tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36421188587430174852024-02-07T07:27:13.655-06:00Alien Places...<i><b>Alien Times</b></i>. You never know where the story will take you. I never know where it will take me until I write it. I never know what I'll discover today, tomorrow, or remember from yesterday. Come with me on a writing, storytelling, story-reading journey. World-watching, people-listening. Look around, see for yourself. Discover what it's like being a writer.Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-12954025214066045722011-10-24T23:00:00.000-05:002011-10-24T23:00:21.144-05:00A Lord of the Rings MarathonMy oldest daughter indulged in a <i>Lord of the Rings</i> (LOTR) marathon (and yes, she also read the books,
but everyone in the family likes the aesthetics of the movies, and I have 2 editions of LOTR <i>with </i> annotations, so shush about movie vs. book; we just enjoy). <br />
<br />
The running comments were mostly about filmmaking. And then about whether it
would have been possible to include some omitted elements of the books into the
movies, and how, and whether the alternative/compromise was acceptable.<br />
<br />
No, we didn't come to any final conclusion. What would be the fun in it? We reserve the right to continue the discussion.<br />
<br />
But once again I had the thought that LOTR the movie is a <i>variant </i>of
LOTR the story. And that in the end, Tolkien would have approved.<br />
<br />
Because Tolkien wished to create an Anglo-Saxon mythology, a creation story
similar to the Greek myths or the Mesopotamian epics. He would have
enjoyed how readers absorbed his tale and started re-telling it in their
own words (or images).<br />
<br />
Anything that doesn't have ONE fixed AUTHOR and one FIXED, PUBLISHED, and
CANONICAL text begets an infinity of variants -- and still somehow
manages to remain the SAME STORY. Changes in words. Changes in emphasis on details. Changes in the length of scenes or chapters. Even to the omission of certain scenes or chapters, depending on the preference of the storyteller -- or of the audience. Or, in our case, of the medium. Peter Jackson didn't really make up anything. He merely borrowed from other stories of Tolkien's world to fill out his <i>movie-space</i>. Just like a storyteller of old would have borrowed from a tradition at large to expand a story for an eager audience -- and to earn himself a couple extra drinks.<br />
<br />
It's something that students in my folklore courses always have some
trouble grasping: the fluidity of folkloric texts. But it's also something that makes it possible for me
to enjoy a movie based on a book -- assuming that the director managed
to show what I saw in that story.<br />
<br />
<i>And it's a tall order.</i><br />
<i><br />
LOTR the Book</i> and Jackson's movie are the <i>Same Story</i> -- but told by
different storytellers. I can handle that -- after all, I spent months
and months as a graduate student reading variants of the same songs as told by different
singers and collected by different collectors. <br />
<br />
Repetitive? Yes and no.<br />
<br />
The differences emphasize what both storytellers and listeners (viewers, readers) considered important. The LOTR movie trilogy wouldn't have been so successful if it hadn't hit on the high points of Tolkien's mythology, on what resonated with today's audience.<br />
<br />
The similarities between the different tellings reveal the bare skeleton, the pure core of the story. And that is what we want to hear, that is what we don't ever want to change. That is what echoes throughout all cultures and throughout the world.<br />
<br />
Because that skeleton is elementally human. And that, in the end, is why we love Tolkien.Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-78995802413507231292011-08-01T21:30:00.006-05:002011-08-01T22:31:28.341-05:00A review! A review!Linda Black wrote a delightful children's book titled <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Adventures of Boots: The Giant Snowball </span>and I was asked to the the illustrations as one of the Willow Moon Publishing artists. And now it has received a <a href="http://marandarussell.com/2011/07/13/the-adventures-of-boots-the-giant-snowball-review">glowing review</a>.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">I must say it was fun work. Which doesn't mean it was shake-a-finger-at-it-easy, that wouldn't have been interesting</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcZzzatYKmf1QTq31Jmj6ZArJpeAKGqZUn6d2zID8HMk4pxFMMjhBVJsBr1gP9r-0K9i97_55AAmUs-v1y9gzqtbl9m38DaUABt-D-XXkeednfU6oRlNaW6VV_z96yxkCwbG4LgHGG6k/s1600/Harry-bSM.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcZzzatYKmf1QTq31Jmj6ZArJpeAKGqZUn6d2zID8HMk4pxFMMjhBVJsBr1gP9r-0K9i97_55AAmUs-v1y9gzqtbl9m38DaUABt-D-XXkeednfU6oRlNaW6VV_z96yxkCwbG4LgHGG6k/s320/Harry-bSM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636093494042716850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">No, it really was fun. Before I started work on Linda's book, I hadn't done much in the way of toony images. I tended to lean toward the serious, realistic, and sometimes grave.<br /><br />But with Boots, it had to be playful and childlike. And so I discovered and learned a lot of new skills and new ways of looking at things while I worked on <span style="font-style: italic;">Boots</span>.<br /><br />Thank you, Linda, for the opp</span><span style="font-size:100%;">ortunity.<br /><br />Now I have a whole new world to play in.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISAzq4D3Z7XvZwygWwG8j_WphRRMkq1IFtBWlbYj9MAk0_pNPKfGjZt497Us2qDHYI39EFQ8sVtMFJgz92LGI3EjpSW1dluKAQ8g6REleOA_uov-1MLzxKuNO6Pt9qdjuK-Y_CEeBQl8/s1600/Repka.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISAzq4D3Z7XvZwygWwG8j_WphRRMkq1IFtBWlbYj9MAk0_pNPKfGjZt497Us2qDHYI39EFQ8sVtMFJgz92LGI3EjpSW1dluKAQ8g6REleOA_uov-1MLzxKuNO6Pt9qdjuK-Y_CEeBQl8/s320/Repka.