I'm trying to blog or whatever regularly, but sometimes it's hard because nothing exciting happens for days on end in my life! *LOL* Which, you know, I'm okay with except that I've got nothing interesting to blog about. But, this is part of my getting my mojo back, so...
I could go on a rant about the latest uproar in Romancelandia or even the latest uproars, because there always seems to be a couple of them going at any given time. I could weigh in on the way the Puppy People have ruined the Hugo Awards in SciFiLandia, but all I know is that the creepy old white men are feeling threatened and hence have fucked shit up. Then there's the whole Kelly Ripa/Michael Strahan controversy, but I think I said all I need to say on the matter for now on Twitter.
So, let's see... I'm reading a good book right now. The second in a fantasy series. The Providence of Fire by Brian Staveley. Juicy epic fantasy. I know it's good because I have to make myself put it down at the ends of chapters so that I get about my chores and stuff. :)
I've decided that I want to crochet a blanket. It's a Ripple Blanket. I want to use cotton yarn. I have a wee bit that I bought to make wrist warmers with that I've been practicing on and I like how it works and I like the feel of it when it's done, so that's what I want to go with. I'm going to head out to Michaels this week to hunt up enough to actually make a start. Not sure what colours I'll go with - I'll have to see what they have. This way, I can do my cross stitch during the day when the light is better and I can crochet at night when I'm not sitting on the computer.
And let me finish tonight's entry by saying that I'm ready for a little bit of warmth. I'm ready for days with temps in the high teens and nights in the low teens. This single digit crap has quite worn out its welcome with me.
Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts
Monday, 2 May 2016
Monday, 8 December 2014
Monday Morning and I'm Blogging...
This is me trying to blog every now and again about something other than the books I've read. :) I don't know that I've got anything interesting to say, but... what the hell. Gonna try.
So, yesterday afternoon and evening, I mainlined (via Netflix) the 5 episodes of the TV series The Fall out of the UK. DAMN, it was good. I watched the first 3 eps in the afternoon and then the last 2 after Once Upon a Time (PLEASE let this Frozen plot be DONE DONE DONE). The series stars Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan and is quite honestly one of the most compelling things I've seen in a long while. I am not really a fan of either of those actors, BTW. Never was an X-Files fan and ever since Dornan signed on to do 50 Shades of Crap, my lip tends to curl in his direction. *LOL* I know, it's not fair and rather small-minded, but I can't help it! But even though I am not a fan, man, can these two act! Well the whole cast can, but these two are front and centre and quite fantastic.
This series is set in Belfast and so very, very dark. There are a few different plot lines, the main one being that of a serial killer. Gillian Anderson portrays the police inspector come north to 'help out' the Belfast force with one of the murders. Dornan plays the killer. And that's not a spoiler, it's revealed from the get-go. This murder also ties into another plot arc about cops on the take and the internal workings of the Belfast police department. There's also a whole current of comment on the devaluation of women in today's society as the police investigate these murders as well as follow the Dornan character in his day to day life as a bereavement counselor.
Now, unlike American cop shows, this one moves slowly and there are no bursts of explosions and gunfights and stuff like that, so the feel is quite different. Felt a lot like the UK Line of Duty or Luthor, to be honest. That type of show. Anyway, if you like good good TV and can deal with intense and dark, give this show a watch. Series 2 (as they call them across the pond) is playing now and sadly it's almost done. It's showing on Bravo up here in Canada, so maybe I can find it On Demand or it will show up on Netflix really soon.
In other news, I started reading my Christmas novels and stories. I started with Sleigh Ride by Heidi Cullinan and read the first 3 chapters last night. It was like coming home, I have to say. I love Heidi's writing and this felt like slipping on a pair of the most comfortable and warm slippers.
Today, I might put up the Christmas tree. Well Michael will put it up and put the lights on and then I'll do the decorating. I will post pictures whenever it gets done. :)
Let's see... what else can I natter on about? Well, there's talk of there being a snowstorm tomorrow, but looking at the weather forecast, it only seems like we're going to get a normal snow fall. Between 5 - 15 cm of the white stuff. Which is like... 2 - 6 inches for you non-metric type folk that might possibly be reading this.
There's a bit of a snit happening in the book world I frequent, the usual suspects ragging on an author for not totally focussing on every last aspect of racism and bigotry in a historical romance. It's called critical reading. Personally, I read to relax and when I read romance, it's to enjoy the unfolding relationship between two people. Yes, in the period under question there was much racism, classism, bigotry, narrow-mindedness... all that bad stuff. And these are all represented in the book, but the main focus is the romance... and well... I just think they, the critical readers, are harping on a little too much about a lack of representation of racism and how one of the main characters is a total racist. I also don't understand how a person can absolutely LOVE the book and then turn around and pillory the author for not addressing the things they thought should be addressed. And as a corollary to this... people wonder why so many authors are wary of writing anything diverse or outside their own (straight, white) experience. Because of fear of being raked over the coals in just this manner, that's why.
Anyway, that pissed me off over the weekend.
I'm mulling over yet another novel idea. Something to do with Christmas and fae-types and a specialty shop... we'll see. The nasty natters mentioned above are no help whatsoever. I must learn to not give them purchase in my brain. Once I figure out how to do that. *LOL*
And now, I need another cup of coffee and my breakfast of bagel and cretons. I've earned it, I think!
