Quote of the Day

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." Steve Jobs

Word of the Day: "Wordstipation"

Wordstipation: (n.) A condition suffered by writers when what they want to write is all there in the writer's head, but the words just won't come out onto the page.

As far as I know, I am the first person ever to have used this word, but I won't be so arrogant as to claim ownership of it exclusively. It's a word, and it should be used.

Bobby Andonov - Australia's Got Talent

Last night, we recorded Australia's Got Talent 1st Semi Final and watched it back over lunch today. I have got a few favourites at the moment, and 15 year old, Bobby Andanov is one of them. He's also pretty popular with the judges. Brian Macfadden (Westlife) declared himself "A fan" when Bobby finished his semi final performance.

I've posted the video of Bobby's Audition, and his Semi Final appearance. You can judge for yourselves.

Bobby Andonov Australia's Got Talent Audition (Hallelujah)

Bobby Andonov Australia's Got Talent 1st Semi Final (Heartless)

Two pics from today

Today was Labor Day and Sandra and I went to her mum's place for lunch. We had a delicious lamb roast with veges and for dessert, this...

Strawberries with custard and cream in a brandy snap bowl with chocolate flake.

On the way to lunch, I needed to stop at the supermarket to pick up some items, and we went into town to see if Woolworths was open. It wasn't, but the local IGA which is just across the road was open. So where did IGA put their specials of the week sign?

Only an Aussie could be this cheeky!

Song Meme

suggested by Testube

"If you could select one song to best describe what kind of day you are having, what would that song be?"

Well, since I only just got up, I haven't had much of a day, as yet. The coffee I had for breakfast was good, though. :) That's always a good way to start the day.

The song that is stuck in my head at present is "If" a cover that Damien Leith has done on his Album: Catch the Wind.

If a picture paints a thousand words, then why can't I paint you?

Why this particular song is in my head at present, I don't know, but it is in Damien's voice, so that's not a bad thing. For those who don't know Damien won Australian Idol back in 2006 and I've been following his career ever since.

He's also a writer with one book to his credit so far:One More Time.

Despite the musical sounding title, the story isn't really about the music industry. It is a very interesting tale about a young man who suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I bought the book when it was released not long after Damien's leap to fame as Australian Idol.

Anyway, all of that does nothing to explain why that particular song from his album is stuck in my head this morning. Perhaps, I am just obsessed with Damo! *g*

On the writing front, the current WIP has begun to progress again after a brainstorming session with my faitful shotgun, Iris last night. I'd gotten hung up on a plot point but she helped me to work through it.

It's now officially past the 50,000 words mark with maybe another 10k needed to finish it.

I'm excited!

ANZAC Day

In Australia, April 25th "ANZAC Day" commemorates the sacrifices of the men and women who have served The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in various wars over the years. It is a public holiday and many people turn out to honor the memory of the fallen in dawn services and by attending parades. It is probably one of the busiest days of the year for our RSL (Returned Soldiers' League) Clubs as men and women get together to raise a glass in memory of bygone days and battles.

On this ANZAC Day 2010, I would like to take the opportunity to remember and to thank all those men and women who sacrificed their lives, to ensure our continued freedom.

The National Library of Australia holds many archives and articles from both the first and second World Wars, many of them 'on the scene' accounts of famous landings and battles. I thought that I would post an excerpt from one article here.

Between the first landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25 April 1915 and the evacuation which began eight months later in December, some 43,750 allied soldiers lost their lives. At least 85,000 Turkish soldiers died.

The casualty figures were small compared to the later catastrophic losses in France and Belgium but nonetheless devastating for families at home as the true extent of the losses began to emerge.

The Australians had been training in Egypt, where the name Anzac, for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, was adopted. Some 18 000 of them had sailed from Albany in the south of Western Australia on 1 November 1914 expecting to disembark in England. Canadian troops had already arrived in England and the British were unable to accommodate the Australians-and New Zealanders-who were instead re-directed to Egypt. There they received their unexpected orders to go to Gallipoli-their first battle orders-following the failure of British and French naval assaults on Turkey in the Dardanelles.

Read On...

At the setting of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them. Lest we forget.

