The Wind in Kansas was mighty powerful, and although the idea of a headline reading, Oz Author killed in Kansas Tornado, might help sell books we were not anxious to go that route. Having a 28 foot 30 year old RV getting buffeted about in high wind was scary. We laughingly said, "The sooner we're out of Kansas the safer we'll sleep" then as we left the Kansas border and entered Missouri...
Get where this is going?
A freak accident and then whammo! The engine got super hot, and we pulled over and put 5 quarts of oil ( we kept plenty on board ) in. Then we tried to continue cos we had no idea the fuel pump was just hanging on by a hose, and somehow the timing belt got loose (maybe the heat maybe gremlins) anyway we got towed to an RV park, and then they called a guy up the road to stop in and have a look. He saw the fuel pump and thought ah ha that's the problem. He replaced the pump at the RV park but when we started up it made a grinding noise and he decided he had to open the oil pan and see if anything had broken and was lying inside.
To do this he had to tow us with his tractor and a heavy rope. (This was very fun, cos when the RV isn't running the steering and brakes are like lead)
He discovered that to get the oil pan off LOTS of other stuff had to come off first. Pumps, radiator, transmission, exhaust system etc etc etc. and each thing was rusted on and had 30 years of time to attach itself permanently. Anyway. He finally got it all off and found NOTHING in the oil pan, but he did discover that the fly wheel wouldn't turn. That meant the part inside the engine that worked the pistons was jammed, and therefore seized or as we say back in Brooklyn....BUSTED.
It was decided the only real solution was a new engine, but getting it out and a new one in would be a chore and the mechanic was afraid he wouldn't get paid cos it was running up such a bill. We emptied our check book, and now he is going to start taking apart the last few bits he hadn't already removed.
We had to make it clear to him we will pay his $50.00 an hour fee no matter how long it takes. (he really was starting to worry that we weren't gunna pay him)At this point $5,000. isn't an unrealistic estimate, and I am kinda sick about it all. (not to mention broke)
Today Louis and his two sons spent the day taking the old engine apart to get it out. The front of the RV is solid and so it must be dropped and removed from underneath, but to do that even more stuff had to be removed including the propane tank and tons of stuff that was under the hood from when the RV used to be run on propane.
But its not all bad...
But its not all bad...
We do get to live, shut up, in a greasy old garage, between a noisy gravel company and a discount bread store. Vito( our new rat terrier dog) sits inside trapped all day until I can carry him outside and take him for a walk. ( we don't want him walking where there is metal filing and antifreeze) We are under 2 miles to the nearest grocery store I can walk there any time I want but walking back with stuff is not as much fun.
I go back and forth between acceptance of the inevitable and despair at the enormity of it all. At this moment acceptance is winning, but only by a little.
Now what was that line I was trying to recall... oh yeah, There's no place like home!!!
That's where we are trying to get to!
That's where we are trying to get to!
- Location:Nevada (Ne-vay-da) Missouri
There were suppose to be Native American dancers, who showed up but didn't feel able to dance in an ice storm. The local farmers were being stoic about their crops being ruined, but it did seem to put a depressed feeling in the air. I sold a few books, and some artwork, but quite honestly there were not many people to sell to.
I think the people in Oz costumes who stood along the Yellow Brick Road and told their tales and sang some songs deserved awards for enduring the cold and keeping their spirits high.
Tomorrow we head off for home, but try as we will we don't seem able to explain to our Moms that Kansas is REALLY really far from New Hampshire and we won't get home in a day or two.
- Location:Kansas
- Mood:
disappointed - Music:Somewhere over the Ice Storm
The weather was perfect and there were lots of people walking about, and I think I sold more original art than even books, which is a surprise and makes me glad. Even my large CGI Tik Tok sold, to a guy who bought it for himself as a birthday gift.
In case I fail to get the photo of our dog on here( those who know me will understand why this might be too a great a task for me) check out my facebook page as I did manage to get a picture posted there!
Met a lot of really cool people, and a big Patchwork Girl fan who not only bought a copy of Gump but also a pen and ink of Scraps. Also I saw a guy with the coolest tattoos ever! a full color Scarecrow and Patchwork Girl on one arm, and a awesome Jack Pumpkinhead on his leg!
