For the Clarionites...
...who will appreciate this, especially those who attended the Dinner & Graveyard Night.
Make sure he sees this. You know who. :-)
Sent to me from Bobby D., so apologies if he sent it to you guys too, I forgot if he did.
Magical Toon.
I never thought I would say this
but I wish it would stop raining!
Just for 2 hours (given the wind up here at the moment): that should be enough to get the washing dry. *grin*
The good news is, after almost a week of being out in the rainwater, the whites are truly white. :-)
Today, more published differences between women's and men's brains and how they process (although the headline bothers me because I can, in fact, read maps and was an orienteering buff as a teenager and did quite a bit of camping in my last year of high school... yes, I know you wouldn't know it to look at me now, but I wasn't always this unfit *grin*). Anyway, given the fact that the online link will expire, I've reproduced it here. From: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12033956-13762,00.html (bold emphasis mine)
Finally - why women can't read maps
From correspondents in New Mexico
January 24, 2005
MEN frequently despair at women's map-reading skills - or rather their lack of them. Now scientists believe they have pinpointed the reason for this conflict between the sexes.
Researchers say it is all down to differences in the reliance of the sexes on either grey matter or white matter in their brains to solve problems.
They found that in intelligence tests men use 6.5 times as much grey matter as women, but women use nine times as much white matter.
Grey matter is brain tissue crucial to processing information and plays a vital role in aiding skills such as mathematics, map-reading and intellectual thought.
White matter connects the brain's processing centres and is central to emotional thinking, use of language and the ability to do more than one thing at once.
Professor Rex Jung, a co-author of the study at the University of New Mexico, said: "This may help explain why men tend to excel in tasks requiring more local processing, like mathematics and map-reading, while women tend to excel at integrating information from various brain regions, such as is required for language skills.
"These two very different pathways and activity centres, however, result in equivalent overall performance on broad measures of cognitive ability, such as those found on intelligence tests."
Previous studies have shown that women have weaker spatial awareness than men, making it harder for them to read maps. [or, in my case, parallel park. :-D ]
Research has also found that in childhood, girls' vocabulary develops more quickly and that in later life women can speak 20,000 to 25,000 words a day compared to a man's 7000 to 10,000.
For the study, published in the online edition of the journal NeuroImage, researchers performed a series of brain scans on 26 female and 22 male volunteers using magnetic resonance imaging equipment.
All the volunteers were in good health, had no history of brain injury and the average IQ scores of the two sexes were similar.
Their brains were scanned while they carried out tests designed to assess their general intelligence.
Researchers then created a map of a brain showing the varying levels of activity in the brains of men and women. About 40 per cent of the human brain is grey matter and 60 per cent white matter.
Umm, if 40% of the brain is grey matter and 60% white, and men use 6.5 times more grey matter than women and women use 9 times more white matter than men during tests, then does that mean that (in general) women use more of their brains then men? Would someone who is better at maths than me work that one out??? I might be able to have 50 trains of thought at one time but I have trouble adding 8 and 7 without using my fingers. Although no trouble doing the 7 times tables. Go figure.
One thing I would really like to know: do men who are good at language, communication and psychic activity or women who are good at logics and mathematics, or who can, in fact, read maps, use more of the "opposite" brain matter than their counterparts or do they utilise the same-sex matter to do those tasks as well? I can't, however, access the journal to find out and don't really feel like paying $30US for one 250K pdf article. And they say science is accessible for the perusal of the masses *rolls eyes*
Funny-ish sideline: If this becomes general notice, who wants to bet that somehow the phrase "using your grey matter" will be outlawed as sexist and non-PC? hehehehehe.
I just realised it's Wednesday already, and I am behind, as usual. Unfortunately, yesterday was a write-off: one of my cats fell unwell and I spent a lot of time at the vet's. We have the paralysis tick up here and it seems Shayd picked up one, and despite the fact I check them regularly, I missed this one: probably because her smoky grey (like the Russian Blue) colour is a perfect camouflage for the tick. But I didn't feel it either. Fortunately the vet found it but she required the medication to reverse tick poisoning. However, she reacted to the medication as well, and so was a sick little puppy last night. She's fine now (although still very lethargic and definitely more sooky), but by the time I'd finished with her it was time to pick up the kids from school.
Not a lot of sleep this week, either: I've been dreaming all week so I wake up tired... they've been very active this full moon; I always seem to be running to do something. Can't think why! *grin*
Not complaints though.
The good news is that #2 is really enjoying high school so far... apparently he really, really likes something called "performing arts". People who know him will find this funny! People who know him well will find it
really funny because I've been saying to him that he needs to get into a drama class for years, and his response has always been "I. Will never. Do
drama!!" in the most dramatic tone possible. When I told him that "performing arts" and "drama" were synonymous he didn't talk to me for almost an hour. hehe. He still likes it though.
#5 has learned "s" and "a" phonics. He's happy. Is good.
Been watching a fascinating docuseries on Shakespeare while getting some ironing done, fortuitous that these arrived from fetchme this week because #1 son is studying some this year (although I hope this doesn't turn him off altogether!). It's called
In Search of Shakespeare and it was put together by Michael Wood, the same guy who did
In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great (a series I own on video). I love this guy. What I wouldn't do to sit down for just one hour of conversation with him. His fascination and enthusiasm for history is infectious and he digs up some great stuff. When I find some spare money (ha!) I will be off to the ABC shop to get a copy of the series.
But, anyhows. I have to be back in Brissy tomorrow night so I'd better catch up with everything... I think I'm going to end up using the dryer at the laundromat, though, at this rate!
What a Weekend!
Listening to:
Strictly Ballroom, the film not the soundtrack, playing in the background. I'm half watching it. Finally picked up the Red Curtain Trilogy for the grand old price of $7.95. Yes, SEVEN . 95. Will explain later.