Frustrating Friday

I had one of those days, today. You know...when you just should have stayed in bed.

It started off with getting a chain email that annoyed the heck out of me and which I ranted about for about ten minutes. I mean, this thing hit me before I'd even finished my coffee!

Anyone who knows me, knows that you don't annoy the dragon before she's had her morning coffee, or if you do, it's at your own peril! So anyway, once I got that out of my system, I settled down to pay some bills. For some reason, I hesitated before logging into my internet banking account, and decided to run anti-spyware software first.

Thank you, Universe for making me think of that. The result was that I had a Banker Trojan on my system. As trojans go, this is one of the worst you want to find. It's a key stroke monitor which is cleverly designed to mine--you guessed it, internet banking details!

My partner, who is self-admittedly anal, never logs on to her banking website, without running anti-spyware...me? Notsomuch. *wince* It's just lucky that some instinct warned me to do so this morning. Still, the result sent me into a bit of a tail spin and since we were going to town to do our grocery shopping anyway, I decided to go to my bank and change my log in details, just to be on the safe-side.

This resulted in something nifty. When I told the girl that I'd had a trojan on my computer and wanted to change my internet log in info, she asked if I had a "token".

...

Seems a token is a little electronic gizmo that the bank provides (free of charge) which you can use to generate a random code anytime you make an online transfer or payment. Neat! No one can move funds from my account online without that code.

Makes me feel a little bit more secure.

So after doing the shopping we came home and I googled for how to get rid of this thing. The results of that search gave me a headache and I decided to go take a nap...yes, I know, avoidance is not the greatest way to deal with things, but that's what I did.

When I got up, I was cranky, because I knew I still had that damn thing to deal with. I also needed to cook dinner. So I got a bit...loud and got into a short, but heated discussion with Sandra. *frown*

Anyway, it ended up my eldest daughter's partner offered to step me through the removal process for the trojan--only to discover that it had obviously already been killed by my anti-spyware program as not a trace of it could be found!

So, now the computer is cleaned up, immunized, and has had a virus scan run for good measure and all is right with the world once more, thanks to a lovely (and undeserved) coffee made for me by Sandra, and a Petit Ecolier Biscuit.

These are wonderful! I hadn't seen them since I was a kid, when our English Nanny...yes, we had a Mrs. Gardiner for a little while, used to have them and offer one occasionally as a reward for beingexceptionally good! They're imports--French and I think Mrs. G. probably had them sent to her from England at great expense back in the 60's so it was generous of her to share them sometimes.

Apparently, according to this blog, they're also good for making S'mores with. I might have to try that sometime, although it would be an expensive exercise!

So that's my Friday. How's yours?

Frustrating Friday

I had one of those days, today. You know...when you just should have stayed in bed.

It started off with getting a chain email that annoyed the heck out of me and which I ranted about for about ten minutes. I mean, this thing hit me before I'd even finished my coffee!

Anyone who knows me, knows that you don't annoy the dragon before she's had her morning coffee, or if you do, it's at your own peril! So anyway, once I got that out of my system, I settled down to pay some bills. For some reason, I hesitated before logging into my internet banking account, and decided to run anti-spyware software first.

Thank you, Universe for making me think of that. The result was that I had a Banker Trojan on my system. As trojans go, this is one of the worst you want to find. It's a key stroke monitor which is cleverly designed to mine--you guessed it, internet banking details!

My partner, who is self-admittedly anal, never logs on to her banking website, without running anti-spyware...me? Notsomuch. *wince* It's just lucky that some instinct warned me to do so this morning. Still, the result sent me into a bit of a tail spin and since we were going to town to do our grocery shopping anyway, I decided to go to my bank and change my log in details, just to be on the safe-side.

This resulted in something nifty. When I told the girl that I'd had a trojan on my computer and wanted to change my internet log in info, she asked if I had a "token".

...

Seems a token is a little electronic gizmo that the bank provides (free of charge) which you can use to generate a random code anytime you make an online transfer or payment. Neat! No one can move funds from my account online without that code.

Makes me feel a little bit more secure.

