vilakins | Assorted stuff

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Assorted stuff

Time for a catch-up, I suppose. I succeeded in writing a story for picowrimo which I'll post in the next few days. It's the fourth instalment to my Lynx series, and is pretty standalone, being mostly about Soolin's mutoid sister.

I really should try to keep writing and finally exorcise the stories in my head so I can do something new (to me, anyway).

We went out to dinner on Sunday (excellent Italian) and Greg was annoyed that his new credit card didn't work. The bank had sent him a new one because he'd used it in a city parking building which was hacked into recently, and he thought they hadn't activated it. They had, actually, as he found when he rang them. He'd carefully cut up the new card. :-P

December already; I'm glad I don't have all the stress others do having to buy gifts and organise massive feasts. I've decided that I won't send out fannish cards this year as it gets quite expensive; I'll just draw and post a picture if I can think of one.

I got hold of a book gair mentioned a while back, Magnifi-Cat by Carolyn and Edmund Sheehan, and sobbed shamelessly. Well, maybe not shamelessly. I think it brought up lots of past grief about pets even though it was meant, at least the parts set in heaven, as gentle comedy.

I still feel very down about not having a proper job. I have no idea what to do about that. Sigh.

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Congratulations on finishing your story!

I still feel very down about not having a proper job. I have no idea what to do about that. Sigh.
Not a good feeling. *hugs*

And you know what it feels like, too (though not for as long). [hugs]

It's the fourth instalment to my Lynx series

Speaking of which, I'm about to sit down and do the beta right now!

I wasn't hinting! Take your time. :-)

I didn't think you were. I just happen to be about to do it, and I figured I'd let you know. :)

I am sorry to see you down.I know too well how bad it is ...
There are new possibilities and chances in a new year though, oh yes!
NIL DESPERANDUM!
*HUGS*

I don't hold out much hope, I'm afraid. This place wasn't that healthy economically (or otherwise for that matter) to start with. I'm in despair of ever finding something, and dammit, I know I'm clever and adaptable.

That you definitely are, and a very gifted and nice person too. What a waste!
I stll believe that your art is so lovely that it simply must be successful!
I will not stop keeping my fingers crossed for you.

There are much better artists around than me. Sadly, art and writing, the things I love, are hard to make money from.

Thank you.

*hugs* I was just thinking the exact same thing about fannish cards (and overseas cards, which are pretty much all to fen). The US post office is ridiculously greedy, last year's was a shocker & then it went up again.

Now, if only I can think of an idea to post.

I think I've thought of something, but it remains to be seen if I can make it work. Anyway, it'll be cheaper than printing and sending out B7 cards, and sometimes they don't even get there in time.

*nods* I just went to the USPS site to check-- a one ounce letter to Eng or Australia would be 98 cents, if it went over an ounce by the least little bit, it'd be $1.82. T'ell with it, I'll just send out a few family cards this year.

I will be posting a Christmas card again this year as I have probably missed the last posting days for abroad any way. I am ashamed to say I laughed out loud about Greg and the credit card, it's the sort of thing I would do. I wish I could help about work , all I can do is sympathise. The economy will pick up again and you will get a proper job again it will just take time and waiting is the hardest thing I know. Hugs.

Don't be ashamed' I laughed heartlessly too. :-) I am so careful with things like that; I don't understand how he did it.

I sent all the cards airmail last year because 1) I was too late for surface and 2) surface costs about 80% of airmail anyway. Did you mean that you will or won't be posting a card? Anyway, don't bother to send me one; truly. :-) Spend your money on yarn!

The trouble is, the longer I've been out of work, the worse it looks. I just wish I could find something self-employed to do that I could live off.

I should have added on line to posting. At least I have already drawn mine. Self employed is difficult. The up and coming things here were either driving instructor or pet sitting, though both have become less viable with money so tight. I was considering starting a pet sitting(that's looking after pets in their own homes while owners were on holiday.) company of my own before the credit crunch as I think it would have been viable then. A friend at work was quoted £150 a week for two visits a day for her two cats. I did it for her for a chocolate cake and two bottles of wine and moved in with the cats for the week, not that I would have done the moving in part for customers, unless well paid for it.

I hadn't thought of looking after cats! I may ask at the vet when I take Ashley in for her inoculation and check-up; I've seen cards there for people who do it. I couldn't leave mine, but I'd be able to spend a few hours a day keeping cats company, and I never go away when most people do.

Yes at the prices that were quoted over here all you need is 2 cats a week and you have a pretty good wage at the end of the week, if you could do 4 you would be rolling in dough .

It's pretty seasonal though. You wouldn't get much outside summer and school holidays, but I do have the advantage of never going away in school holidays.

For holidays you are right but there are always a few that need an animal sitter for things like medical emergencies. People like you , and me who would rather be hung up by the toes over a roaring fire than go on holiday during school holidays. And if you were successfull enough you could dedicate the off season to the proof reading service you are going to set up with the profits.%).

*hugs*

I really should try to keep writing and finally exorcise the stories in my head so I can do something new (to me, anyway).

I like your use of "exorcise" as a metaphor there. It seems very apt.

They won't leave me alone will I've written them.

Sorry you've been feeling so down lately. *hugs*

[hugs] Thanks. I've been taking refuge in books, but that last one triggered off a lot of grief. Before that, it was 'Making Money' and that was a lot of fun.

whoops with the credit card!

