12 Days Of...

Today's Blathering is a collaboration for Wordgoddess. Topic: "12 Days of..."

12 Days of...

12 people you were grateful were in your life this past year

Jeff. My sister and her family. My dad. Luisa. Parki. Allison. Jodi. Rand. Cathy.

11 things from the past year you'd put into a time capsule

Irish session at OVFF.
Visit to Arizona & Nevada, esp. Briar Patch Inn.
Wrapping up my Waiting for Frodo comic and reading the Farewell Guestbook. Hey, just noticed that people are STILL signing it! How very cool.
A cottage sunrise.
Cottage stargazing with Jeff.
My first GAfilk! Enjoyed it so much that I am compelled to go back. Only a few weeks away, woohoo! Can't wait.
Our trip to Austria.
Going to the Christine Lavin & Tom Paxton concert with Allison.
OVFF brunch with Rand.
Orkut scrapbook wars with Jeff Bohnhoff.
Snuggles and hugs.

10 of the best books you've read and/or movies you've seen from the past year

MOVIES: Return of the King (Extended Version), The Incredibles, Finding Neverland, Hero, Shrek 2, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

BOOKS: The Amulet of Samarkand - by Jonathan Stroud, Good Poems - by Garrison Keillor, Jasper Fforde Eyre Affair books (I'm on the third!).

(Note: ARGH, I can't remember the books I read earlier in the year...)

9 gifts you'd like to receive (be selfish)

Creative stuff made by the giver, like: poetry, music, stories, arts, crafts. Incredibles/Ednastuff. Interesting teas and soaps. Bookmarks. Amazon wish list stuff

8 things from the past year you could have done without

Tendinitis. Freezing rain. Sprained elbow. Detached retina. Laser surgery to fix the previous (ok, I couldn't have done without it but I'd rather have done without it, if you get my drift). Stress / blues. Heartache. Real Life.

7 little things you've done to make the world a better place

Stopping to help lost-looking tourists. Donated to Goodwill. Expanded the Filk FAQ to help newbies. Given money to buskers. Whenever I encountered unusually good customer service, told them so. Tried to be more polite with bad customer service. Tried to keep my temper.

6 things you'd like the New Year to bring

A house. Tendinitis to completely heal, or heal enough that I can type normally. Be able to write as much as I'd like to (will depend on previous). A healthy, happy baby (for my sister-in-law, not for me :-)). Fresh start to old friendships. Being able to actively participate in Irish sessions.

5 people you'd like to plan to get in contact with again during the next year

Ok, I found this impossible to answer since I honestly couldn't think of anyone. There are people I wish I had more contact with.

4 people online you'd like to get to know better

Erin, Robyn, Holly, Crawford.

3 habits you'd like to break in the new year

Insomnia, skipping my physio exercises, checking e-mail before doing anything else in the morning.

2 things you learned about yourself this year

I'm not as much of a hermit as I thought I was.

I have more courage than I thought I did.

1 thing that surprised you the most about this past year

I had figured this year was going to be the first Normal Year we've had in ages, a chance to finally settle into a routine. Didn't happen. Some badstuff (sprained elbow, detached retina) but also lots of goodstuff (Irish sessionstuff, condo-selling).

December 2004 comments: Read Blatherchat | Post in Blatherchat | Livejournal comments

what if...

Today's Blathering is a collaboration for Wordgoddess. Topic: "What if..."

What if...

What if that guy from Smashing Pumpkins lost his car keys?

What if is a versatile protein structure analysis program.

What if Netscape had won?

What if you built a blog and no one came?

What, if anything, is a Byzantine?

What if I shot my TV?

What if the Beatles had been computer freaks?

What if I'm pregnant?

What if we could do anything?

What if Dr. Seuss wrote technical documentation?

What if is an innovation company.

What if the gunpowder plot had succeeded?

What if is a GIS-based system.

What if The Lord of the Rings had been written by someone else?

And what if I had decided to write a serious "what if" Blatherings entry?

Of course there's the obvious stuff, like "what if Jim and Diane were still alive, what would things be like" etc., but for me, not only are those what-ifs useless, but also hurtful and counter-productive.

I also don't generally go for the whole regretful decision rehashing. Regret with a vow to learn from the whole experience is one thing, but I believe that people have to make mistakes along the way to figure out what they're doing.

Who I am today is the sum of all my experiences, good and bad decisions, the choices and life priorities I've set for myself. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't make all the same choices, it's true, but neither would I have a guarantee that I'd be happier than I am now, or a better person.

