Purling Oaks

GenCon Writer's Symposium Wrap

The 2018 Writer's Symposium was well worth the driving to and from Indianapolis.  Being associated with GenCon, the workshops focused on science fiction/fantasy speculative/genre fiction.

The fun panel that discussed Young Adult and below is the Urban Fantasy panel (photo courtesy of Alethea Kontis).

(That's me in the front row, soaking it all it. Terry Brooks!!! Squee! Wow, he has great comedic timing, besides dropping writing gems left and right.) My three days were filled with lectures and panels.  I booked myself through lunch each day, fortunately finding a minute or three to eat a small sandwich.  I did find the food trucks outside the Convention Center Saturday night to enjoy a Cubano before viewing the film premiere of Eye of the Beholder about the art of Dungeons and Dragons. Very nice film. I enjoyed the artwork and interviews with the artists.  I think that film will be a "must see" for fantasy art fans or anyone with an interest in D&D or similar games.  

I took a brief run through the Exhibit Hall on Sunday and purchased three fun t-shirts. Any gamer would need days to explore the Exhibit Hall.  Days.  

Located on the north side of the Indy metro area my hotel was about 30 to 60 minutes away from the Convention Center, depending on traffic. Parking with Gate Ten on the south side of the Lucas Oil Stadium was very convenient with shuttle buses running frequently up to the Convention Center and back.  It would perhaps have been nicer to stay closer, but with 60 thousand people participating in the main Con, I am happy I had a nice hotel anywhere.  I'm catching up on household chores this morning, but plan to review my pages and pages of notes tonight.  Would I go again?  Yes! I'm full of energy today, even after all the driving and human interaction.  The Symposium was well-run, I met a lot of nice people, and came away with only pleasant experiences.

Just one thing.  I did have a rather odd experience midway through my trip.  I downloaded Google Maps on my phone just before setting off since I read somewhere in a GenCon forum that the app was better with keeping current with road construction projects than other map apps and Indy was full of road construction. It worked great and I had no problems navigating to Indy or inside the metro area.  Friday or Saturday morning, I had the Google map app open on my phone and was in a bit of a hurry so I ignored the pop-up rating request from the map app. No big deal, right? 

Here's the odd part...the verbal directions for my trip that morning were markedly different than the past few days---with the lady in the app no longer saying street names and, frankly, she sounded quite bitchy.  Seriously, it was just "turn right" or "turn left."  I could have been in big trouble, except I was on a route similar to one I had taken the day before. Flipping spooky.  Did I go back in and rate the app?  You bet your sweet bippy I did.  Will I use that app again?  Not unless I've got a bouquet of roses and a box of Godiva chocolates by my side.

 

Today's theme is challenge

Reporting in on the new developments in the office:

• New desk from Ikea, the result of research and no little frustration with the lack of connection between ergonomics, women's bodies, and the furniture industry.  Ikea came through with a nice adjustable desk that suits my frame whether I am typing, writing longhand, or standing.  It adjusts from 22" on up.  Not too expensive, in light of maintaining a healthy body.
• I've added new weird keyboard that is supposed to help prevent RSI injuries. The keyboard is manufactured by Kinesis and is called the Advantage2.  My speed is improving and thanks to my high school typing class teacher, my fingers and brain already knew how to touch type.  I've yet to achieve my old speed.  All in good time, my girl.  The best thing is that my hand pain is diminished using this keyboard.  Win.
• My hand and arm are also happier using a vertical mouse.  Another win.

Now just to keep working at making this work for me.  That will be a challenge.  

 

Speaking of making it work:  Dan and I aquired a new-to-us lawnmower. It's one of those zero-turn models that I've always wanted.  Imagine my surprise the first time I climbed aboard when I couldn't make it go where I want to go! Jerky movements, my feet trying to control the speed, and going from really fast to backwards in a flash.  Someone should have filmed me for one of those "Most Funny" programs.  My brain had a very hard time using the different controls. The machine is controlled completely via hand and arm movement, where the old machine is driven like a car using your hands and feet. You would not believe how frustrating that first timeout was. In fact, I drove it back into the shed and got on the old machine to finish my mowing after only 20 minutes, but not before I had to shake out all the grass that blew down my shirt.  I have no Idea how that happened!

