Book, or not... Huh...

I have been considering the the book I want to write in November.  I have a general idea, but had been sort of mentally 'floating'.  Do I want to work on something completely different?  I had a general idea for a crime type novel, but as much as I love fiction, especially science fiction, I started contemplating that some.

Hmm.  A cat.  And kids.  And an alien.

No wait, the cat is an alien!

Okay, some would argue that isn't sci-fi, but I digress...

I kept kicking this idea around, and realized it would make a really...  Not so great book.  It was too visual.  It kept tickling the back of my mind, however, and then I realized, the way I was thinking about it, was a comic.

It's not a book, it is a visual story.  I will probably draw up something, and see if I can make it work.  However, since one (or possibly more) of the characters communicates visually, not verbally, per se, I think frames well outweigh paragraphs in this case.

But I still want to write during November...

Just...

Not this.

So, I will have to do some mock ups, and see how it goes!

Well, it's March 1st.  Or one-eth, if you want to be funny.  The weather people said we have passed the normal frost date.

Uh... Huh...

I remember it snowing on April 20th before, and while it is not QUITE freezing, we awoke to this:

Just enough snow to be kind of pretty (and cold, and wet, and sloppy... Ahem).  So, I guess we shall see what the next few days foretell for Puxywhatsis Pete's predictions.  

Stupid rodent, anyway...

In the hopes that spring will eventually BE here, I planted about 25 kohlrabi in peat pots, and about 6 long season tomato plants, which are now toasting tootsies on a heat mat.  I am hoping the early start will allow early(er) harvest.  The kohlrabi are for a friend of mine, he requests them, and last year, when I had a nice row for him, and a couple set aside for me, (that I forgot to mark), I see Husband and him walk out of the garden with ALL of them.  I am going to cure that, (hopefully) this year.  I am planting green kohlrabi for said friend, and I am planting RED kohlrabi for myself.  I am also thinking of planting my kohlrabi in a planter tub, where it's in a completely different spot than the ones I am raising for him...  

Yesterday was sort of blustery, with spots of sun, then wind, rain, and snow crossways, then dark, dark, clouds.  The weather was fitting, as it was my bosses' last day.  We all came in early for a meeting with the new boss(es, they seem to work tag team for some reason...), who were the OLD bosses' boss...es.  (Okay, I hope that sentence is semi-coherent, it sounds a lot better in my head than it does on the screen...)  

So, we showed up, not quite sure what to expect.  The bosses that were leaving were not there for most of the meeting, when they did show, they were getting ready to go, picking up papers and getting things together.  The new boss introduced himself, and we had a question and answer session.  It went rather well, I have worked with the one boss before in other capacities, and he is pretty straight forward, and refreshingly, he's one that, if he doesn't know, will say, "I don't know, let's find out."  That is such a nice thing to have, rather than filling the air with stuff and nonsense, in my opinion!  

We had cake and coffee. (We also had the great Cola Caper.  I had brought in a small Coke, and another gal had a bottle of Root Beer.  The two of us are known for not drinking coffee, and usually having sodas or, in my case, tea.  There was a quart soda cup on the table, and all eyes turned to us.  We both held up our respective cups, and shrugged.  The big soda was never claimed, I suspect it might have been forgotten by a deputy when leaving...) 

The bosses didn't eat, I think it was one of those 'gut' things, neither were acting like they were hungry, big surprise...  I was sitting down, just taken a big bite of cake, when the new boss asked me about my book.  Urg.  I motioned, then managed to get the bite taken care of.  Then I told him he'd make a great waitress with that timing.  He laughed.  

He is quite interested in the idea of my writing, and has offered to look over what I have written, so I am quite pleased.  A bit nervous, too, as I am NOT a cop, and while this is true, I don't want it to be where someone in law enforcement would laugh themselves sick at my errors, either...  I worry too much, I guess.  To wit: he'd asked how much I had finished, I told him about 8-10 pages, somewhere around there, but I kept writing, then not liking what I wrote, then starting a section again, then again, and again.  He looked at me, and said, "That's what editors are for, just write."  (As did Mom, later... Do I sense a trend?) 

