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When I was a littlie I hated PE ((Physical Education.)) with every fibre of my being. I hated the way the PE teachers yelled at us and made us do things we mostly didn't want to do. I hated being made to compete against the other kids in my class. In PE I would almost always come last the second anything was turned into a race or a competition. I would make no effort because competing stressed me out. I would get out of PE as much as I could. I would conveniently have my period or a note from home explaining why I couldn't take part.
I was also made to feel from a very early age that I was ...
Posted by Justine at 8:33, October 3rd, 2012 under Sport, State of the World, Sydney/Australia |
This comment from Rachel on
my post of the other day:
This is a big issue in the Urban Fantasy genre too. I’ve started more than one series where the MC, despite being thirty-something with a job and developed asskicking abilities, has zero friends and no previous relationships. (Teacher of asskicking? No, conveniently dead just like other parental figures? What about cowor- no there too? Not even other independent psychic investigators? Okay, then. Friends? Okay, okay. Just asking.)
Rachel put her finger on something that drives me nuts in many movies/tv shows/books etc. The mighty arse-kicking protag who is the master of many martial arts but no longer studies any of them. They've had their training montage and now ...
Posted by Justine at 8:00, September 24th, 2012 under Ranting, Sport, Viewing, Whingeing, Writing process |
Sure, they came 3rd with 29 gold, 17 silver, 19 bronze and 65 overall. Given that they're the
22nd most populous country in the world they are clearly performing well above expectations. They are also the
22nd richest country. So, again, well done Great Britain!
However, let us not forget the incredible boost that the home country advantage gives you in the Olympics.
At the Sydney Olympics in 2000 Australia came 4th overall with 16 gold medals, 25 silver, 17 bronze, 58 in total.
For Great Britain to have surpassed Australia's efforts at our home olympics they needed to do three times as well as we did, given that they have three times our population. We are the 52nd most ...
Posted by Justine at 8:13, August 15th, 2012 under Ironical (This is Writ), Sport, State of the World |
As I may have mentioned, once or twice, I recently finished the first draft of my Sekrit Project novel. And, yay verily, I was full of joy. There was dancing. Bouncing. Happiness and even more joy.
After the joy I spent a few days tinkering with it, fixing the egregiously rubbishy bits, adding things that needed adding, moving chapters around. As you do.
Then I sent it off to my wondrous, fabulous, worth-more-than-their-weight-in-mangosteens-and-other-precious-things first readers.
Then I kicked back and watched loads of Olympics and blogged and did many things that have nothing to do with Sekrit Project. And there was more joy.
After a week there was still some joy on account of OLYMPICS OH HOW I LOVE THE OLYMPICS but there ...
Posted by Justine at 12:20, August 8th, 2012 under Praising, Sport, Sydney novel, Writing goals & milestones, Writing process |
So here it is the final day of my blogging every day of July effort and I have succeeded! ((Weekends do not count. No one is online on Saturdays and Sundays. Scientific fact.)) And it was fun. So much fun that I'm going to keep on blogging. Not every day but at least once a week. Turns out I missed it way more than I realised. Missed you commenter types both here and on twitter. I think we had some really cool and interesting conversations over this month and I hope we'll have many more. *hugs blog* *hugs commenters* *cries*
I didn't do all the posts I promised I would. I know. I am badness. But I will do them. In ...
Posted by Justine at 11:57, July 31st, 2012 under Bloggery/Internetty Stuff, RSI, Sport, Sydney novel, Writing life |
As some of you may have noticed I've not been around much online. Sorry! Thank you so much for all the concerned supportive emails. They are much appreciated. (You made me all teary.)
Here's where things stand with me:
The good news: The
original injury that caused me to cut back on blogging is completely healed. Yay!
The bad news: The RSI in my hands and forearms got worse.
I took four weeks off from the computer entirely. I have reorganised my computer setup. I've been doing a vast amount of physical therapy. I'm improving. Slowly and frustratingly but surely.
However, my time at keyboard
remains limited and my top priority is my novel. All else---blogging, tweeting, emailing---is on hiatus until ...
Posted by Justine at 11:44, June 7th, 2010 under Bloggery/Internetty Stuff, Excuses, RSI, Reading, Sport, Whingeing |
In a
recent interview Becky Hammon, who plays for the San Antonio Silver Stars had some very smart things to say about feminism. She's an amazing and very smart ball player, but her response to the following question made me love her even more.