Can't wait til tomorrow, who knows who I will meet then!
- Location:Toto we ARE in Kansas afterall!
- Mood:artistic
It is day 3 of our journey to the marvellous land of Indiana. The RV prefers the highways with their more or less flat roads rather than the great inclines of Vermont and Pennsylvania.
The first night we stopped at a rest stop just on the side of the road in Bennigton Vermont. I know thats not much of a trip from Wilton, but we had so much to do last minute including winterizing the yard, because Winter could come early in NH while we are away.
The second day we made it to Troy NY for Lunch At our favorite place, Duncan's! While there an older man fell as he was leaving and was badly hurt as he hit the pavement. Linda rushed to him ( well as fast as she can rush with her leg braces and cane, and did basic triage on him while someone called the ambulance. The owner was so grateful to her, that they tore up our bill, but we managed to buy some bread and muffins and the best bread pudding in the world, so he still made a few dollars off us! That night we stopped in Chittenango at the rest stop, and slept between the big rigs!
Today we made it to Slippery Rock, and for a laugh we are staying at Cooper's Lake Campground, just a few yards from where we were at Pennsic a month or so ago. Its a lot quieter now I can tell you. 15,000 medieval enthusiasts make more noise than 3 RV's of retireees and some crickets.
Tomorrow we reach Ohio! Set your goals low boys and you'll rarely be disappointed! 8^)
Indiana won't be far after that!
D
- Location:Pennsic site
- Mood:
chipper
Mr. Bongiorno really got my humor and smugness! How cool was that! I mean I thought it was funny, I wanted it to be funny, I mean a graphic novel is a comic book after all (ok, ok all the comic book geeks out there now hate me) I know my Green Lantern comics aren't funny, but my old Justice League was hysterical!
Anyway, having someone else get your jokes and appreciate what you were doing is the best thing an artist can hope for in a review!
Anyway after Indiana we do in fact head off for Kansas, for two more OZ conventions, then its home again home again jiggity jig, and getting ready for the LONG nasty winter we can always expect here in New England!
If anyone who reads this is at any of those OZ thingies do stop by and say HI!
Dennis
- Location:in the art studio in Wilton
- Mood:artistic
I have been away a while. My old computer died, and we were off to Pennsic ( a BIG medieval faire ) where 21st century apparatus are not encouraged, and this and that.. But today was so weird I had to write more.
It is Aug 21st. For true OZ geeks that's Ozma's birthday. When I mentioned this to Linda my phone alarm that rings every friday at 4PM ( don't ask why) went off and we thought about what Dorothy said in Dorothy and the Wizard about Ozma looking in on her at 4pm and if she made a secret sign, Ozma would take her to Oz. So we laughed and both made the secret sign. ( it is never described in the book, but Neill drew Dorothy making the sign) and a few minutes later we heard there were tornado warnings in New Hampshire.How cool was that. Okay maybe cool isn't the right word, cos Tornados kill people and destroy lives, but cool in a, 'gee if we were in a book this would be really significant and would forward the plot a whole lot' kinda thing!
But we didn't get whisked off to Oz, we did get some impressive heavy rain and after a visit with my Mom, we now have a new pet dog. She just didn't feel safe caring for him, and having to bend over outside in all weather to clean up after him, and even though she really loves him, she felt she had to be safe. We now have a 2 year old Rat Terrier named Vito, not Toto, Vito, and we plan to do some serious training with him. He is very smart, and will probably run the whole place in a week or two.
Not sure what we will do with him when we travel, but now that we have an RV instead of motels, we may take him. First off we have to retrain his sleep schedule. My Mom was early to bed kinda person, and we rarely get to bed before 2AM, Vito will have to make the adjustment, cos I ain't getting up at 9AM to do no walking, he'll come around when he gets used to the new schedule I'm sure.Or he'll pee on my rug, We'll just have to see.
Wilton is having an Old Home Week, and I will be in the parade with my car ( the red Mustang convertible) and then doing book signings at the Old Color Shop where they sell my books. Linda will be at marie's Antique Shop selling her books and maybe some jewelry too. That's on the 29th of August.
Now off to do more work. Just had to update with the odd Oz stuff that happened today!
