Have finally published the third volume in my Alchemy series - Alchemy Abroad!It's not compulsory to read the first two volumes (Royal Alchemy & Alchemy Discovered) as each book is a complete story. However, as some of the characters are repeated, knowledge of the back story is nice.

Also, have published my own web page at www . carmenica diaz . com {edit. hijacked}

I thiught I would post this here as we all could use a laugh now and then.

Melanie

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.
ABBOTT: Mac?

I have devised a fictitious UK company and would be grateful for help in making sure that the profile that I have written makes sense.

The UK magazine "New Scientist" has a report of an Austrian study that suggests a genetic contribution to FTM transexuality

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14424-transsexuality-g...

We just had an earthquake here, or near here. A few people called so I just want to post that I'm okay. :)

Actually, I was in a restaurant drinking coffee and talking to a friend in Florida when it hit. I told her all about it, she asked how bad was it and I went into a spiel I made up on the spot.

I said something like this:

Things have been going okay lately. I finally got a chance to talk with my sister without anyone around. we had a very nice chat. Before we talked, she emailed me. In the emial she called me Jessica. When I saw that, I was so happy that I started crying. We talked for almost an hour. This all started when I thought she had seen this site on my computer. Well, guess what? She did not see a thing.

I've been following a really good story about a Writer who gets duped into dressing as a woman for some award. I can't remember the title and notice it has not been around in a couple weeks. What?????

I like to keep an eye on my stories to see which ones are more popular. At present, that seems to be Totally Insane which at the time of counting, a few minutes ago, had a combined hit score of 17,500 for ten episodes. Looks like I'll have to keep it going a bit longer (or the death threats from a soon to be teenager, will start again!).

As the title says, Calling Toni Trepasso!!

The reason why is that several months ago, she started posting Becoming Antonia and Mean Girls 3026 and to date, neither story has been finished and I am left feeling the need for the finish of the stories. I know I may have said a couple of things in comments that were sort of out of line, it didn't mean that I didn't like the stories.

"Said Bookisms are boring," she snarled.

I think I might be at the breaking point.
I just spent the better part of the last two hours bawling my eyes out, and I hope to post this before the real breakdown starts.

According to UK MSN, there are several dangers about too much booze. This one should prove interesting if the link works.

http://style.uk.msn.com/wellbeing/mindbodysoul/gallery.aspx?...

Angharad 8)

I've slowly been switching from Wimpdoze to Linux (specifically, Ubuntu 8.04, Hardy Heron). The longer I use it, the more I realize I did *exactly* the right thing. This began slightly before I finally put feet to the realization (which I'd known for years, but was scared to leave my comfort zone) that I am a member of the working poor and applied to a near by university to finish (after a 21 year hiatus) my bachelor's degree. I'm returning to get a degree in Computer Engineering. I intend to use this route to get a *real* job.

I have a collection of 30 storys from reluctant press and mags inc to sell plus thirteen back issues of transformation magazine.here's a list 1)A season in New York and Winter Solstice by J.L. Mc Donough 2)The Embarrassment and Jack Norton by Sarah Thorpe 3)Growing up into Jenni by E.B.

A tip of the hat to Ceri for the blog about writer/editor relationships. That and some of the comments made me start to think about those self-important "head firmly embedded in their anus" individuals who inflict their presence on us through the media and make us go apoplectic at the sight or sound of them or the words they write.

Has anyone else been following the spat between Times food critic Giles Coren and the paper's subeditors? Highly entertaining stuff, tho not for the faint hearted, as Mr Coren's opinion are rather pithy.

A good summation from the Guardian here - http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jul/25/pressandpublishi...

Just found this great bra reference page [click here] in the online Macy's catalog. One link has information on measuring size, which might be of great interest to crossdressers and stories about them, especially as it has the "formulas" for dealing with larger band sizes.

When I think of British Teas Earl Grey or English Breakfast are the ones I think of.Today I was shopping at a local closeout store and spotted P&G tea.On the box they claim they are the most popular Tea in England.So I was wondering if that claim was true.I won't say it was the best tea I ever drank but it was a far cry from the worst.Amy

This morning I took the COGIATI test. It was interesting but to tell you the truth I did not care for it. It is a multiple choice test and the answers were limited in range. Many of the questions asked about relateing to others. I have always isolated myself. I do not relate well to others. I have opened up at work.

I'll leave the bears in peace...

I'm sure everyone's bored witless with my bowel gazing by now, but I thought I'd say that after visiting my GP this morning, and changing meds, I appear to be over the worst... fingers crossed while touching wood. Now to more creative outpourings :)

Just like half of my blog entries so far, this is yet another apology for taking too long on my serials.

