Well, I've hit on a book deal. Although the contract isn't finalized yet, I am going to be writing "Life in the Blue Helmet" (working title), a collection of stories about Canadian servicemen and servicewomen who have been on overseas missions since the Cold War, for Bookland Press.
I'm really excited about this project. I have a lot of connections from my army days (and I knew personally a soldier who was killed in Afghanistan last year), and I will be spending my spring
interviewing soldiers who have been on NATO or UN missions. (If anyone knows anyone I could talk to, tips would be welcome...)
Many thanks to Marianne to putting me in contact with Bookland. It wouldn't have happened without you. I'm lucky to know writers who win contests!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Took wild thing a while to figure out the new way of posting, but here she is.
She woke up this morning with the first lines of the following poem. She wrote them down and, half asleep still, knitted on the rest. No master piece, but it it conveys the sentiment. Maybe it wakes up dovetale bloggers.
winter blues
will winter melt
away now
will water again
run free
will flower fairies
waken
will birds &frogs
sing songs
will trees shake off
their icicles
sap coursing through
their veins
will skates & skis
be stored away
will boats & bicycles
be seen
will nature fold away
white robes
and reappear in
green
Hey, wild thing used fancy lettering. Blog publishing is too prozaic for that.
She woke up this morning with the first lines of the following poem. She wrote them down and, half asleep still, knitted on the rest. No master piece, but it it conveys the sentiment. Maybe it wakes up dovetale bloggers.
winter blues
will winter melt
away now
will water again
run free
will flower fairies
waken
will birds &frogs
sing songs
will trees shake off
their icicles
sap coursing through
their veins
will skates & skis
be stored away
will boats & bicycles
be seen
will nature fold away
white robes
and reappear in
green
Hey, wild thing used fancy lettering. Blog publishing is too prozaic for that.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Welcome to the Googleverse
Time & technology march on, dear Bloggers & Blogettes. Welcome to the Blogosphere in the vast Googleverse. 
You have now been Googleized. You will find the atmosphere congenial, if somewhat rarefied. But the overarching goal of the God of Google is to make your bloginations simpler and funner. Funner? Why, yes!
I'd like to assist you in your quest to determine if theGoogle account and password business are working correctly. But I can't. Why? Cuz.
Cuz my Googleaccount and password are working just fine, and since I'm listed as a co-contributor I don't need to log in. Cuz I already am. Googleated.
Congratulations on having the blog look just the same as it did (except where's the pitcher?) Somehow I couldn't do that with Mental Blog. Anyhow, after the initial strangeness and trying to figure some things out, I'm just as happy with the new format. And I'm sure y'all will inevitably surrender willingly to the soft, all-encompassing embrace of the Googleverse.
You have now been Googleized. You will find the atmosphere congenial, if somewhat rarefied. But the overarching goal of the God of Google is to make your bloginations simpler and funner. Funner? Why, yes!I'd like to assist you in your quest to determine if the
Google account and password business are working correctly. But I can't. Why? Cuz.Cuz my Google
account and password are working just fine, and since I'm listed as a co-contributor I don't need to log in. Cuz I already am. Googleated.Congratulations on having the blog look just the same as it did (except where's the pitcher?) Somehow I couldn't do that with Mental Blog. Anyhow, after the initial strangeness and trying to figure some things out, I'm just as happy with the new format. And I'm sure y'all will inevitably surrender willingly to the soft, all-encompassing embrace of the Googleverse.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Information, Facts & Spinning
First, spin news stories that will put a cause in a good light; second, play down stories that will harm the cause; and third, neutralize rivals through whatever tactic that works, no matter how untrue.
Karl Rove, the man behind the president spins information for self-serving political survival of a radical right wing agenda. The talking Head for the White House is Tony Snow.
The most recent spinning aimed at moderate voices comes from Press Secretary Tony Snow. Absolutely despicable!
The most recent Snow job from Tony is that basically any discussion that questions the White House's plan in Iraq will aid terrorism.
In other words to discuss democratic ideas for solutions to the Iraq war is UNAMERICAN.
It’s like trying to advert your eyes to an upcoming car crash. There is a morbid fascination.
Karl Rove, the man behind the president spins information for self-serving political survival of a radical right wing agenda. The talking Head for the White House is Tony Snow.
The most recent spinning aimed at moderate voices comes from Press Secretary Tony Snow. Absolutely despicable!
The most recent Snow job from Tony is that basically any discussion that questions the White House's plan in Iraq will aid terrorism.
In other words to discuss democratic ideas for solutions to the Iraq war is UNAMERICAN.
It’s like trying to advert your eyes to an upcoming car crash. There is a morbid fascination.
Monday, January 01, 2007
SPRING IN JANUARY
We’ve known January thaws. Today, January 1, 2007, that would be a false indication. There was nothing to thaw.
