I'm working with Lulu to upload a cookbook that I have written. My intent is to have it available both in PDF and in paperback. It has seventeen chapters and is a mix of opinion and recipes (over 200). The title is "The Opinionated Cook". I will post again as soon as I get it uploaded.

djkauf

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/05/03/chely.wright.out.ppl/i...

I found this story particularly interesting because I was literally JUST thinking last night about how I enjoy country music and bluegrass, but never really got into it because of the generally ultra-conservative attitude of its fanbase.

I'm vaguely disturbed by supermodel Agyness Deyn's most recent haircut:

According to this link on MSN, the man had several asbos instructing him desist the practice of wearing school uniform including skirts and bare legs during school hours.

See link: http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=153289130

I wonder how much of a danger or offence he was causing? Probably more sad than bad.

Angharad

I know that it is not good form to cheer at the misfortune of another; forbidden in my religion, but I could not resist this. Maybe this is simply justice being administered in an unusual way?

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/crime/2010/05/05/ac.kaye.wh... After so much crowing for racial purity and morality ...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alvin-mcewen/anti-gay-organiza...

I wrote this in answer to Chilli who commented on Quillian over at FM:

My sister had a bundling baby today, of course at this time biologically is believed to be male, and no questions otherwise, so i am happy...thought to share it :) hip hip harray :)

with love and ligth and smiles so bright

Erin Amelia Fletcher

I wish to apologize for my previous behavior mew. Concerning keywords, in the past I have ranted that people have misused key words to try to hook certain types of readers, when I didn't think that maybe they DID fit the keywords just not in the way I was thinking. For instance, sweet and sentimental, it's hard to believe any sort of forced story could be sweet and sentimental, but there are ways. For instance, if there's a cute romance between two villains, then that's the romance tag, and could even count as sweet and sentimental.

Check this out... New Sniper Record.

That is amazing, to be able to hit not one but two targets at that range. Dayum!

Nursing? Nah. Or maybe? Is someone trying to get my attention?

So, this week end, I got a call from my Brother and he needed my help. Well, actually he did not need my help, he wanted me to change the window motors and the Alternator on his Ford Pick Up. He was not intending to help. He gets to angry and frustrated with these things. Well, I wanted to say I couldn't do it because I'm a girl, but to be fair, he has the mechanical aptitude of a Frog.

The Working Girl Blog #22: Coffee Break, or The Working Girl is going on a one-week hiatus To see all of Bobbie's "Working Girl" blogs, click on this link: http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/19261/working-girl-blogs

Had a bit of a "thing" happen, and it's made me think about taking a bit of a break from the world of the Big Closet. But be cool - the blog (and me) is coming back to the Top Shelf in about a week. In the meantime, have a cup of coffee, or in this case, a mug of hot chocolate, on me.

The Working Girl Blog #21: Bobbie's playlist, or Isn't that Bobbie Spears? No, it isn't - it's Bobbie Aguilera! To see all of Bobbie's "Working Girl" blogs, click on this link: http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/19261/working-girl-blogs

Well, here I am - twelve noon. Just woke up. Yes, still in my pajamas. Hot chocolate beside my keyboard. And typing up this blogpost.

As a Science Fiction fan, the A B C's stand for (Isaac) Asimov, (Ray) Bradbury, and (Arthur C.) Clarke. I have now done little tributes to Asimov and Bradbury, but havent thought of one for Arthur C. Clarke.

(I can see the scene though . . . "Give me back my male clothes Hal!" "I am afraid I can't do that Dave . . .")

I am facing the possibility of being homeless soon. My family is wanting to throw me out because my Unemployment has run out and I have yet to be able to find a job. Adding to that, I am being given a hard time for daring to have any friends and if they dare send me anything in the mail, my whole family acts like someone would have to be crazy to be friends with me. I am almost at the end of my rope with the whole situation.

I want to thank everyone who read my life story. It was hard to write but I am glad that I did. Maybe the adventure will contiue down the road.

Hilltopper

Having used SKYPE for years, I am seeing a pattern that makes me wonder. I do not know if it is their fault or if my little "EeePC" is simply not up to the task. It's a funny little machine, runs XP, and is pretty slow. The screen really is too small for my eyes, so for a long time I used an auxilary screen. I use it mostly for running the programs that I do not want on my good machine. Itunes lives there, and SKYPE does too.