So, where do I start?????????
On Friday, I suppose. Due to circumstances well beyond my control, I wasn't able to do Friday in Brissy, which was fine: it gave me some time on Saturday am and Friday night to spend with my older boys. I also finished getting all of the school stuff for the kids ready for today. I am sans 5 out of 6 today, and it's a Big Year: #2 starts high school and #5 starts primary school. Poor #6 though. He's the only one left at home and he's pretty keen to start pre-school. But, next year. He's watching
Strictly at the moment. And he likes it.
# 3 son put his money aside to take me to a film for my birthday and they had a choice (given times and available showings that still allowed me to get down to Brissy in time) between
Phantom of the Opera and
A Series of Unfortunate Events. I'd seen both so I told them I didn't mind which, and they chose Phantom! I got to see it again (woohoo) amd it didn't get any worse on a third showing. I did get to spend a bit of time watching my boys (aged 14, 12 & 10) watch this film and it was amazing. None are fond of musicals (although when Christine stated singing Master 14 loudly proclaimed in authoritative tones, "Oh, she's
much better than the original." {meaning Brightman}). He's actually right, imo. Master 10 reckoned his favourite bit was when Piangi was hanging from the rafters. Figures!
But I watched them during the part of the film that had me popcorn-and-drink-forgotten-ish, and they were all the same. Munching ceased and faces transfixed. Even from Master 14 who'd once declared
Van Helsing "boring and overshot." From Master 12 who thought the film would be "stupid, but I'm outnumbered, so..." and from Master 10, who sat absolutely still for perhaps the first time in his life. Worth a thousand words. Starting from the time Christine was enthralled, so were they. Wow.
Walking back to the car, there were a bunch of high school (presumably) kids acting like they do on Friday nights with too much alcohol. one of the girls ran past and goosed Master 12, who was
most affronted. I tried to tell him it was a backhanded compliment, but.... well, suffice to say, he wasn't at all pleased... (on a very funny (to me) synchronistic note, this happened also to Scott on Saturday, he told me in only slightly exaggerated detail. He was quite pleased with himself--the very opposite reaction of my 12 year-old. hehe).
Saturday I actually left 2 hours earlier than I thought I needed to and still ended up with a half hour to get ready for the Aurealis Awards. I did it. Woohoo. A special mention should go to Nicky for putting me up and putting up with me Saturday, I was a bit wired until around 10pm, when I finally slipped into "relax" mode, just as the FQ Cocktail party started to wind down. 'Twas great to catch up with how the Clarionites were doing after a week with Ellen Datlow (still a lovely lady), and some of last years' lot, albeit briefly. AND Congratulations must go to everyone who won an award!! (Yay Sean!!!!)
I also want to make special mention of the team that put together the awards this year (of which, despite some belief to the contrary, I was not one, except as doorperson to the Cocktail party afterwards, not really a difficult job, even for me). Kate had a checksheet which meant that the awards finished ON TIME! (The Academy should hire that girl, honestly), Jason N did an amazing job as Director this year, the judges & convenors also, and The FQ team Richard, Karin, Peter, Rob H. Damon and Bobby D did the AV and movies. And, of course, kudos to outgoing Aurealis editor Keith Stevenson and the Chimera Publications team (who are only not mentioned by name because I KNOW I'll miss someone. I probably have already missed someone. If so, send me a severe email. :-) ).
After the cocktail party, we kicked on to the Pancake Manor on Charlotte in the city and confused the staff by not only dropping 30 + people on them at once but also by hopping tables on a fairly regular basis -- well, I wasn't; I was enjoying the conversation with the group sitting around me too much (it's usually not much fun being the only right wing fascist in a group of labor voters, but these particular labor voters are actually very reasonable so it was actual discussion not "pile on the person who actually admits voting for Johnny" *grin* and we dropped into other discussion as well, of course), but some of us did. The staff handled it with aplomb; they usually do.
I really enjoyed the dinner (you can never have too much malt), but it was still nothing compared to the trip there: I think Stephanie (Harper-Collins editor) was highly amused at listening to a multi Aurealis Award-winning writer (Have I mentioned... yay Sean!!!), and two others (me & Chris Mc) in varying states of publication history singing (or attempting to sing hehe) bits of
The War of the Worlds in the back seat. Nicky, of course, is used to us. hehe.
Then Nicky and Damon acted as chauffeurs to a bunch of students and Sean and we ended up at the Floor One shebang until rather late. Umm... late? Early? Nicky and I finally got to sleep at approximately the same time as the magpies started to sing. That was much fun, although I won't describe exactly what happened, simply because it was one of those "had to be there" things. I mean, I could tell you how we discussed why
LadyHawke needed better music, but that sounds sort of boring in writing, wot?
Considering the late night and very little sleep, I felt pretty good Sunday. Apparently others didn't, though. I could throw evil grins round here, but I won't. *Evil grin* We moved Sean out and our Week Four Tutor (and Golden Aurealis Award winner for Short Stories, woohoo!!), Margo Lanagan, moved in. Considering how often we've been in the same place at the same time, cons, etc., I've never had the chance to actually talk to Margo, and I really like her. I'm really looking forward to Friday, actually.
I was going to write a short amount today on how weird it is, sometimes, to be friends with someone you then "fall" for, and then remain friends with (at least I
think so, it can be hard to tell with this person, who hopefully remains oblivious because, well, he'd be pretty horrified at the thought *grin*) but I've already rambled on for long enough this morning, I reckon.