Silver Stars Nation: What would you say to younger girls that play basketball but yet do not support women’s and girls basketball as a whole?
Becky: I think that is one of the saddest things I come across. For a couple reasons.
First of all, lets not forget our history ladies. It wasn’t so long ago that women weren’t allowed to compete in sports. So many unfulfilled ...
Posted by Justine at 20:56, April 2nd, 2010 under Basketball, Feminism, Sport |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Today's guest blogger, Doselle Young, is not only one of my favourite people on the planet, he's also every bit as opinionated as me. (Though frequently wrong, like his love of Madmen and Henry Miller. Ewww.) I enjoy Do holding forth on any subject at all. He's also ...
Posted by Justine at 19:36, February 10th, 2010 under Bloggery/Internetty Stuff, Cons & Other Gatherings, Frippery, Guest post, Ideas, Liar, Reading, Sport, State of the World, Words & Language, Writing life, Zombies v Unicorns |
I have a mountain of work to get through before I head out
on tour. But all I can think about is the third game of the
WNBA finals, which takes place in Indianapolis today at 4PM (US Eastern time). So far this has been the best WNBA finals series I've ever seen and I've been following the WNBA since 2000.
The two best teams in the league,
Indiana and
Phoenix are battling it out. Indiana is renowned for their defense and Phoenix for their offense. Though both teams have been proving in this series that they're not exactly slouches at the other end.
They've won one game each both played in Phoenix. The first game was ...
Posted by Justine at 12:36, October 4th, 2009 under Basketball, Sport |
So I have no idea that Australia only need two more wickets and England a handful of runs to make Aus bat again and thus reduce overs and increase chance of securing draw. Only 15 overs remaining.
I AM NOT FOLLOWING IT AT ALL.
Writing, working hard, ignoring the nail biting finish.
COME ON AUSTRALIA!!!
Posted by Justine at 12:55, July 12th, 2009 under Cricket, Sport |
Posted by Justine at 1:07, June 1st, 2009 under Basketball, Publishing business, Sport, State of the World |
I wonder why it is that women in sports get so little attention. Unless they're tennis or golf players and pretty. Or winning gold medals during the Olympics.
I've been following the
women's world cup online, but apparently I don't have much company online or offline where
very few folks have been going to their games. I don't get it. The NZ v Pakistan game sounds like it was amazing. Wish I'd been home to see it. ((Here's hoping the Kiwis can crush the Poms in the final. Guess, I'll find out when I wake up.)) Games were $5 each or $35 for a pass to see all of them. Standards were high yet attendance was crap.
And then there's ...
Posted by Justine at 0:44, March 21st, 2009 under Basketball, Cricket, New York City/USA, Sport, State of the World, Sydney/Australia |
Posted by Justine at 13:59, March 15th, 2009 under Cricket, Magic or Madness trilogy, Praising, Sport |
So, this is very weird but I've had three people write to ask if it's true that I changed hotels in Perth in order to watch the South Africa v Australia test.
Yes, it's true. The Duxton did not have Fox 3, the Hyatt did. What else could I have done?
Posted by Justine at 21:23, March 1st, 2009 under Book tour, Cricket, Sport, Travelling |
Posted by Justine at 1:17, February 16th, 2009 under Cricket, Ranting, Sport |
Posted by Justine at 0:48, February 14th, 2009 under Cricket, Sport |
Posted by Justine at 11:59, February 7th, 2009 under Cricket, Praising, Sport |
Posted by Justine at 3:11, January 8th, 2009 under Cricket, Sport, Sydney/Australia |
Tony Greig just said on Channel Nine that "South Africa's cricket team has had a quota since Nelson Mandela was elected."
Um, no, Mr Greig. South African cricket has always had a quota system. It's just that prior to the end of apartheid that quota was 100% white.
Posted by Justine at 0:06, January 6th, 2009 under Cricket, Sport, State of the World |
Yup, it's my annual what-I-did-this-year skiting post. I write these mostly for myself so I can easily keep track. Hence the
last day of the year category. Thus you are absolutely free to skip it. ((I would if I were you.))
This year was exceptional. I'm still pinching myself. My first Bloomsbury USA book, How To Ditch Your Fairy, was published and seems to be doing well. I was sent on my first book tour, which was fabulous. It's insane how much fun I had and how many fabulous schools, book shops and libraries I visited in California, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. Thank you to everyone who came to see me while I was on the ...
