Monday, April 30, 2012

Z is for Zombies

Blackout by Mira Grant (a pen name of Seanan McGuire) is my most anticipated release in May.  Blackout is the third and final book in the Newsflesh trilogy.  These are the books that got me hooked on zombies.

Some fun little promotional activities are turning up now.

Events kicked off with the release of the first chapter on Io9.

Followed by the announcement of a neat little scavenger hunt to unlock additional material on Seanan McGuire's blog.

All of this is just making me more and more excited for Blackout, which I have just pre-ordered.  Now I just have to wait until May 22.

You may also be interested in my reviews of Feed and Deadline, the first two books.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

V is for Vegetables

This is going to be my second year of attempting to grow my own vegetables.  Last year was less than successful since all I managed to grow was spinach that got eaten by something.

I have seeds for all the vegetables that we eat on a regular basis.  Now I just need the time to plant them all.

Portland Lindy Events April 25-May 2




Lindy Events for the Week of April 25-May 2

Wednesday April 25

7:30-10:30 pm Swing Night at Vie de Boheme
Vie de Boheme Wine Bar (1530 SE 7th Ave, Portland)

Thursday April 26

7:30-11:00pm Thursday Swing
PPAA (618 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:30 DJ'd Music

Friday April 27



Saturday April 28



Sunday April 29

7-11:00pm Sunday Swing 
Scottish Rite (1507 SW Morrison, Portland)
7:00 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:00-11:00pm DJ'd Music
http://www.stumptowndance.com/

Monday April 30

7:30-9:30pm Guided Swing Practica
Lower Melody Ballroom (615 SE Alder, Portland)
http://www.stumptowndance.com/

9-11pm Kung Pao Chickens
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Laurelthirst Public House (2958 NE Glisan, Portland)

Tuesday May 1

7:30-12:30 Tuesday Blues
Lenora's Room (615 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Intermediate Blues Lesson
8:30 Beginning Blues Lesson
9-12:30 Dj'd Music

Wednesday May 2



7:30-10:30 Swing Night at Vie de Boheme
Vie de Boheme Wine Bar (1530 SE 7th Ave, Portland)

Upcoming Events!

May 12 Workshop with Stefan and Bethany, and Mike and Casey (Bossanova Ballroom, Portland, OR)
May 12 V-E Day Swing Dance with the Careless Lovers (Bossanova Ballroom, Portland, OR)
May 25-28 Camp Jitterbug (Seattle, WA)
June 28-July 1 Olympia Jazz Festival (Olympia, WA)

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

P is for Portland Lindy Events April 18-25






Lindy Events for the Week of April 18-25

Wednesday April 18

7:30-10:30 pm Swing Night at Vie de Boheme
Vie de Boheme Wine Bar (1530 SE 7th Ave, Portland)

Thursday April 19

7:30-11:00pm Thursday Swing
PPAA (618 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:30 DJ'd Music

Friday April 20



Saturday April 21



Sunday April 22

7-11:00pm Sunday Swing 
Scottish Rite (1507 SW Morrison, Portland)
7:00 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:00-11:00pm DJ'd Music
http://www.stumptowndance.com/

Monday April 23

7:30-9:30pm Guided Swing Practica
Lower Melody Ballroom (615 SE Alder, Portland)
http://www.stumptowndance.com/

9-11pm Kung Pao Chickens
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Laurelthirst Public House (2958 NE Glisan, Portland)

Tuesday April 24

7:30-12:30 Tuesday Blues
Lenora's Room (615 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Intermediate Blues Lesson
8:30 Beginning Blues Lesson
9-12:30 Dj'd Music

Wednesday April 25



7:30-10:30 Swing Night at Vie de Boheme
Vie de Boheme Wine Bar (1530 SE 7th Ave, Portland)

Upcoming Events!

May 12 Workshop with Stefan and Bethany, and Mike and Casey (Bossanova Ballroom, Portland, OR)
May 12 V-E Day Swing Dance with the Careless Lovers (Bossanova Ballroom, Portland, OR)
May 25-28 Camp Jitterbug (Seattle, WA)
June 28-July 1 Olympia Jazz Festival (Olympia, WA)

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Portland Lindy Hop Events April 11-18 (J is for Jazz Steps)


Video of the Week

An old favorite video that reviews a significant number of jazz steps.



