So there is a local blog that has a list of other blogs that it is linked to. And they pretty much sum up the area I live in:
Most are dead (because there's so very little to do around here);
Those that are still alive are either
a)about hockey
b)about Christianity
And that pretty much sums this area up. If you don't like hockey and aren't a Christian . . . well, you're not going to have much to talk about with the locals.
I like living here because the country is so damn beautiful (if you've never seen the wind whisper through miles and miles of prairie grass, you're missing out) and the hunting is good (I may not be republican, but I LOVE my guns). But other than that--P.U! You can shop here. You can go to church here (and the two coincide--our stores don't open until noon on Sundays, by law, so that they don't interfere with church). You can go to the local art show put on by schoolchildren-- but other than that, there isn't much.
That's what makes this month and next such a delight for me-- there finally IS stuff going on. This month is the writer's conference (but not in the traditional sense; you won't meet editors from Doubleday here and pitch them your idea); and next month is the local Pow-wow. Little islands of "something to do" to tide me over until deer season in the fall.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Always read the fine print
This is a great example of why you should always read the fine print before signing up for something.
I belong to one of those "point earning" groups that lets you earn points by reading emails and filling out surveys. You can then turn the points in for gift cards to Amazon, Walmart, etc. It's a great program and I've been a member for years.
Lately, however, it seems like they've been getting stingier with the points. All the emails used to be: "read the email, click on the link, get 5 points; sign up for the offer that follows and get (between 250-5000) points." But lately, at least half (if not more) of the emails only offer the points if you sign up for the offer that follows (in other words, you don't get 5 points just for reading the email).
Worse yet, some of the sign-ups are really invasive. For example, I got one for a survey a few days ago. It sounds innocent enough: sign up with this organization that collects opinions, get points for every survey you complete. Sounds good, right? Especially since I love to share my opinion about everything, even when I'm not asked, lol. But then I read the fine print:
"(Company name omitted) is different from other online communities - we measure your behavior as well as your opinions. (Company name omitted) utilizes a piece of software stored on your computer that anonymously transmits aspects of your Internet browsing behavior so we can understand the sites, products and services you interact with. (Company name omitted) will only contact you regarding research -- we will NEVER send you SPAM or pop-up advertising."
So they want more than my opinion. They want to install software on my computer that will track me. But hey, at least they aren't going to send me spam. They'll track my every move and then sell my data to other companies that will send me spam, but at least they won't send me spam.
Needless to say, I didn't sign up. I don't even like toolbars and cookies and stuff because of the tracking potential. I'm certainly not going to volunteer for tracking.
I belong to one of those "point earning" groups that lets you earn points by reading emails and filling out surveys. You can then turn the points in for gift cards to Amazon, Walmart, etc. It's a great program and I've been a member for years.
Lately, however, it seems like they've been getting stingier with the points. All the emails used to be: "read the email, click on the link, get 5 points; sign up for the offer that follows and get (between 250-5000) points." But lately, at least half (if not more) of the emails only offer the points if you sign up for the offer that follows (in other words, you don't get 5 points just for reading the email).
Worse yet, some of the sign-ups are really invasive. For example, I got one for a survey a few days ago. It sounds innocent enough: sign up with this organization that collects opinions, get points for every survey you complete. Sounds good, right? Especially since I love to share my opinion about everything, even when I'm not asked, lol. But then I read the fine print:
"(Company name omitted) is different from other online communities - we measure your behavior as well as your opinions. (Company name omitted) utilizes a piece of software stored on your computer that anonymously transmits aspects of your Internet browsing behavior so we can understand the sites, products and services you interact with. (Company name omitted) will only contact you regarding research -- we will NEVER send you SPAM or pop-up advertising."
So they want more than my opinion. They want to install software on my computer that will track me. But hey, at least they aren't going to send me spam. They'll track my every move and then sell my data to other companies that will send me spam, but at least they won't send me spam.
Needless to say, I didn't sign up. I don't even like toolbars and cookies and stuff because of the tracking potential. I'm certainly not going to volunteer for tracking.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Doing the Happy Dance
I just received word that one of my stories was accepted for publication. It’s a real cause for celebration--not just because every acceptance is cause for celebration, but because of the circumstances leading up to it!
I started writing in 2006. Within a couple of months, I started getting acceptances. I wrote for all of 2006 with amazing results--I received plenty of rejections, but my acceptances-to-rejections ratio was very encouraging. Maybe I really was a writer after all.
