Website!!!

[Kitsune]

Woot!

Will be looking forward to it Ragnar!

[Ragnar]

Sorry, have not been able to do much. I had a minor stroke last Thursday, and have been in hospital since.

I will get around to it when I have everything sorted out re tablets and all that.

[Kitsune]

I was wondering where you'd gotten to... it's just been a bad week for health world round I guess (a friend of mine's Grandmother died, and everyone I know has been sick or recovering from things like surgery).

Take your time to recover, Ragnar... We'll be waiting for when you get back!

On the other hand, if it wasn't my writing that gave you a stroke... Here's a bit more to read while you're recovering... I blogged yesterday.

http://bamatthews.com/2010/06/17/dd-and-siwc/

[Crazy Healer Lady]

You ok Ragnar??

[Ragnar]

Well. As O.K as can be.

It means I can no longer "serve" the Cannon, BUT my Major has made me to "Feldjäger" (Military police), which suits me just fine.

My job is not in danger, and even the Navy thing is only effected by the fact I MAY have to give up my Motorbike/car licence.

Personally, I am still recovering from a solid week "in bed". (A full week in bed is NOT as luxurious as it would appear) But I have all my tablets, and NOW my diabetes is PROPERLY regulated, with a target average of 100 per day. Which I am reaching.

I was laying on my bed last Thursday night, when all of a sudden my mouth felt EXACTLY like a dentist had given me an injection. Not happy with this at all, I stood up to go to the balcony for some fresh air, and just did NOT feel well at all. Lisa was on the computer. I came back and immediately said "Hey, I think I need the hospital". Apparantly I was white as a sheet. So whilst I packed a few books....oh, and clothes as well, she dialled 112 (911 to you Yankies and Southern Belles).

Within 10 minutes I was in the emergency. (We live about 10 minutes walk away from the hospital, but I did NOT, COULD not, walk that far.)

It all went from there. TOTALY wired up for three days in I.C. Then to a less intensive ward. With all the tests in between.

I have seen more doctors than a Californian golfing convention!

Although it all came as a shock, and I must now be a bit more wary, it HAS done good in that I have had a FULL, and I mean FULL check up by the hospital. From C.T, to M.R.T (The big donut like things that read your head.) Ultrascan on my throat and neck to check for cancer among other things, a PROPER sugar test, and an ultrascan of the entire heart. (where they put one of these things that they use for seeing your stomach into your mouth and shove it into the right place.(HOPEFULLY! ). I have been "given" a sugar meassuring thingy now, which I did not have before. I now have a specialist who deals with BOTH types of diabetes that I have, AND the gout!

AND all for FREE!!.....Na €10 per day, but that is for "bed and board" so to speak.

So. A good week, even if dangerous.

Sorry. Seem to have stolen the topic. Back to what we are writing please! )

[Ragnar]

O-K, so here is a SHORT example of the way I write;

Summer in Wallasey.

Schoolholidays.

Six long weeks.

Wallasey is a small town on the other side of the River Mersey from Liverpool, in Britain.

As part of it’s history, akin to ALL small towns in Britain, either Wednesday, or Thursday, all the shops are shut after midday.

In this case, it was Wednesday.

June…or was it July? I do not really remember.

It was school holidays, and all of my friends were away somewhere with their parents. Wales was the normal place. Scotland, in the 70’s was as “exotic” as India.

It was one of those HOT summer days. The shops were all closed, and the “Main road” was as quiet as a back country lane.

The town park was less than five minutes away. My Grandmother was having her afternoon doze.

I took the “long route”.

The “main street” was so hot it was dusty. Not a shop open, not a person moved. Just GLOWING hot sunshine. Even the birds made no sound.

The pavement was heavy under the feet.

The park.

An old “mansion”, which was now an art college. Dead to the world. Baking in the heat.

Around the “mansion” through the old stable block, the rose garden, the “blind garden”…NO one. Just me, the trees and plants, and the heat.

You could smell the grass, the trees, the soil. It was as a perfume. A very heavy perfume.