Lindy Events for the Week of April 11-18

Wednesday April 11

7:30-10:30 pm Swing Night at Vie de Boheme
Vie de Boheme Wine Bar (1530 SE 7th Ave, Portland)

Thursday April 12

7:30-11:00pm Thursday Swing
PPAA (618 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:30 DJ'd Music

Friday April 13



Saturday April 14

Olympia Swing Jam
http://olyswing.com/?page_id=780

Sunday April 15

3-6:00pm Open level Workshop with Ben White
Scottish Rite (1507 SW Morrison, Portland)
http://www.facebook.com/events/142380612555407/


7-11:00pm Sunday Swing 
Scottish Rite (1507 SW Morrison, Portland)
7:00 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:00-11:00pm DJ'd Music
http://www.stumptowndance.com/

Monday April 16

7:30-9:30pm Guided Swing Practica
Lower Melody Ballroom (615 SE Alder, Portland)
http://www.stumptowndance.com/

9-11pm Kung Pao Chickens
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Laurelthirst Public House (2958 NE Glisan, Portland)

Tuesday April 17

7:30-12:30 Tuesday Blues
Lenora's Room (615 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Intermediate Blues Lesson
8:30 Beginning Blues Lesson
9-12:30 Dj'd Music

Wednesday April 18



7:30-10:30 Swing Night at Vie de Boheme
Vie de Boheme Wine Bar (1530 SE 7th Ave, Portland)

Upcoming Events!

May 12 Workshop with Stefan and Bethany, and Mike and Casey (Bossanova Ballroom, Portland, OR)
May 12 V-E Day Swing Dance with the Careless Lovers (Bossanova Ballroom, Portland, OR)
May 25-28 Camp Jitterbug (Seattle, WA)
June 28-July 1 Olympia Jazz Festival (Olympia, WA)

Monday, April 9, 2012

H is for Hive Mind

Hive Mind was the result of my first successful NaNoWriMo.  I've learned a lot about writing since I wrote that first draft and even more about what I think makes for a good story.  I have plenty of rewriting to do before Hive Mind lives up to my expectations.

The more rewriting that I do on Hive Mind the more this first draft feels like a prose form outline.

What does that mean to me:

  • Most of the action is blocked in
    • All of the major story points have been written in some form.  The chain reaction goes rather neatly from Point A to Point Z.  The plot is fully present though perhaps in a bare bones state.  That leads to what is missing.
  • Missing Pieces:
    • Character motivations that lead to those plot developments.  I need to flesh out the characters and their wants and needs so that they aren't making choices just because it makes a better story.  Many of these characters have other options so they need strong and compelling reasons to make the choices that they do.
    • Character development in general.  I'm missing the little quirks that make the characters human and easy to relate to.  I also need to add in the little character interactions that make the building of the relationships between the characters clear.
    • Technology and World-building.  I need to sit down and really think through what makes this Steampunk Alternate History tick.  I have a general idea in my head but I need to make it more detailed so that it can be consistently applied to the story.  No inconsistencies allowed.
I have lots to work on but I've been falling back in love with this story, so it'll be fun!

Friday, April 6, 2012

F is for Free

I feel like I've gotten past the the plateau that I had hit with my dancing. I'm finally reaching the point where I've got enough technique and familiarity with solo jazz movement that I can just dance.  And that feeling is absolutely freeing.  I'm not spending every moment on the dance floor thinking about how to move, it just happens.  It doesn't always happen well but that can be fun too.  I've still got plenty to work on in my dancing but for now, I'm happy.  I'm swinging out and I feel free.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

E is for Exposition

E is for Exposition also known as introducing my current WIPs to everyone visiting from the A to Z challenge.  These are all working titles that are mostly being used so I can tell the scrivener documents apart.

Hive Mind
NaNoWriMo 2010
Status: 1st Draft Complete, 2nd Draft in Progress
Genre: Steampunk Adventure
Short Summary: A teen from a telepathic community is kidnapped by a crew of airship merchants and the only ones willing to go after him are his sister and their best friends.

Outbreak
NaNoWriMo 2011
Status: 1st Draft Complete, Resting
Genre: Science Fiction
Short Summary: Zombie plague outbreak on a space colony.

Greased Gears
Status: Outline Complete, Partial 1st Draft, Stalled for other projects
Genre: Alternate History, Steampunk,
Short Summary:  1920's murder mystery involving airship speakeasies.

Seasonal Steampunk Serial
Status: Outline in Pieces, Starting 1st Draft
Genre: Steampunk
Short Summary: An experiment in serial style writing. The first female Santa Claus and the fight to save Christmas.

There might be a few other minor projects hanging around but these are the major ones that are likely to be mentioned with any kind of frequency.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Portland Lindy Hop Events April 4-11 (D is for Dancing)

Video of the Week

A fun little showcase from last weekend's Savoy Swing Jam in Seattle.  This was the first place routine.

Blog Post Recommendation of the Week
How to explode your local dance scene! by  Jamin Jackson
Some simple and common sense recommendations to help grow your scene which can be boiled down to dance with the beginners and make them feel welcome so they keep coming back.