Posted by Justine at 0:20, December 31st, 2008 under 1930s NYC novel, Book tour, First Kiss, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Last Day of the Year, Love is Hell, New York City/USA, Sport, State of the World, Sydney/Australia, Vainglory, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 0:12, December 30th, 2008 under Cricket, Sport, Sydney/Australia |
Posted by Justine at 5:19, December 26th, 2008 under 1930s NYC novel, Fans & readers, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Magic or Madness trilogy, Mangosteens, Praising, Reading, Sport, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 18:47, December 25th, 2008 under Cricket, Food, Praising, Sport, Sydney/Australia |
Posted by Justine at 0:02, December 23rd, 2008 under 1930s NYC novel, Sport, Travelling, Unicorns, Young Adult literature, Zombies |
Posted by Justine at 9:40, November 14th, 2008 under Book tour, Cons & Other Gatherings, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Love is Hell, New York City/USA, Reading, Sport, State of the World, Sydney/Australia, What's your fairy? |
Posted by Justine at 11:54, October 27th, 2008 under How To Ditch Your Fairy, Sport, What's your fairy? |
The New York Liberty
won the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals. It was an ugly win. An ugly game. The only grace notes were Deanna Nolan's gorgeous shooting---I swear she stays up in the air for seconds at a time, she looks great even when she misses---the great turnout, and the fact that we won.
I didn't think it was possible for me to hate Bill Laimbeer more than I do. But his performance tonight pushed my hate a few notches upward. How he managed not to get a delay of game call or a technical I will never understand. Sit down, Bill!
Later today I will be in Larchmont, which is a mere twenty minutes from Grand Central:
Saturday, ...
Posted by Justine at 0:27, September 27th, 2008 under Basketball, Cons & Other Gatherings, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Sport |
Posted by Justine at 12:40, September 23rd, 2008 under Basketball, Cons & Other Gatherings, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Liar, New York City/USA, Praising, Sport, Writing goals & milestones, Young Adult literature |
I stopped studying maths in Year 7. Before that I'd made a bit of an effort but in my first year of high school (in New South Wales high school starts in Year 7) I downed tools. I was bored, annoyed, and couldn't see the point so I quit. Technically I kept going to maths class---it was compulsory until the end of Year 10---but I failed each year and was never made to repeat. I didn't learn anything new after Year 6.
At the time I thought it was excellent that I could get away with it. In class I read novels under the desk. I never studied and finished my maths exams quicker than anyone else cause I guessed all ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, September 9th, 2008 under Basketball, Bloggery/Internetty Stuff, Excuses, Magic or Madness trilogy, New York City/USA, Praising, Science, Sport, State of the World, Sydney/Australia |
Posted by Justine at 0:47, August 30th, 2008 under Fans & readers, Sport, Writing life, Young Adult literature |
The official method of figuring out who "won" the Lymps is to count who won the most gold, in which case China comes first with 51, and the USA comes second with 36. The USA, however, reckons the combined total is a better method on account of they won 110 medals altogether, while China only won 100.
If you use the first method Australia came sixth; if you use the second we came fifth.
Personally I think the most revealing way to look at the total is in terms of population and GDP. Both of which you can find at
this handy site. ((Their figures are taken from wikipedia so I suspect there are some inaccuracies.))
Population
1. Jamaica
2. Bahrain
3. Dominica Republic
4. ...
Posted by Justine at 3:19, August 25th, 2008 under Sport |
You know what I like best about the Olympics? Other than twenty-four hours of non-stop sport? That I can't decide which events I like best.
Seriously, there's all the primal track stuff: run, throw, jump, jump with giant pole. I loves 'em all. Plus Usain Bolt is a legend. I could watch the replay of his hundred metre relaxed stroll all day long. And how about Jamaica? Jamaicans are finally winning lots of medals for Jamaica, rather than GB or Canada or the USA. Lovely to see.
But how primal is weightlifting? Very. I love the grunt, scream, growl, popping veins. Weightlifting is the best sport ever. There should be a weightlifting channel.
On the other hand, I do love my team sports. ...
Posted by Justine at 20:31, August 20th, 2008 under Sport |
Posted by Justine at 19:25, August 10th, 2008 under Cricket, Liar, Sport, Travelling |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, August 5th, 2008 under Liar, Sport, Writing goals & milestones |
Scott and me has run away to finish our novels at an undisclosed location. Posting from behind the walls of our hidden bunker may be intermittent and on the shortish side. Book must be finished on the soonish.
