"Don't click on the links"

I have a new outlook on life as reflected in my blog. In part, this outlook has been influenced by the techies. I have been doing research of a sort as background for two of my novels. I've decided that I will only have to work in those types of details for five of my characters, thus only two books. Yay. I was going to have one character be in most of the novels dealing with tech portion of the history timeline of my world.

Then, after reading and following a few techies, I decided that I'd only do two novels. Much of my timeline will deal with earlier portions of history as those are what I'm most familiar with. Why did I title my post the way I did? In the course of my research among the techie blogs, I came across one in the Blogger world, the forums. If you do any delving at all in that forum, you'll probably have come across the most helpful one's post and possibly even checked his blog.

In the course of being helpful, there are the usual number of people who follow the maxim "When all else fails, read the directions," he has found a way to tell people how to stop referrer spam. Thus "Don't click the links" has become my mantra. I came across it again yesterday in the course of trying to figure out how to get those off the stats portion of my dashboard. Yay. I looked for help first remembering my other foray into the fast moving world of high tech.

Yes, I learned the hard way not "to click the links." Simple. Now, mind you, those posts were from a year ago but I've just gotten those from about a month or two ago. I had hoped they'd be gone by now. Being the sort that tries to learn from one mistake, I entered the help forum at Blogger. There they were, the three dastardly musketeers and of course, I read for about an hour. There was a post about editing html and such. Unfortunately, I didn't bookmark that particular post. Thus I only have half the info I needed. I was too tired to do anything more last night. This morning after the usual chores, visiting my second and 7th favorite haunts, I decided I was going to try the portion that takes hours.

Well, one of the helpful suggestions I remembered is what I tried already. The rest of it is going to take a few trial and errors which is what I seriously didn't want to have to do at this point. Therefore, those of you who have links on my site, not to worry. I have to test them all. There were only three that I had added or clicked on that need to be tested. Thank goodness, I haven't put up the pages link section yet. Once again, I think the brownies are being helpful. As it is, I can only do one thing at a time, even though I have millions of to-do's in my head. One of the other things is the dratted scheduler again. I used it once and once only. Now I have to keep resetting it.

HaHaHahaHeeheeheeheeHoHoHoHo. They'll definitely be coming to take me away sometime before the new Year if this keeps up. Well, I finally sent off a help request and will be doing any sort of suggestion that comes up. I hope the mallet falls and hard on those 3 dastardly musketeers and the righteous Musketeers win the day.

Ahoy, Sea Serpent

Choose Your Own Adventure Blog Hop. Ahoy! Sea Serpent?!

To begin, you can start here.
Or do you stay behind?

Overbalanced by the tanks, you fall to the deck. The ship lurches and you slide aft, crash into the cabin's wall. You're stunned by the impact. The seconds needed to regain your breath changes your terror to anger.

Footsteps pound on the deck as the crew rushes about checking the ship for damage. The First Mate spies you lying alongside the cabin's wall and orders you to your cabin. You struggle to your feet, then giggle as you realize that your fins have glued themselves on. The tanks are nearly weightless. Oh no! Dismay chases the giggles away. You manage to get the tanks off to examine them. The tanks are damaged. You head to the storage lockers to get another set. You struggle to walk with the fins while carrying the tanks. Duh. You drop them and free your hands for the trip below deck.

How in the world can you find out what happened to the love of your life? You pass the galley on your way to the storage lockers. Another rumble. This time you're prepared for the lurching and you grab the galley door. It swings inward unexpectedly, flinging you inside where you crash into the freezer doors. You reach for something to grab when the ship tilts once again.

Your hand catches the edge of the storage unit bringing you to an abrupt halt. Time slows, compressed to microseconds verging on eternity. The galley door opens, and a slim figure reaches for your fins. You kick out and then scramble to your feet. The figure slides toward you as the ship lurches again. When the ship evens out, you are entangled with the figure which turns out to be the galley assistant. He signals you to keep quiet.

He untangles himself, reaches for the sliding door and hands you a tiny box. You recognize it. Your eyes flit to the man's eyes. He then reaches for the galley door and shoves you outside. You stand there trying to decide what to think. He points to your cabin. Taking a deep breath, you nod and quickly make your way there. Once inside, you open the box to find the other half of the ring you exchanged with your beloved. Tears gather as you feel relief at this tangible sign that your love had been on this ship.

