Well... so much for my three weeks of bliss. Reality has a nasty habit of bringing you back to earth.
Back to looking for a new roommate again, or take on some more projects to add 50% additional income in 2007, so I can live alone in more space than one person needs.
It would be pretty awesome, in the sense that I could have a full on dining/gaming area for huge parties of people, and a living room suite that doubles as a private aerie-like guest room. I could also have some... privacy, which might come in pretty handy in the near future.
Ah well... that thrilling, fantasy high was certainly sweet when I didn't have to worry about anything else! Such a lovely distraction. Back to the grindstone.
Do me a favor, my love... don't let me forget to have fun.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Merry Christmas to Me!
Even though this last magazine deadline was, without a doubt, the deadline from hell (and it still is continuing weeks past the finish of contribution... I don't even know if we're printed yet!); and even though all the stress from it landed me the most odd cold (from instant migraine to stuffed sinuses to full-blown cold to nerovirus... ugh), I'm enjoying the holidays. Mostly because, completely without expectation, I'm the source of a sweet little flirtation! It's got me all smiles and girlish giggling, a sight to see, and I intend to enjoy every minute of it, while it lasts!
Brandy is flying home from a very odd and unhappy Christmas with her family, and we've decided to re-do Thanksgiving, which she missed during her vacation in the BVI. Not quite all the traditionals, since she and I are trying to limit bad foods -- I guess the pumpkin pie and Steph's recipe for White Trash don't count -- so no mashed potatoes and green bean casserole or candied yams. She's put in a request for acorn squash, the way my mother's been making it for years, and stuffing and gravy. I'll add some roasted gold cauliflower... roasting really brings out much more flavor, and some sugar snap peas.
I hope everyone has a happy and healthy holiday as well as the coming New Year!
Brandy is flying home from a very odd and unhappy Christmas with her family, and we've decided to re-do Thanksgiving, which she missed during her vacation in the BVI. Not quite all the traditionals, since she and I are trying to limit bad foods -- I guess the pumpkin pie and Steph's recipe for White Trash don't count -- so no mashed potatoes and green bean casserole or candied yams. She's put in a request for acorn squash, the way my mother's been making it for years, and stuffing and gravy. I'll add some roasted gold cauliflower... roasting really brings out much more flavor, and some sugar snap peas.
I hope everyone has a happy and healthy holiday as well as the coming New Year!
Monday, December 04, 2006
2006 Coming To A Close Already?
Time flies. Since I last posted I got a new roommate... nice gal, not as social as Brandy, has a life of her own. Probably for the best. MIght actually inspire me to go be more social too!
Got a free, last-minute trip to Portland, Maine for a conference of an organization I founded 25 years ago... and it's still going strong. Of course, the current leadership is into revisionist history and my name isn't mentioned anywhere in the historical documentation they create today. When I confronted the male Co-President about it, being the misogynist he is, he replied "Oh come now Marsha, one person can't found an organization." Yeah? Tell that to Bill W. If I was a man, not only would he never have said that to me, he'd have bowed and scrapped low enough and then run off to fix it. But that's okay... I authored an article on Wikipedia. Hah. And my name is mentioned as founder in John Preston's "Big Gay Book" -- from back in my non-hetero days.
Lately I've been thinking I was never really a lesbian, although it's sort of fun to tweak the current lesbians by saying I'm a lesbian that sleeps with men. If I'm honest with myself and reflect back on my history, I'd have to say I've been bisexual since I was five. Alas, growing up in a time where both the APA and AMA declared my preferences as sick one decade or so, and then normal a couple of decades later, who can blame me for being not entirely sure of my own sexuality? I only finally accepted the brand/label when Phil, the married art store manager who used to sneak kisses and cop feels in the back store room, failed to arouse me any further than the flirting.
Anyways... back to Portland. Loved being back on the East Coast, even if it was only for five days. Just enough of the foliage change was lingering for me to get a taste of the brilliant hues of autumn. Sometimes the sight of all that ancient brick in the form of squat, angle-rooved warehouses along the piers and short streets of row houses make me yearn to live back in New England. If they could only get rid of winter... Two gamer geeks and one wife of said geek living in the area joined me for a lunch break from the confines of the Hilton Hotel. I get conferenced-out after 2.5 days, so a quick trip to the waterfront in one of the worse autumn rainstorms got me my fill of lobster and steamed clams. Unfortunately, the "lobster in the rough" dining shacks along Rt. 1 were closed for the season, so this shanty on the pier was the next best bet. Also filled up on native fried clams and oysters... nothing like what you get on the West Coast. Ah... to relive my childhood and summers going to the beach. It was a small slice of heaven.
My team leader for the game I've been addicted to for 11 years now has been promoted to APM, Assistant Product Manager. I breathed a sigh of relief. Some of the other possible choices just scared me, based on their lack of accessibilty and visibility (didn't we already just have enough of that?), or their personal vindictiveness (ditto), or their total desire to people-please to support their fragile egos. At least she's around, she's professional and doesn't let the personal enter into her decisions, and has an ego strong enough to weather most anything. Yay for strong women!
Work is pretty awesome right now. In addition to being reinstated as a Full GameMaster, a full year after I was promised I would be, I also find myself busy trying to keep two magazines organized and get to the printer on time. A large task when you consider the other personalities I have to deal with! Herding cats, comes to mind, as a comparison. I've also been head-hunted three times, and am applying for a local, part-time job I can do from my home. I'd love for it to come through! Light a candle to the goddess!
Got a free, last-minute trip to Portland, Maine for a conference of an organization I founded 25 years ago... and it's still going strong. Of course, the current leadership is into revisionist history and my name isn't mentioned anywhere in the historical documentation they create today. When I confronted the male Co-President about it, being the misogynist he is, he replied "Oh come now Marsha, one person can't found an organization." Yeah? Tell that to Bill W. If I was a man, not only would he never have said that to me, he'd have bowed and scrapped low enough and then run off to fix it. But that's okay... I authored an article on Wikipedia. Hah. And my name is mentioned as founder in John Preston's "Big Gay Book" -- from back in my non-hetero days.
Lately I've been thinking I was never really a lesbian, although it's sort of fun to tweak the current lesbians by saying I'm a lesbian that sleeps with men. If I'm honest with myself and reflect back on my history, I'd have to say I've been bisexual since I was five. Alas, growing up in a time where both the APA and AMA declared my preferences as sick one decade or so, and then normal a couple of decades later, who can blame me for being not entirely sure of my own sexuality? I only finally accepted the brand/label when Phil, the married art store manager who used to sneak kisses and cop feels in the back store room, failed to arouse me any further than the flirting.
Anyways... back to Portland. Loved being back on the East Coast, even if it was only for five days. Just enough of the foliage change was lingering for me to get a taste of the brilliant hues of autumn. Sometimes the sight of all that ancient brick in the form of squat, angle-rooved warehouses along the piers and short streets of row houses make me yearn to live back in New England. If they could only get rid of winter... Two gamer geeks and one wife of said geek living in the area joined me for a lunch break from the confines of the Hilton Hotel. I get conferenced-out after 2.5 days, so a quick trip to the waterfront in one of the worse autumn rainstorms got me my fill of lobster and steamed clams. Unfortunately, the "lobster in the rough" dining shacks along Rt. 1 were closed for the season, so this shanty on the pier was the next best bet. Also filled up on native fried clams and oysters... nothing like what you get on the West Coast. Ah... to relive my childhood and summers going to the beach. It was a small slice of heaven.
