Crazy hair

Yay for long weekends, as far as my brain is concerned today is Monday.

As those of you who know me are no doubt aware, when it come to dealing with my hair I'm a brush-and-go kinda lass -- I don't even own a hairdryer. My hairdresser looked at me like I was a freak from another planter when she discovered that -- it's not my fault it broke after I defrosted part of the freezer with it (patience is not my middle name) and I wisely decided I didn't want sparks near my hair (I might not fuss much with my hair, but I don't want it burnt to nothing).
So, when I saw these pictures I simply had to post them - my goodness the time involved, and getting your hair to look normal again afterwards!























And since I putting up pictures that completely twist my brain...Music: Daft Punk
Currently reading: 'Dead Beat' by Jim Butcher

Award ceremonies

Uber frustration - no internet all day! Nada, nothing, zip. Fie on you Mr. internet for thwarting my will.

Suffice to to say my internet provider will not be winning any awards - if there are awards to for that sort of thing, which there probably are. There seem to be awards in almost every industry, even New Zealand building contractors have an awards ceremony. This year the awards looked at projects from million dollar bridges to removing a pedigree cow stuck in a boggy ravine. There's even an "Oh Sh*t award", based on people submitting pictures of embarrassing moments in contracting, such as diggers stuck in rivers and tipped rollers. The Oscars it's not :)

And I'm not sure if there's an award to this either, but there should be. The Italian state police have received a customized Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, capable of 325 km/h. I'm betting police around the world are green (or should that be blue) with envy.

And if you're after a bit of buff, Ancient Greek male body, tough and toned - check this out.

Okay, I may have outright lied about body, but the song cracked me up :)

Music: The Chemical Brothers
Currently reading: 'Hunter's Prayer' by Lilith Saintcrow

Actual Vampire Killing Kit

As someone whose first book includes vampires I simply had to post this:
A genuine, antique, vampire killing kit. (It's a legitimate antique being offered at auction by Steven Auctions in Mississippi).
Lot #1553 (description): Rosewood case with mother of pearl cross inlay, pistol, silver bullets in coffin case, Holy water vials, cleaver, prayer book, looking glass & silver occult daggerI think we can all take this as a warning. If there are genuine vampire killing kits, then logic says there must be genuine vampires out there to kill :)

Music: The Clash
Currently reading: 'Night shift' by Lilith Saintcrow

Mapping sin

In my wanderings around the web I came across this: American Vice: Mapping the seven deadly sins. It so intrigued me, I had to share it with you.

They say - "We're gluttons for infographics, and a team at Kansas State just served up a feast: maps of sin created by plotting per-capita stats on things like theft (envy) and STDs (lust). Christian clergy, likely noting the Bible Belt's status as Wrath Central, question the "science." Valid point—or maybe it's just the pride talking."

As a romance writer I thought I would post the 'lust' map. Number of STD cases reported per capita.
On a side note: Writing my last post reminded me about Hopscotch by Rebbecca York, a book I'd forgotten I had till thinking about spies. I couldn't remember reading anything else of hers so I popped out to the library and grabbed a few others. Very pleasant, light Intrigue reads.

music: Chris Isaak
Currently reading: 'The Final Sacrifice' by Patricia Bray
Last book in the trilogy, and it's a re-read so the series gets a thumbs up from me.

Spies

Spies make great novel fodder, mysterious men and women who take us on exciting journeys.

Growing up I loved reading about 'The Saint'. Leslie Charteris may have written his stories in the 1920s & '30s but they're timeless (the movies didn't do the books justice IMO). So when I came across this I couldn't resist: SIS operational officer test for MI6. I got 8/8 and an apply now link - all my reading must have paid off, and of course as a writer I have to know how to keep a story straight in my head. Just a fun little test, not to be taken too seriously :)

Two most Spy-type novel in my collection:
Luck in the Shadows - Lynn Flewelling
When young Alec of Kerry is taken prisoner for a crime he didn’t commit, he is certain that his life is at an end. But one thing he never expected was his cellmate. Spy, rogue, thief, and noble, Seregil of Rhiminee is many things–none of them predictable. And when he offers to take on Alec as his apprentice, things may never be the same for either of them.
I read and re-read this one and its sequels :)


And Paranoia by Joseph Finder
Corporate espionage a go-go. Corporate Security give Adam Cassidy a choice: prison, or become a spy in the headquarters of their chief competitor.



Plus a few romantic suspense authors that have that same element of danger:
Iris Johnsen, Linda Howard, Julie Garwood, & this one that I read years ago and have never been able to throw out: Hopscotch by Rebecca York

Feel free to share your favourite spy stories (books or movies)?

Music: The Pet Shop Boys
Currently reading: 'Nylon Angel' by Marianne de Pierres
This is only my second foray into cyberpunk and so far it's great fun. I'm not sure I'm 100% convinced on the sub-genre, but I do have the second book in this series lined up :)