Victoria Zigler's Blog: Zigler News, page 154
November 6, 2015
Furkid Friday - November 6th 2015
Hi humans, rodents, and anyone else reading this. This is Jenks the degu.
Guess what?
We have TV again!
We haven't really been able to watch TV since we moved to this new place at the start of the year, because it wasn't working properly. But the human caretakers finally sorted it out.
I know... Took them long enough, didn't it?
Anyway, they finally did it, so we can enjoy some TV time.... YAY!
Now, if only we could get the remote off them, and pick the shows for ourselves...
Although, I do admit they do watch some great shows. The Mummy human, for example, loves to watch shows about animals, which we think is a very good thing!
Squeak soon,
Jenks
Guess what?
We have TV again!
We haven't really been able to watch TV since we moved to this new place at the start of the year, because it wasn't working properly. But the human caretakers finally sorted it out.
I know... Took them long enough, didn't it?
Anyway, they finally did it, so we can enjoy some TV time.... YAY!
Now, if only we could get the remote off them, and pick the shows for ourselves...
Although, I do admit they do watch some great shows. The Mummy human, for example, loves to watch shows about animals, which we think is a very good thing!
Squeak soon,
Jenks
November 4, 2015
Wednesday's writing related ramblings - November 4th 2015
A few days ago, I pre-released "Degu's Day Out" via Smashwords.
I scheduled it for release on November 14th 2015, so the eBook version of it will officially be available from Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, the Apple iBookstore, and a few other eBook retailers on or soon after that date, in all formats those places offer.
Some of those places - such as Barnes & Noble, for example - offer a pre-order option, so you'll be able to pre-order it before that, if you like. That option will be available in the next few days, if it isn't already (depending on how long distribution ends up taking; it's anything from a few hours to a few days, most of the time, but not always).
The paperback will be arranged when possible afterwards.
***
Good luck to all those who have signed up for NaNoWriMo this year!
Also, good luck to those signing up for PiBoIdMo!
I knew NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) existed, but only just learned of the existance of PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Ideas Month). That's why I'm only just mentioning the latter; despite the final day to sign up to officialy participate being tomorrow.
I'm not signing up for either one this year, or even creating my own personal writing challenge, but I will share anything useful I come across on the subject throughout the month; as I've done in the past month or so with NaNoWriMo.
Like this one on how to stay motivated and write 1667 words during NaNoWriMo, and these 30 ways to gather picture book ideas for PiBoIdMo.
I scheduled it for release on November 14th 2015, so the eBook version of it will officially be available from Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, the Apple iBookstore, and a few other eBook retailers on or soon after that date, in all formats those places offer.
Some of those places - such as Barnes & Noble, for example - offer a pre-order option, so you'll be able to pre-order it before that, if you like. That option will be available in the next few days, if it isn't already (depending on how long distribution ends up taking; it's anything from a few hours to a few days, most of the time, but not always).
The paperback will be arranged when possible afterwards.
***
Good luck to all those who have signed up for NaNoWriMo this year!
Also, good luck to those signing up for PiBoIdMo!
I knew NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) existed, but only just learned of the existance of PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Ideas Month). That's why I'm only just mentioning the latter; despite the final day to sign up to officialy participate being tomorrow.
I'm not signing up for either one this year, or even creating my own personal writing challenge, but I will share anything useful I come across on the subject throughout the month; as I've done in the past month or so with NaNoWriMo.
Like this one on how to stay motivated and write 1667 words during NaNoWriMo, and these 30 ways to gather picture book ideas for PiBoIdMo.
November 2, 2015
Monday's random mutterings - November 2nd 2015 (LBE)
It's been a while since I did a proper general update type post, since I was busy posting the A-Z posts last month. So, I thought I'd do one this week, and get you all caught up on what's been going on around here.
But, first...
It will be Iggy's birthday in two days time. So... A very happy birthday to you, Iggy!
***
I'm glad my family visited the weekend they did, because the weekend after their visit was... Well... I suppose the best description for it would be to call it eventful and messy.
It started off nice enough, and we had a pleasant Saturday. Though I wasn't feeling 100%, so I took something to help me sleep. Then, in the early hours of Sunday morning, I woke up convinced I heard pouring water... Something similar to the sound a washing machine makes when it's filling itself with water... Only the water was flowing faster. As well as Kelly shouting something about exploding radiators.
Naturally, I first thought I was dreaming, or confused by being half asleep.
I wasn't.
Although, it was the hot water pipe to the bathroom sink that had burst, not the radiator. But, with them being right next to each other, and Kelly not being able to get close because of the jet of scorching hot water shooting out of the pipe, I suppose it was an easy mistake to make.