This series is set in Belfast and so very, very dark. There are a few different plot lines, the main one being that of a serial killer. Gillian Anderson portrays the police inspector come north to 'help out' the Belfast force with one of the murders. Dornan plays the killer. And that's not a spoiler, it's revealed from the get-go. This murder also ties into another plot arc about cops on the take and the internal workings of the Belfast police department. There's also a whole current of comment on the devaluation of women in today's society as the police investigate these murders as well as follow the Dornan character in his day to day life as a bereavement counselor.
Now, unlike American cop shows, this one moves slowly and there are no bursts of explosions and gunfights and stuff like that, so the feel is quite different. Felt a lot like the UK Line of Duty or Luthor, to be honest. That type of show. Anyway, if you like good good TV and can deal with intense and dark, give this show a watch. Series 2 (as they call them across the pond) is playing now and sadly it's almost done. It's showing on Bravo up here in Canada, so maybe I can find it On Demand or it will show up on Netflix really soon.
Today, I might put up the Christmas tree. Well Michael will put it up and put the lights on and then I'll do the decorating. I will post pictures whenever it gets done. :)
Let's see... what else can I natter on about? Well, there's talk of there being a snowstorm tomorrow, but looking at the weather forecast, it only seems like we're going to get a normal snow fall. Between 5 - 15 cm of the white stuff. Which is like... 2 - 6 inches for you non-metric type folk that might possibly be reading this.
There's a bit of a snit happening in the book world I frequent, the usual suspects ragging on an author for not totally focussing on every last aspect of racism and bigotry in a historical romance. It's called critical reading. Personally, I read to relax and when I read romance, it's to enjoy the unfolding relationship between two people. Yes, in the period under question there was much racism, classism, bigotry, narrow-mindedness... all that bad stuff. And these are all represented in the book, but the main focus is the romance... and well... I just think they, the critical readers, are harping on a little too much about a lack of representation of racism and how one of the main characters is a total racist. I also don't understand how a person can absolutely LOVE the book and then turn around and pillory the author for not addressing the things they thought should be addressed. And as a corollary to this... people wonder why so many authors are wary of writing anything diverse or outside their own (straight, white) experience. Because of fear of being raked over the coals in just this manner, that's why.
Anyway, that pissed me off over the weekend.
I'm mulling over yet another novel idea. Something to do with Christmas and fae-types and a specialty shop... we'll see. The nasty natters mentioned above are no help whatsoever. I must learn to not give them purchase in my brain. Once I figure out how to do that. *LOL*
And now, I need another cup of coffee and my breakfast of bagel and cretons. I've earned it, I think!
Monday, 1 December 2014
Christmas Clothes
So it's December 1st, time to dress the blog in its Christmas finery. I went a little retro this year instead of shiny and sparkly.
I'm reading my The King's Deryni slowly, savouring it because there's a part of me that fears it may be Katherine's last one. Once I have finished, I'll get into my Christmas reading, first of which will be Heidi Cullinan's Sleigh Ride.
I have almost finished the Christmas shopping. This coming weekend will see the tree go up - we always wait until after my birthday which is this Wednesday. Then I shall wrap the prezzies and put them under the tree to taunt the boy.
I'm also going to try and blog about more than the books I read because God knows, I do do more than that in a day! *LOL* For instance, today I did some tidying in my bedroom - you know how those mountains of un-put-away clothes grow and grow. Well I put some of it away today. Also stashed away some purses. I also cleaned the kitchen - yes, I know, excitement abounds. *LOL*
I haven't posted any hotties lately... so let me rectify that. I'm going to post a pic of a new fave of mine, Eoin Macken, who starred in this summer's Night Shift. He also played Gwaine in Merlin and just last month released his first novel, Kingdom of Scars. (which was great, BTW. I loved it!) This is a still from one of his latest roles in the indie movie The Wedding Invitation.
I'm reading my The King's Deryni slowly, savouring it because there's a part of me that fears it may be Katherine's last one. Once I have finished, I'll get into my Christmas reading, first of which will be Heidi Cullinan's Sleigh Ride.
I have almost finished the Christmas shopping. This coming weekend will see the tree go up - we always wait until after my birthday which is this Wednesday. Then I shall wrap the prezzies and put them under the tree to taunt the boy.
I'm also going to try and blog about more than the books I read because God knows, I do do more than that in a day! *LOL* For instance, today I did some tidying in my bedroom - you know how those mountains of un-put-away clothes grow and grow. Well I put some of it away today. Also stashed away some purses. I also cleaned the kitchen - yes, I know, excitement abounds. *LOL*
I haven't posted any hotties lately... so let me rectify that. I'm going to post a pic of a new fave of mine, Eoin Macken, who starred in this summer's Night Shift. He also played Gwaine in Merlin and just last month released his first novel, Kingdom of Scars. (which was great, BTW. I loved it!) This is a still from one of his latest roles in the indie movie The Wedding Invitation.
Monday, 28 October 2013
The Book Vixen: Bloggiesta Mini-Challenge: Back Up Your Blog!
I don't want to lose this info, so the best way to do that is to reblog it!
The Book Vixen: Bloggiesta Mini-Challenge: Back Up Your Blog!: Jackie at Farm Lane Books Blog did a Bloggiesta Mini-Challenge on this very topic a couple years ago. It’s a great and informative post t...
The Book Vixen: Bloggiesta Mini-Challenge: Back Up Your Blog!: Jackie at Farm Lane Books Blog did a Bloggiesta Mini-Challenge on this very topic a couple years ago. It’s a great and informative post t...
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