I fail at updates.

But Raeyn's been aces lately.

VirtualQuill

The Living Years

I've only just found out that a very dear person and amazing long-distance friend passed away suddenly on Sunday due to meningitis.

I can't even tell you precisely when Sharon and I tripped over each other: sometime between '95-97, when both of us were mad for Highlander: The Series and both putting our size ten toes into the whole fan writing pool that would later become an obsession that took up a decade or more and furthered a friendship that distance didn't seem to have much impact on.

I can't tell you what I had to offer this delightful woman from the UK except my own writings and encouragements for her to keep at her epic length work. But I do know that she has been there for me during multiple major life tragedies. Sometime with just an encouraging word, a quick virtual hug, or even some sage wisdom. More often though she offered palpable and touchable signs of her affection and kindness: cards for no reason at all as well as holidays, flowers for my birthday, when my mother died, last year for my surgery for breast cancer. She'd sent me king's cakes for Christmas which were always anticipated and devoured within days.

We've only me in person once or twice, at various conventions, but she was and remains -- even with her passing -- a robust laugh in my ear, a sympathetic pat on my shoulder, and encouraging whisper, and a smiling face I have no doubt I'll see again some day.

God speed, Sharon. God bless, and thank you for being a part of my life -- you are so sorely missed, but not forgotten. Thank you so much for being my friend.

Gracious Me...

Tempted to let this year go without a whimper, as well it should, the scurvy dog, but that would be denying that anything at all good happened, and that's just wrong.

So, for the fast year in review and a mix of good and bad, more or less chronologically.

1. The erstwhile (thank you AuK!) got a job. Not a great job but steady and regular and not overtaxing for her health and condition. Also, possibly to join union, which could mean healthcare, finally. YAYS!!

2. Was finally rid of the tenant from hell. I'm still close to $5K in the hole thanks to that particularly delusional and sociopathic personality, but my blood pressure surelu did come down. Score 1 for the health benefits of getting rid of toxic personalities.

3. HAH! Cancer 2, Me //bats it out of the park//. I'd say I feel like a survivor but I don't. Wasn't anything so dramatic, but I'll give myself points for having actually stuck with the surgical treatments and the insane amount of testing from May through October. I gave myself the last two months off. Everything's healing nicely and I'll dive back in after the new year...I'm only now dealing with the emotional side of all that -- hence the long silence. It's getting better.

3b. Also to the good...*cough* some 30lbs lighter than when I started. Not my first choice of a diet regimen, but knees are certainly happier with me now.

4. NIECES!! \0/ Score TWO!! No pics but arrival of two healthy, if early, adorable twin girls to Nephew Number 1 and his wife. No year can be totally bad when new ones come into it.

5. New Washer! Okay mixed...new washer yay! 'cause the old one finally called for a cab to the old appliance home, which was not so yay. Not an expense I really needed, but still: Ooooh. New. Shiny. Power Tool. //pets//

6. Kittens!! Also like the washer, not really a change desired, but still...KITTENS!!

7. Best friends in the world...from start to finish, bar none, for the flowers and cards and jokes and airfare, and company, 4 days in Baltimore, outrageous, awesome wonderfully generous, each and every one.

8. Second Life: which is a huge time suck!! OMG...such a time suck and yet...has kept me engaged and entertained and distracted and led me to a whole new set of people and potential friends. Also Fashion! Like I could never wear! Or afford! House of My dreams! Time spent with my girl, Cai! Nameless! La Reve! Rez! Botanica!

But mostly fun. I may not be writing, but I am having *fun*.

I have a half dozens draft posts save in her from the last 6 months...some just waiting for a spell check..so if yo use back dated commentary, that would be why.

That's it...maybe more later because I would like to talk about 2L, which has been a huge thing for me since July (yes, about the time the first diagnosis came in.)

Watch this space...

For SL updates, writing updates and ...well...

stuff

Dea-we be-wov-ed...

Marriage is back on the books for Californians, and here's hoping this time it will stick. There's going to be no moving as yet, because November is too close.

Not that going to Cali to get married would make a damn bit of difference to the Dear Old state of Georgia, but still...

**holds breath**

Cool & Rainy - White Pizza Time!

You know that 12-14 inch cast iron skillet I keep telling you guys you need to buy? Well, here's another reason why you need one.

White Pizza with Asparagus & Proscuitto



Ingredients:
- One package of Middle Eastern Flat bread (White or wheat). Flat bread, not pita bread, like the kind you use for gyros.
- 1/4 cup good extra virgin olive oil and a pastry brush
- A Peppermill
- Fresh or dried oregano (fine chop)
- Olive tapenade or finely chopped green and black olives
- Shred white cheese (I use the six cheese italian blend -- you can also use fresh mozarella for this)
- 1/2 yellow onion, sliced very, very thin
- Cooked asparagus tips and stems cut in 1 in lengths
- 5 or 6 finely sliced pieces of Proscuitto, rolled up and chiffonaded
- 1 small can of artichoke hearts, sliced
- Vegetable oil

Heat oven to 500 degrees. Turn your lage cast iron skillet upside down on the rack and brush the bottom with oil (canola,or vegetable -- don't use olive oil for this part, it'll burn). Leave pan in oven.

While the oven's heating up, lay out your bread and brush generously with olive oil, one side only. Fresh grate a little pepper and sprinkle with oregano.

Sparingly spread some olive mixture on the bread (Seasoning, not ingredient.)

Cover with shredded cheese, then spread ingredients over top. Don't be stingy. Drizzle more olive oil (about a tblspn) over everything and give it another shot of pepper.

Place pizza on cast iron pan and allow to cool for about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and edges are turning brown. Remove and let cool for a minute before slicing.

So, easy. So, so good.

Arthur C. Clarke has died.

From the AP, science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke is dead at 90.


Rendezvous With Rama is one of my favorite books ever.

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