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Miracle [message #10568]

Mon, 26 January 2009 17:58

AJLR
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Registered: September 2008
Location: England, UK

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Miracle

_{"Never let a computer know you're in a hurry."}

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Re: Miracle [message #10570 is a reply to message #10568 ]

Mon, 26 January 2009 18:13

AJLR
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Quote:

Please the construction gods this is a genuine sign

Had you intoned the chants necessary to put them in good humour and bowed the ritual three times in the direction of the nearest building materials supplier? I think burning to ashes a copy of the building regs, stirring them into muddy water and then splashing the footings with the resultant liquid has also been know to help (...and...and... Smile

)

All these careless references to Damarian tales and BELLS OF MAZAHAN is just plain tantalising - as you well know! *yearns*

Quote:

But footrot? It might sound more romantic in another language. But the question perhaps becomes do you want romantic footrot?

Perhaps b_twin_1 can say whether there is a romantic version of footrot?

_{"Never let a computer know you're in a hurry."}

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Re: Miracle [message #10571 is a reply to message #10568 ]

Mon, 26 January 2009 18:18

b_twin_1
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Registered: September 2008
Location: Victoria, Australia

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My builder has started work.
YAY! (There will be an even bigger YAY when all that 'striding purposefully' happens! hehe)

And I went off into a teeny fantasy of how long this poster for the one Hampshire concert date of the Stupid Dead People and Bad Bogus Band had been up on my fence
It is very easy to do this isn't it. Our brains are awfully quick to leap to dramatic conclusions about things. I wish my limbs moved that quickly.

++ Which also appears to be an Australian aboriginal word for sand dune. Hmm. Well, I’ll worry about that when I meet the Damarian alligators.
Well, in one of the languages it means sand dune .... it may mean alligator in one of the other aboriginal languages.

In which case why did the previous owner carpet it and put in two Velux windows?
Because they were very, very small people and weighed next to nothing. And had no books. Wink

I've got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel ~ Blackadder

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Re: Miracle [message #10572 is a reply to message #10568 ]

Mon, 26 January 2009 18:18

Black Bear
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Registered: September 2008
Location: Indianapolis, IN USA

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MAZEL TOV!

Hooray for the builder. About time that ball got rolling.

Interesting that hanging a shingle is an Americanism, it seems like it would be universal--because what OTHER flat bit of wood are you going to find lying around your yard that you can use for your "The Doctor Is In" sign when you finally set up shop? Maybe it's all about the frontieriness of having split wood shingles lying around in the first place....

_{"The time is always right to do what's right."--MLK Jr.}

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Re: Miracle [message #10574 is a reply to message #10570 ]

Mon, 26 January 2009 18:21

b_twin_1
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Registered: September 2008
Location: Victoria, Australia

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AJLR wrote on Mon, 26 January 2009 18:13

Quote:

But footrot? It might sound more romantic in another language. But the question perhaps becomes do you want romantic footrot?

Perhaps b_twin_1 can say whether there is a romantic version of footrot?

Errr .... given that the name of the condition is rather *accurate* in its descriptive qualities...... no. Unless the romantic version of footrot is the *benign* strain and not the *virulent* strain. :S But I have to say that "romantic" is really not working for me.....

I've got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel ~ Blackadder

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Re: Miracle [message #10584 is a reply to message #10568 ]

Mon, 26 January 2009 19:05

Ithilien
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Meanwhile backlist sits in boxes all over all the floors, and prevents making any practical decisions about anything.

I sympathise entirely. This is exactly the stage of house-moving that we're up to, having shoved everything into boxes and shipped it to the New House and scrubbed Old House from top to bottom.

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Re: Miracle [message #10585 is a reply to message #10568 ]

Mon, 26 January 2009 19:11

Julia
Messages: 531
Registered: October 2008
Location: Library School

Senior Member

Yay! Builders! Actually doing stuff! Huzzah!

And may I just say -- again-- how very much I love the footnotes, especially when they are something like three times as long as the actual post? Because I do. :)
It's already been a long day, and my energy levels were definitely flagging... I needed that laughter-provoking wonderfulness. And I got it. So thank you.
Heehee.

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Re: Miracle [message #10587 is a reply to message #10568 ]

Mon, 26 January 2009 20:04

jmeadows
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Location: Virginia, USA

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Oh yay! Here's hoping they actually do get some work done soon. Sounds like after signing the contract for 10392432 books you have a lot to write...which will just make a larger backlist. You're going to need that space soon! ;)

Smooshes!

