jeff birthday

Who is this filker?


Happy birthday, Jeff! Among a few other silly things, I gave him a box of Fast Break chocolate bars (thanks, Rand). Answers to the last filk picture poll: Rand Bellavia, Terence Chua, Paul Kwinn, Rand again. Any guesses on today's pics?





Enjoyed hanging out with Allison and Jodi last night. We have no gigs for a while, so our get-togethers tend to be purely social these days. We went out for sushi and then saw "Big Fish" at the Elgin Mills Theatre. It usually takes me about an hour and a half to get to Richmond Hill. Meeting in the winter is a bit tougher (it took me two hours to get to our sushi restaurant a few weeks ago ... the bus ride to Buffalo would only take 15 minutes more!), so we tend to only meet a couple times a month rather than every week.

Again, and for so many reasons, I wish someone would hurry up and invent transporters.





What I'm really missing right now: playing my guitar and harp. My setback several months ago was partly caused by guitar playing (when I worked on new songs like The Question), so I've decided to hold off until the spring. Since I'm used to songwriting with guitar in hand, I haven't been writing anything, at least musically.

Perhaps I need to learn to write with the piano keyboard again.





Nearly a week into the 6th Annual Idita Walk , which Allison has inspired me to join. The official goal is to walk 1,049 minutes before March 21, but I modified the goal for myself to be 1,049 minutes of exercise of some sort, whether it's running or walking or doing the elliptical machine, whatever.





Amused by the responses to my filk picture poll, and delighted by the photos that people have been sending in.





Are you a filker willing to submit your childhood photo to a future poll? Please feel free to send it! (spam-filtered address; the first time you use it, you may need to manually enter a code in a follow-up e-mail)



(filker is on the left)

February 2004 comments: Read | Post | LJ

more filker photos

Any guesses?


I'm pretty happy with my novel prep so far, plan to start revising the text soon. Somewhat nervous about that since it is still a major pain trying to do any editing with ViaVoice; I just have to remind myself to be patient.






Hey, I've lost 8 lbs. since Christmas! Back to my normal weight now. For me, it's not so much about the numbers as it is about how I'm feeling physically. Even without stepping on a scale, I can tell when I haven't been exercising or eating very well. After a week of slacking off, I feel crabby and restless. After a few weeks, my mind seems to slow down and I have less energy. I get stressed out more easily.





What I find works for me re: weight -- get regular exercise and don't eat if I'm not hungry. Sounds obvious, but it's a challenge sometimes. For me, real exercise has to involve sweating and puffing; it's just not enough otherwise. And the eating if I'm not hungry goes against the "always clean your plate" rule I was brought up on. I always tend to feel guilty leaving food on the plate. My solution: save the leftovers and use it for another meal. Sometimes it's also a challenge to stop eating if what you're eating tastes really good even if you're already sated.

Speaking of exercise...Went out for run/walk at lunchtime today. Cooold, but invigorating! It's tough to catch my breath sometimes in very cold wind, but I like the challenge. :-)






Answers to yesterday's filk picture poll: Bill Sutton, Rand Bellavia, Brenda Sutton and Adam English. Saw the Suttons' photos when I was visiting last month, and saw Rand's and Adam's college photos when I was visiting Rand earlier this week. I've posted some more today...any guesses?

Are you a filker willing to submit your childhood photo to a future poll? Please feel free to send it! (spam-filtered address; the first time you use it, you may need to manually enter a code in a follow-up e-mail)

February 2004 comments: Read | Post | LJ

filk poll

This is a childhood photo of which filker?


And how about....












Are you a filker willing to submit your childhood photo to this poll? Please feel free to send it! (spam-filtered address; the first time you use it, you may need to manually enter a code in a follow-up e-mail)

February 2004 comments: Read | Post | LJ

cooking and writing

Lemon and chocolate tart slivers topped with
whipped cream flavoured with Grand Marnier.


Thanks so much to those who posted or e-mailed information about Fast Break chocolate bars, or offered to mail me some. Blake Hodgetts (thanks, Blake!) directed me to a Web site where I could order a box. While I was there, I noticed some other types of chocolate bars that I've never seen before (like Reeses WHITE chocolate peanut butter cups!). Must visit the U.S. again soon. :-)



Jon preparing the appetizers.


Most of today's Blatherpics are from a small dinner party hosted by our friend Jon Steinberg on the weekend. Man, can this guy cook! The menu:

Prosciutto & Regianno Parmesan Potstickers

Salmon Tartare with Orange CrËme Fraiche

Fish: Black Cod with Orange Onion Salad

Sorbet: Lemon, lime and ginger

Fowl: Poached Duck Breast Roulade, Rest of Duck and Duck Crackling

Game: Venison & Mushroom Daube

Dessert: Lemon and chocolate tarts ("Two Tarts because one is too tart.")

