Betty Adams's Blog, page 137

Tell a Story in Two Sentences

With the murderer behind bars and the innocent priest vindicated as far as his congregation was concerned, legally it would take a bit longer, only one question remained for Detective Inspector Fisher. What had the red haired socialite been doing on top of the telephone booth in the first place? 

Frozen Daleks and Car Crashes

Well NorwesCon 39 has come and gone for 2016 and boy did it generate some memories. 
(On a side note hiding in the corner and talking cats with cat people counts as networking as long as you give them a card afterwards.)

Pictures! NorwesCon39 Day 2

Guess who bought a new SD card? Remarkably enough the little shop here at the Doubletree Inn actually has a very reasonably priced 16gig SD card. Actually a micro SD card and an adaptor...
Anyway, PICS! 
​ So Camra armed and ready to go into the fray once more!

Registration and Money

So after a decently long drive. (Don't really like driving.) I stopped to pick up some new clothes because my wardrobe was starting to .... well I needed new clothes. (Really detest clothes shopping.) The salesman was attentive. (WHY do they do that? I am in the store to buy clothes. You don't have to convince me. GO AWAY PLEASE.) I made it to NorwesCon. The registration line was much, much shorter. (When they are super long for a guest of honor you really rather dislike it is annoying.) 
So anyway. Meeting lots of new people, reconnecting with some old friends, and tagging all the money eating things that I want to get. (But won't purchase till my budget is set at the end of the Con.)
I have lost my SD card...went to buy a new one and the lady at the shop couldn't find them....ah well. The hippogriff will still be sipping espresso tomorrow.
Met my first Broney.... at the leather working booth....
​Be proud of me. I made no comments. 

A Good Dog Story

Given how deeply canines have wormed their way into every known human culture it is not a surprise that there is not only an entire genre devoted to stories about dogs but that they pervade every other genre from romance to science fiction. 
If I had to pick a favorite it would probably be "Whitefang". What's your favorite dog story in honor of National Puppy Day? 

The Necessity of Water in Science Fiction

Today is #WorldWaterDay. For as long as science fiction has turned its gaze to the stars the necessity of water has played both central and supporting roles in the genre.  Going to the moon? You had better find a source of ice. Mars? Best land your ship near those icecaps. Water filtration is critical on spaceships and the mass of the water needed for keeping humans healthy, and the fuel needed to move the mass of the water and the volume of the container needed to hold it all need to be taken into account when designing a spaceship. 
Of course a drought is a massive problem in any genre, as is a flood, but with science fiction an author has the pleasure and challenge of dealing with comets and icetroides. (icetroides, they are a thing, totally). So while any of the problems that face the world today can be picked up and told as stories IN SPACE there are worlds of other possibilities for science fiction authors to explore.
​

Wee Pause for Identification

Who left these tracks across the hood,
Of a snoozing Ranger’s Jeep?
What brave little creature dared the dawn,
While the Park was draped in sleep?


Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel, (Spermophilus lateralis), Crater Lake National Park

In honor of World Poetry Day, a few old lines from University days. 

Remember I will be at #NorwesCon39 this weekend. 

NorwesCon 2016

And it is time to start working the conventions again! Looking forward to getting my Science Fiction on at NorwesCon 2016 this weekend. 
On another note.
Happy first day of spring! 

Excuse Me Officer Can You Direct Me To the Library

From the pages of "Getting Your Inspiration From Life" a flock of wild turkeys  wandered through downtown, stopping to peer into the City Hall, police station, and the library. What on earth could they be doing? 

A St. Paddy's Day Play

Social media has  revitalized certain forms of storytelling. Most conversational posts are already set up like a play, with only the dialogue and a few emoting signals written out, the rest left to inference. This can lead to some fun spontaneous playwriting. 

So here is the scene: three figures sit on a darkened stage, facing away from each other; a sailor in his cabin, a nurse with her charge, and student in her dorm. The sailor laughs and holds up a picture depicting the difference between how North American' and Ireland celebrate St. Patrick's Day. The nurse and the student laugh.
 
Nurse: Yeah, that’s pretty much how it is. Except in my home town we just bake Irish brown bread and eat traditional Irish meals.
Sailor:  Does anyone at least drink Guinness?
Nurse: I have heard a beer of that name mentioned. Also we listen to Irish music, well more than usual anyway...
Student: my family does soda bread and corned beef, among other things (like mint chocolate truffles)   :)
Sailor:  :D Again I ask does anyone at least drink Guinness?
Nurse: No clue, I don't drink and neither do my parents.
Sailor: O_O Not even a babysham?
Nurse: Does eating fresh clover sprouts in my salad count?
Sailor:  Is it alcoholic?
Nurse: No.
Sailor:  Then it does not count
Nurse: Student!, now I have to make soda bread! It looks like it would be easy peasy to make allergen free.
Nurse: Hmmmm, there are -OH groups in the vinegar in my fire cider...
Sailor: :(  Jeez, it St Patrick's Day. Salad, bread & music. Great
Nurse:   ;) Perhaps I will drive all the snakes out of my property. But no, I like snakes...
Sailor: How about snake bites?
Sailor:  AKA Cider and Lager
Nurse: We only have garter snakes here. :) They are cute and cuddly. If you get them REALLY mad they will poop on you.
Student:  Are the snakes even awake during this winter/not winter?
(And sometimes my folks use Harp in stew and cooking, but I don't think we've ever used Guinness)
Nurse: Yes they are still in hibernation, but the little baby snakes like to sleep in the black plastic in the garden over winter as it is warmer so we have to be careful when digging things out for spring.
Student:  Aww, I like snakes!
Sailor:  I... er... by the red dragon what just happened? I'm trying to be funny by steering the conversation towards beer and now it's about cute, cuddly, give them to little children, snakes.
Nurse:  You are dealing with two women of Irish decent. Did you *really* expect to maintain control of the conversation? Or for it to be making a lick 'o sense?
Sailor:  No not really.
Student:  By the way, my sister said to tell you that this thread is "a thing of beauty".
Nurse:  :) When the good Sailor and I get started it can quickly get interesting. Do tell her I was glad to entertain.
A relative logs on and says something amusing and inappropriate the Sailor, Nurse, and Student get up and leave quietly.