Loosely Speaking

By Ciel - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Everything Else

Friday, August 1, 2008

Here we go again...

It's an old story: We all have two beasts in our yard. One is angry and resentful, fearful, defensive, selfish, mean-spirited, prejudiced and judgemental, thoughtless of other's needs and feelings. The other is good-natured and loving, generous, patient and considerate, open-minded, optimistic, respectful and friendly. These two fight constantly for dominance. Which one will win? The one you feed. Blogit has these beasts in its yard, too. On Blogit here will always be the occasional fights and... Sign in to see full entry.

A word in your ears, Darlings!

There seems to be a new trend on Blogit, a trend towards extravagant endearments that are wholly unwarranted, coming in comments from other Blogiteers I barely know, and whom I know don't know me. I can't speak for anyone else, but I find it a bit off-putting. Sometimes more than a bit. Friendship in an online community is challenging enough without casual or meaningless suggestions of emotional attachment that might mislead, offend, or distress. There are a number of Blogiteers I do have a... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The story of the story--part 2

The young guy and I each wrote our characters, and mingled their stories together. It was great fun at times--we'd have brain-storming sessions and come up with some great ideas, and one notion always led to another and another... We each came up with other side characters--if you're reading what I've been posting, you haven't met too many of them yet, but they are coming... Two more will take on some of the story-telling in first person, too, in the second part of this first book. Some scenes... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Another Blogit tip: Shopping Blogit

Blogit is like a huge department store: we can't buy everything in sight, or the first things past the door: we have to be selective to some degree or another. How do you choose what to read? What brings you back time and again? What turns you off. Here's how I select: If you click on my blog, I will certainly click on yours at least once, to see what you're offering the Blogit community. Profile: Just updated my 'About Me' details this morning. I generally like to have some notion of who I'm... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

The story of the story...

I just posted the 20th segment of my novel, THE HERETICS-- I've never shared this much of it before with a group other than my original writing partner, my son, and an agent who saw it complete, but before two rounds of revisions and rewrites since. I can't thank you enough for your critical feedback and enthusiasm, whether in comments here, or emails. It's all welcome, both the critique from those who are writers and editors, and the comments from those who are the folks who simply know what... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Home again, home again, jiggety jig!

Got up sooo early this morning in Maryland, and now it is coming up on 6pm here in Washington State. Part of me is quite sure it is coming up on 9, and bed time! But--remember Davy? Davy dog is sooo happy to see me again, he just wants to play and play and play... and I want a nap. With my arrival, the Other Human takes off--going to be spending the next several weeks house-sitting for a friend up in Seattle. He goes up there at least 5 evenings a week, to teach fencing. It is a long, long round... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

What works on Blogit?

A new Blogiteer, freeflyinbird, asks about how things work here, and I got thinking about how, and what does, and what doesn't so much... I can answer best by discussing what draws me to someone's blog, and what turns me off. Though I'll speak in general 'yous' and 'theys' throughout, this is really all my own opinion, for what that's worth to you. First, of course, is writing: you have to post something. If you don't add something new fairly regularly and often, people will have no reason to... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Tomorrow I pack to go home to Davy and the lovely NW summer...

It is cool and idyllic there, weather-wise, and all my stuff is there. I miss my very own cats, too. And there is another thing to be thinking on. Another great adventure! Singapore Daughter and her Husband are planning their next move. New Zealand. They are beginning the hoppings through hoops to do it even now. I had a wild impulsive feeling, and said, "I could live in New Zealand!" Well, to move as a resident to NZ, one has to offer a skill or profession that is needed or wanted there. My... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

It seems most appropriate to me, to say hello, and thank you for helping me to live, to the spirit of the meat we eat. Believing in the living spirit of all things, taking the body is not such a dire thing. On the other hand, the further we get from the act of taking that animal's life, the easier it is to get casual and callous, and forget the significance of it. To think meat comes from the store. That ground meat was never walking around in the sun, or fillets, swimming in the sea, enjoying... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Did you feel the earth shake?

About 9:15, Eastern Daylight Time there was a slight tremor felt locally--very locally--in this town in Maryland when I went out the door, tripped on the sill, flopped over on one knee, rolled on over to my elbow on the concrete porch, ending with my noggin against the handily-placed flower pot, to break my fall... Doh! I don't fall with the thoroughness of TAPS, I confess, but I did the best I could. Results are not worse than inconvenient--wrenched right shoulder that makes lifting anything... Sign in to see full entry.

Headlines (What is this?)