VICTORY! Tam Kitteh!

On 13 Sep 12 By Rhys FordIn Uncategorized6 Comments

Okay, I’m taking my damned victories where I can get them.

After a week and a half of glucose levels in the upper 400s and 500s for the cat, I woke up at 6:30 in the morning and said, “That goddamn antibiotic he’s taking is syrupy. WTF?”

He’s taking two. Amoxicillin (which is okay) and Baytril, which was given to us in a liquid form..and oral suspension that is supposed to taste like bananas.

Which also is quite sticky and crystalized on the botton of the glass jar we put the syringe in.

I decided that he wasn’t going to get the Baytril this morning and put a call in to the vet to see what the oral suspension base was. The Baytril is a once a day syringe so if it had no effect on the afternoon reading, we’d give it to him later.

His morning glucose level was 432. At 9 am. Given 2 mg of insulin but no Baytril.

His afternoon reading? 105.

This is the first time it’s been even under 200. We are doing a happy dance. The vet’s office had to call the lab to see what the suspension is. We are waiting to hear from them. He’s been on the Baytril for two weeks now and they wanted him on it longer. If he needs it, we’re going to pills.

We’ll do a reading again at 9 pm to see if it was a fluke but so far, it’s a no second insulin shot day.

Fucking A.

I will now return to murdering people on the page and smexing up pretty Asian boys.

Anxieties and Books

On 12 Sep 12 By Rhys FordIn Opinion13 Comments

A strange thing happens on the Release Day of a book. That’s when an author realizes absolutely NOTHING is in their control and they begin full scale flailing.

I’m sitting here at a couple of weeks from Dirty Secret’s release and my mind really isn’t on that day. Instead, it’s on chapter five or six of Dirty Laundry and the incoming edits that will be needed for Sinner’s Gin. I’m also thinking about the plotting of Whiskey and Wry and in a few minutes after I’m done with this post, colouring my hair.

My morning was taken up with making coffee and putting Tam Kitteh through the rigours of his new morning. Blood leeching (which is fricking impossible and he hates being held so that doesn’t help one fucking bit), followed by insulin injection, two antibiotics being squirted in his mouth and a saline IV drip. All for some tuna for breakfast. His levels aren’t coming down but the insulin was just raised. It’s a wonder this cat even comes to me any more. But he does. Because he trusts me that I’ll give him some tuna.

I have a friend coming from Singapore on Friday, a coffee date with a very sweet guy friend this afternoon and dim sum with really good friends tomorrow. I have to clean the house and apparently also wash the dogs since the old dog cannot seem to stop bathing his younger brother…which makes younger brother stink to high heaven. Oh…and let’s not forget worshipping and petting the Neko.

And in the midst of this, I have a book coming out.

The book will hit me probably on the day before its release. That’s pretty much how it goes but honestly, I can’t do anything. I can stress that it’s not good, despite what people who have read it already say. I can stress that no one will buy it. And I can REALLY stress out that reviewers will hate it and I will go down in a flaming pile of brown paper bagged dog poo.

But what really matters in this is that Neko needs loving. No really, she just walked across my keyboard to demand a cuddle. Five pounds of furry diva cannot be denied.

So, anxiety will have to wait. I’ll let you know how I am on the 28th. In the meantime, I’m going to continue to wrap Cole’s brain around a mystery he can’t solve and trot a tight-assed Korean boy named Jae in front of him. But ah, I won’t tell you a DAMNED thing about Whiskey and Wry. ‘Cause I’m evil that way.

Pain and Ink

On 12 Sep 1212 Sep 12 By Rhys FordIn Good News10 Comments

Tattoo is done. Not surprisingly it hurts a little bit right now because you know… tattoo. But it’s done. My Year of the Dragon ink for my birth year. It’s a hapa dragon, done traditional style. A blend of Asian and Western art much like my culture and bloodline.

Off to do more writing.

