It's not Monday. Why does it feel like Monday?
Tuesday, July 24, 2007Gmail got back to me and told me they couldn't confirm the account was mine, and have disabled it for my protection. Baloney. Anyone ever heard of a little thing called an ip address? Mine at work and home are static. Why not compare the records of who logs into the gmail account over the past two, three weeks with the ip address of the person who emails them kindly, pleading letters? Case closed.
I just think they are understaffed, over worked, and therefore don't care.
Or don't care, period. (But I am trying to be nice. After all, it's all about the theory i live my life by, the theory of "we all just want to go home". That's it. We get up, we go to work, where, even if we love our job, we don't maybe really want to HAVE to be at, and we spend our days getting our job done so we can go home. Anyone who interrupts this process by making our lives harder, whether through adding more work or just not being nice, becomes sort of an enemy. They disrupt the flow and make the day seem longer, and, in a way, keep us from our goal of going home. That's why I am, in general, a calm person. Understanding that it's not really personal makes like easier to deal with.)
I have decided to give them until Wednesday to answer my latest pleas, and if they don't, I will write a full, reasoned report about the whole thing, including whatever emails i have, and post it here, and wherever else i can. It's not because I'm a vindictive critter and want to "get" the man, it's because this is wrong. It's because anyone of my other friends who use gmail might get similarly hurt. I am going to change back to my previous address, and use my emails that came with my website. So, Gabby will ride again...just as an apenandfire girl. I was seriously considering keeping my own account. After all, Gmail really is a wonderful service...but I feel like I can't, because of the way they've treated me. I can't stand the idea of continuing to support them.
If you are using Gmail, I would suggest backing up your Gmail, or exporting your contacts to another program. You can back it up by using a mail client like thunderbird, but it'll take up a gig of space, so that might not be so hot. Though you could always save the emails to a cd or dvd, delete them, delete everything so you don't keep downloading it...
At work, I get hundreds of emails from greeting card places. They are a scam, if you click on the link, they download a virus that logs your keystrokes for passwords. I wonder if i accidentally clicked on one? I mean, I'm smarter than that, i knew right away they were fakes...even though they seem to come from places like Blue Mountain and Hallmark. The giveaway, of course, was that it said "You have received a greeting card from a Worshipper"....a worshipper? Me? Never and i hope not. I wonder if I did it, when I was busy, by accident or something. The spammer got my ebay account info somewhere....
But everything else seems fine. Still, it's scary. I'm going to be a bit gun shy for awhile.Labels: gmail
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 9:40 PM
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Random Post, but then, aren't all my posts random?
Monday, July 23, 2007I wish I would wake up. Ugh. I've gotten to the point where I do not have to be fully functional to get out of bed, clothe myself and fix my hair, get into the car, and get to work, which means that right now I'm sitting at my desk, with one eye trying to close.
I am also slightly cold, which should help, but it's not. *eyes heater, even though it's July*
Yesterday's chat went well, but it was different from other chats I've been to. Others were focusing on how to get published/how to publicize/how to write, but this was sort of laid back. We talked about what we want to write (Zombies, anyone?) that werewolves were something everyone was sick of (Great, the book I wrote 7 years ago, by the time it hits print, will no longer be salable. Yippee.) and that kids are good.
God. Did I really write Balancing Act 7 years ago? That means Blue Moon was written about 6 years ago. Both where contracted in 2004...I know I'll have to do some technology updating on Balancing Act, when I wrote it Andromeda was using the best technology I knew about. I very much doubt that zip disks are still the thing. ;) Balancing Act is actually, or was, last time I looked, on the 2008-2009 publishing schedule, but I have a feeling that the slot in the schedule it gets has all to do with how well Blue Moon does. I might as well wait until I have my slot assigned to update the book. I wonder, since it was my first, how much work will it need? I imagine there is a lot I will want to do to make it better, but I don't want to re-write the whole thing...I want to write new things.
A few sips of Constant Comment, and I'm starting to feel a little less draggy. So far today it's been, "Do a little work", "Write a little on the LJ entry". I don't know why sleep has such a hold over me. Sleep is...nice. I like being snuggled up and comfy and drifting to new worlds.
