Last night, I was going through a collection of e-mail that had been held up due to a system problem. One of them was an invitation by one of my favorite authors at www.fanfiction.net. He gave me his phone number, saying that he would like to discuss my writing and comments I had submitted about his. He also gave me the option of having him phone me, since he has a very good long distance plan.
No sooner did I finish typing an e-mail response than the phone rang. It was "Neb", as he is known to us in the fan fiction. He was calling me all the way from Texas, just to talk writing with me. This is a man who is widely admired in our little world of Kim Possible fandom, who has contact with a number or brilliant writers. What in the name of my great aunt Matilda's bicycle shorts was I going to discuss with him?
I am rather embarrassed to say that I made a fool of myself, going on at length about the current story line I am reading. He sucked me in with this one, and to be honest, I stand in awe of his writing abilities. I don't understand how any publisher could ever have rejected his work. He gave me a lot of insight into what I have just been reading.
If you ever have the chance, meet your heroes. Sometimes you just might learn that you have the potential to do what they do, if even on just a smaller scale. All I did was talk to 'Neb on the phone, but that was enough to have me willing to keep at this writing thing.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Taking our girl to the vet.
This is our darling baby, Isabelle. Yesterday we took her for her annual physical at the vet's office. This is traumatising for an indoor cat, who only goes out in her carrier once each year. It is also expensive, but worth every penny.
She is in perfect health, according "Dr. Devin". She is carrying a little more weight than he would like to see, but that is common in indoor cats that have been spayed. He checked her teeth, and they are good as well.
This was her year for a feline distemper shot. She was very good about it, not even flinching as Dr. Hunt put the needle in. Which is more than can be said for poor Sandra, who hates needles with a passion. She just sat there and gave us her version of the puppy-dog-pout (which I must discuss in another post) as if to tell us, "I really want to go home now!"
The most difficult part of the whole process is travelling. Cats were not made to ride in hot muggy cars for half an hour each way. While the car was in motion, she was fine, but if we had to stop for more than a few seconds, she would meow at us. I felt so bad for her.
Still, she came through safe and sound, and is good for another year.
If only it were so simple with her big sister!
She is in perfect health, according "Dr. Devin". She is carrying a little more weight than he would like to see, but that is common in indoor cats that have been spayed. He checked her teeth, and they are good as well.
This was her year for a feline distemper shot. She was very good about it, not even flinching as Dr. Hunt put the needle in. Which is more than can be said for poor Sandra, who hates needles with a passion. She just sat there and gave us her version of the puppy-dog-pout (which I must discuss in another post) as if to tell us, "I really want to go home now!"
The most difficult part of the whole process is travelling. Cats were not made to ride in hot muggy cars for half an hour each way. While the car was in motion, she was fine, but if we had to stop for more than a few seconds, she would meow at us. I felt so bad for her.
Still, she came through safe and sound, and is good for another year.
If only it were so simple with her big sister!
Friday, June 27, 2008
They grow up so fast.
My youngest niece just turned fifteen yesterday. Fifteen. It's hard to wrap my head around the idea that we don't have any little girls anymore. Any day now she could start bringing home, gasp, boys.
Sure, it's a cliche, but it seems like just yesterday we saw her going to school for the first time. She used to sit in the laundry basket and let her sisters pull her around the house. She screamed when you told her it was bath time and then screamed when you told her to get out of that cold, filthy water.
Barbie dolls were replaced by mp3s and clothing accessories.
On the other hand, our baby isn't a baby anymore either.
As the youngest, we pampered her a bit too much, so she was never very independent. Now she is able to get out and do things on her own more. At her sister's graduation, she sat down the row, so that her uncle and aunt would have seats. Surrounded by strangers, and she was calm and respectful. Something like that would have thrown her into a sheer panic attack just a few months ago.
I am very proud of my Darling Darlene. She's come such a long way. I can't wait to see how far she goes.
Sure, it's a cliche, but it seems like just yesterday we saw her going to school for the first time. She used to sit in the laundry basket and let her sisters pull her around the house. She screamed when you told her it was bath time and then screamed when you told her to get out of that cold, filthy water.
Barbie dolls were replaced by mp3s and clothing accessories.
On the other hand, our baby isn't a baby anymore either.
As the youngest, we pampered her a bit too much, so she was never very independent. Now she is able to get out and do things on her own more. At her sister's graduation, she sat down the row, so that her uncle and aunt would have seats. Surrounded by strangers, and she was calm and respectful. Something like that would have thrown her into a sheer panic attack just a few months ago.
I am very proud of my Darling Darlene. She's come such a long way. I can't wait to see how far she goes.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Where does the time go?
My oldest niece graduated from high school last night. Sandra and I went to the commencement ceremony.
All of a sudden, I felt... old. Where did the time go? It seems like just a few weeks ago I was in my first year at University, and I got word that Steph was born. Now, here she is getting set to start off in the same path. Somehow, you just lose sight of the fact that the kids you used to give horsey rides grow up.
It was a pretty good ceremony, as these things go. Being a Catholic school, there was a short liturgy before the program began. There were certainly enough awards and bursaries handed out. The one kid isn't going to have to pay for his first year of post secondary education, by the looks of things. In a class of 120, there were almost thirty awards.
My next oldest niece is hot on the heels of her sister. She has made great strides from a child who had a learning disability. Mellissa has actually chosen a career path, and knows what she needs to do to get there.
I remember when their biggest decision was what flavour of freezy they wanted to have in the summer. Now they are deciding what to do with the rest of their lives.
Where does the time go?
All of a sudden, I felt... old. Where did the time go? It seems like just a few weeks ago I was in my first year at University, and I got word that Steph was born. Now, here she is getting set to start off in the same path. Somehow, you just lose sight of the fact that the kids you used to give horsey rides grow up.
It was a pretty good ceremony, as these things go. Being a Catholic school, there was a short liturgy before the program began. There were certainly enough awards and bursaries handed out. The one kid isn't going to have to pay for his first year of post secondary education, by the looks of things. In a class of 120, there were almost thirty awards.
My next oldest niece is hot on the heels of her sister. She has made great strides from a child who had a learning disability. Mellissa has actually chosen a career path, and knows what she needs to do to get there.
I remember when their biggest decision was what flavour of freezy they wanted to have in the summer. Now they are deciding what to do with the rest of their lives.
Where does the time go?
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