Monthly Archives: January 2013

Daily Diversion #81: The Crud Strikes Again

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“Illness is the most heeded of doctors: to goodness and wisdom we only make promises; pain we obey.”-Marcel Proust

I’ve been down since Thursday with what my husband calls The Crud, a hazy combination of the ‘flu, a bad cold, and general malaise. The bottom of my favourite tea canister is visible, the bag of cherry lozenges empty; work is piled high by the bed, and I am cranky. Sleep and reading have been my twin graces. I am almost ready to crawl back into the murmur and hum of the wider world. Almost. Right after I finish one more chapter each of four books and drain the amber liquid from my tea-cup.

Concrete beauty in the midst of delirium.

Concrete beauty in the midst of delirium.

Concrete beauty in the midst of delirium.

Concrete beauty in the midst of delirium.

Super Sweet Blogging Award

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When I opened my inbox the other day, this lovely award was sitting there. Just waiting to be opened. Ourmulticolouredlife nominated me for the Super Sweet Blogging Award. I’ve never heard of this one, so it is extra special! I also get to answer questions about sweets, which doubles the fun.

Here’s Where I Spell Out The Rules:

  1. Thank the blogger(s) who gave you the award and link back to their blog.
  2. Nominate other blogs for this award and let them know.
  3. Post the award on your blog.
  4. Answer the 5 questions.

The 5 Questions:

  1. Cookies or cake? Both, depending on my mood and who does the baking.
  2. Chocolate or vanilla? I like dark chocolate and high quality vanilla.
  3. Favourite sweet treat? Pie.
  4. When do you crave sweet things the most? The mood for sweets strikes when the mood for sweets strikes!
  5. If you had a sweet nickname, what would it be? I have been called D-alicia-ous (delicious), which is a play on my name. Many have tried to get somewhere with that line. They’ve all failed.

Nominee:

The Flamboyante, because she has the sweetest blog I’ve seen.

Daily Prompt: Quote Me

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As you probably know by now, I’m a quote collector. I have hand-written notebooks full of them (a decade’s worth), and I post one here every Tuesday. Today’s Daily Prompt: Quote Me is right up my alley.

The quote I’m spotlighting has deep meaning for me, professionally and personally. The man behind the words is the reason I walk my particular creative path (of creating, publishing, writing, and editing only for indie and small press publications), and his inspirational words guide me through every challenge and triumph. If the quote looks familiar, it is because it has pride of place at the top of the right sidebar on this blog.

“Young or old, those who have anything to say will have their own way of saying it.”-Robert McAlmon

 

New Year’s Day Book Hunt

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My favourite New Year’s Day tradition doesn’t involve parades or football games or overindulging in sweets. For this girl, it is all about books. Shocking, no?

A pile 'o books and calendars.

A pile ‘o books and calendars.

This pile ‘o goodies is the result of my annual New Year’s Day Book and Calendar Hunt. As you can see, the 2013 edition was quite successful. I decided to by-pass literature in favour of selections from the genres of art, biography, and silent film. Here are a few of the highlights:

Egon Schiele by Sandra Forty

Egon Schiele by Sandra Forty

REASON: Egon Schiele is my favourite artist (in a three-way tie with Modigliani and Pissarro).

Frontier Madam The Life of Dell Burke, Lady of Lusk by June Willson Read

Frontier Madam The Life of Dell Burke, Lady of Lusk by June Willson Read

REASON: Who could pass up a book with a title like this? Continue reading →

Daily Diversion #80: Accidental Impressionism at the Car Wash

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I took these photographs from inside my husband’s Saab while he was washing the car last night. The sun was setting, and the glow from taillights and street lamps illuminated the parking lot. The effect was softened through the filter of a soap-drenched window. They remind me of Impressionist paintings.

Car Wash #1
Car Wash #2
Car Wash #3
Car Wash #4

“Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.”-Camille Pissarro

An Announcement About an Announcement

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In an effort to make A Small Press Life as solid as possible in 2013 (and beyond), we are going to add some wonderful new features to the blog. Don’t worry; what you love about ASPL isn’t changing. There is simply going to be more goodness to go around. When will this deliciousness start, you ask? Soon. This month. Stay tuned for more details.