Talk in the Shadows

Holiday Knitting

2009-12-22T18:42:24Z

Four men's socks in one week may not sound like a lot, but it is. Men's feet are huge! Thousands and thousands of tiny little stitches in fingering weight. My right thumb and forefinger are wrapped in band aids but the two pairs are done and under the tree.

I did get an early Christmas present out of the job, though, which made the task much easier, an Ott light. http://www.ott-lite.com/p-71-tasklitehd-reg-5999-sale-4999.aspx

When you get all done with it, it's just a pair of socks, and I wonder if non-knitter recipients ever really "get" what goes into such a gift, but knitters knit for the love of it, and those they knit for.

Teaview

2009-12-22T18:13:35Z

A review of one of my favorite Yunnan teas, from one of my favorite vendors.

http://www.teaviews.com/2009/12/21/review-sensational-tea-yunnan-fop-dianhong/

A Quote

2009-12-21T16:58:09Z

Madly trying to finish a few knitting projects, I've been in front of the TV a lot. Yesterday I got to "see" (half watch half knit) Pixar's "Ratatouille" again. I adore Pixar's work, not just for the amazing visuals, but for their exceptional story telling. Here's one of my favorite quotes ever, which happens to come from that movie.

Anton Ego: "In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. The new needs friends."

This is so freakin' cool!!!

2009-12-19T20:58:35Z

This makes me miss my old Jeep Cherokee even more. You really can make music with anything. It takes them a minute to really get going, but it's worth the wait.

Argggggh!

2009-12-19T05:58:56Z

Knitting during the exciting parts of Criminal Minds can be counterproductive. >:-(

But we are on Disc 2 of season 4!

Nightrunner Map Limited Edition Still Available!

2009-12-17T17:39:53Z

Nightrunner Map still available. 18x24" facsimile of Lynn's working map, signed and numbered. Limited edition. http://www.sff.net/people/Lynn.Flewelling/market/m.maps.html

Paypal payments can be made to: lbflewelling@roadrunner.com

New Nightrunner Goods

2009-12-16T20:49:19Z

NEW Nightrunner Goodies now available at my Cafe Press shop including Sigg bottles, aprons, better tote bags, and the new White Road design.

Nightrunner Scholars

2009-12-16T19:41:25Z

A while back the author of this scholarly paper sent me a copy, and now alert reader moyo_mo has given me a link to it. Very interesting reading! Poor Alec! ;-)

http://www.asianlang.mq.edu.au/japanese/documents/DialogueinTranslation_final.pdf

Today's Buddhist Thought

2009-12-14T18:51:10Z

Hate is not overcome by hate; by love alone is hate appeased. This is an eternal law. The Buddha

Do Your Christmas Shopping at the Nightrunner Shop!

2009-12-14T17:33:59Z

It's not too late to order Nightrunner goodies from my Cafe Press shop:
http://www.cafepress.com/flewelling

I have a wide variety of items, designed by Robert Place, from mugs to teeshirts, decals to mouse pads!

Maine Humor

2009-12-14T16:56:47Z

From my friend NC:

98% OF AMERICANS SAY 'OH SHIT' BEFORE
GOING IN THE DITCH ON A SLIPPERY ROAD.

THE OTHER 2% ARE FROM MAINE AND THEY SAY,
'HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS.'

Teaview

2009-12-12T16:43:43Z

The review of one of my all time favorite teas I have reviewed so far is now up at Teaviews.com. This is an exceptionally fine Tie Guan Yin oolong, incredibly fragrant and favorful. I brew it gong fu style and a few grams produce pot after pot of excellent tea. Good prepared western style, as well. It is heat dried, rather than roasted, and has a fresh, sweet flavor that is lighter than some TGYs.

Norbu Diamond Grade Tie Guan Yin Spring Harvest 2009.

***See essay on Gong Fu Brewing below, in several sections.

For a nice selection of good quality Yixing teapots, see: http://www.sensationalteas.com/yixing.html

Buddhist Thought For the Day

2009-12-11T19:32:57Z

Not really a thought, just a couple of peaceful pictures I took during the Deer Park Retreat last September.

Thich Naht Hanh giving a dharma talk at the big mountain-top Buddha during early morning walking mediation. It was cold!

The Big Buddha

Voice Post

2009-12-11T19:28:43Z

LOL Just noticed the transcription. Love how they spelled my name! If I need a pseudonym, perhaps I can use it.

