Shame on Stephen Harper

This post is about a day behind, but with the new job and the baby delighting in 3 A.M. wake-ups, this is the first chance I've had.

How dare he deny media the right to cover the arrival home of the bodies of Canadian soldiers?

How dare he not fly the flag at half-mast?

These are men who gave their lives working for peace in a war-torn country. They deserve our respect, and they deserve to be seen.

Shame on you Stephen.

For better coverage on this, read Rick Mercer's Blog and The Green Knight here, here and here.

I'll blog more later, but tonight it's 10 PM, I haven't written anything yet, and the alarm goes off in less than 8 hours.

(Of course, the baby usually goes off in less than 6)

Back to work.

On the Dangers of Reading Dickens

I am currently making my way through "David Copperfield," and in doing so, have noticed, in both my writing and my speech, a sudden urge towards the loquacious; an insatiable need to express in many words what could best be said in few; and worse, the willingness, indeed, the desire, to so so at a moment's notice upon any person unfortunate enough to venture the idea of beginning a conversation. In short...

I'm talking too damn much.

It's a habit I fall into, to write like the books I am reading. My first novel (which will never see the light of day) sounded like Heinlien, Hambly, Cherryh and Stephen King had created as bastard love-child by tossing out bits on similar themes that they didn't like and having them accidently land in the same pile.

I've improved, of course. Every writer finds their own voice eventually, and I think I've found mine, but I need to be careful. When I read a good book, the old tendencies kick in and I'll find myself writing in the style I'm reading instead of my own.

It does make the editing fun, though. I can remember where I was in my library when I was writing a particular chapter.

Speaking of which...

Back to work

Mountains Blowing Up

My brother is a geologist in Alaska, and from him I heard of this website where you can go to see Mt. Augustine blow its top.

Things have quieted down now, but look back in the archives for some really good eruption pictures. Also, check back regularly. You never know when another eruption may occur.

Back to work.

Happy Over-Easy!

"Over-Easy" is a phrase coined by a Christian friend of mine whose husband is Jewish. They celebrate both Passover and Easter, so "Over-Easy"

I will be away from my blog for most of the weekend, but wish all who visit it a happy holiday, whether it is Easter, Passover, Hanuman Jayanti, Baisakhi, Therevadin Buddhist New Year, or just the fact that you've got an extra day off work that you are celebrating this weekend.

Take care and enjoy.

Back to work.

Gainfully Employed Again

And thank god. The cupboard was beginning to get pretty bare.

A writing job, too, which is neat. I'll be writing articles on improving home energy management for www.managemyhome.com. Start date to be determined in the next few days, but it should be by the end of this month.

What a relief. Now I can get focused on the important stuff, like my daughter and getting Small Magics edited for its release in 2007. And getting my last book ready for submission. And the next one finished. And the next one started...

Sometimes, I think I overbook myself.

(Pun intended)

Back to work.

The Fish that Walked Like an Alligator!

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Tiktaalik Roseae.

Sometimes science is just neat!

And yes, I am a geek.

Hat Tip to The Green Knight, who had it up first, though I saw it in the New York Times this morning.

Back to work.

It is Late

And my writing has ground to a halt.

Exhaustion is taking its toll right now (baby teething), with stress from being unemployed and a lack of focus from being stuck in the house writing résumés all day contributing to my lack of progress. I can't seem to get more than a page a day going right now, which is annoying as hell. Three is my usual minimum. Five is preferred.

I'm going to have the section I'm working on done in a couple of lines, then I'm going to bed. The baby's teeth are in, which means I should get a couple of nights sleep with a little luck, before the next set.

So, I needed to grouse. Grousing done.

Back to work.

No, wait, the baby is waking up.

Sigh.

Something Cool

Ever wonder what eagles do around the house?

Here is the article that led me to it.

Here's the actual link. You have to watch some ads, but after that, you get to watch eagles!

Can't wait for the eggs to hatch.

Back to work.