7/31/2006

The adventures of a July weekend

We had guests this weekend from L.A., well, Santa Monica to be exact. They are nice guests to have - and not only because their coming heralds a trip to Dark Carnival.

But I mean, I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t admit that’s a big part of it. ;-) I love Dark Carnival. For those who may not have read previous posts, Dark Carnival is a bookstore in Berkeley that shelves only Sci-fi, Fantasy, and Horror titles. Very handy for a sci-fi/fantasy author, don’t you know. I was able to pick up several S.L. Viehl books I had been looking for (happy dance). I know, I know, I can order from Amazon, but there is something to be said for going into a store, browsing around, carrying the books to the counter, and walking out with them…after paying! (Ha, Uncle Monster, beat you to it!) We also went to Star Market, which a few doors down from Dark C. Star Market is one of the best places to pick up Scharfenberger Chocolate - which is DElicious. I highly recommend it.

Having these guests -let’s call them “Bruce” and “Grace”, for privacy’s sake- Having Bruce and Grace over also means a trip to the Berkeley Bowl. Ah, the Bereley Bowl. It is an AMAZING store. Not so much for the dairy or dry goods stuff, although some of it is hard to find anywhere else, but for the meat and produce sections. You can get just about anything. In fact, you can find some very rare things, like Durian Fruit. There have already been several posts on this, so let me refer you to them (why re-invent the wheel?): “Grace”, Andrew #1, Andrew #2, and “Bruce”. The link for Andrew #1 has pictures.

For my part, I kind of liked it…but not plain, not raw. Maybe in a candy or milkshake - which are two common ways people enjoy it. For more info, go to this article at Wikipedia.

We were going to go to the Garlic Festival, but for several reasons, we didn’t go. (Sorry Michelle; I am interested in trying that garlic ice cream, though. If I have any, I’ll give you a report, though…promise.) We decided to have our own mini-festival, so “Bruce” and I cooked supper. We had Garlic hummas and crackers for an appetizer; garlic mac and cheese &/or garlic mashed potatoes; and lamb with a garlic, mint, olive oil dressing-paste thing…”Bruce” made that on the grill. All very yummy.

Sunday was crit group day (hooray), then some more visiting with “Bruce” and “Grace” before a delicious pizza dinner from Strictly To Go Pizza. (-MEGA YUM-!)

So, it was a busy, busy weekend. I have also been trying to get ready for my trip. I leave on Thursday! ACK! :-) So much to do!

How was everyone else’s weekend? Any interesting stories? :-)

sparta at 6:20 pm

Comments (1)

The pre-post post

This is a post to let you know that I will be posting later about my adventures this weekend.

:-)

sparta at 11:24 am

Comments (2)

7/28/2006

Secret Project: REVEALED!

TECH FOR WRITERS is alive!

This project is a combination of two things.

A podcast where I, as your hostess, discuss technology tools writers can use (software, backup utilities, etc.) and technology topics in science, computing, and so on which writers may want to research when they’re writing (suspended animation, biometrics, etc.).

And a forum where writers can talk about science and technology, the show, writing in general….

If you follow the link to the main page, you can listen on-line to the first episode. I apologize, but at this time, it looks as though you have to have Quicktime to do so. You can also subscribe to Tech For Writers using iTunes by clicking HERE.

I have some bugs to work out - I’ll admit that. In the meantime, I would appreciate your comments, suggestions, and feedback! Even if you aren’t a writer - and you do listen - I’d like to hear from you. :-)

Thanks!

sparta at 12:05 pm

Comments (0)

7/24/2006

Hey!

Hi, all! Things here at the compound have been a bit busy - with lots of this’s and that’s going on.

This past weekend - we took the boys and went to see Cars again. It’s really a good movie. The boys had a good time - and it was nice and cold in the theatre. A sharp contrast to the 112 degrees outside! Uck!

This weekend we are going down to experience the Gilroy Garlic Festival. It should be interesting - at the very least. We’re going to meet Bruce and Grace there.

Had a fantastic lunch with my crit group yesterday. They are such wonderful people. ^_^

How are all of you doing? Anything new? exciting? moderately amusing?

sparta at 11:42 am

Comments (2)

7/21/2006

Make it stop - make it stop!

UGH! Now I’m getting comment spam - not much thanks to my Wonderful Sys Admin Who Must Be Worshipped - but what I am getting is comment spam in frakkin’ GERMAN!

