WHERE JUDITH GOES TO HIDE

ROBIN HOOD RANT

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 17:11:04 GMT

Been a while since I have commented on Robin Hood - though when I first joined this community eons ago, I did a bit. Probably because I hadn't seen more than the eight episodes I had on VHS for a long long time.

Well this summer I got 20 episodes on five DVD's. Wow!! I watched this show as a 10-12 year old and loved it. The adult me really admires that child.

A few words on Maid Marian. Sure she was the only recurring female character on an all male show, so little girl would identify. Yet she seems to adult me to be a lot more than that. She is smart and enthusiastic. She moves with dignity and stealth through both the outlaw world and the world of Norman nobility. She can visit a tavern or the queen with equal ease. Sometimes she even comes up with the plan or counterplan on her own. Amazing considering this was 1955.

Of course, I must add that a few of the episodes have the "new Marian" who I never cared for. My husband noticed it immediately and commented on it. Bernardette O'Farrell was the perfect "English beauty" to play the part, what a little girl in mid-west USA thought an "English Lady" should look like. Sill find her attractive, though fits no traditional definition of the word.

Robin Hood (Richard Greene) is a real hunk, too. Looks good in those tights. I've never figured out tights, did some old woman knit them by hand on four needles. How fine was that yarn, what gauge? (I used to knit, why didn't they wear sweaters too?) One pair had better last a long time. Hercules's leather pants seem like a "stretch" -- but tights?

Anyway, finally got to post my rant on this site, which I had lost on my favorites.

BEEN AWAY

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Tue, 19 Apr 2005 20:59:18 GMT

Just realized that I hadn't been to this site for several months. This is a good thing. I usually only come here when I am angry.

RETREAT INTO MY MIND

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Fri, 17 Dec 2004 21:07:28 GMT

I don't know if this retreat into my mind is due to the cruel person described in the last post or not. I try not to think so ... but my social interaction with fans of shows has dried up. Instead I hide ith the bridge players and spend the rest of my free time playing addictive internet games which I have used like heroin to escape.

I don't like to be angry. So I will go and hide.

MAKING MY LIFE MISERABLE

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Wed, 10 Nov 2004 14:54:59 GMT

There is one person on the internet who is trying to make my life miserable. I guess it is partially my fault. Early last summer I joined a community and she was doing this "anti-Duncan" series of drabbles. In fact, she killed him off. I found this a little upsetting and wrote a drabble where Amanda killed the person who killed Duncan. Seems logical to me.

WHAT I DIDN'T REALIZE was that this person (despite writing in fan fiction which probably violates all sorts of intellectual property rights) is VERY protective of her ideas. She demanded that I should have asked her permission to use her take on a character in my story. I ignored her. She managed to find the drabble posted on my website (very deeply buried) and again made demands which I honored.

This week she and another person are writing a huge story on the Drabble site, and when I posted my three drabbles (which had nothing to do with those) I made a note that these were not part of the story. I got a very nasty reply that they didn't want me writing on their story (which I had no intention of doing) and a spam fight followed. Perhaps I should know where I am not wanted. However, I liked doing Highlander drabbles and find it very intellectually challenging.

So I sit back and ponder for a while.

TRICK OR TREAT

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Thu, 28 Oct 2004 20:12:58 GMT

Well in less than two hours the little beggers will be coming to our house. At least it is a clear night and not raining which means I can put a chair down on the bottom of the steps and not have to have munchkins climbing up and down my steps and almost always causing me to fear that they will drop off the side. (It is about a four foot drop and one of my greatest fears is the sight of a kid who has gone splot.)

I have horrible candy. The Tootsie Roll mix. I've picked out the boxes of DOTS which are the only things that are semi-edible. Tootsie Rolls in all sizes from quite large to very small. Pops. Fruit tootsies (can you say yuck.) There is always this balance between buying the things that you will eat before the kids come (mounds bars, peanut butter cups, milk duds, paydays,) or the things you probably wouldn't eat if starving on a desert island (tootsie rolls.) You never know how many kids are coming, somewhere between 20 and 200.

Since it is nice we will probably drink wine with the neighbors.

HOW CAN YOU WATCH ANDROMEDA

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Fri, 22 Oct 2004 22:27:00 GMT

I've seen two episodes this season and they weren't too bad. However, it is on the oddest times. 7PM Friday, who is home at 7 PM on Friday. I might be tonight, but will probably be eating. 1 AM Friday, well I'm home and that's when I've seen it. Noon Sunday, well this week (when they are showing the one I forgot tape last week) I am going to brunch. Oh well, hope I can remember how to set VCR.