But then I wrote a short for a fantasy anthology. They rejected the story as not being quite right for the anthology, but they loved the story and the character. They said that if I ever turned it into a novel, they’d like to see it. So that’s what I did. But something happened in the editing process. I don’t know if it’s just because I hate editing and editing something the size of a novel was too overwhelming or if it was because I had never written a fantasy before (horror is my usual genre). I got writer’s block. Actually, writer’s block isn’t strong enough to describe what I had. Writer’s coma or dead muse are better descriptions. I got halfway through editing and everything froze.
I spent the next year to year-and-a-half drifting. There were some other things going on in my life that weren’t working for me, either. I decided I had to do something to shake things up. So I went out and got myself a job.
After a year and a half of working the job, I decided to see if my muse was ready for resurrection. And it seems to have worked. I started in January. I’ve written two new stories and revised three old ones (only one of the new ones has been sent out--the other is still in revision). Of the four sent out, one has been accepted so far. I feel like I’ve finally gotten my groove back.
Of course, being the doubting Thomas that most writers are, I won’t consider my groove officially back until I get a new story accepted (the one accepted is a revised old one). Then I’ll really feel like I haven’t lost my touch. But still--even getting an old one accepted is a major milestone and a sure sign to keep pounding at the keyboard.
I started writing in 2006. Within a couple of months, I started getting acceptances. I wrote for all of 2006 with amazing results--I received plenty of rejections, but my acceptances-to-rejections ratio was very encouraging. Maybe I really was a writer after all.
But then I wrote a short for a fantasy anthology. They rejected the story as not being quite right for the anthology, but they loved the story and the character. They said that if I ever turned it into a novel, they’d like to see it. So that’s what I did. But something happened in the editing process. I don’t know if it’s just because I hate editing and editing something the size of a novel was too overwhelming or if it was because I had never written a fantasy before (horror is my usual genre). I got writer’s block. Actually, writer’s block isn’t strong enough to describe what I had. Writer’s coma or dead muse are better descriptions. I got halfway through editing and everything froze.
I spent the next year to year-and-a-half drifting. There were some other things going on in my life that weren’t working for me, either. I decided I had to do something to shake things up. So I went out and got myself a job.
After a year and a half of working the job, I decided to see if my muse was ready for resurrection. And it seems to have worked. I started in January. I’ve written two new stories and revised three old ones (only one of the new ones has been sent out--the other is still in revision). Of the four sent out, one has been accepted so far. I feel like I’ve finally gotten my groove back.
Of course, being the doubting Thomas that most writers are, I won’t consider my groove officially back until I get a new story accepted (the one accepted is a revised old one). Then I’ll really feel like I haven’t lost my touch. But still--even getting an old one accepted is a major milestone and a sure sign to keep pounding at the keyboard.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Water-logged
I work part-time for a large retail chain, and you would think they could afford to get the roof fixed on the store. I've worked there for almost two years, and in that time, what started as a few drips has escalated to the truly ridiculous. Now you can hardly move down some aisles for all the buckets sitting on the floor to catch drips. In one area, the leaks have become so bad and the buckets so numerous that they would actually be better off putting a kiddy pool in that spot to catch all the drips (seriously . . . there are seven or eight buckets in that one 5 foot by 5 foot section of floor). It's gotten so bad that the ceiling tiles are starting to drop. One missed me the other night by only a few feet. When it hit the floor, it disintegrated into several pieces and splattered water all over my back. And then the water running in sounded like a waterfall as it ran all over the merchandise (beccause, of course, the water had pooled up behind the ceiling tile once the foam got too sodden to absorb any more).
I don't see the situation getting any better, because we're in a rainy cycle PLUS there's probably at least six feet of snow on the roof that's melting.
And I thought the one little leaky spot in MY roof was a crisis!
If I actually get hit by one of those soggy things, I'm going to have a meltdown.
I don't see the situation getting any better, because we're in a rainy cycle PLUS there's probably at least six feet of snow on the roof that's melting.
And I thought the one little leaky spot in MY roof was a crisis!
If I actually get hit by one of those soggy things, I'm going to have a meltdown.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
OMG! Why am I always the last to know?
A little backstory is required for today's post. Some of you may (or may not) remember the movie Tremors (Kevin Bacon). What you might not know is that there were actually four movies AND a tv series on SciFi. I bet you can tell already that I'm a HUGE fan.
