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dernwyn
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Feb 9 2018, 5:06pm
Post #1 of 64
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*gets key, unlocks door* Brrr...come on inside, it's Fiesta Friday!
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Welcome, all and sundry! Our esteemed barmistress, Altaira, must attend to work deadlines today, so I shall be your server.
We just got over a nasty snow-and-ice-and-slush event here! Is your weather just as chilly - or would you in the southern hemisphere like us to try to send some of this your way? 
I've got hot cider and cocoa and other warm drinks, but there's plenty of cool stuff, as well! And there's lots of nibble for today - tapas, and chips and veggies with dip. No chocolates, as I suspect you'll all be tired of chocolates by week's end! 
So what are your plans for Valentine's Day? 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Darkstone
Immortal
Feb 9 2018, 5:11pm
Post #2 of 64
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Soryu Reserve 2005 if you got it.
Still too dang cold to paint the railing for my front steps.
Having to deal with Medicare messing up my account.
Interesting comments from my beta readers. They say I make crucifixion fun. Of course just about the entire first chapter was the evil Baron and his minions “kicking dogs” so when some of his men get brutally executed and the beta readers laugh and cheer it shows all the puppy punting paid off. They keep asking if Baron Ashbrooke is going to have a deservedly agonizing death. Don’t tell them, but yes, *very* agonizing. Also they keep worrying I’m going to kill off Clover. Guess killing off Geneva in the second chapter is also paying dividends. I *am* toying with having Clover burned at the stake at the end ala Joan of Arc but it’s not set in stone. Maybe Rose will swing in like Douglas Fairbanks at the last minute and rescue her. Yeah, that’s good.
******************************************
I met a Balrog on the stair.
He had some wings that weren't there.
They weren't there again today.
I wish he would just fly away.
(This post was edited by Darkstone on Feb 9 2018, 5:12pm)
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dernwyn
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Feb 9 2018, 5:22pm
Post #3 of 64
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Very refined taste there, Darkstone!
Are you still getting below freezing temps at night? Any snow from these latest storms?
People tend to appreciate it when the baddies go out in a most deserving way. And a rescue from horrendous death works wonders with an adrenaline rush and surge of dopamine. (In short, the perfect happy ending.) How many beta readers are giving you input?
You'd think Medicare would have a special account set up for you by now. Best of wishes for getting it all cleared up and soon, too!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Feb 9 2018, 5:30pm
Post #4 of 64
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Thanks for grabbing the keys, dernwyn :D I saw on the weather that your neck of the woods is getting hit AGAIN!
We're supposed to get a few inches starting today through the weekend, but not as much as south of me (7 inches). I'm headed into the thick of it Saturday afternoon to join my siblings, cousins, and Aunt as we celebrate her 80th birthday at a homey little restaurant.
This has been an unusual winter with very llittle snow... though it's still early ;) I just hope it doesn't mean a dry summer for the farm fields surrounding me.
It'll be a quiet Valentine's Day for me, but I did send a BUNCH of goodies to my college g'kiddie in Iowa... including a stick of free range 100% chicken poop lip balm. *ponders* I don't think it's really poopy, though. ;)
I hope you have a great weekend, m'dear... and that goes for EVERYONE! :D
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
6th draft of TH:AUJ Geeky Observations List - November 28, 2013
4th draft of TH:DOS Geeky Observations List - May 15, 2014
5th draft of TH:BotFA Geeky Observations List - January 30, 2015
TORn's Geeky Observations Lists for LotR and The Hobbit
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dernwyn
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Feb 9 2018, 5:41pm
Post #6 of 64
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"free range 100% chicken poop lip balm"? Oh, goodness, what I'd give to see her expression when she opens that! That's very nice of you to send her the treats, I remember my folks sending me all sorts of goodies like that in college, it brings a smile when one is under the pressure of studies.
This current storm is supposed to bring only rain my way. Ice is a real problem here! Do be careful out in that stuff tomorrow - it's always the other drivers I worry about keeping their cars under control. And I know you'll all have a fun celebration, *hugs* to your aunt!
*pours a mug of hot cocoa, adds mini-marshmallows* Have a good, safe weekend, gramma!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Alassëa Eruvande
Valinor
Feb 9 2018, 5:45pm
Post #7 of 64
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Well, it's going to be 70* here tomorrow.
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Good thing, too, as The Little Goblin has a boy scout camp out. We're only going for the day, but gorgeous weather is always a plus. Then Sunday is going to be nasty again.
For Valentine's Day, I will be attending our troop's adult committee meeting and Mr. Eruvande will be working late. Keeping that honeymoon feeling going! 