OK. Let's make this less pointless. Yes. OK: yesterday I worked on my herb garden a little. I so need to take a picture of it, but parts of it look a little messy. The spearmint (I think, because it didn't smell much like peppermint) is putting out little purple flowers. The Oregano looks like it's interested in World Domination, while the rosemary and lavender are a little larger, very healthy looking, but pretty much the same. The Sage is doing fairly well, but the tomatoes, while they have fruit on them, are refusing to turn red. The dahlias are growing a treat, but they keep getting eaten. The really huge one that managed to survive (or the rain didn't wash the stuff I prayed on it to make it less tasty very well) broke a little, and my mum duck taped it out of desperation. Then it fell over.
*sighs*
I also started cutting cloth. My dress is going to be a soft rose velvet, because that's the only fabric I have enough of. It should be a really interesting dress because some of the panels will have roses embossed on it, some of the panels will be plain. I will use some of the satin I had for my wedding dress to line the sleeves, so the cream should be pretty.
I am going to make a wench costume, too. I want this fabric to make a wench shirt out of, even though it's way ott: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=008&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=180140635399&rd=1&rd=1. I will use the teal fabric for an over skirt, the black gauze for an under skirt, and some black Chinese brocade for the vest. I don't know that I want to use that magnificent teal cloth (see an earlier Post for the picture) for an over skirt, but to be honest, it might be beautiful and sheer, but I'm not sure how comfy it will be against skin. It's sheer enough that I would have to line it. Technically you should always line. Do I? Um...only if I have to.
Well, I started this post an hour ago. I think I'll close. Hopefully I'll be able to get in contact with Gmail/Google (I think I might start my attack by asking for help for my Blogger. Maybe they phone support Blogger? Doubt it, but worth a try.) and straighten things out. I keep thinking that it's going to be alright...I mean, I've been through this dance 9though not to this length!) before with other places, and they usually give in to the customer. And I do believe in Google.
Basically, though, this is their last chance. I really want to keep my gabby account. If I get it straightened out, I probably will, since a) this could happen with any email and who's to say that it will be any easier anywhere else? and b) I really *am* entangled. Note the probably, I haven't really decided. I am going to investigate my options.
Mmm. I should use my sleepy mood icon more often.Labels: balancing act, cloth, gmail, herb garden, writing
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 9:38 PM
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Chat tonight! :)
Sunday, July 22, 2007I am just popping online to do a few very important (for me) things.
One, I want to thank you all for your wonderful congratulations, and for buying the e-stories. This means a lot to me, to start the main part of my writing career with the help and support and cheering section of my marvelous and wonderful friends. I cannot say enough how thankful and blessed I am.
On that note, I’d like to announce that there are now other places where my stories are available to buy, if you don’t like Mobipocket. The best is the Drollerie Press Website, where if you register, you’ll be able to access a shopping cart. The titles are on sale, 50% off, so if you are snagging them, this would be the best time.
Also, tonight, at 9 pm EST, I will be at the Drollerie Press Chatroom with many of my fellow authors. This is my first official appearance as an author, and it might be a neat thing to go just so you can say I did when I’m J.K. Rowling. Just go here and look at the sidebar for a link to the open chatroom. Just a user name…could be anything…is required, no registration is needed. Also, if you are ever considering becoming a published author, networking is always good.
Now, for Mister Potter. I did, indeed, read the book. I finished at 2 am last night…I cried, a lot, and I was mostly happy, except for a couple things I will not relay here.
Oh, and the Gmail thing? Still no joy, there.Labels: chat, Drollerie, gmail, harry potter
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 9:35 PM
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“Congratulations,” the email subject line said, “you're a published author.”
Friday, July 20, 2007My short stories are up for sale at MobiPocket.
I received an email with my books in them, and when I opened “Rubies”, I got very emotional. In fact, I’m a bit teary now.
I am a fiction author, darlings. Officially.
This would have been the most extraordinary event in a pleasant week. In a hellish week such as this (I dreamed that someone stole my day runner last night, and ripped out the pages where I cribbed my passwords, and on top of it, the day runner was also my check book, and they stole some of the blank checks, and I couldn’t prove to the bank that it was my account, and all my money was gone.) this is…beyond my powers to describe.