What if I could relive my life...would I do it? This is such a loaded question, sort of like the "if your husband and your mother were drowning and you could only save one of them, which would you save" impossible-to-answer context.

I've been through a lot to get to where I am now. Instead of wistfully daydreaming about what-ifs, I think I'd rather focus on the here and now.

It has so much more potential. :-)

November 2004 comments: Read Blatherchat | Post in Blatherchat | Livejournal comments

Five

I've updated yesterday's Blathering to include responses to my poll question: Who's your favourite Star Trek captain? :-) And hey, Shatner might really go into space! (thanks to David Barker for the URL) Today's Blathering is for Wordgoddess. Assignment: "Lists of Five." Five favourite desserts Carrot cake with cream cheese icing. Really rich chocolate cake with chocolate icing. Creme caramel. Chewy white chocolate macadamia nut cookies. Chocolate mousse. Five friends I've seen/phoned recently Jodi: saw Shark's Tale on Thursday Parki: ping gai at Queen Mother's Cafe Dave Clement: also chatted with Tom Jeffers, who was visiting Dave Luisa: dinner at Swiss Chalet last night Amanda Snyder: we did our usual answering machine exchange :-) Five ways people have gotten my name wrong Debbie Ridpath Debbie Chi Debbie Ohio Debbie Oh Debbie Oeohi Five careers I had considered as I was growing up Pianist Cartoonist Animal behaviorist Computer engineering A.I. research Five favourite restaurants in Toronto Fune Mildred Pierce Hashimoto Penelope Babur Five of my favourite comfort books Emergence - by David Palmer Ender's Game - by Orson Scott Card Snow Queen - by Joan D. Vinge The Diamond Age - by Neil Stephenson Bridge of Birds - by Barry Hughart Five things on my office bulletin board right now Small bead sculpture of me playing the flute, created by Michelle Bottorff. Postcard, designed and drawn by Peter Cook and Laura Suzuki. Letter from my niece Olivia. Photo of Jeff and me. Photo of Ruth and me as little kids. Five things I can't resist Chocolate. Bar soaps with interesting ingredients (esp spices). Handmade paper. Craft shows. Sleeping babies. Five things that predispose me to like someone I'm meeting for the first time even though I may end up not liking them later Musician. Self-confessed Star Trek fan. Computer geek. Designer, artist or other creative type. They value their solitude (go on trips alone, etc.). Five things that predispose me to dislike someone I'm meeting for the first time even though I may end up liking them later Smoker. Swears a lot. Open mouth gum-chewer. Cellphone addict. Dislikes physical exercise. Five funny songs I have written Library Boy Marvin Waiting For Frodo Duct Tape Man Cuz He's A Guy Five serious songs I have written Homecoming Lullaby For Gustavo Home To FilKONtario The Road Home Song For Jim Five things that drive me crazy in movie theatres People kicking the back of my chair. Tall people (or people with big hair) in front of me. Noisy eaters. Talkers. Sticky floors. Five languages I have studied on my own or in school French Japanese German Italian Swedish Five things I've bought online Jeans. Talking Mars Attacks toy. A tea kettle. Penny whistle music. Dehydrated chicken. Five things I've sold A book manuscript. Poetry. Cartoons. Short stories. My Web site. Five crafts I used to do Wreaths: from ingredients I'd pick in the forest, or grew in my garden and dried. Papermaking. Fimo sculptures. Fridge magnets. Earrings. Five comfort rituals Read a book in the bath (see "Comfort Book" list above). Take a bath by candlelight. Curl up on the couch with a book, instrumental music CD playing (current favourite: Bach's Goldberg Variations). Watch a movie. Create something. Do a craft or cook something, for example. Five nerdy things about me I don't wear makeup. I could spend hours in a bookstore or office supplies store. I like technonerdboys. I'm blind without my glasses. I posted a 'Who's Your Favourite Star Trek Captain' poll. October 2004 comments: Read Blatherchat | Post in Blatherchat | Livejournal comments Debbie Ohi | Post a Comment | Share Article | Permalink tagged Collaborations Thursday Sep022004 Wordgoddess collab: "I" Thursday, September 2, 2004 at 10:40PM Today's Blathering is for Wordgoddess. Assignment: To write a post in which each paragraph begins with "I...". ---------------- I am not a chocolate snob. I like all kinds of chocolate: dark, white, milk, baking. Especially chocolate with raspberry or other fruit flavours. I had a pet hermit crab named Martha when I was a teenager. Very dull. It took me two weeks before I finally noticed she was dead. I'm learning German. I hate dative verbs. I co-wrote a song about Sex and Chocolate. You can listen to a soundclip here. That's my music partner Jodi singing lead, not me. I hate it when people behind me kick my chair in a movie theatre. I have a subclinical detached retina. I wrote a book. I have always hated public speaking, to the point where I avoided courses in university that had spoken presentations as part of the curriculum. When I got involved with Inkspot, I started forcing myself to do interviews, workshops, other talks because I was so excited about the project and wanted other people to get excited, too. It was good for me, but I still hate public speaking. I'm allergic to cats. I sold my Web site to a U.S. company in June/2000 and moved to Philadelphia for six months as an employee, without my husband. After the Internet craze meltdown, Jeff and I spent a great deal of time at the cottage during our sabbatical and during that time, I realized that my entire experience in the corporate world could be compared in many ways to stacking firewood. Here's my Woodpile Philosophy. I never went out on a date until university. I didn't go to my high school prom because I didn't want to spend the entire time standing awkwardly on the sidelines while all the other girls got asked for a dance except for me. No, it didn't even cross my mind back then that I didn't have to wait, that -I- could ask guys to dance. I've smartened up since then. I like food movies. I used to have recurring dream in which I'm standing in a sunny field of tall grass with my brother. He's smiling at me, and the sun is in his hair. When I wake from the dream, there are tears on my face. I've been a a cover story. I wore pink horn-rimmed glasses