As for the job, how about setting up your own business? Something with low set up costs, you would have a project to use your considerable brains on

Most businesses cost money to either set up or advertise (I thought of editing for businesses who don't know much about grammar and apostrophes) but there's no guarantee of getting any business. Someone mentioned cat feeding and sitting for people on holiday. I could at least get some cards printed to leave at vets, but I'll have to research how much people charge.

I'd really like to do something that uses my brain though.

Get some money in from cat sitting and then you might have enough to set up the editing business. And don't forget students need editors to pick up on gross misuse of grammar in their thesis.

Yes, but getting people to know about me is the expensive part. I'll see if the vet has any of those cat sitting cards and what they charge.

You're doing all you can! It's hardly your fault that a bunch of cowboys were let loose to destroy the global economy.

Ours wasn't much good to start with, but at least I could get temporary contracts before. There's nothing now; it's rare to even get a reply to an application.

Congratulations on finishing the story! Go you!

LOL I've done the same thing with a credit card. Poor Greg he's not alone.

I'm glad you don't have that stress too. We've thankfully decided to have a low key holiday this year. A few gifts for the kids and that's it. I try to steer away from the materialistic part of the holiday as I don't want Meg to think that's what Christmas is all about.

*hugs* I understand how you feel about the job. It's not a good one I know. Wish I knew something to say to cheer you up.

Sorry I have been so uncommunicative lately. Things have been beyond hectic.

I understand; it's a very busy time over there.

I think the only Christmas thing I'm doing is the annual dinner out with Greg's colleagues and their partners. I always find it a trial though as people seem to think that asking what you do is an acceptable conversation starter. Last year was all right; I sat with people I knew. I'll try to do that this year.

Most people do think Christmas is all commercial and trees. And fake snow which really annoys me when it's actually summer here. They're moulding a Santa's grotto at the mall, but it's so far mercifully free of snow. I always feel sorry for the Santas in their hot clothes.

I can't wait to read it. You know I can't wait to read it. Feel free to tell me to shut up if I'm squeeing too much XD

Dooo it! I'm like that with projects I want to sew or make and I can't move onto a new idea until I've sorted the old ones

awww *hugs* sometimes it's good to cry and remember them. It's 2 years to the day pretty much since I buried Calcifer and it's been a little strange.

awww. Y'know, not having a proper job may suck in some respects but on the other hand, you have free time to do cool, interesting stuff and spend time with your cats. It's not even your fault. You're smart and flexible and willing to do stuff. There are people on the internet who think you're awesome! I envy you sometimes. *CHIANA FLYING GLOMP*

You need to set up a business knitting Vila dolls! After giving all those ships funny names and thinking up the puns for fics I'm sure you'll be able to think up a cool name for your business.

Mab wants me to write a PGP drabble about Vila owning a pet store/animal rescue place and Cally who survived Terminal finding him while looking for a telepathic pet...

It should go up today when I've finished correcting all the horrible typos and other stuff my beta-reader found. I don't know why I can't see them myself. I don't know what I think about this story; I never do till I get some feedback. It needed to be written to resolve that bit of Soolin's past though.

At least I only have about three stories left. They've been there for a couple of years, and when they've gone I can think up something quite new, maybe even original.

Ah, but how much would a knitted fannish doll sell for? $100 tops? And it would take me at least a couple of days to make. This is what puts me off trying to sell knitting and jewellery (though jewellery's a lot faster) on Etsy. I should give it a go though. I like making things and I really don't need any more myself. It'd just be a bit of extra money though, not enough to live on.

Mab wants me to write a PGP drabble about Vila owning a pet store/animal rescue place and Cally who survived Terminal finding him while looking for a telepathic pet...

Doooooooo iiiiiiiit! You'd need more than 100 words though; better make it a ficlet rather than a drabble. :-) Vila would love animals, but I think he'd find it hard to let them go. I know I would, and I'd mourn so much over the sick and hurt ones, I just couldn't work anywhere like that.

I know the making things and selling them isn't that profitable. I made costumes for a bunch of my sister's friends over summer and it was fun but took ages. It made me feel like I was doing something useful though which cheered me up.

I couldn't work anywhere like that either. I can see him being sad over it and then Cally turning up and cheering him up. Or alternatively Kerrill comes in looking for a puppy :-D

Jewellery and knitted things don't cost much to post either. I'd probably have to insure them though if I was selling them. I suppose I could make and put a few things on Etsy to see how it goes. It would be nice--and novel--to feel useful.

Kerrill comes in looking for a puppy

And decides to give a home to the one behind the counter with the big sad spaniel eyes. ;-)

And decides to give a home to the one behind the counter with the big sad spaniel eyes. ;-)

After all, a puppy is for life not just for Christmas :-D

That's right, Kerril! No abandoning him when he grows out of the cute stage!

Absolutely. Though if she does abandon him, we'll ~~give him a good home~~ cheer him up won't we, Nico?

Of course! I'll buy him a plush safe to sleep in and some chewable lockpicks.

He'll like going for walkies somewhere else than planets with bad weather

He will! I'll take him to the park. And down the pub. :-)

*grins*

A&S flavoured dog biscuits...

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