Oh! One last thing, thankye, my wonderful brother, for the Christmas present. It dropped the price of the DVD set to $7.95!!! I've been meaning to pick up the boxed set for a while, and it was the last one in Maroochy shopping centre, happened to be at Myer. :-) I also picked up the kiddies some T's. Watched the DVD you sent for my birthday again too last night. Nice selection of Spike-based episodes, and I'm very, very glad they didn't throw in any of the Season 6 episodes (I still maintain the only thing wrong with
Buffy is Sarah Michelle Gellar. Oh, no, quickly add, JOKE!!! Maybe...
They included the first ep Marsden (*sigh*!!) appears in, where Spike drives through the Sunnydale sign and gets out, lights a ciggy, and declares "Home Sweet Home", with the ep that comes just after Dru leaves him... where he drives through the Sunnydale sign, falls out of the car in a drunken mess, and whimpers sarcastically, "Home sweet Home". Funny watched one after the other! Danke shoen again! Love ya bro. Oh, and not just for the Marsden influx, just so's you know. xxx
Going now, I have 300 things to do today. Well, no, now, 294, but anyways...
On a quick note, my ISP seems to be doing funny things with email. So, if you've sent me an email and I don't respond, I probably didn't get it... or the one I sent didn't get to you. Post here and let me know. Alternatively, Nicky got one of my emails 3 times last week... and another 5 times, and another
7 times (which would've been bloody annoying, because that so happened to be one I sent out with a largish attachment). I only sent them once. So, again, if anyone else had this happen, I apologise on behalf of my crappy ISP, who is very close to getting the flick. Froggy also tends to block hotmail addies (without reference to me, I might add), so there's only an approximately 45% chance of them getting to me. Sigh.
I was accused the other day...
of being "contradictory" in nature.
The crux of this was that the other person couldn't figure me out. I apparently don't fit into any box he can think of. I espouse both left and right-wing ideals and seem to be extremist when, upon actual debate and discussion, the views I hold on the subject are actually pretty well middling, when you consider the
actual "extremist" viewpoints.
I've been called a "hippy" and a "right wing fascist" in the same week.
Hehe.
Hippy < ........................................................................... > Fascist.
Can't get much further than that.
I'm thinking.... Good.
Boxes.
Who needs them?
Except for packing stuff, of course. They're useful then. :-)
I am going to add, quickly, that this isn't intentional on my part. I am who I am. Unless I'm actually hurting someone I'm no longer going to pretend to be anything else for the sake of sensibilities.
Of course, I will deny I ever said that if asked.
Oh! BTW, Nicky, do you remember that conversation we had last week that I said I'd deny every having had this week? I have only one thing to say.... "What conversation???" :-P
The Weekend
Listening to:
Footloose soundtrack. Although what I'd really like to listen to right now is the Phantom (movie version)... although I suspect the CD will lose a lot. The singers in the film weren't as technically good as the original LW LP.
Interesting weekend. It involved critiques, graveyards, a good view, worst movies, vampires in England, cleaning and a series of unfortunate events.
Mum, don't panic. I mean the movie. :-)
Thursday, I went to Brissy a little earlier than intended to pick a friend up from the airport. Said friend then "forced" me to lug her suitcase all over the carpark until I died.* I'm dead now. Seriously. :-P
We then went to see
Phantom of the opera. Again, for both of us. I figured since I didn't have to pay for the last trip (thankye again, D!) I could justify paying for a second trip. Still a good film.
I have been rather amused, though, by some of the discussion sites on phantom where a bunch of sighing girls lament the fact that Christine didn't choose the "sexy" phantom over the delightfully insipid Raoul. I'm starting to think that Gerard Butler was a serious miscast, because he's too pretty to be the phantom, and there wasn't enough lumpy makeup applied to disguise that. Sheesh, I fell for the Phan char in the film (as I did Marek in
Timeline -- based on char, though, not actor).
However, having said that, I have to say that, having been in a long-term relationship where the other thought "love" was all about ownership, loss of freedom and control, I'm with Christine on this one. I can understand her fear of the phantom char, even while I understand his pitiful past (in the book was actually different there is more of a "redemption" quality about the last scene because in the book he was taught to be an assassin, he didn't just accidentally fall into it as a result of cruelty: he was amoral, had no concept of murder not being a solution to a problem) and her awe. Given that Christine and Raoul were childhood sweethearts and the man spent his time trying to ensure her freedom, and the Phantom had already murdered a guy, and threatened to kill others, it's a bit of a no-brainer, don't you think? I sometimes wish there'd been a Raoul in my life. There is
nothing "romantic" about the Phantom's behaviour and the life he was willing to subject her to for his own needs.
But, anyhow....
Thursday night was very nice, although I got to bed way too late, I think.
Friday was spent at Clarion sitting in with Michael Swanwick and the students for their morning crit. I have to say I am very impressed with Michael's work ethic and commitment to the students over the week. Not only did he crit the stories he had up for the week (the only stories he was "required" to read and probably around 85,000 words), he also read the submission stories (approximately 90,000 words if memory serves) and the week one stories (also around 80,000 words) -- and he marked them up. He worked very hard. Great job!
Some of the Clarion students kindly had me for lunch (although since I was still dead at this time I'm sure I wasn't all that tasty), and I spent the afternoon reading the first bit of Stephen King's
On Writing, between other stuff. Then I went to dinner with 5 of the students at Fortitude Valley. Unfortunately, one of the students was 45 minutes late showing up, so another was pretty well ready to eat the rest of us by the time we left. Of course, I had already been eaten so he had to go hungry for a while. (Joking! I gave him a bikky). But we ended up at King of Kings and ate actual food. Then we headed up to Mt Coo-tha for a look at the view: the others were out-of-towners (hehe, sort of like me!) and Mr Lateness reckoned it was a pretty good view. He was right, beautiful, although I'd forgotten how insipid (that's my word for the day, can you tell?) the stars are when there's a lot of light. Where I live, the stars are very clear (except by fullish moon, of course), and the Milky Way actually does look milky.
