to the overpaid Quack. Turns out her medical degree was real and from a reputable first world country university. She took a look and said it didn't look right and was coming out. 3 stitches and some bad, bad, NC17 rated words later I was on my way, assuming that was the end of it.

Sigh...

How wrong was I. News from your Doctor can never be good when the Nurse asks you to come in on a Sunday afternoon a full week before your next appointment. "Come immediately, the Doctor will make room for you" is not what you want to hear from a nurse on the phone. I was just hoping that the annoying, itchy stitches needed to be taken out.

Nodular Melanoma - look it up on Wiki, scary shit. Really. Out of the 3 main types of skin cancers, Melanoma is the worst by far, and of the Melanoma types, Nodular is the most aggressive and the most dangerous. I ignored a 'pimple' for 3 months and it was already a stage 3 cancer. I have just had further surgery to remove a whole lot more of my arm and the lymph nodes in the armpit. Now I have close to 2 dozen stitches, an arm I cant use for weeks, possible months ( great stuff when you're a builder and really need both arms for power tools) and in heaps of pain. My doctor and I think I am one of the lucky ones, If I had ignored it any longer it may well have been a whole lot worse, then again, we don't have the results of my surgery yet.... so fingers crossed.

I'm not after sympathy or platitudes, I have had more than enough thanks :-) I simply want one person who reads this to go to the Doctors and get that odd looking mole/freckle/lump checked out. It may just be the difference between a couple stitches and major surgery, chemo or even death. People die from melanoma every single day. Most would have had a much better chance if it had been found early. So if you have moles get them checked. Stay out of tanning beds, and learn the ABC's of Skin Cancer.

P.S - to all the writers reading this update, please write more, I am bored stupid sitting at home lol, do you people know how much a girl can read when she can't leave the house!! :-)

phantomrambler@gmail.com


How does one follow up to those words? I think by reiterating that thought and statements, take the advice given seek out health care as your life or the life of someone you love is worth it. And phantom, I send my best as more good thoughts cannot be wrong.

Now we best get back to those updates and please feel free to continue sending in rambles...thanks again.

Peace, Health and Happiness. Find it, live it and Enjoy!

Elisa

Thursday, January 27, 2011

A Beautiful Day in the City

Sitting at my desk most of the day allowed me to space off happily watching the morning fog clear to a splendid afternoon. Our city, unlike so many other places, is already showing us signs of a wonderful spring to come...here is hoping it holds. And hey let;s give the rest of the planet a break can we? Less rain, snow and other horrid extremes would be nice. Even it up.

Now on a different note, anyone want to ramble? They are always welcome...actually it would be nice to see some more words from others. Change is always a good thing...right?

Now back to the updates, enjoy 'em!

Peace, Health and Happiness!

Elisa

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Taxes

Happy Republic Day to our Indian readers.

It's that time of year again. The time for self-employed people (and small businesses) to file their online self-assessment for Income tax. The final date to do this is January 31st. Most people start sorting their paperwork out ready to file long before Christmas. Most people file long before the final date.

Guess when I started to sort my paperwork.

Yep. This evening. And now I'm going completely spare because I'm missing two vital invoices and one important receipt. They're not in my file and I can't find them anywhere. And I need them for cost prices and VAT charges!! Ok - I can get copies. But can I get them in time?? Can I file my tax return in time?? Will I have to pay a penalty fine??

Answers to these questions in next week's thrilling episode of "The Pillock and the Inland Revenue"!! Same bat time, same bat channel.

See you next week folks. Goodnight and may your God/s go with you.

Ze

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Burns night. Australia. Climate change

Now there's a mix.

Tonight is Burns Night. So, Happy Burns Night to our Scots readers.

Tomorrow is Australia Day and (since they're well ahead of us in time zone terms) it's probably already tomorrow there, so a good Australia Day to our Aussie readers.

It's also a day of remembrance for Australians of Aboriginal ancestry. So for any readers from that community, have a good Survival Day.

The weather has been co-operating nicely, mostly dry, mostly mild during the day (but bloody cold at night) so we've been able to crack on with that window painting. Which is good news because it means I can pay my bills for Jan & Feb. No so good is that we'll have finished the contract by the end of next week. This means the money stops coming in and I'm scrabbling round for a new contract. I've got a private job (decorating a bathroom) but that's only a week's work. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that something will turn up.