Anyway, the short version of the story is that Kelly had to wade through the hot water to turn off the hot water (there was several inches of it by the time he realized it was happening and woke me, so he burned his leg doing so). Then we had to find someone to help us get the water supply to the sink off, since we couldn't find the knob, which meant calling the landlord, since the only one of our neighbours who would answer was as clueless as us. The landlord had to come help us, which meant a bit of a drive for him, followed by several hours of the landlord running up and down the stairs with buckets of water while we tried to figure out why it rained inside unless our boiler was turned off completely, and Kelly tried to mop up the mess in our bathroom and hallway.
The chaos all started shortly before 2:30am - though how long the water had been pouring at that point we aren't sure... I know it was all fine when I went to sleep a little after midnight, but Kelly had been gaming with headphones on, so hadn't noticed it at first. It was about 5:00am before we had everything sorted well enough that the landlord could leave.
Of course, with it being Sunday, it was Monday before someone could come out to take a look, since the landlord getting the water turned off made it no longer an emergency. So, we had no hot water all of that Sunday.
The plumbers arrived bright and early on the Monday morning though.
It took them five minutes to repair the burst pipe, but took ages for them to figure out the other issue, and as they did the hallway ceiling fell in (luckily with nobody in the way). The good thing about that was, it helped them to figure out the problem.
It turned out that some idiot had done the pipe for our water so that it disappeared in to the wall, and then stopped. I'm not sure why this caused the boiler to keep wanting to send water to it, but I do know it meant the water was pouring in to the wall. It hadn't been noticed before, since they've had some issues to fix in the roof, so assumed the dampness in the hallway walls and ceiling was from that, and the person who did it had nicely plastered around where the pipe disappeared, so it looked like it was done properly when it was checked when our landlords brought the place (which was only in the last couple of years).
Once they knew what the problem was, they were able to sort out a new pipe for our water to go where it's meant to go, as well as pulling up the carpeting and flooring that was too soggy to repair, and replacing rotting floorboards so we could get to our bedroom and bathroom safely. Plus, they made sure we had hot water by the end of that Monday too.
After that it was a case of waiting for everything to dry out so the proper repair work could begin. A process that would have been much quicker if the weather hadn't turned cold and wet right before this, and hardly been dry since. Actually, if I'm honest, things still aren't dried out properly, so they have a dehumidifier set up in the hallway to try and move things along a bit.
Plus, we had to get our towels all clean again, since every single one got used to help with cleaning up the water. I washed each load twice, since the water was gross, and no way was I going to use those towels until they'd had a couple of washes! Good thing we got a dryer when we did.
Other than the building, the only thing that got damaged was my bathroom scales, which ended up under a couple of inches of water. But they weren't working too well anymore anyway, since I'd dropped them, so it's no big deal. Oh, and there was Kelly's leg, but that wasn't too bad, and healed quickly.
I have to say though... It's times like this I'm glad I rent - and only have to pay for damages we cause directly - and I'm pretty sure the landlords are very glad they have insurance!
It turned out that Kevin came for his visit after the above incident. But, thankfully, the guys did a great job of making sure things were clear and safe for me, so it wasn't an issue with us getting in and out, and I explained to Kevin about it all, so he understood why most of the hallway and part of our place is currently just bare floorboards.
***
I ended up back at the dentist at the start of October... One of my old fillings came out.
Good news though: it was a quick fix, and when the dentist checked, there were no other issues.
So maybe.. Just, maybe... I might get a bit of a break from dentists for a while? *looks hopeful*
***
I've mentioned this in passing a few times, but...
When we moved in here earlier this year, we saw that we have two cables coming in to this place for TV options: a cable for a sky dish, and a cable for an arial. Although, someone had cut the end of the arial cable.
I have a freeview box, since we couldn't have Sky where we lived last, and I was given one that had audio description and talking menus. So, naturally, we had someone put a new piece on the end of the arial cable to use that, since the repair guy for the building was willing and able to do that for free for us if we got the piece (which only cost about £1.50 - which is around $3).
Unfortunately, we discovered immediately that either the arial doesn't work properly, or the cable is damaged, so we weren't managing to get signal for most channels (and those we did get were poor quality).
This left us with two options. Either pay someone to sort the TV arial, then continue to use freeview (which means only a small selection of channels) and then sort out something like Netflix for movies, and those TV shows that air on channels freeview doesn't get. Or, since we could have it here, get Sky, which would mean someone would automatically come and sort anything that needed doing for the Sky dish or cable as part of the set-up.
