It’s really what’s in your heart that matters.

(I was unable to find an attribute for this cartoon; it’s pretty fabulous.)

Happy Monday!

Twelve years later, the stock market crashed.  A few years later, a severe drought and the subsequent dust bowl hit the continental United States and Canada.

To stay afloat, the man who built this home sold the special features. The lead glass windows disappeared. The stained glass windows vanished. The large French doors and siding doors disappeared soon enough. Like many of the homes here, the features disappeared and the home fell into disrepair.

In the 1980s, the home was flipped – cleaned up, painted, and sold. The folks we bought the house from had lived in the home for fifteen years and done nothing.

The husband fell in love with our home the moment he walked in. We closed around his birthday and set to work.

The electrical and water had to go.

The foundation needed shoring up.

The basement needed cleaning up.

We needed a new porch.

And… oh gosh, just thinking about it makes me exhausted.

I always wanted to replace the mantle windows. My dream was to replace the plain windows with what had been before – leaded windows on either side of the fireplace mantle.

Last weekend, the husband found four leaded windows circa 1916 on eBay. The advertisement said they were from a home that was demolished somewhere in Michigan. The windows were ridiculously inexpensive.

They arrived yesterday and are gorgeous.

If you read Denver Cereal, you know what will happen next. We’ll call Jim from Commercial Art Glass. He’s helped us with our stained glass window before. He also built the stained glass windows for Delphie’s chapel in Denver Cereal. He’ll come over sometime next week and tell me all about the windows. In a month or so, these will hang in our mantle windows.

One step at a time, with any luck, we’ll put this house back together.

In the fall of last year, a couple of our WordPress websites were hacked. With the help of Super Steve, I was able to quickly, and quite smugly I might add, fix the sites. Everything was super awesome, until the sites were hacked again.  With the help of our awesome host, DreamHost, we were able to fix our problem. We installed an awesome plugin (Better WP Security) which forced us to change some habits and all was well.

But getting hacked twice in rapid succession really did something to me.

I started to look around the world. Without much effort, I found that Antivirus software makers are at least a month or more behind virus protection.

“Consumers and businesses spend billions of dollars every year on antivirus software. But these programs rarely, if ever, block freshly minted computer viruses, experts say, because the virus creators move too quickly.”

I knew that even the best antivirus software couldn’t keep me from catching at trojan or having problems with the software I use every day (story for another day), because I had Kaspersky installed a few years ago when I caught not one but two trojans, back to back.

“Even the most modern version of antivirus software doesn’t give consumers or enterprises what they need to compete in the hacker world,” said Dave Aitel, CEO of security consultancy Immunity. “It’s just not as effective as it needs to be.” (CNNMoney)

I also knew that the government was pushing Google, Facebook, and others to release personal search information. Let’s face it. As the author of the Alex the Fey thrillers, my search history wreaks of all kinds of conspiracy theories.  Just last week, while the country was in the grips of the Boston Terrorist search, Congress passed CISPA, a cousin to SOPA, would amend the National Security act of 1947 to include what the government believes is a “cyber threat.”

“Those groups argue CISPA contains too few limits on how and when the government may monitor a private individual’s Internet browsing information. Additionally, they fear that such new powers could be used to spy on the general public rather than to pursue malicious hackers.” (Wikipedia)

What you can do about CISPA

This is a big deal

1. Hacking can destroy your business. A targeted hack can take any and all of my creative work and thus my business. A targeted hack can also insert things into a manuscript that weren’t there before. Cyberattacks are a huge threat to small creative businesses such as mine.

2. My browser history is suspicious. For the last Alex the Fey thriller, I needed to figure out what exactly was the military capability of North Korea, China, and Russia. I spent days on Google Earth reviewing the landscape of China, North Korea, and Russia. I also researched a variety of US military bases, often on the same day. I have research articles on everything from jihadist propaganda to how to make a bomb. For the Tax Assassin, I spent so much time researching Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site that I could tell you where everything is located on the site. I look so suspicious that when I’m on military sites for a while, they turn on my webcam to look at me. (You have to agree to this kind of visit after you’ve been on enough sites for long enough.)

This is what I did

Rather than curse the world, shake a fist at lawmakers (I do that enough over their complicity in the destruction of honeybees), I bought an inexpensive computer that I use just for the Internet.

Done.

I use my original computer to write, store my research, and for all of our household finances. I back up the computer to an external hard drive.

The computers are connected via a KVM switch which allows me to use one monitor for both computers.

There is no way to keep hackers out. Period. If they want to get in, they will, regardless of your software, firewalls, or any other efforts.