The town, and particularly the park, was as if no man was left on Earth.

A small duck pond surrounded by a fence. Made dark and cool by trees. One bench.

As a lane, a stone wall on one side.

I sat on the bench. On the pond were dragon flies floating lazily over the surface. In front of me, the “lane” with an old gas light. Not unlike “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”.

The quiet! Still not a soul moved. Why should they move? None were there!” The heat.

I made my way back along the “Main street”. The ONLY person I saw. Mr Tennant.

A shop keeper that had been there from before “the war”.

His shop was…..

That comes later..

Hmm. Needs more work. BUT that is my style.

[Kitsune]

A very precise style, and one usually suited to writing combat or excitement themes... Although with a little bit of long dialogue, you could easily write thriller as well.

It's good, and it does set the scene. Quite vivid and the fact that you never mention colour is very interesting. I'd have to see more of where it went from there to say more that wasn't just impressions and be more precise. (I'm assuming you don't want a full critique on here? Although if i'm wrong, or you like a private one, I'd be happy to do that for you).

What genre was this from? Or was it just a scene setter?

Oh, and don't worry about "Getting back on track..." I may mention my site at every convienant moment, but that's just because I'm super excited about it. Hearing about your health and such is more important, since it lets us know that our friend is doing better.

[Ragnar]

What genre was this from? Or was it just a scene setter?

I don't know really. I write like I photograph, to capture one particular memory or feeling.

It probably comes from reading all the "living history" interviews that the ethnology department at Edinburgh made. Where they ask some one, say an 89 year old ex miner, what it was like when he was a kid. Then they tape his answer.

As to colours, It was one of those days where everything was washed out. Over the tarmac on the road, and even on the fields, you could see the air shimmering in the heat of the sun. If anyone has ever been to the Arizona/Nevada desert, they will know what I mean. Colours don't register much in those conditions.

Healthwise. I had 7 bottles of beer yesterday (3,5 liters in all), and today my sugar is STILL at 93. Considering the target is 100, that is not bad AT ALL.

That means I am likely to be ordered to take the 0,6mg Insulin permanently now. We will see on Monday what happens. (Appointment with the diabetes doctor).

Who would have thought that such a small amount would make such a big difference? If they put it in your beer, you would never even taste it.

[Kitsune]

Ah, that explains it. Definately a "scene setter" then. And for that it's great (though I admit, I think I've only been in that sort of heat once or twice)!

I hope taking the insulin won't be too bad. Ask Crazy about energy healers in your area... We're a pretty darned useful lot if you don't like taking medications!

And on a completely seperate note, I think I actually have people following my blog! According to my google analytics, the day after I post something I tend to get 3-6 visitors, with it dropping down to 0-2 on days when I haven't. For me, this is a WOOT! moment, even if 6 potential subscribers is a low number. Considering that my site is less than a month old, I'm calling it a win!

[Kitsune]

The best part about having a website is telling others about it and having them get excited. I went to a party last night and gave seven or eight people the site address. I can't wait for them to go see it. Hopefully they'll even comment!

Ah, Nothing makes me happier than adding new writing when I know that other people will be going to see it. I'm even starting to get hits from people that I don't know, in places like Cancun and Dublin(sp?).

Woot! I posted more of my novel as well... I can't wait to get some comments on it!

Sorry, but I have to outburst to somebody! It just makes me so darned happy!

[Ragnar]

That's great. Aye "Dublin" is spelled correctly. But which one? There is at LEAST one in the U.S. And then, of course, the origional Irish one.

Sorry I have not had a lot of time of late. Making up for lost time at work...well lost hours which mean lost money actually, but I tell the boss it is because the work is soooo important to me. ( ), re-arranging appointments as they add yet MORE doctors they want me to visit, then the diabetes "schooling" at the hospital for two hours every day. Which is nice in theory but they want a blood test (general, not just sugar) every day. Which means you can wait in the queue at the phlebotomists (Known as "The vampyr" within the hospital) office for an hour on TOP of the two official hours. THEN I am supposed to take an hours walk per day.