when I was little. I chose them myself. What was I thinking??? I once got a marriage proposal from a total stranger in e-mail. I declined. I cry during sappy television commercials. I like living in Toronto. I went on a canoe trip in the Nahanni. It remains my all-time favourite trip. I used to like writing songs with the words/phrases "puke" or "pert breasts" for my music partners to sing because it amused me. Now I don't, because I know they'll make me sing lead. I taught piano for over twenty years, sometimes part-time, sometimes fulltime. I play piano, flute, penny whistle, Celtic harp, guitar, assorted bangy percussion things...with varying degrees of ability. I sometimes get frustrated and depressed about my tendinitis, which has lasted a year and a half so far, not being able to type normally for longer than 20 minutes at a time before it starts hurting. Sometimes it's hard to stay cheery and optimistic. I miss playing my harp. I like skinnydipping in the lake at the cottage. I have an autobiographical comic strip. I like reading in the bathtub. I tried reading Lord of the Rings a few years ago and actually liked it this time. Enough to start a comic strip and write a song about the experience. I blame Allison. I'm a morning person. I still think Captain Kirk was the best Star Trek captain. I know, I'm a nerd. I am drawn to people with a strong creative streak, who are passionate about life. I love backrubs. Foot rubs. Hand rubs. The Sutherland Chan Clinic is my favourite massage place. I usually go about two or three times a year as a special treat, using birthday money from my mom-in-law. I still have 30 minutes left from my last birthday gift and have the gift certificate tacked up on my bulletin board. I like looking at it and knowing that I can use it anytime I want. I don't like getting backrubs / foot rubs / hand rubs from people I don't know very well unless they're Trained Professionals. I love the smell of fresh basil, cinnamon and clean babies. I want to go to Paris someday. I used to hate it when people told me I look like my mother. Now I'm glad. I think about dying. Sometimes I think I understand how it could be a peaceful and welcome thing for the very old or very weary, like getting into bed after a long and gruelling day. Most of the time, though, I feel panic at the idea of dying. There's too much to do, to see. People I love. I don't want to miss out on any of it. I like compartmentalized food. Yes, that's ice on the lake. September 2004 comments: Read Blatherchat | Post in Blatherchat | Livejournal comments Debbie Ohi | Post a Comment | Share Article | Permalink tagged Collaborations Friday Aug132004 in progress: dandelion report Friday, August 13, 2004 at 12:21PM Urban Tapestry in concert at Confluence. From left to right: Jodi, Allison, me. Photo by Steve Brinich and Crystal Paul. Today's entry is on the theme "In Progress", for Wordgoddess. I've already Blathered about my writing projects, so I figure it's time I write something about my in-progress NON-writing projects, like The Dandelion Report (filking.net). The focus of this non-profit resource is to provide basic information about filkers and their music, as well as highlighting new and established filkers within the community. If you're not sure what "filk" is, please see What is filk. Because of my tendinitis, I haven't been doing much with the filker interview section (if anyone's willing to help out with that, please do let me know), but am trying to set up the Filk FAQ so that the editorial content is mainly user-contributed. This is something I had wanted to do with Inkspot...a shame MovableType didn't exist back then. :-) Example: The current poll question is asking for advice on how shy performers can get a turn in the circle. People post their responses, and eventually (though this isn't essential since responses are public), I summarize results and post it at the top of the page. Then I move onto another topic, post another poll question. With some careful moderation and editing, it's clear that this procedure could be used to generate a FAQ about nearly any topic, as long as the community involved is willing. I'm very lucky with the filking community since members tend to be extremely helpful, especially when it comes to providing information for newcomers. Once the newest version of MovableType is released (so that I can continue using MT-Blacklist to get rid of spam), I've decided to splurge on an Unlimited Personal Edition ($99.95) of the software, which allows an unlimited number of authors and blogs. I'm very glad the MovableType people recently decided to revise their pricing structure...when they originally announced their "new prices", it meant that I would have to either shut down a number of my online projects OR switch to other blogging software. Their new prices are much more reasonable, and I've been using MT long enough that I figure it's about time I show my support of the software via a full license. Tentative plans for future Dandelion Report additions: - Filk cartoons. I've been doing these on paper for years now, so I should probably get some of them online. - Filk clipart. Free for anyone who wants to use my filk doodles in filk convention program books, non-profit Web sites, etc. These days, I lack the time and arm health to do custom-made pieces for free, but have no problem posting already-drawn doodles and Corel Painter experiments in one place for people to use. :-) - Special section for concom-types to post announcements and updates (though if any wish to do so now via the main blog, please let me know). If you're interested in filk, do check out The Dandelion Report, especially the Filk FAQ. If you're on Livejournal, you can get updates by adding "dandelionreport" to your LJ friends list. Speaking of filking, Steve Brinich and Crystal Paul have given me permission to post some of their Confluence pics of Urban Tapestry (thanks, Steve & Crystal!): Jodi and me participating in Dave Rood's concert at Confluence. Photo by Steve Brinich and Crystal Paul. Performing "Neurotic Love Song" in open filk. Photo by Steve Brinich and Crystal Paul. August 2004 comments: Read Blatherchat | Post in Blatherchat | Livejournal comments Debbie Ohi | Post a Comment | Share Article | Permalink tagged Collaborations Page 1 2 Next 5 Entries » Copyright©2021 Debbie Ridpath Ohi. Base URL: DebbieOhi.com. Contact