Everything was amazing. In fact, I'm getting hungry just remembering the meal again.



Black cod with orange onion salad.


As my arms continue to improve, I'm starting to cook more. My current favorites are stew and salad recipes from the Moosewood Restaurant Cooks At Home. I go to the market a few times a week to buy fresh ingredients; I usually bundle up and turn it into a run on the way there, a walk (with loaded backpack) on the way home. Snowstorms just make it all that more exciting. :-)

This past week, I've made Tunisian Vegetable Stew and Sicilian Seafood Stew. I also made a salad dressing with walnut oil which tasted ghastly. I bought the walnut oil on impulse, wanting to make something with it, and found a recipe online. A bad recipe, obviously. Anyone out there know a good walnut oil recipe?

I love stews because they're easy; just chop everything up, toss it into the pot, and let it cook itself. Because my arms get tired chopping, I do a little bit at a time over several hours. The simmering phase is my favorite, when flavours mingle and mellow. Reminds me of the writing process, really.

Speaking of writing, things are going pretty well though somewhat ploddingly. I have a kitchen timer in my office which I set for 20 minutes when I start working; even when using ViaVoice, I still have to do some manual typing. When the alarm goes off, I force myself to walk away from the computer and do something else for a few minutes to give my arms a break, like studying Italian or German, doing arm exercises, cooking, going for a run.

I've finished my basic character outlines and am working on plot background and plot outlining now.



Took this photo on the way home from my last physio session (today).
I'm determined to really make it my last session this time.
No more setbacks!

January 2004 comments: Read | Post | LJ

fast break

Some of the bookmarks I've received in response
to my shameless plea, from all around the world.
I was also incredibly touched by all the letters I received thanking
me for Waiting For Frodo.


Thanks for all the support re: my writing! Just to clarify: I do plan to continue Blathering; it just won't be nearly as often as before. Sometimes I may just post a photo or two.

My first solid week of working on my novel is going well, I'm happy to report. My current strategy is to spend a number of weeks on detailed outlining of characters, background, and plot, with the goal of minimizing the amount of time (and typing) I will have to do in the final edit. There will be a fair amount of rewriting, I can tell already; I've decided to change my main characters from an older brother and younger sister to an older sister and younger brother, for example. I've also come across a major plot inconsistency which requires some backtracking.

I'm not used to writing this way. My usual strategy is to hammer out a very rough version, with the goal of just getting everything on paper (or rather, the screen) without worrying about details, then multiple edits to finetune. With a limited "arm budget" and a voice recognition program which is agonizing to use for edits, however, I can no longer think this way. I'm considering it a good mental exercise, forcing myself to revise my writing habits in a way that might be beneficial even if I never had tendinitis.



Very cool handmade bookmark from Annie K.


For each character, for example, I'm outlining physical appearance, personality, background, motivations (this is a biggie), character development in the story, and the inevitable catchall, "Miscellaneous." Sometimes I do a rough sketch, sometimes include a photograph I have cut out from a magazine or found online which captures how I see the character. I used to lean toward more detailed character outlines, but found them a waste of time for me since I like to leave some flexibility; inevitably the character grows on its own as I work on a novel, sometimes developing in a way I had not intended. Sometimes I let it happen if the change fits in with the rest of the story and characters. Sometimes I relentlessly force the character back into the original outline; I have to show these characters who's boss, after all. :-)



Embroidered bookmark from Margaret S.


My arms continue to improve. I can actually type manually for several minutes at a time without pain now, but I am forcing myself to continue to rely heavily on ViaVoice to avoid another setback. Instead of launching into full-scale typing cold turkey, I plan to gradually we myself off my voice activated software. VERY gradually. My arms get tired pretty quickly, and I'm always careful to give them a rest whenever I sense I'm reaching my limit. This can be somewhat frustrating if I'm in the middle of something, but I've learned my lesson.

And it's so wonderful to be working on my fiction writing again. It's going much more slowly than before I got tendinitis, but at least it's going.

To those going to Confusion this weekend: hope you all have fun! Wish I could have been there.



Hand-painted bookmark from Clare G.


p.s. I haven't forgotten about my promise to send prizes to those who posted New Year's resolutions! If you haven't already, make sure you send your snailmail address to me with "resolution prize" in the subject header. Still haven't decided what prizes to send out, will do so within the next couple of months. So far I have addresses from Ana R., Lynn G. Beth B., Chris O., Erica N., Gary E., Mike W. and Lyanne Q.

Also, thanks for the postcard, Nan! Could you please send me your snailmail address?



I brought home a Reese's Fast Break chocolate bar
from Marietta for Jeff; I had never seen it before. Well,
he adores it and has declared it his favourite chocolate bar.
Only problem: we can't seem to get it here! Is there anyone out there
coming to FKO who would be willing to bring a few? (I'll pay
for them, of course!)

January 2004 comments: Read | Post | LJ