Terry Pratchett: The Amazing Maurice and his educated Rodents

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents (Discworld, #28) by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this so much!

First it is funny.

Second it is important. It is one of those books that everyone should read, I think. Because it is about humanity, and respect and tolerance and friendship and life and stories. Because it made me ashamed of being a human being because clearly, we really suck most of the time (don't argue, we do.. I mean, really, the things we do to each other every day?).

It's beautiful. And I encourage everyone to read it.

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Madrid

I spent the weekend in Madrid. I had tickets for a play with my beloved Viggo Mortensen and I regret nothing.

Here are some impressions:

beautiful weather to fly in

Plaza de Mayor - Christmas Time

uhm... I wasn't fast enough to run

Parque de Retiro- might I point out what I wear in 20 degrees C

This just cracks me up!

the former slaughter house from the hotel window...

which now holds the theater Matadero

sunset

Legazpi

on my way to the play Saturday

Sunday at 8 a.m.

back at the theater for a photo

he looked very convincing and he moved very Sparrow-ish

do I spot a theme?

to the Natural History Museum

flying home tired but good

 

The photos aren't the best quality because I took them with my smartphone or they were taken with a small pocket cam. 

I have shot some film though and I'll post them when they are developed.

Sadly there wasn't enough time to do some shopping for instance. But I might just be back.

Caturday

http://kittenskittenskittens.tumblr.com/post/11492304527

greenish

Don't quite know what happened there.. but I approve.
Canonet, expired film.

the long wait

Same film.
I love long time exposure. So why not in black and white?

Expired and Locked

Expired 1981

Revueflex
Kodak Plus-X pan, expired 3/1981, 125 ISO

I love expired film. It is grainy: yes. It sometimes doesn't produce anything useful. But it also does things like this. Early morning, fog.

I heart...

....Brothers because the actors are fantastic and I love movies that can hold silence.



... Evanescence is baaack! This is so wonderful (not the official video but still pretty):

Evanescence - Lost in Paradise HD (lyrics) - Funny videos are here

...Stephen Fry:

http://natreides.tumblr.com/post/11768428170

 ... this is magical:







... this is creepy and awesome:

http://hypnosa.tumblr.com/post/8437641299/long-exposure-shots-in-st-petersburg-russia

Nanowrimo Week 3: The Finish Line

40212 / 50000 words. 80% done!

Just some 9800 words left. I already wrote the Epilogue. There is only that one chapter left.

One ridiculous chapter that gives me hell because.. I know the content. I have established the setting, the people, the everything. But I just have to make it good. As in: spectacular. As in...the characters have an epiphany, all the knots are tied, all issues resolved. And I also have to make it funny and with lots of atmosphere. It is the last chapter! I hurried through the middle part. I wrote a beginning that I love. Now I need to end it, leaving the reader satisfied and feeling good.

So I continue to stare at the blank digital sheet (oh typewriter how I miss you sometimes). And I browse tumblr. And I write this entry. And I contemplate looking out of the window because the sun is shining and it looks crispy cold. Also, I'll go horseback riding again later, even though I am still going lame from last week.

I consider applying a  facial mask. Anything as to not write that last chapter.

On the other hand.. being done, at least word count related would be so awesome. (I try to ban the fear of 9800 words being too much... because let's face it... one chapter and that many words?)

The finish line seems to recede the more I approach it.

Do you have that feeling too?

Caturday

http://animalblog.me/post/11562935389

autumn: black and white

autumn: yellow

Susan Hill: The Woman in Black

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Entertaining, quick and creepy read. Don't want to say too much since I don't want to give anything away :-)

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the autumn post: red

Nanowrimo: Week 2 or My novel and I get a divorce

21368 / 50000 words. 43% done!

 This is where I'm at. So far so good. I didn't get as much done as I had hoped because my novel decided that it didn't like me anymore. Or was it the other way around?

I told it to shut up, because, look, I have a structure. I have a plan. The novel kept ducking the plan. And it always thought it should be narrated in the past tense. Which is a wonderful idea, in the beginning but not half-way through. So I was busy re-writing paragraphs or I would have written the rest in the past and completely confused myself. I want the present tense, you stubborn thing.

I plan to write a lot today. I always plan that. And then things happen. Yesterday, for  instance, I went horseback riding. And now I am immobile from the hip down because my legs are numb and my butt hurts. The things I do.

Today's novel quote: 

“Did I mention that I fell on a Dragon once? Big fella. Lots of teeth. Bad breath.”

And that Dragon will re-appear. (So far, no Vampires though. Thank God I had them last year. I'll focus on the Dragon this year. When in doubt... add something big you can describe elaborately.. I think...)


Today I will totally write. Or I might go to the stable and then I might edit some photos because I have collected a wonderful film with black and white photographs that just make me happy.

And of course, I have to play with the cats. Actually, I should do that right now.

Caturday

http://felinefriends.tumblr.com/post/11551993082

Thought I'd post some other cats as well, since they are too adorable to pass. :-)

golden walk

magical places

Christmas present idea

Ray Bradbury: The Halloween Tree

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Again I am in need for 1,5 stars. Not that I have anything against Bradbury, but I was bored by this. Maybe it works for younger readers, but I was expecting a bit more creepiness and less education. Also, he reused the mummies in Mexico :-) Have read about them in a short story before.

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I heart...

... this. I need the album now.



... Moon. Great performance and wonderful Soundtrack by Clint Mansell:

... this:

http://observando.net/post/5183632850

http://deatheating.tumblr.com/post/8974242829

http://society6.com/product/Duel-in-Space_Print