Lindy Events for the Week of April 4-11

Wednesday April 4

7:30-10:30 pm Swing Night at Vie de Boheme
Vie de Boheme Wine Bar (1530 SE 7th Ave, Portland)

Thursday April 5

6:30-7:30pm Spins and Turns Workshop with Rachel Ries
PPAA (618 SE Alder, Portland)
Week 2 of 2

7:30-11:00pm Thursday Swing
PPAA (618 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:30 DJ'd Music

Friday April 6

6-8pm Swing Papillon at Secret Society
Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell Ave, Portland)
6-8 pm Live Music by Swing Papillon

9pm-12am Trashcan Joe at the Blue Monk
Drinking Age Only, 21+
The Blue Monk (3341 SE Belmont, Portland)

9pm-12am Pete Krebs and the Portland Playboys at Mississippi Pizza
Mississippi Pizza (3552 N. Mississippi Ave, Portland)


Saturday April 7

The Classics Vintage Dance Workshops & The Careless Lovers EP Release Party 
(Seattle, WA)

9pm-12am First Saturday Swing
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell Ave, Portland)
6-8 pm Live Music by Anna Paul and the Bearded Lady

9-12am Midnight Serenaders at Duff's Garage
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Duff's Garage (1635 SE 7th Ave, Portland)

Sunday April 8

7-11:00pm Sunday Swing 
Scottish Rite (1507 SW Morrison, Portland)
7:00 Beginning Swing Drop-in Lesson
8:00-11:00pm DJ'd Music
http://www.stumptowndance.com/

Monday April 9

7:30-9:30pm Guided Swing Practica
Lower Melody Ballroom (615 SE Alder, Portland)
http://www.stumptowndance.com/

9-11pm Kung Pao Chickens
Drinking Age Only, 21+
Laurelthirst Public House (2958 NE Glisan, Portland)

Tuesday April 10

7:30-12:30 Tuesday Blues
Lenora's Room (615 SE Alder, Portland)
7:30 Intermediate Blues Lesson
8:30 Beginning Blues Lesson
9-12:30 Dj'd Music

Wednesday April 11



7:30-10:30 Swing Night at Vie de Boheme
Vie de Boheme Wine Bar (1530 SE 7th Ave, Portland)

Upcoming Events!

April 14 Olympia Swing Jam (Olympia, WA)
April 15 Open Level Workshop with Ben White (Scottish Rite, Portland, OR)
May 12 Workshop with Stefan and Bethany, and Mike and Casey (Bossanova Ballroom, Portland, OR)
May 12 V-E Day Swing Dance with the Careless Lovers (Bossanova Ballroom, Portland, OR)
May 25-28 Camp Jitterbug (Seattle, WA)
June 28-July 1 Olympia Jazz Festival (Olympia, WA)

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

C is for Crock-pot!


The Crock-pot is one of my favorite ways to cook.  Its big advantage is that the recipes usually involve very little prep and you can come home to a complete dinner.  
This is a picture featuring my crock-pot full of tonight's dinner: Jambalaya .

Some of my other favorite Crock-pot recipes:
Curried Chicken with Peaches
Pork and Apple Curry
Italian Pot Roast

Monday, April 2, 2012

B is for Big Blue Blanket

B is for Big Blue Blanket also known as my oldest knitting project which is about half done right now.  It is just about too big to travel which is a bummer since most of my knitting right now is done at Church during the Service.  I love the Celtic knot-work of this pattern and I'm pretty sure that it qualifies me as an expert at cabling.


A is for Adventure



After a month and a half of no writing and no blogging, I've decided to get back on the horse with a flying leap.  I'm joining the Blogging from A to Z Challenge this month and I'm setting some lofty goals for my fiction writing.

I don't have any inclination toward script writing so in the interest of solidarity with my writer friends participating in Script Frenzy I'm going to do my own mini-NaNo challenge.  I'm setting a goal of 1000 words a day.  Ideally 500 words will be written on the rough draft of my Seasonal Steampunk Serial and 500 words will go towards the rewrite of Hive Mind.  How that will actually breakdown will be anyone's guess.

Wish me luck!

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Palm Sunday Reflections

A snippet of poetry inspired by this morning's Palm Sunday Litany.   I'm not entirely happy with this mostly because I know that I had more thoughts to add while I was driving but once I was able to start writing they had slipped away.


A world of shattered lives.  A life of broken pieces.
The pressure to be unbroken creates a mask to be borne.
How are you?  Lie and say that things are fine.
Are you fooling them?  Are you fooling you?
Does the mask become the truth?  Or just another broken piece?
Come to the table all your pieces are there.
He has come to be broken that we may be made whole
Come to the table.  You’ll find healing there.


I don't write much poetry but when I do it tends to be introspective and a tad depressing.