The Whiffin Spit, Sooke, BC

With filled bellies thanks to The Stick in The Mud, we decided to walk the trail at Whiffin Spit. A body of land juts out from beside the Sooke Harbour House hotel and restaurant. We usually bring the dogs with us for a walk, as Chance loves swimming there, despite the rocky terrain. But today was a humans only day, which we are thankful for, as we had some great opportunities for photos.

As we walked out to the point, a group of camera-totting visitors were congregated at the bottom of a tree, lenses focused on an eagle, posing for at least ten minutes. We couldn't believe it stayed for so long, considering the amount of clicking going on at the foot of the tree.

Well, we thought we had already had the perfect day, but next, to our surprise, we saw a seal. Then a few moments later, an otter swam past us and hopped out onto dry land, shook himself off and proceeded to groom for a few moments.

We couldn't have wished for a more perfect day.

The Stick in The Mud, Sooke, BC

The sun was shining and the sky was brilliant blue, so we decided to drive ten miles west of where we live to Sooke. There was a coffee shop we wanted to try ~ The Stick in The Mud. Coffee shops and breakfasts out are our weekend thing, so we are always on the lookout for new ones to try.

My better half had read a blurb about The Stick in The Mud, and we'd tried to make it there before now, but they were closed over the holiday weekend. It's off the main street, along a side street's side street in fact, and looks tiny from the outside. Four tables and chairs outside, complete with umbrellas had us tempted before we'd even stepped inside. There is seating indoors as well, but as the weather was so lovely, we didn't even consider staying inside.

The coffee they serve is 2% Jazz, for those of you who are familiar with it. We've enjoyed a few 2% Jazz's in Victoria before, so we already liked the latte before it touched our lips. There wasn't a huge selection of pastries, but what was on offer looked freshly baked. Between the three of us, we split two banana choc-chip muffins and a java chocolate square ~ both selections were deliciously mouthwatering.

We'd definitely recommend The Stick in The Mud, as I'm sure the constant flow of patrons would agree.

I Can't Believe It's Not...Monday

Where has the week gone? After our trip up-island to Nanoose Bay last weekend, this week has disappeared. Established a couple of new routines this week:

• I am now a compulsive treadmill user.
• The dogs believe they have to go to the lake every evening.

Chance likes to dive for rocks.

Jindabyne

The movie, Jindabyne, movingly depicts the story of an Irishman (Gabriel Byrne), who goes on a fishing trip in the wilds of Australia with three of his buddies, where they find the body of a murdered young woman. Jindabyne also stars Laura Linney, who gives yet another stunning performance. If I tell any more of the plot it will be a complete spoiler, but I will say that it is a movie that draws you in, has some fantastic scenery, and is a great example of complex characters. Emotionally, it is a bit of a roller-coaster ride, but well worth the viewing time. I'm really surprised it didn't do more at the box office.

Crocs

Love 'em, or hate 'em, Crocs are here to stay.

This household is a big fan ~ four pairs and counting. My better half was looking for a pair of the slip-resistent work Crocs for the food industry lately, but couldn't find any in the south island. She emailed Crocs Canadian customer service, to see if it was possible to order a pair, but Canadians can only order from the USA site. With the cost of shipping, they didn't quite seem worth it. We're still coming to terms in general with the cost of shipping to and from Canada, as well as the Canadian taxes.

Anyway, this is not a moan blog, and does not detract from our love of Crocs. We have the holey ~ or should that be holy ~ pairs, great for going in the water at the lake or beach after Chance's toys. Terrific for doing the yard, and for leisurely walks. And whatever you might think about how they look, in our eyes, they are beautiful, and comfy to boot.

Back on the Treadmill

I started back on the treadmill yesterday, but decided to wait before sharing. As I've made it to day 2, I'll share. We're really lucky living where we do. There are walking trails everywhere, and you don't have to crank up the car.