Someone decided a trip to the graveyard would be good, so we went. No-one brought stakes, though, so we got eaten. The other students will need to watch out for the few that are currently avoiding sunlight and mirrors. Just thought a warning was in order.
Joking.
Of course, nothing actually happened, but i'm thinking that's because we forgot to bring the "scary, oh-NO-don't-go-THERE!!, look who just got separated" theme music.
Maybe next time.
Actually, in all seriousness, I'll have to go up there during the day so I can actually read the tombstones and see the mausoleums by day. Genaelogist. 'Nuff said.
Friday was fun, although I got to bed much too late.
Saturday, among other work-related things, I saw
A Series of Unfortunate Events with a couple of friends. D gave me a birthday present (Nicky already had given me one) -- candles and books were the theme this year, which makes me happy. You can NEVER have too many yummy candles or too much non fiction. One opf those fortuitous things, too. If you're reading this, D, remember how I told you that the book would have somethign I'd been looking for in it? It does!
Story is, D had gone in to get me something else and this book (
Venice, Lion City: The Religion of Empire by Garry Wills) was just sitting there, like someone had been looking at it, decided at the last minute not to buy it and then just dumped it on the table rather than putting it back. He thought it would be perfect for me, so bought it.
Meanwhile, I have been writing a few books (as anyone familiar with my blog should know by now) and one of the world building aspects of one of them has been bugging me. Despite being an epic fantasy, the book is very political, and I have some basis in Ancient Egypt but I wasn't totally satisfied with that. I then remembered the political situation in Italy (actually, more like the separate Italian states we now know as Italy) in the middle ages-early Rennaisance and thought it would be interesting to know more, but could only get some basic info on the specifics--everything I found was too broad. I also really wanted some good pictures of some of the Byzantine mosaics.
Guess what the book's about?
And guess what is clearly and lovingly pictured, on colour plates, in the middle of the book?
Woo hoo!
Then, ice cream. Ice cream is very very good, even when you're dead. :-D
I then had a quiet social function on Saturday night, and went to bed much too late.
Sunday, I finished
On Writing, did some cleaning, had a few meetings, including one with our new tutor for the week, Ellen Datlow (of Datlow Awards fame). I like Ellen, and the fact she gave me a signed copy of her anthology has nothing to do with that. :-)
Then, by the time I got home, I got to bed much too late.
Monday, my children and I did the basic housecleaning and then we used the PS2 all day, together. 'Twas good to kick back for a bit.
Tried to watch Empires: Japan with my oldest son last night, but i can't for the life of me remember any of it, although he tells me he watched it all the way through before turning off all the lights and leaving me asleep on the couch.
A bit stiff (pun unintended, being that I'm dead and all) this morning, but at least I got an early night. :-D
* This was the word said friend used. There was no forced involved, actually. She had hurt her foot and so I pulled the suitcase. Actually, I volunteered. At the time of my volunteeration, I didn't realise that she had packed books. Many, many books. :-P
Woman Pirates
Org from Lifeline was kind enough to send me these links about woman pirates:
Mary Read & Anne Bonney
Ching Shih
Grace O'Malley
Fascinating stuff. Thanks Org. :-)
Hey!
Who voted for "Heartthrob Pirate"??
'Cos, uh... thanks. *blush*
Andromeda
The series, starring
Hercules' Kevin Sorbo. It's a creation of Gene Roddenbury, and I started watching it, because by all accounts it's not very good. Unlike, say
Firefly, which is. Yet
Firefly lasted one season only and
andromeda is in its fourth. As a general "why is it so" curiosity, I've been watching it, am halfway through Season 1, and it actually doesn't suck. I'm surprised about that.
Although an episode had me in tears yesterday, which does suck. I don't cry over silly TV shows, even "met up with my lost girlfriend who can't come back with me to the future" episodes.
So I'm thinking it was something else.
I don't know.
Which sucks.
50 Worst Movies Ever Made
In November, I joined Bigpond's "Fetchme" online DVD library. You get the first month free, so I figured "what the hell?"
Anyway, yesterday, the docu-film "The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made" turned up at my request, and it is hilarious! I might have to hold onto it and take it to Clarion for the students to watch, especially given so many of them are fifties-seventies era, really bad, bad, freaky sci-fi movies.
Not all, though. "Ishtar" made the list at number 44 and "Xanadu" popped in at number... uh... 28 or 29, I think. "Smokey and the Bandit III" made the list too, at #28 and "Howard The Duck" at 40. There was one really funny one where the entire second half was filmed in 1961 and the entire first half was filmed in 1968, and no-one really paid any attention to continuity issues... in scenery, style, dress.... characters.... actors.... story.... hehe.
Number one worst film, according to this list, was the 1967 film "The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-up Zombies." Funny!
The only thing that was missing was being able to turn to someone and have conversation about it. It's MA rated (because although the whole thing is rather tame, one of the films has an attempted alien-probe/human female rape scene and another one is just... disturbing...) so I wasn't going to let my 14 year-old watch it.
I almost phoned a friend of mine while I was watching it (thought he would appreciate it, a movie buff) but decided against it.
All in all, though, a good top-off to a nice day. :-)
From Live Astro
Posted because it'll disappear into the ether until next year otherwise.
From
Live Astro. Don't know if this sounds like me, but anyhow.
Born on 10th, January
This remarkable space traveller is an old star, possessing wisdom which comes with one who has made a long journey through time. With every January 10 there is a strong feeling that they have lived at other times, conventionally known as old souls. Even as a child, January 10 shows an unusually balanced, nurturing personality. If an adult is unwell, they will toddle up and caress the sick one, tenderness showing in their childish eyes.
