This year for Christmas, my kids are going with the ex to her parents' place in Vail. They left this morning. My parents and my sister can't afford to fly here this year, and I can't afford to even take the time off, let alone travel. I don't have any close relatives within a thousand miles. I don't even have any pets at the moment, a highly unusual circumstance for me. So, for the first time in my entire life, I will be spending Christmas completely alone, at least in the sense of not having any family around.

Hey Everyone! Just a quick note to let everyone know that Part 2 of Once the Hero is up at StarDust. Like I said last week, the newest stuff will hit StarDust first and then a week later make its way to BCTS. To reassure everyone, the whole thing is finished so this will not be another incomplete work. As long as it is I would've had to split it up in parts anyways. This way gives me the added advantage of being able to take advantage of you sharp eyed readers out there spotting errors and letting me do some bandaging and damage control.

I'm not sure, but I'm thinking of writing a dark story. I don't mean a story where 'evil reins supreme'. That's just the opposite side of the mirror as I see it, and not satisfactory to me. Its all to easy to ignore your characters dignity and abuse them, they can't protest can they?

Okay.. I think there might have been some confusion for a few people on A Splintered Life.

I finished this story in 2003-4 as a potential thesis for my Masters. I was kind of blown off. At the time I finished the story it was done and good and I was proud of it. The ideas of the story were fun and I thought it was a creative way to tell the story. Part of the artistic conceit of the story is that time is splintered around Deirdre and as the story continues things settle down time wise so the order of the chapters is linear.

I want to send to each and everyone of our fabulous authors and to all the readers, such as I, a wish for everyone to have a marvelous and very Merry Christmas, followed by a Happy New Year. For all of those who may not celebrate Christmas, but do have their own holiday(s) to celebrate during this time of the year, May YOU also realize your dreams in soon to be New Year.
A very big Hug to each and everyone of you. Janice Lynn Miller

This a story running to two book equivalents posted in 2003/4 on Crystal's storysite, which is one I feel deserves more attention and because Sarah Bayen doesn't post any more - she seems to have left the scene altogether - you might not come across it unless you know it's there. It could do with a proper edit but it's still a very readable tale of adolescence and self discovery. I attach a link.

Part 1 The Contest Beginings

Part 2 Contest and Consequence.

Sarah Bayen at Crystal's.

Hi all. I know I've been absent for some time here. Health issues, you know. I won't go into those here, just tell you all that I've got the next chapter of Maiden up and do profusely apologize for the delay in getting it to those of you who have waiting so patiently.

Or not so patiently. lol.

The bad news is that I can't guarantee that I'll be able to keep up with posting a new chapter each week, the good news is that I'm writing again at last.

So that's the news from here.

Dear All,

My heart is fine - it's just the rest of me that got complications!!!! In sinus rhythm now but suffered an aneurysm that kept me in hospital for two weeks and laid low at home for four.... Gradually getting stronger. Only just allowed back to the laptop! Love Ginger xx

This is heart breaking. I feel so sorry for them.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/12/17/gaza.gender.id/ind...

Khadijah

Anyone seen it?

Ah, thought I had it but the darned thing just slipped through my fingers.

If you find it, please return it.
It was a gleaming glittering thing, looking quite nice.

Anyway, I hope you all will have a nice Christmas.

Cheers.
Yor.

....
Ps:

If you find chapter thirteen a little weak I'm afraid that I have to agree.
It's like Churchill once said. "Sometimes blood sweat and tears just ain't enough."
Or something to that matter?

Ds: I've tried to 'edit' it a little to make it readable now, well, as i see it :)

Lotus vs. Virgin Racing
Tony Fernandes vs. Richard Branson

F1 bosses in cross-dressing bet

And of course, The Sun has a picture of what Branson might look like should he lose the bet.

In the silly season, there's obviously a shortage of ‘real’ news.

Pace Spanking