My team leader for the game I've been addicted to for 11 years now has been promoted to APM, Assistant Product Manager. I breathed a sigh of relief. Some of the other possible choices just scared me, based on their lack of accessibilty and visibility (didn't we already just have enough of that?), or their personal vindictiveness (ditto), or their total desire to people-please to support their fragile egos. At least she's around, she's professional and doesn't let the personal enter into her decisions, and has an ego strong enough to weather most anything. Yay for strong women!
Work is pretty awesome right now. In addition to being reinstated as a Full GameMaster, a full year after I was promised I would be, I also find myself busy trying to keep two magazines organized and get to the printer on time. A large task when you consider the other personalities I have to deal with! Herding cats, comes to mind, as a comparison. I've also been head-hunted three times, and am applying for a local, part-time job I can do from my home. I'd love for it to come through! Light a candle to the goddess!
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Harvest Moon
How big and bright and slightly golden the moon was tonight as it came up over the Oakland Hills. Alone in the loft for the first time, knowing no one is coming home late. Better enjoy it while I can! Interviewing two possible roommate candidates this coming week, one an aesthetician, the other a sculptor.
Good news abounds... some of the resident party people are moving out. Unfortunately, so are many of the professionals closer to my age, because they're unhappy with the party people people element, their inconsideration, and the snarkiness of our building manager. Apparently many complaints are being registered with our landlord, so I hope change happens. Karma sure is a bitch.
The loft is empty and echoing with one less room of furniture.
Good news abounds... some of the resident party people are moving out. Unfortunately, so are many of the professionals closer to my age, because they're unhappy with the party people people element, their inconsideration, and the snarkiness of our building manager. Apparently many complaints are being registered with our landlord, so I hope change happens. Karma sure is a bitch.
The loft is empty and echoing with one less room of furniture.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Woot... Birthday Loot!
I just love making my birthday last! The final Amazon box from Dad arrived yesterday and I'm happy, although, it's sort of like Christmas... once you unwrap them all, it's over. Thanks to the male parental I now have the 10-set DVD box of all the Star Trek movies, a glorious picture book of The Day of the Dead shot mostly in Mexico, a book called "Aroma" - authored by one of the nation's leading chefs and a foremost perfumer - on the magic of using essential oils in food and fragrance.
That coupled with a gift card to Borders from a friend allowed me to pad out my eclectic collection of reading material to include a lovely illustrated book on Saints - for which I have an odd fascination, a great color reference volume for designers - since I'm now working on two magazines, Ruth Reichl's second book (editor of Gourmet magazine), Amulya Malladi's new novel, and some commuter trash reading. That's to balance out pastry chef Fran Gage's "Sweet Quartet", "The Recipe Writer's Handbook", "Ambient Findability", and "Blink" - a girl needs some light fare to read!
Oh, and Hem's first and most recent CDs (www.hemmusic.com/index.jsp). Hem's song "Half-Acre" can now be heard nationwide on the Liberty Mutual commercials. I first heard the song about a year ago, when I was listening to Radio Paradise while at work (listener supported, no commercials - www.radioparadise.com). Burned it on a CD, had to burn one for the Brandy when she heard my CD, and then... hey... isn't that Hem's Half-Acre playing during this commercial? And it's not a sellout turn either, the commercials are very... human. Hem plays to a rare side of me, as I seldom listen to music that is this quiet and soft and reflective. My normal tunes of choice are more U2, Springsteen, B-52's.
That coupled with a gift card to Borders from a friend allowed me to pad out my eclectic collection of reading material to include a lovely illustrated book on Saints - for which I have an odd fascination, a great color reference volume for designers - since I'm now working on two magazines, Ruth Reichl's second book (editor of Gourmet magazine), Amulya Malladi's new novel, and some commuter trash reading. That's to balance out pastry chef Fran Gage's "Sweet Quartet", "The Recipe Writer's Handbook", "Ambient Findability", and "Blink" - a girl needs some light fare to read!
Oh, and Hem's first and most recent CDs (www.hemmusic.com/index.jsp). Hem's song "Half-Acre" can now be heard nationwide on the Liberty Mutual commercials. I first heard the song about a year ago, when I was listening to Radio Paradise while at work (listener supported, no commercials - www.radioparadise.com). Burned it on a CD, had to burn one for the Brandy when she heard my CD, and then... hey... isn't that Hem's Half-Acre playing during this commercial? And it's not a sellout turn either, the commercials are very... human. Hem plays to a rare side of me, as I seldom listen to music that is this quiet and soft and reflective. My normal tunes of choice are more U2, Springsteen, B-52's.
Friday, September 22, 2006
The War is Over...
Peace reigns again in the household. We both realize this is for the best. I'm just more into the Loft and being here, I like the urban setting and don't mind the slight isolation from neighborhood dining and cafes. We've even talked about setting up play dates for the two cats.
It's been an odd day indeed, and one that convinces me that some people just live in their own worlds, with a strange sense of entitlement, and think more of themselves than others. This was, but was not quite, a short subject of conversation between my friend Jean and I today, as I was telling her my woes, and she about hers. Jean is unique in so many ways, but, as I told her today, what I love most about her is her humor, and I like the way she looks at people and things. Why is it that two perfectly nice and decent people, caring overmuch sometimes about people, often find themselves bitch-slapped?
And that's why, when I try to be a nice person and create a bridge between myself and a distant person, I have to wonder how come, while I've acknowledged and in some case acceded his points, none of my points are equally valid -- except to 95% of the mature population that have frigging responsibilities! But hey, what can you expect from someone who is close to 30, rides a kid's bicycle, spends his days either drunk or high, and doesn't do anything productive with his time.
You know, if I keep posting like this, ya'll are gonna think I'm just a curmudgeon! Hi Keri! Arrr! Happy Wedding Day on Sunday, darlin'. Avast ye mateys and all that crap.
It's been an odd day indeed, and one that convinces me that some people just live in their own worlds, with a strange sense of entitlement, and think more of themselves than others. This was, but was not quite, a short subject of conversation between my friend Jean and I today, as I was telling her my woes, and she about hers. Jean is unique in so many ways, but, as I told her today, what I love most about her is her humor, and I like the way she looks at people and things. Why is it that two perfectly nice and decent people, caring overmuch sometimes about people, often find themselves bitch-slapped?
And that's why, when I try to be a nice person and create a bridge between myself and a distant person, I have to wonder how come, while I've acknowledged and in some case acceded his points, none of my points are equally valid -- except to 95% of the mature population that have frigging responsibilities! But hey, what can you expect from someone who is close to 30, rides a kid's bicycle, spends his days either drunk or high, and doesn't do anything productive with his time.
