Kevin's Watch

lurch: Maybe the ice cream guy thought holiday music would cool everyone off. Guess it didn't work, huh?

Ananda wrote:

aliantha wrote:

Ananda wrote:For those of us who don't use facebook, tweetie and the rest, what is a facebook party?

Sorry. Facebook has a function for events. They give you a special page, and you send invitations to other Facebook users, giving them a specific time to show up on the page. They reply yes, no, or maybe, just like in real life -- and just like in real life, they may or may not actually show up for the event.

This event was set up by a review blog called OddityReviews.com. The blogger lined up writers of paranormal fiction to host a party every night this month -- a different author every night. Tonight was my night to host. We had a pretty good crowd -- I met a bunch of new readers (who may or may not ever read my books, but whatever ), and I gave away all the prizes. So I'm calling it a success.

Aha. So, it is like Skype where you video conference or a chat or something?

And, glad to hear it went well for you.

Thanks! And yes, kind of a cross between a Skype chat (no video) and a BBS. There's a specific internet address for the event (like a thread on the Watch) but the streaming posts update automatically (like a Skype chat). Does that make sense?

Edited to add: The camping trip turned out to be okay. It wasn't nearly as hot as advertised under the trees. Although it rained for several hours last night and I realized I hadn't quite staked the tent out properly when I woke up to a puddle on the floor. Probably should have stuck it out today -- the rain stopped around 6am and it's been nice since then -- but I bagged it and brought everything home. I dumped all the wet gear in the bathtub when I got in, and now the tub is full of leaf mold. And I'm just waiting for one of the cats to rip a hole in the tent while it's upended and drying...

Now I want to go camping...

aliantha wrote:And I'm just waiting for one of the cats to rip a hole in the tent while it's upended and drying...

Oh dear. My favorite cat-related camping incident involved accidentally bringing home a giant insect, which had my 20-lb cat standing on the opposite side of the room, frozen with one paw pointing at it like a hunting dog while chattering urgently. "Hey, hey, you with the thumbs, you need to deal with this RIGHT NOW, seriously, this is out of my pay grade, oh no, is it looking at me?"

It was a month before he would go near my camping equipment.

I wish I'd thought of that!

Eh, most of my cats would regard a giant bug as a source of entertainment and/or protein, but that one was a bit of a coward.

(Not that I ever would have said so to his face; in his own mind he was a lion.)

Sonny (our dog) once vomited up a live roach. that was fun.

Oh man, I could tell you hairball stories...

Been through a rough week. But I'm baaaaaack. (without a functioning baaaaaack ) and doing it with out any assistance from medication. (so be scared, be very scared)

I had two large bbq's this last week. My old staff. It was fun but sad to see the condition the staff is in. Played loud ghettofied music that freaked out my muslim neighbors (I live next to a Mosque) during ramadan.

My veggies are not doing well this year. Weird weather and some neglect on my part. Gardening with a bad back sucks.

And I have been actually writing again. I stopped my book and am working on a play. I am enjoying it.

Next Monday is my big surgery in my jaw/sinus/tooth. yuck.

Thats it for me for now. Trying to be more active around here. Not easy for me when I want to isolate. Working on it.

Also hard to be more active/not isolate yourself when you're in pain. Hang in there, lorin.

Yeah, I understand the isolation thing. Sometimes I just want to pack up the catlings and become a hermit.

lorin wrote:And I have been actually writing again. I stopped my book and am working on a play. I am enjoying it.

Good for you. I tend to write a lot when I am stressed out - as I've said before, it's my least self-destructive way of handling stress. Sometimes, anyway. I reached a plot impasse last night and went to bed early, only to wake up a couple of hours later with a Eureka! solution. Normally I can put it off - having something in the cache can actually be good. I have this never-ending storyline thing I've been adding to for the past 24 years, mainly as an exercise/stress reliever. The downside is when I get an idea for it, it has to be written down. I can put it off for a day or two, maybe a week, but the need to write it down will just keep getting stronger. After I commit it to paper it doesn't matter if I destroy it, but if I don't write it down it will eventually distract me to the point where I walk into walls. (Yes, there's a story there. Yes, it's embarrassing.)

lorin wrote:Been through a rough week. But I'm baaaaaack. (without a functioning baaaaaack ) and doing it with out any assistance from medication. (so be scared, be very scared)

I had two large bbq's this last week. My old staff. It was fun but sad to see the condition the staff is in. Played loud ghettofied music that freaked out my muslim neighbors (I live next to a Mosque) during ramadan.

My veggies are not doing well this year. Weird weather and some neglect on my part. Gardening with a bad back sucks.

And I have been actually writing again. I stopped my book and am working on a play. I am enjoying it.

Next Monday is my big surgery in my jaw/sinus/tooth. yuck.

Thats it for me for now. Trying to be more active around here. Not easy for me when I want to isolate. Working on it.

Lorin, hope things are improving for you backwise. Didn't realise you wrote plays!

Good luck with the surgery on Monday. Sounds ghastly.

Yes, good luck.

What Io and Sorus said.

I'm feeling a little shamefaced as I return here after long, unexplained absences. I'm close to many members here, and I haven't treated everyone the best by just up and absenting myself. So, sorry. My reasons, if there's interest, can be found in the "Wither the Watch" thread.

I do have a lot of love for this place, and I want it to keep being the awesome place its been to me. I'm at a stage now, I believe and very much hope, that I can be a valuable contributor while keeping my online activity in good balance with the rest of my life.

Welcome back.

Cambo wrote:I'm feeling a little shamefaced as I return here after long, unexplained absences. I'm close to many members here, and I haven't treated everyone the best by just up and absenting myself. So, sorry. My reasons, if there's interest, can be found in the "Wither the Watch" thread.

I do have a lot of love for this place, and I want it to keep being the awesome place its been to me. I'm at a stage now, I believe and very much hope, that I can be a valuable contributor while keeping my online activity in good balance with the rest of my life.

Watchhusband..........whatever contribution you make and whenever you make it, you are always welcome and valued. I am just glad you're back and safe. I missed you.

Me too. (Except the husband part.) Great to see you again.

Hey, nice to see Bill Hicks again

I'm feeling c-c-cold!! Coldest day of the year today. Current temperature is 5 degrees Celsius, yes, 5 degrees!! And it's nearly 2pm.

Brrrrrr....


In other news, I've just finished Dry July - no booze for the month of July, to try and develop some better habits and also raise money for people living with cancer. It's been a worthwhile experience - I've had a lot more energy, especially at night. Having said that, I might partake in a glass of vino tonight!

Nice to see you around again Cambo. 'Bout bloody time. Look forward to your continued participation.

--A

Cambo! We've been thinking about you.

Daww thanks for the welcome guys. I'm feeling happy and hopeful right now. I am doing a polytech degree that will put me well on the road to becoming a counselor, and I'm loving it. It's nice to finally have a direction- I didn't realise how much I was missing it.