It is Aug 21st. For true OZ geeks that's Ozma's birthday. When I mentioned this to Linda my phone alarm that rings every friday at 4PM ( don't ask why) went off and we thought about what Dorothy said in Dorothy and the Wizard about Ozma looking in on her at 4pm and if she made a secret sign, Ozma would take her to Oz. So we laughed and both made the secret sign. ( it is never described in the book, but Neill drew Dorothy making the sign) and a few minutes later we heard there were tornado warnings in New Hampshire.How cool was that. Okay maybe cool isn't the right word, cos Tornados kill people and destroy lives, but cool in a, 'gee if we were in a book this would be really significant and would forward the plot a whole lot' kinda thing!
But we didn't get whisked off to Oz, we did get some impressive heavy rain and after a visit with my Mom, we now have a new pet dog. She just didn't feel safe caring for him, and having to bend over outside in all weather to clean up after him, and even though she really loves him, she felt she had to be safe. We now have a 2 year old Rat Terrier named Vito, not Toto, Vito, and we plan to do some serious training with him. He is very smart, and will probably run the whole place in a week or two.
Not sure what we will do with him when we travel, but now that we have an RV instead of motels, we may take him. First off we have to retrain his sleep schedule. My Mom was early to bed kinda person, and we rarely get to bed before 2AM, Vito will have to make the adjustment, cos I ain't getting up at 9AM to do no walking, he'll come around when he gets used to the new schedule I'm sure.Or he'll pee on my rug, We'll just have to see.
Wilton is having an Old Home Week, and I will be in the parade with my car ( the red Mustang convertible) and then doing book signings at the Old Color Shop where they sell my books. Linda will be at marie's Antique Shop selling her books and maybe some jewelry too. That's on the 29th of August.
Now off to do more work. Just had to update with the odd Oz stuff that happened today!
Dennis
It has been two days of rain, and for those of you
NOT in NH, that means a little less snow on
the ground, and the hint of Spring as buds
attempt to live!
I have been preparing for a visit to the Derry Village School
on Saturday for the Festival of Authors!
I have done it a few timesand it is always fun.
The kids really seem to enjoy meeting the authors and illustrators
and I love bringing cool stuff for them to see. I will be doing a
workshop. I decided since most of the other partiicipants
are authors, I would focus on the art stuff.
I will be talking about what makes a good book cover,
"Are you a good book cover or a bad book cover?"
Then each kid will make a new cover for the
Wizard of Oz,
How did I ever think of that book eh?
I printed up the title and author's name
on nice card stock, and the kids can put their
names for the illustrator and do their own cover.
Should be fun.
I have a few copies of OZ House on CD
to mail out. I created a cover page for the CD
and then a Bio page for me, and now I need Linda to get me the addresses she collected
at Lunacon.
The work of a self published schlub is never done!
NOT in NH, that means a little less snow on
the ground, and the hint of Spring as buds
attempt to live!
I have been preparing for a visit to the Derry Village School
on Saturday for the Festival of Authors!
I have done it a few timesand it is always fun.
The kids really seem to enjoy meeting the authors and illustrators
and I love bringing cool stuff for them to see. I will be doing a
workshop. I decided since most of the other partiicipants
are authors, I would focus on the art stuff.
I will be talking about what makes a good book cover,
"Are you a good book cover or a bad book cover?"
Then each kid will make a new cover for the
Wizard of Oz,
How did I ever think of that book eh?
I printed up the title and author's name
on nice card stock, and the kids can put their
names for the illustrator and do their own cover.
Should be fun.
I have a few copies of OZ House on CD
to mail out. I created a cover page for the CD
and then a Bio page for me, and now I need Linda to get me the addresses she collected
at Lunacon.
The work of a self published schlub is never done!
I have decided to change the look of how I do this Live Journal posting stuff. First off It needs more humor, for me that means whining and whinging about l my life, and then it needs to be layed out more readable. I'll try that too.
We just got back from Lunacon, which was great.
Linda drove around in her steampunk wheelchair
and looked so cool! It totally takes the stigma off of the chair, and
makes it a prop, and people feel comfortable about mentioning it.