You know, if I keep posting like this, ya'll are gonna think I'm just a curmudgeon! Hi Keri! Arrr! Happy Wedding Day on Sunday, darlin'. Avast ye mateys and all that crap.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
The Saga Continues
Wow, I went from being awesome roommate and a great friend to a zero in less than five minutes, AND had to suffer yet another one of my roommate's uncontrolled screaming rages as well as personal attacks! Isn't that just awesome? How can I be such a terrific person and then be the worst... EVAH?
Apparently because I wasn't uber enthusiastic about the idea of moving, again, in 40 days, after she JUST told me she can't afford to move (and neither can I), and because I was honest in my concern about not being able to afford another deposit a year later, that threw major ice cold water on her grand scheme where she believes we both need to get out of our current living situation. As usual, it's all about her, what she wants and needs, when she wants it, what's good for her, and not about taking into consideration the valid feelings, concerns, and needs of others.
Here's a clue... I'm not the one having all the issues with the place, the people, or communicating what I'm really feeling! I'm not the one indiscriminately sleeping with virtual strangers because I had way too much to drink or snort. And then avoiding them! I'm not the one calling my alcoholism a "wine allergy" or downing two bottles of wine, alone, in one night. I'm not the one telling my roommate I haven't done coke in ages, when baggies of it have been hidden in a drawer for several weeks. Then later admitting to trying it sometime. I'm not the one lying to my boss about needing root canal to meet my married lover. Oh, and let's not forget... she doesn't like lying... but everything she says is a apparently a lie to some degree! Every potential situation and confrontation is designed around some elaborate fabrication to make her feel good about herself and her lying. Try telling the truth for crying out loud!
She's not honest about how she feels about anything, she's totally judgmental, she's tightly tied into measuring herself against other people and their standards, accomplishments, or material possessions -- to determine how much of a success or failure she is, and she's horribly jealous of what others have or do, if she can't have or do the same! I've never met anyone with self-esteem so low, or a need so great to be something other than herself.
She thinks she's organized, but she's a slob -- I'm constantly cleaning up after her. Actually, I'm constantly cleaning up this place compared to the THREE times she's cleaned anything else here besides her room since March, and ONLY then because she had friends or family coming over. Of course, I did the majority of the cleaning because, boo hoo, she works a 12 hour day and she's so tired. Oh, right, I mentioned that before!
She accuses others of being snarky and manipulative, when she's the Queen of Snark and Twisting Things -- by her own admittance! Yoo hoo, missy... didn't you just admit to me last night that the reason your relationship with Tim fell apart was because you played too many games with him and tried to manipulate him?
I wonder... do you think she even listens to herself when she talks? Nah... if she did she would hear how many times she's attacked me, how often she puts down what I like to do and enjoy just because she doesn't, how often she invalidates what I think and feel, and how often she belittles what I own. Why would I want someone in my life that spends all of her time denigrating not only me, but everyone else around her? She doesn't see it though, likely never will.
I'm astonished at her selective memory.
Does she forget that she told me it was okay to keep sleeping on the futon couch in the living room until the carpeting went in and I could afford a better bed for the sleeping mezzanine? And that she didn't mind me being out there, kind of liked having me out there -- as long as I didn't make it permanent? She even gave me a date by which I could continue to stay down there! What message was she sending to me then?
Does she forget that she was the one who changed the date of moving all the boxes down to the storage area, to accommodate her plans with her friends, to a weekend that I had told her that I would NOT be available? And then when I offered to move some down every night, she told me not to because, being the master organizer, she wanted to arrange and maximize the space? So wait, you schedule everything to meet your needs, but somehow I'm the villain because you rescheduled it, WITHOUT ASKING ME FIRST? Right...
These are only two things on her long list of grievances, despite all the reassuring "I'm not mad at yous, you aren't in the wrongs" she's tossed my way. Clearly she was! Clearly, to her, I was! Clearly she can't friggng communicate!
Well, I will be a victim no more, to her out-of-control screaming rages that are verbally abusive. I think next time I will call the police, because surely all the neighbors that hear her will testify she was verbally violent. Not to mention needing medication and a good psychiatrist. I'm sorry, but I am not cause, dear... look within.
I know I'm far from perfect, and I admit my mistakes and errors, but I would never, ever attack someone the way she did me today.
Apparently because I wasn't uber enthusiastic about the idea of moving, again, in 40 days, after she JUST told me she can't afford to move (and neither can I), and because I was honest in my concern about not being able to afford another deposit a year later, that threw major ice cold water on her grand scheme where she believes we both need to get out of our current living situation. As usual, it's all about her, what she wants and needs, when she wants it, what's good for her, and not about taking into consideration the valid feelings, concerns, and needs of others.
Here's a clue... I'm not the one having all the issues with the place, the people, or communicating what I'm really feeling! I'm not the one indiscriminately sleeping with virtual strangers because I had way too much to drink or snort. And then avoiding them! I'm not the one calling my alcoholism a "wine allergy" or downing two bottles of wine, alone, in one night. I'm not the one telling my roommate I haven't done coke in ages, when baggies of it have been hidden in a drawer for several weeks. Then later admitting to trying it sometime. I'm not the one lying to my boss about needing root canal to meet my married lover. Oh, and let's not forget... she doesn't like lying... but everything she says is a apparently a lie to some degree! Every potential situation and confrontation is designed around some elaborate fabrication to make her feel good about herself and her lying. Try telling the truth for crying out loud!
She's not honest about how she feels about anything, she's totally judgmental, she's tightly tied into measuring herself against other people and their standards, accomplishments, or material possessions -- to determine how much of a success or failure she is, and she's horribly jealous of what others have or do, if she can't have or do the same! I've never met anyone with self-esteem so low, or a need so great to be something other than herself.
She thinks she's organized, but she's a slob -- I'm constantly cleaning up after her. Actually, I'm constantly cleaning up this place compared to the THREE times she's cleaned anything else here besides her room since March, and ONLY then because she had friends or family coming over. Of course, I did the majority of the cleaning because, boo hoo, she works a 12 hour day and she's so tired. Oh, right, I mentioned that before!
She accuses others of being snarky and manipulative, when she's the Queen of Snark and Twisting Things -- by her own admittance! Yoo hoo, missy... didn't you just admit to me last night that the reason your relationship with Tim fell apart was because you played too many games with him and tried to manipulate him?
I wonder... do you think she even listens to herself when she talks? Nah... if she did she would hear how many times she's attacked me, how often she puts down what I like to do and enjoy just because she doesn't, how often she invalidates what I think and feel, and how often she belittles what I own. Why would I want someone in my life that spends all of her time denigrating not only me, but everyone else around her? She doesn't see it though, likely never will.
I'm astonished at her selective memory.
Does she forget that she told me it was okay to keep sleeping on the futon couch in the living room until the carpeting went in and I could afford a better bed for the sleeping mezzanine? And that she didn't mind me being out there, kind of liked having me out there -- as long as I didn't make it permanent? She even gave me a date by which I could continue to stay down there! What message was she sending to me then?
Does she forget that she was the one who changed the date of moving all the boxes down to the storage area, to accommodate her plans with her friends, to a weekend that I had told her that I would NOT be available? And then when I offered to move some down every night, she told me not to because, being the master organizer, she wanted to arrange and maximize the space? So wait, you schedule everything to meet your needs, but somehow I'm the villain because you rescheduled it, WITHOUT ASKING ME FIRST? Right...