By the way, my ink was custom designed and inked by Rob Benavides, owner of Flying Panther Tattoo and Gallery

Tonight’s Dinner: Crab Carbonara

On 09 Sep 12 By Rhys FordIn Food2 Comments

Tonight’s dinner is a sorta carbonara with crab and bacon. Sautee onions and garlic in butter, add crab and bacon, italian seasonings and then parmesan cheese. Some people add lemon and parsley. I sometimes make it with a ricotta sauce. Tonight, it’s a lighter sauce. Well more of a topping for pasta. Toss it all together if you want and serve. Or you can pile it on top of the pasta and just eat. Whichever you feel like.

Sinner’s Gin to be Published!

On 07 Sep 12 By Rhys FordIn Good News18 Comments

Dreamspinner has graciously accepted Sinner’s Gin for a December/January release. Reece Notley *winks* will be doing the cover. I’ll be posting it here once I get my crap together this weekend and pull things together.

WOOOOOT BABY! No pressure. Just another series. *winks*

Tonight’s Dinner: Salmon Patties

On 07 Sep 12 By Rhys FordIn Food2 Comments

Now my mother grew up poor, a child of cane field labourers in Hawai’i. It’s not a bad life but it is one of sacrifices made by families and stretching of food to feed a huge family. It also means growing up around a diverse cultural mix, which then of course means different types of foods. I’m not sure where this one came from but it was a standard in my mom’s kitchen. We all make a version of this. Usually it has more egg but can have bread crumbs. It tastes bests with green onions and well, ketchup.

Do NOT JUDGE THE KETCHUP. It’s one of the few things I eat with ketchup. *grins* And of course, rice. *grins*

Canned salmon, green onions, garlic, salt and pepper, beaten eggs and bread crumbs to firm up the patties if you want them to be more patties than omelettes.

Sleep is good.

On 05 Sep 12 By Rhys FordIn Uncategorized4 Comments

I just came back from a four day weekend with a bunch of friends. Much food, music and well lack of sleep happened. I came home and crashed for 12 hours and am about ready to sleep some more. I do however have to begin Chapter Five, which I have but my brain’s not all that into it.

On a Tam Kitteh update, he’s getting fatter and happier. Also, all tuna is his. Just so you all know. With the exception of his nekkid belly, he’s looking well.

Neko however is totally unconcerned. Her care metre is set to -5.

Sinner’s Gin. Sneak Peek 2

On 01 Sep 12 By Rhys FordIn Excerpt7 Comments

Haven’t heard back yet but we’re still within the range of “Do we want this thing Rhys has written” parametres so I’m good. However, I promised another sneek peek of Sinner’s Gin. Hope you enjoy Miki and Kane as much as I loved ~~torturing~~ writing them.

At the very least, I have this done and scribbling away on Dirty Laundry, book three in the Cole McGinnis series.

*dances off and falls into ditch*

Without further ado…or beedo, Sinner’s Gin Sneek Peek.

Continue reading “Sinner’s Gin. Sneak Peek 2” →

Kwon Soon Keun, Korean Drummer

On 01 Sep 12 By Rhys FordIn Music, Opinion6 Comments

Kwon Soon Keun became a worldwide YouTube sensation when someone posted ‘Korean Drummer Steals The Show’ on YouTube several years ago. Here is again, kicking ass and not stopping long enough to take names.

I wanna be this cool.

*From the director of a film about Kwon*

Kwon Soon Keun became a worldwide YouTube sensation when someone posted ‘Korean Drummer Steals The Show’ on YouTube several years ago.
I was so fascinated by his drumming and went on to make a documentary film called ‘A DRUMMER’S PASSION’.

The film was well received by public and it was selected for screenings at 2011 Vancouver Asian Film Festival and 2011 Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival. Mr. Kwon and I were on CP24 and Rogers TV Daytime for interviews and the popularity of the film was so high that we got so much attention despite it is only a short film.

Now, we are planning to make a feature film on Mr. Kwon and he seems happy to get his spotlight back at 71. (He is turning 72 in 2012.)

GDragon: That XX

On 31 Aug 12 By Rhys FordIn Music2 Comments

Sharing new video. Ignore the beeps. You know, Korea’s got some very strict broadcast rules so the “naughty” words are beeped. I share because I love. And well, I’m writing. Boy is hot though.