Then I said goodbye to them as they left, hugs all around, and I managed to get out of there without crying.  Sniffing and sounding like I was going to, but I managed to keep it together.  That was the last thing I would need, come onto my shift with 'rat eyes'.  Ick.

In other news, the new avatar is up for the month.  This month's St. Patty's picture with BTK makes me think of a cross between a WW1 Dough boy, and Alex from Clockwork Orange.

Milk, anyone?

Sorry, flying my Geek Flag again...

Husband decided that I am doing well enough losing weight, (???) that he has set a date for us to go to Alaska.  So, I have a while yet, but we have several things that need to be figured out before we can go.  Everything from passports (we need to get them), to cell phones (can we use them?), to the tea I like, (should I take it with me, or can I get it at port?) 

I still don't know if I will be down to 150, my goal, by then, but I guess it gives me a definitive "point" to strive for.  I don't think he realizes that it took well over a year to lose 20 pounds and keep it off, but I know what I need to do, and if I don't manage to break something else, I should be able to get back to regular exercise.  I am walking some, on the road, which I don't like. (One of the neighbors has a Doberman, and it does NOT like me walking past "its" house.  Why, oh, why do I seem to have dog troubles so much???  I think I was a dog catcher in a previous life...) 

I don't have any good shoes right now for walking the hill, and Husband doesn't want me to, until it dries out. A lot.  So, I walk the road.  It will do, I guess.

And The Challenge.  I managed to get a letter out most everyday the mail ran, except for about 2 or 3.  I took a lot more than 24 addresses, however, so I am still writing letters!  I found out some won't write back, after February, some will.  I think I will just finish with the ones I have left, and go from there.  That way, I know I did what I said I would do, and write the people I said I would.  I have received several responses, that was very nice, and a few that sound promising as pen friends.  And I found I really like using fountain pens.  So, I consider it a general success.

Llama is putting on a little weight, and she now knows that she is going to be fed in the chicken house.  The only problem with this is, I walk in, and have to move her out of the way, as she then stops in front of the feed barrel.  Which is where I need to be, to feed her!  This also aggravates the chickens, who seem to think they should be fed too, for some strange reason. And they don't really like playing "Dodge the llama feet".

Ah, the life of my critters.

Returning. In which I compose a blog. Or compost one...

I actually had written "compost" to begin with.  Not exactly an auspicious start, I would say.

Eh.

So, what have I been doing? Well, faire, obviously, since that's what the last (long, LOONG, LOOOONG ago) blog was about.

I finally took a make up class for the one day I had missed in the Citizens academy (cough2008coughcough), and then have been an Ambassador for a class.  Which means that I make GALLONS of coffee, for a lot of very intense young (mostly male) people.  Where I have seen several of the classes, people are chatting, interacting, and generally seem to be enjoying themselves, this group takes copious notes, and looks like there will be a pop quiz that is half their grade at the end. (One detective even commented on it during class. Only the other deputies laughed, and me.  The class took more notes.  Strange...)

I went to a fiber fest.  Husband would probably have been upset had I brought these home... Actually, I think my ride might have too, since we were in a Prius, with a baby in the back...  (But, Honey, it's yarn on the hoof!)  

I also saw several llamas.  I was surprised, there were some babies, but the only llamas for sale, were adult males.  This cutie kept flirting with me, I suspect he thought I had food in my carry bag.  Or he has a thing for plump gals making goo goo eyes at him...

 

My usual shift at the substation.  We had the computer melt down, so this month has been re-writing the newsletter from scratch, which includes digging up logos and such.  That has been a bit of a challenge.  One of the days I was there, I had a woman nearly demand I look up a license plate, because... 

She wanted to buy the vehicle in question.  (No, the Sheriff's Office, Police Department, etc. do not do this.)