They adore myths and legends, and left to play in a corner by themselves, make up their own fantasies and generally enjoy their own thoughts. In adulthood, 10 is clever and logical. Both sexes take an overview. They are exceptionally generous and sensitive towards others and show none of the petty envies and jealousies. Old souls are a delight because they contribute so much.
At work they are both ambitious and nurturing of others. Found in creative professions, medicine or jobs where they can do good, 10 is a persuasive speaker both privately and publicly. And uses charm to get her way. But don't try to push them around. Born knowing what they want no amount of coercion makes any difference. Indeed if they suspect a manipulator they will become stubborn, uncooperative and quite frequently simply walk away, disconcerting to those who misinterpret 10's balance and nurturing side for weakness.
Where love is concerned they feel deeply and appreciate every tiny act of kindness shown by a partner. When they find another old soul as a mate nothing will part them. Even if that person is married and can't leave, there will be a connection between them more powerful than most can fathom. But beware. With ordinary partners January 10 is loving, but when things don't seem to work out, they're very easy come easy go. Why worry when there are always plenty more available lovers to choose from? It was so cold last week, my grandma's teeth were chattering and they werent even in her mouth.
More on Phantom, etc
Continuation of last post....
Another thing I really liked about the film was the roof scene. Again, the first time I really got the "love scene" sense: I always found it a bit trite-ish before.
This Christine got the impression across of how afraid she was (and rightly so), and yet how much of a pull the Phantom had on her, without going over the top into farce, in a way Sarah Brightman never did, and so the movie Raoul was able to use the song for its intention: you don't need to fear, I am here, I will make sure no harm comes to you.
Gerald Butler did a good job. I liked him in
Timeline (actually Marek was my favourite char, that accent, and the whole romanticism thing of the character--not to mention the character held a similar view to my opinion of why history's so fascinating), but I was still surprised. For some reason, though, at a couple of points he reminded me of Antonio Banderas (er, not a good thing in this instance. Damon once showed me a version of AB singing Phantom. Yeuch. He was great in
Evita, but... uuurrrrgggghhhh). He's another Scot (for some reason, I'm rather fond of Scots. Billy Boyd is my favourite hobbit, and Connery my favourite Bond. Must be a genetic memory thing). He was in
Mrs Brown with Billy Connelly as well, IIRC. The younger brother? I forget (Scott??).
Anyhow, I believe I have washing to do, and my mum's dropping by this arvo. I should thank my mum for helping with babysitting duties over the weekend, too. Made my life a lot easier.
So, in conclusion, a good weekend. Only one thing missing.... but I'm not going into that. Hehe.
Trevor, feel better soon, don't forget to eat your dessert. :-P xx
Clarion weekend, Phantom & Sean Williams.
Listening to:
Age of Wonders game music off the comp. For anyone who's never heard of it, AoW is a strategy game that was published by Triumph Studios in 1999 or so. It still plays well today, and has a very good story, one that captured the imagination. Triumph followed with AOW2 in 2002-ish and AOW: Shadow Magic last year but neither game ever lived up to the first one; they fell victim to the 3D graphics engine curse (sacrificing playability for "looks") and the storytelling was abysmal. So was the music. I don't have a lot of time for gaming, but I still pull out the original AoW and play on the odd occasion. It's a classic.
Mood: content.
Well, so much to say and not a lot of midnight to say it in.
The weekend. Well. What can I say?
Let's start with Saturday. Saturday night is the night we Clarion convenors take the previous week's tutor out for dinner, their choice.
Sean Williams loves Indian food, so we hopped over to Sitar on Sandgate Road in Albion and had... Indian food. It's never been a favourite of mine, but after last night's offering, I've come to the conclusion that this is because there weren't any good Indian restaurants in Canberra. At least when I was living there. There may be now. Anyhooo, 'twas yummy. Thanks for the choice, Sean!
A little about Sean Williams. Sean is a genuinely nice guy with a wicked sense of humour. And prolific, wot! He was a speaker at last year's
EnVision and he spoke on "The Writer's Career Path", and I couldn't believe how prolific. People think I'm busy? Nothing compared to this guy's output. Sheesh. Jealous. :-) He had us watch a Bill Bailey DVD last night and it was so funny most of the Clarionites who were present were in stitches. I haven't laughed so hard in ages. Trouble is, it's hard to put my finger on exactly what was so funny.... but funny it was.
The students, from what they told me, are genuinely sad to see Sean go (as are we). We're all hoping he'll be back for the Aurealis Awards on the 22nd. He's nominated.
Anyway, he'll be back in Adelaide by now. Hope you had a good flight, Sean. :-)
One of the Clarionites, Nathan, had a birthday on Friday. Happens to also be a 1971 baby (3 days older than me). I'm thinking with Zara, last year, and Nathan, this year, being January 1971 bubs, along with a convenor (me), that this will need to be an established Clarion tradition. "No Clarion will be complete without a 1971 Capricorn in residence, please." Yeah, I can see that catching on. Hehe.
Nathan is another Genuinely Nice Guy, with a knack for fixing doors. This is always a Good Thing.
I was fortunate enough to have read all of the application stories for this bunch before they were farmed off to the readers for assessment. What a talented lot they are, too. I wish I could say more on this, but I can't, because it would involve giving away scores and whatnot.
Our second week Instrument of Torture (aka tutor) is Michael Swanwick, from the US. I don't know a lot about him, apart from his stories, of course, but first impressions are favourable, and his wife Marianne (apologies, Marianne, if I've chosen the wrong spelling version of your name) is just lovely. They told us today of a day-long festival they have back home, where they have "mummers" (interesting choice of terminology I thought, because mummers to me are very mediaeval, and they used to travel from town to town doing religious plays)... have "mummers" who spend an entire day in a parade... from dawn to dusk (in a northern hemisphere
January, mind you!), involving all audience etc. Sounds fascinating: singing, plays, parade, copiuous amounts of beer. Love it. Except I don't drink beer, but still... sounds like much fun.