Anyhoo, I collected all four movies and wanted . . . no, craved and pined for the series to be released. I can't tell you exactly how long it's been-- at least five or six years since the series ran. And there were other Tremors nuts like me. I belong to a lot of horror/scifi type lists, and the discussion of "WHY WON'T THEY RELEASE THE SERIES?" popped up a lot. Finally, I gave up (and I'm assuming the others did, too, since I haven't heard any more discussions about it).
And then last night, I ended up in the Electronics department briefly. I sometimes cover the electronics break (someone has to since it involves keys), but I NEVER do on a Monday night (essentially, new releases are released at midnight on Monday's shift). Last night, the person covering the electronics break was working over in a department far away from electronics. So I, as the closest person to electronics, had to go over there and help customers from time to time. And what did I see as I was digging through a box, looking for "Precious"? TREMORS THE SERIES!!! Why, oh WHY didn't anyone tell me it was coming out?
Of course I bought it. I had to. Fate had intervened, and sent me over to paw through the new releases box for maybe the second time in the two years I've worked there on the very night that the series I've waited at least half a decade for was finally released!
And yes, I've been running around like a fool ever since. Half the store now knows about the release (as I bounded through the store with my purchase much like Steve Martin when the new phone books arrived-- a la, "The Jerk").
I'm not much of a movie/DVD person. I only watch a few shows on a regular basis. But some movies/TV series are "must haves."
So now I've got the complete "Tremors" collection.
For those of you unfamiliar with it, you're missing out. The original movie was good because it involved the sand-worm mythos (which is kind of like bigfoot-- it pops up all over the place). Movies two and three were good because they "evolved" the sandworms and focused more on Burt Gummer's character (he's my hero). The fourth movie was mediocre, as it traveled back to the days of the Old West. I didn't like it as much. But the series-- the series is where creativity soars. There's more to worry about in those hills than just some little old sandworms! And thank god the residents have Burt around to save them from all the dastardly critters (and PLANTS!!!) that crawl out of the woodwork!
You know, I picked up the first season of House this week (another of my "must haves") at a rock-bottom price, and I thought THAT was exciting-- this has totally eclipsed that.
If you haven't seen Tremors, do yourself a favor and at least rent movies 1-3. They're so much fun!
Burt quote:
(they're all stuck on a rock, trying to figure out a way to chase away the "graboid" circling them like a shark-- they decide to improvise some bombs)
Burt: "We can use long lengths of this cannon fuse to give us time."
"Canon fuse? What do you use that for?"
Burt (deadpan): "My cannon."
Another Burt quote:
The lights go dim as the creatures cut the power.
The lights roar back to life.
Burt: "Back up generator."
The lights dim again.
They roar back to life.
Burt smiles. "Back-up Back-up generator."
Anyhoo, I collected all four movies and wanted . . . no, craved and pined for the series to be released. I can't tell you exactly how long it's been-- at least five or six years since the series ran. And there were other Tremors nuts like me. I belong to a lot of horror/scifi type lists, and the discussion of "WHY WON'T THEY RELEASE THE SERIES?" popped up a lot. Finally, I gave up (and I'm assuming the others did, too, since I haven't heard any more discussions about it).
And then last night, I ended up in the Electronics department briefly. I sometimes cover the electronics break (someone has to since it involves keys), but I NEVER do on a Monday night (essentially, new releases are released at midnight on Monday's shift). Last night, the person covering the electronics break was working over in a department far away from electronics. So I, as the closest person to electronics, had to go over there and help customers from time to time. And what did I see as I was digging through a box, looking for "Precious"? TREMORS THE SERIES!!! Why, oh WHY didn't anyone tell me it was coming out?
Of course I bought it. I had to. Fate had intervened, and sent me over to paw through the new releases box for maybe the second time in the two years I've worked there on the very night that the series I've waited at least half a decade for was finally released!
And yes, I've been running around like a fool ever since. Half the store now knows about the release (as I bounded through the store with my purchase much like Steve Martin when the new phone books arrived-- a la, "The Jerk").
I'm not much of a movie/DVD person. I only watch a few shows on a regular basis. But some movies/TV series are "must haves."
So now I've got the complete "Tremors" collection.