I have picked quite a few vegetables, found out the kohlrabi is a hit with a friend of mine, so much so, that one day when I was gone, Husband offered several of the remaining ones to him.  Uh, Husband, THOSE WERE MINE... Sheesh.  There is a couple left, so I at least will get a little try of them...  However, I do have several cups of vegetable soup from my garden that I have frozen for winter.  Quasi-recipe, for any that want it:

Lazy Gardener's Veggie Soup.

5 cups water.

Vegetable Soup Mix (I used Knox)

Tomatoes.

Beans (I used Navy and Pinto)

Onions

Zucchini

Crookneck squash

Carrots

Cook beans until tender.  Remove skins from tomatoes and chop.  Chop all other veggies from garden.  Put in pot, simmer until tender.  Add beans, mix. Freeze.  Add Garlic powder if Husband doesn't catch you.

Like I said, lazy.  There may even have been more stuff than that, but that's what I can remember.  

I finished an Edwardian Cape and matching hat for a new baby and her older sister (pictures to come.)

Finally got some blackberries picked and, for lack of a better term, mashed.  I now have several cups of juice that Husband loves dearly on ice cream.  I now only wish I had picked more...

I also picked apples...

(Tea box for scale.)  I have most of this batch made into applesauce, and then I have some more to pick and sauce-ify.  Then I can work on my Walnut trees, if I can beat the deer, squirrels, and turkeys.  

And the rainy season is starting here, just in time for it to warm up, figuratively speaking, for Halloween.  Most costumes match the raincoats, around here...  Halloween falls on a Monday this year, I have decided if I get my act together, I might go as a hippie this year.  We shall see.  

Baby Hal has been (frantically knocking wood), doing quite well.  There seems to be some problems behind the keyboard, but it has been improving, and it certainly does much better than our TV.  Our news has almost entirely been from the computer of late, which tells you the quality of our reception here... 

I also started a Twitter account, but it looks like it will probably be as hit and miss as the regular blog.  I guess I have to realize that I have to actually WRITE something for it to show up, since I can't blog or tweet by telekinesis.  Pity, that.

I am also knitting...  A scarf or two, and a blanket, for my charities.  Some socks for myself.  A present for Mom.  A baby blanket for a different charity.  A new sweater for me.  

And I am still working off and on on my book.  Right now more in my head than on paper, but it's still in the queue, at any rate.  

That doesn't take into account the normal I have to get groceries, my spinning days, and just running around when we need something.  

Still exercising, too, Rudee is getting arthritis, so I am doing some things to supplement, as we can't walk as much.  Well, he can't anyway.  

So, I guess, perhaps I should shut up, and check some other blogs...  Certainly been away long enough! 

SHHEEEESH!

And just 'cuz, more pictures of veggies.

Time. Zoooooom, there it goes!

I thought it had been about 4 days since my last blog.  Ahem.

Not.

So, Just to let you know that I am among the land of the living...  Yon update on Le Doings.

I read all the comments.  Then tried to use my computer, which promptly committed some random blast of poo, rendering it useless for such things as GOING ONLINE.  (I am writing this at the cop shop, and Husband has said that I can use his computer when he's out in his shop.  And since he has a big order from the company he works for, I should be able to get some computer time...)  I still get emails.  That is something, I guess.  I just can't convince the computer that google.com is NOT a virus.  I have narrowed it down to my Norton program, I think, so with any luck, I hopefully shall get some sort of solution after running a restart.

Again...

I want to say that on the comments, La Shaune, your comment that there should be a knitting bag in the shape of a Tardis has given me an idea, which I hope to work on soon, and will post in the (hopefully) near future. 

Sharon, you should email me and I would see what I could do about the bag... If you don't mind a wait. :)

messymimi and Danielle, the even more annoying part, I exercised all week, and he didn't! Bah!!

