Category Archives: The Life and Times of …

Going boldly into that dark night …

So, it’s the Star Trek season, and it’s gonna be a hot one. I’m looking forward to seeing this latest offering. I’ve seen all the movies over the years, and all the episodes of all the series, except Star Trek: Enterprise. I don’t know why that is …  ’42′, I suppose!

So, in honour of all things terkkie, I give you this most wonderful infographic:
The entire history of Star Trek is in this SPACE.com timeline infographic.
Source: SPACE.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration

Thank You Space.com

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And as a bonus – because it’s just way too cool to ignore …

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“I think the potential for the human race is so enormous, if we can stay alive along enough, we’re going to be seeing a lot of what Star Trek is projecting” – Brent Spiner

Blessed Beltane – Biopsy

Widdershins Mask1st May – Beltane – I had my second biopsy on that golf ball in my thyroid. For those who came in late, in March this year I discovered I had a lump in my thyroid that was cancerous.  I blogged about the ‘cone of surrealness’ of that time and got on with life … until today.

Today was biopsy #2, wherein we hope to find some more definitive ‘anomalous cells’ that will give my throat-cutting guy a better idea of where we go next. It’s a fair bet that my golf ball has to relocate, and sooner rather than later. The rest is up for discussion. I’ll let you know how it all goes.

But here’s an interesting thing. Today I got to see the ultrasound image the biopsy-taking guy used to guide a very long needle into my throat. I’ve seen gazillions of x-rays of my knee in it’s various incarnations, from completely busted up to staples, screws and other hardware, but seeing inside myself in real time (in glorious black-and-white video) was … weird. I gotta be honest, it felt a little squicky, (like a slow-motion punch in the throat) but also absolutely fascinating. I took notes, mentally that is. It’s hard to write in my notebook, flat on my back with a needle in my neck. (It wasn’t really that long, but it felt like it, so therefore it was!)

There’s a story somewhere in this … maybe something about ‘google glass’  that sees in all sorts of different ways, infra-red, untra-violet, see-through, (like non-dangerous ultrasounds or x-rays)  … and what would become of the people who couldn’t afford it … and what would happen to art if people only saw through the google glass? Who would clean the streets if no-one saw the mess? (sounds a bit like that Bruce Willis movie ‘Surrogates’) I’ll work with it.

So, that was my Beltane. A little different, eh?

Blessed Be – Let’s kick the tires and light the fires! … and finish out the night with a bracing cuppa tea!

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P.S. Next post will be Episode 4 of ‘Identical’.

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“When tea becomes ritual, it takes its place at the heart of our ability to see greatness in small things” – Muriel Babery,  from her novel, The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Title: ‘The Miasma of Organic Fertiliser’ … or …

 

 Widdershinsmask Among the Buttercups… ‘Cow Poo In The Spring’

Once upon a time Widder Island used to be farmland, then some bright spark divided it up into 5 acre farmlets. Years later some of the descendents of the bright sparks decided to sub-divide their farmlets, stick driveways down the middle and sell off the individual lots. (Not complaining, the sub-dividings allow Mrs Widder, Widdercat, and I, to enjoy these beautiful spring days within a cuppa-tea-and-a-short-amble distance of the lake)

On one side of our lake steep hills kick back into the coastal mountain range, and the other side has rampant farmland (that hasn’t been sub-divided) currently being seeded with this season’s crops. These days it’s possible to tell exactly which farm is using which ‘soil enrichment product’ (I just made that term up) just by breathing too deep.

I’m all for organic fertiliser, it’s a better deal on every level, however … sheesh! Does it stink, or what!!!!!!

I walked out our front door this morning to collect the mail, turned around, walked back inside, and waited for the northerly breeze that usually arrives around mid-afternoon.

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“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet” - Juliet – (II,ii, 1-2)… from ‘Romeo and Ethel The Pirate’s Daughter’ #, by Bill Shakespeare.

 # – Guess what movie?

What Do We See?

I can’t decide if I’m feeling more angry or sad after watching this video. Perhaps just a dash of hope thrown in for good measure?

What do you think? 

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UPDATED:

I watched this video late last night and was too tired to really analyse my feelings. This morning I woke up appalled that these women were shamed on a visceral and public level about their levels of internalised body-hate/dislike. And some of them commenting so dishearteningly that they needed to do more work on themselves nearly broke my heart.

The ‘hope’ I expressed has more to do with women watching the video and thinking about why we see ourselves negatively, not just self-blaming.