We were supposed to go skiing in New Mexico next weekend, but since they have no snow, it looks like we'll cancel. Only 5 green runs are open, and you know they are going to be pure ice. Wah. 
And I never get tired of chocolate! *sets out huge cardboard heart full of the good stuff*
I am SMAUG! I kill when I wish! I am strong, strong, STRONG!
My armor is like tenfold shields! My teeth like swords! My claws, spears!
The shock of my tail, a thunderbolt! My wings, a hurricane! And my breath, death!
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Alassëa Eruvande
Valinor
Feb 9 2018, 5:48pm
Post #8 of 64
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some soap I got the kids for stocking stuffers. One was called Naval Supremacy and smelled like ocean, and one was called Victory and smelled like fresh cut grass.
Then there's the candle that smells like dirt.
I am SMAUG! I kill when I wish! I am strong, strong, STRONG!
My armor is like tenfold shields! My teeth like swords! My claws, spears!
The shock of my tail, a thunderbolt! My wings, a hurricane! And my breath, death!
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Feb 9 2018, 6:04pm
Post #9 of 64
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Donations are always appreciated!
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Especially if they're chocolate - thank you!
Ah, yes, the romance of family life. I hope you can have some time for yourselves this weekend, in between everything going on! Glad the weather will be decent for the camp-out.
The hills are devoid of snow in New Mexico? I guess all the winter storms have been staying north of there - that's too bad! 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Darkstone
Immortal
Feb 9 2018, 6:10pm
Post #10 of 64
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Very refined taste there, Darkstone!
Something I acquired during an all expense paid tour of Asia during the early 1970s.
Are you still getting below freezing temps at night? Any snow from these latest storms?
No snow yet this winter. Indeed no precipitation. Thing is, it’s been relatively warm this week, so I thought this weekend I could finish up, but it’s going to plunge into the lower 20s, high teens, and maybe finally snow this Sunday.
People tend to appreciate it when the baddies go out in a most deserving way.
And you just can’t say “He’s a bad guy”, you gotta show him doing bad things, i.e. “kicking the dog”, to get the reader invested. And boy, did the Baron kick the heck out of those dogs!
And a rescue from horrendous death works wonders with an adrenaline rush and surge of dopamine. (In short, the perfect happy ending.) How many beta readers are giving you input?
I got eight, including Wifey. Four guys, four gals. The ladies really seem to relate to Clover, which is quite pleasing since I'm a male presuming to write a female character. Similarly they seem to be increasingly sympathetic to Rose's redemption, which is gratifying in light of how much they disliked her initial spoiled brat persona in the beginning. One guy is really sharp, and picks up on most of my foreshadowing. Another guy really loves the poetry I try to include each chapter.
You'd think Medicare would have a special account set up for you by now. Best of wishes for getting it all cleared up and soon, too!
Thanks!
******************************************
I met a Balrog on the stair.
He had some wings that weren't there.
They weren't there again today.
I wish he would just fly away.
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entmaiden
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Feb 9 2018, 6:15pm
Post #11 of 64
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We're getting buckets of snow, and I had a morning errand that had to be done. A friend from high school has moved to Florida and asked me to send him some paczki for Fat Tuesday. I had ordered them in advance for Friday morning pickup, so I can send them overnight to Florida.
So after clearing snow off my car (morning cardio!), I made it to the Polish bakery that is on the far west side of the city. Alas, they didn't fill my order, so the special flavors my friend wanted were not there. I did my best to choose different flavors, and started for home. Note that it's still snowing here, but because the temperature is close to freezing, the main streets weren't too bad. Side streets are not plowed yet.
Stopped at my neighborhood UPS store, and sent the box to Florida. Not sure if this will be successful, but a squashed paczki is still good  . But, to my dismay, I discovered one of my tires was flat  . Thank goodness for AAA! They came, and we found a piece of metal the tire had picked up, so we were able to repair the tire right away. Of course, the street plows went through, so now my car is fairly well buried. The truck left, but I'm stuck in the unplowed side of the road. I carry a small shovel in the trunk, so I dug myself out, and went to find parking.
I normally park on the street, but the snow is still coming down, and is expected for most of the rest of the day, and tomorrow. Plus the side streets are still not plowed. I have to leave early in the morning to volunteer, so I just parked in the local parking deck. It's worth the money to be sure I can leave tomorrow, and I won't have to clean off the car again!
So now I'm wet, and cold, and it's still snowing.
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Attalus
Lorien
Feb 9 2018, 6:26pm
Post #12 of 64
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56 F now, getting up to 61. Alas, it's supposed to get colder this weekend :(
I'll have an Irish coffee to keep the chill out
We are the fighting Uruk-Hai! We slew the great warrior! Well, yeah, first he killed a bunch of us and another whole lot of Mauhúr's lads, and we had to shoot enough arrows into him to drop a Mûmak. But we got him!
