Confessions of a Mad Writer

It's Been A While

2009-01-05T11:47:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I haven't posted in ages. Slapped wrist and all that. My pills are NOT doing good things to my head, and I had to really push my point when I went to see the doc today to get him to consider putting me on something that isn't worse for me than no medication at all. So I feel really bad most of the time, and can't even concentrate for long. Perfect time for some quality writing, then.
In good news, getting married. Third time lucky this Samhain.

Of Ear Emergencies, and Owies

2008-11-19T13:46:00.000-08:00

I'd started stretching my ear to 8mm, and it was going well. Right up until the curved bit straightened out. Then there were gobbets of blood, and I was sensible enough to put the 6mm back in before it got nasty.
So I phoned up Graeme at the place where I had my second hole done and had bought a few pieces since (not the current one, one on the other ear that I stopped with because I didn't know why it had gone weird), and jokingly told him that I had an emergency. After a bit of discussion, he said that he was picking up supplies this morning, and could stop by here first if I knew the sort of thing I wanted.
This means that, less than 12 hours after I realised that the problem was happening again, I have a straight 8mm howlite taper in there. It's so pretty. After this, I just stretch to 10mm, so that it's not a tight fit and the plug can be removed easily for cleaning (which should be done every couple of days), and then choose from the plethora of plugs that I bought on sale.
Both Dave and I have cut our fingers. It's the same finger, in the same place and stuf. Weird, huh?

"I'll beat you on the head with a wooden spoon!"

2008-11-17T08:24:00.000-08:00

Thursday night, we were all having dinner together, when I burst out with, "the plates depress the hell outta me!"
So Jade said, "If you wanna get some different ones with YOUR money, fine by me. Have to be ones I like, though, or I'll beat you on the head with a wooden spoon!"
So we took Hermes for his appointment with a phychologist earlier - he's fine, but I feel that he needs more than I know how to give him - and then went shopping. A couple of hours and about 100 big ones later, no more depressing china or mismatched cutlery. I went for warm tones, and cutlery with a slight sun pattern at the bottom. All very classy and cheerful.
There was hysteria on Saturday when I lost my bank card (I don't do credit cards, the only way that affects me is that I can only buy from 90% of places and I don't run the risk of getting in debt). It turned out that I had tucked it away so carefully to avoid losing it that I couldn't find it.

Cardinals

2008-11-12T00:52:00.000-08:00

I haven't postwed for a few days, so Dave's making me now. Am still ill, and am v. swollen now. Not much walking today, then. Back to bed in a bit. If I can't sleep, I'll do a cross stitch of a cardinal that I'm working on for my dad's birthday. I got the kit on Saturday, and it has some stitches that I've never used before, so is stretching my skills a little. i chose to do this design because he has a jumper with a cardinal emroidered on it, and he loves the design. I'll get this one and a few i've been putting off framed professionally when it's done.
Otherwise, I've just been writing, and I created a new site. I'll link you to that when I can get the link. Tripod's down atm

Getting Better

2008-11-05T11:42:00.000-08:00

Feeling yucky, but not quite so much. Getting some qualit writing done, too. Word 200o7 is so much better than '97, as I found out when I loaded a demo. Oh, and buying that counts as a business expense, because I use it for my writing. I can tell word count without keep clicking stuff, there's better layout options, and quite a good dictionary. Here's the first two scenes of what I've been working on on there atm.

Sign of the Times

“Daughter, I know how you feel,” the handsome middle-aged man said placatingly, running his hands through his thick chocolate beard.
“You do not!” his teenage daughter replied heatedly, jade eyes flashing and fiery curls whipping about her. “If you did, you would not try to force me!”
“I do understand,” he insisted, “I was in the same position when I married your mother. But I understood my duty as a prince of this country, and I could not have known greater joy than your mother has shown me. I never dreamed that I could love her, but a part of me died with her last year.”
“But I’m not you, I could never love anyone but Mario.”
“I will give you three days alone here to think about the situation. If you do not change your mind, I shall cease my attempts to persuade you. Of course, it would like cause war with Alustaria if you were to reject their prince.” He turned and left the room, then waved goodbye before he shut the door. He was inordinately fond of his youngest child, his only daughter, and trusted her to make the right decision.

