filk poll

This is a childhood photo of which filker?


And how about....












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February 2004 comments: Read | Post | LJ

cooking and writing

Lemon and chocolate tart slivers topped with
whipped cream flavoured with Grand Marnier.


Thanks so much to those who posted or e-mailed information about Fast Break chocolate bars, or offered to mail me some. Blake Hodgetts (thanks, Blake!) directed me to a Web site where I could order a box. While I was there, I noticed some other types of chocolate bars that I've never seen before (like Reeses WHITE chocolate peanut butter cups!). Must visit the U.S. again soon. :-)



Jon preparing the appetizers.


Most of today's Blatherpics are from a small dinner party hosted by our friend Jon Steinberg on the weekend. Man, can this guy cook! The menu:

Prosciutto & Regianno Parmesan Potstickers

Salmon Tartare with Orange CrËme Fraiche

Fish: Black Cod with Orange Onion Salad

Sorbet: Lemon, lime and ginger

Fowl: Poached Duck Breast Roulade, Rest of Duck and Duck Crackling

Game: Venison & Mushroom Daube

Dessert: Lemon and chocolate tarts ("Two Tarts because one is too tart.")

Everything was amazing. In fact, I'm getting hungry just remembering the meal again.



Black cod with orange onion salad.


As my arms continue to improve, I'm starting to cook more. My current favorites are stew and salad recipes from the Moosewood Restaurant Cooks At Home. I go to the market a few times a week to buy fresh ingredients; I usually bundle up and turn it into a run on the way there, a walk (with loaded backpack) on the way home. Snowstorms just make it all that more exciting. :-)

This past week, I've made Tunisian Vegetable Stew and Sicilian Seafood Stew. I also made a salad dressing with walnut oil which tasted ghastly. I bought the walnut oil on impulse, wanting to make something with it, and found a recipe online. A bad recipe, obviously. Anyone out there know a good walnut oil recipe?

I love stews because they're easy; just chop everything up, toss it into the pot, and let it cook itself. Because my arms get tired chopping, I do a little bit at a time over several hours. The simmering phase is my favorite, when flavours mingle and mellow. Reminds me of the writing process, really.

Speaking of writing, things are going pretty well though somewhat ploddingly. I have a kitchen timer in my office which I set for 20 minutes when I start working; even when using ViaVoice, I still have to do some manual typing. When the alarm goes off, I force myself to walk away from the computer and do something else for a few minutes to give my arms a break, like studying Italian or German, doing arm exercises, cooking, going for a run.

I've finished my basic character outlines and am working on plot background and plot outlining now.



Took this photo on the way home from my last physio session (today).
I'm determined to really make it my last session this time.
No more setbacks!

January 2004 comments: Read | Post | LJ

fast break

Some of the bookmarks I've received in response
to my shameless plea, from all around the world.
I was also incredibly touched by all the letters I received thanking
me for Waiting For Frodo.


Thanks for all the support re: my writing! Just to clarify: I do plan to continue Blathering; it just won't be nearly as often as before. Sometimes I may just post a photo or two.

My first solid week of working on my novel is going well, I'm happy to report. My current strategy is to spend a number of weeks on detailed outlining of characters, background, and plot, with the goal of minimizing the amount of time (and typing) I will have to do in the final edit. There will be a fair amount of rewriting, I can tell already; I've decided to change my main characters from an older brother and younger sister to an older sister and younger brother, for example. I've also come across a major plot inconsistency which requires some backtracking.

I'm not used to writing this way. My usual strategy is to hammer out a very rough version, with the goal of just getting everything on paper (or rather, the screen) without worrying about details, then multiple edits to finetune. With a limited "arm budget" and a voice recognition program which is agonizing to use for edits, however, I can no longer think this way. I'm considering it a good mental exercise, forcing myself to revise my writing habits in a way that might be beneficial even if I never had tendinitis.



Very cool handmade bookmark from Annie K.


For each character, for example, I'm outlining physical appearance, personality, background, motivations (this is a biggie), character development in the story, and the inevitable catchall, "Miscellaneous." Sometimes I do a rough sketch, sometimes include a photograph I have cut out from a magazine or found online which captures how I see the character. I used to lean toward more detailed character outlines, but found them a waste of time for me since I like to leave some flexibility; inevitably the character grows on its own as I work on a novel, sometimes developing in a way I had not intended. Sometimes I let it happen if the change fits in with the rest of the story and characters. Sometimes I relentlessly force the character back into the original outline; I have to show these characters who's boss, after all. :-)



Embroidered bookmark from Margaret S.


My arms continue to improve. I can actually type manually for several minutes at a time without pain now, but I am forcing myself to continue to rely heavily on ViaVoice to avoid another setback. Instead of launching into full-scale typing cold turkey, I plan to gradually we myself off my voice activated software. VERY gradually. My arms get tired pretty quickly, and I'm always careful to give them a rest whenever I sense I'm reaching my limit. This can be somewhat frustrating if I'm in the middle of something, but I've learned my lesson.