Given my experience last week, I surprised myself this week by deciding to give the new machine another try.  And, even more surprising, within 10 minutes I was driving, maybe not like a pro, but with a certain amount of confidence that I wasn't going to kill myself driving into a tree or fence.  I was thrilled and amazed.  My brain is a wonderful organ, and quite mystical don't you think?

Driving the newish mower was a challenge and now I've bonded with the darn thing.  It made mowing the slanty sides of the driveway easy...and that is saying something for a task that used to seriously scare me every time I mowed.  

 

Tomorrow I'm heading to the Gencon Writers Symposium in Indianapolis.  As it happens, about 60,000 gamers are also going to be in town.  Whee!  So many challenges there I'll let you think them up and let me know your thoughts in the comments.

 

Challenges are good.  If I have them, I am still living Living.  That is a good thing.

Lists, Tuesday, and Books

This morning I'm drinking coffee and making my lists for the weekend.  Let's see...groceries:  black beans for some black bean soup, mixed bean soup for some, well, mixed bean soup.   Looks like a theme of fall is here, to me!  The plumber is here to fix the toilet that has been slow for longer than I want to say..check!  Bedding in the laundry...check!  I need to expand my work wardrobe with more business attire so I've got go clothes shopping on the errands list, too.  

Tuesday was a good day.   I met up with Vicki in Appleton for dinner and coffee with knitting!  I really enjoyed seeing some of Vicki's recent projects and to see the results of her dye pots in finished form.  She really has a great eye for color.  

We rarely remember to document our meet-ups with photos but Tuesday we both pulled out our phones for the barista.

There!  Documented meet-up with friendly blogger...check!  :D

Next on the list is waiting to have our annual boiler inspection this morning and to finish up the laundry.  I'll probably have to slip some work-work into the morning, as well, since life will be smoother for the next week or so if I get this project finished.

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 I've been reading a lot lately.  Admittedly, it is one of the ways I use to escape stress.  No matter what, reading is always a pleasure.  I've been reading quite a bit with my iPad Kindle app but also a few "real" paperbacks.  The titles have been heavily weighted lately in the urban fantasy/werewolves & vampires genres:  I've read through ALL of Ilona Andrews' books and a good portion of Jeaniene Frost's.  I like both Andrews and Frost.  Andrews builds strong worlds and has a pleasant writing style.  Frost builds good stories but is not as strong a writer--although still very readable.  For Frost's writing, I mean that sometimes I'm "bumped" out of my reading trance by illogical sentence structure or some odd construction from a technical sense.  That happened less frequently as I read the series so perhaps her editor is paying closer attention.  I'm currently on the fourth (hmm, maybe make that the sixth) (Amazon link) book in the Kitty Norville series by Carrie Vaughn.  I read Kitty Goes to Washington a while ago (yes, while I was working in DC) and recently decided to read the whole series.  I was surprised by the turn of events in the third book; Ms. Vaughn is not formulaic in her writing and, obviously, I'm pleasantly entertained since I'm so far into the series.  

 I've also been reading Vicki Pettersson's Zodiac series.  When we were in Columbus, Georgia, we stopped* at The Book House and I purchased the first two books in this series.  Ms. Pettersson's story line is original - to me at least - and I'm enjoying the stories.  I don't always like the heroine as she is so self-centered and, at times, immature, but I think that is also an essential component and keeps me reading to see if this girl will break-out.  Perhaps this heroine is just a bit more "real" compared to my typical expectations of a fictional character. I definitely recommend reading this series....at least through book three which is where I've put myself on hold to give my Amazon account a breather.  

On the more serious side, I've been reading this version of Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson.  I finished it last night and I'm thinking of reading it again, soon.  I recommend it.

