My priorities: slightly flawed

[blamebrampton]

Good news: I have FABULOUS hair, with really, really red stripes poking out from the dark black on three levels. And I discovered that Martin Millar has written a sequel to Lonely Werewolf Girl, called Curse of the Wolf Girl, which is just as idiosyncratically brilliant as everything else he has ever written. And because I have the Surprise!Kindle, I could order it and read it immediately, which I did!

Bad news: Which means I did not finish Fathers this weekend, missing the June 5 festivities.

Good news: But I do have 10K off with the betas and 1.6 of the final 3 scenes written! It will be done! I will be able to move on!

Bad news: So much to do once I finish it, aiya!

Good news: Seriously, the hair is amazing and worth four hours effort ;-) It has cheered me up enormously after three and a half weeks having to wear the same boots thanks to the stupid new orthotics (NB, size 41 boots, not size 37, to fit the orthotics in. I feel as though I am wearing clown shoes!) Strangely, I wore the same boots for months or even years in my teens and twenties without minding. Those days are gone ...

Comments

[goddessriss.livejournal.com]

I think it was my birthday last year when you posted the last bit of Fathers; nearly there again, I must admit I was hoping for an update... so wOOt! You're enjoying the Surprise!Kindle, then? I know I wouldn't be without mine now.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Ooh! I think I might have your birthday present sorted ;-) But there is every possibility it could be early, depending on how this week goes and my poor betas.

And I have seen the beauty of the Kindle along with the negatives, but must say that for travel and for books that are very slow to reach Oz, it's a winner.

[goddessriss.livejournal.com]

Mine's a Sony, was my Christmas present a year ago. Having railed against them for long enough, I really love mine. I still buy actual books too, and I also tend to PDF those fanfics I never have enough time to read and catch up in my lunch breaks! Yes, I have plans for Fathers...;-)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I put a fanfic on mine last week ;-) I've noticed that it has dropped my actual book buying a bit, but I have three books that I have bought in both formats, so writers are possibly making slightly more money from me ...

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

HAAAAAAAAAAIR! *two thumbs up*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I am testing the limits of how far being a Creative can excuse wacky young person hair with my job. I suspect the limits are some way from where I currently am ;-)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

Now you know what it feels like walking in my shoes! ... Still better than me having to wear 37 I guess. ... What, you thought I wasn't literal?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

If you lived closer, I could give you these ones once I am allowed to walk without the orthotics (should such a happy day ever come again ...) My feet are the wrong size!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

We all hope and trust it will (again)?
Mine too, since I never can get any shoes, though I haven't tried this century, hmhm.

PS: orthodontics sound so similar I keep imagining you with falsies clattering around your ankles.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I think they have stopped making good shoes this century. Finding a simple pair of sturdy lace-up boots was like finding the lost Ark of the Covenant!

And that sounds scary! Though it would be hard to be more uncomfortable. Still, the tendonopathy seems to be easing off, so it's working.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

WANT PICS OF YOUR FAB HAIR, BB! *G*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I will try to have some taken this week! And I meant dark brown, not dark black. Black is ... black! My hair is not-quite-black ;-)

[tmblue.livejournal.com]

That hair sounds awesome! I love two-toned hair. I did red underneath blonde for a long time and loved it. Now it's just bright auburn, then fades two weeks later into a sort of bizarre strawberry blonde. That's my natural 'fades-to' color I think. haha

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Blonde hair is so wonderful for playing with colour! My hair is not helpful at all, there has been bleaching of strips, which I am never fond of doing, but it was the only way. Yours sounds fab!

[complications-g.livejournal.com]

Yay new hair! There's nothing like getting your hair done to make you feel awesome! :D

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It was fun, but it took so very long ... I had to buy a new book on my Kindle or go mad, so much for fiscal responsibility!

[absynthedrinker.livejournal.com]

Yes I am quite sure Doc Maarten's now are as alien to you now as thigh high biker boots and leather go-go shorts are to me. Age 50 means I no longer need to apply sun tanning lotion in order to slide into my clothing. Hope you are well and the hair sounds fab!