She even won anaward for best Hall Costume, see it was seen as a costume NOT a handicap, how cool is that??
Spoke on a few panels, on the topic of comic books, and my research bailed me out so I didn't sound like a
a boob. Of course the topics they chose for me to speak on, were not areas where I knew a lot professionally speaking,
but people seem open to you if you start by stating this is my opinion, your mileage may vary.
I got to meet Larry Dixon, that's Mercedes Lackey's husband for those of you not into the sci-fi fantasy convention world,
ok most people.
He was as nice as everyone said he was, and his artwork is, as always very cool. He does an amazing griffin! Having just done griffins for the Oziana magazine, I was curious to see how he did his. I may
have liked his even better than mine, but don't tell any potential publishers that, or I may lose a job to him!
Linda's Steampunk TinMan statue won 1st place again in Judge's awards, everyone seems to really like his
quirky smile and cool goggles.
If any one one reading this does not know what 'steampunk' is, since
I have mentioned it twice, think Jules Verne's time machine, NOT THE REMAKE!
Think Victorian era sci fi!. Just google the word.8^)
And now for a small rant!
I tried to buy fertilizer from Agway today, to insure my daffodils do more than makes long green
leaves this year. No one working at Agway knew anything about flowers, bulbs, or planting.
The person who did, was off today.
I asked, so are you all just a bunch of hosers, this is Agway?
the lady informed me she was hired for her looks!
I leftand went to a privately owned nursery, and
they gave me what I needed,but said it may be too
late for this year, to get flowers. I explained....
I will not have co-dependant plants in my life. A daffodil exists on earth for one reason...
to make a yellow flower in spring, if it fails at that for 2 years running, I can dig em all up and put some
other flower in its place! They cannot expect me to do all the work here!
I have to supply fertilizer( or bone meal) I have to supply water, I have to weed around it,
I don't think so! They have been warned! Grow, make a flower, or it's the compost heap for you
my little yellow friends!
But still is was fun. Oh yeah, I lost.
Linda had taken a Geek Test on line this morning, and while she is now a professed Geek Goddess, I still never rate high enough cos I don't know enough sci fi trivia or computer stuff.
If they asked Wizard of Oz Trivia, or TV cartoons of the 1960's trivia, well yeah, but they don't.
Linda is still working on tricking out her wheelchair, steam punk style for Lunacon, I am still working on water colors for the art show. I did a decent Jack Pumpkinhead portrait last night, and a Wogglebug/Green Monkey from my graphic novel, a Promise Kept in Oz.
I went to my local comic book store to research some stuff for my panel discussions at Lunacon, and while my suspicions were correct, now I have some statistics and other people's opinions to help back 'em up.
The snow outside is melting, though its still about 4 feet deep over my daffodils,Spring may arrive some time in June.
That's it for now.
We are also working to trick out Linda's electric wheelchair in steam punk fashion. We found some cool old gears and valves and stuff, so we're gunna see how we can jazz up the old mule!
I need to get to a comic book store and look into the subject matter I will be speaking on. I know my opinions, but I'd like to talk to the owner and see if my theories are correct, or at least plausible.
I have also been trying to get my art studio in order. No easy trick, but we will have some brownies in to meet the local artists, and I'd like the place to give the illusion of organization, even if I can't back it up a whole lot, Let's face it artists are not meant to be too organized, it really stifles creativity. But mess doesn't help either, so I'm off to find a happy medium.
Hello all,
I have been busy writing and editing the first chapter of a new book, which is the sequel to OZ house.
The title is still under debate.
But for the past few days I haven't had as much time to work on it because
my car,my wonderful fun, Ford Mustang Convertible, decided to act up.
First the trunk started making a weird noise when I tried to open it, a BRRRRRRAPPPPPP
kinda noise, and the truck took a few tries to make it stay closed.
But then, the other day The battery was dead when I tried to start it up.
Oddly enough I had just renewed my AAA membership the day before.
And thereby lies the problem, cos I had mailed them a check, but of course it hadn't reached them yet,
so in order to have them reinstate me in time to call a tow truck I had to pay AGAIN\
over the phone using a credit card.
Anyway, I did and the guy came and jumped me, and I was off and doing chores
and all,and it seemed the problem was solved! BUT NO!