· * *

The night was moonless, the armour black, and no fires were lit; and so there was nothing to give away the presence of the army camped just outside the capitol city.
The general cast a quick spell that illuminated his face, and addressed his troops. “Gentlemen, we go not to fight men, but to fight against the murder of our countrymen. Will you stand with me?”
“Yes!” they roared as one.
“Will you bow down to the king who murdered our beloved princess?”
“Never!”
“I thought one of our physicians said she died of natural causes,” one private whispered to his friend.
The other man shrugged. “You know Rathco, never let the facts get in the way of a good war.”
“Shall we stand aside as they slaughter our countrymen who come to settle here?”
“Never!”
“I thought our lot got sick with something the locals had become immune to,” the private whispered again.
“Well, I lived here for a few years, and was about the only one who took the offered medicine for it. About the only one who never got sick straight away, too. We could sneak off.”
The first private grinned.
“And how shall we repay them for their crimes?” the general demanded.
“With their blood!” a smaller proportion of the troops replied.
“Exactly,” he continued vehemently, “we shall strike at the heart of their nation. We shall bring the country to its knees, but we shall let its death be long and painful; just as they made ours. Tomorrow, we strike.”
That was the day before Aurora was confined to her room.

Yesterday's post

2008-11-05T01:24:00.000-08:00

Here is yesterday's posting, which didn't go through
I worked out why I have d & v, it's the echinacea that I started 2 days before that kicked off. Over a month's worth of fizzy tablets down the lav was so foamy. I'll be completely better in 5 days, with any luck. Maybe this is why my period's rather over-due.
I lost my glasses, and Dave turned the bedroom upside down to find the two pairs. Found so much stuff I thought I'd lost, lol.
This was my excuse for not doing much writing. I use my ipod touch as a notebook, and either have it open in front of the pc and stop typing up when the battery's low (it isn't recognised by the pc), or plugged into the laptop when I'm working on there.

I remember Halloween...

2008-11-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

...because I haven't got smashed the last two years. Yay temperance!
Been so busy Thursday onwards, prepping for, doing, and recovering from Halloween. Ben and Tony were angels, so no change there, Joel was a mole, Hermes was a monkey, so didn't bother with a costume, Willow was Hayley Williams, and Billy insisted that he was 'the huggermonster, Mummy, and I gonna attack u!'
Trick-or-treating was banned locally, but parties were not. The kids invited their closest friends to the one Dave and Jade was doing, and the boys put them to bed at their times.
My angel/devil costume was greeted with slightly horrified gasps when I had to go work, which was the desired response. Few didn't react at first, but did when I flapped the wings.
Oh, and I love Word 2007. I tried a demo version, and decided it was a keeper. It's just so much easier to use in general, and the in-built dictionary means I don't have to keep consulting an on-line one. The rest of Office 2007 is apparently very good, and well worth paying 50 to use it on three computers. Sorry for sounding like an ad there, but it's important to have decent tool and when you find the best ones it's just incredible. I blurted this to Dave, and he said that I'm so sweet.

"It only hurts when I breathe"

2008-10-29T12:40:00.000-07:00

I thought I was getting better yesterday, but I'm all crappy today. Hope I'm better tomorrow, as we're going out for the day. I'm on cherry Halls and ear spray, plus the usual. The throat sweet are vital, as I start coughing when my nthroat gets dry and that affects by bladder and pulls my diaphragm uncormfortably. I'm all bunged up :(
We dyed Willow's hair ready for Halloween earlier, and it looks amazing. She unsurprisingly wants to go as Hayley Williams, her female guitar hero. We made her up a lil copy of the funny bear top and jeans, and will punkify her hair on the day. We couldn't find a way of dying her eyebrows without the dye leaking all over her cute lil face, so I used a glamour for that.
I forgot to say yesterday that I typed up the full story that I wrote on mhy ipod, and am thinking of giving it as a freebie when people buy my novel. Only they'd have to e-mail me saying they bought it and prove it (something like telling me what the quote that heads chapter twenty-seven is), then I e-mail the story as an attachment. Either way, it will be exclusively available through my Lulu store. Below is the first two paragraphs.

The Tattooed Lady
Mike was alone in the dorm for once. He had learnt to seek companionship, for the darkness of solitude called to him in a voice that he found hard to resist. And it became more difficult the longer that he was alone.
That Thursday night, he felt himself start to break. He heard the voices whispering again, and began to follow them. He knew nothing of where he was going, only that he must.

Completion

2008-10-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

Forgot to say, I finished a song I'd been grappling with for a while
Don’t Let Go
“Give up!” they say,
“It’s easier that way.”
It’s tempting when life’s bitter as bile
And you forget the last time you smiled.

Chorus
Hold on when it gets tough,
I know you’re strong enough.
It’s so tempting just to let go,
But where you’re heading
could be twice as tough.

The road is hard,
But it’s much harder
when you lose the path.
Just fol/low your/ heart.

Repeat chorus

They tell you that you’re doing wrong.
They tell you that you don’t belong.
They try to break you down,
Turn your smile into a frown.

Repeat chorus

Just give life one last try.
Wipe that tear from your eye.

