Gillian Polack's Blog, page 134
December 15, 2012
gillpolack @ 2012-12-16T14:37:00
I danced last night and today I'm most definitely paying. It was so worth it, however. I had to sit out at one stage (I had to sit out at several stages, but that that one stage I had to sit out 5 dances) and so I took charge of the raffle and was useful in my sitting.
My little plum puddings were attacked with much vigour and I didn't have to take any home.
I did all my favourite dances and caught up with a couple of friends I haven't seen for years. "I knew you'd be here tonight," said R, "I haven't thought of you in years and last week I said to myself, Gillian will be there next week."
Later he assumed that when I said I'd left the public service and was writing (for it really is years since we've seen each other) that this meant I was self-publishing. I find it interesting that no-one assumes the same thing of lawyers or plumbers. I suspect it's partly because many Australians are far happier with the idea of writers as entrepreneurs than as writers as artists. It does denigrate traditionally published writers still (though less as time passes and alternate publishing models are more accepted), and I am not sufficiently of an entrepreneur to be good at self-publishing.
These days, some of the best writers are getting their own books out there. Yesterday Glenda Larke told me that my favourite work of hers, Havenstar, is an ebook - she gave up on getting it reprinted traditionally and issued it herself. KJ Bishop just emailed me to let me know that her awesome new book of short stories is out on Amazon, too. I was very lucky to have beta-read that one and am anxious to re-read now the book is out. The cover gives a fine sense of how she sees her own work, which is a bonus of author-produced volumes. And there then are the Book View Cafe mob, who put out totally gorgeous work. I like their approach better (ie it's something I could do), for they marry very different skills together and the author doesn't have to be entrepreneur - it's enough to put lots of work in and share one's talents and be part of the group.
And now I've lost the plot. I'm dreaming about books by le Guin and
sartorias
and
desperance
and Bishop and Larke. I'm too tired to think in a straight line. It was so worth it, however.
My little plum puddings were attacked with much vigour and I didn't have to take any home.
I did all my favourite dances and caught up with a couple of friends I haven't seen for years. "I knew you'd be here tonight," said R, "I haven't thought of you in years and last week I said to myself, Gillian will be there next week."
Later he assumed that when I said I'd left the public service and was writing (for it really is years since we've seen each other) that this meant I was self-publishing. I find it interesting that no-one assumes the same thing of lawyers or plumbers. I suspect it's partly because many Australians are far happier with the idea of writers as entrepreneurs than as writers as artists. It does denigrate traditionally published writers still (though less as time passes and alternate publishing models are more accepted), and I am not sufficiently of an entrepreneur to be good at self-publishing.
These days, some of the best writers are getting their own books out there. Yesterday Glenda Larke told me that my favourite work of hers, Havenstar, is an ebook - she gave up on getting it reprinted traditionally and issued it herself. KJ Bishop just emailed me to let me know that her awesome new book of short stories is out on Amazon, too. I was very lucky to have beta-read that one and am anxious to re-read now the book is out. The cover gives a fine sense of how she sees her own work, which is a bonus of author-produced volumes. And there then are the Book View Cafe mob, who put out totally gorgeous work. I like their approach better (ie it's something I could do), for they marry very different skills together and the author doesn't have to be entrepreneur - it's enough to put lots of work in and share one's talents and be part of the group.
And now I've lost the plot. I'm dreaming about books by le Guin and
sartorias
and
desperance
and Bishop and Larke. I'm too tired to think in a straight line. It was so worth it, however.
Chanukah day 8
On the eighth day of Chanukah, my true love gave to me...
8 antacids
7 flames-a-burning
6 kids-a-playing
5 flasks of oil
4 chocolate bars
3 greeting cards
2 spinning tops
And a latke.
8 antacids
7 flames-a-burning
6 kids-a-playing
5 flasks of oil
4 chocolate bars
3 greeting cards
2 spinning tops
And a latke.
December 14, 2012
gillpolack @ 2012-12-15T15:20:00
In lieu of intelligence you can have pictures. My menorah in creative mode, and 1/4 of the food I'm taking to the party tonight (in preparation).