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636094831103577506" border="0" /></a>Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-59806160655480435762011-07-08T19:11:00.000-05:002011-07-08T19:11:37.476-05:00Savvy Authors - The Art of Storytelling by Masha HollI'm making an appearance at Savvy Authors today, talking abut story as always. And myths and legends and heroes of yore... My usual stuff.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/content.php?1254-The-Art-of-Storytelling-by-Masha-Holl">Savvy Authors - The Art of Storytelling by Masha Holl</a>Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-33044787384017175892011-06-13T22:06:00.002-05:002011-06-13T22:16:28.483-05:00A Small GestureNice things people do... and a <a href="http://www.customerthink.com/blog/in_customer_service_power_responsibility">blog post here</a> reminded me of another unusual act by a random big-city person, that time in Paris (yes, indeed, France).<br /><br />I must have been coming back from classes at University, else why would I have been trudging through the streets at rush hour, with a heavy book bag and dressed in nice clothes?<br /><br />It was in my own neighborhood, so I tended to navigate by radar, and I stepped off the curb to cross a busy street... Out went an arm and blocked my way.<br /><br />Just in time to prevent me from being run over by one of the ever-speeding Parisian drivers.<br /><br />I don't remember who the fellow pedestrian was. A man, anonymous -- even in my own neighborhood I hardly knew anyone. There were just too many people, and too many people moving in and out, even stores changing owners much too often. A man who was paying attention and who cared enough to stop me from becoming just another casualty.<br /><br />There were a lot of us waiting at the light to cross the street. A lot of people surrounding me, but only one noticed my absentmindedness. Whoever you were, you haven't been forgotten, and your kindness has been retold now and again as proof that people are essentially nice and caring.<br /><br />It's not like I was a little girl, or a stunning beauty, or remarkable in any way. No, we just happened to be side-by-side. It was a small gesture on his part. He may not remember that day, but I do. Very much so.<br /><br />And when I can, I try to pass it on. Because it was such a nice thing to do.Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-65036360005050296432011-06-04T09:06:00.003-05:002011-06-07T07:43:22.497-05:00Folktales and TraditionWe don't grow up much on traditional tales anymore.<br /><br />The old standbys, Goldilocks, Snow-White, Sleeping Beauty, we know them better from cartoons than from the actual, original stories. A lot is lost in the translation from Traditional Storytelling to modern rendition. The folklorist in me, who favors the old tales and ancient epics, laments the loss.<br /><br />The folklorist in me also looks at the "new versions" and realizes that a new Tradition is being created for a new era, where reading, and especially reading for leisure, is taken for granted; where one doesn't need to travel miles and miles to see a show, but can call it up on one's TV at the press of a button.<br /><br />It is bad or good? Better or worse? A folklorist doesn't pass judgment. It's for politicians and social activists. A folklorist observes: this is how it is. A folklorist may comment on the changes and the rise of new traditions, but a folklorist doesn't pass judgment.<br /><br />How about the <span style="font-style: italic;">person </span>who is also a folklorist? That <span style="font-style: italic;">person </span>cannot be fully objective. Writers know that the emotional response will determine the choice of words, of rhythm, of other writing strategies that are mostly unconscious, even in non-fiction and in the spoken word.<br /><br />Me, I prefer traditional tales. I teach about them, I share them whenever I can. It's my thing. However, I don't see the modernized versions as the product of evil manipulation. Like the old tales, the modern, televised, comic-ized, cartoonized tales based on old stories, are a Tradition in that is it shared by a group of people, and the sharing creates a bond of familiarity. It's not the village square anymore, where the Minstrel stops to sing about Saint George and the dragon.<br /><br />It's TV, and then Social Media, and the function of the tale remains: to define a group, a community, those who are in the know and those who are not.<br /><br />Consider this: an immigrant into the United States today will not feel truly at home in the larger American society until he becomes familiar with icons of pop culture. <span style="font-style: italic;">Not a fan</span>, just familiar.<br /><br />Everybody knows Bugs Bunny. And Disney. And if you're completely unaware of these two (as an example), then you will miss out on a lot of hints, references, and especially humor.<br /><br />And that is Tradition: things that define a group and unifies it.Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-51943660584445008372011-06-01T11:30:00.001-05:002011-06-07T07:44:40.511-05:00It's not all fun and games in computer artIf you keep making corrections on a paper-and-pen drawing, you can end up with an eraser-rubbed hole. Or a mess of a dark smudge. Either way, you crumple up your paper and start over, because obviously, you weren't getting anywhere.<br /><br />You'd think you'd be immune to this with computer art. Piece by piece, you can create the components of an image, like a collage (whichever way to go about creating these pieces, and that's not the point of today's post). And then you can put together the disparate elements, move here, tweak there, adjust elsewhere... Correct the angle of the light, and the reflection, and...