I am thoroughly impressed by Michael's work ethic. He's there for the students, all in. He's already read all of their application stories, plus their first weeks stories, and marked the first week's as he's gone. Amazing.
We had dinner tonight with Michael and the students, provided by first floor (I think). Someone made a really yummy capsicum salad with a dressing that was to die for. If someone can let me know who made that and pass the recipe on, I'd appreciate!
I also went to see the movie version of Andrew LW's
The Phantom of the Opera today, birthday treat. Oh. Yesterday, look at the time. Happy Birthday to me, hehe.
:-)
I love stage musicals, even been in a few, own records & film versions (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, btw, when a man can dance with an axe, booyeah!), adored
Moulin Rouge, but in all honesty, I didn't expect to like it that much. I loved the original ALW record (yes, record, on LP) when it came out, went to see it on stage with my mum for Mother's Day 1995. No, 1996. I enjoyed that, but I think I knew it too well by the time I saw it, and while I know it off by heart it's a bit faded now for me, not so "great" as I used to think it was.
This movie was just stunning, and I don't think it's because I like the story or the musical or what-have-you. There were some diversions from the stage version for the film, that I think strengthened the story (made it shorter, clearer than the stage version), and I also think this version is probably closer to the original Leroux book than previous movies (although Damon would know about that better than I). They didn't make the mistake of trying to "de-musicalise" the film, either. The cast did a good job: not the "best" singers in the world but I still enjoyed them, and for the
very first time, I found a version that made me "feel" for the Phantom character, to almost want Christine to end up with him. I fell for him a bit in this version, something I've never done in previous versions. At no time did I ever feel "oh, stop the bloody singing already" (something I do feel even in some movie versions of R&H!), because it seemed so natural.
There were a couple of bits that disappointed me a wee bit (mostly where they cut out some of the Raoul counterpoints, especially in the cemetery scene where Christine goes to visit her father's gravesite... "once again she is his... once again she returns..." but they make up for that by giving us a spekky swordfight scene instead. Woohoo! :-) ), but apart from that, well... I got to the end of the film and realised I hadn't even finished my drink. Hardly touched my M&Ms. Unheard of. I was too distracted. Will see again, I hope (also unheard of).
I wasn't even tempted to sing along. Didn't even consider it. Was too "there" in the film. And this from someone who had to bite her lips until they bled to stop humming along when I saw "De-lovely"... another musical film that made me want to say "stop the singing, already, and tell actual story please."
Beautiful, beautiful costuming & scenery, perhaps somewhat over-stylised in places. I'd heard from a friend that he'd heard it wasn't that good, but whoever the reviewer was, he/she either a) forgot to suspend disbelief, b)was in a really crappy mood when they walked into the cinema, or c) left his/her heart at the door, if they have one, that is.
Phantom isn't a movie for cynics. It's not supposed to be a "realistic" movie, you need your heart in place and open to watch it and enjoy. Difficult for me, usually, but the endscene, that used to leave me completely cold, in this version, just... oh man, the guy who played Raoul can act, but Phantom, well. Terrific performance all round. The girl who played Christine, beautiful kid. When her voice finishes maturing, she's going to be amazing.
Feel free to disagree, of course.
You know one thing that is really sad about that character, that it took seeing the film for me to realise, even though it's been implicit in the stage version? I can't remember re the book (I read it a long time ago), but in this version, we never learn the Phantom's name. I don't think he had one.
Can you imagine living a life in which your mother gave you a mask but no name?
Oh, my.
A Book Meme
For fun:
From Jen's blog:
1. Pick up the nearest book to you.
2. Find page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal (or my comments if you don't have a journal) along with these instructions.
5. Don't search around and look for the "coolest" book you can find. Do what's actually next to you.
The closest book to me (not including one of mine in ms format) was a 2005 diary, which had no text on p 123, so I grabbed one of the books off my computer shelf. The one immediately in front of my eyes (and therefore probably the closest of many close books) said:
"It appears that, throughout Richard's reign, he was considered free and was treated with respect if not deference."
The "he" in the sentence was Clarence's (of "butt-of-Malmsey Clarence" fame) son Warwick.
A Field Guide to Experts
Listening to:
Baldur's Gate: The Original Saga, a soundtrack to the Baldur's Gate games. Good music. Not as good as, say, the
Age of Wonders music, but still OK.
Mood: Speaking to a friend last night, couldn't really put a finger on it, but he came up with something reasonably accurate: disjointed. Like, I'm here, but I'm not really here, sort of thing. I have no real emotions but all emotions are running around my head at the same time, but I'm keeping a lid on it. Emotional for no real reason... not even hormones :-P Like, have a quiet moment so the lizard brain goes "Ok, now it's time to deal with.... let me see, what's been in the files for a while... Ok, then...
this, and then throws up somethign long forgotten from about 10 years ago. And I'm, like, "Que, what? Where did this come from? I must be insane."
A sense that nothing's happening while everything's happening. A sense that everything's fine, but somethings missing. Nothing is wrong, but there's something wrong with that. Weird.
Lots of pictures running through my head today, although nothing useful yet. I always feel like this before a burst of creativity. New Moon's due on the 10th, too, may have a little to do with it. I always dream a LOT around the time of new and full moons, 2 days before, 2 days after, especially. Never noticed that until I started a dream diary so I could jot down the subliminals to help me write. After a few months, I noticed a pattern.
Hmm, I dream (or, at least, remember dreams) in five day blocks. I wonder.....