We did have a week or so of very heavy rain which brought flood to the fields above & below the city, but not to the city itself. But in comparison with other countries it wasn't much of an overflow. Added to the flooding in Australia, Sri Lanka and Brazil we also have flooding in South Africa, (70 dead so far); Mozambique (10 dead and 10,000 displaced). And I've seen news reports of people freezing to death in Canada and the USA because of the blizzards. And then there's that poor Polar Bear who swam for nine days - SWAM FOR NINE DAYS - without stopping - to get from one ice-floe to the next (and lost its cub in the process because the cub wasn't strong enough to make it), because the ice is melting faster and further than ever.

When will the governments wake up and get their acts together?? Climate change is real!! By the time you lot do something it will probably be too late. /rant

Ze

Monday, January 24, 2011

Monday Night

This will be an odd week for me. Friday there's no school, which means the kids and I have the day off. But today I found out that since we're in sync with the high school schedule our kids will only be at school for a half day on Wednesday and Thursday.

What will we do when they go home? Most likely clean and organize. That's not so bad though. I always bring my MP3 player and just buckle down and clean. And if we power through without lunch breaks we get to power through and leave earlier than our usual time. That's never a bad thing.

You've got a decent sized update tonight. Enjoy!

Tamara

Sunday, January 23, 2011

4 Weeks...

...and vacation arrives. I'm looking forward to that a lot. Until then we have a few weeks to go, so on that note, here is sunshine for all! May your day, week and even month bring cheer and fun!

Enjoy your updates!

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Quiet

Well, E wasn't far off on our day. We did some grocery shopping and that was about it. Random chores around the house were accomplished. Other than that it's been quiet here. I'm looking forward to more of the same tomorrow.

Tamara

Friday, January 21, 2011

Nothing

That is our plan for the weekend. Sure get the usual chores done, but other than that Nothing. And I am for it completely. Here is hoping whatever your weekend holds you find some Joy in it.

Peace, Health and Happiness, words to live by.

Elisa

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Fresh out of words....

My four day week sure has seemed like five. I'm so happy tomorrow is Friday. I'll let you get to reading.

Tamara

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Guest ramble & author's promotion

Guest ramble tonight - from phair

    the worst thing about being a writer or artist or business person is the painful self promotion that goes with it...unless you are a complete tool then you enjoy engaging in such open displays of narcissism. i believe, i am an incomplete tool so i find doing things like this painful, shameful, and completely out of character. usually, i'm painful and shameful only when being myself. but, my publisher insists i get better at this so, here i am practicing on you. my revamped website is up and running. in the first month of operation, i have gotten a lot of hits.

    ssshhhhhwwwweeeeettttt!

    but, not a lot of subscribers.

    so join. you'll have a chance to read stuff nobody else gets to read. you'll be able to say, 'i knew her when...', once i'm in the big time, i'll promptly forget all of you and not answer your emails...ooops, i mean, i'll treasure you forever...right that sounds better.

    to join, go here

    be well, phair

    PS: not sold yet? how ‘bout a live chat this Saturday 1/22 at 8:30 pm EST
    The first topic will be; Did I Go Too Far With This Chapter?
    Watch for chapters that got me the boot from other websites and nice dinner parties.

    PSS: next ramble I’ll tell you about my $2100 ambulance ride and my $1200 ER fee.


Well, there you go. You get to read new stuff, you get to chat to phair (but not if you're this side of the pond coz 8.30 EST translates to stupid o'clock European time!!)

In the meantime here's a few updates for you to read.

See you next week, stay safe, good night and may your God/s go with you.

Ze

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Floods

The floods in Queensland have claimed at least 30 lives with thousands displaced. Victoria (1 dead, 3,500 displaced) and Tasmania are also suffering floods.

The floods in Brazil have killed close to 700 people with over 150 still unaccounted for. Over 14,000 are homeless.

The floods in Sri Lanka left 40 dead, 200,000 homeless.

There is a multi-fandom fic fundraiser of LiveJournal for Queensland

There's also one for Brazil

Haven't seen any for Sri Lanka yet - if I do I'll let you know.

Ze

Monday, January 17, 2011

MLK Day (in the USA)

A relaxing day today...but really it's about Equality or the process to it.

Dr. Martin Luther King had a Dream and here is hoping we will get to get to see it actually come true for all Mankind some day.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Sunday Surprise

You have a lot to read tonight so I'll let you get to it. I'm off to make a Mississippi Mud cake....

Tamara

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Relaxation

That is what the day has held for me. Few chores at a nice slow pace and lots of relaxing in between. What weekends are meant to be. Here is hoping yours is going well.

Enjoy your update.

Peace, Health and Happiness for all.