<br /><br />You'd think it gets easy once you have everything in place and all you have to do is a final render, and then take a look at the finished image in a "normal" format such as JPG or PNG or some other ordinary image format.<br /><br />And you'd be wrong. You may not know it, but your computer is plotting against you. It's already damaged your "paper" and worn down your "pencil" so when you hit <save>, what you get is a jumbled mess.<br /><br />Can you control this? Oh yes. It's a skill, just like using a pencil that's sharpened enough, but not too much. Applying pressure, but without marking the paper until the next three sheets in the pad become unusable.<br /><br />And the conclusion? Not much. My image got scrapped.<br /><br />So I'm back to the cartoony illustrations of Russian tales. One in the pipeline and almost ready for publication, and a few more to go to make a dozen.<br /><br />Take a sneak peak at the <span style="font-style: italic;">Tale of the Turnip</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIAeVCaXQ7dVgWYK-w-K9pfo1PWs3d6-xu-z_Tnu8VYJmgWxFxu3m1alZ6_s3fDOqqeGaCJgrgP0p3OEG-p2dP_8eIVWICqGGeE55siMWKKJh8eqRdEv1mWRlnjUiobvIgRMfvP3eO9M/s1600/Repka.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIAeVCaXQ7dVgWYK-w-K9pfo1PWs3d6-xu-z_Tnu8VYJmgWxFxu3m1alZ6_s3fDOqqeGaCJgrgP0p3OEG-p2dP_8eIVWICqGGeE55siMWKKJh8eqRdEv1mWRlnjUiobvIgRMfvP3eO9M/s320/Repka.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613488498680098226" border="0" /></a><br /></save>Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-18342907031706412412011-05-31T22:38:00.003-05:002011-06-07T07:45:22.697-05:00Show&Tell Workshop Starts FridayI've been having lots of fun doing workshops for <a href="http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/content.php">Savvy Authors</a>. Friday, I'm starting my next one, on <a href="http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=721">Showing and Telling</a>. As always, I try to make it both lecture-full and hands-on, so that every attendant can get something out of it.<br /><br />And yes, when I say hands-on, I do mean I respond to all posts, and I do go over the assignments, and if you join in and wish to challenge me, I'm always game. I don't grade, I don't judge, and I don't assess. I do, however, suggest what I think could help you given my experience as writer, teacher, and literary scholar.<br /><br />But mostly, I have <span style="font-style: italic;">FUN</span>. I love workshops. I started them because I missed the in-class time I had with my college students. But at the same time, online and out of the formal university structure, I have the freedom to teach and share whatever I want -- you're the judges of whether it's good or not.<br /><br />So if you're like me, and you've been puzzled by the advice to "show, don't tell," check out my workshop.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Because why do you think it started out to begin with?</span><br /><br />I needed to put the information into order, and what better way than to attempt to explain it to someone else. If you can make sense of it (whatever it is) so that a third person can grasp the essence of the problem, then you know you understand it yourself.<br /><br />Teaching is the best of learning. And I've taught this workshop more than once. But you know what? Teaching it is like taking a refresher. Knowing and understanding the ins and outs of Showing, Not Telling is not enough. You have to practice it constantly and consistently to truly master it.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />... Now I have to remember ALL the OTHER details of writing a story. Like sentence structure. And avoiding pot... I mean, <span style="font-style: italic;">plot </span>holes...</span>Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-84493941304551992692011-04-21T23:06:00.004-05:002011-06-07T07:46:22.774-05:00A New Design CollectionI discovered the Power of Cute....<br /><br />Well, actually, I discovered the right cuties. I already knew that Cute had The Power.<br /><br />So now I can't stop trying to create more and more images of cute Folktale illustrations in Cute Style.<br /><br />What is it? Something like this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWsQVbLewxE9fV0r_bqkWoeEy4o0Mih7kbTQ6mnr5QyoqZ2vpd-ngWtCqSQgNbPnOoT2aKnSVt84yF9_k4n48G2HJMTIKTqil6rgD47yiOf9iO8SqiaPCzsiHbDcR8A9yEf1Hc2VKCxw/s1600/Teremok-THB.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWsQVbLewxE9fV0r_bqkWoeEy4o0Mih7kbTQ6mnr5QyoqZ2vpd-ngWtCqSQgNbPnOoT2aKnSVt84yF9_k4n48G2HJMTIKTqil6rgD47yiOf9iO8SqiaPCzsiHbDcR8A9yEf1Hc2VKCxw/s400/Teremok-THB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598255358834214034" border="0" /></a><br />This is just a fragment of the whole image. It is from "Teremok: The Animals' Palace", a design that's coming soon to <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/surochek*">my store at Zazzle</a>. A few others are already up, cards and a mug, and accessories.<br /><br />With Zazzle, you can use most of my designs on products I don't showcase. There's a lot of leeway in how you can personalize a product to your needs and taste -- and I don't get slighted in the process!<br /><br />If you want something you don't see, please ask! I'm always looking for ideas.Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-44049019462092052822011-03-07T07:49:00.002-06:002011-03-07T08:07:32.524-06:00Long Time No SeeI disappeared again... February was another crazy month... I don't remember why. Could be a sign.<br /><br />And I'm back doing another workshop, this one for <a href="http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/content.php">Savvy Authors</a>.<br /><br />There are more upcoming workshops. Check out the announcements at <a href="http://ottercreations.com">Otter Creations</a>.<br /><br />In other news, the <a href="http://mashaholl.com/wordpress/?page_id=135">Graphic Novel</a> has been updated.Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-81441239778358661162011-01-30T21:44:00.004-06:002011-01-30T22:02:51.487-06:00What's New?Tomorrow (Monday, January 31), I start a new workshop at the <a href="http://www.bdrwa.com/" target="_blank">Black Diamonds RWA</a> Chapter.<br /><br />It's all about the ancient art of storytelling (and like Sheherazade will teach you,<span style="font-style: italic;"> that's</span> the art which indeed is the oldest one, for without storytelling skills, all her other arts and enchantments wouldn't have saved her).<br /><br />I have more workshops scheduled here and there throughout the year. Check out my schedule at <a href="http://ottercreations.com/" target="_blank">Otter Creations</a>.<br /><br />In the meantime, I'm still working on my Graphic Novel, <span style="font-style: italic;">which still doesn't have a title</span>. And yes, that's a hint. <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Help???</span> You can take a look at it <a href="http://mashaholl.com/wordpress/?page_id=135" target="_blank">here</a>. And if you have been following it and you want to go straight to the updates, or just to make sure you <span style="font-style: italic;">are </span>up to date, you can check it out <a href="http://mashaholl.com/wordpress/?page_id=166" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />And there are <a href="http://mashaholl.com/wordpress/?page_id=180" target="_blank">pictures of the main characters</a> up in the gallery, too. Just the good guys for now, but I'm trying to get snapshots of everyone else.<br /><br />There are a few new images in the <a href="http://mashaholl.com/wordpress/?page_id=152" target="_blank">Art Gallery</a>, too. And samples of the book covers I've started making at <a href="http://mashaholl.com/ottercreations/wordpress/?page_id=233" target="_blank">Otter Creations</a>.<br /><br />Am I writing? Yes. But slowly. Life takes up a lot of mental energy, and words don't always want to line up for me. Images seem to work better. So I'm not going to jinx it all by saying anything... But my storypeople are knocking at my door again.<br /><br />If they can wake me up, they're more than welcome to come in.Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-66237297420062240272011-01-07T20:15:00.004-06:002011-06-07T07:47:13.402-05:00Russian ChristmasJanuary 7th, in case you didn't look at today's date.<br /><br />Christmas Day according to the Julian calendar. In our hybrid household, we celebrated the day as we have since the beginning.<br /><br />Many Eastern Orthodox countries have switched entirely to the Gregorian calendar and celebrate religious holidays at the same time as Western Christians, but a few, like the Russian Orthodox Church, hold fast to old traditions (or maybe habits) and continue to mark the feasts according to the Julian calendar, 13 days later.<br /><br />I'm not going to try and explain who is right and who is wrong, and what the mathematical underpinnings of either calendar are -- for one thing, anyone who knows me also knows that I have issues with numbers. It's good enough that I remember there's a +13 conversion from Gregorian to Julian. Besides, it's easy to find out more on the subject.<br /><br />Now Easter is another story altogether, and another one I'm not going to talk about now.<br /><br />Anyway, we put up our Christmas tree around Thanksgiving, like most people, but we keep it at least through January 7th, usually through the 10th, because according to Russian tradition, all major (religious) holidays are celebrated 3 days.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><br />С Рождеством Христовым!</span>Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-16655087715664095762011-01-07T15:05:00.001-06:002011-06-07T07:47:42.259-05:00More Story: Graphic Novel Updates<a href="http://mashaholl.com/wordpress/?page_id=166">Most current pages here.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://mashaholl.com/wordpress/?page_id=135">Or start from the beginning.</a>Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-29772117092436835652011-01-04T20:02:00.004-06:002011-06-07T07:49:00.324-05:00Check it OutRemember the book I reviewed before the holidays?<br /><br /><a href="http://alienplaces.blogspot.com/2010/12/book-review-hot-read.html">This one.</a><br /><br />Well, it's out. You can get it at Amazon.<br /><br /><script charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822/US/ottercreat-20/8001/2c172047-65a3-421d-9f01-08ae76c198c9"> </script> <noscript><a href="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fottercreat-20%2F8001%2F2c172047-65a3-421d-9f01-08ae76c198c9&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</a></noscript><br /><br />If you have any doubts, check out my review. Or head out to <a href="http://delilahdevlin.com/">Delilah Devlin's home page</a> and see what she's heard other readers say about it.Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-64444615124106804162011-01-01T20:43:00.002-06:002011-01-01T21:26:33.646-06:00Happy New YearSo it's 2011. Of course, my fingers are reluctant to type the new number. But for some reason, it looks better than last year's numerals.<br /><br />Don't mind me. I have a very strange relationship with numbers.<br /><br />The year, however, has started with a nice number: 4.<br /><br />Not much you say? But it's a good number to brag about, because it's the number of my pictures that were accepted in the <a href="http://www.daz3d.com/i/galleries/0?_m=d">art galleries at DAZ</a>.<br /><br />Here's one.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www-cache.daz3d.com/sections/galleries/artwork/387/56969M.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 386px; height: 500px;" src="http://www-cache.daz3d.com/sections/galleries/artwork/387/56969M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />There are more images, and more still to come, in the <a href="http://mashaholl.com/wordpress/?page_id=152">gallery on my site</a>, including some of this month's winners.