We have two dogs, the oldest loves to swim, the youngest loves to paddle and bark for her big brother to come back. Close by, there are lakes galore. The nearest is Thetis Lake, which has a few wonderful spots for dog swimming, as well as long winding trails around the lake and through the woods. As Chance has had two ACL injuries ~ both hind legs, one had surgery, the other healed naturally ~ swimming is his number one therapy. We're slowly building up his strength again, increasing the amount of times he swims out to retrieve his toys.

Anyway, back to the treadmill. As our outdoor time is swim time, it is easier, and quicker, for me to hop on the treadmill in the garage. Last November we bought a Nordic Track, 2.25 HP Folding Treadmill ~ mainly because it was on sale, but it did have all the specifications we were looking for:

• 4-window LED monitor displays speed, time, distance, approximate calories burned, incline, pace
• 20 x 55" treadbelt width, with 3-position adjustable cushioning on deck odometer
• 300 lb. maximum weight capacity
• carb counter
• music port for our MP3
• 3-speed fan built into monitor
• folds for easy storage
• continuous duty motor for speeds up to 10 mph
• power incline from 0-12%
• 10 programs including 8 preset and 2 user defined
• 7 x 10 workout matrix displays your workout intensity
• 10-year warranty on frame; 3 years on motor, and 1 year on partsand labour

It comes with an iFit program, but as I prefer to listen to my own music while I exercise, the MP3 port is wonderful. The garage is becoming a little stuffy as we near the end of May, so the fan has been most welcome. As we both have a bit of weight to lose, we wanted a treadmill that was sturdy, and wasn't going to bounce along the ground if we dared to jog. This Nordic Track is most definitely substantial enough for us, and as I'm 2 days in, I can safely say that I am now into a routine once more. I doubt I'll be down to bikini shape by summer, but it's a start!

Butchart Gardens

If you've ever been to Vancouver Island I am sure you will have visited Butchart Gardens. I have never been "into" gardens until my Butchart experience. Since our first visit last summer, we became season pass holders and have enjoyed just popping in whatever the season. The Christmas light display was amazing.

Our latest Butchart visit was spectacular. We thought we'd better grab the chance to see the tulip displays before they started wilting, and boy-oh-boy was it worth it.

If you ever get a chance to visit in the spring time, please take it ~ you won't be disappointed.

Canadian Immigration

I read an article in the newspaper today about immigration to Canada. Jogged my memory a bit, so here's our experience.

We were so lucky with our immigration experience. We hired a Toronto based immigration lawyer - JordanBattista - who turned out to be wonderful. We wanted it done right, without any hiccups, and having read so many horror stories about back and forths due to missing documentation, we were right to have legal assistance. As we are a same-sex couple, and wanted to do a joint application, we decided on Jordan Battista as they specialize in what we required. Now don't get me wrong, they don't just do "gay" immigration, but if you are wanting to apply as a gay couple, then these guys know their stuff.

We were approved back in 2006 and became landed permanent residents at the beginning of 2007. Initially we moved to Ottawa, but as one of us is originally from the Gulf of Mexico, -41 degrees wind-chill was a bit too much to handle -- hence we are now in sunny, mild weathered Victoria, BC.

Back To Writing

I have taken a few weeks off to recover from hand surgery -- typing has been a bit of a problem. I had a mole biopsy on my right hand ring finger. About five years ago I noticed a brown stripe running from the nail bed to the tip and had a doctor back in the UK check it out. She said it was nothing -- well, she said she didn't know what it was, but it was probably nothing. She gave me some sort of liquid to brush on it.

I didn't give it a second thought, despite the fact the stripe thickened a bit over the next five years. I always thought it was just one of my many quirks. Anyway, for some unknown reason my finger began to throb a bit, so I looked online for possible causes and discovered that a nail stripe can be a pretty horrendous thing -- melanoma. Of course, as soon as I read melanoma I made an appontment with my family doctor here in Victoria. She thought, due to the uniformity of the stripe that it wasn't a melanoma, but referred me to a dermatologist, just to be sure. The dermatologist diagnosed my stripe as a mole, which had formed under the skin, right where the nail begins to grow. To be on the safe side, he wanted to biopsy the mole. He referred me to a cosmetic hand surgeon who agreed with the diagnosis.

