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thrihyrneThese are from the 18th, I think:
A couple of observations:
~"No hot ashes" on many rubbish bins. This is a big deal since so many people smoke. I'll have to ask about the next B&B as my room is next to the owners' and they both smoke like chimneys. It isn't helping the 'ol cough and sore throat. Or bronchitis. I think I may have bronchitis.
~Despite the vast number of rubbish bins, there's a lot of litter on the ground. During my wonderful walk on the Lews castle grounds, every scenic path and trail has empty crisps bags, and squashed cans of Tenents beer. It's a shame, really.
Sunday morning. Day #2 of truly resting. Yesterday I spent about an hour on Margaret's computer after breakfast, putting in the H/D story "Red is for Remorse" and briefly checking email. Then I went upstairs and just wrote, after the obligatory roo piddling. I re-read all of "Never Break the Chain" (the new G/R story) and then kept going with it. It's very weird to write about George in a war situation as you'd think that wizarding wars, especially one that in JKR's stuff as she's written it (which, albeit is almost nothing) seems to be a guerilla war of sorts. And I'm not good at writing war, I don't think. Thanks to writing these scenes and the unexpected second of wot will be a trio of angst-ridden stories like Kyslowski's "Blue, White and Red", 'White is for Witness,' has given me as an author a much clearer idea of how profoundly George's life changes after his and Fred's experience with the Death Eaters and how, while his core personality hasn't changed (as evidenced in his banter with portrait-Fred once we get into 'Cartography of Fire' territory), losing Fred does, in a way, make him a different person, precisely because although as I have him point out in 'Countdown' that while he & Fred look identical, they are individuals, he does expect however, that they'll always be together, with a much stronger bond than he feel swith his other siblings, and even Lee Jordan. [Wow. That was one long-ass runon sentence. Please bear with me.] So to suddenly find himself at age 18, an identical twin whose twin was killed and a war going on in earnest is bound to cause even the most naturally good-humoured person take life far more seriously. I hope that all comes across, otherwise him teaching an elective at Hogwarts would seem rather out of character. But hey- I want people to read all of these stories, even if they won't be quite as absorbed by it as I am. And I've got to finish 'Countdown!' Ack! Keep getting sidetracked. I did print it out and brought it with me to edit, which I've done.
The rest of that was musings on life, marriage, and talking to my stepkids, which I won't post.
Well! I'm back in Edinburgh, same B&B, same room. Im' having dinner: salad, eaten out of the plastic container with a plastic spoon I packed; sandwich (to be made) of turkey and 'two fingers of mature yet mellow cheddar' cheese; cheddar & onion crisps, and a glass of red wine. I went walking once I got in (@3:30 p.m.) and discovered that there are heaps of shops in this area. Either I didn't notice them last time or they were closed. But lo and behold- an internet cafe! Barely a block away! £1.50 for an hour, open until 10 o'clock. Think I'll wander that way around 8 or so and plan to finish typing the G/R stuff that I did in batches this morning at Stornoway; I'm a very fast typist, but it was a lot of writing. Plus I'd like to actually check out friends' LJs. I haven't been caught up with anyone, just posting my stuff.
A note on weather, then on to my completely unexpected spur-of-the-moment purchase. It's incredibly windy here today, with occasional rain. With not a small amount of rueful thinking, I've figured out that I've brought the Hebridean weather with me. The flight from Stornoway was bumpy- got coffee all over the George Weasley story timeline and sat there mopping at it with a couple of napkins, and the landing made me very nervous. But I think I heard someone say the front would blow through. Suppose I could turn on the tv and look at the weather.
So. My "oh my I don't believe I just did this purchase"- I stopped outside of a jewellery store and saw a cool silver ring with an opal- only £16. I went in. That was my undoing. I pored over 4 trays of glorious, interestingly-set precious/semi-precious rings, and came out 3 rings and £54 lighter (on my Visa, of course; want to earn the Southwest Airlines miles!). But they're gorgeous. And I'm tired of wearing small, demur things (though I do have smallish fingers) and I got inspired at my coworker's wedding when I met a young woman from Albuquerque who had great jewellery. Her ring was @$100 or so, and even with the exchange rate, £54 is probably equivalent to... well... okay. It's still around $90 or so (mabye the pound has dropped or the dollar's risen, I hope!), but after my luggage-hauling episode and skimping on everything else on this trip, I'm glad I bought them. I'll describe them later. Running out of time at the cafe here. But let me just say- the rings, and my fingers wearing them, are gorgeous. I'm grinning.
Sorry, but I can't stop looking at my new rings. My friend Justine in Australia would be proud. She surrounds herself with gorgeous things and has a style which I've always envied. Even when we were 16 and I didn't know her all that well, I acknowledged that she constantly looked put together in her uniform. Seeing as how we were essentially wearing the same thing, that says something. [next bit cut for gratuitous reminiscing]
I'm beginning to see the downfall in being a writer- as soon as any experience is past, I'm categorising it, or thinking how to describe it, of appropriate descriptions or images that I can later incorporate into some future story, or something.