I started this blog as a response to commentator's Blog, in response to a bit in Bobbie C's blog. Just as commentator felt her response belonged in its own blog, so did I. I was struck by commentator's comment that GCS isn't a 'cure-all'. This matches some of my thoughts as well. But, before I will talk about them, I think I need to provide some background so you can see where I'm coming from.

Like many authors who publish, I get considerable pleasure from knowing that others have enjoyed my work, and the Vote counter was the way in which I could see the number of readers who did so. I have never paid much attention to Hits, equating that to people picking up a book in a bookshop, thumbing through it, and mostly putting it down without purchase. As such, there was always a vast difference between Hits and Votes. Whilst the comments are wonderful, they are always going to represent only a minority of readers.

Well, I have some good news. First, I weighed myself today, and I am down to 280 lbs from a high of 310. So thats a start. Also, I got a chance to talk to my counsilor, and she is looking into getting me help to go back to school. If I can, I will be able to get into the fast track in terms of transtioning. Keep a good thought for me, ok?

Hello everyone, today's been a decent day compared to my horrible drama-wh... likeness of yesterday. It's my day off and after sleeping in then a cup of tea I had to do my weekly ritual of heavy housework. I wanted to cook something today but being out of yet another failed relationship there are times I just don't feel like eating alone.
As I get older the more I dislike the lonely thing.
But it was raining and a little chill out so after coming back from the laundromat I put some soup into the slow cooker. I made my strange version of minestrone.

Recipe as follows:
1 onion diced.

Hi Folks

Just a short missive with my latest news.

Rather than bore everyone with the detail I've made a seperate page detailing my Spreewald trip - suffice to say i got home only two days late!

I wonder if these guys are "Skin Horse" fans?

Apparently there are people standing in four constituencies for the forthcoming UK General Election for the Cure (Citizens for Undead Rights and Equality) Party.

That sounds awfully Unity-ish...

Well, I had a bit of a rough day at work. It turned out i had not finished a job i was given yesterday, and I got in trouble. I had had a real struggle with it and made the mistake of not telling my supervisor before i left. So before i left, to cheer myself up, I bought a dozen pairs of women's socks, so I can replace my male ones. Then tonight, I stopped at the dollar store and bought a little bracelet and a bottle of lavander body spray. I also arranged to meet the pastor at the church on saturday, so thats done. So I feel better.

I'm starting this because I'm a bit upset over all things an online journal. It wasn't even mine. No there was this public post that led to this really well written opinion about how she perceived men. I actually felt under attack by it. Not in a crushed male ego kind of thing but...I really try to be a good guy, I like old fashioned manners the whole nine yards. I'm not however an old fashioned trog. I love women, most of my close friends are women, I'm a firm supporter of all of a womens rights including in my opinion that being treated like a lady is a right.

An Australian family
court has given the OK
for a 14-year-old girl –
born with a rare
genotype – to have
surgery to remove two
testicles.

www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,591569,00.html

I know, I just posted one blog, and now I'm posting another! But this one is quite different, so I thought it best to keep it separate. I had the strangest dream the other night. I was online visiting the sites of transgender fiction authors in my dream. I had come to a site that updates regularly (It wasn't any real site, but it reminded me of Maddy's site), and there was no update. I was surprised, so I looked into it and found out the author was dead, murdered! Another author who posted on that site who, in my dream, was another favorite, was also murdered!

There have been some blogs lately about wanting comments to stick to the story, rather than meandering off on specific aspects of it or whatever. Which is fine by me if that's what the author wants. Comments on my stories have often devolved into jokes and general playing around. I just thought I'd make it clear here that not only am I okay with that, I encourage it! I often get in on it myself, especially when I'm in a mood. ;) So by all means, have fun!

... Or later, when you have the good sense to realize where I am about to take you.

Preview of Twenty-Seven
Feedback Loops

I am so "NOT SPORTS" that I never ever, ever never thought I would be writing on the olympics. I was looking for something else today and happened upon a photo of Caster Semena at the finish line with the defeated trailing out behind her. I have just tried very hard to ignore the whole debacle, but now that I have seen the other competitors, GAD, look whose talking? Many of her competitors look more muscled and masculine than her! So, what is going on here? Is it really about her Kariotype or is it just about sore losers?

A few years ago a writing magazine suggested over 25 million people are attempting to write fiction for commercial publication. That same article stated that less than 2,500 people in the world make a living as a commercial writer.