The good thing with Sky is the extra channels (including a large number of movie channels, Animal Planet and all the Discovery channels, etc). The downside is the limited accessability for menus. However, since I've been using Sky since around when it was first out, I have some idea how it works, so it's usable... Just not as accessable as the special freeview box.
Anyway... To cut a long story short... We decided to get Sky.
When the guy on the phone asked me what I wanted from my Sky package, I made both him and Kelly laugh by firmly announcing that, "I want to be able to watch movies and cartoons... Oh, and Animal Planet too!"
Now I can do so, since the Sky was installed last Wednesday.
Much to the relief of the guy who came to sort it out, the cable and dish are both working well, so he just had to plug everything in. Although, I think he also changed the end piece on the Sky cable, to make sure that wasn't damaged in any way. That would have been much nicer for him than the alternative, which would have required him to be very high up during a not-so-nice day. I mean, the weather wasn't as bad that morning as it's been some days, but the wind was quite strong, and he'd have been on the ocean side of the building while quite high up, so there would have been plenty of wind coming in off the ocean at him. I know for a fact he was quite relieved to have avoided that.
So... What's the first thing I did when the Sky guy left?
Curled up on the sofa for a few hours of Animal Planet, of course! LOL!
I miss the accessable menus. But having a good choice of TV channels makes up for it.
I can't say I'm too bothered about the audio description though, since it wasn't available for most shows even on my special box, anyway... It's kind of difficult to miss what you didn't really have. I mean, I should have had it, officially, but only if the producers of the shows arranged it, which many don't seem to have bothered to do.
But, first...
It will be Iggy's birthday in two days time. So... A very happy birthday to you, Iggy!
***
I'm glad my family visited the weekend they did, because the weekend after their visit was... Well... I suppose the best description for it would be to call it eventful and messy.
It started off nice enough, and we had a pleasant Saturday. Though I wasn't feeling 100%, so I took something to help me sleep. Then, in the early hours of Sunday morning, I woke up convinced I heard pouring water... Something similar to the sound a washing machine makes when it's filling itself with water... Only the water was flowing faster. As well as Kelly shouting something about exploding radiators.
Naturally, I first thought I was dreaming, or confused by being half asleep.
I wasn't.
Although, it was the hot water pipe to the bathroom sink that had burst, not the radiator. But, with them being right next to each other, and Kelly not being able to get close because of the jet of scorching hot water shooting out of the pipe, I suppose it was an easy mistake to make.
Anyway, the short version of the story is that Kelly had to wade through the hot water to turn off the hot water (there was several inches of it by the time he realized it was happening and woke me, so he burned his leg doing so). Then we had to find someone to help us get the water supply to the sink off, since we couldn't find the knob, which meant calling the landlord, since the only one of our neighbours who would answer was as clueless as us. The landlord had to come help us, which meant a bit of a drive for him, followed by several hours of the landlord running up and down the stairs with buckets of water while we tried to figure out why it rained inside unless our boiler was turned off completely, and Kelly tried to mop up the mess in our bathroom and hallway.
The chaos all started shortly before 2:30am - though how long the water had been pouring at that point we aren't sure... I know it was all fine when I went to sleep a little after midnight, but Kelly had been gaming with headphones on, so hadn't noticed it at first. It was about 5:00am before we had everything sorted well enough that the landlord could leave.
Of course, with it being Sunday, it was Monday before someone could come out to take a look, since the landlord getting the water turned off made it no longer an emergency. So, we had no hot water all of that Sunday.
The plumbers arrived bright and early on the Monday morning though.
It took them five minutes to repair the burst pipe, but took ages for them to figure out the other issue, and as they did the hallway ceiling fell in (luckily with nobody in the way). The good thing about that was, it helped them to figure out the problem.
It turned out that some idiot had done the pipe for our water so that it disappeared in to the wall, and then stopped. I'm not sure why this caused the boiler to keep wanting to send water to it, but I do know it meant the water was pouring in to the wall. It hadn't been noticed before, since they've had some issues to fix in the roof, so assumed the dampness in the hallway walls and ceiling was from that, and the person who did it had nicely plastered around where the pipe disappeared, so it looked like it was done properly when it was checked when our landlords brought the place (which was only in the last couple of years).
Once they knew what the problem was, they were able to sort out a new pipe for our water to go where it's meant to go, as well as pulling up the carpeting and flooring that was too soggy to repair, and replacing rotting floorboards so we could get to our bedroom and bathroom safely. Plus, they made sure we had hot water by the end of that Monday too.