Of course, no dreams of any real use lately. They're always about the same subject... and no, I'm not going into detail, umm, except to say they're all G rated. :-P
Nothing much to say today, but Jen sent me this link:
A Field Guide To Experts
Rather funny. :-)
The Year Ahead
Jonathon Cainer has just started to write his yearly 2005 forecasts, and yet again the man has spooked me with this weird accuracy in regards to me. I actually have some real issues with the "predictive" nature of astrology (as in, I don't really think it has any), despite the fact that I do see why character can be indicated by it, for whatever reason, probably due to self-fulfilling prophecy.
Yet for some reason, as I've mentioned before on this blog, unlike most astrologers, Jon Cainer has only ever been "inaccurate" once in regards to me that I can recall. Bizarre.
It's interesting, anyway, for fun. Have a look. :-)
In case you were wondering
The Latin on the sidebar means:
Amid the hope and worry, the fear and anger
believe that each day which breaks is your last:
the unhoped for hour will be a welcome surprise.
Have a good one. :-)
Not happening... so, 2004 Question List
Not sleeping, too wired. Too early, I never get to sleep before midnight anyhow.
So, I thought I'd take the 2004 quiz. Gives me something to numb my brain with. And yours, too: Happy ZZZZZ's. :-)
1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
Saw a pre-school end-of-year play. Learned the true meaning of "freedom".
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
See January 1 post. :-)
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not exactly. More of a confirmation that my missing friend was dead.
5. What countries did you visit?
Ireland, Scotland, England, Egypt, Cyprus, France, Italy.
OK, not bodily. Books rule.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
An absence of
someone else's unnecessary debts.
7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 15, the day I received legal protection from my ex.
July 6, Terrified Realisation Day.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I didn't actually go insane, much. I realised that I can look after 6 kids on my own, no sweat. My kids are always my biggest achievements, even though they're not really "my" achievements: they do very well in their own sweat.
99% STAT result.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Hard to say. The breakdown of my marriage could be considered here, but that happened a long time ago. I failed to be loved enough for the ex to stop hitting? I am far enough along to know that's just stupid. Besides, we separated January 2003.
I didn't complete my novel draft (again). Not my highest priority though... so not really my biggest "failure". It's finished... sort of, it just needs... editing. Again. This has been a year of wins, even with stuff that seemed bad.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Pelargonium gravoleans. Rose geranium.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My sons and daughter, for their ongoing ways of bringing joy & chaos to my life.
Friends & family too numerous to mention, online and off... don't want to start for fear of forgetting someone. You know who you are.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
My ex.
14. Where did most of your money go?
The mortgage, the car and the ex's loans, food, the car, clothing, schooling, the car. Did I mention the car?
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Number 2 son's writer's camp. Doing Clarion South committee. Number 4 son's pre-school play. Number 1 son's voice breaking and tech results at school. Number 5 son's first dry night. Number 3 son's cricket scores, he top scored his team! My daughter's first art publication. My STAT results. A friend getting into CS 2005. My first panel at a NatCon. Brisbane winning NatCon 2006.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
None in particular, I listen to too much of it.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Thinner, then fatter due to some meds.
iii. richer or poorer?
Define "rich". Moneywise, about the same, and that isn't likely to change too much for a bit. Spiritually, much, much, much richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing, gardening, taking time to smell the roses.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying about the ex's behaviour.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
See previous posts.
21. Who did you meet for the first time?
Nicky, Kim C., Linda M., plus many more Australian writers and editors. I actually met most of the writers etc I know now in 2003.
22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
I did, but don't tell anyone.
23. How many one-night stands?
Are you kidding??? None. Not my thing. Surprisingly, however, did have offers. Plural. What a strange year.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Discovered
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and
Angel on DVD, only watched them a wee bit before. Like Angel muchly, like Buffy but not as muchly. Like
Glasshouse and most history documentaries.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Without trying to sound like an arse, I don't hate anyone. I dislike the odd person, like but mistrust one or two, feel uncomfortable with a couple and have no feelings at all for others, but I don't hate anyone. Who's got the energy or time?
26. What was the best book you read?
Oooh, a difficult pick. Finally,
Angel of Ruin, Kim Wilkins (fiction), and
The Holy Kingdom (author forgotten: it was a library book), non fiction. Yes, I did read
The Da Vinci Code. It is unmitigated, inaccurate crap.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I never thought I'd say this, but Evanescence. And Lisa Gerrard.
28. What did you want and get?
Some perspective. Some wonderful, wonderful new friends, of both genders.
29. What did you want and not get?
My novel finished properly. But that was my own fault. My university application in on time! hehe.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Station Agent and
Under the Tuscan Sun. And, look, it sucked both scientifically and historically, but I still liked
Timeline.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Nothing much, and 33.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
My ex to have come to his senses and realise the damage he's caused (and is still causing) to his kids.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Working towards what I'd really like to wear.
34. What kept you sane?
More like "who". You know who you are.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Define "fancy". While I can a) admire an actor's ability, or b) admire an actor's looks in a very general sense, I don't really get all
that involved any more. I'm not a teenager, for pity's sake.
Having said that, I rather like Jo Fiennes, Daniel Day-Lewis, Billy Boyd and Sean Connery.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Bleh. Politics annoy me in general. I do have opinions, the thing that bothers me the most is the incessant need some others seem to have in not allowing you to have any, or wanting you to have theirs.
37. Who did you miss?
My paternal grandfather, who died when I was 16. My dad and a couple of friends from Canberra.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Nicky, without a doubt. But that's only because she's mostly me in disguise. ;-) I'd like to emphasise "new" here, most people I know now I met in 2003.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004.
People actually like me, apparently. No, really. :-D
I am stronger than I thought.
It's OK to feel things.
"I am needy, and that's OK. So's everyone else."
Keep car well maintained at all times.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
There are too many to number or pick just one. Too much happened.
Clarion, Days 0 and 1
I haven't got tooo much to say, a) because what happens at Clarion stays at Clarion, and b) because there's no really juicy gossip yet. Hehe, kidding.