THEN they tell me I must get more sleep!!

As a slight aside. I LOVE trying to get them to understand my usual sleep pattern....which has NO pattern whatsoever. 12 hours awake, three hours sleep, six hours awake, an hours sleep, an hour awake, four hours sleep, 24 hours awake, and so on. Never the same two days running.

EATING "pattern" is even MORE broken up. For example from the Thursday I came out of hospital through Thursday this week, and into Friday, I ate NOTHING. Then I had four slices to cheese on toast. Then I have had, will have, nothing until about midday today, when I go to Lisa's Aunties for breakfast.

And doctors just DO not seem to grasp this at all. They appear to get MOST upset.

[Kitsune]

Is there a Dublin in the U.S.? Wow, Nope, I was talking about the original one.

Don't worry, I saw when you popped by (You are in Berlin, right? ), and I know how busy you've been. Stop by when you have time. Making a living is hard enough when you're not stuck heading to the hospital every day or so.

And yes, Doctors who are taking your blood everyday do tend to get upset when you don't eat (they tell everyone who's not in a coma that their problems could be solved by more sleep, so I wouldn't worry about that ). Try and keep fruits and veggies (or if you're a carnivore like me, cheese/meat and crackers), by you whenever you can. You'll find you'll munch more than you'll actually eat, but you'll be able to tell the doctors that you have been eating a bit more.

[Ragnar]

This is a bit like the experience of a few people I know, but I will use my old Auntie as an example.

She was one of these that would have a bottle of sherry in for Jule, and maybe one for her birthday, which was about midsummer, so perfect really. The two main festivals of the year.

It was the Jule one. She had not been feeling too well, with angina, and dizzyness for a few days. But this did not stop her having two glasses of sherry with her dinner, and one about an hour after.

So, she was going up stairs, when she got one of her dizzy fits, slipped, and broke her wrist, which started her on another angina attack.

The ambulance was called and she was duly transported to hospital.

Now so far so good.

BUT, my Sister was reading her notes (My Sister was a nurse, but in another place). She almost hit the roof. The doctor had put her down as "an alcoholic"!

Now, having had some ( ) experience with blood tests and drink drivers, the amount in her system would not have made me tell her to leave the car, go home and sleep it off, let alone charge her for it!

We tried for YEARS to get that removed. Then we would be promised "It has been corrected", only to find that a few months later, it did not matter WHAT she went to the doctors with, from angina to atheletes foot, the doctor would NEVER fail to say, "Oh well, from your notes it appears you should cut down on the drinking. It says here that you are alcoholic. That COULD be the cause".

Once a doctor gets an idea into their head, it is like trying to remove superglue from your Granny's favourite carpet to get them to change their opinion.

[Kitsune]

I had the best day ever!

At work today, they had tons of snacks, healthy and unhealthy for us. One person brought in cookies, another brought in sandwiches for lunch, our bosses brought in strawberries and grapes, as well as a chocolate cake with icing for a going away treat for one of the girls. Work in and of itself was easy today as well.

I've been working on a set of character drawings the last day or so, and both have turned out really nicely so far. I got home, and my favourite blogger, Koichi had found my site after I made a comment on his blog. Apparently, he takes part in Nanowrimo as well, and is now thinking about doing Julnowrimo with me.

Tomorrow is a holiday, we should be able to find a theatre to watch The Last Airbender on and then I work Friday and the entire weekend after work will be gaming oriented.

Life... is amazing!!!!

[Kitsune]

I found out that one of my favourite quotes in the world was written by my favourite author, SM Stirling. I noted this on a blog post of mine and linked back to SM Stirling's website.

Since I chat with him on occasion (let me tell you, he laughed when I told him I hadn't known the quote was his), I let him know about the link and since he always asks, provided a link to my site in the email as well.

Well, apparently he went over, read it, told me he liked the way my site looked, and then he actually read the blog post! And let me know that he liked and agreed with my point on motivations!



Perhaps not an oops, but definitely a blush moment.
http://bamatthews.com/2010/07/10/motivations-verse/