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Mid-way through typing this post I noticed the sun was high enough to turn the frost on the outbuildings into vapor.  Beautiful.  (That is vapor, isn't it?)  :D

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Have a lovely weekend everyone!

 

*As a traveler, I have the opportunity to sample a lot of things and one of them is used book stores.  This Georgia book store offered a very nice, yet new to me, selection of used books.  I wonder if I happen to visit there again, would have the same experience?  There were a LOT of new to me fantasy/sci-fi books on the shelves of this store.  Do readers in Columbus read and trade different books than those in Madison, Wisconsin?  Hmmm, probably just a happy circumstance....

Getting the broom out and....

*Brushing away the blog cobwebs.....*

I've found that getting adjusted to a new travel schedule, setting up and moving to POE, and a seemingly heavier work schedule took some, well, adjusting.  More adjusting than I thought but after a few weeks the schedule has been smoothing out and the psychic adjustments that DH and I have had to make are also smoothing out.  We are continuing to make changes and find more time together, quality time.  Maybe more than before, which is nice.  We didn't know we were missing that.  Anyway, I thought I would check out the blog and show you a few things that are interesting at Purling Oaks Central this weekend.

Lamb's ear has spread around my garden.  I've been harsher with it this year to contain it but I still love it for the texture and color of the leaves and the pretty lavender flowers.  

Lime thyme is flowering....along with all the other thymes.  This one does have a citrus aroma, leaning toward lime, but I think the color of the leaves may have as much to do with the name of "lime" as the fragrance.

 The black raspberries are just beginning to ripen.  Fortunately for berry production, we've been getting rain.  As I type this it is raining---of course, I am also wondering what the rain will do to my flight schedule today.  No big worries though.  I'm reading Nora Roberts' Kindred in Death in paperback and have a book or two available on the iPad.  

Yes, iPad.  I gave in to my inner geek and bought one with 32 gig - wifi only.  I really like it and found that I don't miss having the 3GS service.  My back up plan, should I need constant wireless access, is to buy one of the wireless access points I can carry in my purse or pocket so it can be used for multiple devices.  I'm not at that point yet.  I like that the screen is large enough to actually *see* something and I can stream Netflix over the wireless at the apartment.  

Blue on the Rock on an early summer Wisconsin day:

 

Have a great Sunday and a very good week!

 

  

Saturday news bits

I have no organized thoughts for you all this morning so here's some random this Saturday morning.

• Yesterday was a lovely day in Wisconsin.  The sky was blue with few clouds and the high temperature was in the low 50s.  Perfect.  I had an early (7:30 AM early) hair appointment for a trim so there was no sleeping in.  My body clock thinks of time based on eastern zone, at least at the beginning of the weekend, so I was wide awake anyway.
• I still have the cough.  It isn't so wracking but I will be very pleased when it disappears.  Soon, I hope.  Today, yes?
• I need to look up Kansas on iTunes.  Charlie FM was playing one of their tunes yesterday and I had a pleasant flashback.  
• I saw this article this morning.  Parallel universe theories fascinate me.  Yes, I am also a fan of Quantum Leap.
• The rest of the weekend looks like the weather will be great.  I'm ready!  There is only a small chance of rain later today.  I want to open all the windows and give the house an airing out.  
• I'm also getting the itch to work on doing some organizing and drawer-cleaning, so to speak.  I better take advantage of the itch while I have it!
• No, I haven't purchased an iPad.  Yet.  I'm waiting for the 3G version to come out.  :D
• Although I am still waiting for official paperwork, I'll share that I received and accepted the job offer.  So, the job I've been working on/at/in(?) will continue with me.  (insert happy dance)  There has been a lot of discussion at Chez Purlingoaks about the pluses and minuses of accepting the position.  Ultimately, we decided it is best to be happy and this job contributes greatly to my happiness.  So when I am home, I won't be the grumpy and irritable person I had been a year ago.  That is good for everybody.   I'll soon be looking for a home away from home base in DC and continuing to add to my frequent flyer account.
• My number two nephew will start college at Harvard this fall, which is so very cool and we are all proud of him.  I'm glad I'll be on the east coast, too.  :D

That's it for the random today.  Happy Saturday!