Wordgoddess collab: "I"

Today's Blathering is for Wordgoddess. Assignment: To write a post in which each paragraph begins with "I...".

----------------

I am not a chocolate snob. I like all kinds of chocolate: dark, white, milk, baking. Especially chocolate with raspberry or other fruit flavours.

I had a pet hermit crab named Martha when I was a teenager. Very dull. It took me two weeks before I finally noticed she was dead.

I'm learning German. I hate dative verbs.

I co-wrote a song about Sex and Chocolate. You can listen to a soundclip here. That's my music partner Jodi singing lead, not me.

I hate it when people behind me kick my chair in a movie theatre.

I have a subclinical detached retina.

I wrote a book.

I have always hated public speaking, to the point where I avoided courses in university that had spoken presentations as part of the curriculum. When I got involved with Inkspot, I started forcing myself to do interviews, workshops, other talks because I was so excited about the project and wanted other people to get excited, too. It was good for me, but I still hate public speaking.

I'm allergic to cats.



I sold my Web site to a U.S. company in June/2000 and moved to Philadelphia for six months as an employee, without my husband. After the Internet craze meltdown, Jeff and I spent a great deal of time at the cottage during our sabbatical and during that time, I realized that my entire experience in the corporate world could be compared in many ways to stacking firewood. Here's my Woodpile Philosophy.

I never went out on a date until university. I didn't go to my high school prom because I didn't want to spend the entire time standing awkwardly on the sidelines while all the other girls got asked for a dance except for me. No, it didn't even cross my mind back then that I didn't have to wait, that -I- could ask guys to dance. I've smartened up since then.

I like food movies.

I used to have recurring dream in which I'm standing in a sunny field of tall grass with my brother. He's smiling at me, and the sun is in his hair. When I wake from the dream, there are tears on my face.

I've been a a cover story.

I wore pink horn-rimmed glasses when I was little. I chose them myself. What was I thinking???



I once got a marriage proposal from a total stranger in e-mail. I declined.

I cry during sappy television commercials.

I like living in Toronto.

I went on a canoe trip in the Nahanni. It remains my all-time favourite trip.

I used to like writing songs with the words/phrases "puke" or "pert breasts" for my music partners to sing because it amused me. Now I don't, because I know they'll make me sing lead.

I taught piano for over twenty years, sometimes part-time, sometimes fulltime. I play piano, flute, penny whistle, Celtic harp, guitar, assorted bangy percussion things...with varying degrees of ability.

