*RANTINGS*
___________________________________________________________________
November 5th, 2001
Hey, people!
Okay. So I jinxed myself.
Those of you who go to the Stormgates Forum might have seen that I said
that there is no reason the site wouldn’t be updated by the end of October,
barring any computer problems. So
I go to update and of course, computer (well ISP) problems.
Hence we, yet again are located at
another internet site.
I actually tried updating on
September 10th, but the ISP thing was funny there too. So I was gonna update the next day.
‘Nuff said.
Well, the site’s up now. We’ve got a lot of great new stories
and writers. Please enjoy and
encourage them with wonderful feedback.
You’ll also note that there is an
extension to the site now called “The Family”. This is another site I’ve opened to post my Batman/Nightwing
stories as well as stories by other Bat fanfic writers. That’s what I’ve been doing the past
year since the X-books have all but completely lost interest for me. I’m a BatFan now. I’m coming around to
more X-Stuff, but my Bat-Stuff is what I’m really passionate about.
Please check it out and let me
know what you think. (Both about
the site and my bat-fiction.) If
you’ve never really gotten into the Bat stuff and you want to read, but you
don’t know who the characters are, drop me a message and I’ll summarize.
Please let me know of any broken
links. I already know that the
Poisonhart Stories and Child’s Play and Parenthood are not connected. I’m still working on those. But anything else, let me know.
Anywhoo, enjoy either or
both. As always, much feedback is
desired.
Have a happy!
Gates
_________________________________________________________________________________
June 11th,
2000
FINALLY!
I have been trying to update this site since
the November 29th, but I was having difficulty uploading the index
page.Originally I had installed a Frames set-up, but it just did not want to
load.So I re-arranged a few things and it finally is working.
As you may have noticed, Storm Gates is at a
new address.I got sick of those little add banners, and frankly, it’s easier
for me to update this way.
So!Storm Gates is back!As you might have
guessed, I got my stories back. Yes there aren’t any new ones up right now, but
I’ve been having some difficulty working on them, for example, just before the
shut down, I had started a new twist on the ‘Primal’ story that I really liked,
but now I can’t remember where I was going with it.I have some notes, but
they’re all over the place since my move back from Japan.I’m tryin’
people!You’ve been great throughout all of this and I really thank everybody
for the support and well wishing I’ve received. (Oy! It sounds like I was dying
or something!But having all your stories locked away on an evil cursed hard
drive, with no apparent hope of retrieving them, is rather emotionally
painful.)If you don’t know the story, I’d rather not go into here (no sense
dwelling on the painful past), but you can read about it on sever postings I
made on the Storm Gates Forum in Yahoo.
But fear not!Storm Gates has included a slew of
new and wonderful talent to the site.I’d like to take this time to officially
welcome writers John Duffin, Ebon Bird, Feo Lewis, Jade Dragon, Micaela, Natas
and Raietta, as well as artists Daywulf and Jayde Glazzard.Daywulf is
responsible for the amazing Final Fantasy outfitted Storm image that’s on the
front page of this site. Thanks!
I have added an Ultimate X-Men section the
sight.I’m greatly looking forward to the introduction of this new book.The
first book will be released on December 20th, 2000.I will probably
be writing and hopefully accepting submissions for this new continuity once it
gets going.Right now, I have pics and some info regarding the re-vamped
characters.
Lastly, (but most certainly not leastly), I
must thank Jeff, my savior.I had left my damaged hard drive with a computer guy
at the store where I had bought it.He was supposed to be an expert.It took him
nine weeks to tell me that nothing could be done.
I heard about Jeff, took the hard drive to him,
and asked could he fix it.He said as long as there was nothing physically wrong
with the drive, he could retrieve the stories.I asked him how long, he said,
(again, if there was no physical damage) that I could pick it up the next day.
Can we say jaw drop?!
Anywhoo… Yadda Yadda, I got my stories
back!(The next day!) Thanks Jeff!
Also, I have two e-mail addresses to me that
you can contact me through or submit stories through.
stormgates@hotmail.com
and stormgates@sympatico.ca
And please note that I have altered the
submission guidelines on the Join me page.Just slightly, but please have a look
before submitting stories.Thanks!
Well, enjoy the site!
Gates
___________________________________________________________________
Not much to Rant about this month, except a note
regarding my Rain Whispers Stories.I have put two new ones up, but as I’m sure
you will notice, “The Survival Game” is not finished.I am having some
difficulties with this story, so I’ve decided to leave it for now.The story
does not have any direct baring on the actual Rain Whispers storyline.It is an
independent story.But I HAVE NOT abandoned it.I will complete it as soon as I
figure out what’s going on.So for now, I’ve continued with the following two
stories, one introduces a new character, but that’s all I’m going to say about
that. (Except that if I achieved my intended result, you might need to bring
some tissues. J Yes, I like doing
that to you. J )
I’ve also changed my X-Men Movie Page a bit.I
have sectioned off the pictures and will continue to add to it, so you can pick
what you want to look at more freely.I have also intercepted certain secured
files, which all those who are friends to mutants or mutants themselves should
look at.They are under the heading ‘Mutant Files’ on the movie page.I also have
the heading “Movie Rantings”, but it is not active yet.