These are only two things on her long list of grievances, despite all the reassuring "I'm not mad at yous, you aren't in the wrongs" she's tossed my way. Clearly she was! Clearly, to her, I was! Clearly she can't friggng communicate!
Well, I will be a victim no more, to her out-of-control screaming rages that are verbally abusive. I think next time I will call the police, because surely all the neighbors that hear her will testify she was verbally violent. Not to mention needing medication and a good psychiatrist. I'm sorry, but I am not cause, dear... look within.
I know I'm far from perfect, and I admit my mistakes and errors, but I would never, ever attack someone the way she did me today.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Is Mercury Retrograde?
Probably not, but it sure feels like it. The roommate's in another one of her contemplating moving swings and assessing her life again, which always means that I have to take some of my energy and spend it wondering if I need to start looking for another place to live (hello craigslist) or find a new roommate.
Hey, I know it looks like my life might not seem ultra-busy and maybe it seems that I'm just playing around when I'm at my computer (okay, sometimes when I need to think something out or I'm procrastinating, I play a game... but at least I admit I'm procrastinating or mellowing!), but then, I don't need to exude drama or manicness to make people believe I'm being 100% constructive with my time. I also don't need to complain about everything wrong with and surrounding my life, or feel I need to announce every action I take as if seeking some kind of affirmation that I'm being constructive and creative with my life.
Just a short rant today because, a.) I'm happy living here for the most part, b.) I'm fine with my life and don't need to live up to anyone else's standards, except mine, and c.) I'm doing 90% of the housework (sweep floors 3X a week, do dishes 2X a day on average, clean bathroom 1X a week minimum, feed and water cats each day, deal with cat box at least 4X a week) and pet care here anyway, so it's almost like living alone and not having any aid with household duties. I wonder if she even realizes that the only time she's cleaned anything more than the dishes has been when her friends and family are coming over and not inbetween?
Hey, I know it looks like my life might not seem ultra-busy and maybe it seems that I'm just playing around when I'm at my computer (okay, sometimes when I need to think something out or I'm procrastinating, I play a game... but at least I admit I'm procrastinating or mellowing!), but then, I don't need to exude drama or manicness to make people believe I'm being 100% constructive with my time. I also don't need to complain about everything wrong with and surrounding my life, or feel I need to announce every action I take as if seeking some kind of affirmation that I'm being constructive and creative with my life.
Just a short rant today because, a.) I'm happy living here for the most part, b.) I'm fine with my life and don't need to live up to anyone else's standards, except mine, and c.) I'm doing 90% of the housework (sweep floors 3X a week, do dishes 2X a day on average, clean bathroom 1X a week minimum, feed and water cats each day, deal with cat box at least 4X a week) and pet care here anyway, so it's almost like living alone and not having any aid with household duties. I wonder if she even realizes that the only time she's cleaned anything more than the dishes has been when her friends and family are coming over and not inbetween?
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Now We're Cooking!
I love to cook. That should be obvious by now. And only once before have I had a gourmet kitchen to enjoy, like the one I have now.
Stopped off at "Whole Paycheck" to pick up some nice produce for dinner. A good friend of mine who has worked hard in the last year to remain sober and recover his life, that was almost lost, arrived last Saturday for a gourmand's treat. Well, within his dietary limitations. Seriously, he's a fabulous cook himself, so I knew I needed to excell.
Moules poullette... that's mussels in a cream and shallot broth enhanced with bacon and chervil, at least, that's the way they make it at my favorite French bistro! Our local seafood place stopped selling PEI's and bought Meditteranean's instead. They were huge and plump!
Miniature beets in both gold and red I roasted. I might make all my beets this way now! Time consuming, but definitely flavorful. Pea shoots! I've been dying to try them for months! Stir-fried them with mint. I grilled brown turkey figs threaded with rosemary and then split them and topped them with gorgonzola and a slight drizzle of wildflower honey. It was the house fave that night. Then I roasted a pricey little beef tenderloin and served it with a horseradish cream freshly made with creme fraiche and grated horse radish. Thank you, Kathy and Tim, for the lovely microplane! Then horseradish looked like fresh snow... so light and fluffy.
I love playing around with my grey fleur de sel and my pink flaked sea salt!
I served a fresh peach pie for dessert... the taste of summer!
If I had all the money in the world and these dishes weren't so rich, I would cook like this every night. But, I'd never want to be a chef or own a restaurant. I've read Kitchen Confidential, thanks!
Stopped off at "Whole Paycheck" to pick up some nice produce for dinner. A good friend of mine who has worked hard in the last year to remain sober and recover his life, that was almost lost, arrived last Saturday for a gourmand's treat. Well, within his dietary limitations. Seriously, he's a fabulous cook himself, so I knew I needed to excell.
Moules poullette... that's mussels in a cream and shallot broth enhanced with bacon and chervil, at least, that's the way they make it at my favorite French bistro! Our local seafood place stopped selling PEI's and bought Meditteranean's instead. They were huge and plump!
Miniature beets in both gold and red I roasted. I might make all my beets this way now! Time consuming, but definitely flavorful. Pea shoots! I've been dying to try them for months! Stir-fried them with mint. I grilled brown turkey figs threaded with rosemary and then split them and topped them with gorgonzola and a slight drizzle of wildflower honey. It was the house fave that night. Then I roasted a pricey little beef tenderloin and served it with a horseradish cream freshly made with creme fraiche and grated horse radish. Thank you, Kathy and Tim, for the lovely microplane! Then horseradish looked like fresh snow... so light and fluffy.
I love playing around with my grey fleur de sel and my pink flaked sea salt!
I served a fresh peach pie for dessert... the taste of summer!
If I had all the money in the world and these dishes weren't so rich, I would cook like this every night. But, I'd never want to be a chef or own a restaurant. I've read Kitchen Confidential, thanks!
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Almost Forgot...
That it was three years ago that Karen/Kali/Aelsidhe died. I still miss her in so many ways.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
What can I do with this?
I discovered that, aside from being a generally all-out good cook, I know how to combine and meld. In my refrigerator last week, we only had:
Some fresh shrimp
A lemon
A fresh fennel bulb
Some peppered bacon
Assorted milks and creams
Parmesan cheese
Some heirloom tomatoes
Some fresh basil
Some tiny mozzarella cheeses
First thing I did was slice the tomatoes and dust them with some basiled sea salt that I made last month, and added a bit of fresh ground pepper. I sliced the mozzarella next, layered them in a fan with the tomatoes and put a chiffonade of basil on the top.
Then I sauteed some garlic and shallots -- house staples, we never run out -- added the bacon, then the fennel. Put the vegetable mix in a bowl and seared the shrimp in all those tasty flavors, then degreased with lemon juice. Addded a little bit of cream and stirred it until it thickened, adding a bit more slowly until I had a nice little sauce, then let a little parmesan melt into it.
Served up the tomato and basil salad with the shrimps resting on the glistening fennel mix, and drizzled with a beautiful pale yellow sauce. What a tasty little hit it was!