The next morning it was dead again. Once again I had it jumped, and took it to a
place who didn't have my battery, and they thought something was wrong with my electrical
system to drain the battery overnight...yadda yadda yadda,
Okay, so now today I went to the dealer and guess what!? My battery was under warranty,
BUT they'd only replace it if their computer said it was dead,
and natch since I had driven there, it has some charge.
Long and the short of it I got to watch soap
operas and read my Star Trek novel, as I waited for the deluxe computer system to say,
Hey this battery is junk! Once it did, they replaced it, fixed the trunk and
the air bag recall which I had never gone in for, but all for nuthin!
This felt so wrong I decided to have the oil changed, since I was 1,000 miles over due,
and therefore I could spend some money, and not feel like the whole day was a total waste.
Now I am home, I got ink and paper to print out my chapter, and Alan and I
will meet at some time to look over chapter one and see if this whole sequel idea is worth the
bother, I suspect it is!
Oh yeah we have plans to go to Lunacon in Rye NY, which should be fun, and being so close to NYC
we may even get some good bread to eat!
The life of an author/artist is so exciting and
fun, no wonder people envy us! 8^)
I have been busy writing and editing the first chapter of a new book, which is the sequel to OZ house.
The title is still under debate.
But for the past few days I haven't had as much time to work on it because
my car,my wonderful fun, Ford Mustang Convertible, decided to act up.
First the trunk started making a weird noise when I tried to open it, a BRRRRRRAPPPPPP
kinda noise, and the truck took a few tries to make it stay closed.
But then, the other day The battery was dead when I tried to start it up.
Oddly enough I had just renewed my AAA membership the day before.
And thereby lies the problem, cos I had mailed them a check, but of course it hadn't reached them yet,
so in order to have them reinstate me in time to call a tow truck I had to pay AGAIN\
over the phone using a credit card.
Anyway, I did and the guy came and jumped me, and I was off and doing chores
and all,and it seemed the problem was solved! BUT NO!
The next morning it was dead again. Once again I had it jumped, and took it to a
place who didn't have my battery, and they thought something was wrong with my electrical
system to drain the battery overnight...yadda yadda yadda,
Okay, so now today I went to the dealer and guess what!? My battery was under warranty,
BUT they'd only replace it if their computer said it was dead,
and natch since I had driven there, it has some charge.
Long and the short of it I got to watch soap
operas and read my Star Trek novel, as I waited for the deluxe computer system to say,
Hey this battery is junk! Once it did, they replaced it, fixed the trunk and
the air bag recall which I had never gone in for, but all for nuthin!
This felt so wrong I decided to have the oil changed, since I was 1,000 miles over due,
and therefore I could spend some money, and not feel like the whole day was a total waste.
Now I am home, I got ink and paper to print out my chapter, and Alan and I
will meet at some time to look over chapter one and see if this whole sequel idea is worth the
bother, I suspect it is!
Oh yeah we have plans to go to Lunacon in Rye NY, which should be fun, and being so close to NYC
we may even get some good bread to eat!
The life of an author/artist is so exciting and
fun, no wonder people envy us! 8^)
Been away from my journal for 2 days, but now I am back.
I've been working on a new book with my friend, Dr. Alan Lindsay.
It's a sequel to our last novel, OZ house. I have tentatively called it Oz House Revisited,
but there's a good chance he may balk at the corniness of the title.
I have always heard that you should write what you know, so the story is set in New Hampshire,
and the main character has just returned from a trip to England, and of course they will
surely end up in Oz, so you can see I am writing what I know.
I have noticed that there are 3 commercials out right now that reference the Wizard of Oz.
a GE commerical where an electronic scarecrow sings If I only had a brain.
a Pillsbury crescent roll commericial where people click their shoes 3 times
and a GREAT CGI chocolate chip cookie ad where the cookie is Dorothy, and gets caught in the tornado.
I am waiting for a new quote on my new Graphic Novel, A Promise Kept in Oz..
So far the best price I was able to get is $7.00 each,
and if I can manage a better price I will be able to sell the books wholesale.
At Boskone we saw a really nice guy, Walter Hunt, who is an author we met at Arisia, We saw him in the restaurant on Valentine's day, with his wife and daughter.