If you are a creative person, I strongly encourage you to do the same thing. Inexpensive internet computers are easily available. Heck, some eReaders work really well on the Internet.

The best way to protect your creative endeavors is to remove them from the Internet.

I wanted a clean, well-organized site that was easy to use from any device.

Super Steve wanted a site that was super functional and lightning speed fast.

We’re both pretty excited about the new Stories by Claudia.

The site is designed as a reading site. You can go there and read everything I’ve written. We took the time to organize things by series, and in easy to use sections.

For the Denver Cereal, you click on the Denver Cereal icon and are directed to a page with all of the books on it. There you’ll find all of Denver Cereal by chapter.

If you’re looking for the latest Denver Cereal chapters, just click on “Latest Chapters“. You can also sign up to receive Denver Cereal chapters, or any other series, via email.

You’ll find a section that’s everything Alex the Fey. From the Fey to Alex Talks, if it’s about Alex, it’s in this section. There’s a section for the Queen of Cool, and the Seth and Ava Mysteries too.

At the very bottom of the home page, you’ll find all the extras – Alex the Fey stories, Song Stories, and Flash fiction.

What does that mean for On a Limb?

I’m moving all of my fiction to Stories by Claudia.

On a limb will remain as my personal blog where I talk about my life, my thoughts, writing, kindness, bees, gardens, and other random things.

If you read The Denver Cereal here, you will soon only be able to read it at Stories by Claudia.

I’m sorry for the inconvenience. We now have so many sites that the sheer maintenance of them has become a burden. Moving everything to one, easy to use site, allows us to stay on top of the site maintenance, as well as provide you with a great place to read.

Please join me in a round of applause for Super Steve who made the recreation of Stories by Claudia happen.

The husband is out clearing our sidewalk and the sidewalks of all of our neighbors on both sides of the street. He even clears the walk of the 85 year old woman and her 80 year old neighbor on the street behind us.

He does this because he likes to clear snow. He does it as an act of kindness, a small gift for someone’s day. He does it because he can. He does it because he was raised that shoveling your own walk is pretty dumb when everyone’s needs to be shoveled.

He does it for the old people who live in the apartment building a few houses down and the folks who shuffle to the bus for work. They’re up in the wee hours and home late at night. A cleared sidewalk makes their journey just a little easier.

He also does it for me. With my spinal cord injury, I fall when it’s slick out. This way, he knows I can walk to the corner without falling. That’s kind of a big deal in the middle of winter.

He doesn’t do it for the accolades. Most of our neighbors never say thank you or acknowledge the gift in anyway.

He’s out there in the cold. He’s out there when his back is sore or he’s worked all night. He’s shoveled when he’s been sick and had a fever.

I’m always so impressed by his generosity.

To me it’s a true act of Lao Tzu’s:

“If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors.
If there is to be peace between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.”

Or the song – Let peace begin with me.

Thank you, husband, for generally being awesome.

It’s ask Claudia anything February. If you have a question for me about the stories or writing or whatever, let me know! I do this because I can never think of anything to put in my “about” page (because I’m the most boring person in the world). So really, you’re helping me out!

1. CBT: What should I plant in my raised bed?

CHC: How much light will it get?

CBT: Full sun, facing west, SF Bay Area

CBT: I’d look at what you buy at the grocery store – what do you eat? then check out companion planting. I’d start w lettuce, beets, radish, kale, and some beans which you can plant now. Then transition to a couple squash, tomato, and cucumber or two. If you can steal other earth, I’d go for pumpkins or other vines. Then cycle back in October. That’s probably what I’d do. What are you thinking?

CBT: Tomatoes and basil – can’t really think beyond that. I like a nice caprese salad. Thanks for the advice.

CHC: Do you eat peppers? They are super easy to grow and would do well where you are. Then you have a salsa garden!

CBT: Yes! Great idea. Peppers and humus are the shizzle.

2. AGC:  An anonymous benefactor has given you your dream getaway writing cabin. What’s it like?

CHC: Oooh that’s a great question! Can I spend what I want? I’d chose either a cabin in the Lost Cost or Nova Scotia packed between the mountains and the ocean. It would be small – maybe 1000 sq feet or less, warmed by a hot spring, running water, indoor plumbing and a spot for a garden. I’d build it out on my own.

3. KW: How do you sit down for more than 2 hours per day writing stuff that makes sense?

CHC: Most boring person = staring at a box for hours at a time! Great question!! Sometimes it’s really hard. I personally think the story exists and my job is to tell it well – thus, the stories are so fascinating that I want to do it as much as possible. The key now it to stay healthy enough to keep telling the stories – there’s the rub!