Some fresh shrimp
A lemon
A fresh fennel bulb
Some peppered bacon
Assorted milks and creams
Parmesan cheese
Some heirloom tomatoes
Some fresh basil
Some tiny mozzarella cheeses
First thing I did was slice the tomatoes and dust them with some basiled sea salt that I made last month, and added a bit of fresh ground pepper. I sliced the mozzarella next, layered them in a fan with the tomatoes and put a chiffonade of basil on the top.
Then I sauteed some garlic and shallots -- house staples, we never run out -- added the bacon, then the fennel. Put the vegetable mix in a bowl and seared the shrimp in all those tasty flavors, then degreased with lemon juice. Addded a little bit of cream and stirred it until it thickened, adding a bit more slowly until I had a nice little sauce, then let a little parmesan melt into it.
Served up the tomato and basil salad with the shrimps resting on the glistening fennel mix, and drizzled with a beautiful pale yellow sauce. What a tasty little hit it was!
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Passings and passages
What a shock to learn, the day after the parade, that my friend Eric died suddenly of a heart attack while on a writing sabbatical in Provincetown. My mentor and the person who encouraged me to keep involved with Pride, running parades as I have for nearly 25 years now. The man who saw the activist in me and nurtured it, bringing me to the table of united groups in Boston and international organizations at conferences in LA, until I finally founded a national organization myself (now international as well and in continuous operation for 24 years).
He was a big bear of a man that seldom had an ugly word to say about anyone, always had love for more people than you could possibly imagine, and made everyone feel important -- not only to him but to themselves. If any testimony of this is true, it's in the 500 people who made it to his memorial service yesterday, here in San Francisco, and the similar numbers that will likely show up at the Boston and New York services in the coming weeks.
Eric Rofes was an important writer, without needing to be a bestseller. His tomes contain some very pointed and poignant information. His writings are well respected. Damn if I don't owe him a book of my own, as he supported many to create, even if it's fictional trash.
I'll miss Eric... a lot.
He was a big bear of a man that seldom had an ugly word to say about anyone, always had love for more people than you could possibly imagine, and made everyone feel important -- not only to him but to themselves. If any testimony of this is true, it's in the 500 people who made it to his memorial service yesterday, here in San Francisco, and the similar numbers that will likely show up at the Boston and New York services in the coming weeks.
Eric Rofes was an important writer, without needing to be a bestseller. His tomes contain some very pointed and poignant information. His writings are well respected. Damn if I don't owe him a book of my own, as he supported many to create, even if it's fictional trash.
I'll miss Eric... a lot.
Friday, June 30, 2006
June Ramblings
Just in time for the end of the month! Most of May and the first week of June were plagued with a nasty case of sciatica... my first and hopefully the last. Spasms of white-hot knives of pain from lower back to my knee along my left leg. After three weeks of little sleep and grinding teeth from managing pain every day, all day, I finally had a meltdown one Friday morning and wept. And wept. And wept... and shivered and shuddered with exhaustion. Finally I was able to move and get out of bed with minimal pain. By that afternoon, 98 percent of the shooting daggers of this injury, however it occured, were gone. Ah... blessed relief.
But it still put me behind on my parade duties which made the next three weeks of June a misery.
Even though, as I was standing there playing traffic cop at the start of the parade, seeing all the colorful, happy people -- people proud of themselves -- I felt a well of emotion swell up and little sneaky tears escaped to run free along my cheeks.
Not once in the 20 years that I have been working this event has that ever happened. Matter of fact, it was almost 25 years before, while judging LA's parade, that I did cry in a similar way. It was the sheer magnitude of the event, in comparison to Boston's, that made me do so.
Never under estimate the power of people to move you. Or to move great expectations.
But it still put me behind on my parade duties which made the next three weeks of June a misery.
Even though, as I was standing there playing traffic cop at the start of the parade, seeing all the colorful, happy people -- people proud of themselves -- I felt a well of emotion swell up and little sneaky tears escaped to run free along my cheeks.
Not once in the 20 years that I have been working this event has that ever happened. Matter of fact, it was almost 25 years before, while judging LA's parade, that I did cry in a similar way. It was the sheer magnitude of the event, in comparison to Boston's, that made me do so.
Never under estimate the power of people to move you. Or to move great expectations.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
I'm Just Too Old...
To be moving heavy furniture, big items, and boxes of books by myself, unless I love living on the sofa with muscle relaxants, pain killers, and a heating pad for a couple of days.
To be staying up until all hours of the morning and still get up at a decent hour to go to work.
To not take my health seriously, considering I don't bounce back as well as I did when I was 24. Or even 35.
.
.
.
However, I'm not too old to:
Fall in love again. Heck, even lust would be welcome. Alright, how about a one-night stand?
Do something creative, like, take the roleplaying material sitting on my computer and generate two romance novels out of it. Then interview my Dad for the factual book about his old neighborhood and his band of friends, Murder Inc.'s presence there, and growing up with Danny Kaye and Van Cliburn, etc. It would give the ole' retired guy something to do.
Figure out how to have a good relationship with my Mother or simply accept the fact that her distance for the last 40 years has created an unbridgeable gap that two stubborn, independent people will never close.
And a bunch of other things too numerous to list.
For those keeping track, nothing's changed much in the loft, save that I am actually fully moved up into the sleeping loft. No more futon bed in the living room for me! A second coat of Dried Chervil green paint needs to go up on the major wall and I need to put up some shelves, get a couple of end tables, maybe a bookcase, too, and it'll be a bit more homey. Some art on the wall or I can wash and suspend my antiqued quilt. I say antiqued because it's not really one, but it's taken on all the characteristics of a good, aged quilt.
Wisteria abounds here, especially all along the dark redwood pergola fence surrounding the outdoor pool at UC Berkeley, which I have to pass every day. The star and pink jasmines are releasing their heady fragrance, in light of the abundantly warm weather.
Oh... and I think the cats have fleas, which means I also need to check for worms... damn California insects! Yuck.
To be staying up until all hours of the morning and still get up at a decent hour to go to work.
To not take my health seriously, considering I don't bounce back as well as I did when I was 24. Or even 35.
.
.
.
However, I'm not too old to:
Fall in love again. Heck, even lust would be welcome. Alright, how about a one-night stand?
Do something creative, like, take the roleplaying material sitting on my computer and generate two romance novels out of it. Then interview my Dad for the factual book about his old neighborhood and his band of friends, Murder Inc.'s presence there, and growing up with Danny Kaye and Van Cliburn, etc. It would give the ole' retired guy something to do.
Figure out how to have a good relationship with my Mother or simply accept the fact that her distance for the last 40 years has created an unbridgeable gap that two stubborn, independent people will never close.
And a bunch of other things too numerous to list.
For those keeping track, nothing's changed much in the loft, save that I am actually fully moved up into the sleeping loft. No more futon bed in the living room for me! A second coat of Dried Chervil green paint needs to go up on the major wall and I need to put up some shelves, get a couple of end tables, maybe a bookcase, too, and it'll be a bit more homey. Some art on the wall or I can wash and suspend my antiqued quilt. I say antiqued because it's not really one, but it's taken on all the characteristics of a good, aged quilt.
Wisteria abounds here, especially all along the dark redwood pergola fence surrounding the outdoor pool at UC Berkeley, which I have to pass every day. The star and pink jasmines are releasing their heady fragrance, in light of the abundantly warm weather.
