Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (Page 39 of 77)

Help again... I've been away too long.  I was in the middle of a review for Amy, and I needed to go back to an earlier chapter to verify something. I saved my review before I returned to the earlier chapter thinking that I could return to the saved draft. I couldn't, and had to start over again. So is this possible or what did I do wrong?

Thanks,

Ernie

I have three whole hours…wait…two and half hours to write without ANY children being present. Husband is also elsewhere, going to a convention with his buddies to drink, draw, and have some quality no-baby time.

Best get cracking.

I commit to writing 300 words.

A

OK, New Jersey. You're gonna LOVE this chapter.

Me too. It's on my bucket list.

I've amended my review to answer your question.

You and I are Jack Sprat and his wife.  (I'll let you decide which is which.)  Your strengths are my weaknesses, and vice versa.

And, regarding your review of my chapter, there's a lengthy joke I've a mind to post.

I have other reviews to catch up with, but what the heck, why not make Amy feel more guilty about falling behind with NS. Although, you're forgiven with all the help on the Humphrey's 'medical problems', so you're okay, don't worry!

I don't think I've replied yet to your other question. I had first dibs - so the fingerless gloves are mine, all mine *gruffy voice* I wear it most days now, especially in the afternoon driving home from work - it's colder than in the mornings, so it's in my bag for work permanently. The two (comfy) sleeveless jumpers are working overtime at home. Christian wears the trappers hat a lot - he agrees, don't care what it looks like, it's warm. Funny enough, it suits him. Gustav, who is still wearing shorts and walking around barefoot (I kid you not), wears the green jumper, gloves and scarf when it's really cold (and then it's effing cold, because he's not one that wears lots of clothes). The beanies are lifesavers, as are all the jackets.

We haven't gone looking for snow yet, but at the rate things are cooling down around our valley, we won't have to drive anywhere to play in the white stuff. I'm also taking my laptop home everyday - if weather is bad, non-essential personnel are allowed to work from home or come in late. So far, so good and haven't had one of those yet. Had a few icy mornings, but not much and the roads I use are well traveled meaning most of the sludge is gone by the time I get there. I still drive slower, wet is also slippery. One morning had icicles on the walking path at our office building (about 10ft or so - distance, not depth), so it was crunchy under my boots when I got to work and when I left. That morning was REALLY cold.

I luvvvvvv central heating, especially on those days when the minimum is something like 22F and the maximum 34F. Spoken to my brother over the weekend who informed me, the insensitive cow he is, that his swimming pool's water temperature is 29C . Well, I doubt he'll be complaining to me when summer really starts to get warm ...

But yeah, so far, we are surviving! And lots of thanks to you. xxx

Now, Amy, appropos the pulsating spells on the shaft of Erevain's staff ...

The scene is a schoolroom, a small school from years ago.  It reads best with a Scots burr.

Teacher: Mistress Mary, will you stand up please.

[Mary stands]

Teacher: Now Mary, can you tell me: What part of the human body, when properly stimulated, grows to nine times its normal size?

[Mary blushes]

Teacher: Mary, what part of the human body, when properly stimulated, grows to nine times its normal size?

[Mary looks down at her shoes]

Teacher: Mary, quit your stalling, stand up straight, and answer my question.  What part of the human body, when properly stimulated, grows to nine times its normal size?

[Mary bites her lip and tries to stand straight.]

Teacher: Very well, Mary, you may sit down.  Master Johnny, will you stand up please.

[Johnny stands]

Teacher: Now Master Johnny, let us see if you can answer my question.  What part of the human body, when properly stimulated, grows to nine times its normal size?

Johnny: The pupil of the human eye, when properly stimulated, grows to nine times its normal size.

Teacher:  Very good, Master Johnny.  You may sit down.

Teacher: Mary, I've three things to say to you.  First, you've not done your homework, that much is for certain.  Second, Mary, you've a dirty, dirty mind.  And third ... Mary, I fear you are in for a grave disappointment!

Thanks for the advice! A few people at work have also been giving me training especially keeping an eye on the weather forecast. The kitty litter is a new one! I think the good thing around where I am is that it's mostly ice and not so much snow - if it snows, apparently it's 1-3 inches or so and melts fairly quickly again. Hazards when going slow - got it, I think I'm going to do that a lot.

The areas where snow/ice is prevalent has ice markers that turn blue if there is a chance of ice/snow around here. It even has the 'shape' of a snowflake.

What's really nice is knowing that I can go to work later and wait for daylight if need be to get to work. That helps a lot.

How is your vacation/time-off going? I can't wait, I have two and a half weeks off end of this month. Whoo-hoo. I just need to stop wasting time and get some writing done!

Don't be afraid to put the automatic in low gear so you don't have to brake as much.  Conversely, there may be times when it helps to push the tranny to a higher gear so the drivetrain can't put the same burst of torque on the wheels.
Be aware that (on most cars) only one pair of wheels pulls or pushes.  Both brake.  I've seen someone stopped in the slushy snow with their rear wheels turning even as they were holding the car with the brake and the front wheels.  Front wheel drive has the advantage that the strongest brakes are on the drive wheels, so that shouldn't happen.

With an automatic tranny, you manage the car's energy state by feeding energy in with the accelerator and bleeding it away with the brakes.  The manual allows you more direct control of the car through the engine.  (But the newer, many-geared manumatics change that a little.)

Remember--the ONLY control you have of your car goes through that 100 or so square inches of contact patch.

It's all physics.

Fun link one
Fun link two (simpler)
Fun link funk

Thanks for the info. I'm leaving those links for the weekend though - my brain is fried by the time I get home from work. It's been a busy couple of weeks - had to think at work a bit - harsh working conditions, I tell you!

Oh, one of our cars is a proper 4WD with low range - we knew we might have some trouble, so spend the extra money when we bought cars. The other car is AWD. So hopefully that would help a little bit too.

It wasn't dirty until Amy told you it was.

4WD and AWD can help keep you going, but because you already brake with all four wheels they will help very little in stopping.  Thus they can get you deeper into trouble, and not help you out.

From the romance writer who's determined to look under the monster's tail?  All I have are spells circling an oversized walking-stick.