So after doing the shopping we came home and I googled for how to get rid of this thing. The results of that search gave me a headache and I decided to go take a nap...yes, I know, avoidance is not the greatest way to deal with things, but that's what I did.

When I got up, I was cranky, because I knew I still had that damn thing to deal with. I also needed to cook dinner. So I got a bit...loud and got into a short, but heated discussion with Sandra. *frown*

Anyway, it ended up my eldest daughter's partner offered to step me through the removal process for the trojan--only to discover that it had obviously already been killed by my anti-spyware program as not a trace of it could be found!

So, now the computer is cleaned up, immunized, and has had a virus scan run for good measure and all is right with the world once more, thanks to a lovely (and undeserved) coffee made for me by Sandra, and a Petit Ecolier Biscuit.

These are wonderful! I hadn't seen them since I was a kid, when our English Nanny...yes, we had a Mrs. Gardiner for a little while, used to have them and offer one occasionally as a reward for beingexceptionally good! They're imports--French and I think Mrs. G. probably had them sent to her from England at great expense back in the 60's so it was generous of her to share them sometimes.

Apparently, according to this blog, they're also good for making S'mores with. I might have to try that, sometime although it would be an expensive exercise!

So that's my Friday. How's yours?

Having a 'blonde day'

Seriously, from the moment I got out of bed, this morning, I should have known it was going to be one of those days. I've been exhibiting symptoms of a pending blonde day for a few days now. You know, forgetting what was said to you, five seconds ago, forgetting the most elemental things on your mental shopping list at the pharmacy, forgetting what day it is...just blonde moments, in general.

So, I should have been more alert this morning when I got up and couldn't decide whether it was Wednesday or Thursday when I had, just seconds before, received a txt on my phone from my partner who was at uni--where she onlygoes on Thursdays.

But no. I sallied forth into the kitchen oblivious.

First, I put the kettle on for my iced coffee... okay it was pepsi, but I was trying not to let on that I occasionally drink a can of pepsi max first thing in the morning!

Then, I got a papercut, opening the box of instant oats. Any sane person would have quit right there. Not me! I kept right on going.

Mixed some bran in with the oats, added (too much) water, put it into the microwave oven and then cheerfully set the oven on full power and clocked up 90 seconds. Simple.

Uhuh, tell that to the woman who had to clean up the resultant mess when the damn stuff boiled over and caked itself like some kind of gelatinous blob of evil onto the oven turntable. That was when I remembered that 70% power is quite sufficient to cook the instant oats, thank you very much. *sigh*

And that's not even getting into the email debacle that I'd unwittingly set myself up for before going to bed last night!

If you want me? I'll be in my bunk!

Tarot and Writing

One of the things I forgot to mention after my trip to Rockhampton a couple of weeks ago, was the gorgeous gift my sister gave to me while I was there. I don't know how I could have neglected to tell about this, but there you go it's BLASS (Brain like a sieve syndrome).

The cards are an early birthday gift from my sister and the deck is The Dragon Tarot by Nigel Suckling.

They're gorgeous cards to look at, and sweet to work with.


Back of Cards

I fell in love with them the minute I touched them, they just have a beautiful 'vibration' to them.

I've done a little work with them the past few nights, using them to brainstorm ideas and outline a novel I want to write after I finish my current WIP.

I did a course in "Tarot for the Writer" last year and find this a brilliant way to unlock my creativity and inspire me to think outside the box.

I don't do tarot readings for real people, but I have done them for characters. In fact, my novel Hunter's Dawn: Laying the Ghosts was inspired by a tarot spread which I did for the main characters.

If you'd like more information about "Tarot for the Writer" the course I did is run by Tarot by Arwen. It was an interesting course and has been helpful to me in my writing since I did it.

Anyway, back to the cards. The imagery on them is utterly gorgeous and they handle better than any tarot deck I own. I think these will become my favorite set!


Ace of Pentacles

As a tool for creativity, I think Tarot works, because of the randomness of turning over a card to see what is depicted. It could be kind of like the method some writers employ of rolling a dice, or drawing a plot device out of a hat. Plus you get the mystical magical feeling that tarot cards impart to the whole deal.