Good things Sunday

Look!  Yummy, beautiful socks from Cookie for my birthday.  They arrived in Friday's mail at the best time for me since I was feeling a bit blue.  I immediately pulled the plain old regular wool store-bought socks off my feet and pulled on the yummy goodness in yarn from Cookie.  Instant good feelings.  And, whether there was chocolate in that package or not, I'll not admit to.  Cookie told me she knit them in Cascade 220 and the pattern is (ravelry link)  Saxony.  Thank you, Cookie, you have excellent timing.

I'm flying to DC today in order to be there for Monday morning meetings.  It is a nice (hopefully) direct flight and I should arrive there in time to see the NSO Pops Happy Holidays concert at the Kennedy Center.  I'm meeting a co-worker and we're having dinner before the concert.  This week will be a full one and I'm looking forward to enjoying vacation starting Friday through the beginning of the New Year.  

Yes, it is a Happy Chris-Moose!  :D  

Happy Sunday! 
 

Halloween Saturday!

Happy Halloween!  I'm very fond of fall and pumpkin decorations as anyone who has looked at my stash of needle punch projects can testify.  I also happen to be owned by four cats, of which, (where's my grammar-checker?) three are black.  Well, that was random.  I guess this will be a random generated post today.

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In the theme of holiday gruesomeness, I've had some mysterious tiny cuts/wounds lately that bleed far more that I would have expected.  I suppose they are kind of like shaving cuts that continue to bleed but ewww.   I think I'll lay in a supply of Hello Kitty Band-Aids.  Because what great amount of blood wouldn't be stopped cold by the goodness of Hello Kitty!?  Am I right?  :D  I thought so.

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However, before the minor gruesomeness set in, I got a bonus visit with Stacey and her honey, Texas!  I was in Dallas for work and they made sure they were in Dallas, so we had a very fun Monday evening together.  There was excellent food, wine flights for tasting, dessert, fun and unexpected conversation (at least from Texas' perspective, I'm guessing), and the now obligatory texting while, um, well, feeling the effects of the wine and company.  I also was gifted with some early birthday presents from our Squish and Texas but I'm saving those for another post.  The mysterious Texas and our Squish make a very very cute couple. :D  Look, now I'm getting the squish.

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Speaking of texting, earlier this month I had a wonderful time in Taos, NM, with Carrie at the Wool Festival. I'm sure my memories of the festival are colored because we had two days of laughing, talking, eating, and shopping together there, but I do highly recommend going to the Festival.  The setting in Kit Carson Park is lovely, the vendors were numerous and friendly, eye candy was plentiful, the food was good, there was live music played throughout the day, and there was even a Ravelry tent set up where we could sit and knit in between shopping forays.  Yes, there was actual knitting!    

The Bug and Squeak (and their lovely Friday and Saturday babysitters) came along with Carrie.  They're delightful and just melted my heart.  Baby boy softness and scent are so delicious and Bug's hugs were so sweet.  Yes, I could just eat them both up.  We really have to work on that transporter beam because face time with friends is so good.  [ Carrie, I'll post a trivet photo soon.  Really.  :D  ]  Just look at this goodness....although I was a little afraid to touch the fleece in the bag after that look.  :D

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Taos is a beautiful although touristy place.  Wilson found, caught and released cutthroat trout north of Taos and says he would like to go back again next year.  

We also visited the Taos Pueblo.  We took the guided tour, enjoyed some fry bread, and purchased some fresh bread baked in the earthen ovens at the Pueblo like those in this photo.  

This post is long enough and I think TypePad is going to be a bit obnoxious with the placement of my photos, so I'll complete this will be a (not so) random finish.  I'm so fortunate to have Wilson and to have such good friends to share life with.  Happy last day of October!

