Well...

I read in another post (ok, docbrite's, but she doesn't allow comments, so I almost feel as though I'm reading a column) that Chardonnay is the wine that wine snobs have the most contempt for.

Could someone who is more wine-savvy than I am explain why this is the case? Is it because it's a good 'starter wine'--odds are that if you won't like anything, or are just beginning to drink wine, you may like Chardonnay? Is it because there are too many brands and the quality has been diluted? Heck, you could say that about Merlots.

I've tried a few other white wines, and none that I've sampled have the depth and flavor of a good Chardonnay. Forget German wines, unless there's one out there that isn't sweet. As for Chenin Blancs and Pinot Grigios--if you could suggest one that doesn't taste like a glass of water that someone waved a grape over, I'd truly appreciate it.

I don't have much appreciation for delicacy in wines (or beers, for that matter). "Lean," "light," and "spritzy" are not adjectives that will attract my attention.

Well...

I read in another post (ok, docbrite's, but she doesn't allow comments, so I almost feel as though I'm reading a column) that Chardonnay is the wine that wine snobs have the most contempt for.

Could someone who is more wine-savvy than I am explain why this is the case? Is it because it's a good 'starter wine'--odds are that if you won't like anything, or are just beginning to drink wine, you may like Chardonnay? Is it because there are too many brands and the quality has been diluted? Heck, you could say that about Merlots.

I've tried a few other white wines, and none that I've sampled have the depth and flavor of a good Chardonnay. Forget German wines, unless there's one out there that isn't sweet. As for Chenin Blancs and Pinot Grigios--if you could suggest one that doesn't taste like a glass of water that someone waved a grape over, I'd truly appreciate it.

I don't have much appreciation for delicacy in wines (or beers, for that matter). "Lean," "light," and "spritzy" are not adjectives that will attract my attention.

Gloomy Sunday

The snow that reached my knees a week ago only reaches my ankles now. It's melting, and with temps in the 40s expected most days this coming week, it will likely be gone by next weekend. Christmas in two weeks. No idea whether it will be White or not. I wouldn't mind if it was, as long as we didn't get 14" of the stuff in one fell swoop.

Along with the snow shoveling and wine pondering, I've been wrestling off and on with the ENDGAME rewrites. Do I need to change the first chapter? I guess not, but the second one needs cutting. Just hacked out the first ten pages and started it with the second scene. It works, I think. Will likely hack out the current chapter three in its entirety and replace it with something more "immediate" and less backstory-ish. I really thought that I was bringing readers up to speed with all the info, but apparently I overdid it.

So many scenes that I like will be going bye-bye, and I know from experience that even though I say I'll use them somewhere, I never do.

Whoever dubbed this "killing your darlings" wasn't kidding.

Reread editor's revision letter, especially the parts where she wrote that she really, really does like this story.

FYI, the Tuckerization is still on the block. Only a little over 2 days left to go. Buy it for yourself, or as a gift for that special someone. After all, what says I Love You more than a little humiliation in black and white?

More things for sale as well. The bidding for mindyklasky's critique is getting serious.

And there are other items which didn't make the EBay page. Check those out here.

Gloomy Sunday

The snow that reached my knees a week ago only reaches my ankles now. It's melting, and with temps in the 40s expected most days this coming week, it will likely be gone by next weekend. Christmas in two weeks. No idea whether it will be White or not. I wouldn't mind if it was, as long as we didn't get 14" of the stuff in one fell swoop.

Along with the snow shoveling and wine pondering, I've been wrestling off and on with the ENDGAME rewrites. Do I need to change the first chapter? I guess not, but the second one needs cutting. Just hacked out the first ten pages and started it with the second scene. It works, I think. Will likely hack out the current chapter three in its entirety and replace it with something more "immediate" and less backstory-ish. I really thought that I was bringing readers up to speed with all the info, but apparently I overdid it.

So many scenes that I like will be going bye-bye, and I know from experience that even though I say I'll use them somewhere, I never do.

Whoever dubbed this "killing your darlings" wasn't kidding.

Reread editor's revision letter, especially the parts where she wrote that she really, really does like this story.