The galley assistant opens your door and quickly tosses a piece of paper at you. He crosses himself and shuts the door. The note is from your beloved. The ship you are on is a pirate's ship which captured your beloved's ship, and forced crew members and voyagers on board. But the ransom they asked for never came. The assistant promised to help with an escape plan. You quickly hide the ring and the note. Just in time.

The mate opens the cabin door and motions you topside. The galley assistant quickly gets behind you as you flipper your way after the mate. Now what? Your heart is beating so loud you think everyone can hear it. No, it's not your heartbeat drumming against your ears. There's a strange man sitting on the afterdeck beating a steady rhythm on a set of drums.

Captain Contemptuous is standing by him watching the ocean. The crew are hurriedly repairing damage sustained. You are led to one of the lifeboats which doesn't seem to be seaworthy. The man manages to sit beside you as the other passengers on board slowly fill the life boat. There are only 5 of you on board when the Captain gives the order to abandon ship. You freeze as you recognize the creature rapidly making it's way back to the ship. The mate quickly releases the boat.

Wait! You shriek as you realize you've left the ring behind. The lifeboat hits the water, bouncing all of you around. It is only the quick reflexes of the assistant who keeps you on board. Two of the other passengers have fallen overboard. Numb, you watch the ship slowly being destroyed.

The drumming stops. The strange man slides down the ladder and rushes to the side where he jumps overboard. He swims to the boat you are on and gets aboard. He shoves off and instructs everyone to grab an oar and row. The creature's head surfaces near the ship's afterdeck.

The assistant tells you your beloved escaped from the ship only to be caught by the tail of the creature. Legend says whoever goes with the creature is never seen again. He and his brother are taking the lifeboat to their island.

Do you stay with the boat?

Do you try to follow the creature?

A Bit of Adventure

Going out on the lake yesterday was a little different from the other three days-windy vs. calm. We started out late and so chose the bay we were on on Saturday.

First inkling that maybe we should stay on land was turning the corner at the top of the hill. A gust of wind blew the canoe off the car. Of course, the rope on the back was cut, the one on the front came loose. We stopped and put the canoe back on, my son rode on the trunk holding it in place. We unloaded at the landing, got the canoe and supplies in the water by the dock. I started to get in, reached for the pole and voila, no pole. My son had the knocking sticks in his hand, meal/drinks by his side and no pole.

I went to the car: no pole. Had to get in the car, retrace my path to where the canoe fell off. No pole. Hiac. Now what? Then I spotted it. Someone had moved it to the side of the road. Now, we could continue. I decided that we would stick as close to the Landing as possible, in case we had to make a run for it. We only had the pole.

The wind wasn't too bad once we were in the rice bed. I kept watch on the sky, the clouds and the wind. After a couple hours, I decided that we'd start in. That's when we found out that maybe we stayed a little too long. The wind didn't seem all that strong until we headed back towards Landing. {My son claims I got blown around, I maintain that I knew where I was headed at all times.}

I followed the rice out toward the middle of the lake. I didn't particularly relish the idea of muckling through the lily pads. Wrong decision. {What? I meant unwise decision.} That is where the adventure started. What should have been a 15 minute cruise turned into a 45 minute battle with the wind.

All was well for the first half of the trip, a few swings off course was all. I had my son move the rice to the front and situate himself more in the middle. Should have made him get closer to the front. I rested for a few minutes in order to make the crossing over the open water part, about 100 yards. "What are you doing?" "I'm waiting for the wind to die down." "I don't think it's gonna, Mom." "You're right." The currents were not matching with the wind waves. I had it in my mind that maybe I should have put out tobacco for the trip home. {A lady is in the water in that part of the lake. My cousin and I had an experience with her years ago. Alas, no time for that tale.}

We were almost in the home stretch when my son decides to help me steer, forgetting that poling is different from paddling. "Let go!" Too late. The back swung around and next thing, we're facing back the way we came. I kept poling, only sitting down. "Do we have to go in backwards?" "Yeah. I can't get the canoe turned back.

