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*Opens doors wide* Come on in and join us for Fiesta!

Altaira Superuser Feb 6, 5:09pm Views: 257 *Opens doors wide* Come on in and join us for Fiesta! Greetings, everyone, and welcome! The boards are flat out humming along today, with only two, rather quick, 'timed out' messages incurred before getting to this point. Lol Progress is being made on the migration but, as it's dependent on getting the time of others, it's going a bit slower than I'd hoped. I don't have a sample to look at yet, but we're getting there. I made a concerted effort to clear up some bits and bobs I had open for my one, small client in order to free up some time. So, the engines are revving and ready to go. It was a noisy week chez Altaira and B.G.. Our deck replacement project started which so far has consisted of demolishing the old deck and digging holes for the new steel supports. To dig the holes they had to first break through a layer of flagstone, which involved hammers, stone saws, and the occasional jackhammer. To their credit, the holes in the flagstone are perfect, straight-sided squares. What were you up to this week? Something more quite I hope. Let us know once you've had a chance to peruse the buffet and order up your favorite drink! *puts quarters on juke box* something calming perhaps? Have a great weekend!!!

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Feb 6, 7:11pm Views: 251 *looks for noise-cancelling headphones* Isn't that the way it is, with renovations: getting the old stuff out of the way requires plenty of noise! Amazing that it's warm enough and snow-less enough for them to get a good start before Spring. Thank you for the Boards update! Might I have a mug of hot cocoa, please, Altaira? It's been quiet while I've finished a major house cleaning. My two Chicago girls are now here, this afternoon is their rehearsal with about 50 other alumni of the high school choruses, and tonight is their concert. Tomorrow we're supposed to get more snow, only up to about 3"/8 cm, but it's supposed to get down to 2F/-17C, and have blustery winds that could cause snow squalls. Indoor day for everyone, we'll see what board game(s) they want to play! For calm, here's a nice collection of Brahms - try to not fall asleep! http://ttps:/.../watch?v=7srokUIxJms ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

Altaira Superuser Feb 6, 7:52pm Views: 251 Double b-r-r-r-r Another cold, snowy weekend for you. It's a good thing you're well-stocked with board games! Yes, I told the deck supervisor it's like there's a line dividing the country down the middle with the western half having unseasonably warm weather and the eastern half getting pummeled. Enjoy the indoor visit this weekend and stay warm!!

Ataahua Forum Admin / Moderator Feb 6, 9:58pm Views: 251 It's been a weird week I've had two emails from different 'we can help you sell more copies of your book!' agencies come out of the blue (with strategies that I'd pay for them to enact, of course). The hyperbole was off the charts - they'd clearly just put my book through an AI reader and asked it to spit out praise to the nth degree. Just ridiculous stuff. I'm ignoring them, of course, but it's curious that two companies would contact me within days of each other. Must be hard times in the publishing-adjacent sphere. (I'm not even going to touch on how they got my work email, which isn't linked to me anywhere online that I know of.) Anyway, it's a long weekend here. Yesterday was Waitangi Day and I paid a brief visit to a community event at Ngamotu Beach (Altaira: where you and B went with me when you visited NP). Today I'll pop down to my brother's to feed his cat, then stew and freeze the plums I've picked from my tree. Have a great weekend, everyone. PS: Some info on the Treaty of Waitangi for anyone who's interested: https://teara.govt.nz/...ty-of-waitangi/print Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..." Dwarves: "Pretty rings..." Men: "Pretty rings..." Sauron: "Mine's better." "Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak. Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo My LOTR fan-fiction

Altaira Superuser Feb 6, 10:55pm Views: 247 Very odd It's disappointing that they didn't put much effort into it. It makes you wonder how much effort they'd put into implementing those strategies you paid them for. You could just as easily google strategies to maximize book sales, or better yet, let AI do some research for you: top 5 strategies for increasing sales of a sci-fi novel, or something more specific tailored to your book (which I loved, by the way). Yes! B.G. and I were in NP on Waitangi Day You took us to the fair and we had such a good time. I bought some NZ souvenirs and saw the poi dancers in action. I was so impressed. As part of that same trip we stayed in Paihia so we could visit B.G.'s sister who lived in Kerikeri at the time. We got to visit the treaty grounds which brought it full-circle. Have a wonderful rest of your weekend!