He was nice enough to read a copy of Oz House, and I am waiting to hear his professional opinion,
being an insecure creative person I always worry that someone I respect will not like my work,
however, so far that fear has not been justified.
I've been working on a new book with my friend, Dr. Alan Lindsay.
It's a sequel to our last novel, OZ house. I have tentatively called it Oz House Revisited,
but there's a good chance he may balk at the corniness of the title.
I have always heard that you should write what you know, so the story is set in New Hampshire,
and the main character has just returned from a trip to England, and of course they will
surely end up in Oz, so you can see I am writing what I know.
I have noticed that there are 3 commercials out right now that reference the Wizard of Oz.
a GE commerical where an electronic scarecrow sings If I only had a brain.
a Pillsbury crescent roll commericial where people click their shoes 3 times
and a GREAT CGI chocolate chip cookie ad where the cookie is Dorothy, and gets caught in the tornado.
I am waiting for a new quote on my new Graphic Novel, A Promise Kept in Oz..
So far the best price I was able to get is $7.00 each,
and if I can manage a better price I will be able to sell the books wholesale.
At Boskone we saw a really nice guy, Walter Hunt, who is an author we met at Arisia, We saw him in the restaurant on Valentine's day, with his wife and daughter.
He was nice enough to read a copy of Oz House, and I am waiting to hear his professional opinion,
being an insecure creative person I always worry that someone I respect will not like my work,
however, so far that fear has not been justified.
Well a fun time was had by us both at Boskone. We entered some art into the art show, and Linda's Steam Punk Tin Man, won! She was really chuffed ( that's British for psyched ). I sat in on some interestingf discussions, and saw people I knew from the SCA and from Arisia, the sci-fi fantasy event we went to a month ago.
Sold a few books and met some really neat artists.
Next year I plan to get on the stick and contactpeople earlier, and get myself onto a few discussion groups and do a reading or two from my books.
I will be at a Festival of Authors in Derry next month. Its always a fun event, and I did a big mural in their hallway a few years ago, which is always fun to see when I go back.
Our next chore is lining up some book stores to do some readings and signings. I hate the organization needed to do all that, but I love being there and meeting people, so I shall let Linda do the scutt work, and I will have the fun. Luckily she rarely reads my journal so she won't know I said that.
I put the Steam Punk TinMan on the breakfront in the dining room, but haven't decided if I should put his blue ribbon with him? Would that seem pretentious?
Well If Linda did it, it would, but I don't think so, if I put it there. Maybe I will.
That's it for today, the weather has chilly but sunny, but rumors of evil snow is lurking in the distance!
Sold a few books and met some really neat artists.
Next year I plan to get on the stick and contactpeople earlier, and get myself onto a few discussion groups and do a reading or two from my books.
I will be at a Festival of Authors in Derry next month. Its always a fun event, and I did a big mural in their hallway a few years ago, which is always fun to see when I go back.
Our next chore is lining up some book stores to do some readings and signings. I hate the organization needed to do all that, but I love being there and meeting people, so I shall let Linda do the scutt work, and I will have the fun. Luckily she rarely reads my journal so she won't know I said that.
I put the Steam Punk TinMan on the breakfront in the dining room, but haven't decided if I should put his blue ribbon with him? Would that seem pretentious?
Well If Linda did it, it would, but I don't think so, if I put it there. Maybe I will.
That's it for today, the weather has chilly but sunny, but rumors of evil snow is lurking in the distance!
It is almost midnight on Thursday and tomorrow we leave for Boskone. For those of you who do not know, It.s a convention in Boston for Sci'fi and fantasy. That would lead one to think, hmmm maybe they should have some really cool name or at the very least BosCon, but Boscon was taken, so they chose to put a silent e on it and make it a k, and thereby make the whole name make no sense at all.
But we are off to promote my new book and Graphic Novel. Sales slacked off cos my web site was down for a few weeks, and even now the Graphic Novel is still not set up to be ordered, but it's coming, and people were good enough to mail checks (how 20th century) while the
site was down.
Linda created a steam punk TinMan, who is very cool and looks cute but creepy, a very nice combo in my mind. He sits on the table, but would stand over 2 feet tall if he were standing.