Rain and Dreaming, this is the first time I have ever had dealings with a GPS, it was beginning to make me wonder what the fuss was about.  But in the city, it was a huge help, especially when I missed a turnoff...

bon bon, yes, I have found that knitting and sci-fi seem to go together.  Guess it's all that string theory, heh heh heh...

So, I have been helping at the Ren Faire site, cutting grass and weeding, putting off my garden, where I would be... cutting grass and weeding.  Life can be interesting that way, sometimes. 

My llamas... Have been very friendly with one another, all except Llama.  She just walks away from the fray, grunts, and just watches the antics.  If I don't get a cria* out of this, it won't be for lack of (Lorenzo's) trying! 

I have now had cucumbers, a few zucchinis, and 2 crookneck squash from my garden.

I have had a few tomatoes, but every one of them so far have been cracked because of all the rain we have had.  I keep thinking we could trade, give a few days of rain to some of the other states that are roasting, and they could give us about a 5 or ten degree up in temp to help with growing.  Right now, we are having weather more suited to April in this area, then August.  One bright spot, the fire danger is relatively low...

I was watching a movie, just getting into it, and our lovely digital programming got me, the signal went out.  (Insert various non-lady like words here).  I had a little bit of time before I went to the cop shop today, and went to the library.  I remembered they had videos.  I started snooping, and TA DA!  The movie that I had been watching was there.  I snapped it up, and most likely will watch it tonight or tomorrow.  Hey, I have the card, might as well use it, right? 

I was reading that if you just do the same exercising, that your body can adjust to it, and you don't lose weight as quickly.  So I have added a daily set of sit ups.  I started at 100, and am now up to 300.  It seems to take forever.  But this week I lost about 1 1/2 pounds.  So we shall see.  I keep trying to figure out how to add push ups, but so far my knee won't cooperate.  (I have no kneecap on one side, so pressing on it for long periods doesn't work.)  I might a "knee pillow" of some sort, and start with like, oh, 10 push ups, see if I go into paroxysms of agony, if not, increase.  It's one of those things that I just have to go slow.

And I am up to the 8th handwritten page on my book.  It's a start!  Few hundred to go...
Heh.

Wishing all my readers GOOD computer time,
Cat

* cria is the term for a baby llama.

The things you learn...

First, before anything else, thank you all for your thoughts and support.  I know in my head it was the best thing to get rid of a potentially diseased chicken, for the benifit of the others, but that doesn't make the heart feel better... Anyway.

I am trying to get myself into my book, as in, actually researching and WRITING it.  To wit, I have been finding out a lot about cattle brands in Oregon.  This is a relatively minor point in my book, but I want to make sure that I don't 'step on toes' if I put a specific brand.  So, what do you do when you want to use a brand?  You email the Oregon Department of Animal Health, and ask! 

I didn't know if I would get a response, but I did. (Same day, even!)  Turns out the brand I had planned on using was already taken, but presently expired. (You have to pay to continue to use a brand.)  The gal, bless her, said that since this would be for writing, and not actually attatching said brand to a cow that I own, that I should contact the Secretary of State, because she thinks it would more a matter of copyright ownership, rather than a brand, per se.  So, I have an email to the Secretary of State, we shall see...

The goofy permutations of what I thought would be a simple question!

Aaaannnd, scale day.  Ok, I am up a pound. MY FAULT.  Been nibbling too much, not salt, just nibbling.  So I need to knock that off!  (Whack!)  Anyway, on the plus side, so to speak, I have been decreasing the time I take to do my 7 rounds from an hour and a half to just over 50 minutes, and I am thinking of adding one more round, for 8. 

Rudee may not appriciate this.  He is getting to the point, he is just not excited after 6 rounds.  I am not sure how to deal with him.  He's not a young dog, so I suppose it might be that.  But right now, I think it's that "Yoo hoo, I got winter coat and it's too dang warm" syndrome.  He is a trooper, and I am trying to brush him, so hopefully he won't have too much problem. 

But dang, it is so hard to brush a wiggle!