UPDATES ON ME

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Tue, 19 Oct 2004 19:22:36 GMT

Well I finally got SON OF THE WINE to a spot where Tol and Julia gave it provisional approval. Tol still questions my anthropology, Julia my motivation. I can defend both, though not sure stories that need defending are well written. Haven't heard from Becky yet. UD liked it. He seemed to get it.

My next story is pure humor and is called SLUT OF THE MONTH CLUB. I've had one person read it and and she liked it. What's not to like about a story that has six characters all played by Peter Wingfield. Footnotes maybe? First story with multiple footnotes.

My Xena DVD's should be here. Torn between sacking out on the couch and playing more bridge. Today was a good bridge day dispite a horrible start in the second game. Having nice men partners helps a lot.

No updates on UD's job. He's still working the pieces out. Life is good.

MORE INTERESTING OR . . .

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Thu, 14 Oct 2004 18:50:51 GMT

I am not sure if my life has gotten more interesting or whether I have just found a number of inane things to fill it up. Anyway the days are flying past. Not exactly what I want as the end of the year approaches.

My last story sucks. I'm trying to save it because I don't feel like writing another and I want a story on the ZODIAC challenge. Sucky stories are hard to save though.

Been playing way too much internet bridge. I can't say no when someone asks me to play, and a lot of people have been asking. Probably because yesterday I had a very good day, maybe there will be fewer today because I was "not so good."

I have all the Halloween stuff up. The house looks pretty nice. Strange interspursion of classic design and tacky plastic. I like it.

UD is down to the end of the line of the jobs. Once he gets a figure from job three, he has to decide if he wants to pursue job one. It would require that he fly to Washington DC and travel to Cleveland. It is a tough choice. I just hope the hesitancy does not mean he is thinking of staying where he is. Job one wanted to know what he makes now, which is low and downright embarassing. I figured he would call it a day, but said he thought he could explain why he makes so little. I guess my dreams of tripling our income were just that.

TURNING SUMMER'S BOUNTY INTO WINTER'S FOOD

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Mon, 11 Oct 2004 23:56:57 GMT

Been busy the past few weeks. Did a lot of freezing and drying. Yesterday I even made jelly. I haven't made jelly in a long time, but figured that I'd been buying pepper jelly at $5.00 a half pint jar when I could make six jars for about three dollars when the peppers were $.50 each. Of course, I discovered my pectin was only a decade out of date -- but used it anyway. Ate some today and although the texture was a bit strange it tasted good. Will have lots of creamcheese and jelly sandwiches over the winter.

I am drying the rest of the peppers (I got about $5.00 worth of assorted ones) because I am basically out of space in my freezer. (All I have is the space over my refrigerator and when you open it a lot of stuff falls out.) Now when you walk on the back porch you gag on hot pepper fumes.

At least next weekend I will not be seduced by pretty peppers and more tomatoes -- but there are still squash.

Difficult to keep silent

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 13:33:40 GMT

It is difficult when something big is about to happen in your life and you can't talk about it. We have been in that situation for about six weeks, and the "something big" is constantly changing. Looks like we are only talking money at this point, so the conclusion is at hand. Of course, the University of Tennessee (which was a much bigger change) died when it got to money. Still, maybe in a week or two things will be finished and we can figure out where the rest of our lives are going.

In the meantime, my dear husband is playing golf with my friends Peter and Tim. I am sort of jealous. I miss these guys and their love of gossip. My husband could care less, but it was so fun. Hopefully they will plan some event where we can get together and talk. Actually we will have spent time with Peter several times in the past few weeks after not seeing him at all for quite some time.

Sooooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

HOW DID THE PARTY TURN OUT?

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Mon, 04 Oct 2004 17:51:38 GMT

Well the final totals are in on the candle party. My friends sure like to buy that stuff. I had seven people at the party and three more people buy after the event. I ended up with well over $600 in sales which gave me three half price and $150 in money to spend. I got to a point where there wasn't anything else I wanted. Of course, today when I went to put out candles I could have used some more of certain scents. But Katy is having a party at the end of the month.

Trying to find a counter

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Sat, 02 Oct 2004 16:30:53 GMT

In August I discovered that you are not limited to 10 counters on Globel -- you can have 10 different counters but if you want to keep count by category you have unlimited counters. Thus I have increased my hits exponentially.

However, when I grouped my counters, there is one which I cannot find. It is called LAWLESSXENA -- but it isn't on one my LAWLESS stories -- no idea what it might be. During September I THOUGHT it was a counter I had deleted, but I've gotten two hits in October.

The only problem with having counters on every page is you see all the demented things people look up to come to my website. Scary!!