I managed two new CGI images of the tinMan and Tik Tok, plus a really cool Winged Monkey water color. I may not have them up, we registered very late for everything, but we will bring 'em just in case.
I'm hoping to keep making connections at these cons, as I have come to see how important that can be if you you want to get your work into the hands of real people who can actually do something with it, and not just my Mom, who'll love what ever it is just cos I did it.
Now, to finish packing.... See you all soon.
Dennis
Looking over my last comment I seem to come across as a bitter, negative, horrible old fart. After years of trying to conceal that part of who I am it seems a shame to let it be so obviously revealed. So I think I need a more cheerful and positive entry.
As I look out at God's wonder of snow and ice and breathe in the fresh crisp air, I marvel at His glorious works and revel
in the magic that is nature.
As much as I enjoy the season of Spring with it's life affirming warmth and explosions of growth all around, I can see even in the icy emptiness of Winter the promises of life to come! On my window sill two Amaryllis plants are grasping for whatever sunshine they can obtain and working ever so hard to produce large colorful flowers that will fill one with awe as they stretch up and open into a bleak world showering it with their beauty and olfactory pleasures.
Birds cluster at the feeders enjoying the array of seeds and breads I have shared with them, each thanking me with their small chirps and cheerful wing flutters as they pass my window.
Life is good today, and I am working in the warmth of the house, putting together packs of my Bad Garb Old Maid Cards
to se sold at events
(we will with any luck make a few events before too long)
and continuing on my steam punk portrait of Tik Tok that I have been working on
for several days.
Now, I am back to work, full of the grace and goodness that life can bestow.... Has this helped clean the slate from yesterday's tirade or must I continue spouting this drivel?
And to keep the powers that be happy ( my wife ) I might mention that I saw some posters for the Wizard of Oz play in Plymouth, but I do not think I will get there, but it would have been fun, I like seeing other people's take on the Oz story.
Just as I enjoyed the movie Inkheart's vision of the Winged Monkeys,
Their Toto was interesting because the movie seemed to dwell on the point that the people who leave a book look exactly like the picture of them in the book,
but Toto who was a Yorkie in the version they were reading,
He came out a shaggy black scotty type of dog. But I liked the movie anyway.
Dennis
As I look out at God's wonder of snow and ice and breathe in the fresh crisp air, I marvel at His glorious works and revel
in the magic that is nature.
As much as I enjoy the season of Spring with it's life affirming warmth and explosions of growth all around, I can see even in the icy emptiness of Winter the promises of life to come! On my window sill two Amaryllis plants are grasping for whatever sunshine they can obtain and working ever so hard to produce large colorful flowers that will fill one with awe as they stretch up and open into a bleak world showering it with their beauty and olfactory pleasures.
Birds cluster at the feeders enjoying the array of seeds and breads I have shared with them, each thanking me with their small chirps and cheerful wing flutters as they pass my window.
Life is good today, and I am working in the warmth of the house, putting together packs of my Bad Garb Old Maid Cards
to se sold at events
(we will with any luck make a few events before too long)
and continuing on my steam punk portrait of Tik Tok that I have been working on
for several days.
Now, I am back to work, full of the grace and goodness that life can bestow.... Has this helped clean the slate from yesterday's tirade or must I continue spouting this drivel?
And to keep the powers that be happy ( my wife ) I might mention that I saw some posters for the Wizard of Oz play in Plymouth, but I do not think I will get there, but it would have been fun, I like seeing other people's take on the Oz story.
Just as I enjoyed the movie Inkheart's vision of the Winged Monkeys,
Their Toto was interesting because the movie seemed to dwell on the point that the people who leave a book look exactly like the picture of them in the book,
but Toto who was a Yorkie in the version they were reading,
He came out a shaggy black scotty type of dog. But I liked the movie anyway.
Dennis
Looking over the many comments(okay one) from my first posting it becomes obvious that
a) I need more than spell check, and
b) someone is reading this.
