(All comments to this thread are screened, so there should be some measure of security for email addresses and the like.)

For those of my friends who aren't also friends with Lucidscreamer, this post is a bit out of the blue. Lucidscreamer lives in North Alabama and is in rather dire circumstances currently. I've made a post in a thread on her LJ asking her friends on her behalf to help, if they are able and this post is to establish a somewhat more private means of communicating with anyone who wishes to help.

She has no electricity and has had to throw away most of her food. She just a few minutes ago got her phone service back (at least for now). Things like batteries (especially C cells) and Walmart gift cards (the Walmart forty miles away has power still, but most everything else is on a cash-only basis) would be most helpful.

Please post a way for me to contact you in this thread, if you are willing to help.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100214/ap_on_en_ot/eu_britain_obit_dick_francis

My heart thudded when I read the headline. Dick Francis' novels are amazing mysteries that helped me to realize that sometimes, subtle is better when shaping a character. His characters have always struck a very 'real' chord for me -- believable and, even though I tend to write more fantasy stories, I try to find that, too. What makes it all that much more extraordinary is that he managed this in first person, giving us insight into his main characters' thoughts without 'Stu-ifying' them.

He was a favorite author of my mom's -- now I can't recall which of us discovered him first and shared with the other. I recall going with my mom to a bookstore in D.C. where Mr. Francis was holding a book signing for his latest novel, I think it was Longshot. We were among the last of the people in line, and he was tired -- but he perked up when my mom presented her book for his signature. You see, she had picked it up while on a trip to England, and the cover art and even the size of the book was different and he could tell immediately. There are some smiles you get a chance to see that you'll never forget -- and Dick Francis' smile at my mom was one of those.

:-(

Rest in peace, dear sir.

more animals

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--He (or she) is one of a multitude. A friend of mine once described how she envisioned my writing process. There is a vast, circular area surrounded by little rooms, each one of which has a door opening into this central area. Each room is designated for a muse, but they'd rather be milling about in the center, chatting, drinking wine, coffee, or other, and mingling like it's a giant party. She figured this is why I tend to write so many crossovers in my fanfiction. This idea (as does the second one below) does explain my currently rather undisciplined approach to writing, so I call it my Musetorium.

--He (or she) will sit and listen patiently while I explain how I want the story to go (via outline). The more honest ones will pat me on the head halfway through the outline presentation and tell me straight out we aren't doing that. The more violent ones shred my outlines with swords. The more sadistic of my muses will allow me to start writing according to said outline, lull me into complacency that for once I will get to actually write a story according to plan, and then veer off into parts unknown while I scream in frustration.

--He (or she) is in the back of my head much of the time snarking at my own, or other's writing. Since when did my muse(s) decide they were writing critics?

--He is Seto Kaiba. Just sayin'! (He knows I don't like him. He knows that it took his voice actor being an incredibly nice person to make me stop loathing him completely, and develop any sort of tolerance for his mere presence. He knows that Mahaad is my favorite character. He knows that I have zero use for him, zero tolerance for arrogant people, and no interest in his self-importance. He still hangs around and gives me ideas of stories to write for him. Grr!)

--He is Dracula. Just sayin'! #2. (He knows he is the number one evil bad villain who scared the daylights out of me when I was younger, and the only reason I even tolerate vampires now is his incredibly hot, surrepticiously caring, awesome half-human sons D and Alucard. Yet, he has still moved into my Musetorium, coffin and all, and thinks he is the Plot King. Auuuurgh!)

--He is the Magician of Black Chaos. Just sayin'! #3. (He knows what he does to my hormones, and he delights in percolating them even more than he does when he is in his Mahaad or Dark Magician guise. He also knows that Mary Sue stories will never see the light of day, yet he wants me to write them. *headdesk*)

Evidently, started by Tex-chan, I discovered it in Crystal's LJ.

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The only thing I have to say about this result, is I've been writing a fair number of fan-fics with Seto Kaiba. I'm thinking that annoying dragon-boy must be rubbing off on me! (This result sure seems more like him, raving psychotic dragon-obsessed loon that he is, than li'l, ol', meek, mild-mannered me! (Of course, Himself and his Bloody Brood like this draconic result, too. Good thing, because I really want to start writing in the VHD fandom again!)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20070702/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_dracula_s_castle

*snicker*

He died this morning, at about 12:20, in my arms. It was not a good day for him, and I would give anything to wind time back and be more forceful with the vet on Friday. I suspected Gus wasn't doing too well, and wanted him to stay at the vet's over the weekend (on an i.v. drip since he wasn't eating) but the vet said to take him home -- he was sure Gus would eat.

I would have much prefered to get a call tomorrow, telling me that Gus wasn't doing well (he would have had three days of nutrition I wasn't able to coax into him, so he'd still be alive -- and under the closer, longer observation of the vet, I think Dr. Dan would have a truer idea of Gus' condition) and that now was the time to be kind and let him go gently. It would have been better on Gus, and better on me, too.

As you can expect, I've been a wreck for the past hour -- well more than the wreck I've been all weekend. If I sleep tonight, it's because I cried myself there.

It's all too new for me to process. Gus has been a part of my life for the past seventeen years, and I don't even want to think about coming home to this house knowing that he's not here. I'd love to write a tribute for him, but, it's going to be a while. Right now, I have to somehow figure out how to work around this gaping void where my heart used to be.

Dear, sweet Gussie, please, rest in peace. Just like your predecessor, whose name, in part, you bore, you were a most excellent cat. I'm going to miss you.

It's the same link as before. It seems as though the culprit is an abortifant/cancer drug/rodenticide (!) that they think may have wound up contaminating a supply of the wheat gluten they use in pet foods.

I'm scanning now to find cat food recipes, because quite frankly, I'm afraid to buy anything from the stores now to feed my cat.

http://www.catkb.com/uwe/Forum.aspx/cat/1055/Cat-Food-Recipes

http://www.catnutrition.org/recipes.html

http://kittychef.com/?s_cat_recipe_id= (lots of do-able recipes on this one)

I'll keep adding them as I find them!

I just received this in an email and thought I'd share:

Angry squirrel

I never dreamed slowly cruising on my motorcycle through a residential neighborhood could be so incredibly dangerous! Little did I suspect.

I was on Brice Street - a very nice neighborhood with perfect lawns and slow traffic. As I passed an oncoming car, a brown furry missile shot out from under it and tumbled to a stop immediately in front of me.

It was a squirrel, and must have been trying to run across the road when it encountered the car. I really was not going very fast, but there was no time to brake or avoid it -- it was that close. I hate to run over animals, and I really hate it on a motorcycle, but a squirrel should pose no danger to me.

I barely had time to brace for the impact. Animal lovers, never fear. Squirrels, I discovered, can take care of themselves!

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