The procedure lasted about half an hour. It would have been quicker than that, but the first anesthetic didn't take. The surgeon made two incisions and pulled back the nail to access the mole. He took a sample before reattaching part of the old nail with five stitches. My finger looked like the nail had been cut to the quick about half way up the length of the nail.

The anesthetic wore off before I made it out of the hospital doors, but long enough for the surgery, thankfully. Tylenol 3 didn't work for the first three days post surgery, but kicked in on the fourth. My Mum arrived from Scotland the day after the surgery, so she was a great help, especially with the dog walking.

We decided to change my bandage on day 5, and discovered that the first bandage had fused to the skin. Mum spent six hours slowly dabbing the bandage with warm water to loosen it. I'm not a very good patient -- terrible, in fact. I thought I would go through the roof. Anyway, we changed the bandage daily after that until on day 11 my fingertip seemed to burst and the whole nail looked really bad. I panicked a bit and made an appointment to see the surgeon's nurse the following day. She was wonderful. She took out the sticthes and showed me how to clean it. We also got the good news that it WAS NOT MALIGNANT!!!

Two weeks later and I have the finger protected with a band-aid. The old nail will have to fall off, as the new nail grows. I will probably still have the stripe, but I can live with that, knowing it won't kill me.

So now, back to the writing. I am nearing the end of my middle-reader about a heroic young girl who saves the world.

Dr. Seuss

You may have noticed that I did not include any Dr. Seuss rhyme books in my top 10 (ten) list. Truth is, I haven't found a Dr. Seuss book that I haven't enjoyed. I used to babysit for a family with four children and the eldest, even when she was fifteen, still enjoyed me reading Dr. Seuss to the youngest.

Here are my favourite Dr. Seuss books. If I've missed one of your favourites, please let me know.

1. Oh The Places You'll Go
2. The Cat In The Hat
3. Green Eggs And Ham
4. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
5. There's A Wocket In My Pocket
6. How The Grinch Stole Christmas!
7. Fox in Socks
8. Horton Hears A Who!
9. I Wish That I Had Duck Feet
10. The Sneetches And Other Stories
    

Top 10 (Ten) Children's Rhyme Books

There are so many excellent rhyme books out there, but here are my particular favourites.

1. Shel Silverstein's A Light In The Attic
2. Shel Silverstein's Runny Babbit
3. Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes
4. Sheree Fitch's If I Had A Million Onions
5. Tiffany Stone's Floyd The Flamingo
   
6. Nancy Tillman's On The Night You Were Born
7. Roalh Dahl's Revolting Rhymes Dirty Beasts
8. Shel Silverstein's Falling Up
9. Tiffany Stone's BAAAAD Animals
10. Shel Silverstein's Giraffe and a Half
    

Sitting in a Waiting Room

You can tell a lot about your dentist/doctor just by sitting in the waiting room. I'm talking magazines. It has been my experience that the more expensive or high-brow the magazines, the more you should expect to pay for your visit.

My last dentist always had a copy or two of People, Hello, US Weekly, and of course, one for the boys -- Fishing. My new dentist, due to relocation, has copies of Vanity Fair, Macleans, Time, Forbes, and there was one about Architecture. I have to admit being drawn to the architecture mag, just out of curiosity. Wow, some of those homes were phenomenal. There was an article about Christopher Meloni's New York apartment, complete with fabulous photographs. That Law and Order SVU star is a lucky guy, the view from his high rise apartment looks out over Central Park.

Anyway, true to form, this visit cost way more than my last dentist. Oh yeah, another thing to look out for -- if the dentist/doctor has a family photograph where you see four/five/six kids who look to be in their teens -- s/he will have a lot of college expenses that you probably don't want to help out with.