Having recently completed my entry for the latest competition; it got me thinking about what makes a sucessfull story.

The story was quite long in excess of 22k. Hits and feedback were quite low compared to my other writings.

I have always believed in the 'grab their attention quickly' school of thinking when writing short stories. Perhaps the opening lines may have put people off...

Below are images I created for a few of my stories that will eventually be posted on a new story site I found called Codey's World, which is an online fiction site focused on teens and young adults, although folks of all ages are welcome. Below each image is a synopsis of the story, and you can go to the story here on Big Closet by clicking on the image. :)

What a week - it began on saturday evening when my mountain bike, upon which I had carried about two tons of food shopping earlier, made funny noises on braking. A strange noise, sounded a bit like the spokes were being rubbed, but as it was only on using the rear brake, I decided it had to be that. Nowhere was open to sell me some more brake blocks,so it became a job for sunday.

Here's a link on a name site to a discussion of crossgender name equivalents. :) It's fun.

- Erin

Was forwarded to me this morning:

High emotions were on display as trial got under way to decide whether a sex change operation constitutes a medical deduction undersection 213. O'Donnabhain v. Commissioner, U.S. Tax Court Docket No. 6402-06, commenced July 24 in Boston with Judge Joseph Gale presiding.

BBC Radio 4 broadcast a program in their "Between Ourselves" series this morning:

"Olivia O'Leary brings together two people who have had profound and similar experiences. Two spouses of transsexuals discuss how they coped with their partners' gender transition".

I found this link to hear it online, but haven't had a chance to listen to it yet.

Having dealt with the IRS and AT&T, I have to wonder who's worse. Personal contact is almost out of the question, and if you finally find a number to call the wait is at least a half of an hour. I had to deal with AT&T since yesterday. I overlooked a bill and a block was put on my fax number. I paid in full at 11:30 AM and service was to be restored in the next six hours.

Okay. Now that I know for a fact

The meeting has been moved up to Wednesday at 11AM, and Cathy is going to be there in all her glory. It IS time my sisters learned that this is not a whim, or something I thought would be cool to do for awhile. Cathy is who I am, Cathy is who I'm, going to be, and that is the long and short of it.

I just upgraded the core software for BCTS. Everything seems to be operating fine, I re-hacked the code in a couple of places where I had customized it. If something that did work no longer works, let me know and I'll investigate.

Hugs,
Erin

Members, sisters, family, however you all define yourselves, thanks so much for your replies to my blog "Uber-nerdiness" about Asperger's Syndrome. People said some very interesting things.

Oh the things we learn. In my current project my aim is to do a series that has a cohesive storyline while at the same time making most episodes self contained enough to be enjoyable even if you don't keep up with the story.

And I'm not talking about the wonder bra, either.

It is a segment of a story idea.

A really passable trans woman faces only grief at the hands of her family and has finally given up after years of Artillery duals.

She gets this message from an on line friend to go visit her in Northern Iraq. Very dangerous with the Taliban slinking about like snakes in the night.

I have been editing my story King Of The Rim And have the first two chapters ready. I would like to do a Title Page that has the revamped chapters . Can any body help?

This is what I first wrote as a comment to: Pen Pals, 13 by Anistasia Allread. She wrote: "Hello again from St. George, the hottest place on Earth." This was my reaction. Title was "Hotter elsewhere in AZ"

A teenaged hotel receptionist in Norwich, England discovered a live baby bat in her 34FF bra. At first she thought the movement was her mobile (cell) phone vibrating!

I have another idea for a story I'd like to right but I'm thinking about doing an outline first.I'm thinking about choosing the story name, where i'd like it to go and what I'd like each chapter to accomplish and potential names for the chapters first then write it.For "Hell Yeah it hurts" I just thought up the premise and have been winging it ever since.Has anyone else outlined there story first

Well, it's been awhile, but I'm back. What a year. Two major surgeries in my immediate family, a storm blowing half a huge walnut tree onto the house... sigh. Family is doing well now, all healthy, tree removed from proximity to house and is now two piles of brush and limbs. The good news there is it's walnut, as I mentioned.

Maggie's new epic about a boy who becomes a "Maiden by Decree" is now appearing at StarDust. I've got permission to post it here but haven't done so yet. If you want to read it right away, as it comes out, the chapters will be on StarDust days before they appear here. And it's good. :)

Hugs,
Erin

This morning I woke with a story rolling around in my head that wouldn't let me go back to sleep until I wrote it down. I eventually posted it on the Fictioneer site under the name The Story. I know that may sound like a bit of a lame story title, but it kinda fit with the theme, and it was the best I could think of at what-am-I-doing-up-this-early am. It's basically a story about stories, and how they relate to reality.