After that it was a case of waiting for everything to dry out so the proper repair work could begin. A process that would have been much quicker if the weather hadn't turned cold and wet right before this, and hardly been dry since. Actually, if I'm honest, things still aren't dried out properly, so they have a dehumidifier set up in the hallway to try and move things along a bit.
Plus, we had to get our towels all clean again, since every single one got used to help with cleaning up the water. I washed each load twice, since the water was gross, and no way was I going to use those towels until they'd had a couple of washes! Good thing we got a dryer when we did.
Other than the building, the only thing that got damaged was my bathroom scales, which ended up under a couple of inches of water. But they weren't working too well anymore anyway, since I'd dropped them, so it's no big deal. Oh, and there was Kelly's leg, but that wasn't too bad, and healed quickly.
I have to say though... It's times like this I'm glad I rent - and only have to pay for damages we cause directly - and I'm pretty sure the landlords are very glad they have insurance!
It turned out that Kevin came for his visit after the above incident. But, thankfully, the guys did a great job of making sure things were clear and safe for me, so it wasn't an issue with us getting in and out, and I explained to Kevin about it all, so he understood why most of the hallway and part of our place is currently just bare floorboards.
***
I ended up back at the dentist at the start of October... One of my old fillings came out.
Good news though: it was a quick fix, and when the dentist checked, there were no other issues.
So maybe.. Just, maybe... I might get a bit of a break from dentists for a while? *looks hopeful*
***
I've mentioned this in passing a few times, but...
When we moved in here earlier this year, we saw that we have two cables coming in to this place for TV options: a cable for a sky dish, and a cable for an arial. Although, someone had cut the end of the arial cable.
I have a freeview box, since we couldn't have Sky where we lived last, and I was given one that had audio description and talking menus. So, naturally, we had someone put a new piece on the end of the arial cable to use that, since the repair guy for the building was willing and able to do that for free for us if we got the piece (which only cost about £1.50 - which is around $3).
Unfortunately, we discovered immediately that either the arial doesn't work properly, or the cable is damaged, so we weren't managing to get signal for most channels (and those we did get were poor quality).
This left us with two options. Either pay someone to sort the TV arial, then continue to use freeview (which means only a small selection of channels) and then sort out something like Netflix for movies, and those TV shows that air on channels freeview doesn't get. Or, since we could have it here, get Sky, which would mean someone would automatically come and sort anything that needed doing for the Sky dish or cable as part of the set-up.
The good thing with Sky is the extra channels (including a large number of movie channels, Animal Planet and all the Discovery channels, etc). The downside is the limited accessability for menus. However, since I've been using Sky since around when it was first out, I have some idea how it works, so it's usable... Just not as accessable as the special freeview box.
Anyway... To cut a long story short... We decided to get Sky.
When the guy on the phone asked me what I wanted from my Sky package, I made both him and Kelly laugh by firmly announcing that, "I want to be able to watch movies and cartoons... Oh, and Animal Planet too!"
Now I can do so, since the Sky was installed last Wednesday.
Much to the relief of the guy who came to sort it out, the cable and dish are both working well, so he just had to plug everything in. Although, I think he also changed the end piece on the Sky cable, to make sure that wasn't damaged in any way. That would have been much nicer for him than the alternative, which would have required him to be very high up during a not-so-nice day. I mean, the weather wasn't as bad that morning as it's been some days, but the wind was quite strong, and he'd have been on the ocean side of the building while quite high up, so there would have been plenty of wind coming in off the ocean at him. I know for a fact he was quite relieved to have avoided that.
So... What's the first thing I did when the Sky guy left?
Curled up on the sofa for a few hours of Animal Planet, of course! LOL!
I miss the accessable menus. But having a good choice of TV channels makes up for it.
I can't say I'm too bothered about the audio description though, since it wasn't available for most shows even on my special box, anyway... It's kind of difficult to miss what you didn't really have. I mean, I should have had it, officially, but only if the producers of the shows arranged it, which many don't seem to have bothered to do.
November 1, 2015
Looking ahead to Thanksgiving (FD)
For Canadians, Thanksgiving happens on the second Monday of October, so it's over. But for those of you in America, Thanksgiving happens on the fourth Thursday of November, so it's a few weeks away, and you're probably busy making plans for celebrating with family and friends.
Perhaps you'll have a turkey dinner? Perhaps you're cooking for vegetarians, so want to find something involving pumpkins or cranberries to make for your guests? Maybe even both?
I actually mentioned Thanksgiving in last month's looking ahead post. Plus, I have some recipes on my website's recipe section that would work well for thanksgiving... Especially if you're looking for vegetarian options. Not to mention, of course, there are plenty of ideas and recipes all over the internet.