A little bit of what you love...

I read an obituary about a woman who died the year of her 100th birthday. She smoked for eighty years of her life and had a wee nip of whisky every night. So here's a litle poem for all those who indulge.

What You Love...

Grandpa ate fries,
Grandpa drank beer,
Grandpa smoked cigars,
And just as you'd fear,
He only lived as long to be,
One hundred years, plus twenty-three.

Screenwriting Software

So far, when entering my screenplays into contests or submitting to production companies, there have been several common accepted formats. It is always best to check the recipient's preference.

I write using Final Draft software. When I first began using this software, I had no experience screenwriting, and had not taken any courses. I had, however read a vast multitude of screenplays, so knew what the basic layout should look like. Final Draft is so easy to use, I was able to master it in a morning. It automatically formats, as long as you know the difference between the basic elements -- Scene Heading, Character, Action, Dialogue, etc.

Many other screenwriters use the same as me, but there are many other choices. I have spoken with many who would use nothing other than Movie Magic, again as they find it easy to use.

There are contests and production companies who just want to see a nice layout and don't particularly care about which software is used. They will accept Microsoft Word, Rich Text Format, or .pdf files, as long as standard formatting is used.

Whichever you decide to use, make sure you format for the correct audience. A television script is different from a feature screenplay.

Upcoming Deadlines...Screenwriting Contests

Here are a few screenwriting contests with deadlines in the next couple of months. Be careful when reading the contest guidelines. Each has very different and specific requirements.

Write Movies Screenwriting Contest

Acclaim Film

Acclaim TV Screenwriting Competition

Story Aid Screenwriting Contest

BlueCat Screenplay Contest

Waterfront Screenplay Competition

Screenwriter's Challenge

Page International

Scriptapalooza

Short Cut To Big Break

Script Pimp Contest

Nicholl Fellowships

Mac Book Pro

I recently suffered the death of my battery. I didn't even know that these batteries could die, but mine did and in a big way. It started as trouble with my mouse - it wouldn't move properly on the screen, then when it did, it jumped all over the place, jumbling up my text. I searched online on the PC and was astonished to find that the battery may have warped. When I checked underneath, sure enough, it was swollen and protruding about half an inch all the way round.

Of course, the warranty had expired by nine days, so I had to order a new one. I ordered from apple.ca, but the battery was actually shipped from Memphis, TN. I don't know if you've ever needed a part for a laptop or PC, but if you don't have the computer 'smarts' - or are a complete doofus like me - then you think that you are stuck, handicapped. It didn't dawn on me for the first two days that it would still run if I plugged it into the wall.

Anyway, I kept track of the battery's progress as it made its way from TN to Quebec, then back to TN, then back to Quebec and it still made it here within the five working days promised limit. We're finding customs is a great barrier for sending out and receiving birthday/Christmas gifts - 13 weeks from Victoria, BC to Scotland - yikes.

The battery is now in and my dear Mac Book Pro is back to its usual self. Thank goodness.

Frustration

While trawling through the maze of children's book publishers, I find a recurring theme -- contradictory guidelines.

First step is to check the paragraph where it clearly states what they are looking for, in my case -- picture books.

Some submission guidelines are more extensive than others. The short, to the point guidelines, do this-this-and-this are obviously my preference. However, I keep being drawn into the long, drawnout guidelines, where I make all my relevent cover letter notes -- correct length, format, include an SASE, state on the envelope the book type, author Bio, publishing history, etc, etc, etc -- only to find a single line comment at the very end stating they are no longer accepting picture book manuscripts. Argh!

Oh well, onwards and upwards.

The Vicar of Dibley

As a follow up to my Hurricane Katrina post, I have to mention our dirty DVD experience. Now don't go jumping to conclusions.