I've also recently purchased a book by the title Tarot for Writers by Corinne Kenner which I am looking forward to receiving in the mail. Anything to keep those creative synapses firing!

So, thanks to my Sis, I have got a deck of cards that just sizzles with creative energy whenever I touch it, and hopefully, that will inspire many a plot point to come!

You can find more information about all the cards, books, and courses mentioned in this blog by following the links below!

Hunter's Dawn: Laying the Ghosts

The Dragon Tarot by Nigel Suckling

Tarot by Arwen

Tarot for Writers

Differences of Opinion

Yeesh, I seem to be having one of those days--or evenings, depending on your perspective. I have not set out to deliberately cross swords with, or offend anyone today, but so far I can count three distinct incidences where it seems I have done so.

Might be best if I just shut my mouth and write for the remaining few hours and avoid anymore flying bullets or snapping teeth that clash together an inch away from the end of my nose. O_O

Actually, one of the incidences was more of a debate than a disagreement, and I thought I would share it here.

One of my author pals and I had a lively debate earlier this evening on the subject of reviewing books.

My friend is of the opinion that writers ought not to review other writer's works and I think that it is fine for any reader (writer or otherwise) to offer their opinion of a book, that's what a review is, basically and whilst I don't call myself a 'professional' reviewer, I don't see anything wrong with reviewing or giving an opinion about another writer's work

I don't think that anything I say could really influence sales of a book, but my friend thinks that it is unfair for a writer--unless they have won the nobel prize for literature, to criticise a work and possibly cause a decrease in sales with their opinion.

Q4U: What do you think? Can anyone review a book, or should it be left to 'professional, qualified' reviewers?

Review: Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland

Some readers may find the following review too 'spoilery.'

Writing and daydreams

Well, it seems like my slave driving muse is well and truly back from vacation mode. I finished chapter nineteen of The Colt, last night and the muse is already whispering in my ear about ideas for chapter twenty.

Meanwhile my lazy streak seems to be alive and well too. I've been daydreaming today about a mini vacation...yeah, I know I just got home from one, but I've got a yen to see Cairns, or Townsville, maybe both. I'm getting good at this solo vacation thing, although it would be nice if someone would  go with me, but everyone I know who might possibly travel with me is either too far away, too busy with work, too broke, (not that I am rich by any means) or too busy with studies. Hmmm.

So if I want to see more of Australia (and I do!) then I will just have to travel solo.

I wonder when mosquito season in Tropical Queensland ends, or at least lulls--'cause, even though the thought of tropical beaches, white sand, blue water and all of that appeals to me, at the same time, Dengue Fever could put a real damper on my vacation.

I figure I need at least 5-6 months for my bank account to recover before I can consider it seriously, so that will give me time to research and might even allow enough time for the current dengue outbreaks to settle.

Ah day dreaming...tis a wonderful distraction!

The Colt

31133 / 50000 words. 62% done!

Mindfulness

Yesterday, I spent the better part of the whole day in bed, suffering from pain that was very much self-inflicted. I'm not looking for sympathy here. I should have been more mindful of what I was doing.

Mindfulness is something that I find acceptable, noble, and worth commiting myself to, but when it comes to actually being mindful I don't often get it right. For those who might not know what I mean when I speak of mindfulness, here are a few definitions of the term:

Definitions of Mindfulness

"Bringing one's complete attention to the present experience on a moment-to-moment basis." (Marlatt & Kristeller)

"Paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally" (Kabat-Zinn).

"The non-judgmental observation of the ongoing stream of internal and external stimuli as they arise." (Baer)

"Awareness of present experience with acceptance." (Germer, Segal, Fulton)

One way that I have mostly mastered this art of being present to experience on a moment-to-moment basis, is in what I eat. When I weighed 120kg (260#), I decided that I wanted to lose weight. To do that, I had to learn to be aware, moment-to-moment, of what I was eating. I had an added incentive to learn this mindfulness about eating, so it was pretty easy. I started by keeping a food diary and writing down every little thing I put into my mouth. This brought me to the awareness of what I was doing with relation to food, and taught me, very quickly where I was going wrong, and how to correct it. The end result being that because I was aware of my eating, I lost 54kg (118#). So, Mindfulness works. You can't get much better proof than that.

