Sunday, December 7, 2008

Holiday gift exchange #6 and minor Sunday tragedies

The gift exchange in Romancelandia continues...


A bit of cartoon explanation: Colin is a very dashing and stylish vampire from Meljean Brook's wonderful Demon Moon. The Ancient is a monstery vampire progenitor from Lara Adrian's fabulous Midnight Breed series.

Are you guys reading the Midnight Breed series? The new one, Veil of Midnight is coming out on December 30 and I can't wait!

Robin Hood debacle
Okay, I SO wanted to like the Robin Hood series! I mean, Richard Armitage is in it! But my husband and I rented the first disc from Netflix, and watched two episodes and OMG, what is up with that guy who plays Robin Hood? He is smirking and smiling the whole time...uh! He ruins the whole show.

By the end of the second episode, I wanted him to hang more than the sheriff did. Does anybody else feel that way? I mean, the guy who plays the sheriff is just wonderful, and of course Richard. But honestly, that Robin makes the show unwatchable for us. We spent a lot of time fantasizing about other actors  playing Robin. Our preference would be the guy who plays Spike on Buffy. Even though he's probably too old now.

www.myembarrassingwebsite.com
Well, I have been working on making an author website for me and my series, the Disillusionists, for like three months. I bought a guide to HTML, I've been lovingly fashioning images, writing and rewriting text, teaching myself these shareware website-making and uploading programs, soliciting advice from my husband's former high school students.

Finally, last night I had it all set and I was like, I'm going live! And when I put it up, oh, it was so insane looking. I won't even give you the url even for a laugh, though I considered it. But I do have some pride. I wanted to start crying. Thanks to the economy, my professional life is in a shambles and I'm severely broke, so I'm not really in a position to hire somebody who actually knows what they are doing, but I may do that now. I got the idea to hire somebody off elance to fix my code and stuff...but oh, I feel so close to having it right! That's the tragedy.

I woke up at 5 am this morning thinking the problem was in a way I arranged the files, and I thought about it for like a half hour, and then I realized it wasn't and went back to sleep. Why am I posting this sad story?

I let down my neighborhood birds.
I'm sorry birds! Please come back! I didn't mean to let the feeder go empty for a week. But now it is full of yummy seeds. Please come back! The cats and I miss you so much.

UPDATE: Wow, I am making progress on my site!  I just have to fix some links and images. It seems like magic that it is actually partly up.   

14 comments:

sula said...

the bird feeder is back! oh yay!

um, random comments...i haven't read Meljean's books yet for no good reason than too busy and too lazy and too poor. I have read one Adrian book and thought it was terribly derivative of BDB and won't make the mistake of reading another (ducks the spitballs).

As for Robin Hood, omg, you are totally right. The whiney scrawny little kid playing his character is annoying and unattractive. But let's face it, who watches that show for him anyways? It is ALL about Richard Armitage's baddy bad guy. mmm.

and now back to writing the research paper that I should have finished two weeks ago. wahh.

Carolyn Crane said...

Sula, sula! Yes, the first was somewhat derivative, but the series has really come into its own!

I'm glad you agree on Robin Hood. Do you think Richard and the Sheriff are all like, WTF like we are? I think I will just have to watch that 'justify my love' video KJ posted last summer (with Richard and Marian) over and over. Do you know it? Good luck on the paper!!

KT Grant said...

I can't wait to see you new site!! And you are quite the artist ;)

Oh Robin is such a shmoe. Give Richard his own show! The only reason people watch Robin Hood is because of Richard. I cannot wait for season 3 to air in the US, even though Richard does need a haircut. I may have to start on my own Richard blanket. I can make one for Kristie also. lol

Kati said...

*pats hand*

I can barely get the bold thing to work when I post on blogger, sweetheart, don't worry. It'll work out. I'm sure one of our rockin' friends might be able to give a little assistance.

You know I read the Adrian series, and loves it.

Carolyn Crane said...

KB: Totally! Give Richard his own show! KB, maybe you could pitch that to NBC. He can be the sexy and misunderstood wrangler of demon sheep...who turn into ladies at night.

Kati: I recently made a breakthrough on the site. I think I'm getting close!!

KT Grant said...

CJ: I was talking to someone at NBC who knows some of the creative VIPs about Richard. So maybe... He can so wrangle me.

Joanna Chambers said...

Poor you with the website and all that! I hope you get it sorted with minimum expense.

That RH show is kind of a kids show really. It's shown in the 'Saturday teatime' slot in Britain - the classic 'shows to watch with your kids' slot. My 11 year old niece thinks they guy who plays Robin is the coolest thing evah. I must admit that I hate the whole show. It's just - well - shit. I remember fondly the days of the old 80s series with Michael Praed (sigh) and the Clannad soundtrack. Fab.

The Sheriff is played by Lily Allen's dad.

Jace said...

I feel very sorry for the Ancient, to be honest. :-( The way he was being treated in the last book was horrible.

I hope the birdies will come back soon!

Good luck with the new website. Can't wait to see it. :-)

Voxy said...

If it makes you feel any better, I believe the guy who is playing Robin Hood will no longerb e doing so after season 3. :) Though how on earth you can continue a show after the title character leaves, I'm not sure! :P

mslizalou said...

Sorry about the website, but glad you are making progress. I originally had lots of trouble with blogger, but I'm starting to figure it out.

I love Lara's books and can't wait for Veil of Midnight.

Glad the birds have food again.

little alys said...

1) Spike will never be too old. Never. >_<
2) Your cartoons rock socks. :D
3) I'd help you with the site, but my friend is actually the expert and he too has been hit by the economy, thus cannot help you for free. Still, I cannot wait to read your books. It's got hot sex, right? ^_~
4) Bird feeder full again! Whee!

Tracy said...

Oh CJ I can't imagine putting up my own website so I admire your tenacity. Hopefully it's working now that you've vented your frustration - that always works for me. I had a hard enough problem with changing blogger - I can't even imagine putting up a whole website! lol Good luck with that - I can hardly wait to see the finished product!!

Kelly McCrady said...

Ooo, ooo, if Robin leaves, maybe they'll make it all about Will Scarlet...

Nah, they can't top Carrie Lofty's telling of Will :-)

I'm with you on the bird feeder re-fill...gotta go do that for my birdies now.

Anonymous said...

Carolyn,

You are my DIY web design hero(ine). It is no accident that html and HELL are basically the same word. I broke down weeping just trying to add some comments code (which came with very clear instructions) on my tumblr blog. Can't wait to see the site. I do know someone who might be able to fix your html if it needs some tweaks.