Don't forget... Recipes can be adapted. For example: on Friday I used the pumpkin sage sauce recipe I have to make a veggie bake, but I ignored the mention of sage and nutmeg, and instead added a pinch each of paprika and ginger. Where as yesterday, on the other hand, the only adaptation I made to the sauce was to leave out the onions, since Kelly was having some with me yesterday, and he isn't a big fan of onions (there were onions in Friday's meal, since Kelly wasn't having any). Kelly and I had the pumpkin sage sauce with pasta and cheese, if you're interested. Both times there were leftovers, so - since I know from experience that the sauce freezes just fine - I now have two full veggie bake meals, and two little pots of pumpkin sage sauce, which are safely in the freezer for when I want to use them.
Anyway... The main reason I'm actually writing this post is because Jeanie did a Thanksgiving version of her looking ahead posts a few days ago, and I thought those of you who don't follow her blog might be interested in checking it out, since Jeanie has some great ideas and tips to share with you. So... If you are interested in reading her post, then click here.
Perhaps you'll have a turkey dinner? Perhaps you're cooking for vegetarians, so want to find something involving pumpkins or cranberries to make for your guests? Maybe even both?
I actually mentioned Thanksgiving in last month's looking ahead post. Plus, I have some recipes on my website's recipe section that would work well for thanksgiving... Especially if you're looking for vegetarian options. Not to mention, of course, there are plenty of ideas and recipes all over the internet.
Don't forget... Recipes can be adapted. For example: on Friday I used the pumpkin sage sauce recipe I have to make a veggie bake, but I ignored the mention of sage and nutmeg, and instead added a pinch each of paprika and ginger. Where as yesterday, on the other hand, the only adaptation I made to the sauce was to leave out the onions, since Kelly was having some with me yesterday, and he isn't a big fan of onions (there were onions in Friday's meal, since Kelly wasn't having any). Kelly and I had the pumpkin sage sauce with pasta and cheese, if you're interested. Both times there were leftovers, so - since I know from experience that the sauce freezes just fine - I now have two full veggie bake meals, and two little pots of pumpkin sage sauce, which are safely in the freezer for when I want to use them.
Anyway... The main reason I'm actually writing this post is because Jeanie did a Thanksgiving version of her looking ahead posts a few days ago, and I thought those of you who don't follow her blog might be interested in checking it out, since Jeanie has some great ideas and tips to share with you. So... If you are interested in reading her post, then click here.
October 31, 2015
Halloween 2015
Ghosts, Zombies, Witches, And More
Ghastly ghosts and alien creatures,
Zombies and ghouls with rotting features;
Oh, what a dreadful sight!
Vicious werewolves and vampire bats,
Wicked witches with their black cats;
They'll all be out tonight.
Yes, ghosts, zombies, witches, and more,
May soon come a knocking at your door,
Shouting, “Trick-or-treat!”
But don’t you worry; it’s OK!
Each of them will soon go away,
If you give them something sweet.
© 2015
Just a little poem I wrote recently, which I thought I'd share with you today... Enjoy!
Oh, and... Happy Halloween!
Or, to any Pagan friends, family, fans, or followers... Blessed Samhain!
October 30, 2015
Furkid Friday: Halloween edition (FD)
Hi humans, rodents, and anyone else reading this. This is Joshua the degu.
I heard that Halloween is happening tomorrow.
I'm not really sure what it's all about, but I know the human caretakers do things involving eating sweet things, and attacking then eating pumpkins. Plus they talk about something called trick-or-treaters, and often watch or read scary things.
I know this because I saw it last year, and also the year before. Plus, the Kero dog told me it happens every year about this time... When he was still around, I mean.
My degu brothers and I have tried to figure it all out, so have our gerbil brothers, as well as our ratty sisters. But none of us can figure it out. Mind you, our ratty sisters wouldn't remember last year, since they weren't living with us yet, and were too little to pay attention to what the humans where they did live were up to. But they're quite smart, which is why we included them.
All we could figure out was what I already mentioned though.
Oh, and the fact the humans go around saying "Happy Halloween" for some reason.
We figure maybe we should say it too. So... Happy Halloween from the whole rodent gang.
Squeak soon,
Joshua
I heard that Halloween is happening tomorrow.
I'm not really sure what it's all about, but I know the human caretakers do things involving eating sweet things, and attacking then eating pumpkins. Plus they talk about something called trick-or-treaters, and often watch or read scary things.
I know this because I saw it last year, and also the year before. Plus, the Kero dog told me it happens every year about this time... When he was still around, I mean.