We had plans for this weekend. Plans to set up and sell items, books and stuff at a big
SCA event in Manchester. It was all set, and then God looked down and said,"Hmmm, that boy
(God's so old he sees a 53 year old man as still a boy) that boy seems to be getting a handle on how to run his life. Can't have that nonsense going on, so ZAP Linda's cold quickly devolves into chest pain and we end up at the local ER having people so dim they can't even pronounce her disease let alone understand it, decide to give her some serious antibiotics, and it's back to bed for her, some making of homemade chicken soup for me, and trips to the local Brooks, for more meds.
Ergo no SCA event for us this weekend.
We gave the table space to a friend, and she came by and took some of my books to put on the table,
but its not quite the same is it?
Since we have no event, I know the weather will be fine, since God has no reason to torment us further since he has done his dirty work and she'll be layed up for a week or two anyway.
How any one could deny the existence of God, when he works so hard to torture us poor lowly creatures, is amazing to me. By pure chance life would only crap on us 50% of the time, since our odds are greatly higher it surely proves the existence of a higher power intervening.
That's it for today,
Oh no, I was informed that unless I put certain words in my text, that people will not find this site, and my readership will be limited to a few friends I have actually asked to read it. So I am supposed (I think that's the corect word) to mention the Wizard of Oz, or the Gump of Oz, my latest book, or even the Graphic Novel of Oz I just completed, even though that's not what I was talking about.
And to those who do not know me.
I really don't care if the Woozy of Oz has ears or not,
but in actuality he does not.
Dennis
a) I need more than spell check, and
b) someone is reading this.
We had plans for this weekend. Plans to set up and sell items, books and stuff at a big
SCA event in Manchester. It was all set, and then God looked down and said,"Hmmm, that boy
(God's so old he sees a 53 year old man as still a boy) that boy seems to be getting a handle on how to run his life. Can't have that nonsense going on, so ZAP Linda's cold quickly devolves into chest pain and we end up at the local ER having people so dim they can't even pronounce her disease let alone understand it, decide to give her some serious antibiotics, and it's back to bed for her, some making of homemade chicken soup for me, and trips to the local Brooks, for more meds.
Ergo no SCA event for us this weekend.
We gave the table space to a friend, and she came by and took some of my books to put on the table,
but its not quite the same is it?
Since we have no event, I know the weather will be fine, since God has no reason to torment us further since he has done his dirty work and she'll be layed up for a week or two anyway.
How any one could deny the existence of God, when he works so hard to torture us poor lowly creatures, is amazing to me. By pure chance life would only crap on us 50% of the time, since our odds are greatly higher it surely proves the existence of a higher power intervening.
That's it for today,
Oh no, I was informed that unless I put certain words in my text, that people will not find this site, and my readership will be limited to a few friends I have actually asked to read it. So I am supposed (I think that's the corect word) to mention the Wizard of Oz, or the Gump of Oz, my latest book, or even the Graphic Novel of Oz I just completed, even though that's not what I was talking about.
And to those who do not know me.
I really don't care if the Woozy of Oz has ears or not,
but in actuality he does not.
Dennis
Being more or less 'puter illiterate, I am venturing into this live journal with a bit of fear and trepidation. My biggest fear is that it will not have a spell check and people will know how dreadful a speller I really am; the second is that my typing skills will annoy potential customers so much they will not buy my books, even tho the books are carefully editied for such things.
It is my hope that someone will reach this site and say, "Hey, now I can askthat guy who wrote the book I read why he did that?" Or maybe just comment on how much they enjoyed something. My dread is that someone will find this place and say, "Hey that guy who wrote that Oz book said the Woozy has no ears, what a twit he is, I have seen ears on all the drawings of the Woozy, this is my chance to tell him he is a jerk!"
BTW I know the Woozy has always been drawn with ears, but it is absolutely stated on page 103 of the Patchwork Girl when he is first introduced, that he does not. While I am a stickler for details I do not allow it to spoil my enjoyment of other people's work.
I recently met a woman at Arisia Con in Boston, who told me she hated the TV show Firefly, because the ship was just not scientifically accurate, and she could not tell how big it was suppose to be. Okay, I guess that's as nit picky as to the existence of the Woozy's ears, but I have never hated a book cos someone mentioned his having the afore-mentioned ears, I usually reserve such hatred for important things such as mentioning dogs or horses in Oz. 8^)
Looking foward to hearing from anyone!
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