Over the horizon
waits a storm here,
a drought there,
and time moves.
Grasses bend before it,
sharp peaks round over.
Pearls and diamonds
are birthed
while I wait
in quiet
surrounded by motes,
light poured over my head
like a baptism
of star debris.
http://sundayscribblings.blogspot.com/ prompt: action
or make a personalized cookbook on your kindle!
I have joined the insanity that is Pinterest – the online pinboard site that lets you create boards by subject and then “pin” things you find on the internet to the boards you have created as well as follow others who have similar interests and “repin” what they find on your board. A visual representation of your finding is created, you add a short description and Pinterest creates a link to the website.
Fun but what if I want to access that recipe I found last week that would be perfect for supper and I really don’t want to take the time to go to Pinterest, find my board, click to the website, and jot down the directions??
There is a cool website that allows you to drag a bookmarklet to your browser toolbar. (If you already use Pinterest, you probably have the “Pin It” bookmarklet on your toolbar)
This bookmarklet works the same way. The website is http://dotepub.com/ and FIRST you check a box on the right sidebar to tell it whether you want mobi files for kindle or epub files for other ereaders (including your iPad). Now drag the bookmarklet to your toolbar.
Go to the webpage that has the cool recipe and click the bookmarklet (mine says mobi because I use a Kindle). You now download the file. The pictures and ads are stripped away and you have a file that contains the text of the recipe.
I made a folder I can drag my recipes and articles to and then when I have a few collected I go to the Kindle.
You will connect our Kindle to your computer via the usb cable. It will show up just like a flash drive. Double click to open and you will see several folders. The books live in the Documents folder. That is where you will drag your newly created mobi files. I suspect the process is similar on a nook, but I am not sure what the folders are called.
Once the files are on the Kindle, go to the list of books, navigate to a recipe, and press the right side of the controller. From the menu choose add to collection. If this is the first time, click down to add new collection. Type Recipes or Cookbook or whatever you want to name it. The recipe will be added to the collection. Do this for each recipe.
Done
I also use Calibre for keeping up with my books and within Calibre you can edit metadata. The file will have a long number in the name eliminate that. I was happy to see that Calibre automatically added the originating website as the author so I can always go back to refer to it.
I also emailed one of the mobi files to myself and downloaded on my iPad which knew to ask me if I wanted to open the file in the Kindle app.
I then converted a recipe to epub using dotepub.com and emailed it to myself. When I clicked the attachment on my iPad it knew to ask if I wanted to open it in iBooks (which also lets you create collections)
In both iBooks and Kindle, the recipes (or articles) will be listed in alphabetical order within the collection. I have been trying to think of a way to organize them within the collection in case you decide to save a bazillion recipes this way. Off the top of my head, I think you could create a number code – 1 for main dish, 2 for side dish, 3 for dessert – or something similar. If you rename the files before you put them on your ereader using the number as the first character you will organize them one step further.
Remember there will be NO pictures. The pictures are stripped away, so if this is a recipe, project, tutorial that you need pictures for, you may want to try something different.
If you find other cool ways to use dotepub.com leave me a comment and tell me about it.
It’s been kind of sparse around here, I know. I was sick most of the month of December where I learned that antibiotics can make you well and more ill at the same time. I got better. Christmas came. Christmas went. Six hour drive to family for New Years. Six hour drive back.
Dale’s leg hurts. Then swells.
Go for transplant check up. (90 mile drive to DTI) Sonogram on leg. Go to hospital. Swelling due to very large blood clot. Admit Dale. Drive 90 miles home to pack. Drive 90 miles back. Stay for the weekend.
Frequent blood draws to check levels. I’m talking like three in the A.M. blood draws…
They accidentally had him on a diabetic diet. He is NOT diabetic. Food was low sodium (as in no salt) and diabetic so very little sugar. I question the whole hospital diet thing however. It was pretty carb heavy. It was not heavy on flavor. Grumpy husband food.
Then there is the chair bed. Or bed chair. Actually both are incorrect. It is neither a good chair nor a good bed. Just saying. It was not comfortable 4 years ago and while technology marches forward at a very rapid rate, hospital furniture design does not improve with time.
Came home from the hospital. Went to get prescriptions filled. One prescription – ONE WEEK supply – generic mind you, 200 dollars.
Call “insurance pharmacy that shall not be named”. Yes this is the price. No it doesn’t matter what pharmacy – UNLESS you use THEIR pharmacy through mail order. Yes the insurance company and the pharmacy are together. Just like this (insert imagination picture of fingers crossed over each other) Okay. It will be about 59 dollars for one month. (Keep in mind that they are also the ones who dictate the price of retail….not that I am ungrateful for the major price difference of about 700 dollars which is a lot of hamburger) Got the doc to change the prescription over of to the “insurance pharmacy that shall not be named”.