Elisa

Friday, January 14, 2011

Ramble from Joan

Hooray! Joan sent words!
Here's a very short ramble introducing a site that might interest your readers.

Aside from that, I am appalled at the shooting in Tuscon. I saw a cartoon of Sarah Palin yesterday, "Whoops" with the two "o"s as crosshairs, and only learnt today that she had marked two Democrat offices that way. I can only hope that the USA is too large to be taken down that path by someone so obviously irresponsible! Just a view from Europe. Feel free to publish that as well.

Here's what I wanted to share in the first place: Hi Ladies,

there's a new site out to inform you of stories worth reading:

fanficreaderscorner.blogspot.com/

The site's owner is UK, who you probably know from fanficrev, and she pretty much keeps the style of that site, but adds a few extras, like ranking, links to movies, books. Go have a look for yourselves! For me it's a welcome addition.

Enjoy!

Joan


Thanks for the heads up, Joan. Now I expect a ramble from UK telling everyone about the new site (hint, hint).

Tamara

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Rain

Something I truly love, but am saddened by all the damage it is doing currently on this planet. My hope is the sun comes out soon for so many. May Peace fall across us all.

Enjoy the update and may tomorrow be a brighter day.

Peace, Health and Happiness and remember we can each make a difference whether locally or globally. Find it in your heart and help when you can.

Elisa

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Brother Noah Built an Ark.

Actually, I shouldn't really joke about it because people are dying in the flooding round the world. So far in Australia we have a dozen dead, around 80 missing and tens of thousands driven from their homes. In Brazil we have 140+ dead and another 50+ still missing. Sri Lanka sees 18 dead and 200,000 displaced. Our thoughts are with them all.

Then we've got the blizzards raging in the USA. All but Florida out of the 50 states have snow. And here in the UK we've had more snow and the coldest temperatures since records began over a century ago. And great flocks of birds (flockalypse the papers have been calling it) dropping out of the skies all over the northern hemisphere.

And people still don't believe climate change is real.

Thoughts are with the victims and families of the recent shooting in Tucson, Arizona, too. There's a lot I could rant about here. But I won't. Except to say Sarah Palin?? WTF?? Blood libel?? Does she have any idea what that really is?? Can't somebody make her sit down & STFU?? She screwed up. She's a prat. Ah well... maybe she's at least making herself completely un-electable. Which is a relief for most of the world.

I'm going to hide myself away from the horrors of the world for an hour or two, and read my new book. Which I am still over the moon about.

Plenty for you to read too. See you next week. Stay safe folks. Goodnight and may your God/s go with you.

Ze

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

I have the best friends

And they constantly surprise me with their kindness & generosity. (No not E & Tamara this time - though those statements do apply to them too.)

This time it's my friend Lynn. The author Lynn Ames, that is. (She's a publisher, too.) Apart from being cute, (gorgeous in fact), and talented (check out her books and her free online stories) she's also a very generous and thoughtful person.

She has a new book out, about women pilots. I desperately wanted a copy but being a bit brassic (aka boracic lint aka skint) at the mo (losing that money I was owed made things a tiny bit tight - the essentials are taken care of but the luxuries have to wait) I couldn't buy one just yet. So I entered a free draw hoping to win a copy. I didn't - although I was incredibly lucky and did win a book - Jeanine Hoffman's Strength in Numbers (which I'm dead chuffed about).

Well - I got a parcel today. As well as a couple of other, personal, gifts (of which I'm not sharing details - they're kind of special & private) there was an autographed copy the book. Eyes on the Stars.

See - a very special, very generous lady.

If you haven't read her stories or bought her books yet - what are you waiting for?? Get cracking!!

Ze

Monday, January 10, 2011

Weather

We had a bit of snowfall this morning. It almost looked like we might have a half day at school but the snow stopped by 10 am and by 12 it was mostly melted. I must admit I was half hoping for that snow day even though I'm absolutely not wishing for more snow. Seattle is way too hilly for snow and ice.

The forecast for the rest of the week calls for 1-4 inches starting Tuesday night. We'll see. The weather forecasting for this area isn't usually spot on due to our location. Seattle weather forecasters probably need to spend part of their careers in Oklahoma just to regain their confidence. There's nothing like a whole lot of flat to help your win-loss ratio.

Tamara

Sunday, January 09, 2011

Words

They are weapons, perhaps not directly each time, but a reminder for so many as the events in Arizona prove. Let there be Peace and may we all choose our words more wisely.