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Re: Miracle [message #10588 is a reply to message #10587 ]

Mon, 26 January 2009 20:11

b_twin_1
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jmeadows wrote on Mon, 26 January 2009 20:04

If Robin writes that many books then *we* will need more space too. And she will need a long rest!! Wink

I've got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel ~ Blackadder

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Re: Miracle [message #10589 is a reply to message #10588 ]

Mon, 26 January 2009 20:35

Julia
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Registered: October 2008
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b_twin_1 wrote on Mon, 26 January 2009 20:11

jmeadows wrote on Mon, 26 January 2009 20:04

If Robin writes that many books then *we* will need more space too. And she will need a long rest!! Wink

True, True. but we'd all be very very happy. For a long time.
Smile

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Re: Miracle [message #10590 is a reply to message #10568 ]

Mon, 26 January 2009 21:13

kfoster2047
Messages: 138
Registered: January 2009
Location: Charlotte, NC

Senior Member

Oh, yes, the day the builder puts his sign up - very exciting! Of course, when it is still there a year later, not so much. Here's hoping you have better luck than we did. Smile

Karen

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Re: Miracle [message #10593 is a reply to message #10568 ]

Mon, 26 January 2009 21:26

skating librarian
Messages: 570
Registered: October 2008
Location: Vermont

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How wonderful! You are not forgotten!

I am again waiting for the carpenter (who had to clean his house top to bottom because it is traditional for Chinese New Year, which he and his wife and daughter celebrate to maintain the daughter's link with her native country).

Thank goodness I am good at being patient.

As to the backlists ... how about a internet sale? The more you buy, the more you save?
1 copy each of all the titles ... $300 plus shipping
2 copies each of all the titles ... $200 plus shipping
3 copies of all the titles ... $100 etc.

You'll probably want to hire a strapping young person who can box up one each of all the titles. Once they've figured out the appropriate sized box it's just repetition. So anyone who orders 3 of each title will get three boxes. All the parcels will weigh the same, simplifying calculating postage/shipping costs.

In this way you could both raise some cash and clear out a bunch of books, knowing that they will all be going to good homes.

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Re: Miracle [message #10596 is a reply to message #10568 ]

Mon, 26 January 2009 22:38

Jeanine
Messages: 55
Registered: October 2008
Location: Florida

Member

Ha! You bought a THIRD house just for your books, Robin??? Now I don't feel so bad about devoting 2 bedrooms of a 4 bedroom house entirely to books!!! LOL!

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Re: Miracle [message #10597 is a reply to message #10593 ]

Mon, 26 January 2009 23:45

Julia
Messages: 531
Registered: October 2008
Location: Library School

Senior Member

skating librarian wrote on Mon, 26 January 2009 21:26

oh wow, most definitely! Smile

Quote:

As to the backlists ... how about a internet sale? The more you buy, the more you save?
1 copy each of all the titles ... $300 plus shipping
2 copies each of all the titles ... $200 plus shipping
3 copies of all the titles ... $100 etc.

You'll probably want to hire a strapping young person who can box up one each of all the titles. Once they've figured out the appropriate sized box it's just repetition. So anyone who orders 3 of each title will get three boxes. All the parcels will weigh the same, simplifying calculating postage/shipping costs.

In this way you could both raise some cash and clear out a bunch of books, knowing that they will all be going to good homes.

Oh, I would SO do that. Buy books, of course, but also volunteer to help box them up. As I said, it isn't such a long way from Toulouse to England...
Smile

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Re: Miracle [message #10600 is a reply to message #10568 ]

Tue, 27 January 2009 03:02

Fake Frenchie
Messages: 506
Registered: November 2008
Location: France

Senior Member

Hooray for the builder hanging his "shingle". But don't hold your breath. It could just be a way to make you think he will be starting soon, while in fact he's heading to Spain for a vacation. Wink

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Re: Miracle [message #10604 is a reply to message #10568 ]

Tue, 27 January 2009 05:39

Lucy Coats
Messages: 223
Registered: October 2008
Location: Northamptonshire, UK

Senior Member

Quote:

An independent working person has a shingle.

You are, naturally, allowed to be obstinately American about this one. For me (obstinate Scottish person), it has two other meanings. One is a roof tile. The other, plural, is a nasty disease akin to chicken pox, which is running riot around here at the moment. And they say it's not catching. It would be very very very bad for the ME, so I hope it doesn't reach Hampshire.