Oh... and I think the cats have fleas, which means I also need to check for worms... damn California insects! Yuck.
Monday, April 17, 2006
April in... Maryland?
I've let my brother talk me into using my only and last probable travel voucher from Delta, first class no less, to head East for my Mother's 75th birthday. For the moment, I'm staying at Keri's and looking at lilacs (don't see much of those in California), wisterias, violets, pink dogwoods, lots of greening... ah, springtime. Any moment now I expect my old oak pollen allergy to swell me up like a balloon.
Kudos to Bank of America for actually agreeing to cash my UC Berkeley paycheck, since I didn't make it to Wells Fargo before the flight left. Of course, running around with that kind of cash on me isn't too smart, perhaps. Maybe I will go get those traveler's checks that Keri suggested.
The menu for Mom's birthday is done and not as frou-frou as I intended, since with her reflux and hiatal hernia, rich spicy food can be aggravating. And though my nieces and nephew have sophisticated palates, I doubt they would find my choices, along the upper end of things, quite as tasty. Also, one niece and sister-in-law insist they are vegetarian. Therefore we are making:
Bread Salad
Roasted Aspargus Bundles with Proscuitto
Wild Mushroom Medley
Couscous with Apricots, Currants, and Pistachios
Herb-roasted Chicken with Fried Sage
Pork Loin with Pomegranate Sauce
I don't have to worry about dessert, but I'm craving berries and/or a flourless chocolate cake (just heavenly when made with Scharffen Berger).
Then the rest of the famial juggling begins... my brother for one day, my dad for two days, back to Mom for a day, back to Dad for a day, then finally... home to California and the first break I'll have had in six weeks!
Kudos to Bank of America for actually agreeing to cash my UC Berkeley paycheck, since I didn't make it to Wells Fargo before the flight left. Of course, running around with that kind of cash on me isn't too smart, perhaps. Maybe I will go get those traveler's checks that Keri suggested.
The menu for Mom's birthday is done and not as frou-frou as I intended, since with her reflux and hiatal hernia, rich spicy food can be aggravating. And though my nieces and nephew have sophisticated palates, I doubt they would find my choices, along the upper end of things, quite as tasty. Also, one niece and sister-in-law insist they are vegetarian. Therefore we are making:
Bread Salad
Roasted Aspargus Bundles with Proscuitto
Wild Mushroom Medley
Couscous with Apricots, Currants, and Pistachios
Herb-roasted Chicken with Fried Sage
Pork Loin with Pomegranate Sauce
I don't have to worry about dessert, but I'm craving berries and/or a flourless chocolate cake (just heavenly when made with Scharffen Berger).
Then the rest of the famial juggling begins... my brother for one day, my dad for two days, back to Mom for a day, back to Dad for a day, then finally... home to California and the first break I'll have had in six weeks!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
March Madness
And no... I don't mean basketball. More, that things at work seem to be, well, wonky. I mean... most of us are in alignment except for this lynch-pin of a person who doesn't seem to organize, delegate, or supervise very well. Which I find odd, considering her other sideline of work is stage management. Having done event production and stage management, I know you have be super organized, be able to direct people around, and keep people moving. So, why don't those skills transcend to her role at the magazine? Perhaps what adds to this oddity is the fact that I have found skills I built up in one role transcended to all others.
Add to the above some rather high maintenance people in my life right now, it makes me wonder just what my role is, in this life. Hey goddess, I didn't get married and have children for a reason! Why do I feel like everyone's mother sometimes? If I wanted to be a mom, I would have certainly done more procreating! At least that part would have been fun... I hope.
Okay, goddess, I know you're laughing at my expense. I, who believe I am patient and mellow, have discovered I might have actually become a bit impatient and slightly high-keyed as I've gotten older. Nice joke. That's not the way it's supposed to work. So, instead, you send me someone with the patience of a gnat to help? Why is it that I have to teach them the lessons? Get back to me with an explanation sometime, hmm?
Yes, I know I missed February, Aaron! I probably didn't have much to say... or too much to say and it mostly sounded like whining.
The foyer, for those looking for an update, is now painted Dried Chervil and Blackberry Harvest, according to Behr Paints, and is damn awesome! We hung a tiffany-style dome light over the bare bulb and mounted the huge fireplace front against the wall, atop a slab of marble. With the grapes lights and religious votive stand all lit up, it makes a pretty impressive entry. All that's left to do is mount the coat hooks on the wall.
I've painted a total of one accent wall up in my sleeping area -- in something Behr Paint calls Classic Cherry. It's really red. Really, really red. More red than sanguine, which was what I wanted, but it's nice. It also showed me that fresh, new walls suck up a ton of paint! Especially dark paints -- which is what we want to use in the living room area.
I was inspired the day we finished painting, and came up with a plan for the hallway wall perpendicular to the windows. I'm going to offer the wall to some enterprising student from the California College of Arts and Crafts, so they can paint a trompe l'oeil, matching the facing window and brick. It'll look like we have another whole mega window on the wall, with a backdrop of blue, wispy-clouded sky. My theory is that it will open up the space and provide an outdoorsy feel to the main hallway. We can set up a little sitting area/library there. Maybe even get one of those big, oversized, overstuffed chairs and ottomans there, that converts into a twin bed. The student can use it for credit, we'll pay for supplies and maybe a small stipend, then I'll manage some PR with local papers, magazines, perhaps even a national publisher. During studio open house season, the loft can be open for display.
I'm back on the CE side of things again, in the game, working with the players -- which I should have never stopped doing. All in all though, working in Dev with Pete's been a dream. I must be the only one thrilled to be handling referrals again. Hee! How's them apples, Jared? Oh wait... I STILL work for the company. You don't. I'm not that bitter that you harassed me for two years and lied about it not being personal. No, I'm not even that mad that you tried to get me fired. All I have to say, though, is... karma, she's a bitch on payback, isn't she?
I'm turning three years of BBS roleplaying into a bodice ripper. The player of the other lead character and I have been trying to come up with a pen name that doesn't sound too ethnic, since that seems to be part of the issue with publishers. Your name has to be as romantic (or slutty) as the book. We might actually have material for two or three books... and my co-partner in crime has suggested another, more modern option. That we actually create a site that posts serializations or chapters about our characters -- perhaps picking up where we left off. For a small subscription fee, people can tune in and get a weekly update into the lives of the Captain and his witchy wife. We've got it all -- witchcraft, privateering, dock fires, witch hunting, a strete faire, a church burning, a kidnapping, pirates, rum-running, a daring escape from Newgate prison, a duplicitous duchess en ceinte with the Captain's supposed son, a sudden midsummer's eve wedding, voyages to the orient. It's been fun, so I'd like to see it continue in some fashion.
Happy birthday, Dad! Have a great day tomorrow.
Add to the above some rather high maintenance people in my life right now, it makes me wonder just what my role is, in this life. Hey goddess, I didn't get married and have children for a reason! Why do I feel like everyone's mother sometimes? If I wanted to be a mom, I would have certainly done more procreating! At least that part would have been fun... I hope.