The baby puddings were my aunt's approach to religious confusion. When she was asked to bring something Christmassy she made these and was applauded for the vast effort she went to. The recipe is straightforward. Buy one very cheap dark Christmas cake. Crumble it. Moisten it with a mixture of orange juice and rum (although I used port this year). Shape into bite-size miniature puddings. Decorate with almonds and glacé cherries. Make a fake brandy sauce with alcohol and icing sugar (warm it to get the right texture). Dollop bits on top. And that's it. Total cost, about $6 for 40. Although I used too much port this year and my puddings are a little damp. Auntie Joan's were better than mine.
The baby puddings were my aunt's approach to religious confusion. When she was asked to bring something Christmassy she made these and was applauded for the vast effort she went to. The recipe is straightforward. Buy one very cheap dark Christmas cake. Crumble it. Moisten it with a mixture of orange juice and rum (although I used port this year). Shape into bite-size miniature puddings. Decorate with almonds and glacé cherries. Make a fake brandy sauce with alcohol and icing sugar (warm it to get the right texture). Dollop bits on top. And that's it. Total cost, about $6 for 40. Although I used too much port this year and my puddings are a little damp. Auntie Joan's were better than mine.
gillpolack @ 2012-12-15T12:35:00
I had something terribly intelligent to say today, but I found a recording of a 1984 Canadian comedy team doing an SF spoof and my thinking went very much astray. I found myself contemplating how to use the tape alongside "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "Mars Attacks" and...It's a great pity* I don't have a class that needs any of this, alas, so it doesn't matter what films Canadian comedy turns upside down and what politics come into it and how the skit reveals the underlying narratives that a lot of writers used in the 1980s for these subjects, I can't use it just now. Maybe one day...
Tonight is my dance end of year party and I have rustled a skirt out of hiding, for my group has its party piece and it's Russian and I need a skirt. The skirt is too long, but I can't find one that's shorter and still easy to dance in and not winter-weight. I used to have one, and a nice embroidered blouse, but they were part of the burgulation.
Now I'm listening to the Royal Canadian Air Farce, also vintage 1984. This tape will be going out, alas, but it's a lot of fun and good to hear again.
My kitchen drain is still causing problems. I wonder if there's a cosmic link between my kitchen drain and my fibro?
*This phrase no longer has the force it had in the nineteenth century. I'm not certain that this is a loss.
Tonight is my dance end of year party and I have rustled a skirt out of hiding, for my group has its party piece and it's Russian and I need a skirt. The skirt is too long, but I can't find one that's shorter and still easy to dance in and not winter-weight. I used to have one, and a nice embroidered blouse, but they were part of the burgulation.
Now I'm listening to the Royal Canadian Air Farce, also vintage 1984. This tape will be going out, alas, but it's a lot of fun and good to hear again.
My kitchen drain is still causing problems. I wonder if there's a cosmic link between my kitchen drain and my fibro?
*This phrase no longer has the force it had in the nineteenth century. I'm not certain that this is a loss.
Chanukah day 7
On the seventh day of Chanukah, my true love gave to me...
7 flames-a-burning
6 kids-a-playing
5 flasks of oil
4 chocolate bars
3 greeting cards
2 spinning tops
And a latke.
All the presents are posted except Sharyn's, which may end up being a Chanukah-and-everything-else gift and arriving around New Year. All the latkes are eaten. Only one more night to go. Mind you, this last night has lots of candles (and they're all blue!) so Chanukah goes out in style.
7 flames-a-burning
6 kids-a-playing
5 flasks of oil
4 chocolate bars
3 greeting cards
2 spinning tops
And a latke.
All the presents are posted except Sharyn's, which may end up being a Chanukah-and-everything-else gift and arriving around New Year. All the latkes are eaten. Only one more night to go. Mind you, this last night has lots of candles (and they're all blue!) so Chanukah goes out in style.
December 13, 2012
gillpolack @ 2012-12-14T17:22:00
A somewhat vile day has been redeemed. I found myself in the local library about an hour ago, singing a rousing chorus of HR PufnStuff with four librarians. It was not planned.
