tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post3366481862424828911..comments2024-03-27T20:39:04.792-04:00Comments on KILLER HOBBIES: A Whole Lot of ShakingBetty Hechtmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652848311122102223noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-19396771520528179832008-08-03T16:19:00.000-04:002008-08-03T16:19:00.000-04:00Sheila: It must have been eerie to write about an...Sheila: It must have been eerie to write about an earthquake and feel one. Ralph the megalomaniac would probably be flattered to be a character in your book. Nice that you put his jerkiness to good use.<BR/><BR/>Linda: So, the door frame is out, huh? The only thing to climb under in the bathroom was the sink. Even with all my yoga classes, I don't think I could have folded myself up small enough.Betty Hechtmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14652848311122102223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-74702764413633243382008-08-03T15:40:00.000-04:002008-08-03T15:40:00.000-04:00I was around for the quake last week, too, Betty. ...I was around for the quake last week, too, Betty. I'd also gone through the Northridge quake and this time did what I'd learned then that a person should do during a quake--stood in a doorway. However, now the thing to do is to get under a big piece of furniture like a table or desk. My pups were barking and I had to round them up to stay with me through this long, rolling quake.<BR/>--LindaLinda O. Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-636750303607594412008-08-03T08:33:00.000-04:002008-08-03T08:33:00.000-04:00I lived in northern California for a decade and ex...I lived in northern California for a decade and experienced my share of earthquakes. The first year I was there, I was writing a letter to my mother (back in the dark ages, pre-Internet), and I wrote the line, "And then there are the earthquakes..." at which moment we were hit by a 5.8. Luckily we moved back East before the Big One hit.<BR/><BR/>I have to say losing the last "official" (i.e., paid) job I had was a real jump-start for my writing career. I was dumped unceremoniously by a megalomaniac boss, so of course I turned around and made him the villain in a book (really nasty guy, a serial rapist). The book hasn't sold, but it was strong enough to win one contest, get me a (bad) agent, and attract some attention. Thank you, Ralph!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com