<br /><br />I think that's a very nice way to start the year.Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-71947752737348940332010-12-28T23:45:00.002-06:002010-12-28T23:53:31.207-06:00I'm back!My sites, that is.<br /><br />I'm not sure whether I resolved the issue, or finally waited long enough, or it resolved itself (whatever it was), or if something was actually done at the server level while I wasn't looking...<br /><br />The fact is, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I'm back!</span><br /><br />Some of the features of my old site are slow to return, but it's because I meant to edit them anyway. I'm not going to put back into my gallery my first attempts at 3D art. But I'm adding some new ones!<br /><br />The Art Gallery is now an integral part of the site at <a href="http://mashaholl.com">MashaHoll.com</a> and I'm moving the rest of my graphic novel there too. Which, by the way, <a href="http://mashaholl.com/wordpress/?page_id=135">has been updated</a>.<br /><br />Mind you, I'm still working my way through the intricacies of a brand new mode of storytelling. I'm not going to ask for any slack, but I will welcome helpful comments and critiques. If you just don't like it, fine. Don't read it. But if you think you know how I could improve it, I'd appreciate a hint or two.<br /><br />And I <span style="font-style: italic;">still </span>don't have a title for it. <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Graphic Novel</span> just won't do forever.Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-89295817672083244352010-12-20T23:20:00.002-06:002010-12-20T23:23:25.729-06:00Book Review: Hot Read!<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:130%;">Ravished by a Viking</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER">a novel by <a href="http://delilahdevlin.com">Delilah Devlin</a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER">Coming soon from Berkeley Books</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Clash of cultures, clash of myths, clash of powerful personalities: it should be easy to review <i><span style="text-decoration: none;">Ravished by a Viking</span></i>, a novel of erotic science fiction by Delilah Devlin. After all, how many authors can bring out on paper the excitement and more-than-willing suspension of disbelief that old fashioned adventure stories once brought us?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A kidnapped brother. A battle of wills between a ship's captain and a planetary warlord. On one side, human colonists toughened by the harsh environment they've mastered, and who still praise and reward sheer physical strength. On the other, a galactic empire used to relying on the power of energy weapons and science.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And in the middle, our heroes. Men, women, wills and desires. Dagr, Clan-leader of the Wolfskins, who only looks like an unpolished barbarian. And Honora Turgay, who loses her ship to the Viking leader, but never surrenders her determination.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>Ravished by a Viking</i> is a myth come to life, but it's also the story of two people: adventure, passion, discovery, transformation. All of Delilah's scenes burn with energy, whether she writes believable, exciting, and heart-pounding action scenes, or scorching, breath-stealing, and enviable sexual encounters. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Yes, it should be easy to review one of Delilah Devlin's stories, because each one of the delivers the promise of a great read, abundant humor, and larger-than-life characters. Delilah is a born storyteller, and knows how to build the tension on all levels, entwining sensual conquest with a growing friendship between the main characters, slowly turning what could become redundant sniping into clever flirting. And most importantly, she always surprises the reader – and sometimes the characters themselves.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">But a reviewer should also announce to the reader what to expect beyond the open cover. Is it a romance? Of course, and I'll say no more. But that would leave out the cleverly built and logical world of space-travel and alien societies her characters inhabit.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Is is science fiction? Of course. We have space-travel and ancient civilizations and the kind of questions science-fiction authors like to ask. But that would leave out the intense relationships between the characters.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Is it erotica? Oh yes, with scenes as hot and intense as Delilah can write, as charged emotionally as they are physically, it has to be. But that would leave out the character development and the world building and the tight plotting.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Yes, it was hard to write a review of <i>Ravished by a Viking</i> when the story speaks for itself you're ready to re-read rather than write about it. But if I didn't, you wouldn't hear about it, and you'd miss a wonderful, action-packed, emotional roller-coaster of a read.</p>Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-15833970733408781422010-12-10T20:36:00.003-06:002010-12-18T23:27:54.340-06:00Another Borshch marathonI made <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Borshch </span></span>again and I made my family happy.<br /><br />Over the years, I've translated our family <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Borshch </span>recipe. I've posted it. I've used it to illustrate lectures in my folklore course. I've ranted about it. And of course, I've cooked it innumerable times.<br /><br />My own recipe has at least 4 variations.