By now the wind is gusting pretty good, white caps were frothing over in their glee, their mad rush to the end of the lake. Finally, made it to the reeds that were only about 50 yards from shore, where we managed to get the canoe turned back around. Now, I had to crouch, at times, sit, in order to move the canoe forward. One last push, thunk, the tip hit the dock and got stuck between the tire and the webbing. Rats.

My son took the pole, pushed a little, then heaved us on shore. Surprised to find it only 1438 hours. Sure was glad we didn't cross the lake.

Lesson Learned or Image needs polishing

Today's news. I have been looking at all these writer's tips sites, workshops, what have you because I'm trying to find out plot and synopsis. Methinks my parent and sister just might have something with the neon colored "Gullible" on my forehead. Sometimes, I surprise myself. At least my mom has faith in me. She says "You're so smart, you're dumb." Which, when one thinks about it, just may be true.

For instance, yesterday, I was looking up plot. The search bar gave me a web address. Apparently, I had looked at this blog prior and it was "Plot Synopsis Project" posted on 17 March 2008 by Joshua Palmatier. I didn't read far enough. Reason to save some reading for when one has time. Lucky for me, it came up and I clicked it. Dare I say this and risk tarnishing my image? {After my father's bit of fun with me, I think...not much left to tarnish. My image was tarnished to begin with. I find more layers under the tarnish. Polishing is hard work at times.}

Last night, I found out there was more to the post than I had thought. Lo and behold. What do I see but a plot synopsis. There were links to others as well. Light bulb flashes with strobe light intensity. My wondering eyes and shaken up brain beheld the very thing I start my novels with. {Shaking my head in disappointment with myself.} Must go lie down and ponder the situation.

Welsh Rarebit anyone?

In the reading/research category, I have come across a couple sources for free online novels. I checked some of the books and these will go into the "when I have time" category.  I thought some of you might like to check these out.


Free online novels. Jennifer L Armstong Does not link to pornographic material. - submissions page notice.  If you come across any, let her know, she will remove it.   This is the only link I can provide for this.  You will have to bookmark the page.  


The other one I added to Blogs I follow - Free Online Novels link.  Some of those are in PDF format.  Not sure who the owner is as there is no about page.  There are a couple email links for submissions or broken links.  The rest are novels.  


Both of these were mentioned in the "Smashwords Book Marketing Guide." by Mark Coker.  I checked out a couple more links listed on the Blogs link Introduction page.  No time to do more than a cursory glance.  


I have added a couple books to my library.  Mind, most of any links I provide will be fantasy books that I know not all are enamored of.  I have been fascinated by magic since I was a small child.  I had dreams involving magic, or the use of magic, inspired by television shows that were "popular in my day" that greatly disappointed me upon waking.  Teehee.  Another fascination is dragons.  Well, anything mythological really.   


Magic and history do not go together in many people's thinking.  Some of the books I may link to will be history books.  Yes, those dry, fact filled tomes we read from grade 1 to graduation.  10th grade if one was lucky enough to get the classes one wanted.  And cookbooks.  I may or may not post about trying the recipes, I like to collect recipes "in case" and now will have room for them.  I may even try some of those recipes. 


Years back, in one of my recipe trying days, I made one called "Mock Crown Roast" with a Welsh Rarebit sauce.  It turned out very delicious.  I set it out on the table and everything. I've tried to find it again.  It was in one of the books my mother has.  I've looked and looked, even searching on the 'net.  My sis asks me to make it every now and then.  That is the only time we've ever had it.  I could probably make the crown roast part as it was only mashed potatoes surrounded by hot dogs.  The sauce is what made the dish.  


I remember most of the sauce ingredients.  Enough to know that most of the recipes I saw weren't the right one.  Maybe one day I can find it once more.  Does anyone know of a delicious Welsh Rarebit recipe?

Fiction Writing and Other Oddities: What's it worth to you?

Fiction Writing and Other Oddities: What's it worth to you?  Amy Corwin

{Later edit - This link was posted instead of bookmarked.  Sorry. Mil}

Carol's Little World: How to Make Your Very Own Movie

I've always wanted to take the time to do this.  It's fairly simple the way she explains the process.  I will be trying this in the next few days.  I have a lot of shots I've taken recently.  Hmmm.
Carol's Little World: How to Make Your Very Own Movie