Mary Stewart, author (birthname Mary Rainbow -- too cool)
How did I miss this? She died back in May (or so). I hadn't thought about her for many years, but she was one of my favorite authors for many years. I suppose you'd call her books "romances," but her heroines were intelligent and brave, her settings were interesting, her plots not too outrageous, and her dialogue was witty and true.
Of all the books she wrote, I most enjoyed Nine Coaches Waiting.
Friday, August 15, 2014
Monday, August 11, 2014
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Update 2
Linda wants to know more about the proofing gig and my brother's sailing plans. Anything to oblige.
The proofing/copy-editing gig came about from a post on our local Facebook page. I guess I replied with an amazing answer because she hired me. She'd written an 80-pg book of what she called "prose poems," which seemed to be little vignettes and commentaries that are all vaguely linked. So, not a big job, but interesting. It went to her editor/publisher a week or so ago. Also, she paid promptly. It was fun -- I love doing that kind of work.
A friend is now working for a large printing company (mass mailing type of stuff), so I may eventually get some part-time proofing through her.
As to my brother: He's finally about to realize a lifelong dream of sailing off over the horizon and maybe never coming back. He lives in San Francisco. He bought a 42ft ketch, which seemed like a bargain but has since required more fixing up than planned. So his intended leave date of mid-March is now going to be mid-August. He's got a crew of a woman named Katrine from New Zealand, who has sailing experience and wants to go home, and Mano, an old friend with no sailing experience who wants to go before he won't be able to (sort of like my brother). There was another guy with experience but he's just gone down with medical problems. First stop will be Hawaii, where bro has friends. Then off to the South Pacific islands like French Polynesia, then New Zealand.
If he's had enough of deep water sailing by then, he may sell the boat and use the money to travel, or come home (either back to SF or to NC).
This is all assuming he survives. I got him a ballcap from the USS Asheville (4th iteration--a submarine currently based in San Diego) as a bon voyage present.
He says he's alternately exhilarated and terrified. Me, too (he's the last of my immediate family).
The proofing/copy-editing gig came about from a post on our local Facebook page. I guess I replied with an amazing answer because she hired me. She'd written an 80-pg book of what she called "prose poems," which seemed to be little vignettes and commentaries that are all vaguely linked. So, not a big job, but interesting. It went to her editor/publisher a week or so ago. Also, she paid promptly. It was fun -- I love doing that kind of work.
A friend is now working for a large printing company (mass mailing type of stuff), so I may eventually get some part-time proofing through her.
As to my brother: He's finally about to realize a lifelong dream of sailing off over the horizon and maybe never coming back. He lives in San Francisco. He bought a 42ft ketch, which seemed like a bargain but has since required more fixing up than planned. So his intended leave date of mid-March is now going to be mid-August. He's got a crew of a woman named Katrine from New Zealand, who has sailing experience and wants to go home, and Mano, an old friend with no sailing experience who wants to go before he won't be able to (sort of like my brother). There was another guy with experience but he's just gone down with medical problems. First stop will be Hawaii, where bro has friends. Then off to the South Pacific islands like French Polynesia, then New Zealand.
If he's had enough of deep water sailing by then, he may sell the boat and use the money to travel, or come home (either back to SF or to NC).
This is all assuming he survives. I got him a ballcap from the USS Asheville (4th iteration--a submarine currently based in San Diego) as a bon voyage present.
He says he's alternately exhilarated and terrified. Me, too (he's the last of my immediate family).
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Update
So another year has rolled around on my personal calendar. Unless we get rained out on Sunday, we're going to get a bunch together and go play miniature golf. This ought to be a hoot and a half, though one of us grew up on a putt-putt course, but the rest of us are normal folk and haven't played in years.
I'm still planning on getting out of the RV and into a structure of some kind. I actually have plans on how to do it.
Sundry celebrity folk have died who were of passing interest to me but not enough to merit a blog post.
My brother is two weeks away from starting his deep-sea sailing career. He says he may never come back. That's okay. Survival is what counts.
I appreciate all the people in my life, the ones right here in Asheville and the ones whose blogs I follow. Thanks, all.
Freya the husky is blowing out her coat again so tufts of downy whiteness are everywhere. She gets combed every day now and each day there's enough to make a new dog. Good bird nest material. She's such a great dog.
I just finished a job of work, proofing and copy-editing an 80-page mss. of what the author calls "prose poems." Whatever. I love doing this kind of work, and we did all over the computer and have never met. Cool.
So, life's rocking along and will continue to do so for some years, one hopes.
I'm still planning on getting out of the RV and into a structure of some kind. I actually have plans on how to do it.
Sundry celebrity folk have died who were of passing interest to me but not enough to merit a blog post.
My brother is two weeks away from starting his deep-sea sailing career. He says he may never come back. That's okay. Survival is what counts.
I appreciate all the people in my life, the ones right here in Asheville and the ones whose blogs I follow. Thanks, all.
Freya the husky is blowing out her coat again so tufts of downy whiteness are everywhere. She gets combed every day now and each day there's enough to make a new dog. Good bird nest material. She's such a great dog.
I just finished a job of work, proofing and copy-editing an 80-page mss. of what the author calls "prose poems." Whatever. I love doing this kind of work, and we did all over the computer and have never met. Cool.
So, life's rocking along and will continue to do so for some years, one hopes.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
RIPs
•Ruby Dee, actress, activist, partner to Ossie Davis for decades, great lady.
•Eli Wallach, actor, chewed scenery in many iconic movies, such as "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" and "The Magnificent Seven," but one almost no-one has seen his turn as a head in a barrel of oil (his body has dissolved away) in a martial arts film conceived by Bruce Lee, who died before he could star in it -- it's called "Circle of Iron."
•Eli Wallach, actor, chewed scenery in many iconic movies, such as "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" and "The Magnificent Seven," but one almost no-one has seen his turn as a head in a barrel of oil (his body has dissolved away) in a martial arts film conceived by Bruce Lee, who died before he could star in it -- it's called "Circle of Iron."
Monday, June 9, 2014
Goats at Work
Lots of trash was found, as well as many loose stumps and a few logs and stomped-down remnants of a wire fence with barbed wire on top. Tillman is going to help me take away the brush piles left by the goats (just branches and sticks too big for the goats to eat). There are massive vines hanging off the trees where they cut the lower parts for the goats to eat. The hope is that the vines will die and eventually drop off the trees (and not kill them).
I'm probably going to have to have someone come regularly for basic maintenance -- I don't have the tools, knowledge, or strength to beat back a jungle every month.
At least now I can run a line from corner to corner and see what I've got. I'm pleased with the goats.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