Another blog has discussed the ethics of authors’ rights regarding posting online for free and later publishing for sale.

To me the bigger question is — how do those authors expect to make enough money from publishing to make it worthwhile?

Well, i managed to shorten my down cycle by completing my latest story. Be a nice trick if i could do that every time. I had a conversation with my brother about my gender struggle, and he is convinced i use it as some kind of escape, probably because of my rape. Ah, well.

Hi Everyone. Well today was a interesting day. I went on my first date. Thats right. I'm 28 and today was my first date. Kinda pathetic huh. I met a guy through a gay dating site. He contacted me first and we have been talking every day during the week since. we went out today. He's a great guy, but I just dont know what to do,say or how to respond to so many things when on a date. I'm not even all that comfortable being affectionate with people. He is a very affectionate person and it throws me off my game sometimes. we went for a walk and then we went for pizza.

Twenty-three chapters. Twenty-three bloody chapters. Most of them are 6-8 pages in MS Word a piece.

I think someone has made a boob with this news article !
+++++++++++++++++
A one-woman mission to
prove breasts don't cause
earthquakes has swollen
into a shirt-straining
global movement. Prepare
yourself for Monday, the
inaugural "Boobquake."

www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/04/23/boobquake-cleavage-cause-...

I have just finished listening to the first act of Tosca by Giacomo Puccini, a production by the Metropolitan Opera. The evil Baron Scarpia sings to the background of the very sacred Te Deum about how he wants to ravage the beautiful, flamboyant Floria Tosca. Bryn Terfel (Jones) did a fabulous job as the evil chief of police. He'll get his in the next act. His performance literally brought tears to my eyes. It is such an emotional experience.

I just posted the real third chapter to Boys Will Be Boys (with "The Real Story" added to the title to help clarify things). I added "The April Fools Edition" to the name of the previous version so it should be clear enough which one is the real one and which one the joke. Hopefully no one's too upset with me for my little April Fools joke! It's the first time I've done any kind of April Fools joke, anywhere, so I'll blame inexperience if I went too far with it or offended anyone. ;)

Well, Sorority Boy is finished. I may or may not do an Epilogue, so you all can know what happens to one of our favorite college girls. I honestly don't know right now.

This story began for me back in 97 when I was at Goodfellow Air Base in San Angelo Texas as a way to cope with being in a place where I didn't have the opportunity to dress when I wanted to or needed to. I transcribed those hand written notes into the first part of this story and this ties up a lot of the loose ends.

It's a good news - bad news situation. As of a few minutes ago, I have officially caught up. Now, like so many others, I am sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next episode. I guess the good news is that I can get back to my own writing that seems to have been put on hold. My muse was as entranced as I was.

Thank you, Angharad, for propagating these little bundles of sweet entertainment.

Portia

Today's the annual celebration of the most famous dragon-slayer in history, if you believe the myths!

The Working Girl Blog #13: Woke up on the wrong side, or I'm mean today To see all of Bobbie's "Working Girl" blogs, click on this link: http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/19261/working-girl-blogs

You know that hackneyed old phrase, "waking up on the wrong side of the bed?" I don't know the etymology of the phrase, but I know what it means. And I think I did indeed wake up on the wrong side this morning.

Paragraphs

Paragraphs in English are interesting things, because they aren’t really anything at all.

That’s not the way they started out, of course, as we can see by the word “paragraph” itself, from the Greek “paragraphos,” which means “beside the writing.”

I am a little concerned. I can tell I might be headed for a down. I hope not, I need my energy to figure out my next step, and to make some more stories. Ah, well.

Shock! Horror! Merde alors!

The French are outraged after a photograph of a man wiping his bum on the French Tricolour was published in a French newspaper.

Makes me think of that Rugger song––

Gabi.

see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8636331.stm

I'm alive.

To say I'm doing well would be an overstatement, but life continues. I have managed to rouse myself to start editing for John in Wauwatosa, and that's going reasonably well.

(Think about it. How serious and depressed can you stay when John gets his manic muse going?)

Amazon? Ma'at? I hope they'll get fully untracked, but no promises on when that might occur.

My thanks to those who've offered encouragement.

Nicole (a.k.a. Itinerant, Nikki, ...)

PS: Thanks to Angharad for continuing my favorite soap opera. ;-)