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“ Although beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, the feeling of being beautiful exists solely in the mind of the beheld” – Martha Beck, sociologist, author, therapist, life-coach

Rejection Becomes A Call To Excellence

Widdershins On Red VelvetHaving our stories rejected is, if we’re prolific, an almost daily experience. Even if we’re a ‘once-a-month-er’, (or week, or year) those rejections are a bitter pill to swallow.

We rant, cry, eat chocolate to excess, (or other drug/comfort food of choice) eventually dust ourselves off, and get back to work. Because we are storytellers. That’s what we do, what we are.

Once in a while, among the ‘form’ rejections, something different this way comes. A personal note from an editor. Someone, whose job it is to read tens of thousands of words a day, has taken the time to respond. They give us clues that might help us negotiate the ‘getting published’ morass, encourage us to keep trying to do better, and remind us we’re not alone.

Occasionally something like this happens:

Last year I submitted a short story, told entirely with dialogue, to an eZine. I’d written it almost like a play, but of course, all the action had to be told through the dialogue.

For example – (not from the story but to illustrate my point) “This truly is an excellent cuppa tea. Oops. Sorry. I’ll clean that up.”

Writing the story this way challenged me, and I was happy with the end result. So was the eZine editor, but … the story passed around the reading table and everyone else liked it, but … they all wanted ‘more’. They didn’t know what ‘more’ they wanted, but they knew they wanted ‘more’ of it.

In her rejection letter, the editor apologised for not being specific, and invited me to resubmit when I had ‘more’.

Neither Mrs Widders, or the Widdercat could offer any suggestions as to what the ‘more’ might be. Nor could any of my writerly friends. I stared at ‘more’ for about a week, then put it, and the story, in a metaphorical drawer, hoping it would miraculously appear while I wasn’t paying attention.

More eventually did, but not because I left it in that drawer. I tore the story apart, edited the characters, the action, the story arc, the ending, the beginning, threw all of the above out, retrieved it, went for long bike rides or walks in the rain depending on the weather, emptied out gazillions of cold cups of tea, rewrote it, and finally created a story that was more than it had been before.

Does the editor think it’s more-ish enough? We’ll see.

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“I take rejection as someone blowing a bugle in my ear to wake me up and get going, rather than retreat” – Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone – actor, screenwriter, director

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‘Simon’s Cat’, fresh off the presses:

Awards Season

Widdershinsmask Among the ButtercupsWe’ve had five glorious days of Spring sunshine here in the Lower Mainland. This is notable because this area, climatically speaking, is a rainforest!

Lawnmowers are buzzing in the distance like a swarm of Steampunked bees. Daffs are blooming in the garden like there’s no tomorrow. A few geese and ducks have landed on Widderlake as they follow the sun back to their usual haunts far to the North. No trumpeter swans yet, but I have my binoculars at the ready.

Our neighbours must think we’re a little bonkers. Last Autumn Mrs Widders and I regularly stood on our front lawn (too many trees in the back yard to see much of anything) and got kinks in our necks watching huge flocks of ducks, geese, and swans drift across the southern sky.

We haven’t been pooped on yet this year, but I have high hopes! It’s good luck.

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This last week I’ve received two blog-ly awards, which given how blegghh I’ve been feeling about having cancer, have brightened up my days! Combine that with the sunshine and I’ve got a cheery that’s putting the daffs to shame.

First, a ‘Sunshine’ Award (appropriate, yes?) from Leah at AuthorTeaserReadings  

Sunshine Award

As I usually do, I’m going to answer the questions and leave the passing-it-forward to anyone who wishes to play. However, if you wish to uncover a few more juicy morsels about the Widder, (cue dramatic musical overture!) read on.

The usual suspects … erm … questions:

1 – What inspired you to start blogging?

For a writer in particular, blogs are an incredible multi-purpose tool. They teach us the discipline of deadlines, even if they are self-imposed. Now that the world of the gatekeepers is fracturing, it behooves us as writers to blow our own trumpets as loud and tastefully, of course, as we can. A blog as well as a social media platform is the best way to do that. I wanted to have an online platform to not only showcase my writing, but my world as well.

2 – How did you come up with the name for your blog?

It had to be something that included my name, well, my Nom de Voyage, for the above-mentioned branding purposes, had to include something science fiction-y, that was catchy and worked with the graphics I wanted to use.

3 – What is your favourite blog to read?