Peace,
Bubba

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Ironically, they were one of the few boots I could wear the other month when I was just trying to keep my foot supported, but they give me horrible blisters when I wear them with the new orthotics. Shame, I was enjoying my return to kickerbootdom ;-)

Am well, how are you? My goal is to wear hotpants at 50 (but with opaque tights, I'm kind to others).

[shu-shu-sleeps.livejournal.com]

Yay for FABULOUS HAIR :) I had no idea you'd read Lonely Werewolf Girl, let alone that you didn't know there was a sequel. Both are available here in paperback - 'cos I borrowed them from Amy last year..... I found the series strangely addictive. But Kindles are excellent and I wouldn't be without mine now when travelling.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I am a massive Martin Millar fan and have all but one of his old books, but yes, completely missed the sequel! Not in any of the local bookshops, I will need to try in at Kino next time I am there.

And yes, I have some issues with my Kindle, but the lightness for travelling has reconciled me to it by a large factor!

[ladyjaneva.livejournal.com]

I read the Good Fairies of New York some seven years ago and like it so much I still have it (I donate books to Oxfam when it turns out I'm not going to reread them).

So his other books are worth a read too?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yes! Though Lux the Poet's ending still makes me a bit weepy. Dreams of Sex and Stage Diving is just a riot from beginning to end, and Milk, Sulphate and Alby Starvation taught me to embrace my mild lactose intolerance and thump my ballet friends up the back of the head when they thought that speed was a valid food group. Of his more recent books, I've not read Suzy, Led Zeppelin and Me, but the others were all hugely enjoyable.

As you'd know from Fairies (his Hamlet), he is an idiosyncratic writer, but I am not his target market and I find his work engaging, believable (inasmuch as urban fantasy is believable) and thoroughly worth the time and money.

[leaf-light.livejournal.com]

I still check every day you know *g* and although I'm glad about your hair being good and colourful, and the Kindle book and etc the first word I saw on your post was Fathers. Yes, my eyes knew what to scan for. I wait in much hope that soon (and it can't be soon enough for my impatience) the last part will be ready.

But then just because I'm a fool - obviously - I found, while I was waiting for Fathers, your Death Eaters bringing up a baby series and read that, (also a WIP as I'm sure you remember *g*). It shines as brilliantly as all your work, and so if I'm soon satisfied with Fathers... I shall be hoping you'll hold good on that too.

Oh never mind, much as I'd love more of that I want the next part of Fathers so much that I shall be more than satisfied with it - at least for a while.

Writing this in my lunch break in the excitement, and now just waiting...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

There are 9159 words at the betas' (I took 1K out for a better scene break) and although I have as usual brought calamity down upon them both by sending them the files, it is probable that I will hear back from one tomorrow. If so, I will post that as part 3D, and, as I feared, we will finish with 3E (and this fic sounding more like a bra size than anything sensible). Four thousand-odd sequential words of the rest written and the remainder sketched out. It will happen!

And then! Death Eaters with abandoned infants! Draco Malfoy on the horror of birth! A shameful number of charity fics, plus a pinch-hit for something I was clearly drunk when I agreed to help out! And that bloody first fic I ever started which has been languishing for years!

As long as I don't pick up the Kindle save over meals because I downloaded Rivers of London for a reread at dinner tonight ... I am weak ...

[noeon.livejournal.com]

OMG YOU ARE WRITING MORE FATHERS!!!!!!1111!!!!! THAT IS THE BEST NEWS!!!!!

*trying not to make grabby hands* *failing*

The hair sounds LOVELY. Can you capture it on film or is it too complicated?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I have failed miserably in the hair photos, will try again next week, this week is about to tip over into utter chaos.

And I posted the penultimate bit -- ONE MORE TO GO!

[teganscrush.livejournal.com]

You are a rocking chica, bb.

My mum has orthotic sneakers and feels like she's wearing snowshoes, so you have my sympathy :D

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Oh I feel your mum's pain, it's so strange having feet that are not the right size! I am used to knowing where my shoes will fit! Now I have to keep pretending I have galoshes on :-(

[luvhpdm.livejournal.com]

First, thrilled that you'll be posting soon to Fathers!! And second, I love my Kindle (I am actually on my third one), I save all of my fan-fiction as a text file and then drag to my Kindle, much easier to read that way. Can't wait to "Kindle" Fathers!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Just posted the penultimate chapter!