Latke recipe!
I'm torn between saying "At last!" and "I made it before the end of Chanukah, at least." Happy Chanukah, all the friends who requested this - enjoy!
GILLIAN’S POTATO LATKES
Ingredients:
3 medium potatoes
1 small-medium onion
1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda or baking powder
1 egg
enough flour to bind mixture (keep a bit extra nearby, to reduce fluid build-up while cooking)
salt and pepper
Method:
Grate everything that you can (not the eggs, flour or leavening). Mix all ingredients together. Fry (deep or shallow, depending on how healthy you feel) in a good vegetable oil. Serve hot with sour cream.
Recently I've increased the potatoes and onions and left out the leavening. This works well, but fried in more oil (dry-fried or very shallow-fried.. not so good). I also have been known to replace salt with fresh lemon juice and some chili, or just with tabasco.
GILLIAN’S POTATO LATKES
Ingredients:
3 medium potatoes
1 small-medium onion
1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda or baking powder
1 egg
enough flour to bind mixture (keep a bit extra nearby, to reduce fluid build-up while cooking)
salt and pepper
Method:
Grate everything that you can (not the eggs, flour or leavening). Mix all ingredients together. Fry (deep or shallow, depending on how healthy you feel) in a good vegetable oil. Serve hot with sour cream.
Recently I've increased the potatoes and onions and left out the leavening. This works well, but fried in more oil (dry-fried or very shallow-fried.. not so good). I also have been known to replace salt with fresh lemon juice and some chili, or just with tabasco.
Chanukah day 6
On the sixth day of Chanukah, my true love gave to me...
6 kids-a-playing
5 flasks of oil
4 chocolate bars
3 greeting cards
2 spinning tops
And a latke.
6 kids-a-playing
5 flasks of oil
4 chocolate bars
3 greeting cards
2 spinning tops
And a latke.
December 12, 2012
gillpolack @ 2012-12-13T15:13:00
I am now free from looming anger for a bit, I hope. The bit of it I was being silent about, was my anger with my body. Now I've sat down and worked out what's wrong, I can deal: I have a quiet resurgence of the fibromylagia. I can reduce symptoms and make sure I rest enough and I've already apologised to friends for basic housework not done and for engagements broken. It means I can't dance for a bit, but I've decided to do the end of year party as my swan-song (and stay in bed the whole of the next two days if I must!).
The situation with fibro is like the Kings of Narnia, once one has it it is always with one, but for me, most of the symptoms have been in abeyance for a while and it was a rude shock when they returned. As I was explaining to someone the other day, I may have six chronic ailments, but they don't all manifest at once and I tend to forget the ones that are currently in hiding. I can work regardless, if I take due care. If one must have 6 different types of things fighting for body control, then I have the right six. The allergies (which I count as one) is the big, not the debilitating daily grind ailments. I'm also fortunate in that I appear to have good organisational skills, so even when I totally lose most of it, I can still get by.
Anyhow, this also explains why my timesense is all shot to pieces this week. I'm normally so careful about dates and deadlines.
I can and have worked through fibro. I'm very lucky and for me it's not such a big deal as long as I'm careful. I'm particularly lucky this time year, for the quiet time I was deploring just a few days ago means that it matters to absolutely no-one if I have to spend a day or three in bed. I'm doubly lucky, for my fibro symptoms respond quite quickly to treatment. The burning feeling in the veins is much diminished already (now that I've fixed my tablet regime to allow for it and found my magic cream) and my brain fog is a bit less. I'm very lucky to have the capacity to control it like this. This doesn't mean I can run marathons - I will still need fair amounts of bedrest, for instance - but it means that I don't have to work so very hard to maintain some quality of life. I can, for instance, get those parcels to the post office tomorrow and do my bits of other messages as long as I rest before and after and as long as I don't rush things.
I was really worried when I was too tired to stand up and make a cuppa, but now that the burning is less, I have enough energy to make a cuppa, and that changes everything. I consider myself exceptionally fortunate in that I have a treatment regime that isn't too hard and that helps significantly.