Quote:

But the question perhaps becomes do you want romantic footrot?

Er. No! The sheep around here have it all the time in the summer (something to do with long grass stuck between the toes, I believe). Despite copious footbaths, the smell of pustulating ovine hooves would knock the romance out of any situation, however delightfully named the Damarian alternative was.

Quote:

+ Regular readers of this blog will be aware that there are several Third Damarian Novels in various states of incompletion

We are aware. Oh how we are aware! But we live in a state of suspended hopefulness that one day...maybe.... Meanwhile, we existeth on the pearls of precious and tantalising hint that, yea, droppeth verily on occasion from thy hellgoddess pen. Smile

You do realise that the builder started on the day the Year of the Earth Ox rolled in? And that is a Good Omen, because it is an excellent year for all projects requiring skilled manual labour. Apparently.

[Updated on: Tue, 27 January 2009 05:42]

Lucy xx
"'Thou shalt not' might reach the head, but it takes 'Once upon a time' to reach the heart."
http://www.scribblecitycentral.blogspot.com

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Re: Miracle [message #10605 is a reply to message #10604 ]

Tue, 27 January 2009 05:57

Black Bear
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Location: Indianapolis, IN USA

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Shingles doesn't catch. It's not just akin to chicken pox; it's the same virus, which after you've had the pox stays dormant in your body until it's triggered to pop up again, usually by stress or having a depressed immune system. People who have an active case of the shingles can, I believe, give chicken pox to kids--but not t'other way round.

I know more than I should on this topic; my mom had shingles pretty bad when I was a kid, and I had chicken pox for the first time when I was 24. That was horrific. I'm not looking forward to shingles. Smile

_{"The time is always right to do what's right."--MLK Jr.}

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Re: Miracle [message #10607 is a reply to message #10605 ]

Tue, 27 January 2009 07:12

Lucy Coats
Messages: 223
Registered: October 2008
Location: Northamptonshire, UK

Senior Member

Black Bear wrote on Tue, 27 January 2009 10:57

Shingles doesn't catch.

I know it doesn't catch. But it does seem really odd that 6 middle-aged to elderly people in one village (3 of them related and living together), should all have it at one and the same time, after a virulent outbreak of chickenpox among the 2 yr olds. The Unkind Deity of Coincidence strikes again? Hmmmmn.....

Lucy xx
"'Thou shalt not' might reach the head, but it takes 'Once upon a time' to reach the heart."
http://www.scribblecitycentral.blogspot.com

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Re: Miracle [message #10611 is a reply to message #10570 ]

Tue, 27 January 2009 08:01

Louiz
Messages: 38
Registered: October 2008
Location: London, England

Member

AJLR wrote on Mon, 26 January 2009 18:13

Quote:

Please the construction gods this is a genuine sign

)

All these careless references to Damarian tales and BELLS OF MAZAHAN is just plain tantalising - as you well know! *yearns*

Quote:

But footrot? It might sound more romantic in another language. But the question perhaps becomes do you want romantic footrot?

Perhaps b_twin_1 can say whether there is a romantic version of footrot?

I doubt very much there is a romantic version of footrot, no matter what it's called!

And a whole attic for books? Wow

Bibliovorous.

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Re: Miracle [message #10612 is a reply to message #10605 ]

Tue, 27 January 2009 08:44

Mrs Redboots
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Registered: October 2008
Location: London, UK

Senior Member

Black Bear wrote on Tue, 27 January 2009 10:57

People who have an active case of the shingles can, I believe, give chicken pox to kids--but not t'other way round.

Alas, they can and do the other way round - my daughter kindly gave someone shingles when she had chicken-pox, something about which I always feel guilty as said person then developed a heart problem. However, she lived for several more years and then died of something else, so.....

Robin wrote in her blog:

Regular readers of this blog will be aware that there are several Third Damarian Novels in various states of incompletion

Yes, Robin. We are so aware. And we long... and send lots of Damarian vibes to you to get the frelling things written for us! And no, footrot is footrot, and not at all romantic in any language. Unless, of course, the Damarian version is especially virulent or lethal....

[Updated on: Tue, 27 January 2009 08:44]

Mrs Redboots
I love my computer because my friends live in it!