READY TO PARTY -- OR AT LEAST LIGHT CANDLES

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Thu, 30 Sep 2004 22:30:51 GMT

I don't know why I signed up for a candle party, I don't need any more candles. I have a whole chest full of them which my husband doesn't like me to light -- but honey, Becky's fire was caused by electricity (but then he doesn't like me to leave on lights either.) But I am having somewhere between 5-10 people over tonight. Can't be sure. My friends are not good about calling. They either show up or they don't. I'm not sure I have enough food, which means they might leave hungry (or drunk.) I'm sick of leftovers, and I have enough booze.

Spent most of the day playing bridge with men who think I am a goddess. Not enough time writing.

Worse than that, I put on a Highlander DVD this afternoon and thought, this is a silly show. Nothing to do with real life. RUNNNNNNNN. Of course Peter and Methos lured me back to the lands of slash and I'm none the worse for it.

GOING SMOOTHLY

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Tue, 28 Sep 2004 16:20:45 GMT

Late September is a nice time. Things are going smoothly here. UD worked out his master-plan for the new job but they wanted him to add a little more personal stuff. Upset him, but generally they said they liked it because it wasn't BULL SHIT. UD is not a bullshit kind of person.

Last night went out to dinner with a woman who wants us to give our money (not until we die) to Michigan State. She is a fun lady and we always have a good time. Went to a retaurant called Martini's.

Canadian whiskey has really fallen into disrepute -- people make Manhattans and Old Fashions with bourbon -- ugh. I guess it is better than Wisconsin where they make them with brandy.

Playing way, way, way too much bridge.

About time for an update

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Sat, 25 Sep 2004 01:10:08 GMT

I've been spending most of my time working on getting acquainted with my new computer. Some things are good, some not so good. I miss my old keyboard, but find it doesn't work on most computers. The new Dell computer is black but not as big as the NEC model which I love. Still my fingers have gotten quite a workout typing minutes for CSOL and documents for UD.

Missed the first episode of Andromeda season five; I had planned to tape it and forgot. Have to see if it is on again sometime when I can tape it.

Lots of things on the plate for the next month. Writing seems to have fallen by the wayside. UD gave me a plot for a birthday story I have to write. See if it works.

Been reading a lot of recommended stories. It is very interesting how I see characters much different than many of the other writers. Yes they are well written, but the emotions are so different than anything I ever feel that it loses me.

Also been collecting videos and adding music to my new computer. I got some blank DVD's today, so I can make copies of some of my favorites to give to my friends.

So there is a lot to do . . . but now what I want to do is sleep.

Is this a slash writer's dream

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Sun, 12 Sep 2004 22:40:49 GMT

I know it is mine. A gay male beta reader. I may have one. Keeping my fingers crossed. Someone to tell me when my sex sucks - LOL!! or when it should suck more. Let you know if it happens -- or you should know from my writing.

OUT TO DINNER

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Wed, 08 Sep 2004 21:53:12 GMT

Tonight we are going out to dinner with some people who were once our closest friends. We used to get together for dinner once a week (did this for about four years in the 1970's) then our lives drifted apart. I can't even remember the last time I saw them. Now their children are grown and they commute between Ohio and Florida.

We are going to a restaurant they like to which I have never been. Believe it or not there is a restaurant in Columbus to which I have not been. I am slightly aprehensive. In many ways my life has changed a lot, but in some ways it is more like the one I had in the 1970's.

Life may be about to make another great circle. Not sure.

IT DIED

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 17:00:43 GMT

The demon computer is dead. It makes grunting noises when you turn it on and other than that . . .

Going to miss that nice expensive software, but not the computer.

NOT SO GREAT TODAY

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 21:32:22 GMT

I am only in town two days this week, and I have things that need to be done. Furthermore UD is close to a breakdown -- not sure how that will effect getting out of town for the weekend.

Anyway I have printing I need to pick up and a booklet that needs to be complete. Yesterday the person doing the editing was all over me with details, and today she doesn't send it to me. I had planned to take it to the printer tonight -- get everything done in one trip. Guess I will put off until tomorrow and have to stick labels and such tomorrow night late. Oh well, I don't like to sleep much anyway.

My website is popping today, over 150 hits. I can't believe it. Only about 1/3 are hits on the new story, maybe people are coming and "looking around". I've only gotten a couple of comments -- one from someone who is probably too young to be reading my stories, but this one is pretty tame (of course the old chestnut about rated NC-17 for sex and probably should have been rated NC-30 for hate and violence. But no one counts those.)

So I guess I'd better cook supper. This may be the last time I cook in a long time. Have already told UD that I am closing my kitchen for two weeks because I am having this meeting here and need it clean.