Checking the website, looking at the dates and adding up the time it normally takes to process, then the number of days it normally takes to deliver and I am disturbed because this looks very close and I would like to NOT pay another 200 dollars for another week for this prescription. Call “insurance pharmacy that shall not be named”. The lady was very nice. She put an URGENT code on it. Said if I didn’t hear from them in about 24 hours to check back.
24 hours later. Check the website. Still processing. Call “insurance pharmacy that shall not be named”. They need some more clinical information from the doc. It is now after five. Try calling the doc but of course the office is closed. Call “insurance pharmacy that shall not be named” back. Talk to a new person. Put through to a pharmacist. Explain the situation. Get through everything (what it is taken in conjunction with, why it is being taken, how long, how often testing will be done) and he is going to go ahead and put it through. He asks my title. My title as in my title at the DOCTOR’S OFFICE…. oops. I explain that I did not mean to impersonate anyone – this is just not my first rodeo, I take notes, ask questions, and I have GOOGLE for heavens sake. We are four years out from transplant and this is the first hospitalization. We are ninjas!
I think someone is getting yelled at.
Still going to expedite it with me promising I will call the doc in the morning and ask him to please call them so they have the documentation.
Total time spent on this prescription so far…about five hours.
This might even be amusing if it was on television. I think I need massive amounts of red wine and 24 hours of Big Bang Theory playing on the telly.
Next episode? The hospital bill. That one should be a scream.
dark summers night
she reaches for light
magicked feet hold fast to ground
he creeps up behind her
wishes to bind her
brushing stars from her wings
oldest language he sings
she is bound
one tear tells
no love spells
earthbound a prison
though softened with love
keeps fairies from soaring
to heaven above
there were obvious signs
of planets aligned
as I stared into deep
time after time
for answers and clues
just a small bit of news
but the waters were muddled
my thinking befuddled
my magic was huddled
I was thinking and sinking
in depths with no blinking
just diving and weaving
the omens deceiving
I screamed I am leaving
but wait just one moment
one minute one second
I think that I see what
the spirits are sending
sight curving time bending
oh just stop pretending
we none of us knowing
just where we are going
we mostly are hoping
that slipping and sloping
are not just an ending
are not just pretending
and dreams are for holding
we will come through the dark
our way lighted by sparks
the magic was never for finding
or winding around to our will
it lived in our hearts
and it lives within still
Image credit
http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lrr0f1nsZA1qj1ttwo1_500.jpg
to breath in rivers
of stinging cold
that tastes of stars
and snowflakes
whispers of secrets
floating down rock-a-bye
sorrow tomorrow
peace tonight
softly curled around
the shivery moon
it is well
tree lights glow
through window panes
with my soul
staring into the dark
feet on solid ground
sweater tightly wrapped
I feel myself grow solid too
it is well
Three Word Wednesday offering: Immobile, proximity, retribution
and Sunday Scribbling: health
Fear is a thing
that sits in
close proximity to heart
and lungs.
squeezing ventricles
with no discernible pattern.
An elephant
sitting immobile
on your chest,
retribution for all
those Scarlett O’Hara
think about it
tomorrow moments.
glory shines
round here tonight
the day is done
peace is nigh
rose and peach
and lavender sky
calls all to quiet
the stillness moves
across the deep
I lay me down
my soul to keep
my soul to keep
the day is done
eyes close in faith
tomorrow comes
and sleeping sun
again will rise
color painting
morning skies
and with the sun
each greets the day
a gift to all
til once again
the evening falls
and sunset calls
the world to rest
another from the AllPoetry archives
no food satisfies like
words bubbling
syllabic chewing
soul on a parchment
plate all about
the presentation
pen just so
chewed up
eaten out
loud
more from the AllPoetry Archives
boneless puddled silk
contentment personified
feline sandy tongue
silent hunter stalking prey
study in life’s paradox
(Tanka – I think) from the AllPoetry archives
on the edge of the ledge of the jumping
off pumping fist over the topping
I’m hopping on one foot and then
on the other no blanket
can smother the hope and the waiting is
killing me filling me piling excitement
indict me you want to but so would you
do what I do if you knew
don’t be late took the bait
I can’t wait
from the AllPoetry archives
there is a song a tune
a melody the beat
that meets me where I am
and walks my feet down
greener paths that eyes can see
the breath the spark
the inner heart
the soul the whole of me
that lives and dreams
and has a voice that joins
the world creation told
the thing that makes me
who I am a different being
than you and I will sing
oh I will sing
and
you can sing with me
sing a verse a chorus
all can join us
harmony will carry me
and you and all to
mountaintop and river edge
and pray a hedge around
and round
and coming down we each
will greet our brother
sister father mother
holding hands and lifting
voices sun will set but
we will still be singing softly
as it fades we sleep in peace
the peace we need so badly
all be fed and warm and safe
we pray you stay
forever in the keeping
of the One conducting
orchestrating planning loving
bringing all to the finale
heavenly angels lend
their voices
wings a’brushing clouds
with softest hues we choose
to listen choose to see
with hearts and minds
and hands and feet
so sweet the song
so sing with me
from the AllPoetry archives
velvet wings folded round
covering me with grace and peace
“Fear not. I am with you. Always”
Those words whisper
in my heart and my shivering stops.