In the meantime, it is
conclusive, "monster" and "white-ant" are verbs only in Australia. For confused non-Australians a white ant is a termite. Thus to white-ant someone is to undermine them: to bore away at their foundations, you know, like termites do. Is most useful verb.
Thanks for the Cadel Evans commiserations. Second two years running. Surely next year.
Yes, I is stoked that the Liberty are in the second place in the Eastern conference. Here's hoping we come out after the Olympics break ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, July 29th, 2008 under Basketball, Bloggery/Internetty Stuff, Liar, Sport, Tour de France, Travelling |
Candace Parker played. She played very well indeed. I was impressed. ((She's not dirty in defence unlike, say, Lisa Leslie or Delisha Milton-Jones.))
And
WE WON!!
And we are now a mere game out of first place in the East.
Life is very good indeed.
Thank you,
New York Liberty, for improving in so many different ways. We have post players. We have two good point guards. We have DE-FENCE. In fact, other than Indiana, I think we're the best defensive team in the WNBA. I love our full-court pressure. I love the many ways we made LA turn over the ball. Twas bliss.
Now all we have to do is shoot a bit better and we'll be perfect.
Too exhausted ...
Posted by Justine at 0:47, July 26th, 2008 under Basketball, New York City/USA, Sport |
The WNBA has
handed down the suspensions for Tuesday's brawl. I know many are unhappy about the lenience towards Candace Parker in particular. But for extremely selfish reasons I am very very very glad. Because this means I get to see her play on Friday. Woo hoo!
What's making me cranky is the total absence of anything said about the abysmal refs. Where's their punishment?
Update: Though I'll admit I am very nervous about Leslie and Parker being so rested before we play then in the Garden.
Posted by Justine at 16:41, July 24th, 2008 under Basketball, New York City/USA, Sport, State of the World |
Posted by Justine at 11:55, July 23rd, 2008 under Basketball, Liar, Sport |
I just watched a hard fought game between the LA Sparks and Detroit Shock that ended in
a real fight. The ending was horrible with three players and one coach ejected and, I'm sure, lots of unwelcome attention from the press which ordinarily completely ignores the WNBA. Gosh, maybe now even the New York Times will cover a game.
I was most shocked by Detroit Assistant Coach Mahorn, who is male and well over 7ft tall 6ft 10inches, pushing over Lisa Leslie. He needs to be suspended for the rest of the season. You do not touch the opposing team's players ever. Under any circumstances.
But mostly I blame the referees. There were several incidents leading up to the fight between ...
Posted by Justine at 22:26, July 22nd, 2008 under Basketball, New York City/USA, Ranting, Sport, State of the World |
I may have mentioned that
Leilani Mitchell of the
New York Liberty looks pretty much exactly how I imagined Charlie, the protag of How To Ditch Your Fairy, looking. And she's a point guard---just like Charlie! How perfect is that?
So here is a Leilani photo taken by Bruce Yeung to adorn the most recent reviews of HTDYF. ((I love this photo. How gorgeous is it that her coach, Patty Coyle, is taller than she is? Also that Leilani's so ready to get back into the game that Coyle has to hold her jersey to finish giving her the rest of the play.))
The first review is over at ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, July 19th, 2008 under How To Ditch Your Fairy, Sport, Vainglory |
Atlanta Dream: 91; Chicago Sky: 84
The first win for the Atlanta Dream has made me very happy I can't imagine how thrilled the Dream fans are. They have had the longest losing streak (0-17) in WNBA history without actually being a bad team. Quite a few of those losses were thrillers. I know. I watched the game where the New York Liberty barely beat them.
I think it's astonishing and wonderful that more than 8,000 people have shown up for every one of those games even when they'd lost ten, fifteen, seventeen in a row. And now they have their first win. Woo hoo!! And w00t! It's good for Atlanta and it's good for the whole league. May it be ...
Posted by Justine at 21:52, July 5th, 2008 under Basketball, Praising, Sport |
Posted by Justine at 14:18, July 2nd, 2008 under Praising, Publishing business, Reading, Sport, Travelling, Writing life |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, June 25th, 2008 under Basketball, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Sport |
New York Liberty: 105
Phoenix Mercury: 72
BEST GAME EVER
Without
Penny Taylor the Mercury are nothing. We held them to their season low. We shut
Diana Taurasi and
Cappie Pondexter down.
