Took Laika for his morning walk and the fog was thick, making for a nice soft background. And he was kind enough to pose for me.
Category: Personal
Revising and revisiting and rewriting
So I’ve been having a crisis of confidence of late. I’m still going through it but it’s getting a little better. Mostly it’s because I haven’t written much for me lately. I’m not complaining (too much). I like what I’ve been writing (and hopefully will continue to write) but there’s some creative stuff bouncing around and trying to get out so I’ve been trying to write creatively on a daily basis, even if it’s just a little, even if it’s just a blog post or movie review, something to get the mental juices flowing a bit. Continue reading “Revising and revisiting and rewriting”
Photo challenge
Just before my recent trip to America, I received this email from Monika, asking for a specific series of photos to be taken while I was away. Now, Monika and I have travelled together a few times and she knows of my passion for picture taking. And she has one of the driest senses of humor I’ve ever been privy to, outside of 70s BBC night time programming.
So here’s the list, as written, with my photos attached. Enjoy! (My notes are added in red) Continue reading “Photo challenge”
Book geeks united…
Hanging out with my friends Wade and John and we stopped in at Amber Unicorn Books… This is them in the science fiction room.
We all geeked out completely!
These shoes were made for walking
All journeys, so they say, begin with the first step. This journey to America for the first time in 21 months began with new shoes.
The Assets
So, a few months back I told you about filming this project here in Lithuania. Well now details can be revealed – and a I can let a little bit of my geek flag fly.
As you can see from the picture to the left and the title of this post, the title of the project is The Assets, an 8 part “limited series” airing on ABC starting… well it started last night at 10pm (that’s 22:00 for my European friends)! This is a surprise as I thought it wasn’t airing until summer and they just finished filming a few weeks ago. Continue reading “The Assets”
Pay it Forward
A few weeks ago I decided to try something.
I’d been hearing about the various “pay it forward” events which had been happening all over America, people buying coffee for the people in line behind them, paying off layaway Christmas presents for families in need at Target, covering the toll for another car… all these kinds of things.
How to Gift an Ebook
Not that I’m hinting about anything (although my own wish list is here) but for anyone who might like a book for the holiday this is a great way to go!
‘Tis the gift giving season, and a question we’re getting asked by family and friends is how do you give an ebook as a gift? You can’t pop it in a box and wrap it. You could give a gift card, sure, but what if you want something more personal or precise? What if you want to give someone a copy of this one great book you just read?
It’s easy: there’s a button, we tell our loved ones. And our loved ones look at us skeptically and consider revoking their previously bestowed title of She-Who-Is-An-Expert-In-All-Things-Book-and-Ebook.
So we’re here to back up our statement with the following image-heavy tutorial: There is a button on almost all major ebook retailers’ sites, and many of them offer you the option of emailing the recipient immediately with their gift, or on a future date of your choosing, or of retaining and printing the…
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Life as a Movie Star (Ha!)
So about 6 weeks ago, I got a weird email from someone saying they were casting for a movie filming in Vilnius and would like to know if I was interested in auditioning for a small speaking role (basically, they needed native English speakers). I agreed and we set a time for me to head to Vilnius.
To be honest, I didn’t think much about it, figuring it was some sort of student or sample thing, the kind of thing I get asked to participate in from time to time. So I went to the audition, in Vilnius, read in front of a camera, remembered why I’m not an actor, thanked them for their time and headed home (a little over 6 hours door to door – there and back). Continue reading “Life as a Movie Star (Ha!)”
Fish
It’s no secret I am a big fan of the band Marillion. I have followed them from their 80s Prog Rock beginnings up through their current, more straight forward rock and roll albums. In fact, I first discovered them in late 1984 when I was working at the Waldenbooks in the Meadows Mall and I had a reciprocity deal going with the guys who worked at the record store. When they needed books for school, I would strip the covers or give them my discount (this was before I knew how the author end of things worked – I would never do that today!) and in return, whenever I’d go into the record store, I’d bring a stack of LPs and a 45 to the counter and the guys would ring me up for the single (about $1.49 or so in those days) and throw the entire stack into a bag. Continue reading “Fish”
Happy Anniversary to me…
Today, August 22, 2013, marks the third anniversary of my life as an Ex-Pat.
In 2010, on this date, I packed up some of my belongings into one too many suitcases, loaded a dog into the hold of an airplane and headed off for a small town in Hungary, with absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into. Now, I’m one year past my original expiration date – my original contract being for a single year with a one year extension option. I didn’t exercise it and instead, headed north to Lithuania (I didn’t know where it was, either) to take up my new life as a university docent (associate professor). I’ve been in Lithuania now for a little over two years, having moved to Vilnius for a few months in June of 2011 and into my flat at the beginning of August that year. I’m also a few days away from beginning my 3rd year at VDU. Continue reading “Happy Anniversary to me…”
How to piss off a Lithuanian | Matador Network
On behalf of my adopted home, I will be righteously outraged at any of these offenses (except the Basketball one).
Sometimes you just need NPH bringing it…
My mother has a 46 year old son
My birthday celebration really started on Friday when I saw some friends and got some nice gifts and cards and a visit from my friend Anna from Budapest. I also saw Pacific Rim, but I slept through a good deal of it so no review just yet.
Saturday, the actual anniversary of my birth, was a blast. Continue reading “My mother has a 46 year old son”
Separating art from artist
There is an ethical conundrum I’ve been curious about for a while. The problem is this: If I don’t agree with the politics of an artist or businessman, can I still buy their art or patronize their establishment? How do you draw the line?
For me, this first came up with Carl’s Jr, a fast food burger joint primarily in the west and southwest of America (in the east, Hardees stores are basically the same). Carl’s Jr. was started and, until he died in 2008, owned by Carl Karcher, who was a well-known conservative and supporter of anti-gay legislation – something to which I am violently opposed.
Continue reading “Separating art from artist”
Getting the Hang of Thursdays 