The Friends That Only...

It's nice when friends call out of the blue and want to catch up for a coffee. I'm always open to that.

This morning a friend I don't see very often called and asked if I'd be home some time today for a cuppa. I said, "Of course. I'd be delighted."

Now, all I can think about is, "what does she really want?"

That's awful. I know. But...

There are some people who are like that. They only contact you when there's something in it for them.

So what do I do about it? I like this friend. We used to hang out together all the time. We shared our thoughts, hopes, dreams... all that. Now, I see her very rarely, and most of the time it's when her computer is down and she needs to check her emails, send a fax, or needs a favour.

Don't get me wrong. I'll always drop everything for a friend in genuine need. However, I don't like being taken advantage of.

I find it sad that some people consider it okay to use friends in this manner. I don't use people. I go out of my way to avoid it, in fact. If I want a favour, I ask. I'll always find a way to show my appreciation and gratitude - in the form a small gift, card, cuppa up the street, something. I prefer to think that most people are like that. I don't ask for favours very often. I tend to struggle through on my own. One of my many failings, I'm afraid.

I'm also not opposed to friends ringing me and asking me for favours. What I don't like is friends ringing me to "catch up for a cuppa" then, when the niceties are over, hit me with, "oh, while I'm here...," "can I just...". Hmmm. Wears a bit thin after a while. I'd rather people be up front from the beginning and come right out and say, "I'm ringing to see if I can ask you a favour."

[Insert sigh here]

Oh well. I guess I'll find out what she wants after she has partaken of my hospitality.

Sad when it gets to this, isn't it.

I still like this friend, and I still enjoy catching up with her, even though it's usually to her benefit. It all comes down to accepting people for who they are, really. This how this friend is. If I want to associate with her, I have to realise this and accept it.

I deal with it by either not being available for a cuppa unless it's up the street somewhere, or I invite her out with full knowledge that there will be a catch.

I wonder what it will be today?

Cheers

Brittany K.

My son and his friend bought inflatable boats today. We put them in the Ovens River upstream from our place this evening & floated back downstream to home. It was a 3 hour trip. The river's low and we had to get out and pull the boats over the sand a few times, but it was very pleasant.

The "Silly Season" is officially over for us.

It's Monday morning and everyone is off to work again - those who actually had time off. The rest of us merely had our daily lives turned upside down for a few weeks.

So it's back to my usual routine today:- Curves this morning, housework, then writing & editing. In the afternoon: gardening, maybe a swim if it's hot.

Well, that's "Plan A". Quite typically I get to about "Plan D" by the end of the day when things don't go quite as expected, but then, that's life.

On the writing front, things have been good, all distractions considered. I've gotten back into the final edits for "The Shadow Runners". I'm about half way through now, so I'm looking forward to having the whole novel publisher-ready in a few weeks.

Then comes the real work:- finding out who's taking science fiction this time of the year, who's interested in having a look at my science fiction... and onto the merry-go-round I go.

Oh how often have I wished I could just click my fingers and make all my dreams come true...

Unfortunately, magic doesn't just happen in this world. We have to get out there in the dirt and make it happen.

I kind of like the idea of being able to wave the magic wand, though. Don't you?

Well, here's to a brand new year of writing, editing, art, music and all things bright and cheery. Here's to all the challenges that will come this year. May we all have the strength to get through them and learn valuable lessons to help us grow.

That's enough deep and meaningful for now. I'm off to the shower to get my daily dose of negative ions, then to Curves for my daily dose of self-inflicted exercise torture, then back here for my daily dose of housework torture, then...

I guess you're getting the picture. Let's see how much of my day actually goes to plan.

Cheers for now

Brittany K.

My New Year Competition has come to an end. Now... to deliberate on the winning answer.... hmmm.

Caught up with a friend before lunch. Now going to catch up with another. I'm having a very social day. Then I must brave the crowds to do my shopping. It's absolutely manic out there. I'm not sure why. The shops are only closed for one day. Maybe everyone is doing their last minute grocery dash to stock up for their parties tonight and tomorrow. Ah, who knows? I only want my regular food items. I'll let you know how that goes. Wish me luck!

Saw "The Day the Earth Stood Still". Not bad. Passable adaptation of the story. Enjoyable film. Not mind-blowing. 3 1/2 stars out of 5. :)

Manic Updates & Electronic Reshuffling

I've just spent all day online doing some updating on my web pages, blogs, forums, groups, etc. I didn't think it would take so long. Whew! Nearly all done.