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Nomad
Forum Admin
Feb 9 2018, 7:54pm
Post #13 of 64
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Brrrr... too cold for a 1420 OR strawberry milk.
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The hot cider sounds like a winner!!
Not much new in my world, but I did just buy plane tickets for the Las Vegas Writer's conference this April (my daughter is going with me). Very psyched about that. The novel effort is still moving forward and I'll get to do some in-person book pitching to literary agents in Vegas.
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Ataahua
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Feb 9 2018, 7:57pm
Post #14 of 64
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I'd say you've earned some of those paczki yourself.
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That's a lot of effort to get a car going in a Chicago winter! Good luck with the drive tomorrow.
BTW, I hadn't heard of Fat Tuesday before. Now that I've Googled it, it make so much sense.
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.
Ataahua's stories
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Ataahua
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Feb 9 2018, 8:02pm
Post #15 of 64
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And not all dumped in one go! *happy dance*
Unfortunately I think it's too late for my NZ yams, which have a withered look to them. This will be the second time in the last few years that I've lost a crop due to dry weather. And last year the garden was a bust because of mould from a too-damp summer. Sometimes, you just can't catch a break with the weather.
Tomorrow the clan is gathering for my uncle's 90th birthday. We're not sure if he'll be well enough to turn up but my cousin will do her best to get him there.
Stay warm, everyone up north! Meanwhile, I'll have an orange juice to get the day started.
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.
Ataahua's stories
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dernwyn
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Feb 9 2018, 8:04pm
Post #16 of 64
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And not one I'd recommend! You definitely did a couple of paczki's worth of work with all the shovelling out. Glad you were able to get a spot in the parking deck, wouldn't those go fast when it snows like this?
(And yes - AAA is the best, "don't leave home without it"!)
How much snow is expected? I remember what Lake Shore Dr. looked like, a couple of years ago!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
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Feb 9 2018, 8:06pm
Post #17 of 64
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Send some of those temps northwards, would you? Yeah, it's a deep-freeze weekend coming up (again)! Stay warm!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
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Feb 9 2018, 8:11pm
Post #18 of 64
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One hot cider, with WD-40 on the side.
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The writers' conference sounds fantastic, what a way to rub shoulders with those in the literary world! Keep us updated on your plans for it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
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Feb 9 2018, 8:15pm
Post #19 of 64
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I've developed a habit of having tonic and orange juice at bedtime sometimes, instead of hot tea. OJ is good anytime, though!
That's too bad about the yams! When you do get a good crop, do they keep well over the winter?
Have fun at the birthday bash, and happy birthday to your uncle!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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entmaiden
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Feb 9 2018, 9:35pm
Post #21 of 64
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I think the official count so far is 9 inches/23cm
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Still snowing as of 3 pm, but I think it's scheduled to stop in a couple hours. Just snow, no wind, so not really a storm. I think the flat tire was the worst part, but AAA was amazing.
No Lake Shore Drive debacle, fortunately. That happened for a lot of reasons; partly because that storm hit around the evening rush hour, and the high winds and quickly-falling snow hit the lakeshore much harder than the rest of the city, and LSD runs right by the lake. People got stuck because they ran out of gas, and just abandoned their cars, and a couple buses jack-knifed and blocked several lanes.
Chicago should have closed the Drive earlier, and by the time they did, it was a parking lot. There were people in the nearby high-rises coming outside with soup and blankets for the people still in their cars.
I think the parking deck was available because school was canceled today, and being a Friday, many people worked from home and didn't drive into the city.
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entmaiden
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Feb 9 2018, 9:39pm
Post #22 of 64
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My dad's oldest brother is 95, bless him.
Do you all get the leaves turning color in the fall? I love the late summer/early fall.
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Ataahua
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Feb 9 2018, 10:14pm
Post #23 of 64
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it's a mix as the native trees tend to be decidious but there are a lot of exotic trees around too. My street has cherry trees along it so the autumn colours and spring blossoms are lovely. :)
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.
Ataahua's stories
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entmaiden
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Feb 9 2018, 10:26pm
Post #24 of 64
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Cherry blossoms against a blue sky are so pretty.
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Attalus
Lorien
Feb 9 2018, 10:45pm
Post #25 of 64
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Just got back from a five mile walk. temp was 61F and the wind was hard out of the South. Glad I got it in as it is supposed to get colder tonight, curse it! Any of that tonic left?
We are the fighting Uruk-Hai! We slew the great warrior! Well, yeah, first he killed a bunch of us and another whole lot of Mauhúr's lads, and we had to shoot enough arrows into him to drop a Mûmak. But we got him!
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