Rambling Post
Aug. 8th, 2004 03:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mmerriamThis post may ramble a bit, so if you do not like posts that ramble, flee for your lives now.
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careswen and I took in a wonderful play with our friends williamofoccam and pezwitch. The play, "The Lives of the most Notorious Highwaymen", was written by mistoffo and directed by aino, and performed at the Minneapolis Garage Theatre. This production is part of the Minnesota Fringe Festival, and I recommend it. The dialogue is snappy, the pacing excellent, and the sparse, low budget set compliments the feel of the piece.
We also, after loading up on Tex-Mex food, hit the Hiawatha Drum Jam, which was nice. The drumming was outside near the lake, and while I don't feel like I was "in the zone" as it were, the drumming went okay. We also ran into an old friend who we have not seen in almost two years, so that was a bonus.
I've completed the Braille workbook at school, and an about to start reading from a real library book. I have also brought home a Braille copy of Reader's Digest on the theory that the pieces tend to be short and the sense of accomplishment after finishing one will increase my confidence as a Braille reader. Plus, I need something to practice with at home.
I am pleased to report that the Guinness Gingerbread recipe I received frommrissa was a rousing success. The bread was moist and tasty, and the entire house smelled like Christmas while it was baking. It also gave me an excuse (as if I needed it) to go buy some Guinness, which I have been enjoying. Except for the cat hair part. No, cat hair usually doesn't come standard in Guinness, and in fact did not come standard in mine. The cat hair is courtesy of the Reverend Selena, who is shedding yet again. All she did was walk by my pint and there were three cat hairs floating on the head. What's a guy to do? I mean, besides pluck them out, and continue drinking his stout?
"The Foundling" finally received a couple of critiques on the Online Writer's Workshop. Both were at best lukewarm, though I think the second reviewer didn't read the piece closely, because he asked a couple of questions that are answered clearly in the text. Of course I'll look it over and make sure it's clear enough, just in case. I'm planning to stew on the crits for a couple of days, then start considering what re-writing might be needed. [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] is reading "Over the Bridge" with her editor's hat on, then off to Tales of the Unanticipated with the it. "Move Along Home" is stalled again at chapter nine, so I think I'm going to skip ahead and write some scenes that happen later.
I finished Charles deLint's "Tapping the Dream Tree" and Peg Kerr's "Emerald House Rising". The deLint had some enjoyable stories, even a couple of brilliant ones, but there were also several tired retreads. This makes me sad, as deLint has always been one of my favorite storytellers, but I wonder if the material is getting a bit stale. The Kerr was an enjoyable read, with good characters, an interesting protagonist, a nicely thought out magic system, and a good, thoughtful ending. I recommend it. I've started reading White's "The Once and Future King", which I should have read years ago, but am reading now. I haven't been reading enough this year, and I certainly haven't been reading enough books outside of SF&F, so I plan to rectify the situation.
I may not be returning to University until fall 2005. We will see what my State Services for the Blind counselor thinks of this, but because of thing I want to do, and courses I want to take, and things I need to do, and course I need to take, it may be 2005 before I start again. On the positive, that will leave a large block of time to finish the novel.
Well, I'd best sign off, the lawn needs mowing, the laundry needs washing, the dishes need putting away, the silver needs polishing, the cat needs vacuuming....
careswen and I took in a wonderful play with our friends williamofoccam and pezwitch. The play, "The Lives of the most Notorious Highwaymen", was written by mistoffo and directed by aino, and performed at the Minneapolis Garage Theatre. This production is part of the Minnesota Fringe Festival, and I recommend it. The dialogue is snappy, the pacing excellent, and the sparse, low budget set compliments the feel of the piece. We also, after loading up on Tex-Mex food, hit the Hiawatha Drum Jam, which was nice. The drumming was outside near the lake, and while I don't feel like I was "in the zone" as it were, the drumming went okay. We also ran into an old friend who we have not seen in almost two years, so that was a bonus.
I've completed the Braille workbook at school, and an about to start reading from a real library book. I have also brought home a Braille copy of Reader's Digest on the theory that the pieces tend to be short and the sense of accomplishment after finishing one will increase my confidence as a Braille reader. Plus, I need something to practice with at home.
I am pleased to report that the Guinness Gingerbread recipe I received from
mrissa was a rousing success. The bread was moist and tasty, and the entire house smelled like Christmas while it was baking. It also gave me an excuse (as if I needed it) to go buy some Guinness, which I have been enjoying. Except for the cat hair part. No, cat hair usually doesn't come standard in Guinness, and in fact did not come standard in mine. The cat hair is courtesy of the Reverend Selena, who is shedding yet again. All she did was walk by my pint and there were three cat hairs floating on the head. What's a guy to do? I mean, besides pluck them out, and continue drinking his stout?"The Foundling" finally received a couple of critiques on the Online Writer's Workshop. Both were at best lukewarm, though I think the second reviewer didn't read the piece closely, because he asked a couple of questions that are answered clearly in the text. Of course I'll look it over and make sure it's clear enough, just in case. I'm planning to stew on the crits for a couple of days, then start considering what re-writing might be needed. [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] is reading "Over the Bridge" with her editor's hat on, then off to Tales of the Unanticipated with the it. "Move Along Home" is stalled again at chapter nine, so I think I'm going to skip ahead and write some scenes that happen later.
I finished Charles deLint's "Tapping the Dream Tree" and Peg Kerr's "Emerald House Rising". The deLint had some enjoyable stories, even a couple of brilliant ones, but there were also several tired retreads. This makes me sad, as deLint has always been one of my favorite storytellers, but I wonder if the material is getting a bit stale. The Kerr was an enjoyable read, with good characters, an interesting protagonist, a nicely thought out magic system, and a good, thoughtful ending. I recommend it. I've started reading White's "The Once and Future King", which I should have read years ago, but am reading now. I haven't been reading enough this year, and I certainly haven't been reading enough books outside of SF&F, so I plan to rectify the situation.
I may not be returning to University until fall 2005. We will see what my State Services for the Blind counselor thinks of this, but because of thing I want to do, and courses I want to take, and things I need to do, and course I need to take, it may be 2005 before I start again. On the positive, that will leave a large block of time to finish the novel.
Well, I'd best sign off, the lawn needs mowing, the laundry needs washing, the dishes need putting away, the silver needs polishing, the cat needs vacuuming....