I've updated my old SHIVA site. Take a look at my MSN live space.
http://ping.fm/R25NJ

Also I have a new Forum. And a blog. Yes, another blog! I think that makes four. The Runboard Forum came with a blog, which was a nice surprise. Very cool. I haven't really blogged there yet. I only posted a note to say I promise to blog real soon. And I will. Honest. Take a look at my Runboard site.
http://ping.fm/F5x8t
http://ping.fm/fCUeQ

Right now, I'm off to have a cuppa. Then I have to get ready to be all official at the Beechworth Threatre Company's last meeting for the year.

Catch you all soon.

Brittany K.

Competition - Brittany Kingston

New Year

Competition

This year, read yourself into a New Year with

some creepy poetry and two vampire short stories

by... well... me!

For a chance to win this special pack that includes:

"Where the Night Things Are",

"Sword of Anubis"

and "Shadow on the Crystal",

all you have to do is write the most imaginative responses.

Read the excerpt from the Shadow Runners below and add your versions of Jaxxlar's responses in the spaces indicated.

Go on, try it. It'll be fun.

Dorrraan’s smile sharpened into a snarl. He turned the ornately carved gold ring on his right middle claw until the amber stone flashed the same gold fire as his eyes. “I will be watching.” He stared at the aliens, memorizing their strange features. “You will stay at The Guardhouse tonight. You are expected, and your accommodation has been paid for. Report to Goornagh by tomorrow’s first light.” He turned and walked around the statue, disappearing into the garden just as his assistants had earlier.

Jaxxlar and Ranger didn’t speak out loud until they were beyond the temple grounds. It felt as though Beta-Dorrraan’s guards watched them from every shadow.

“This is a suicide mission,” Ranger commented when they’d put enough distance between themselves and Dorrraan’s spies.

Jaxxlar huffed in disgust. “What choice do we have? Thanks to your little escapade on Ghee, we don’t have enough credits between us to buy an hour with a whore.”

Ranger stopped and stared at his partner. “I wasn’t the one who got us deported.”

“I didn’t start that fight.” Jaxxlar glared at him.

“Really.” Ranger folded his arms across his chest. “Then I suppose you accidentally jumped on that murrahm’s tail.”

“Well,” Jaxxlar gestured expansively. “It just happened to be right under where I wanted to walk.”

“Of course. And you couldn’t possibly have stepped over it, could you?”

“That murrahm plonked his tail down right under my foot on purpose.”

Ranger shook his head and walked on. “And that was when you were wearing your restrictor!”

Jaxxlar caught up and kept pace with him. “YOUR RESPONSE GOES HERE”

“That sure does fill me with confidence. Especially since you nearly jumped on a murrahm two minutes after we got here.”

“I did not.”

“You would have if I hadn’t pulled you back.”

“He was arrogant,” Jaxxlar huffed.

“They’re all arrogant. They’re murrahm.”

“YOUR RESPONSE GOES HERE”

“How very reassuring. Those were your exact words before you started the fight that landed us here.”

“I didn’t start that fight!”

Competition runs until December 31, 2008

Hey, what are you waiting for? You have the whole rest of the year to enter

Send your answer to me at:

brittanykingstonauthor@gmail.com

Good luck!

Yours in love and light

Brittany Kingston

Check out my updated profile on MySpace:
http://ping.fm/U44ZL

The Art of Losing Files Successfully

Ooooooooh I soooooo hate it when I do that. Grrrrrr!

I've lost a file. Well, not "lost" it completely. I copied if from my desktop computer to the laptop. Now I can't remember which folder I put it in. Even worse, I can't remember what I called the file so I can search for it. This is so annoying.

Yes, I will go to the other computer and copy the file again. While I'm there I'll work on it. And that defeats the purpose of having a laptop.

The accountant is using my computer to update MYOB for me so I have all the correct codes, etc. for the coming year, so I've been kicked out of my office for a while.

Not to worry, I thought. I'll just continue my work from out here. That's exactly why I spent all that money on a nice new DELL notebook.

That's also exactly why I'm so annoyed at not being able to remember where I put that file.

By the time I find it, I'll have run out of time.

I can't do anything about it now. I'll just have to move on to something else, like... feed the fish...

 

Cheers

Brittany K.