Yestaerday (Sunday) was spent picking up some of the Clarionites from the airport and making sure we didn't actually kill them or get them lost on the way. Or send anyone through a windscreen because I went too quickly over a speed hump... while I was in the middle of explaining why I can't go too quickly over speed humps because my minivan would send someone through a windscreen. (Hehe. Sorry Lily!)
The students this year are a good bunch, from what I can tell.
Of course, it's early days yet. :-P
Today was Crit day 1, and both tutor and students did a great job. Sean Williams (link to your right to his site) is a terrific bloke (of course, I already knew that) and a painless shopper. Hehe.
Kate, Rob & Robby D, GREAT job guys!
I'm rather tired after the longish drive and facing down the ex.... Going to bed now. :-)
Just want to quickly say THANKYOU and HUGS!!!! to Nic for your comment, because it may be a coupla days before I de-clarionise and get to email.
Then it's off again on the weekend. Woohoo. :-D
Goodbye 2004 and a Happy New Year
As you all know, the end of 2004 wasn't the best. Natural disasters and man-made atrocities seemed to dominate the year... but then, that could also be because that's all the news ever reports.
The latest on the horrible loss of life in the Boxing Day tsunamis... I'm getting to the point where the sheer numbers are making the mind numb. The australian situation is this as of this morning:
Grave concerns for 111 Aussies
January 1, 2005
THE Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says nine Australian citizens and two permanent residents have lost their lives in the Asian tsunamis and it now has grave concerns for 111 people.
The death toll includes three people from Queensland, three from Western Australia, one each from Victoria, NSW and South Australia, one from the ACT, and one who was living in Sri Lanka.
It says it has not accounted for around 1000 Australians who may have been in the areas affected by the tsunamis.
Around 650 of those may have been in the Phuket region of Southern Thailand and around 180 in Sri Lanka.
The department says at this stage, it has grave concerns for 111 Australians who are known to have been in the affected areas and are missing.
It says 96 Australians are missing in Thailand, six in Indonesia, six in Sri Lanka, two in India and one in the Maldives.
At this stage 28 Australians have been admitted to hospital, 24 in Thailand and four in Sri Lanka.
Further information on the Indian Ocean Tsunamis and the Australian Government's response is available on the DFAT website at www.dfat.gov.au.
However, yesterday a man was pulled alive (after 5 days with no water!) from the rubble in worst-hit Aceh province in Indonesia yeasterday. He was found 2kms from where he had been standing when the waves hit him. So, hooray!
HMAS Kenimbla is on her way to Aceh today. Go guys. Keep well.
I've always had a leery attitude towards the ocean and coastal living, but not, believe it or not, because of the thought of tidal waves. I've never felt drawn to the ocean in the way others do and you wouldn't get me on a cruise if you paid me.
Perhaps if you paid me.
I'll paddle, it's not a "fear", exactly, I'm just not overly fond of it. I'll walk along the beach with a loved one, but I find the idea of a camping trip under the stars in the mountains more romantic. I was a fairly strong swimmer in my 20s. I haven't done it for a while so can't say that now, and LOVE swimming, actually, would do it more often if there was a nearby indoor pool (I burn very easily) and I had more personal time. And I had a pair of swimmers to fit. Just not in the ocean.
Surfing? Forgedduboudit.
But I'll catamaran on a lake. Go figure.
Personally, 2004 was what I would term a "good year", even taking into account some of the drama. Perhaps because of some of the drama!
Certainly counting the blessings today.
Last night I went to bed at about 12.15, due to the need to get a LOT done today. I have washing on. I always seem to have washing on. I am glad to have washing on. :-)
Do other people feel this way during a tragedy that doesn't touch them personally? Guilty for the fact it doesn't?
I didn't make any New Year's resolutions, but then, I never do. I figure if I am going to resolve to do something, or change something, why wait until new year to do it? If I become aware that something needs doing, and it's in my power to do something about it, and I'm capable of it, then I'll do it at the time. If not, then I'll either quit worrying about it, or wait until I
can--or want to--do something about it.
Finally served the ex with his papers yesterday. He got verbally abusive to me once my friend (who served him) had gone inside. Despite the fact he knew they were coming. Despite the fact that he'd yelled at me 3 months ago "Where are my *7#ing divorce papers?"
At least I know I made the right decision, despite all of his claims he's changing, he clearly isn't. I don't know why that should upset me, but it does. I can't help but think the fact he's still prepared to abuse me
in front of the littlest kids shows a certain lack of clarity regarding his effect on others. My daughter (almost 8) wants to love her father but is starting to find it difficult. I know how she feels, poor thing, and it is becoming difficult to encourage them to be as loyal to their father as they feel they need to be while still encouraging respect for me (who they live with, of course). Boys who can't respect their own mother will find it difficult to respect other women.
Sigh.
Unfortunately, sans any change in behaviour, he will be dealing with substantial loneliness very soon. Both he and the kids miss out in that event.
Meanwhile...
I would like to share a post sent to the Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild list (I am a member of said list because of my former dwelling) by Allan:
Best wishes for the Summer Solstice
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an
environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive,
gender neutral celebration of the summer solstice holiday, practiced within
the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or
the secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious or
secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to
practice religious or secular traditions at all.
May you have a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically
uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar
year 2005, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other
cultures whose contributions to society have helped to make Australia great
(not to imply that Australia is necessarily greater than any other country)
and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability,
religious faith, political belief, choice of computer platform or sexual
preference of the wishee.
By accepting this greeting you are accepting these terms. This greeting is
subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no
alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to
actually implement any of the wishes for herself or himself or others, is
void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the
wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual
application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance
of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and the warranty is
limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole
discretion of the wisher.
I'll second that. :-D