And it's so wonderful to be working on my fiction writing again. It's going much more slowly than before I got tendinitis, but at least it's going.

To those going to Confusion this weekend: hope you all have fun! Wish I could have been there.



Hand-painted bookmark from Clare G.


p.s. I haven't forgotten about my promise to send prizes to those who posted New Year's resolutions! If you haven't already, make sure you send your snailmail address to me with "resolution prize" in the subject header. Still haven't decided what prizes to send out, will do so within the next couple of months. So far I have addresses from Ana R., Lynn G. Beth B., Chris O., Erica N., Gary E., Mike W. and Lyanne Q.

Also, thanks for the postcard, Nan! Could you please send me your snailmail address?



I brought home a Reese's Fast Break chocolate bar
from Marietta for Jeff; I had never seen it before. Well,
he adores it and has declared it his favourite chocolate bar.
Only problem: we can't seem to get it here! Is there anyone out there
coming to FKO who would be willing to bring a few? (I'll pay
for them, of course!)

January 2004 comments: Read | Post | LJ

hermit mode

Mark and Rand at GAfilk.


Heading back into normal work schedule now, and I will be making my fiction writing a priority this year. Some side-effects:

I won't be Blathering as often.

I plan to force myself to go into a kind of hermit mode. I will be ignoring the phone while I am writing. I will be gradually weaning myself off the habit of -always- being online. Nonfiction writing gives me the excuse to always leave my Web browser open ("It's for research, you know!") and checking mail every 10 minutes. I was becoming interrupt-driven, not a good environment for a writer of any kind.

I won't be posting or reading in Livejournal except for rare occasions. It doesn't mean I don't care about my friends; it means that I am going to opt for other types of contact that won't require typing or mouse-clicking (phonecalls, online voice chats, talking at conventions, visits).

If you have important life information to share, I will only find out if you tell me yourself (even in a group e-mail), or if I hear it from someone else.

I will still be checking e-mail, of course, but have given up on in-depth e-mail conversations until my arms are better. I realize that I will be drifting away from "the loop" and likely miss out on all kinds of fun, but my writing career has to take priority; if I end up flaming out in a deluge of rejection letters and have to look for other work, I need to know that at least I gave it everything I had.

Wish me luck. :-)



Christo and Adam at GAfilk.




Amanda and Zoe.

January 2004 comments: Read | Post | LJ

gafilk (part 3)

Me and Erica and Jodi. Photo by Terence.


More info about Andrea's and Tom's new baby:
Matthew Corwyn Dale Algeo
Weight: 7 lb, 7 oz
Length: 21 inches

Congratulations, Andrea and Tom and Nicholas!

GAfilk personal highlights continued...



Bill Sutton.


- Seeing Carla Ulbrich again.

- Being there when Rand introduced Joe G. to Scott Snyder, and the ensuing guitarfest.

- Hearing Scott Snyder do "Media Momma", one of my personal favorites.



Christo.


- Watching Gary Ehrlich's face as I gradually approached him in the open filk circle, flute poised over my shoulder like a club, as he sang a New Arms For Debbie-O. :-)

- Chatting with Amanda Snyder at the Suttons' while the others were working or shopping.



Scott Snyder.


- Kisses from Zoë.

- Hall chat with Gretchen and Bill Roper.

- Hearing Becca Allen sing anything.



Menu from The Waffle House (I had never been
to a Waffle House before).


- Seeing Rand drop his pants for Interfilk (photo from Terence's GAfilk photo collection).

- Adam as an Interfilk wench.



Howie and Bill during the closing ceremonies


- Bill Sutton in his black cowboy hat, leather jacket and shades. Wish I had thought to take a picture. :-(

- Dancing at the Saturday night banquet. Seeing Chris Conway leap into action on the dance floor when they started playing "The Alien Jellyfish Song." I don't know how to dance and don't usually do it in public, but I couldn't resist because of the wonderful music and the people who were there. :-)



Interfilk quilt.


- The Interfilk auction, always entertaining and inspiring.

- Second breakfast with Rob, Larissa and Heather.

- Finding out that Andrea Dale's water had broken during my last day in Marietta (Amanda saw it on LJ). Much excitement!



Joe Raftery.


I loved the fact that programming did not start until noon. This served two purposes, as far as I was concerned: it gave me the option to sleep in if I wanted without fear of missing anything, and also the option of more hanging out time if I woke up early anyway (which was usually the case).



Persis, Terence and Erica.


LOVED the relaxacon atmosphere of the convention. Sometimes I attended the programming, sometimes I lounged about with friends... there was never any pressure to do either.

One of my favorite activities during the convention was to wander through the hallways, stopping by various pockets of conversation, dropping by different filkrooms and listening for a song or two before moving on. You really get a sense of the whole convention that way: the people, the music, the atmosphere.



The Suttons' cat, Furball


Can't wait until next January. :-)

For those who missed them, here are some GAfilk Blathering entries that I've already posted:

/archives/002265.html
/archives/002266.html



Mary teaches Rand and Adam (and the rest of the
audience) some yoga moves.

January 2004 comments: Read | Post | LJ