grammaboodawg Elvenhome Feb 7, 9:26pm Views: 243 The migration will appear precisely when it means to! You have become a master at herding cats, Altaira ;) You're in the HURRY UP AND WAIT phase... approaching the ARE YOU THERE? phase. You're a great Wizard and a wonderful guide for this rag-tag Fellowship of TORnsibbies. This TIME next year we'll be saying, "Remember last year when it took 5 years to load a post?" This too SHALL PASS!!!! I've had quite a week. With all of my distractions moving my daughter and problems finding time to get TORn-up, I finally made it to the 25th Anniversary Editions of FotR (Mon 2/2), TT (2/3), and RotK (2/4) at my local theater. The last 3 days playing here! It was a miracle that I had the 3 days free of other activities. Apparently the manager (there since the beginning in 2001) worried when I hadn't shown. "There you are! I was worried I missed you!" :D They still call me the LotR lady. It has been a long time since I could just be quiet and be with these characters, story, and Peter et.al. There truly is no other way to do these films justice but in the theater with a big pic and big sound! I was okay albeit very emotional after FotR and TT; but I didn't do so well after RotK. By the time Frodo talked about the Fellowship over the map, the ship left the Havens, and the music started to play with Annie and the sketches during the credits... the crescendo of Shore's music closing the end filled me as I was already sobbing. Thankfully I was the only one left. I knew this would likely be my last time living with these films on screen. And all I have experienced over the past 25 years flooded over me. That I'd never see NZ or travel again. So as I did after seeing them the first time, I made it to the car and let the emotions take me. With gratitude, amazement at what a journey it's been, and much love... I will always hold dear Tolkien, Jackson, TORn and you all that brought these magical times that changed my life. I'm so lucky. We have been there and back again. TIME Google Calendar

grammaboodawg Elvenhome Feb 7, 9:55pm Views: 242 Chicago girls will recognize the cold ;) It's probably the same blast that just left them, flew over me, and met them at your door!!! Oh how fun it's going to be. I hope the rehearsal and the concert went perfectly! And that there was a good turnout with the weather trying to put a damper on everything. Board Games to the Rescue!!!! Have a great weekend m'dear! :D We have been there and back again. TIME Google Calendar

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Feb 8, 12:26am Views: 240 It was great! There were over 50 alumni who returned, and they sang both their "old standbys" (like James Taylor's "Lonesome Road") and new ones (like "Viva la Vida"!), both by themselves and combined with the school's current chorus. And they all went to a local pub afterwards! We went over a bunch of things that were still in their rooms, what to toss and what for me to box up and mail to them. Taught the youngest how to play Finspan (the fish version of the bird game Wingspan), Eldest made us chilaquiles for breakfast, and we hit the local fish market/restaurant for dinner. Now to watch Nimona together. So nice to have them back home, even for a short span! Stay warm, you and all your family! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Feb 8, 12:34am Views: 240 You did see all three? Wonderful, and amazing that the manager is still there after all these years! And you could experience them larger than life, and all the way to the very end... "I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

grammaboodawg Elvenhome Feb 8, 1:12am Views: 239 Very interesting What a nasty tease for them to approach you like that. Good on you for seeing through the mist. Yeah... they'd get you to sign over to them fersher! And it's interesting that the Treaty also had hangups with the signing. All too grown-up dilemmas for me! *shudder* I hope you have a wonderful weekend and am so glad you were able to enjoy Waitangi Day. I'll bet kitty will be happy to see you!! :D We have been there and back again. TIME Google Calendar

grammaboodawg Elvenhome Feb 8, 1:26am Views: 240 Yes :) One each day. Funny that so many different times through the years, Tolkien's story spoke to each of the different experiences and situation I was facing in context of my life at the time. Lessons along the way. That was especially the case with this run. At my age now (74yo) and events going on... the messaging I felt was (as before) more than a coincidence. We have been there and back again. TIME Google Calendar

grammaboodawg Elvenhome Feb 8, 3:29pm Views: 235 What a great time :D Wow! There's been so much going on and all of it so memorable :D I'm most impressed that you all were able to go through their belongings left behind. I'm STILL trying to get my "kids" to grab their stuff plus things I've given them from Mom & Dad's estate. Oh... but they made you breakfast, too! *high five* :D We have been there and back again. TIME Google Calendar

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Feb 9, 8:28pm Views: 229 Will do! It's supposed to warm up above freezing...and then we're to get more snow! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Feb 9, 8:46pm Views: 228 Very strange! And disturbing, too. Pure scam. Happy Waitangi Day! Oh, for it to be summer here, those stewed plums are making my mouth water, your house must smell heavenly! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

Kimi Forum Admin / Moderator Mar 13, 12:16am Views: 96 I saw this article today and thought of this experience of yours: https://www.theguardian.com/...ams-publishing-fraud Really sad to hear how some people are cruelly taken in. The main author mentioned in this article sounds as if he has a powerful story with his book, but it's all gone so badly wrong for him. The Passing of Mistress Rose My historical novels Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there? - A Room With a View