And I am half in love with my Kindle. I was reading the Millennium trilogy as one of my first Kindlings, and I kept wanting to flick back to check things, but could not easily! However, in terms of ease of carrying, reading and purchasing books in a pinch, it's a DREAM!

I'll do some converting and downloading of all the things on my list of Stories I Am Not Allowed to Read Until I Finish Fathers (once I finish Fathers ;-))

[luvhpdm.livejournal.com]

Just saw that you posted (smiling so big that face hurts!)
Now sad news, back in May you waxed poetic about "Rivers of London", but Amazon US doesn't offer for Kindle and I want desperately to read it! May have to cave and find a paper copy!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Bollocks! And how weird! I bought a Kindle copy from amazon.com because I was desperate for a re-read and had loaned out my copy -- the licensing must be different country to country. It's a bit ridiculous given that it just tends to cost sales rather than protect rights.

[brinian.livejournal.com]

I think I want your hair. Or at least the guts to try something different after 47 years! Mine is almost long enough to donate again and I'm contemplating whether or not to have a grownup haircut...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about a grownup haircut (am 44), but then decided that it was just the getting in the way length that annoyed me, so cut it back from hips to waist. Then I met my mad Irish hairdresser and went from having just a few shorter bits at the front to layered and choppy and shoulder-blade length, with some subtle red bits now very stripey and with added stripey extensions as of the weekend. (I asked her if this was a cultural revenge for my people's oppression of her people, she told me I was an idiot and to shut up, it suits me. Which is true.)

A friend asked if this was an ongoing midlife crisis, I replied that it was more a revisiting of my twenties now that I don't worry about what my editor thinks, because it's me ;-) The extensions may not last, though, they feel very strange. Still, they cost less than one expensive meal, and I have not been out to a good restaurant in a while, so I can justify it to myself.

Try something exciting -- it's only hair! You can always change it or wear a hat if you don't like it :-)

[kath-ballantyne.livejournal.com]

Fabulous hair is always awesome.
I want to do something with mine but I don't have the money to get it done by someone else and I've not had the energy/ability to have my arms above my head for long enough.

I did cut it though so it's back to a bob an much easier to manage.

Instead I spun a thick single from black alpaca and a rainbow of merino colours and then knitted it into a headband thing. Not my best knitting and I should have pre-planed the pattern but it works to hold my hair back and it's colourful and makes me happy.

It's my 30th on Monday and I'm considering dying my hair back the ginger it was before all the red hairs turned sliver. Will see how much energy I have left once I finish cleaning the house for guests.

In other news we've finished the books you lent us and both loved them. We're back in Bathurst for shopping tomorrow so we'll post them back then.
Thank you so much for lending them to us.
I loved the magazine too. It looks great. Is this the one you were working on at all hours?
I am definitely trying out some of those recipes. We did laugh at the Hoe To Lose Weight feature in amongst the puddings and pies and chocolate desert recipes though.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

That's the mag! And yes, I agree. The conversation went like this:
Editor-in-chief: I think it looks gorgeous here, look how well the pages flow!
Me: I see your point, but it's insane.
Her: Oh, when has insane ever stopped people buying magazines? They only care what it looks like.

SO pleased you two loved the books! I feel like I'm a Ben Aaronovitch Evangelist – Have you felt the sarcasm of Peter Grant or the Magic of Nightingale in your life? There are worse fates ;-)

I've been using Manic Panic colours on my stripey bits, which are only useful for certain (mostly kooky) colours, but which are a doddle to use: slather in, wait a while, wash out. Back when I was just covering grey, I liked Herbatint, as it was also very easy to get a good result, and the semi-permanents lasted for a good length of time while still looking natural and not using ghastly chemicals. Alas, twice the cost of chemical varieties. If you're going for reds, maybe henna from any Indian delis? Pain in the arse to apply, but then it's just sitting somewhere warm for an hour with plastic on your head -- ah I remember my student henna days ...

[kath-ballantyne.livejournal.com]

The books were sent off yesterday so I hope they will get there either today or Tuesday