My degu brothers and I have tried to figure it all out, so have our gerbil brothers, as well as our ratty sisters. But none of us can figure it out. Mind you, our ratty sisters wouldn't remember last year, since they weren't living with us yet, and were too little to pay attention to what the humans where they did live were up to. But they're quite smart, which is why we included them.
All we could figure out was what I already mentioned though.
Oh, and the fact the humans go around saying "Happy Halloween" for some reason.
We figure maybe we should say it too. So... Happy Halloween from the whole rodent gang.
Squeak soon,
Joshua
October 28, 2015
Wednesday's writing related ramblings - October 28th 2015
Are you a writer? Not sure? Well, here are 11 signs you're a writer. I admit I don't carry a notebook and pen around anymore, or collect notebooks. But it's only because they're no good to me now I can't see... I've been searching for a good replacement since I lost my sight. I have, however, been making use of the notes feature on my iPhone since I got it... Despite my typing on that being much slower than on a keyboard. I mean, sometimes the computer is too far away, or you don't want to start it up just to jot down a short note... I'm sure any writers reading this will understand...
Anyway, if you are awriter, especially if the stories you write are aimed at children, you may be interested in this guest post on making sure your ending works.
***
Do you plan to make an author appearance in the hopes of selling some books? Or, perhaps, you plan to set up a stall at a convention of some kind, craft show, or other event? If any of those apply to you, check out these tips for setting out your stall.
Speaking of getting noticed...
If you're an author who uses Twitter, here are the best hashtags for indie authors, which will hopefully help you to get your Tweets noticed better.
***
I know I've asked before, but... Will you be participating in NaNoWriMo this year?
If you are, it's time to make sure you're prepared, since there are only a few more days to go until the start of November. So, figure out your checklist of everything you'll need, and make sure it's all ready to go.
This applies whether you're officially signing up to participate, joining in but not officially signing up, or just making up your own writing challenge - or challenges - for the month.
Anyway, if you are awriter, especially if the stories you write are aimed at children, you may be interested in this guest post on making sure your ending works.
***
Do you plan to make an author appearance in the hopes of selling some books? Or, perhaps, you plan to set up a stall at a convention of some kind, craft show, or other event? If any of those apply to you, check out these tips for setting out your stall.
Speaking of getting noticed...
If you're an author who uses Twitter, here are the best hashtags for indie authors, which will hopefully help you to get your Tweets noticed better.
***
I know I've asked before, but... Will you be participating in NaNoWriMo this year?
If you are, it's time to make sure you're prepared, since there are only a few more days to go until the start of November. So, figure out your checklist of everything you'll need, and make sure it's all ready to go.
This applies whether you're officially signing up to participate, joining in but not officially signing up, or just making up your own writing challenge - or challenges - for the month.
October 26, 2015
A-Z with me, part 4: V-Z (FD)
If you missed the other posts in this series, go here for A-G, go here for H-N, and go here for O-U.
***
V is for vegetables.
I'm a vegetarian, so these make up the bulk of what I eat.
I know some people who think vegetables are boring, but they really aren't! It's surprising just how many different things you can do with vegetables, and if you add some herbs to the meals, you can do even more. Even something as simple as a soup or a veggie bake can be made new and exciting just by slightly changing a few ingredients, and that's half the fun of cooking anyway, so it's a great result all round.
Some of my favourite veggies include sprouts, runner beans, parsnips, and carrots... Among others.
I'm always open to hearing about new vegetarian friendly recipes, so if you have any, feel free to share!
***
W is for writing.
We can't have a post about things important to me without including that, after all, can we?
In case you don't know, I've loved to write since I learned how, though I admit it was only when I started publishing my books in 2012 that I started making more than a passing mention of my writing on my blog. More than three years later, however, and I've got a few hundred writing themed posts, and have published more than 40 books. Plus, I have plenty more ideas to keep me writing for years yet!
My books are a long way from making me rich and famous, but I enjoy writing them, and those people who read them seem to enjoy doing so, which is what really matters.
Also, even I can see that there's some improvement in my writing from my first book. In fact, even my blog posts are looking better. At least, i think they are... They're certainly better edited, anyway, LOL!
***
X is for xylophone.
Well, not xylophones themselves, but the word. I like weird sounding words, like xylophone, platypus, and other funny sounding words like those. I don't know why, but they amuse me.
***
Y is for yoga and meditation.
I've never been to yoga class, but I've taught myself some of the more basic poses, though I don't really do them these days, since my body won't co-operate with me. However, I still use the breathing exercises a lot.
For one thing, I meditate regularly; usually using incense or scented candles - most often incense - to help with the initial relaxation process, though sometimes without them.