After digging through the mud, we managed to find some of our DVD's and CD's. Most had been looted, and of the remaining, most were too badly damaged. The remainder looked like they were damaged beyond repair, but after searching on Google for "How to clean dirty DVD's," we managed to clean about a dozen to usable status. Be careful to click on the links mentioning rubbing alcohol as a cleaning agent, rather than the X-rated links!

Anyway, of the dozen we saved, three were our box collection of The Vicar of Dibley, a British sitcom starring Dawn French of French and Saunders fame. Their boxes had to be chucked, but the DVD's played well. We had moved in with relatives in Denver -- their basement -- for four months and bought a 20" TV/DVD player. So, there we were, in a Denver basement, laughing hysterically, and crying our eyes out, thanks to The Vicar of Dibley. We totally are endebted to a silly little British sitcom for keeping our sanity at one of the lowest and most stressful times of our lives.

Kindness After Katrina

When we lost our house in Hurricane Katrina, of course there were the big things we had to deal with, like insurance companies, realtors and finding somewhere new to live. Losing all our family photographs seemed an even bigger blow than losing the house. A house can be replaced, rebuilt, or a new one found.

Two years later, we can think back to that time and see how far we have come. For all the bad that happened, so much good has come to pass. It is all the little things that now mean so much. We have a friend who fared better than we did, and one of the first things she did was give us a recipe book. This was no ordinary recipe book. She knew which one we used the most -- a local church recipe book -- and discovered there were no more in print. She brought her copy to a printer who took it apart and photocopied the colored pages one by one to make an exact copy.

A recipe book may not seem like much -- just a book -- but she knew that each recipe made from that book was a connection to Mississippi, the fun times spent with family and friends, special occasions, meal-keepers and meal-never-againers.

That recipe book has since immigrated to Canada with us, where it is used with love and gratitude.

Research, Research and more Research

As with any piece of writing, research constitutes a huge chunk of the time involved. It’s not just subject matter — dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s to convince the reader that your antagonist really would know how to strip copper wiring from an abandoned house — no, that is just a small part of the research process. Titles, character names and settings have to be convincing. Then, once you have a piece of writing you're happy with and are ready to go out, who are you going to send it to?

Titles: Has anyone used your brilliantly smart and witty title before? Puns? Plays on words? Chances are that you’re not the first to have noticed that wonderful pun or play on words. Try Googling the title and see where, how or if it appears. If there is already a book with your title, the last thing you want to do is confuse your reader from the start.

Character Names: Even if you work in the murder, mystery, horror, western, or romance genres, combinations of Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Hermoine Granger should be left in their rightful place.

Settings: If you set your story in New York City, know NYC. If your story is set in a jazz-enthused New Orleans, forget about highrise condos and frigid winters.

A final note: Once you have your manuscript ready, researching the best recipient for your masterpiece is time consuming, yet essential.

• what are the submission guidelines?
• is your manuscript, in its present form, up to the publisher’s submission standards?
• if the guidelines state the publisher is not accepting picture book submissions, don’t send it anyway.
• make a list of possible publishers.
• check out the publisher’s websites and comb through their catalogues.
• go to your local bookstore or library and check what the publishers on your list publish.
• are all their early reader series nature related? If so, don't send a story about a robot.
  

Be informed, do your research.

Direct Route...A to B

I wouldn’t consider myself technically minded and I most definitely don’t know much about car mechanics. I know where to stick the nozzle to fill the tank with gas. I can open the hood. I can fill the water thingy and pull out the oil dip stick thingy. Well, there you are, my sum knowledge of cars. A car is meant to get you from A to B, or so I believe.

One of my first conversations with my better half was about cars. I listened to enthused descriptions of a six CD player, heated leather seats, electronic sun-roof. There is nothing better than cruising along the coast, sun-roof open, listening to The Eagles blasting on the superb sound system — allegedly.

Nope, not from where I sit. Just get me from A to B in my jalopy, not old, just simple. I try not to pollute too much and try not to spend too much on gas. Who really needs sixteen cup holders in a four seater?