Jude

GROWING A THICKER SKIN

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Thu, 26 Aug 2004 18:27:32 GMT

About a month ago I was accused of plagerism. ME . . . McJude . . . do you think my work is anything like the stuff anyone else had writter. Well it was just a technicality. I have said nothing, fixed the problem, and discovered that the same person has posted notices about it (without my name) on various lists.

Let me explain . . . I used someone's "original" character. I did not realize it was an "original" character since the character came from a movie I had not seen. This person had killed off the "hero" from the series in a series of drabbles. (No it wasn't Dylan Hunt.) I decided that the hero's friends would not stand for that and I posted a drabble with this character getting killed.

I got a few comments that I should have "asked" to kill him -- but didn't realize that she thought she "owned him."

Well about a month ago I get this nasty E-mail saying that I need to credit her -- which I did immediately after -- for the character.

I use other people's characters a lot -- and plot ideas. I unabashidly steal from ammorette who has such wonderfully wicked ideas knowing that no one would ever mistake my writing for hers.

I write prequels and sequels to people's stories when the muse hits me. I thought this was what it was all about.

It doesn't bother me that she wanted credit, maybe I should have been more generous, but when other posts appeared -- which I ignored -- I felt bad. Waited for it to cool off and now am spouting where no one reads.

Could it really be October

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Mon, 16 Aug 2004 15:31:15 GMT

This system uses the European dating method. My last post was on 10/8/04 but for the last week you probably could convince yourself that it has been October. There have been some days when the highs have been in the 60's. Usually the judge of a nice summer night in Ohio is when the low goes into the 60's. Last night I wanted a blanket -- today I wonder about sweat pants. (We were in Michigan over the weekend and it was even cooler.) I'm not complaining mind you -- October is one of my favorite months.

My father is doing much better. Hopes to get out for good on Friday. You know when you get better because the nursing home starts getting unbearable.

I have a lot to do and I am working on a story. Yipes.

HIGHLANDER SEASON FIVE

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Tue, 10 Aug 2004 23:24:31 GMT

I got my HIGHLANDER Season Five DVD's today and they have definitely outdone themselves. The season is shorter, so they have two full disks of extras -- not to mention the extras with every episode they usually have.

Today I watched rough cuts of COMES HORSEMAN and REVOLATION -- reallly interesting because both were very long and they were really cut. Some of the scenes that were cut were really bad -- but it makes the episodes tighter and more mysterious.

I am worthless for a few days.

SPIKE TV

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Tue, 10 Aug 2004 00:38:58 GMT

Were it not for Spike TV -- entertainment for men -- I would never have seen HIGHLANDER. Missed it during the 1990's --I had a job, a computer, a life, and a few health problems. It is somewhat amazing that I even had time to watch Xena and Hercules.

However, Spike has a lot of nasty habits. For example today they showed COMES A HORSEMAN -- to be continued -- and tomorrow they are showing a Joe Smoe marathon and not showing Revolation. They also don't show the Methos/Joe episode in season Six because it is an odd numbered episode. Oh well, will have DVD's sometime this week.

So tomorrow I can do something exciting like getting ready to go to a meeting in the afternoon.

Bliss

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Thu, 05 Aug 2004 16:26:49 GMT

Got my BLISS episodes from Canada. Boy, am I getting crazy. Last night UD and I watched four of the eight episodes.

We first said we were going to watch them in order. NOT LIKELY, as Peter's was number 8, but we watched the first one first. It was about people "our age" getting sexy which I am sure squicked a few people. Nice for me and UD though.

Then we watched Peter. Watched is cute little butt with the tattoo on it "mock fucking" on camera. Interesting episode though somewhat predictable. Peter always plays the perfect man (who sometimes has flaws that are not detectable at cursory glance.) I only have one question, why aren't there places like that for women?

The third one was about a woman visiting a prison inmate. Didn't understand that one at all. I guess some women identify with things like that though.

The last one we watched was about two teenagers who while they were gay had no one to pair up with, so they messed around het. Very odd. UD said the characters were too young to identify with and concluded that "everyone needs someone".

Ah, the series needed more Peter.

Meeting with Stockbrokers

mcjude@sbcglobal.net — Wed, 04 Aug 2004 16:49:19 GMT

I hate this. We go down and sit in the office and listen to these people throw meaning statistics at us as if we weren't smart enough to figure these things out on our own. We spend a good portion of the summer doing this and then nothing is done. A year later we are a year older and our portfolio is about the same. It is getting old.

I really want to just take the money and put it all on government bonds -- now there's a really conservative thought -- but then I don't have to worry -- as much. We made a fortune once on warehousing -- but the rest of our stocks have been quite static for some time.