FYI, the Tuckerization is still on the block. Only a little over 2 days left to go. Buy it for yourself, or as a gift for that special someone. After all, what says I Love You more than a little humiliation in black and white?

More things for sale as well. The bidding for mindyklasky's critique is getting serious.

And there are other items which didn't make the EBay page. Check those out here.

Dog personalities: Two Conversations

Conversation #1: Nominal Mistress: "Mickey, what have you done to your feet! You've licked the pads raw! Must be those allergies again." ::scrabbles beneath bathroom sink:: "I'm going to wash your feet and bandage them, and I want you to leave those bandages alone, ok?"

Nominal Mickey: ::my feet--mine--no--leave 'em--wrap--stuff-smelly--cold--itchy--can't walk with this stuff around my feet--nobody loves me and there's never enough food:: (stares at bandages)(sniffs bandages)(leaves bandages alone)(curls up in hallway and looks pathetic)

Conversation #2: Nominal Mistress: "King--you've licked off the hair on your foreleg again--look at that sore! I'm going to clean it and bandage it so you can't lick off the ointment." ::scrabbles beneath bathroom sink:: "First I'm going to stick on this pad with antibiotic ointment, then I'm going to wrap--hey--King--!"

Nominal King: ::YA THINK!:: (pulls at bandage while NM wraps leg)::WHAT IS THIS SHIT!:: (limps around living room while pulling at end of bandage)::GET THIS THING OFFA ME!::

NM: "Fine. No bandages."" ::gets spray bottle from top of cabinet:: "I'm going to spray it with Bitter Apple so you don't lick it."

NK: :: whatEVER:: (walks around kitchen) ::myleg::

Dog personalities: Two Conversations

Conversation #1: Nominal Mistress: "Mickey, what have you done to your feet! You've licked the pads raw! Must be those allergies again." ::scrabbles beneath bathroom sink:: "I'm going to wash your feet and bandage them, and I want you to leave those bandages alone, ok?"

Nominal Mickey: ::my feet--mine--no--leave 'em--wrap--stuff-smelly--cold--itchy--can't walk with this stuff around my feet--nobody loves me and there's never enough food:: (stares at bandages)(sniffs bandages)(leaves bandages alone)(curls up in hallway and looks pathetic)

Conversation #2: Nominal Mistress: "King--you've licked off the hair on your foreleg again--look at that sore! I'm going to clean it and bandage it so you can't lick off the ointment." ::scrabbles beneath bathroom sink:: "First I'm going to stick on this pad with antibiotic ointment, then I'm going to wrap--hey--King--!"

Nominal King: ::YA THINK!:: (pulls at bandage while NM wraps leg)::WHAT IS THIS SHIT!:: (limps around living room while pulling at end of bandage)::GET THIS THING OFFA ME!::

NM: "Fine. No bandages."" ::gets spray bottle from top of cabinet:: "I'm going to spray it with Bitter Apple so you don't lick it."

NK: :: whatEVER:: (walks around kitchen) ::myleg::

A little thing

Months ago, when I was in the middle of ENDGAME, everyone else posted about SF/F gripes or things that they would never use in their own work. I never got to respond to that, but now that it's fallen off everyone's radar...

...pixies. Lil tiny fairies. Wings or not. I can handle them in Pratchett--heck, I enjoy them in Pratchett--but in a modern world setting, they bug me enough to pull me out of the story. Maybe if I saw their dangerous side right off the bat, I would be more accepting. When they start out all squeaky and stuff, they put me in mind of really big mosquitoes. Just swat them with a rolled-up newspaper and be done with it.

That's all for now.

A little thing

Months ago, when I was in the middle of ENDGAME, everyone else posted about SF/F gripes or things that they would never use in their own work. I never got to respond to that, but now that it's fallen off everyone's radar...

...pixies. Lil tiny fairies. Wings or not. I can handle them in Pratchett--heck, I enjoy them in Pratchett--but in a modern world setting, they bug me enough to pull me out of the story. Maybe if I saw their dangerous side right off the bat, I would be more accepting. When they start out all squeaky and stuff, they put me in mind of really big mosquitoes. Just swat them with a rolled-up newspaper and be done with it.

That's all for now.