I love my team.
That is all.
Well, except that WE REALLY REALLY REALLY rule.
Did I mention I love the New York Liberty?
Posted by Justine at 23:14, June 22nd, 2008 under Basketball, New York City/USA, Sport |
Apropos of
Becky Hammon playing for Russia comes
this article from The New York Times about all the foreign nationals that are playing for the US Olympic squad:
Marching into Beijing Stadium under the American flag this August will be a kayaker from Poland, table tennis players from China, a triathlete from New Zealand, a world-champion distance runner from Kenya and a gold-medal-winning equestrian from Australia.
Though I am shocked, SHOCKED to my core, that an Australian would desert our fine country to play for another nation especially when they're a good shot a gold medal. How are we going to keep coming third in the Olympics despite our small population if the big countries steal all our Olympians? Huh? ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, June 15th, 2008 under Basketball, New York City/USA, Sport, State of the World |
Cricket Buzz just named its
top 51 cricket blogs and I'm on the list!
Yay!
And also---how embarrassing! I have been very remiss of late when it comes to cricket blogging. I mean I haven't mentioned the blessed sport since March and not written anything proper since January. Largely because (for reasons beyond my control) I have not been home since May of last year. ((Waaaaahhhh!!!!!)) Thus I have not been immersed in cricket culture and have not been keeping up with things such as the new
Twenty20 Indian Premier League. ((The link is to a NYT article explaining the League which will amuse those of us who know about cricket and hopefully be a clear-ish explanation for ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, May 12th, 2008 under Bloggery/Internetty Stuff, Cricket, Liar, New York City/USA, Sport, Sydney/Australia |
I'm curious: Are any of you interested in reading about writers' word counts? And if so why? Cause I confess I'm not sure I entirely get the point of blogging about it. And those who post 'em on your blog why do you?
Don't get me wrong I keep an eagle eye on my word counts. They are the measure of my days. ((Better than coffee spoons.)) I'm aiming to hit 60 thou by the last week of July. But, you know, it's housekeeping. I don't keep people posted on how many dishes I've washed, meals I've cooked, or hours I've spent exercising. ((For the record: today I've washed no dishes, put together two meals, and spent an hour at the ...
Posted by Justine at 0:06, May 10th, 2008 under Bloggery/Internetty Stuff, Sport, Writing goals & milestones |
Rome was unbelievably wonderful especially the food. A friend of mine spent four months in Italy and gained around three kilos---I think I managed that in one week. Excellent!
I am at work on a post about the fabulous food we ate and a number of others---including another writing one ((See? I do listen to you. You ask that I blog it and blog it I will.))---but work on my next novel has got in the way of finishing them. Stupid novel! Not to mention the erraticness of our internet access. But, soon, my pretties, soon!
In the meantime I'm exhausted but happy: there's cricket on the tellie. All's right with the world. And even though England's doing kind of okay I ...
Posted by Justine at 19:11, March 24th, 2008 under Cricket, Excuses, Sport, Travelling |
I will confess that I was nervous about going to
High Voltage ConFusion. There were several reasons for this:
I'm afraid of cold places. And Detroit in winter is COLD. ((How cold? Minus a million cold! That's how cold. So cold that I'm back in NYC and it's freezing and it seems warm in comparison.))
I'd never been a guest of honour before and was worried I'd be crappy at it.
I was aware that most of the people at the con would not have heard of me or Scott and was worried that they would feel dudded of a proper author guest of honour what wrote adult sf and fantasy.
I need not have had any concerns at all. I was right ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, January 24th, 2008 under Basketball, Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Praising, Sport, Travelling, Vainglory, Viewing |
In the vociferous arguing about the ins and outs of who behaved worst over the second test etc etc there are people implying that criticising the Australian cricket team is unAustralian and whingey. ((Though what's more Australian than whingeing?!))
Please! I love my country, I love cricket, but when the men's team behave like dickheads they should be called on it.
People who play sport at a professional level are not exempt from the social contract. No one is. Writers (to pick a random example out of the air) shouldn't behave like dickheads either. Recently I was at an award ceremony where the speeches of the winners were generous and moving. All but one. This one person got up to accept their ...
Posted by Justine at 0:01, January 9th, 2008 under Cricket, Sport, State of the World, Sydney/Australia, Whingeing |