Friday Full Moon on Saturday

Last night's rising full moon.  The moon never seems as big in a photo as it does when I'm looking at it directly. 

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The weather has been lovely this week in DC and now at home.  It was so nice, I was inspired to actually go walking after work on Thursday.  Fancy that!

 

 

The DC photos were taken with my iPhone.  I walked the Mall almost to the Capitol building and then back to my hotel.  I'll be home for a week and a half for teleworking and whooping it up, as Wilson calls it, with Stacey (and Nora and Beverly and......).  Friday is a meet-up with Nora and we'll be at the Wisconsin Wool and Sheep on Saturday, including the Ravelry after-party.  I am really looking forward to Stacey's visit.

There's been some knitting, too.  I think this not-hot-but-still-plenty-of-sunshine weather is good for me.  

Happy Saturday!

Saturday's this and that

To borrow a phrase, "...I'm a bad blogger."   However, I'm here now with some general this and that stuff for this post.

• I realized on Friday that I was actually a walking zombie the previous day.  I'm doing such a good job at ignoring the travails of travel that I didn't recognize I should have pulled the covers over my head and called it a day Thursday morning.  It was a rough travel week.  I think I spent 14 hours traveling including waiting time in airports on Monday (which included two tries at the runway in a lightning storm, obviously one try was successful) and 9 hours on Wednesday.  Mental note:  If this happens again, don't try to "power" through any fatigue, it won't be productive.
• Friday, however, was productive and today is starting out that way.  I watered the new landscaping, washed most of the windows on the south side of the house (not at well as Wilson, but light comes through now), cleaned the bird bath, gazing globe, and statuary; started a load of laundry, and all this before coffee.  I may take a nap this afternoon, though.
• I have two ripe tomatoes as of Thursday afternoon.  Yippee!  BLT salad, here I come.
• Wilson has been Up North for a few days with Tom, the best man at our wedding, fly fishing for muskies and other various fishing.  He'll be home late tonight.
• As mentioned, the front yard is getting a make-over, including a new sidewalk.   
• There are some interesting flowers in the woods.   
• The stream is still flowing although not with the vigor that Spring supplies.  It changes with the seasons, providing a new source of water for the local wildlife, a home for minnows, and more food for the birds and animals that like aquatic snacks.   
• I hope to go gather some more berries. 
• Happy Saturday.  It is Saturday, isnt' it?

Food and a plan

The weekend has flown, as usual.  I arrived home just before midnight after driving through a thunderstorm Thursday night.  I think the delayed flights, thunderstorm driving, and sleep deficit colored my weekend in a way I would rather not repeat. 

Anyway......here's some of the fun stuff from this weekend.

Food!  Pork Lettuce Wraps

I used a recipe by Molly Katzen as a catalyst but I was pretty "free-form" to arrive at our dinner Saturday.  Boneless porkchops cubed and cooked then sauted with minced carrots, celery, scallions, garlic, cilantro, and bean sprouts.  Yum.

I won't linger on saying I still have some *more* frogging to do on the Simple Yet Effective Shawl.  I think I can safely say that I'm going to make sure I get better sleep in the work weeks to come.

In the spirit of Summer of Socks 2009, I started some socks for Wilson using Magic Loop and Cascade.

I used this method of casting on that I found while nosing around in Ravelry.  I'm not an expert but it is pretty slick.  These socks will be staying home this week but following me on vacation next week.  (Wheee!  VACATION!!!!) *ahem*  However, this week Icarus and the SYES are coming with me for my knitting pleasure. 

Here's the plan this weekL  Work, get to the hotel, walk for about an hour, eat dinner, call Wilson, knit, and sleep.  Shower and repeat.  No television.  I repeat.....no television.  I'm blaming it for my reduced sleep levels.  I know, I know, *I'm* responsible for pushing those buttons on the remote ....but if I don't turn it on I won't know if there are never-before-aired NCIS episodes being shown.  Right?   There will be some ipod Touch surfing/blog reading, too, assuming the wireless connection is functioning. 

Happy late Sunday night!