Enjoy your update.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Saturday, January 08, 2011

Legend of the Seeker Night

I made it to work on Friday. My cold hasn't turned into the hell cold that everyone around me has been dealing with. I did manage to sleep until 9 this morning, which is unlike me. I'll get through this one with just a clogged up nose and a husky voice thank goodness.

Today we made it to Costco and the grocery store. E chopped up a bunch of wood that was too large for the fireplace. I've washed a few loads of clothes and sheets. I'm looking forward to clean sheets on the bed tonight.

Tomorrow our weekend will end with a few more errands and a few more chores. I'll tackle my checkbook. That'll probably take up a good couple of hours. Then we're back at it for the work week.

Whatever you're doing this weekend have fun and be safe.

Tamara

Friday, January 07, 2011

Relaxing

That is what I hope to be doing for the next two days. We have a couple chores to get done, but over all relaxation should be the highlight.

The week went really well for me and here is hoping that it continues. Work always holds some frustration, but I'm looking at 2011 being a much better year.

Here is hoping you all have a great weekend as well! Enjoy the updates.

Peace, Health, and Happiness.

Elisa

Thursday, January 06, 2011

I hate being sick.

I'm catching the cold that's been going around. As is usual with me I'm getting it just in time for the weekend. I really shouldn't miss work tomorrow. We're without our float BT and the position is being temporarily filled by the only other person (besides the teacher) who can work with my student. If I can drug myself up I can make it through a Friday. I might even be able to take off a little early. Wish me luck while I likely snot and sneeze through my day tomorrow.

Tamara

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night. The end of Christmas. Tomorrow is the Feast of Epiphany. (at least in the western Christian traditions). The decorations and the tree come down. I'm always a little sad when that happens. The room always looks a bit big and empty without them.

Of course it's just coming up to Christmas in the Orthodox traditions (Russian, Greek, Armenian, Ukrainian, Syriac, Ethiopian, Egyptian Coptic, Eritrean, etc.) so I'd like to wish any readers we have who are members of those churches, a Good Christmas.

See you next week. Goodnight and may your God/s go with you.

Ze

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Back to Work

Thank God. I was starting to get stir-crazy. The first few days off are good. Even as much as the first week is good. Especially when broken up by things like tobogganing, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve, etc. But by the time the second week starts... I need something to do. I have too much energy to watch TV all day. And although I love to read and could quite happily polish off a book or two each day, I still need to be active between books.

So today, back to work and grateful. The snow and ice melted at the end of last week. The weather warmed up to above 0c (not by much but still, +2 is a hell of a lot better than -12). In fact the temperature rose enough to start the glossing. And, although it was cloudy and overcast for most of the day, the rain held off. Not too bad a day.

Of course, the thick cloud meant I didn't get to see the partial solar eclipse this morning so I'm sulking about that. Good view of Jupiter this evening though. (I really must buy a telescope - my old binoculars are really past their best.)

Anybody get to see the New Year's Eve fireworks over the Thames by the London Eye?? Spectacular or what!! I couldn't help wondering how much they'd cost though.

Well, fair bit to read tonight so I'll let you get on with it.

Cheers

Ze

Monday, January 03, 2011

A Slow Start

We were all scheduled to get back to the routine today, however my daughter was still feeling crappy with a serious sore throat. We made a quick visit to the doctor only to find that she has the cold/flu virus that so many other folks are dealing with right now as well. Hence she'll get over it and at this point it's not contagious. So back to work and school for us tomorrow. And let the New Year ring.

Enjoy your update.

Peace, Health and Happiness, it can happen, Believe.

Elisa

Sunday, January 02, 2011

Ugh.

We're back to school tomorrow. I don't envy Mike's task of getting the boys up in the morning. At least next week when I've got them again they'll have a week of early starts under their belts. It does help ease me into my week. I always get to sleep in when I don't have the kids. I'm so much easier to get ready in the morning than they are. Go figure.

Tamara

Saturday, January 01, 2011

1-1-11

Splendid or what?

Wishing each and every one of you a Happy New Year. What lies ahead is a path and all good paths have trails, some causing us to back track and some short cutting to the front. Each giving a different view and perspective on the end result.

Life is ever changing, believe in the future as it depends on you and your actions within it. Many a times folks feel so stuck in life, but we all have options and as a believer in the unknown outcomes, I say go for it. You have no idea what it can bring you.

If someone had told me 10 years ago that I would be where I am today I would have thought they have been smoking or drinking way too much, but here I am and let me say, I am happy to be here.

Take your life and live it. Engage and Enjoy whenever possible.

May 2011 bring about Peace, Health and Happiness and all the rest that comes along with it!

Enjoy ~~

Elisa