Okay, goddess, I know you're laughing at my expense. I, who believe I am patient and mellow, have discovered I might have actually become a bit impatient and slightly high-keyed as I've gotten older. Nice joke. That's not the way it's supposed to work. So, instead, you send me someone with the patience of a gnat to help? Why is it that I have to teach them the lessons? Get back to me with an explanation sometime, hmm?
Yes, I know I missed February, Aaron! I probably didn't have much to say... or too much to say and it mostly sounded like whining.
The foyer, for those looking for an update, is now painted Dried Chervil and Blackberry Harvest, according to Behr Paints, and is damn awesome! We hung a tiffany-style dome light over the bare bulb and mounted the huge fireplace front against the wall, atop a slab of marble. With the grapes lights and religious votive stand all lit up, it makes a pretty impressive entry. All that's left to do is mount the coat hooks on the wall.
I've painted a total of one accent wall up in my sleeping area -- in something Behr Paint calls Classic Cherry. It's really red. Really, really red. More red than sanguine, which was what I wanted, but it's nice. It also showed me that fresh, new walls suck up a ton of paint! Especially dark paints -- which is what we want to use in the living room area.
I was inspired the day we finished painting, and came up with a plan for the hallway wall perpendicular to the windows. I'm going to offer the wall to some enterprising student from the California College of Arts and Crafts, so they can paint a trompe l'oeil, matching the facing window and brick. It'll look like we have another whole mega window on the wall, with a backdrop of blue, wispy-clouded sky. My theory is that it will open up the space and provide an outdoorsy feel to the main hallway. We can set up a little sitting area/library there. Maybe even get one of those big, oversized, overstuffed chairs and ottomans there, that converts into a twin bed. The student can use it for credit, we'll pay for supplies and maybe a small stipend, then I'll manage some PR with local papers, magazines, perhaps even a national publisher. During studio open house season, the loft can be open for display.
I'm back on the CE side of things again, in the game, working with the players -- which I should have never stopped doing. All in all though, working in Dev with Pete's been a dream. I must be the only one thrilled to be handling referrals again. Hee! How's them apples, Jared? Oh wait... I STILL work for the company. You don't. I'm not that bitter that you harassed me for two years and lied about it not being personal. No, I'm not even that mad that you tried to get me fired. All I have to say, though, is... karma, she's a bitch on payback, isn't she?
I'm turning three years of BBS roleplaying into a bodice ripper. The player of the other lead character and I have been trying to come up with a pen name that doesn't sound too ethnic, since that seems to be part of the issue with publishers. Your name has to be as romantic (or slutty) as the book. We might actually have material for two or three books... and my co-partner in crime has suggested another, more modern option. That we actually create a site that posts serializations or chapters about our characters -- perhaps picking up where we left off. For a small subscription fee, people can tune in and get a weekly update into the lives of the Captain and his witchy wife. We've got it all -- witchcraft, privateering, dock fires, witch hunting, a strete faire, a church burning, a kidnapping, pirates, rum-running, a daring escape from Newgate prison, a duplicitous duchess en ceinte with the Captain's supposed son, a sudden midsummer's eve wedding, voyages to the orient. It's been fun, so I'd like to see it continue in some fashion.
Happy birthday, Dad! Have a great day tomorrow.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Ch-ch-ch-changes
Amazingly, I found a bedframe I love and priced cheap enough to allow me to get a new mattress as well. It's a very simple wrought iron that I need to paint a pale café au lait color, and it's being delivered tomorrow. No more sleeping in the living room! I want to keep the frame neutral though, so that the bedsheets and wall colorings all pop as accents.
Speaking of which, the hallway is now going to be a light sage -- Behr Paints calls it "Dried Chervil" — and a deep amethyst purple. The light sage will continue up the wall leading into the sleeping mezzanine, complimenting my color scheme there. And there's one semi-hidden wall that I'm going to paint a Tuscan red. The remaining walls are going to be a soft off-white, or perhaps I'll paint them the same color as the bed frame, to blend it in. The natural wood definitely needs a coating or ten of poly, the closet door handles need to be changed out to something pewterish. My TV stand and night table could use a new coat of off-white, too.
Bought a chef's prep table of polished, bullnosed steel with a galvanized steel shelf, on locking casters. It's pretty awesome as a stand alone breakfast island and serves as separater of areas, as well as a functional piece full of tools and decorative touches. Best of all, it was mis-marked at $108 dollars and stands 30"D x 48"W x 36"H.
The bathroom is going to be one of the last, and probably the priciest project, if you include the distinct possibility that it will need an upgrade for both sink and toilet, mega shelving and storage, painting, and tiling.
The living room will just need furniture — hoping Dad's cordovan leather queen sleeper sofa does find it's way into my home, then perhaps a mission-style console table, side tables, and coffee table. More shelving and an entertainment unit, bookshelves. Not so much a project as the the bathroom, since it's about acquisition. All that needs doing is painting one wall, the rest are brick and window. Wish I could gild the fire door in real silver leaf.
Speaking of which, the hallway is now going to be a light sage -- Behr Paints calls it "Dried Chervil" — and a deep amethyst purple. The light sage will continue up the wall leading into the sleeping mezzanine, complimenting my color scheme there. And there's one semi-hidden wall that I'm going to paint a Tuscan red. The remaining walls are going to be a soft off-white, or perhaps I'll paint them the same color as the bed frame, to blend it in. The natural wood definitely needs a coating or ten of poly, the closet door handles need to be changed out to something pewterish. My TV stand and night table could use a new coat of off-white, too.
Bought a chef's prep table of polished, bullnosed steel with a galvanized steel shelf, on locking casters. It's pretty awesome as a stand alone breakfast island and serves as separater of areas, as well as a functional piece full of tools and decorative touches. Best of all, it was mis-marked at $108 dollars and stands 30"D x 48"W x 36"H.
The bathroom is going to be one of the last, and probably the priciest project, if you include the distinct possibility that it will need an upgrade for both sink and toilet, mega shelving and storage, painting, and tiling.
The living room will just need furniture — hoping Dad's cordovan leather queen sleeper sofa does find it's way into my home, then perhaps a mission-style console table, side tables, and coffee table. More shelving and an entertainment unit, bookshelves. Not so much a project as the the bathroom, since it's about acquisition. All that needs doing is painting one wall, the rest are brick and window. Wish I could gild the fire door in real silver leaf.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Addendum
Oh, before I forget! It seems like everyone I know and their mothers has a book idea. Meanwhile, I've been bitten by the "I-feel-I-have-a-book-inside-me" bug as well. Well, to be honest, I've had that feeling since college.
Seems like the opportunity has knocked, now I just need a reply. About 4+ years ago I met a nice person online and we started roleplaying in a ::gasp:: AOL chat room called "The Medieval Tavern." There my character met a nice and debonaire man, who is roleplayed by my friend Margaret. Our styles matched nicely and even when she confessed she was a woman behind the man, I just chuckled and told her the roleplay wasn't for "that" -- so we continued to develop our characters.