Since I'm now in full-tilt rambling mode, I'll also say that I did some knitting Sunday night, as I was determined to do some after hauling the effing project over here. I should know better than that by now, but oh well. Now, for a nice hot shower.:)
So... anyway. It's now 8:45, I have 15 minutes left, and I'm going to check email and people's LJs. My trip is over tomorrow!! *sniff*
For all those who have been keeping up, thanks for being here with me, in a way. Your good thoughts and wishes have most definitely been appreciated. :D
A couple of observations:
~"No hot ashes" on many rubbish bins. This is a big deal since so many people smoke. I'll have to ask about the next B&B as my room is next to the owners' and they both smoke like chimneys. It isn't helping the 'ol cough and sore throat. Or bronchitis. I think I may have bronchitis.
~Despite the vast number of rubbish bins, there's a lot of litter on the ground. During my wonderful walk on the Lews castle grounds, every scenic path and trail has empty crisps bags, and squashed cans of Tenents beer. It's a shame, really.
Sunday morning. Day #2 of truly resting. Yesterday I spent about an hour on Margaret's computer after breakfast, putting in the H/D story "Red is for Remorse" and briefly checking email. Then I went upstairs and just wrote, after the obligatory roo piddling. I re-read all of "Never Break the Chain" (the new G/R story) and then kept going with it. It's very weird to write about George in a war situation as you'd think that wizarding wars, especially one that in JKR's stuff as she's written it (which, albeit is almost nothing) seems to be a guerilla war of sorts. And I'm not good at writing war, I don't think. Thanks to writing these scenes and the unexpected second of wot will be a trio of angst-ridden stories like Kyslowski's "Blue, White and Red", 'White is for Witness,' has given me as an author a much clearer idea of how profoundly George's life changes after his and Fred's experience with the Death Eaters and how, while his core personality hasn't changed (as evidenced in his banter with portrait-Fred once we get into 'Cartography of Fire' territory), losing Fred does, in a way, make him a different person, precisely because although as I have him point out in 'Countdown' that while he & Fred look identical, they are individuals, he does expect however, that they'll always be together, with a much stronger bond than he feel swith his other siblings, and even Lee Jordan. [Wow. That was one long-ass runon sentence. Please bear with me.] So to suddenly find himself at age 18, an identical twin whose twin was killed and a war going on in earnest is bound to cause even the most naturally good-humoured person take life far more seriously. I hope that all comes across, otherwise him teaching an elective at Hogwarts would seem rather out of character. But hey- I want people to read all of these stories, even if they won't be quite as absorbed by it as I am. And I've got to finish 'Countdown!' Ack! Keep getting sidetracked. I did print it out and brought it with me to edit, which I've done.
The rest of that was musings on life, marriage, and talking to my stepkids, which I won't post.
Well! I'm back in Edinburgh, same B&B, same room. Im' having dinner: salad, eaten out of the plastic container with a plastic spoon I packed; sandwich (to be made) of turkey and 'two fingers of mature yet mellow cheddar' cheese; cheddar & onion crisps, and a glass of red wine. I went walking once I got in (@3:30 p.m.) and discovered that there are heaps of shops in this area. Either I didn't notice them last time or they were closed. But lo and behold- an internet cafe! Barely a block away! £1.50 for an hour, open until 10 o'clock. Think I'll wander that way around 8 or so and plan to finish typing the G/R stuff that I did in batches this morning at Stornoway; I'm a very fast typist, but it was a lot of writing. Plus I'd like to actually check out friends' LJs. I haven't been caught up with anyone, just posting my stuff.
A note on weather, then on to my completely unexpected spur-of-the-moment purchase. It's incredibly windy here today, with occasional rain. With not a small amount of rueful thinking, I've figured out that I've brought the Hebridean weather with me. The flight from Stornoway was bumpy- got coffee all over the George Weasley story timeline and sat there mopping at it with a couple of napkins, and the landing made me very nervous. But I think I heard someone say the front would blow through. Suppose I could turn on the tv and look at the weather.
So. My "oh my I don't believe I just did this purchase"- I stopped outside of a jewellery store and saw a cool silver ring with an opal- only £16. I went in. That was my undoing. I pored over 4 trays of glorious, interestingly-set precious/semi-precious rings, and came out 3 rings and £54 lighter (on my Visa, of course; want to earn the Southwest Airlines miles!). But they're gorgeous. And I'm tired of wearing small, demur things (though I do have smallish fingers) and I got inspired at my coworker's wedding when I met a young woman from Albuquerque who had great jewellery. Her ring was @$100 or so, and even with the exchange rate, £54 is probably equivalent to... well... okay. It's still around $90 or so (mabye the pound has dropped or the dollar's risen, I hope!), but after my luggage-hauling episode and skimping on everything else on this trip, I'm glad I bought them. I'll describe them later. Running out of time at the cafe here. But let me just say- the rings, and my fingers wearing them, are gorgeous. I'm grinning.