I sometimes get frustrated and depressed about my tendinitis, which has lasted a year and a half so far, not being able to type normally for longer than 20 minutes at a time before it starts hurting. Sometimes it's hard to stay cheery and optimistic.

I miss playing my harp.

I like skinnydipping in the lake at the cottage.

I have an autobiographical comic strip.

I like reading in the bathtub.

I tried reading Lord of the Rings a few years ago and actually liked it this time. Enough to start a comic strip and write a song about the experience. I blame Allison.

I'm a morning person.

I still think Captain Kirk was the best Star Trek captain.

I know, I'm a nerd.

I am drawn to people with a strong creative streak, who are passionate about life.

I love backrubs. Foot rubs. Hand rubs. The Sutherland Chan Clinic is my favourite massage place. I usually go about two or three times a year as a special treat, using birthday money from my mom-in-law. I still have 30 minutes left from my last birthday gift and have the gift certificate tacked up on my bulletin board. I like looking at it and knowing that I can use it anytime I want.

I don't like getting backrubs / foot rubs / hand rubs from people I don't know very well unless they're Trained Professionals.

I love the smell of fresh basil, cinnamon and clean babies.

I want to go to Paris someday.

I used to hate it when people told me I look like my mother. Now I'm glad.

I think about dying. Sometimes I think I understand how it could be a peaceful and welcome thing for the very old or very weary, like getting into bed after a long and gruelling day. Most of the time, though, I feel panic at the idea of dying. There's too much to do, to see. People I love. I don't want to miss out on any of it.

I like compartmentalized food.



Yes, that's ice on the lake.

September 2004 comments: Read Blatherchat | Post in Blatherchat | Livejournal comments

in progress: dandelion report

Urban Tapestry in concert at Confluence. From left to right: Jodi, Allison, me.
Photo by Steve Brinich and Crystal Paul.


Today's entry is on the theme "In Progress", for Wordgoddess.

I've already Blathered about my writing projects, so I figure it's time I write something about my in-progress NON-writing projects, like The Dandelion Report (filking.net). The focus of this non-profit resource is to provide basic information about filkers and their music, as well as highlighting new and established filkers within the community. If you're not sure what "filk" is, please see What is filk.

Because of my tendinitis, I haven't been doing much with the filker interview section (if anyone's willing to help out with that, please do let me know), but am trying to set up the Filk FAQ so that the editorial content is mainly user-contributed. This is something I had wanted to do with Inkspot...a shame MovableType didn't exist back then. :-)

Example: The current poll question is asking for advice on how shy performers can get a turn in the circle. People post their responses, and eventually (though this isn't essential since responses are public), I summarize results and post it at the top of the page. Then I move onto another topic, post another poll question.

With some careful moderation and editing, it's clear that this procedure could be used to generate a FAQ about nearly any topic, as long as the community involved is willing. I'm very lucky with the filking community since members tend to be extremely helpful, especially when it comes to providing information for newcomers.

Once the newest version of MovableType is released (so that I can continue using MT-Blacklist to get rid of spam), I've decided to splurge on an Unlimited Personal Edition ($99.95) of the software, which allows an unlimited number of authors and blogs. I'm very glad the MovableType people recently decided to revise their pricing structure...when they originally announced their "new prices", it meant that I would have to either shut down a number of my online projects OR switch to other blogging software. Their new prices are much more reasonable, and I've been using MT long enough that I figure it's about time I show my support of the software via a full license.

Tentative plans for future Dandelion Report additions:

- Filk cartoons. I've been doing these on paper for years now, so I should probably get some of them online.

- Filk clipart. Free for anyone who wants to use my filk doodles in filk convention program books, non-profit Web sites, etc. These days, I lack the time and arm health to do custom-made pieces for free, but have no problem posting already-drawn doodles and Corel Painter experiments in one place for people to use. :-)

- Special section for concom-types to post announcements and updates (though if any wish to do so now via the main blog, please let me know).

If you're interested in filk, do check out The Dandelion Report, especially the Filk FAQ. If you're on Livejournal, you can get updates by adding "dandelionreport" to your LJ friends list.

Speaking of filking, Steve Brinich and Crystal Paul have given me permission to post some of their Confluence pics of Urban Tapestry (thanks, Steve & Crystal!):



Jodi and me participating in Dave Rood's concert at Confluence.
Photo by Steve Brinich and Crystal Paul.




Performing "Neurotic Love Song" in open filk. Photo by Steve Brinich and Crystal Paul.

August 2004 comments: Read Blatherchat | Post in Blatherchat | Livejournal comments