It was refreshing and different from GS4, no need to level characters or hunt or deal with idiots... oh wait, I take that back. I'd almost forgotten about the punk animes that came blasting into the bar with their guns, lasers, and ninja stuff. Blasted Rhydin rejects. It also gave me back some of the creativity in writing that I enjoyed, since most of our roleplaying actually took place on the boards. It's kind of hard to sustain a conversation when you have jerks running in and screaming all sorts of out-of-character stuff and spammers phishing you.
Anyway, I figure that we (Margaret and I, and assorted bit players) have enough material from the posts we made that it dawned on me... we have a complete bodice-ripper here! How about that? I don't expect to be the next Johanna Lindsey, but, it would be fun to be in print.
Seems like the opportunity has knocked, now I just need a reply. About 4+ years ago I met a nice person online and we started roleplaying in a ::gasp:: AOL chat room called "The Medieval Tavern." There my character met a nice and debonaire man, who is roleplayed by my friend Margaret. Our styles matched nicely and even when she confessed she was a woman behind the man, I just chuckled and told her the roleplay wasn't for "that" -- so we continued to develop our characters.
It was refreshing and different from GS4, no need to level characters or hunt or deal with idiots... oh wait, I take that back. I'd almost forgotten about the punk animes that came blasting into the bar with their guns, lasers, and ninja stuff. Blasted Rhydin rejects. It also gave me back some of the creativity in writing that I enjoyed, since most of our roleplaying actually took place on the boards. It's kind of hard to sustain a conversation when you have jerks running in and screaming all sorts of out-of-character stuff and spammers phishing you.
Anyway, I figure that we (Margaret and I, and assorted bit players) have enough material from the posts we made that it dawned on me... we have a complete bodice-ripper here! How about that? I don't expect to be the next Johanna Lindsey, but, it would be fun to be in print.
Yet Another Year Begins
The loft is taking great shape, although my bed is still in the main living room area. Finally, the freight elevator is fixed, so all the tenants can start to bring up heavy furniture again and I can order that new bed.
A month of washing the floors has produced dramatic results. The honeyed maple glows now, although the workers sure left their mark on them. Eventually they're going to need sanding and refinishing to make them blemish free. The workers were so careless; they sealed glue, dirty footprints, bird guano, and paint mistings in the surface. Wasn't too smart of them to do the floors BEFORE they reinstalled all 12 of our 5.5' x 10.25' windows, was it? I'm fine with keeping the character left over from when this was a mill, but not the nice little "additions" the renovating crew left behind!
The bathroom and the main foyer are finally ready to paint. I'm using a light sage and dark sage combination for the entry hall; and a garnet and medium grey for the bathroom with all white fixtures. There's some great rainbow travertine tile borders at Home Depot that will look nice edging the tub/shower surround.
The kitchen is almost complete, just looking for the right pattern in copper "ceiling" tiles to use as a stove backsplash.
This week I'll take down the 8' Noble fir and put the purple and white lights away, along with the purple, gold, and garnet balls. And the fiber optic angel! It was amusing to lie there in the dark and watch her wings change color.
Sitting around with Brandy one night, we started telling each other our horror stories involving school, friends, lovers, parents, etc. Currently two of her past affairs of the heart tracked her down at her new job and wanted to renew a relationship. That got me to thinking about those in my life that I miss (and one I don't miss).
Eric... whereever you are, I hope you're happy. I hope you're happy, but I hope you realize some day just how disrespectful you were to me and how much I deserved better. Maybe someday you'll apologize, if you feel like "manning up" and amending things.
Mr. T... you know who you are. So... a moment's hesitation apparently means missed opportunity? Oh well, the flirting was fun -- certainly made for interesting evenings. You'll never know just how wild I could have been!
Michael... I still care about you, you know. I keep hoping that you find/have found someone that truly deserves the wonderful person you are. I'd think you're almost perfect myself, but... there's that matter of shutting me out for answering a question honestly that was asked of me directly. So maybe it wasn't my best use of judgment -- it also certainly wasn't easy to sit there and hear how much in love you were with her, and then for me to listen to her go on and on ad nauseum about how she just doesn't feel that way about you and isn't interested in that kind of relationship with you at all, and how she doesn't want to hurt you but is enjoying all the attention she wasn't getting from Q. By being honest with her or honest with you, either way you would have wound up hurt -- and I would still be where I am today... missing you and our conversations.
RC... I miss you the most, and not just because I haven't had much time to catch up with you lately, but because it seemed for a while that even when I did catch up, you'd already pulled away for some reason. I was confused about how we could spend a year and a half or more conversing every night, and then... it just stops, but I will always treasure the moments we are together; past, present, and future.
Just a little introspection for the new year. Time to move on, eh?
A month of washing the floors has produced dramatic results. The honeyed maple glows now, although the workers sure left their mark on them. Eventually they're going to need sanding and refinishing to make them blemish free. The workers were so careless; they sealed glue, dirty footprints, bird guano, and paint mistings in the surface. Wasn't too smart of them to do the floors BEFORE they reinstalled all 12 of our 5.5' x 10.25' windows, was it? I'm fine with keeping the character left over from when this was a mill, but not the nice little "additions" the renovating crew left behind!
The bathroom and the main foyer are finally ready to paint. I'm using a light sage and dark sage combination for the entry hall; and a garnet and medium grey for the bathroom with all white fixtures. There's some great rainbow travertine tile borders at Home Depot that will look nice edging the tub/shower surround.
The kitchen is almost complete, just looking for the right pattern in copper "ceiling" tiles to use as a stove backsplash.
This week I'll take down the 8' Noble fir and put the purple and white lights away, along with the purple, gold, and garnet balls. And the fiber optic angel! It was amusing to lie there in the dark and watch her wings change color.
Sitting around with Brandy one night, we started telling each other our horror stories involving school, friends, lovers, parents, etc. Currently two of her past affairs of the heart tracked her down at her new job and wanted to renew a relationship. That got me to thinking about those in my life that I miss (and one I don't miss).
Eric... whereever you are, I hope you're happy. I hope you're happy, but I hope you realize some day just how disrespectful you were to me and how much I deserved better. Maybe someday you'll apologize, if you feel like "manning up" and amending things.
Mr. T... you know who you are. So... a moment's hesitation apparently means missed opportunity? Oh well, the flirting was fun -- certainly made for interesting evenings. You'll never know just how wild I could have been!
Michael... I still care about you, you know. I keep hoping that you find/have found someone that truly deserves the wonderful person you are. I'd think you're almost perfect myself, but... there's that matter of shutting me out for answering a question honestly that was asked of me directly. So maybe it wasn't my best use of judgment -- it also certainly wasn't easy to sit there and hear how much in love you were with her, and then for me to listen to her go on and on ad nauseum about how she just doesn't feel that way about you and isn't interested in that kind of relationship with you at all, and how she doesn't want to hurt you but is enjoying all the attention she wasn't getting from Q. By being honest with her or honest with you, either way you would have wound up hurt -- and I would still be where I am today... missing you and our conversations.
RC... I miss you the most, and not just because I haven't had much time to catch up with you lately, but because it seemed for a while that even when I did catch up, you'd already pulled away for some reason. I was confused about how we could spend a year and a half or more conversing every night, and then... it just stops, but I will always treasure the moments we are together; past, present, and future.
Just a little introspection for the new year. Time to move on, eh?
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