Daily Archives: February 29, 2008

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Wishing for just one more day?

February 29, 2008 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as Herding Words

Havenâ€™t we all wished for more time? This year weâ€™re lucky, it happens to be a Leap Year and theoretically we all have one more day.

What would you do with one extra day? Would you squander it in your pajamas eating junk food watching a Mike Rowe marathon on the Discovery Channel? Would you use it at the office to catch up on filing? Or would you do something you always wanted to do but never had time for?

My friend Susanne, a leap year baby, is wildly enthusiastic about turning 10 years old today. Iâ€™ve known her for 11 years and sheâ€™s been married for 17.

Speaking of marriage, itâ€™s also Sadie Hawkins Day — the day when it is acceptable to propose marriage according to a tradition started in 5th century Ireland. St. Bridget convinced St. Patrick to allow women to propose on this very day. If the man refused, he was fined either money or a gown. (By the way, St. Bridget proposed to St. Patrick that day; he said no).

For the majority of us, February 29th is simply an extra day we have to work. Even so, February 29th gives us one more day to dream, to laugh, and have just a little more time with the ones we love.

What are you doing with your one extra day?

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A Fantasy Life – Part 6

February 29, 2008 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives

Religion. Every society has some kind of beliefs. Those beliefs fall into two categories: monotheistic and polytheistic. When developing a world, you have to decide which way to go. When I write historicals, it is no problem. The Irish Countess was Catholic. After all she was Irish. In The Kilted Governess, they were Protestants. In Augeas, itâ€™s still up for grabs.

After consulting my plot group, my youngest son, and my critique partner, Debra, I came up with a few ideas. The Ancient Ones and the humans would probably not have the same religion since they are different species that developed at different times. The Ancient Ones, when they die, turn into light and disappear. That came about because my sister told me I couldnâ€™t leave Grandmother dead in the rocking chair on the porch. She had to be buried, but, geez, thatâ€™s a lot of work for one person. I didnâ€™t like the thought of Rayna dragging Grandmother through the dirt, digging a hole and putting her in. It all seemed rather undignified. So, I had her turn to light and poof, no body to bury. Itâ€™s amazing what one can set up by accident.

If the Ancient Ones turn into light, then they must want to reach the light at the end of their journey through life. So they have a philosophy more than a religion. They follow the Path of Enlightenment and at the end, they join the light and become whole with those who went before them.

As with any religion or philosophy, there has to be the evil side. (My son threatened me if I said the Dark Side.) There is always good vs. evil. So what happens if they fall from the Path of Enlightenment? There has to be a penalty. They donâ€™t get to join the light. Then someone has to bury them. Hopefully someone strong enough so they wonâ€™t be dragged through the dirt.

The humans? I still donâ€™t know what they believe in. They have a polytheistic religion, but no one is on a religious quest at the moment, so I have more time to figure it out.

Above is a picture of Andra from the second set of Augeas stories arriving in April.

Art work by Jasmine Tanner – http://veildandy.deviantart.com

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