Invasion

2009-12-11T00:03:05Z

A major ant invasion this afternoon. Doug had to come home and gas them, after I tore the pantry apart to get rid of whatever was attracting them. They came in through the ceiling by the front door, marched around the crown molding into the dining room, and into the kitchen, across the top of the fridge and down into the five shelves of the pantry. Thousands of the little critters! The house is a shambles and reeks of Raid. Not conducive to creativity, but I forge onward.

Bakshi

2009-12-10T03:26:18Z

I had a relatively productive writing day today, part of which was describing the game of bakshi, which has existed since book one, with very little detail. I've always known it was played with gaming stones, sets of which can be as simple as a handful of pebbles or very elaborate and expensive carved semi precious stones. I know that it can be played on a formal table, or on a grid of some sort scratched into the dust or chalked on a floor. The point is to capture opponent's pieces, and to make different patterns which, as of today, are: serpents, spears, flowers, and snares.

And that's it for now. You'd think after all the money Seregil and his buddies have won at it, I'd have more information. C'mon boys, give Mom a hand!

Teaview

2009-12-09T16:42:20Z

California Tea House Silver Needle: White teas take a sensitive palate to appreciate them, as they are very subtle. Here's a good one.

The View From Here

2009-12-05T01:10:08Z

The end of a long but fairly productive day. I drew a Tarot card for inspiration this morning and got "Judgement", which is about shedding old skins, renewel, resurrection. After a bit of a dry spell these past few days, my writer mind resurrected itself and I sloughed off some dead stuff and added some new. Not a bad day.

And yes, my office really is that dark and murky and red. ;-)

"The Snow Machine Pummeled Through the White-Dusted Plain Like a Jubilant Beaver"

2009-12-04T20:54:08Z

The results of Slate Magazine's "Write like Sarah Palin" contest! No, I didn't enter.
http://www.slate.com/id/2237261

Spidey no more

2009-12-04T20:21:26Z

Operation Spider Lift was a success. No casualties at all. He is now a free range spider.

Not so inseey weensy spider

2009-12-04T17:50:07Z

I have a new friend. I call him Spider. Actually, he is a spider and he is currently living in the guest bathroom sink. He is in considerable danger of being washed "down the water spout", although I am careful. I really need to get a glass or something and air lift him outside. I think he's just a wolf spider. I don't know what a brown recluse looks like.

Here's Spider.

Hotchins on a Surfboard!

2009-12-03T19:22:41Z

LOL! Watching bits and pieces of "Psycho Beach Party" and Thomas Gibson from "Criminal Minds" is in it as a surfer dude named Kanaka. Same haircut. Same stone face. Horrible acting. Picture Hotch in a Hawaiian shirt and board shorts. And then in black lingerie and bondage cuffs! Too funny!

Enough jocularity. Off to work.

An Unexpected Otter!

2009-12-03T04:28:44Z

I made one of my sporadic visits to the post office today to mail the contest book marks and when I checked my mail, there was a large package waiting for me. Inside was an almost life sized statue of an otter, sent to me by a generous and thoughtful lady named Holly Hancock. Holly, if you're here, THANK YOU!! She's adorable. At the moment she is standing guard at my office door.

She looks very happy there, don't you think? :-D

I've been swined!

2009-12-03T00:44:14Z

Finally got my flu shot! Having had something very like H1N1 two years ago, I sure don't want it again. Lost 10 days of my life to that and don't remember much about them, except pain.

Early Xmas present from Circlet Press

2009-12-02T02:22:12Z

Cross posted from Outer Alliance:

So we do an annual thing at circlet.com where from December 1st to
25th we post a new erotic science fiction or erotic fantasy story
every day, just for a day.

It's my version of an advent calendar, where you get a little
something sweet every day while you count down to the big holiday of
love and joy. In my world, love & joy = erotic stories, of course!

The stories are like Circlet Press itself, varied, some gay, some
lesbian, some het, some kinky, some genderqueer, some more difficult
to categorize than that. The main thing is there's a new one each day
appearing around 1am Eastern US time, and then the old one disappears
around the same time, so people are encouraged to come back again and
again.

Please drop by and sample the free sweetness, and if you are so
inclined, please pass the word in your own blogs & social media. It's
a party that everyone is invited to.

Cecilia Tan
Editorial Director