Heh, heh, I’ll pass on that one. I read a great many for many different reasons; writing ones, publishing/self publishing ones, other writers adventures, science and technology, lesbian ones, political ones, etc … all reflect facets of my life and what interests me.

4 – Tell me about your dream job?

This is it. Writing. I would however, like to generate a significantly higher income in the not-too-distant future.

5 – Is your glass half empty or half full?

Two different perspectives of the same glass, eh? There’s a third option, and that is what’s in the glass. Now there’s an interesting question!

6 – If you could go anywhere for a weeks vacation, where would you go?

Right now, somewhere where there were NO interruptions. Only me and my computer (without an internet connection) so I could finish up a dozen different writing projects that are squishing out in all sorts of challenging directions. And I’d probably stretch it out for a month!

7 – What food can you absolutely not eat?

Raw onions. Love ‘em, but my Anglo-Saxon digestive system refuses to have anything to do with them.

8 – Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

I know it’s not really chocolate, but white chocolate all the way.

9 – How much time do you spend blogging?

I’m going to assume that means how long do I take to write each post – It depends on each one. Sometimes the topic requires a lot of research and I’m a pushover for Wikipedia and Youtube links that link to other links … and an evening has just disappeared! But, on average, about an hour, to write the first draft, and another hour, maybe two, editing and getting the post to look readable.

10 – Do you watch TV – if so, what are some of your favourite shows?

No TV at all, but I do watch some shows via the interwebz. A couple of wonderful Canadian shows, ‘Bomb Girls’  and ‘Lost Girl’. The truly magnificent British drama, ‘Last Tango in Halifax’.  It only had a short 6 episode season in 2012, but they’re starting filming a full season in June this year so hopefully we’ll be seeing episodes by the Fall. ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ for the ever enchanting ‘Calzona.’ I also occasionally indulge in rewatch (or first-watch if I haven’t seen the show) sprees, the most recent one being ‘Battlestar Galactica’,  the re-imagined one. (I love this link. It goes to a website that’s got lots of fun stuff from both series)

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The Second award – Epic Awesomeness! – from W.R.Woolf and her whimsically titled blog – ‘A Bolg!’

Epically Awesome Award

Share 10 facts about myself:

1 – I’ve lived in three countries of the British Commonwealth.

2 – I am legally married to my wife.

3 – I’m right handed, but I eat left-handed. I can swing a golf club both ways (heh, heh) but never hit the ball.

4 – I taught myself how to knit, crochet, and swim. (not in that order)

5 – I have thyroid cancer, but it’s not going to kill me.

6 – I am a Shaman

7 – I used to play guitar in a band.

8 – I haven’t seen or heard from my family of origin in over twenty-five years.

9 – I have Amarula cream liqueur in my half-full glass.

10 – I am blessed with a wonderful circle of online and offline friends.

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“I never met a chocolate I couldn’t eat” – Danielle Steel, novelist

A Polite Euphemism for Cancer

Widdershins Mask in an odd moodBefore we move on from the topic of cancer …because no news is no news until I have the results of a second biopsy that’ll determine if I have my whole thyroid removed or just half of it.

… some thoughts.

After the news last Wednesday, if anyone asked me how I felt, the only honest answer I had was ‘surreal’.

My personal world had radically changed, but the greater world had not – surreal.

I discovered there was a tiny part of me, probably left over from those ‘teenagers are immortal’ days when our incredibly rash actions didn’t actually kill us, that still believed that I might get out of this mortal coil alive – surreal (and how disappointing to realise that damn cliché is true!)

I’ve had 10 major surgeries in my adult life (to put my knee back together again) and in a few months from now I’ll willingly choose to go ‘under the knife’ again, and yes it’s a saving of my life choice, but seriously, who the bloody hell chooses to have their bodies cut open and bits of their viscera removed? – surreal

I’m not ill, I don’t feel sick, but yet, here I am with a life threatening disease – surreal.

Cone of Surrealness

Cone of Surrealness

Thankfully the Cone of Surrealness only lasted until Friday night when it cracked wide open and I cried, and sobbed, and howled, and raged.

Mrs Widdershins was there to hold me and say all the right things, and supply tissues.

Widdercat rightfully concluded that purrs were not needed at that time and waited until the storm had passed before joining us for cuddles.

So, here I am, on the other side of ‘surreal’ and getting on with life.

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“Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with great inner drive, go so much further than people with vastly superior talent” – Sophia Loren, actor.