Repeat chorus to fade

Jade gets techy

2008-10-28T11:15:00.000-07:00

I thought that my laptop was broken last night, as it switched itself off while I was using it. I mentioned this to Jade in passing earlier, and he suggested that it wasn't plugged in and so had run out of battery. Of COURSE it was plugged in, but I hadn't banked on someone having switched that plug off for once. So I'm typing away on my purty laptop, and she's charging up. I'm thinking of calling her Stace, after an ex.
http://daisyburrows.deviantart.com/art/A-fragment-of-my-heart-98212679
So I went to the doc for the medical review that was misscheduled before. I told him that the happy pills are great, but I keep getting ill and that I need to focus on strengthening my imune system so that I don't get the stuff, rather than being given potentially more harmful things because no one's sure what I'm getting.
He gave me some ear spray that he promised won't give me the fun ear eczema, suggested some sort of booster tonic from the pharmacy for my immune system, gave me another prescription for my happy pills, and confirmed that I'm doing the right thing with my earlobe.
The pharmacist said that the best thing to take is echinacea, which I was already taking as I thought that it would help, and multi-vits is always a good idea. So I'll finish my iron tabs, then take the multi-vits.
My pretty jade charmology bracelet broke today :( This is what happens when you use inferior elastic. Good job I got some Stretch Magic on weds, so I can re-thread that later.

Fashion+

2008-10-27T14:17:00.000-07:00

Soo I went into town with my Davey on Sat morning, after he woke me at 10. I get woken by the kids as usual atm, then go back to bed and sleep after I sort them out. While we were out Dedfred, friend and tailor, rang in hysterics as one of his models was having her occassional fainting fits. It turned out that she's a similar size to me, so I offered to step into the breach. He gave me an Indian-style skirt that I'd loved wearing, and asked me if I'd do more of his shows. He calls them 'Fashion+' as they're clothes for larger women and drag queens.
I was flattered by him saying that I was a natural, so agreed to do the next one. I already do his promo photos in exchange for some of the stuff that he makes me, so I thought why not.
Talking of that, he's just finished the final adjustment on my Halloween costume. It looks amazing. I tried it with the wig, and it was just wow in a gross way. It'll look incredible with make-up as well. I've gone for an angel-devil look, split up the middle and complete with moving wings (there's a butrton you can press). The effect will be sort of like Two-face, only morer extreme. I'll only be showing certain people, as I've had a bad reaction from the only other person who saw it, even.
The swelling on my ear has pretty much gone down. I've decided that it won't do it any good to rest it further, and have put a 2mm and 3mm taper in. The hole shrunk some, and I'm being very careful not to push it too much.
I love Davey so much. I can be so open with him, it's amazing. True intimacy is to show someone the parts of you that you're usually afriad to let out, and know that they won't be repelled. We have that, and I have no desire for anyone else. Well, not to the level where I would consider being unfaithful. That's new for me. Before, I've not only considered but done. That's how we got together, in fact.

Feeling under

2008-10-24T04:43:00.000-07:00

Illness is an excuse for slacking off, though we sadly can't take full advantage of it. I promised myself I'd blog every day I was here, apart from the weekend, and I blatantly haven't.
So I decided that my ear will heal much better without the jewellery in it, and that was the right choice. The bottom hole is almost healed, and I'll hopefully be able to get the jewellery back in before it closes up. Hope so.
I have been using my ipod touch as a notebook, and it's just brilliant. As soon as I work out how to set up an e-mail account there, I'll send the stuff to my e-mail and post some of each. I don't know what to put in the host address boxes, gah.
Going into town with my beautiful one tomorrow, hoping to get the last Christmas present. After that, I have them all bought and wrapped.

Ear Emergency

2008-10-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

So I got my ear pierced on Saturday, and got a new plug for the hole that was already there. I now have three holes in my left ear, two of which are completely healthy. I had them done with 3mm crescents for stretching, as the nice photo shows.

Because it was fine to do when advised previously, I began stretching the top hole yesterday morning. I didn't need any lubricant, but it was much harder than previously to get the jewellery back in.

I found out why when I took the jewellery out again that evening. The blood had died down a lot, so I could see that it was badly swollen all around that hole. So swollen that this had closed over most of the hole, though I got the crescent back in after ages trying.

This morning, I took the crescent out and tried to butt a 6mm taper in, just to see if it would go. It was then that I realised what the problem was. The curved piece had pulled on the hole, causing the swelling. I then put a 2mm taper in, and the swelling is going down. I also had this problem with my right ear when I'd let it heal for over a month, and didn't have it with the first hole. Because of this, I know it's not just that I was doing it too early.

Loss

2008-10-17T03:47:00.000-07:00

I lost my fave flesh plug last night! I was cleaning the hole, and my arm jogged the table so the plug fell off. It's my fave plug 'cos I have no other 12mm one, so I had to put my 14mm stretcher back in. Hopefully, I'll be able to get another plug tomorrow. We all tried to reach it, but would need to move the computer desk. That's a big job, so for another time.