I don’t want German spam.
I don’t want ANY spam.
I don’t like spam.
Would anyone like my spam? I’ll forward it to you - gladly.

sparta at 9:19 am

Comments (4)

7/19/2006

Someone intertesting to know

My friend Cara’s daughter, Katy, is in Zambia, Africa right now. She’s on a missionary trip. The group she’s a part of has several teams of teenage missionaries in Africa - all with different missions. A reporter from Florida is covering the different groups’ travels. You can see his journal here.

She’s a very brave young lady for going - and her mom is very brave (and very cool, too) for letting her go! ^_^

~pJ~

sparta at 10:33 pm

Comments (0)

7/17/2006

Strange things are afoot at the Circle T, my friends….

Sorry I’ve been a bit absent from here - there are several things going on all at once.

When I’m able to - I’ll update you on the latest…..

How is everyone else doing?

~PJ~

sparta at 4:02 pm

Comments (6)

7/10/2006

No fancy write-up

This is just a link I wanted to put out there.

What led me there was the word “Free“.

sparta at 12:28 pm

Comments (1)

7/5/2006

For my friend (you know who you are)

Hehe :-D I know you get the joke……

Hope your today is less crazy than your yesterday!

Thinking of you!

~PJ~

sparta at 1:47 pm

Comments (5)

Top 30 Books to Read Before You Die

According to Wordwing Editors, here are the Top 30 Books To Read Before You Die:

The Top 30

[yep] To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
[yep] The Bible (by God!)
[yep] The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by JRR Tolkien
[yep] 1984 by George Orwell
[yep] A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
[yep] Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
[yep] Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
[yep] All Quiet on the Western Front by E M Remarque
[1/3] His Dark Materials Trilogy by Phillip Pullman
[nay] Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
[yep] The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
[yep] The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
[nay] The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
[yep] Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
[yep] Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne
[yep] Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
[yep] The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham
[yep] Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
[yep] Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
[yep] The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
[yep] The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
[nay] The Prophet by Khalil Gibran
[yep] David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
[nay] The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
[nay] The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
[y/n] Life of Pi by Yann Martel
[yep] Middlemarch by George Eliot
[nay] The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
[y/n] A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
[nay] A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzenhitsyn

Yeps= 20 (read it)
Nays= 7 (have never read it)
y/ns= 3 (have read part or excerpts)

Being an English major has had its advantages. ^_^ Not a bad score. What’s yours?

sparta at 12:59 pm

Comments (4)

Ask a Ninja

Ask A Ninja

I’ve posted this before - but it’s just too funny. :-) Well, at least I think it’s funny.

sparta at 12:43 pm

Comments (0)

Ooooooookay

Hope is Emo. Um, yeah.

I apologize for the above link - but you know … knowledge is power. And if we know they’re out there, maybe we can stop them.

:-)

sparta at 12:35 pm

Comments (0)

7/4/2006

A post I made somewhere else

Here’s a post I made somewhere else, but thought I’d share it here, too.

We were tired - we were so tired our tired was tired. Having just arrived at a Nebraska hotel after a very long day of driving on the freeway, the last thing on our mind, honestly, was that it was the 4th of July. We were moving cross-country to California at the time. After literally dropping our bags into our room, we stumbled down to the restaurant to eat, happy we didn’t have to drive to get there. We felt a little better after eating. On our way out, one of the waitresses wished us a Happy 4th of July; we returned it, and then she said, “If your room’s on the 2nd floor toward the freeway, you’ll have a great view of all the fireworks.” It just so happened we were on the 2nd floor facing the freeway, so we asked what time they would start. She told us they’d be starting in about 20 minutes, so we went back to the room, moved some furniture around, and opened the blinds.

We had the best view of the prettiest fireworks I’d seen in a while. And it struck my husband and I both - that moment. There we were - traveling west with our kids, following a new opportunity, enjoying a freedom others only dream of - on the 4th of July.

Last night my youngest called me into his room with unbridled joy in his voice. I looked out his window toward the other hills and saw … fireworks. The hubby and other son joined us, and once again, we had the best view. I felt so lucky at that moment.

They say Thanksgiving is a time to pause and reflect on your good fortune, but for some people, I think it’s the 4th of July.

Have a Safe and Happy 4th, everyone!

sparta at 12:58 pm

Comments (0)

7/3/2006

Random Bits

Okay - I have a bunch of random bits to blog about - but no time right now. Later this afternoon, I will return, and blog about all that stuff. Promise.

~PJ~

sparta at 12:23 pm

Comments (5)