The reason for losing the weight, was health related. I have gallstones, so cutting fat from my diet, and from my body seemed like a good thing to do. It is a good thing to do. In the time I've been working at being mindful of my eating, I have had only rare, and mild attacks of gall stone pain.

So, to get back to the beginning of this post: Yesterday I had a gall stone attack. Why? Because over the weekend, I forgot to be mindful of my eating. This wasn't anyone's fault, but my own. Ergo, self inflicted.

But it was a good reminder to me about being mindful, of watching and monitoring myself moment-to-moment and being aware of how, and what I eat.

Now, if only I could find a way to get myself to be mindful in other ways.

Do you practice mindfulness? How did you train yourself to be aware?

Retrobricks

One of the things I love most about being a writer is the fun things you learn or revisit when researching for a story. Tonight's fun Du Jour is Retrobricks--old style cell phones.

The first call ever made from a cell phone was made back in 1973 when Dr. Martin Cooper of Motorola placed a call to his main rival Joel Engel, Bell Labs head of research.

Motorola was first to make a cell/mobile phone commercially available in the United States. It was the Motorola DynaTAC 8000x and was first approved for distribution within the USA in 1983.

Sad though it may seem, I can remember seeing people using these. They retailed in the USA for $3,995USD! ( I didn't own one!)

According to another site I discovered, there were 7000 people in the USA in 1984 who owned a cell phone but sales rocketed from there on until today, where annual cell phones sales number in the billions!

It's not difficult to see, though, why these things were and are, called bricks. Compared to the sleek, slim little models we see today this thing is just a monster, and apparently had the capacity to fry a human brain, according to one site I read. I can believe it. What kind of radiation was this thing putting out?

I can remember when using my own cell phone--I got my first one in about 1990--left me with a strange taste in my mouth afterward if I used it too long, and it also would make my ear hot!

So I did all this research to decide whether it would be pheasible to have either of my protags in The Colt, or anyone they know, own a cell phone. I've decided that given the price range and the very small number of sales at the time when the novel is set, they probably didn't. It certainly makes things interesting when you're writing a story and someone can't just pull a cell phone out of his pocket to make or receive a call.

Just for fun and comparison, here is a picture of a typical cell phone in 2010



Come on now, play nice. Just because it's an iPhone doesn't mean it's not real. *g*

If you'd like to read more about the first cell phone, you can go here. You might even like to buy yourself one! Only 149GBP!

To Love and To Cherish

To Love and To Cherish
an anthology of lesbian love and marriage

Editors: Beth Wylde, Lara Zielinsky
Format: Trade paperback
ISBN: 978-1-60054-431-2

Love is universal. Marriage is... not. But it should be.
It is a matter of civil rights and equal protection.

Evoking the importance of equality for everyone, To Love and To Cherish, showcases fourteen tales of passionate love and heartfelt devotion between women. The writers of SapphicPlanet and loveyoudivine bring you these diverse tales about the many forms of lesbian love and yes... marriage.

From their proposals through to the big day, and the many sweet and sexy loving days between them, these women will sweep you along and make it known that... marriage matters.
Proceeds from the sales of this anthology benefit the non-profit organization Marriage EqualityUSA. The authors, editors, and publisher are not associated with MEUSA, but wished to support their work with this contribution.

To Love and To Cherish will release in trade paperback on February 14th.

After Proposition 8 was passed in the United States, I think I went into shock for a few days. It seemed almost impossible that the world could progress far enough that an African American was elected President, and yet, allow a proposition that discrimminates against a group of people based on a part of themselves which cannot be changed to gain favor.

When I heard about a proposed Anthology to raise money for Marriage Equality, I knew I couldn't miss the opportunity.

Equal rights affects us all no matter where in the world we are. I readily put my name into the mix of authors working on stories for To Love and To Cherish.

My partner and I held our commitment ceremony at our home in November 2006, at which my eldest sister made a speech in which she said: "Love is arbitrary, it is not governed by the laws of man."