Sorry, but I can't stop looking at my new rings. My friend Justine in Australia would be proud. She surrounds herself with gorgeous things and has a style which I've always envied. Even when we were 16 and I didn't know her all that well, I acknowledged that she constantly looked put together in her uniform. Seeing as how we were essentially wearing the same thing, that says something. [next bit cut for gratuitous reminiscing]
I'm beginning to see the downfall in being a writer- as soon as any experience is past, I'm categorising it, or thinking how to describe it, of appropriate descriptions or images that I can later incorporate into some future story, or something.
Since I'm now in full-tilt rambling mode, I'll also say that I did some knitting Sunday night, as I was determined to do some after hauling the effing project over here. I should know better than that by now, but oh well. Now, for a nice hot shower.:)
So... anyway. It's now 8:45, I have 15 minutes left, and I'm going to check email and people's LJs. My trip is over tomorrow!! *sniff*
For all those who have been keeping up, thanks for being here with me, in a way. Your good thoughts and wishes have most definitely been appreciated. :D
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(no subject)
Date: 2004-09-20 08:34 pm (UTC)But. I couldn't wait for you to get back anymore. I missed ya too much (that sounded weird, but whatever). I imagine Scotland is all rain and sweaters and the insides of some Barber clothing catalog where everything looks like either Trainspotting or Gosford Park. Is it rugby sweaters and riding boots? Yeah, probably not so much. *laughs*
Ooh, and *points at your long ass run-on sentence* I really, really want to thank you for sending me the soundtrack to Countdown. It's not only perfect for the story (which is great, and I keep reading it), but it's also inspired me to put together some of my own music for stuff. I can't wait to spam everyone's REAL mailboxes with burned soundtracks, teehee! And it's all KRISTI'S FAULT! NYAH! ;-)
I love your allusion to the three colors--White is for Witness? I'm so glad someone as culturally eloquent as you has decided to tackle a fandom like G/F. Rowling doesn't deserve you as a fan. I don't know how many ways I can say that, except maybe, "Keep writing, dammit!" I confess I pull up Countdown or Cartography or even the trio of dark ficlets whenever I'm feeling breezeless with inspiration; they've got so much movement, they're instantly healing for me. It's pretty frickin' great!
I'm beginning to see the downfall in being a writer- as soon as any experience is past, I'm categorising it, or thinking how to describe it, of appropriate descriptions or images that I can later incorporate into some future story, or something.
^ I do that BIG TIME, only not so consciously. I think it's because I've been doing it from the start (like since the age of reasoning, at 7 years old), and my brain's gotten so adept at it that I often forget the stuff actually happens to me. Sometimes it's as if my experiences don't belong to me at all but to my characters (and if THAT doesn't sound crazy...) ^_^
And I expect to see pictures of these splurge rings you bought. I used to have a little, dainty silver ring, but, like you, I sort of got tired of it and bought this fat silve ring with celtic swirls on the band out of the blue a year before I graduated from college. It's totally a man's ring (not really, since my fingers are small, too), and I love it. So I demand some show n tell!
And I have a letter to send you. After all that babbling. Sheesh, you'd think I could just write you an email or something. But no. That would make more sense than I keep in my pockets.
Have a safe trip back, love!
♥
Not to worry!
Date: 2004-09-23 06:59 pm (UTC)No, no- never. I just feel badly that I'm behind in everybody else's LJ. I miss reading your thoughts. Licia withdrawal!! So glad that you got the package, and are enjoying the "Countdown" soundtrack, and that you're inspired to send out stuff to us! I love getting liciamail.
I'm so glad someone as culturally eloquent as you has decided to tackle a fandom like G/F. Rowling doesn't deserve you as a fan.
Awwwww... that's such a wonderful thing to hear. I'm still a bit confused as to why more people don't write about our fun friends George and Fred, but hey- there's nothing like cornering the market, eh?! I need to finish Countdown. Argh.
And I expect to see pictures of these splurge rings you bought.
Ooooh. Pictures. Maybe I'll ask my stepdaughter to take a picture of them on my hands- oh, but she has a cast on right now. Hmmmm. I'll give that some thought.
That would make more sense than I keep in my pockets.
You slay me. Even your comments off the cuff are eternally clever!! I'm glad to be back, though I'm so behind on people's LJ. Maybe I'll get caught up this weekend. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2004-09-21 12:22 pm (UTC)