For another thing, I've learned that the yoga breathing exercises are very helpful when my asthma is causing problems (which mostly only happens during the times when I have a chest infection, or if I get overly stressed or excited). Focussing on your breathing is extremely helpful in preventing asthma attacks. Or, at least, calming them down slightly. Although, I dare say the technique may not be quite as effective for those with more severe asthma issues than my own. In fact, I'd be surprised if it was. Also, please don't think I'm suggesting it as a substitute for an inhaler; I'm not. I'm just saying it can help... At least a little.
***
Z is for Zodiacs and astrology.
This is an interest of mine I don't indulge in very often, but I do find it fascinating to see how close horoscopes came to predicting things accurately. Perhaps because I have an interest in doing so with divination in general? I know many frown on such things, but I find them fascinating. They aren't always correct, since they can't always be, due to the fact our futures change with every action we take. But I like to see how close they come to being correct, and find it interesting to compare what a person is like to what their sign profile says they should be like.
If you're interested, I'm a Scorpio.
***
I hope you enjoyed this series of posts. If you want to know more about anything I've mentioned in them, feel free to ask. I'll answer any questions I can; as long as I know the answers, or don't have a good reason to refuse to answer.
***
V is for vegetables.
I'm a vegetarian, so these make up the bulk of what I eat.
I know some people who think vegetables are boring, but they really aren't! It's surprising just how many different things you can do with vegetables, and if you add some herbs to the meals, you can do even more. Even something as simple as a soup or a veggie bake can be made new and exciting just by slightly changing a few ingredients, and that's half the fun of cooking anyway, so it's a great result all round.
Some of my favourite veggies include sprouts, runner beans, parsnips, and carrots... Among others.
I'm always open to hearing about new vegetarian friendly recipes, so if you have any, feel free to share!
***
W is for writing.
We can't have a post about things important to me without including that, after all, can we?
In case you don't know, I've loved to write since I learned how, though I admit it was only when I started publishing my books in 2012 that I started making more than a passing mention of my writing on my blog. More than three years later, however, and I've got a few hundred writing themed posts, and have published more than 40 books. Plus, I have plenty more ideas to keep me writing for years yet!
My books are a long way from making me rich and famous, but I enjoy writing them, and those people who read them seem to enjoy doing so, which is what really matters.
Also, even I can see that there's some improvement in my writing from my first book. In fact, even my blog posts are looking better. At least, i think they are... They're certainly better edited, anyway, LOL!
***
X is for xylophone.
Well, not xylophones themselves, but the word. I like weird sounding words, like xylophone, platypus, and other funny sounding words like those. I don't know why, but they amuse me.
***
Y is for yoga and meditation.
I've never been to yoga class, but I've taught myself some of the more basic poses, though I don't really do them these days, since my body won't co-operate with me. However, I still use the breathing exercises a lot.
For one thing, I meditate regularly; usually using incense or scented candles - most often incense - to help with the initial relaxation process, though sometimes without them.
For another thing, I've learned that the yoga breathing exercises are very helpful when my asthma is causing problems (which mostly only happens during the times when I have a chest infection, or if I get overly stressed or excited). Focussing on your breathing is extremely helpful in preventing asthma attacks. Or, at least, calming them down slightly. Although, I dare say the technique may not be quite as effective for those with more severe asthma issues than my own. In fact, I'd be surprised if it was. Also, please don't think I'm suggesting it as a substitute for an inhaler; I'm not. I'm just saying it can help... At least a little.
***
Z is for Zodiacs and astrology.
This is an interest of mine I don't indulge in very often, but I do find it fascinating to see how close horoscopes came to predicting things accurately. Perhaps because I have an interest in doing so with divination in general? I know many frown on such things, but I find them fascinating. They aren't always correct, since they can't always be, due to the fact our futures change with every action we take. But I like to see how close they come to being correct, and find it interesting to compare what a person is like to what their sign profile says they should be like.
If you're interested, I'm a Scorpio.
***
I hope you enjoyed this series of posts. If you want to know more about anything I've mentioned in them, feel free to ask. I'll answer any questions I can; as long as I know the answers, or don't have a good reason to refuse to answer.
October 24, 2015
Donna Maguire
The following is from Donna herself:
"I just started writing and self-publishing children’s books in March and the first became available on Amazon in July of 2015. It may seem a bit odd that I now have four books. The reason is simple. I wrote and produced initially without plans for publishing. It was a combination of therapy and something to share with my grand babies. It wasn’t until I met an author who looked at my books and encouraged me to publish them as well.
Here’s a little of my story.