Now, I shall show you my covers! Deena Fisher is amazing. I love her art so much.
 Labels: a necklace of rubies, Drollerie, every word I speak, published, short stories
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 9:31 PM
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Miss Marple and the Mystery of Tea
Wednesday, July 11, 2007To my great delight, I see that next week’s Masterpiece Theater is Miss Marple!
What I hate about my antenna (and I wonder if getting a new one will fix it) is that the picture I get is terrible. Especially for the channel that I like to watch the most, PBS. *sighs* Watching James D’Arcy in The Moving Finger was a real trial, especially when I rented the movie off of Netflix later and saw clearly his wonderful expressions, and how well he and Emilia Fox played off one another. I bought a replacement DVD player that has the new tuner, but when I set it up, instead of a miracle in clarity and even a new channel or two tossed in, I got nothing. I was told I don’t need to buy a new antenna, but I have a feeling that I probably must do.
Either that, or when the NTSC signal is no longer broadcast, I’ll have no telly at all.
Despite the poor picture, I’ll be watching the Miss Marple’s happily. Geraldine McEwan makes an adorable and clever Marple. Next week’s, Towards Zero has Greg Wise in it! Cool! And Ordeal by Innocence has Richard Armitage. And oh! Richard E. Grant is in Nemesis! This season is going to be really brilliant fun!
Oh, dear. The horror…I only have two tea bags left. How did this calamity happen? One is Tzao Earl Grey, which is good…the other some unidentifiable “House Recipe Premium Blend” that was left over from some gathering. Suspect. Very suspect. Do I got for the Earl Grey, or save it for when I desperately need it? Do I try the “House Blend”, or is it really just too great a risk? A bad cuppa can indeed make or break a day. It occurs to me that someday, you, too, dear reader may face such a terrifying decision, so in the interests of tea drinkers everywhere…nay, for humanity itself, I will brew a cup of the “premium”. I will let you know the results.
I did get to write yesterday! I also looked over the edits of my first short story, and received my contest giveaways. Every day, I try and work on it more and more.
And, in final news, I believe I am finally done selling on evilbay. I did not enjoy the experience much at all, and from now on will seriously considerer donating everything to charity.
Ah, all the time it took me to edit and get over here, the tea is ready. It is...passable. If you're really picky, it's utter drech, but if you're in the "It's hot, it tastes pretty much like any tea you get in a restraunt so it's ok and I really need a cup of tea" sort of frame of mind, it's ok. Bout what you expected me to say, isn't it?Labels: British Actors I Like, Miss Marple, tea
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 9:33 AM
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I love the background color of your site. I love periwinkle. :) I love tea too but I'm not addicted to it. Hmmm... maybe I am since I drink lemon iced tea everyday. :)
Like the look of the site and nice post - I cant drink to much tea atm as my throat is very sore with an infection :(
www.rosshetherington.com
- It is very hard, being judged for no reason... I am a respectable person but still get shoved on the 'hide away' from lists.
Im glad you liked my post... it has a strong message and it seems to be true. I had never had a girlfriend before my one ive had now and have been going out for over 8 months and I just treated her how I would like to be treated myself... That was, cared for, loved, treated right and respected :) And it has paid off.
I LOVE Miss Marple and Geraldine McEwan is my favorite as well as Margaret Rutherford.
Aww, thanks all!
Ross, i hope your throat gets better soon. :(
Random Magus, I've never seen Margaret Rutherford. is she very different in her approach?
She appeared in the black and white ones...
What should I say?
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Look! I have a word cloud!
I've been reading people's blogs of late, to answer the age old question, what should I say and what should I not say in my out there, attached to my name so it feels like it has more personal impact blog? I have a Live Journal, which I am really attached to, a MySpace because I'm told that's what all the cool kids do, a Greatest Journal and a Vox which I'm thinking of dropping, an invite to FaceBook...all of which are means of communicating with real people, drawing in new friends and new perspectives. That's what i want. And I believe you have to give of yourself. My blog style is, especially when I'm not posting under my name, quite conversationalist. I want to share my experiences because maybe you've had those experiences to. Or, maybe someday you will have those experiences. "We owe it to each other to tell stories," Neil Gaiman once said, and i don't think he means just the fiction ones.