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Re: Miracle [message #10613 is a reply to message #10604 ]

Tue, 27 January 2009 09:31

AJLR
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Lucy Coats wrote on Tue, 27 January 2009 10:39

Speaking as one living 250 metres from a shingle beach - ie, made up of pebbles - there's another meaning to it as well.

In fact come to think of it, there's yet another meaning out there. What a multi-functional word it obviously is. Smile

_{"Never let a computer know you're in a hurry."}

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Re: Miracle [message #10614 is a reply to message #10613 ]

Tue, 27 January 2009 09:38

Lucy Coats
Messages: 223
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Location: Northamptonshire, UK

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AJLR wrote on Tue, 27 January 2009 14:31

Lucy Coats wrote on Tue, 27 January 2009 10:39

You win on the lexicography front!

Lucy xx
"'Thou shalt not' might reach the head, but it takes 'Once upon a time' to reach the heart."
http://www.scribblecitycentral.blogspot.com

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Re: Miracle [message #10616 is a reply to message #10604 ]

Tue, 27 January 2009 12:52

shalea
Messages: 780
Registered: October 2008
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina, ...

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Lucy Coats wrote on Tue, 27 January 2009 05:39

...the smell of pustulating ovine hooves ...

Bleh, way too vivid!! Very Happy

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Re: Miracle [message #10618 is a reply to message #10568 ]

Tue, 27 January 2009 17:14

anef
Messages: 58
Registered: October 2008
Location: Cambridge, England

Member

I'd always assumed that the shingle referred to in "hanging out one's shingle" was in fact a wooden roof tile, on which the trader had written an advertisement. Perhaps someone could correct or confirm this.

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Re: Miracle [message #10625 is a reply to message #10585 ]

Tue, 27 January 2009 20:03

Robin
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Registered: September 2008
Location: England

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[Hellgoddess]

I'm aware that my footnotes are often a trifle out of . . . hand, or foot. But this daily entry thing is quite the little exercise and footnotes are a way of not destroying myself utterly, organisation NOT being one of my natural gifts.

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Re: Miracle [message #10627 is a reply to message #10604 ]

Tue, 27 January 2009 20:07

Robin
Messages: 6000
Registered: September 2008
Location: England

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[Hellgoddess]

Ahem. I am perfectly aware of the disease of shingles. Please note S on the end of 'shingle'. Indeed I had carefully rephrased my sentence so that the sign-shingle should remain singular, NOT to be confused with the disease.

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Re: Miracle [message #10629 is a reply to message #10625 ]

Tue, 27 January 2009 20:40

Julia
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Registered: October 2008
Location: Library School

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Robin wrote on Tue, 27 January 2009 20:03

No! No! Not what I meant! I wasn't being sarcastic! I think it is BRILLIANT!

But then, organization is definitely not one of my gifts either. Very definitely not.

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Re: Miracle [message #10630 is a reply to message #10627 ]

Tue, 27 January 2009 21:20

Black Bear
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Robin wrote on Tue, 27 January 2009 20:07

Because it's really just gross when people hang THOSE out. Smile

_{"The time is always right to do what's right."--MLK Jr.}

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Re: Miracle [message #10634 is a reply to message #10630 ]

Tue, 27 January 2009 21:43

Kathy_S
Messages: 313
Registered: October 2008
Location: Indiana

Senior Member

Reading posts in the wrong order can cause problems. You don't want to know how long it took me to realize we were talking about foot rot and not foo trot.

(Home computer decided to make space ship liftoff noises instead of turning on properly last night, so here I am catching up at work. Um, theoretically catching up on what absolutely has to be done by tomorrow. Embarassed

Unless perchance tomorrow is cancelled because of snow.)

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Re: Miracle [message #10652 is a reply to message #10568 ]

Wed, 28 January 2009 01:13

Diane in MN
Messages: 2729
Registered: October 2008
Location: Twin Cities, MN, USA

Senior Member

Congratulations on the appearance of the builder's sign, and good wishes for the speedy appearance of the pile of timber, the Dumpster (for debris), the pickup truck(s), and the guy(s) with the very loud radio who will do the work. (The latter two are de rigueur for all the jobs I've ever had done, but perhaps are not essential to the building trades in England.) Go builders!

the impression I get from builders, architects and building-regs enforcers is that the attic in its present manifestation is ornamental. In which case why did the previous owner carpet it and put in two Velux windows? Very misleading to future buyers.