After a personal loss I moved to Nevada to help care for my grand babies. It turns out that they helped care for me. The reason is simple. I believe in reading to children often and from an early age. This helps nurture a joy of reading, and from a selfish perspective, I love to watch their reactions as the characters from the story come to life. Something happened as a result. My grand babies ended up helping to care for me as my passion, creativity and imagination came to life. It seemed only natural to funnel this new found passion into something I always wanted to do - writing children’s books.
I had several goals for the books, including: (1) promoting literacy by helping to nurture a joy of reading through fun, humorous story telling, (2) providing a message of love and friendship, not just for others but for the children reading the books as well, and (3) igniting the young readers’ natural curiosity for the world, the environment and the creatures that inhabit it.
My Basset Hound, Silly Willy Winston, is the perfect muse and unlikely hero for the books. He has the biggest ears ever, a stout frame, huge paws and a super large snout. He trips over his ears and paws often, which makes him a bit of a clown. Rather than bothering him he views people’s laughter as an invitation to make friends. If you ask me he is a perfect example of self-acceptance and empowerment. My Basset Hound’s traits and the way he accepts and uses them to his advantage also make him an ideal character to help children understand, face and protect themselves against bullying. They can be used to ask if a child feels that they feel different like Silly Willy Winston, what makes them different, how they feel about it and what special powers or unique gifts they gain from their differences. Whether or not they feel different. Parents and loved ones might want to ask if there is any one they know that is different, why and what unique qualities those children have. Both of these open up the conversation that some children can pick on other children that are different. From there parents and loved ones are able to do what they do, be the good parents and caregivers they are and prepare children to protect themselves, and others, against bullying through awareness, confidence, calm and respect.
Each book contains natural mysteries, rare animals and little known facts to stimulate curiosity and inspire a love of learning along the way. My hope is that young readers have so much fun with the stories that the messages blend seamlessly with the humor."
Website & Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.sillywillywinston.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sillywillywinston
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@dmmsilly
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/dmaguire0473/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14176213.Donna_Maguire
Links to Purchase Books:
Paperbacks from Website: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14176213.Donna_Maguire
Paperbacks & Kindle Editions on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B014BZ5V3A
iBook - Silly Willy Winston in the Adventures of Inspector Snout. The case of the missing tadpole.: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1034415000
iBook - The Adventures of Silly Willy Winston as Explorer Snout in a Tale of Two Deserts.: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/adventures-silly-willy-winston/id1043658865?ls=1mt=11
October 23, 2015
Furkid Friday - October 23rd 2015
Hi humans, rodent types, and anyone else reading this.
This is Jasper the degu.
We've really had lots of human visitors lately!
First we had the furry Carl human bring his Tory human for a visit, as well as this other human that our humans were calling "Dad" for some reason. That was a fun weekend, despite us being a bit confused by the two types of humans with similar sounding names.
Then, a couple of weeks later, this other human came to visit. This one was a Kevin human, and he brought a dog named Trigger with him.
The Kevin human gave my ratty sister, Star, and my degu brother, Jacob, cuddles. Then he talked and talked with the Mummy human, while the Daddy human tried to convince the Trigger dog that there was no way he was going to get to play with us; no matter what he found to use as a trade item.
Mostly we degus just pretended the Trigger dog didn't exist. Our ratty sisters were more curious about him though, since they've not met dogs before and wondered what he was. Our gerbil brothers thought he was much too big and scary, so their cage got moved out in to the kitchen so they could have some piece and quiet.
Anyway... It's certainly been an eventful few weeks!
Squeak soon,
Jasper
This is Jasper the degu.
We've really had lots of human visitors lately!
First we had the furry Carl human bring his Tory human for a visit, as well as this other human that our humans were calling "Dad" for some reason. That was a fun weekend, despite us being a bit confused by the two types of humans with similar sounding names.
Then, a couple of weeks later, this other human came to visit. This one was a Kevin human, and he brought a dog named Trigger with him.
The Kevin human gave my ratty sister, Star, and my degu brother, Jacob, cuddles. Then he talked and talked with the Mummy human, while the Daddy human tried to convince the Trigger dog that there was no way he was going to get to play with us; no matter what he found to use as a trade item.
Mostly we degus just pretended the Trigger dog didn't exist. Our ratty sisters were more curious about him though, since they've not met dogs before and wondered what he was. Our gerbil brothers thought he was much too big and scary, so their cage got moved out in to the kitchen so they could have some piece and quiet.
Anyway... It's certainly been an eventful few weeks!
Squeak soon,
Jasper
Zigler News
Author and book news for children's author and poet, Victoria Zigler, as well as general news from the life of the Zigler family; furry and otherwise!
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