The thing is, I've always used made up names on the Internet. When I was in college we went from a Lynx based system of email communication where the Internet was nothing but mailing lists, MUDS and chatrooms to web pages. When I first started college in 1994, I had an email address but the only people who knew it were a few pen pals from my INXS pen pal list days, and the last year, I think, I was there, we could surf the web on Netscape Navigator, which I loved because of the Naval/Lighthouse motif. It never occurred to me not to make up my name, to shield myself from the people whose intentions I could not really know, in fact, everyone encouraged it. And under my various (three, really, I generally stick to three, one of which is Ninave.) names I talk about my father being in the hospital. I talk about realizing I don't mind being alone, in fact I probably like it better. And I fan girl, not badly, but a little. These are things I'm not sure you want to read about. These are things I'm not sure if I want my ex-husband/ex-mother in law/enemy from high school to read, because they can bend it to make themselves feel better - feel justified. And I might try really, really hard to be a good person, but I'm not really delighted with the idea of people talking about how pathetic I am behind my back. (Of course, you should never care about what people think, which is easier said, some times, than done.)
Also, I sent one of the people reading the blog over to my LJ, because I wasn't updating this sucker much and wanted him to have a way to keep up with me, and he said he stopped reading it because it was too personal. But (And he knows who he is, and I hope he knows I'm not complaining...*waves to him*...) I don't update this as much as I should because I don't want it to feel like a running advertisement, and one doesn't always have news of the writing type.
So, I guess I should ask you. What do YOU want to read? Do you believe that we should share our experiences to create a body of knowledge for people to delve into? Do you think a "public figure" should be more careful? (But then, I'm hardly Angelina Jolie, or apt to become her.)
Eh, well. I'll continue to try and find a middle ground. Or, toss it over my shoulder as too much effort, and just cross post everything.
I do have a nice bit of writing news, though! I've started writing an editor's letter to go along with the Fiction Addiction newsletter. This week the newsletter talks about the Anthology Market. Generally, it's a almost blog-like post discussing experiences and offering advice and tips, and I encourage people to add their own. If you email me (at the address in the newsletter) your own thoughts and experiances, and they might get published in the next newsletter! :)Labels: internet
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 9:08 AM
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Oh, dear. It's happened again.
Thursday, July 05, 2007Last summer, the world went down the tubes until i could finish reading Sluggy Freelance but now I've discovered a new comic....Girl Genius, which is a "Gas lamp tale of romance, adventure and mad science!" and all of wonderful. The art is awesome, and the story line is extremely addictive.
It's one of those rainy days where you don't feel much like doing anything. I stalled on my story (I'm writing the bit about Yeh-Shen, a story I've loved since I saw it as a cartoon as a little girl on CBS) but I feel sluggardly, so I decided to take a break. Part of the problem is that I've decided to frame it differently, and that might change the story completely.
I ordered some books from Amazon to give away when I launch my short stories: Charles Perrault's Fairy Tales, the Dover edition illustrated by Gustave Doré and Joseph Jacob's English Fairy Tales. The Perrault is to celebrate "Every World I Speak", as it has the very same story, "The Fairies", that inspired me, and the Jacob's has a tale called "Mr. Fox", which inspired "A Necklace of Rubies." I promise to post details on how you can win one of these books as soon as I figure out the best way to conduct the contest. :D I will also be giving away a couple copies of my own ebooks.
A site worth spending tons of time on, if you like fairy tales, is this Sur La Lune. Beautiful place, with annotations, comparisons between fairy tales, cross referencing, the works.
Oh, wow. It's almost completely dark, and it's only 2:30. I think I shall go stare out the window. And read some more Girl Genius, then, hopefully, get back to poor Yeh-Shen.Labels: contests, rain, web comics
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 2:25 PM
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Sunday, July 01, 2007Hello!
This is your common "currently the website is under major construction post", but along with that, I would like to happily announce that my short stories, "A Necklace of Rubies" and "Every Word I Speak" will see publication and will be on sale at Drollerie Press on July 20! "Necklace" is a story that many of you watched as I wrote it, so you might be interested in the final, polished tale.
So, please, forgive the mess and mismatched colors for a few days!Labels: mod, publication dates
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 5:52 PM
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