You have probably answered your question here. Wink

_{"The point of books is to have way too many but to always feel you never have enough . . . " Louise Erdrich}

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Re: Miracle [message #10657 is a reply to message #10652 ]

Wed, 28 January 2009 02:23

danceswithpahis
Messages: 380
Registered: October 2008

Senior Member

Diane in MN wrote on Wed, 28 January 2009 01:13

the impression I get from builders, architects and building-regs enforcers is that the attic in its present manifestation is ornamental. In which case why did the previous owner carpet it and put in two Velux windows? Very misleading to future buyers.

You have probably answered your question here. Wink

Perhaps they liked to sit in the attic on their British equivalents of lightweight bean bag chairs (which, for all I know about the UK, may be real bean bag chairs) sipping tea and reading lightweight books. Perhaps they enjoyed having a room separate where they could go and be alone? Perhaps they didn't realize that the floor couldn't hold any weight?

"Oh good! My dog found the chainsaw!"

-- Lilo ("Lilo and Stitch")

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Re: Miracle [message #10665 is a reply to message #10652 ]

Wed, 28 January 2009 09:09

Mrs Redboots
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Location: London, UK

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Diane in MN wrote on Wed, 28 January 2009 06:13

Here, he will have a white van, and be known as a White Van Man; a Dumpster is called a Skip here (it's not quite the same, but very nearly). And yes, the guys will not only have very loud radios, but will also have the tops of their bottoms showing above their trousers, which phenomenon is known as "builders' bum".

Mrs Redboots
I love my computer because my friends live in it!

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Re: Miracle [message #10667 is a reply to message #10665 ]

Wed, 28 January 2009 09:41

Black Bear
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Mrs Redboots wrote on Wed, 28 January 2009 09:09

will also have the tops of their bottoms showing above their trousers, which phenomenon is known as "builders' bum".

Here that's called "plumber's crack." Smile

Even if they're not a plumber.

_{"The time is always right to do what's right."--MLK Jr.}

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Re: Miracle [message #10670 is a reply to message #10667 ]

Wed, 28 January 2009 10:17

shalea
Messages: 780
Registered: October 2008
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina, ...

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Black Bear wrote on Wed, 28 January 2009 09:41

Mrs Redboots wrote on Wed, 28 January 2009 09:09

will also have the tops of their bottoms showing above their trousers, which phenomenon is known as "builders' bum".

Here that's called "plumber's crack." Smile

Even if they're not a plumber.

Which of course leads to obligatory references to America's Crack Problem. Smile

[Updated on: Wed, 28 January 2009 10:18]

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Re: Miracle [message #10679 is a reply to message #10667 ]

Wed, 28 January 2009 15:25

holmes44
Messages: 706
Registered: October 2008
Location: Sutton,Quebec

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Black Bear wrote on Wed, 28 January 2009 09:41

Mrs Redboots wrote on Wed, 28 January 2009 09:09

will also have the tops of their bottoms showing above their trousers, which phenomenon is known as "builders' bum".

Here that's called "plumber's crack." Smile

Even if they're not a plumber.

here too,it is called plumber's crack.lol

Bonnie Holmes the faster ahead I go, the more behind I get

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Re: Miracle [message #10697 is a reply to message #10629 ]

Wed, 28 January 2009 20:19

Robin
Messages: 6000
Registered: September 2008
Location: England

Senior Member
[Hellgoddess]

Sorry. No, I knew that. I was just progressing along my own line of anxiety. :)

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Re: Miracle [message #10700 is a reply to message #10697 ]

Wed, 28 January 2009 20:25

Julia
Messages: 531
Registered: October 2008
Location: Library School

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Robin wrote on Wed, 28 January 2009 20:19

Sorry. No, I knew that. I was just progressing along my own line of anxiety. Smile

Well, okay then. I'm still always here to reassure you of your brilliance. No need for anxiety. Especially if, as you say,
the footnotes are a way of not destroying yourself utterly-- we love the footnotes! Huzzah! No self-destruction! Not allowed.

Smile

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Re: Miracle [message #10705 is a reply to message #10679 ]

Wed, 28 January 2009 20:36

kfoster2047
Messages: 138
Registered: January 2009
Location: Charlotte, NC

Senior Member

I'm not sure if this tops plumber's crack or not but one of the (only two) framers on our addition - who was well over 50 years old - preferred to work topless so that it didn't impede the view of his nipple ring.

Karen

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