<br /><br />It's the quintessential recipe of the Russian cook. However faithfully you follow your teacher's instructions (whoever your teacher may be -- grandmother, mother, aunt, cousin, friend, even cookbook) it will never taste the same as the original. It's one of those country recipes that take on the spirit of the cook and reflect the cook's qualities in the flavor and the body.<br /><br />Don't ask me what it means. Taste someone's <span style="font-style: italic;">Borshch </span>and learn from them, and then try to duplicate it. Right away, it will be <span style="font-style: italic;">Borshch </span>(not <span style="font-style: italic;">borsht</span>), but it will be yours, not the original.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Why?</span> I don't know.<br /><br />Maybe because chopping the onions into 3mm chunks instead of 4mm chunks makes a difference. Or not. Because I've substituted potatoes for beans and back again, depending on my mood and what was in the pantry -- and it was still <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">MY </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Borshch</span> (not <span style="font-weight: bold;">borsht</span>), unmistakably, and I choose the meat according to what looks best in the meat department, not by name or price. It's usually a roast, though.<br /><br />This is the magic of traditional recipes.<br /><br />They're fluid, none any more right than others, but some are still "righter" than others.<br /><br />No, I'm not posting the recipe here. Maybe, once I finally (<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">SIGH</span>) solve my site issues the recipe will appear there once again (shortly, so be on the lookout), but I won't leave it on my blog.<br /><br />It's MINE. <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >MINE</span>, I'm telling you.<br /><br />I'd rather feed you than tell you. I'd rather teach you and show you, than tell you and leave it to languish in the archives of a blog.<br /><br />A traditional recipe is a living thing.Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-42700422618245243082010-12-07T22:18:00.003-06:002010-12-18T23:26:44.060-06:00Picture the SeasonI don't know about the Christmas spirit, but I definitely get into the Christmas colors. So I decided to add to it.<br /><br />The thing is, unless it's seriously traditional (and you should ask a folklorist raised on old tales, legends, and centuries-old recipes what traditional means), a lot about modern Christmas is just silly. And when<span style="font-style: italic;"> Santa's Elves</span> get into mischief... well...<br /><br />Check out this card. It's available at Zazzle (link below), singly or in packs. I have more gifts available at <a href="http://zazzle.com/surochek*">Zazzle</a> and at <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/russianfolklore">CafePress</a>. Heh. Just have a look. I'll never know whether you do or not. Anonymous shopping is the word!<br /><div style="text-align: center; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/christmas_mischief_card-137183229413193811?rf=238335919282707511"><img src="http://rlv.zcache.com/christmas_mischief_card-p1371832294131938118h2w_325.jpg" alt="Christmas Mischief card" style="border: 0pt none;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/christmas_mischief_card-137183229413193811?rf=238335919282707511">Christmas Mischief</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/surochek*">surochek</a><br /><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom/notecards?rf=238335919282707511">Make note cards</a> on Zazzle</div>Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-44065450657835605612010-11-30T11:22:00.005-06:002010-12-18T23:25:32.722-06:00Site Troubles<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">NOTE: Graphic Novel pages added! Check out the sidebar!</span><br /><br />You may have noticed that my sites are down. I'm working on it.<br /><br />In the meantime, I'm still here and there, like Facebook and this blog, and I'm still at the computer behind the scenes.<br /><br />Since I have no idea when the Graphic Novel section of my site will be running again, I'll start posting episodes here as soon as I produce them. Of course, that too was slightly delayed by the website hiccup.Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-89514960818878687152010-11-12T21:21:00.004-06:002010-12-18T23:24:54.405-06:00Puppy BlissI always fantasized of writing with a dog at my feet.<br /><br />Why?<br /><br />I have no idea. It's just one of those images you have that represent something close to perfection.<br /><br />A sleeping dog more or less at my feet, and me working steadily at my computer.<br /><br />Well, tonight, for a moment at least, my dream is realized. Exhausted by his play, Percy the Puppy crashed two feet away from my chair and is sleeping the sleep of the innocent while I work at my countless little writing projects. What's more, I'm having a glass of wine, my second child is happily watching TV at an acceptable volume, my elderly mother has retired, my husband is home and reading -- the vibes in the house are peaceful and relaxed. Everybody is self-contained and satisfied.<br /><br />(The oldest is out doing her Friday night thing after giving us an update on her plans to keep us relaxed and happy. She's a good kid.)<br /><br />Nights like this are rare. Nights like this with a relaxed, sleeping puppy, blissful at the feet of his human Alpha are even rarer. Nights like this are what happiness is made of.<br /><br />It's not the big achievements -- that's exhilaration. It feels good, but it's not happiness. It's the little moments. The puppy sleeping and twitching in his dreams, collapsed in exhaustion right on top of the soda carton he's shredded into microscopic bits.Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-61037363830205665332010-11-11T22:38:00.003-06:002010-12-18T23:23:44.791-06:00Free Read ContinuedToday is the day when I wish I could just write a WordPress plugin from scratch all by myself. Of course, I'd need a little (just a tiny bit, yeah, sure) more knowledge, and lots more free thinking time... But still.<br /><br />I have already have issues with my Webcomic site, and I don't seem to be the only one.<br /><br />But I have updates!<br /><br />So I'll post the next few pages here until the WordPress + Webcomic issues are resolved.<br /><br />Read on...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAtPOlnMNt9YjrhZb7nykqU-IcfFBSwpTJna9PxHjyFsYBL-U5JkuHJp8S5gGZ43xXapBx_kFd58k6YiJPsvzMxa66KUiG_S2hyphenhyphenytsnvQJrH4nQRtGdaWEtw61MtoBqjfK2lkE5Gaci4/s1600/Page1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAtPOlnMNt9YjrhZb7nykqU-IcfFBSwpTJna9PxHjyFsYBL-U5JkuHJp8S5gGZ43xXapBx_kFd58k6YiJPsvzMxa66KUiG_S2hyphenhyphenytsnvQJrH4nQRtGdaWEtw61MtoBqjfK2lkE5Gaci4/s400/Page1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538518947779880578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1abb-Dyz0r0qE6LxBiN0GD6gZ5oYHEy_GwicX3LONK0LCanW_eV0o45HsCKYVkP3zkJICFX-eSw44EMyVPIhLq9nNxIZA6c3LUQpblrppTtcf2bLPoPewpbVdhfVCQyC4pxNsWnHflOE/s1600/Page2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1abb-Dyz0r0qE6LxBiN0GD6gZ5oYHEy_GwicX3LONK0LCanW_eV0o45HsCKYVkP3zkJICFX-eSw44EMyVPIhLq9nNxIZA6c3LUQpblrppTtcf2bLPoPewpbVdhfVCQyC4pxNsWnHflOE/s400/Page2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538518953663134674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAR1epxl6S2zuxUhpvcrvmV9rJ9F36HuY_dc_EGdIManAUKbu2gy_oia3sr2-_Sxz7SNl06JL7VQVzFZdlj-bz6ZciEmnCBP_yPKVN146Vm428_YvrK4wvX2igMSdluzRZmCWJ38Y_tc/s1600/Page3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAR1epxl6S2zuxUhpvcrvmV9rJ9F36HuY_dc_EGdIManAUKbu2gy_oia3sr2-_Sxz7SNl06JL7VQVzFZdlj-bz6ZciEmnCBP_yPKVN146Vm428_YvrK4wvX2igMSdluzRZmCWJ38Y_tc/s400/Page3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538518950724382706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrT3gsDbu8ilFglXgYHlA3x7yyIoKpib590QEIT_wAMmRJ-ASQ_URwzVuVaaiwZCkXf9s8kCA6mfwDN3HkLPDtpjwIxsXLPrmUVUYxyKKEOXgIflA8KFbQiR3Olu4fDt87dgcMkILP2KA/s1600/Page4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrT3gsDbu8ilFglXgYHlA3x7yyIoKpib590QEIT_wAMmRJ-ASQ_URwzVuVaaiwZCkXf9s8kCA6mfwDN3HkLPDtpjwIxsXLPrmUVUYxyKKEOXgIflA8KFbQiR3Olu4fDt87dgcMkILP2KA/s400/Page4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538518956758112482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUFmgT81utELrpSMtpx2m6AXaIKXbaQV10ssktxHHeeNfICEF1otl1Zmfymj8W8Mbw71VpaMY_Kd7SGZXX0gk1wbryy8NTdC8PmewiuwVtlLrUPfDQ1D1oO4N7DDfwf2UzyO26rpMGhE/s1600/Page5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUFmgT81utELrpSMtpx2m6AXaIKXbaQV10ssktxHHeeNfICEF1otl1Zmfymj8W8Mbw71VpaMY_Kd7SGZXX0gk1wbryy8NTdC8PmewiuwVtlLrUPfDQ1D1oO4N7DDfwf2UzyO26rpMGhE/s400/Page5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538518955305091762" border="0" /></a>Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-14162867091607974572010-10-28T20:34:00.008-05:002010-12-18T23:23:09.570-06:00New Site... Free ReadYes, yes, another site... But this time, I haven't tweaked the layout or the design... yet.<br /><br />It's all about content.<br /><br />It's all about a WEB COMIC.<br /><br />Or would that be a WEB EPIC? You be the judge.<br /><br />The problem is, it doesn't have a title yet. So check out how it all starts and leave me a comment.<br /><br />For the actual, comic-like sequential (still) art, <a href="http://mashaholl.com/comics/wordpress/">check it out here</a>.<br /><br />Or you can watch the trailer-like Prologue.<br /><br /><object height="332" width="410"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/1Hueyp68n-s?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/1Hueyp68n-s?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="332" width="410"></embed></object>Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-66193009785213944542010-09-15T08:24:00.012-05:002010-12-18T23:22:20.075-06:00New Site Designs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEl6jXwdruVVz__QADwb7GHxrcKjjVSAk5jLImve_Uops4VBlEnmGHkEbTXbKgLLK8u-UWNzJ085ly52msqUpSMWUWpz-HGR9K01xGFrr9cGEuN3zFcQNnnKBVrUTR7ljXaSST2R4rmp0/s1600/OtterHead.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEl6jXwdruVVz__QADwb7GHxrcKjjVSAk5jLImve_Uops4VBlEnmGHkEbTXbKgLLK8u-UWNzJ085ly52msqUpSMWUWpz-HGR9K01xGFrr9cGEuN3zFcQNnnKBVrUTR7ljXaSST2R4rmp0/s320/OtterHead.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517132252860040034" border="0" /></a>I've been working on several new web site designs for Otter Creations. Those won't be for sale, since they're custom designs, but they were fun to create.<br /><br />All the more so as they're all in WordPress 3.1.<br /><br />A bit of a headache to bend it to my will (people who write tutorials assume a lot of knowledge from their readers, and of course their minds <span style="font-style: italic;">never </span>work like mine), but as usual, the reward when it all co<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUEGrWIWlvnjTJ_GdgbVC5-tH_mAyNuzi959HBOvBp75AMPZrbaeidX5u2q8MKVzA6ogIbrM9-hA89ec3LM04ajObbjysGWfm_GR0b-fJWfxhI8KAggr7wk5OPOUDpb4EF_Zxdf_vmok/s1600/header.png"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUEGrWIWlvnjTJ_GdgbVC5-tH_mAyNuzi959HBOvBp75AMPZrbaeidX5u2q8MKVzA6ogIbrM9-hA89ec3LM04ajObbjysGWfm_GR0b-fJWfxhI8KAggr7wk5OPOUDpb4EF_Zxdf_vmok/s320/header.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517139578980884466" border="0" /></a>mes together is worth a little chair dance.<br /><br />The first one is a future blog on the late Hunter S. Thompson -- as writer, not the notorious Hunter S., it's being done enough. I'll let the blog speak for itself when it goes live, I'm only doing the layout and maintenance.<br /><br />Right -- because the minimalist design for this one was done by <a href="http://royaljellyy.com/">Royal Jelly</a>, who also does other graphic arts like T-Shirts and totes and cards.