So I went and got more damson leaves today. That tea is gorgeous. Here are photos of Greenie the athame.

I've been loving Heroes right now, as I converted the episodes of it that I downloaded illegally to go on my ipod.

Damson Tea

2008-10-16T03:19:00.000-07:00

I'm finding Aurora Feint strangely addictive. I think it's because I can't sleep well, and it fits my level of alertness then. If you have an ipod touch or iphone, you need to go download that. It's free, which is my fave price.
I'm just relaxing because I REALLY want to be okay to get piercings done on Saturday. I have to be okay to go 25 miles in the car, and go 'round that town. Shouldn't really go out on antibiotics, but meh.
Because of that, I just went down the road today. I got some blackberry leaves, some nettles, and some damson leaves for tea. I've had blackberry leaves and nettles as tea before, but it's a first for damson leaves. It tastes like green tea with blackcurrant, which is gorge.
I'm going to take my new athame with me tomorrow and get some more. That knife is a thing of beauty, and was worth every penny. I'll try to get a picture some time. It's silver, and is of the godform of the green man. I have a slight obsession with that guy, abnd it turns out I'm not alone. The woman who runs the shop where I got it (Bell, Book, and Candle) told me that as soon as they get any stuff of him in, they sell it straight away.
I'm really looking forward to Saturday, and so I'm focussing on being okay then. I'm going 'round the town with my fave guys, who're all so fun. Any time Dedfred's there, things get a bit nutty.

The Drugs Do Work

2008-10-15T05:31:00.000-07:00

I had to go up the hospital to get my anti-depressants today. I was going for the bus, as I feel really ropey today. While I was waiting, I got an idea for a song. Here it is:

Dark and Light
When I was broken,
I found you just in time.
You kissed me sweetly and
said you'd always be mine.

I fell for a sugar-sweet girl,
but never fell completely.
Then we bared our souls,
found a dark love of sweetness.

Chorus
We are of the dark,
Turning into light,
Forever entwined,
Enriching our lover.

With you by my side,
there's nothing I can't do.
We give each other loving support,
so we'll always see it through.

Repeat chorus

I gave you your voice,
and a song sweet and true.
You put a mirror to a soul
and I became the girl that you knew.

Repeat chorus

I feel I can fight the world
and not struggle to conform,
'cos with you, darling,
I am reborn.

Repeat chorus to fade

That's about an ex-girlfriend, who I was really missing today. The band she used to be in, Black Widows, sent me tracks of various people trying out with them, and they were all wrong.

There was no bus, so I walked it. So I got there all hot and yuck and went into the over-heated surgery, where my glasses steamed up so I couldn't see much. The receptionist couldn't find my appointment, until she looked for the day I'd booked it. Whoever booked that one in needs a brain badly, as they booked me in at 20 to 10 on the day I booked it, yet told me it was done for today. The also booked me in for a time that had gone that day.
If I hadn't been on the pills, I woulda had a crying jag then. But I managed to get my pills, then I asked why I'd been put on some diff ones before. I couldn't understand much that the doctor who prescribed said, as he had a thick accent and I don't hear well right now. The receptionist said that they were for a urinary tract infection, which is kinda funny as the only thing I understood the doctor saying was that I definitely didn't have one of those. But it's all sorted now, and I didn't even soak anyone in tears. Yay!
I have had 6 infections now, and have to have more antibiotics. I don't welcome that, as I was going to go have some piercings done on Saturday

Hi

2008-10-14T01:16:00.000-07:00

Hi. I'm Claire, and I write for a living. I also sing my little lungs out when I'm not ill, and I sometimes write shitty songs for people and then make them pay for them.
I'll be writing random shit here, and putting stuff about what I'm currently writing. I'm much less weird since I quit caffeine and went on happy-pills.
So I'm writing away at the mo. I was writing a second novel, but distracted by an idea that I'd been kicking around for a while. I decided that it would have way too much padding as a novel, and that I needed some different characters to the ones I'd been working with. I mean, the strong woman who could toast you as soon as look at you isn't going to be kidnapped easily.
So I started writing it out, and another idea that I had sort of meshed with it. Below is the idea that I wrote out for it:

A reverend who has been using his faith to battle vampires has his hand forced when his girlfriend is taken and turned. He knows a spell that may save or kill her, and has no choice but to use it. The pair then travel the country, seeking those vampires who want to be saved and converting them. At last, they have a vast army of followers, and use the strength of numbers to persuade a brutal old vampiress – whom was once Cleopatra – to join them.

I figure that it'll either be quite shit, which I see no signs of so far, or somethign that I'm proud of. I encourage you to go see my store http://stores.lulu.com/gc_rock_my_sox It's got my novel, which I'm so pleased with, a couple of anthologies, and some short stories. At least look at the artwork on my novel, I think that Jet did an amazing job of it.