4. JGR: Where did you get your inspiration for The Fey series?

CHC: I had this weird experience one night. This lady came and sat on my bed. She told me stories about her family. Suddenly I couldn’t eat or sleep or do anything else until I wrote her story down. We’d planned for 2 years to hike the Colorado Trail. I felt compelled to write the original draft of the Fey before we left. After walking 150 mi in 2.5 weeks, we felt like we could do anything and I realized I wanted to fulfill my lifelong dream of being an author. When we got back, I set about writing the second draft. So that’s about it!

5. KN: Do you stay up WAY TOO LATE (i.e., until dawn) furiously writing and thinking, “Gotta finish this scene, gotta finish this scene!” Please tell me I’m not the only one who does that.

CHC I switched to the Every Day Man sleep schedule while working on In the Grey, the next Alex the Fey book. So, yes, I’ve stayed up all night, early morning, middle of vacation, car rides… It’s not just you.

KN: Oooh, I’ve read about that polyphasic sleep pattern. Too bad I also have an 8-4 job in addition to writing!

CHC: Kelly Naylor I loved it. It’s probably more natural for me as a person.

6. JS: Why did you choose to live in CO?

CHC: We lived in Venice Beach, CA in the middle of the riots, fires, earthquakes, and floods. I swear my car had bits of all of it someplace. We wanted to go somewhere a little more stable and the husband is from southwestern Colorado. The story is more complicated and a little traumatic, but that’s kind of the short of it.

8. ADT: How do you remember each history of all your characters in the Denver Cereal Series? Just curious, because the story is so seamless…love, love the series, btw

CHC: Oddly, Amy Donoho Tucker I do remember all the histories and stories. Sometimes I mess up the details, like recently Ward/Wade/Wanda’s name, but not from the main characters. I guess it’s like anyone – the neighbor, the grocer, the hairstylist – you remember them and all they’ve gone through to become themselves.

If you have a question for me, feel free to leave them in the comments!

Here they are! My books at iBooks.

It’s hard for me to believe that I wrote all of these books, honestly.

It’s harder for me to believe that they are all right there – just right there.

Wow.

Presente.-

Los saludos muy cordialmente, adjunto mi curriculum vitae para su evluacion y aprobacion para el cargo de recepcionista. donde explico mi experiencia laboral y los conocimientos adquiridos para poder trabajar en su empresa.

A la espera de su aceptcion y una respuesta positiva me despido muy agradecida.

atte:

…uh…

I thought it was spam. So I marked it spam and went on with my life. I seriously gave it no thought.

Until today.

I realized these were job applicants.

Ah shit.

I know what it’s like to look for jobs. The economy was only a tiny bit better when I graduated from college than it is now. I went hungry. And these folks are from… uh… Bolivia. They just want a secretarial job.

>>Prepare the justification<<

Justification for rudeness #1: I don’t speak Spanish. It’s pathetic, I know, but I don’t. I’m made a few valiant runs at it but my Spanish sucks.

Justification for rudeness #2: I mean seriously, if you get as much email as I do, you would mark it spam too.

Okay.

Okay.

Even I hear the entitlement in my internal voice. While it maybe true that I receive a lot of email, it doesn’t justify bouncing people’s email to spam.

BUT WHAT IF IT’S SPAM!?!?!?!?!?

Hmm.

Finally, I decided to send each of them a note saying they had the wrong email address.

I dragged my entitled self over to Translate.Google.com and came up with this:

or some approximation of I regret to inform you that you have the wrong email address.

It took me approximately 3 minutes.

So I wonder, why is it so hard to be polite in modern society? 

I’m so afraid of ‘setting myself up’ for spam or hacking or all things evil, that I’d rather be rude than simply be polite.

I’m not talking world love or whatever.

I’m talking a common politeness. “I’m sorry, you have the wrong number” or whatever.

(Of course, I recently had a phone run in with a drug dealer – me trying to be polite and them wondering what the hell was wrong with me – but that’s another story.)

Anyway, that’s my Monday.

Being the mature person that I am, I simply replaced the operating system – Windows XP.

You see, I work on a system where I store all of my files on a separate drive and only use the core C: drive for programs and operations. I started this system after having to reload my entire life when Kaspersky missed a Trojan one day a few years ago, and, after reloading everything, Kaspersky missed it again. (Good by Kaspersky.)

(The manuscript for the next Alex the Fey book and the next Denver Cereal are both safe from all this drama on the other drive.)

I was pretty proud and happy about myself until 3 things happened:

1. Chkdsk found a number of problems with my drive.

2. In a random conversation with a sales guy at MicroCenter, I discovered that XP was not only not going to be supported next year, but there were already reports of system security problems where hackers had broken through the OS.