<br /><br /><br />Then I had some fun with my graphic tablet, which I don't use nearly enough. Well, that's going to change.<br /><br />And that has to do with the big computer crash and the new computer acquisition and other geekery. Windows 7 is much more tablet-friendly than XP. I'm still learning the tricks, but it definitely lets me do more and better with the tablet. See me rubbing my hands in glee.<br /><br />So I did some tracing and some font-searching and some layering and some other fun stuff. And there was the dialogue with the "client" (this was another in-house job so to speak, but Otter Creations takes every one of its sites seriously).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlrgHG8B-qjau5R9bgk3kOnjJPB6Mag1h1XOO9AwovzKKHCfp8VFaysvlFHerOqYd7CxY_GpELBD_lnp1xJmUTRVtZmt16Nx31wSVN6XuwuSveXm_HJaXG3SVMbmoHSUKphkrJcz9cG0/s1600/header2.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 117px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlrgHG8B-qjau5R9bgk3kOnjJPB6Mag1h1XOO9AwovzKKHCfp8VFaysvlFHerOqYd7CxY_GpELBD_lnp1xJmUTRVtZmt16Nx31wSVN6XuwuSveXm_HJaXG3SVMbmoHSUKphkrJcz9cG0/s400/header2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517143197125738738" border="0" /></a><br />And finally the update to MashaHoll.com is in the works. Just because I wanted to play. Well, and because updating the site had become a big pain in the... sit-upon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://mashaholl.com/Tests/wordpress/wp-content/themes/MashaHoll_by_Otter/spacebgd2b.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 85%; height: 85%;" src="http://mashaholl.com/Tests/wordpress/wp-content/themes/MashaHoll_by_Otter/spacebgd2b.png" alt="" border="0" /></a>Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-72041064934414047972010-09-13T19:22:00.003-05:002010-12-18T23:21:35.642-06:00Unexpected BenefitsWell, the old computer died, and I've been setting up the new computer. Hence my disappearance.<br /><br />However, all these weeks of geek heaven and new desktop gadgets, new OS and re-installing everything (and I'm not done yet!) didn't prevent me from going on my daily walks with Percy the Puppy.<br /><br />And reaping some unexpected benefits.<br /><br />I knew I had to <span style="font-style: italic;">exercise</span>. Like so many people I hate <span style="font-style: italic;">exercise</span>. I don't hate movement. In fact, I rather enjoy certain types of sports. Give me access to a horse and the leisure to spend time at the stables, and I'll get up before dawn to take advantage of the opportunity.<br /><br />No, really. I've done it. I would do it again.<br /><br />But life gets in the way of the best possible solution, and the ideal <span style="font-style: italic;">exercise </span>is totally impractical.<br /><br />So now I have a puppy. And I walk the puppy.<br /><br />True, I knew that by <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUW5B9XFbBVu5a387Yt1VVcA_Z8aZ6nCK9gq284ZS_nDHbIgVYfGHu-M5Ak5LOMtDYWyDnxlCRvAgGfUAjTYbY0YIxOWMXim1-V2VAKQj1Z2Rx4sPMfaHgdsFOJF-NPJrRYwNzSAhpH0s/s1600/DSC03254.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUW5B9XFbBVu5a387Yt1VVcA_Z8aZ6nCK9gq284ZS_nDHbIgVYfGHu-M5Ak5LOMtDYWyDnxlCRvAgGfUAjTYbY0YIxOWMXim1-V2VAKQj1Z2Rx4sPMfaHgdsFOJF-NPJrRYwNzSAhpH0s/s200/DSC03254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516577117234744386" border="0" /></a>getting -- well, going with the "get a puppy" scheme, I would be signing up for daily walks, at least once-daily, and I was fine with that. After all, I am under doctor's orders to exercise daily (who isn't?).<br /><br />So I expected that I would feel a little better. And that I would make my doctor happy. Nothing much.<br /><br />But there's more involved in walking a puppy than just taking him outside and strolling for 15 minutes. That is, if I want to survive a day until the family gets home with my sanity intact. So 30 to 40mn of daily, energetic walks, more on the weekends, is what I end up doing.<br /><br />The unexpected benefits? Oh, sure, the usual, more energy, more enthusiasm, better overall good-feeling.<br /><br />But there's more. Walking really is a complete exercise. Stay tuned for more about "walking with Percy."Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642118858743017485.post-9009433164350227812010-08-23T07:23:00.000-05:002010-08-23T07:23:00.711-05:00Dog TimeDog time is not human time.<br /><br />Seems obvious?<br /><br />But just stop and think about it. When a dog's life intersects with a human's life, whose time is going to have to give in? A human's or a dog's?<br /><br />To some extent, we can fit a dog's time into a human's time. A dog will sleep at night and play during the day. A dog can learn to eat a human meal times -- after all, an animal will eat when food is available. A dog will learn the patter of his family (or in his perception, his pack's) existence.<br /><br />But while you can teach a child, even a fairly young child, to count off human time by the beats of the clock, a dog's time is only ruled by its needs. There's sleep time and waking time. There's time when he's restless and time when he's hungry. There's time when he needs to relieve himself and time when he's bored. And you can't tell him "in a minute." Or expect him to learn something in lessons of 50mn and lesson-segments of 10mn.<br /><br />It takes however long it takes.<br /><br />It takes a deep breath, a lot of patience, and turning your back on time. And on modern urban life.<br /><br />Life with a puppy is like a daily trek in the great outdoors, even when you're cooped out inside your home for fear of a heatstroke because you don't handle well the summer temperatures. Here's your nature: an animal at your feet, reminding you of a different rhythm of life. Not a schedule, but a rhythm of needs and necessities.Masha Hollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09195882681250127843noreply@blogger.com0