“Even in a time of elephantine vanity and greed, one never has to look far to see the campfires of gentle people.” – Garrison Keillor
Sunday Scribbling 297: Fairytale
the depths of which
cannot be plumbed
the heights
cannot be scaled
a wilderness
so desolate
imagination pales
yet we the three
adventurers
move on though
pushed by gales
that blow from north
and south and east
and even from the west
but we the three
adventurers
push on to pass
the test
through perilous trail
through cliff and cave
blizzard blinded
onward quest
for we are three
adventurers
brave and strong
and true
though trials and fears
are real my friends and I
will follow through
And later
when the treasure found
we’ll pass the bottle
round and round
and by the fire
burning bright
tell tales throughout
the starlit night
as sparks rise
high and higher still
we’ll laugh and drink
and eat our fill
for we are three
adventurers
home safely warm abide
until the next
we journey forth
the stars our only guide
so merry now
and merry then
and merry come what may
the call to quest
rings loudly out
adventurers obey
image credit: Mobius Cave by Clint Cearley
http://www.ted.com/talks/joe_sabia_the_technology_of_storytelling.html
I will have to research how to embed and try to get the video on here later.
No not me – the online magazine…
They like me 
http://blackheartmagazine.com/2011/11/21/the-song-by-dee-martin/
go. comment…please?
NaNoWriMo 2011 has been dominated. I hit 50009 words at 10:30 a.m. November 26, 2011.
I did what I set out to do. What I wrote in 2011 is better than what I wrote in 2009. There was an outline, and even though I changed the plot in some major ways, I kept everything in sections, marked revisions, added note sections, and best of all…I still like my characters, I want to spend more time with them. Considering the rewriting and editing that will have to happen before I can call this complete, it is a good thing I don’t want them dead yet.
I learned that for me, sitting down and writing whether I feel like it or not is important. Even if I write utter garbage and bore myself to tears, if I just force myself to keep going, it gets better. It seems very similar to exercise. The whole talking yourself into doing something you really don’t feel like doing. The stiffness at first. The settling into a pace that feels comfortable, and then picking up the pace as you get into the zone and feeling the burn at the end.
The good tired feeling at the end accompanied by the sense of accomplishment.
NaNoWriMo is a race against yourself and the clock but more than that, for me, it is about developing a habit of stepping up to the keyboard and just doing it.
I know this will all need to marinate and I may read my story later and decide that I hate it after all but for now? I will watch the little NaNoWriMo winners video where everyone applauds and congratulates you for “winning”. Basking in the afterglow.
Back to the world.
Years ago I discovered a series of books by author Anne McCaffrey. After reading the Dragonflight, I systematically hunted down every other book in the series until I read them all and still wished for more. A wikipedia quote describes the basic premise for the series “”technologically regressed survival planet” whose people were united against a threat from space” but does not begin to cover the incredible world that Ms. McCaffrey built in these books. The characters were some of the first to become so real to me that I cried when a dragon died because the relationship with dragon and rider was a telepathic bond and the death of either cause for pain so unbearable for the other that the remaining partner often killed themselves. The characters were so well developed (even some of the dragon personalities) that I would disappear into the world of Pern for hours and come back feeling as though I had spent time with friends that I would miss.
The Dragonriders of Pern series was the first Fantasy Fiction I read that was so strongly done, disbelief was suspended so that when I put the book down, I would be surprised to look around me and realize I was back on earth and that dragons sadly did not in fact, exist.
Anne McCaffery was born in Massachusetts but moved to Ireland where she lived in a house she named Dragonhold. Her son is quoted in the same wikipedia article as saying she “first set dragons free on Pern and then was herself freed by her dragons”
Wired’s Matt Blum writes that “McCaffrey helped pave the way for women writers in fantasy and science fiction, and was both the first woman awarded a Hugo Award and the first awarded a Nebula Award. Even in her 80s she continued to write, and over her lifetime produced a prodigious number of books and short stories. She was still answering readers’ mail on her website as of a few weeks ago.”
(From the CBS news website)
Anne McCaffrey was a prolific writer who wrote more than just the Dragonriders of Pern series and her voice will be missed. A stroke took her on November 21 at the age of 85, Thank you Anne for hours of enjoyment and creating a love of Fantasy Fiction in this reader.
Murat11 Jae Rose Thom Gabrukiewicz Teleread Wordnik TERRIBLEMINDS: Chuck Wendig, Freelance Penmonkey Writers Alley KindleObsessed