My story "This Magic" is included in Volume 3 of TLTC "Lives and Wifes" and reminds us that not only is love outside of the laws of man, but it also transcends time and mortality. My character, near the end of her life, reflects on the magic of the love she shared with her beloved partner and conjures that magic once again with her devoted memories.

___________________

Excerpt:

My sisters fuss around me, checking that the rug is spread across my knees and adjusting the collar of my floral blouse to sit just so. Molly sets a cup of tea on the small outdoor table beside me and Emily hands me the novel I have been reading. I really don't mind if I never finish the book. My mind is on other things of late. I spend my days sitting in our garden while my mind roams the worn paths of the past. Our garden bursts with the magic of spring. Color and fragrance, verdant life. You always said spring was your favorite season. But then, I am sure I can recall times when you'd proclaim every season your favorite. It was life and living things that you loved. Yes, you proclaimed every season your favorite, at least once.

I smile at that thought. My tea grows cool, ignored as I let my mind carry me back to a bright summer's day in this same garden--can it really have been forty years ago? It was our 'wedding day.' A wedding in name and in our hearts, but not sanctioned by the law.

Ha! What need had we for the law? We had our love--an arbitrary thing, not governed by men. I blink in the sunshine and I am there, carried back across the years in a magical moment.

You're there, too, waiting to greet me. I look at you across the green expanse of lawn, your hair shimmering gold in the sunshine, your lips curved in a gentle smile of invitation as I make my way slowly through the garden to
meet you.

My heart thrills at the sight of you, as it has from the first moment I saw you in this same place a year before. As I recall that, I hesitate for a moment, my footsteps faltering by a fraction. Has this all happened too quickly? Have we made a rash decision? Then you smile at me and my heart is made sure by the love light in your eyes. I step forward boldly, knowing this time, this day, this very hour, is the perfect setting and the right moment. The breeze tousles your golden hair as I reach to take your hand in mine and we walk onward together toward our future. I glance at you, catching your eye, and a secret smile passes between us as we move through the scented garden to the decorated arbor that awaits.

___________________

“To Love and To Cherish” is available at www.loveyoudivine.com

The full book free read – http://tinyurl.com/ydmw7eg
Volume 1: On Bended Knee – http://tinyurl.com/yao9ukx
Volume 2: With This Ring – http://tinyurl.com/y9mx73v

Volume 3: Lives and Wives -http://www.loveyoudivine.com

EBooks are also available from All Romance e-Books:

Volume 1: On Bended Knee – http://tinyurl.com/y9f9jos
Volume 2: With This Ring – http://tinyurl.com/y8mhpt3
Volume 3: Lives and Wives – http://tinyurl.com/ydzq528

New Release: The Toy Shop

I have just rereleased a short story of mine which has been out of print for a little while, at smashwords.com. The beautiful cover was designed by Zathyn Priest.

The Toy Shop

By
Meg Leigh

Published at Smashwords.com


Blurb:

Sianna drives past the shop every day on her way to and from work. The window display, ever changing and ever challenging, draws Sianna's attention until she is helpless to resist it's magical allure and steps into a world of heady pleasure within Adria's Toy Shop.

Buy your copy today!

This is what I call a worthy cause!

Stealing my Heart Anthology

Authors Against Copyright Theft has an Anthology due to release from Total E-Bound very soon. It is an anthology of M/M short stories.

All proceeds from this book's sales are going to a fund that will be used to
directly target book thieves.
You can read more here:
http://nicennaughtyauthors.blogspot.com/2010/01/stealing-my-heart.html

I am proud to be a member of Authors Against Copyright Theft and to promote this wonderful Anthology!

Coming Releases, and Stuff

My energy and vibrations have been very low this last little while. I have not felt that I could be bothered doing anything much, not even posting to my blog. Hence the silence, broken only by pulses, or answers to featured questions. (Note for those getting this via other feeds, a pulse and a featured question are exclusively xanga.com so, if you're not following on xanga, you would have just had silence).

I have not been writing, either. Just sleeping, eating, reading and the occasional meditation session thrown in. I don't know that it has improved a whole lot, either, but at least I felt motivated to post a blog today.