3. I read this article (Outmaneuvered at Their Own Game, Antivirus Makers Struggle to Adapt) , a review of an antivirus software study, which basically said that antivirus programs work great when it’s known virus, but horribly when something is new.

“On average, it took almost a month for antivirus products to update their detection mechanisms and spot the new viruses. And two of the products with the best detection rates — Avast and Emsisoft — are available free; users are encouraged to pay for additional features. This despite the fact that consumers and businesses spent a combined $7.4 billion on antivirus software last year — nearly half of the $17.7 billion spent on security software in 2011, according to Gartner.”

It was time to make some decisions.

This is what I decided to do:

1. I bought a new hard drive.

2. I installed Windows 8 on the hard drive.

3. I’m getting a new inexpensive computer to work on.

I will no longer have access to the Internet from the computer I use for writing.

We’ll see how it goes. I do a ton of internet research, so it will be interesting to see if I can get away with it.

As an odd aside, my friend Lynda Sandoval, used to write on an old IBM 286 computer with no Internet connection in a room without a phone. She needed to quiet space to get her work done.

So it’s quite possible I’ll be more productive.

We’ll see.

It should happen tomorrow!

Portrait by Jonathan Worth

How I was introduced to Cory Doctorow

I can’t tell you when I first heard about Cory Doctorow. The husband read his book Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, downloaded for free from Cory’s website Craphound.com, the moment it was available. The husband is a voracious reader and for a time, he carried around a copy he’d printed of the book everywhere we went.

The husband watched the entire thing from the sidelines. We were involved in a holistic health and well-being media project called the Open Grove, so in some ways he was tracking the information for our business. In other ways, we were sitting in the bandstand watching Cory, Lawrence Lessig and others change the world with the Creative Commons license.

The husband, who is quite the talker despite his moniker of the “silent partner”, spoke non-stop about Cory, the book, and the power of the Creative Commons license.

As a business economics major for UC Davis, the husband also saw something else – the  power of free commerce.

Later, we followed Cory on Boing Boing and watched that site explode with traffic. But my first introduction to Cory Doctorow was through a book he gave away for free online. I’ve followed his life adventures since then.

Thank you Cory Doctorow for…

• Your faith in the free economy. Your opinion is not the popular opinion. In fact, I personally have been called to the carpet for my belief and actions in the free economy from mentors and teachers over the years. I’ve been called everything from a “moron” or, what’s more horrifying to me, “I’m destroying any chance at my career.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat, head in my hands, wondering why I listened to you. But you know what? Giving away books for free, making them available via serialization and available for download at retailers, is the very best thing I could have ever done. (The whys of that are for another discussion.) Thank you. Sometimes your faith has been the only thing that’s led me forward.
• Writing what you want to write. You’ve written sci-fi; you’ve written young adult; frankly, you write where the spirit moves you. When I was starting my writing career, I was told in no uncertain terms – pick a genre and stick with it. You’ve done what moves you from fiction to non-fiction and every thing in between (Boing Boing). Your willingness to go where the spirit moves you encourages me to do the same.
• Your presence and personality in a phony world. I can’t imagine it’s easy. But I truly appreciate your manner of genuine interaction and presence. I love that I can tweet you and sometimes you respond. I love your comments to your own blog posts and your genuine interest in readers. You encourage me to bring all of myself to the table because I know you’re sitting there waiting.
• Standing against the haters. There was a moment in my life when I felt like I could not and would not survive the onslaught of negative crap that came in my direction. The husband went to look to see what you’d done against the voices and found… that you stuck to your guns, believed in what you believed in, and never seemed to let the darkness invade your work. Just knowing you were able to withstand a larger, louder, and even meaner onslaught gave me hope.
• The conversation about Digital Rights management. Prior to writing books, I sold books too. Moreover, I worked at a wilderness outfitters which encouraged people to recycle, reuse, and when they were done, swap their goods. It’s absolutely absurd that this isn’t possible for digital books and albums. I don’t have any control over what people do with what they buy, and I don’t want any control over it. I’d rather write another book then worry over someone sharing a book with someone else. I know that you get this. I appreciate your willingness to continue to bring attention to the ridiculous nature and threat of DRM.

Thank you Cory Doctorow for leading the way.

I wouldn’t have a career without your willingness to shoulder the burden of cutting the path and showing the way.

And finally, thanks for this – Giving it Away.  I’ve read this article so many times I think I wore out the electronic type. You were right. We made enough money last year to donate to charities our readers chose. We wouldn’t have been able to do it if I’d followed the sage advice of my mentors.

Thank you.