For those of you unfamiliar with it, you're missing out. The original movie was good because it involved the sand-worm mythos (which is kind of like bigfoot-- it pops up all over the place). Movies two and three were good because they "evolved" the sandworms and focused more on Burt Gummer's character (he's my hero). The fourth movie was mediocre, as it traveled back to the days of the Old West. I didn't like it as much. But the series-- the series is where creativity soars. There's more to worry about in those hills than just some little old sandworms! And thank god the residents have Burt around to save them from all the dastardly critters (and PLANTS!!!) that crawl out of the woodwork!
You know, I picked up the first season of House this week (another of my "must haves") at a rock-bottom price, and I thought THAT was exciting-- this has totally eclipsed that.
If you haven't seen Tremors, do yourself a favor and at least rent movies 1-3. They're so much fun!
Burt quote:
(they're all stuck on a rock, trying to figure out a way to chase away the "graboid" circling them like a shark-- they decide to improvise some bombs)
Burt: "We can use long lengths of this cannon fuse to give us time."
"Canon fuse? What do you use that for?"
Burt (deadpan): "My cannon."
Another Burt quote:
The lights go dim as the creatures cut the power.
The lights roar back to life.
Burt: "Back up generator."
The lights dim again.
They roar back to life.
Burt smiles. "Back-up Back-up generator."
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Maybe I should call those guys from "TAP"
After my hubby's older dog died, I started letting the "puppy" (who's actually four years old) sleep in the bedroom from time to time because she's been so depressed over missing the older dog; a special treat, as neither dog was ever allowed in the bedroom before. One night, while my hubby was working a night shift, I woke up to her growling-- really scary, deep bass growling, totally unlike her. And when I sat up, she was staring up into the far corner of the bedroom, at the ceiling. Her hackles were up, and she had pressed herself into the opposite corner (as far away as she could get from where she was staring--and she's a German Shepherd). I was freaked out, but chalked it up to the "logical explanations" everyone gave (an owl landed on the house, a mouse was messing around in the crawl space, etc.).
Last night, it happened again while I was gone to work. It really freaked hubby out. Now, there's no access from the outside there--or anything to attract a mouse to that same spot again-- so what are the odds that a mouse would be in that EXACT same spot again (not to mention, any mouse would be stupid to get near my house-- I have several cats). Or, that the owl landed there again (we have a bunny living outside, but his burrow is on the far east side of the house, on the outside of the fence, a good forty feet away and around the corner from where my puppy was staring-- an owl wouldn't even be able to SEE the bunny there).
So what's freaking my dog out?
The only other "freaky-deaky" stuff that's ever went on is that one night a couple of years ago it sounded like something heavy walked across the roof from one end of the house to the other. It wasn't cold, so it wasn't the house settling. The mystery is that there aren't any trees nearby, so we're not sure how something (and this would have had to been a racoon-size something) could get up there and stomp across the roof. But, we chalked it up to "critters always find a way" and didn't think about it again.
Maybe my house needs an exorcism. I don't know how, since we're the first ones to live here (the house was a repo-- something happened and the original owners never even got to move in). But still-- ten years AFTER we move in, it gets haunted? I'm not even sure I believe in hauntings (haven't made up my mind about it yet). But maybe I should start wearing garlic to bed, just in case . . . or whatever scares away ghosts.
Last night, it happened again while I was gone to work. It really freaked hubby out. Now, there's no access from the outside there--or anything to attract a mouse to that same spot again-- so what are the odds that a mouse would be in that EXACT same spot again (not to mention, any mouse would be stupid to get near my house-- I have several cats). Or, that the owl landed there again (we have a bunny living outside, but his burrow is on the far east side of the house, on the outside of the fence, a good forty feet away and around the corner from where my puppy was staring-- an owl wouldn't even be able to SEE the bunny there).
So what's freaking my dog out?
The only other "freaky-deaky" stuff that's ever went on is that one night a couple of years ago it sounded like something heavy walked across the roof from one end of the house to the other. It wasn't cold, so it wasn't the house settling. The mystery is that there aren't any trees nearby, so we're not sure how something (and this would have had to been a racoon-size something) could get up there and stomp across the roof. But, we chalked it up to "critters always find a way" and didn't think about it again.
Maybe my house needs an exorcism. I don't know how, since we're the first ones to live here (the house was a repo-- something happened and the original owners never even got to move in). But still-- ten years AFTER we move in, it gets haunted? I'm not even sure I believe in hauntings (haven't made up my mind about it yet). But maybe I should start wearing garlic to bed, just in case . . . or whatever scares away ghosts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)