What I'm not looking forward to doing is explaining this to friends. Anything with chronic fatigue is too often met with "Have you tried this?" or "Why don't you do some exercise?" or "You drink too much coffee." It's an illness and it's under control. Like so many other people I know who have chronic illnesses, I'd rather only get suggestions from people who know it personally. It took me 3 years to find out the treatment that reduced my symptoms initially, and I was totally delighted to find that they still work now (and that I can get rid of one more symptom - yay for arthritis cream!) but I tried so many things and the doctor tried me on so many things and I'd rather not rehearse all this.
If any of my friends are worried - don't be. I'm not, after all. If you are desperate to do something, offer me shopping trips or theatre or something, and be gentle (sometimes I might have to just stop for a few minutes, for instance). More than anything, though, don't worry. I have a mild form of fibromyalgia and it takes much management, but I can still do quite a few things (with care). I wrote a novel last time I had a relapse (the cursed novel, in fact - oh dear, that poor novel is doomed), in between the brain fog.
So that's my news. Later, there will be latke recipes and stuff.
The situation with fibro is like the Kings of Narnia, once one has it it is always with one, but for me, most of the symptoms have been in abeyance for a while and it was a rude shock when they returned. As I was explaining to someone the other day, I may have six chronic ailments, but they don't all manifest at once and I tend to forget the ones that are currently in hiding. I can work regardless, if I take due care. If one must have 6 different types of things fighting for body control, then I have the right six. The allergies (which I count as one) is the big, not the debilitating daily grind ailments. I'm also fortunate in that I appear to have good organisational skills, so even when I totally lose most of it, I can still get by.
Anyhow, this also explains why my timesense is all shot to pieces this week. I'm normally so careful about dates and deadlines.
I can and have worked through fibro. I'm very lucky and for me it's not such a big deal as long as I'm careful. I'm particularly lucky this time year, for the quiet time I was deploring just a few days ago means that it matters to absolutely no-one if I have to spend a day or three in bed. I'm doubly lucky, for my fibro symptoms respond quite quickly to treatment. The burning feeling in the veins is much diminished already (now that I've fixed my tablet regime to allow for it and found my magic cream) and my brain fog is a bit less. I'm very lucky to have the capacity to control it like this. This doesn't mean I can run marathons - I will still need fair amounts of bedrest, for instance - but it means that I don't have to work so very hard to maintain some quality of life. I can, for instance, get those parcels to the post office tomorrow and do my bits of other messages as long as I rest before and after and as long as I don't rush things.
I was really worried when I was too tired to stand up and make a cuppa, but now that the burning is less, I have enough energy to make a cuppa, and that changes everything. I consider myself exceptionally fortunate in that I have a treatment regime that isn't too hard and that helps significantly.
What I'm not looking forward to doing is explaining this to friends. Anything with chronic fatigue is too often met with "Have you tried this?" or "Why don't you do some exercise?" or "You drink too much coffee." It's an illness and it's under control. Like so many other people I know who have chronic illnesses, I'd rather only get suggestions from people who know it personally. It took me 3 years to find out the treatment that reduced my symptoms initially, and I was totally delighted to find that they still work now (and that I can get rid of one more symptom - yay for arthritis cream!) but I tried so many things and the doctor tried me on so many things and I'd rather not rehearse all this.
If any of my friends are worried - don't be. I'm not, after all. If you are desperate to do something, offer me shopping trips or theatre or something, and be gentle (sometimes I might have to just stop for a few minutes, for instance). More than anything, though, don't worry. I have a mild form of fibromyalgia and it takes much management, but I can still do quite a few things (with care). I wrote a novel last time I had a relapse (the cursed novel, in fact - oh dear, that poor novel is doomed), in between the brain fog.
So that's my news. Later, there will be latke recipes and stuff.
gillpolack @ 2012-12-13T10:39:00
On the fifth day of Chanukah, my true love gave to me...
5 flasks of oil
4 chocolate bars
3 greeting cards
2 spinning tops
And a latke.
5 flasks of oil
4 chocolate bars
3 greeting cards
2 spinning tops
And a latke.