When I woke up, this morning, 6 am., I heard a chorus of birds chattering like you hear in early spring. It was not accompanied by any other sound. No traffic whatsoever.
Early New Year’s Day, most people are still sleeping, dealing with hangovers, or just plainly zonked after the crazy, busy times.
There are those who may not want to wake up for a long time yet. Not a pleasant prospect to, still feeling bloated , start thinking about overdrawn credit cards & recklessly made New Year’s resolutions. Ouch, what a headache!
Having welcomed in the New Year with candle light, a glass of pear nectar, and a wedge of apple pie, quietly, just Simon and me, I was wide awake at six. I enjoyed listening to the still. Got up, bathed, had breakfast and set out with Simon for a long walk. Just following the creek and unto other trails. So quiet everywhere.
At first we met no one. Lots of sparrows and other little birds were flitting about and talking up a storm. A cardinal broke out in song. A blue jay screeched, flew up and settled on a branch of a tree, looking around, as if aware of proud crest and sky blue beauty.
About an hour into the walk, we started to meet the odd other dog with their reluctant owners. Simon befriended a beautiful husky he got to run around with, oh joy! The husky’s person was a woman from Poland.
The husky was her first dog ever. She was happy with her dog. She was however worried about a bold spot on his elbow. She thought she would have to take him to the vet, dreading the bill. Luckily I know how active dogs, when they run a lot, hit their elbows with their hind toes, and so create a rough, bold spot. When I explained that to her, she was so relieved. We had a nice chat until our ways parted.
I half expected snowbells to come up. But without snow they wouldn’t be snowbells. I peeked in the flowerbeds and did see, the green beginnings of irises.
It’s January. It feels like spring. Are we going to be in for a white Easter?
Simon’s feet and belly were black with mud. Not very golden. I cleaned him up. He sleeps now. On my bed.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone,
Wild Thing
When I woke up, this morning, 6 am., I heard a chorus of birds chattering like you hear in early spring. It was not accompanied by any other sound. No traffic whatsoever.
Early New Year’s Day, most people are still sleeping, dealing with hangovers, or just plainly zonked after the crazy, busy times.
There are those who may not want to wake up for a long time yet. Not a pleasant prospect to, still feeling bloated , start thinking about overdrawn credit cards & recklessly made New Year’s resolutions. Ouch, what a headache!
Having welcomed in the New Year with candle light, a glass of pear nectar, and a wedge of apple pie, quietly, just Simon and me, I was wide awake at six. I enjoyed listening to the still. Got up, bathed, had breakfast and set out with Simon for a long walk. Just following the creek and unto other trails. So quiet everywhere.
At first we met no one. Lots of sparrows and other little birds were flitting about and talking up a storm. A cardinal broke out in song. A blue jay screeched, flew up and settled on a branch of a tree, looking around, as if aware of proud crest and sky blue beauty.
About an hour into the walk, we started to meet the odd other dog with their reluctant owners. Simon befriended a beautiful husky he got to run around with, oh joy! The husky’s person was a woman from Poland.
The husky was her first dog ever. She was happy with her dog. She was however worried about a bold spot on his elbow. She thought she would have to take him to the vet, dreading the bill. Luckily I know how active dogs, when they run a lot, hit their elbows with their hind toes, and so create a rough, bold spot. When I explained that to her, she was so relieved. We had a nice chat until our ways parted.
I half expected snowbells to come up. But without snow they wouldn’t be snowbells. I peeked in the flowerbeds and did see, the green beginnings of irises.
It’s January. It feels like spring. Are we going to be in for a white Easter?
Simon’s feet and belly were black with mud. Not very golden. I cleaned him up. He sleeps now. On my bed.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone,
Wild Thing
Monday, December 25, 2006
WO'S BURL ???
My computer doesn’t like Burl. My computer hates Burl. My computer thinks Burl is a shady character. What does Burl do? Who knows? Is he (she/it) the leader of a organization of unsavory criminals? Is he a pimp coercing innocent, young women, make them practice the oldest trade? Is he a sex obsessed male, exploiting young children? Does he use the internet to lure them into a life of crime and horror? Does he use foul language? Who IS Burl?
Read the previous post to catch up on Wild Thing’s argument with her computer. She cannot communicate into Larry’s mental blog. Won’t let her publish her words. Won’t give her the page that accomplishes that feat. Just warns her about Burl. Asks her if she wants to know why. And if she agrees, won’t tell her anyway. So who’s Burl??????
puzzled wild thing
Read the previous post to catch up on Wild Thing’s argument with her computer. She cannot communicate into Larry’s mental blog. Won’t let her publish her words. Won’t give her the page that accomplishes that feat. Just warns her about Burl. Asks her if she wants to know why. And if she agrees, won’t tell her anyway. So who’s Burl??????
puzzled wild thing
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