Also if you would like to discuss the movie or
anything about the x-men, please feel free to visit my forum on yahoo!It is at http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/stormgatesforum
.
That’s all for now!Enjoy!
___________________________________________________________________
April
15, 2000
Konnichiwa!Oy! I wanna go home.
– There are exactly 103 days until I can board a plane back to Chunuckleland.
(Yes, I’m that pathetic, to know how many days… I even found a flight that’s
leaving on the 26th of July, already, through the
internet.)Earthquakes, volcanoes, the rainy season is starting in about three
weeks (ie typhoons), and now the governor of Tokyo wants to eventually get all
foreigners out of Japan, and is indicting that he’s prepared to use force.
Oh, happy day.
Okay, that said and done,
enough about me!On to business!
First I would like to welcome,
Soar, Poi Lass, Mercutio, Silvertab7 and BarbaraB to Storm Gates.I’m sure
they’ll be a great addition to the site.
Next, as some of you may have
noticed, the trailer is not on my site as I tried to have.It turns out that
geocities/yahoo thinks it was too large to have.In the interim, the REAL X-Men
movie trailer came out.What was out before was just a teaser, like what they
did for Star Wars.Anyway, what I have done, since the Trailer is about 10 times
the size of the Teaser, is I’ve provided the link to both of these mini movies
on the X-Men Movie Info page.Now, there is a choice of three downloading
sizes.I downloaded the largest one and it took me four and a half hours.BUT
from what I’ve heard, downloading the smaller sizes aren’t much better.I’ve
heard the smallest can take around 3½ hours to download.So, if you’ve got the
space, I’d go for the big one.(Well worth the time!)
I’ve re-posted some of my
other stories such as Cold Hands… 3’s A Crowd and One Step.I’ve just tightened
them up a bit and changed a few phrases.Most of you won’t even notice but just
incase you do, you’re not crazy, they are a little different.I’ve also gotten
around to re-posting the Crimes of the Heart and A Pound of Flesh stories,
since Indigo’s site went down.(I heard a rumor that she moved the site
elsewhere.If you know, please let me know.)You’ll also notice that I’ve posted
a new 1-shot Rain Whispers story.No this does not mean I’m giving up or
abandoning The Survival Game, I’m just not done it and I thought I should give
you something.And since The Conference isn’t about Storm, Ame or Logan, it
doesn’t interfere with Survival Game.In fact, Conference is supposed to take
place almost at the same time as Survival Game, or a little before, or a little
after.Anyway, hope you likes.
And since I’m on the topic of
Rain Whispers, I should probably mention now a little discrepancy that you will
no doubt soon be noticing.You know how I putAme –age … or Jerri – age… at the
top of each story, well, don’t take these ages literally anymore.These are
approximate ages and reference points to other stories.I’m pulling a Comic
Trick here.If you add up all the months that Ame is six years old, she will
have had maybe 20 month year.Comics do it, so why can’t I.(Although I do think
the idea of Kitty being “barely sixteen” is ridiculous.Does that make Jubilee
still 13?They gotta make Kitty at leas 17, which is where I’ve seen her for the
last few years, and Jub’s gotta be creepin’ up on 15 pretty soon. – But I digress.)So
when you see Ame- age 6, it’s more referring to her size and psychological
make-up, (although I’m taking liberties with that too.)
Moving On.
As some of you know, in the
yahoo clubs, I have started a petition of sorts to get Storm’s blue eyes back.I’m
sure that you’ve noticed that lately, the colorists have been giving Ororo
brownish-gold eyes when her powers were not in use.I don’t like this.I know a
lot of you don’t like this.
The petition drive is called
STORM FANS UNITED.
So how do we go about reaching
our goal?
Our objective is to
return Storm's eyes to their proper state of blue.
Constant, consistent, and heavy bombardment.
Writing one of the following sentences, send it to mail@marvel.com
"Just
thought we'd remind you that Storm's eyes are BLUE."
or
"Just
thought we'd remind you that Storm has BLUE eyes."
Feel free to write whatever you like afterwards on this topic, but end
the e-mail with STORM FANS UNITED.
Then, everytime you check your e-mail, send another one to Marvel. You don't
have to write another long letter, just write the "Just thought we'd
remind you..." message and sign it STORM FANS UNITED. It will take you all
of 10 seconds.
If you get a chance, for more impact, send measly little postcard (cost
you less than a dollar) to:
MARVEL COMICS
387 PARK AVENUE SOUTH
NEW YORK, NY
10016
Post the jist of this message on every Storm-- every X-Men site you come
across. Put it on your e-mail list. Ask your comic dealer to put a sign in the
store. All it has to say is the "Just thought we'd remind you..."
message, the STORM FANS UNITED message and purpose of it.
Spread the word.
THIS WILL ONLY WORK IF EVERYONE PARTICIPATES!!!
Be serious or we won't be taken seriously. No jokes. If you want to
point out what a stupid idea changing her eyes was in the first place, do it
politely. It has more impact that way.
Also, I know there
are a lot of other things we want for Storm, like her own series, or her being
hooked up with someone, but please don’t include this in the SFU mail.Not right
now.Those other things, like a series, will cost Marvel more money and
therefore will take more time for them to consider.Who she should be involved
with will take a creative team time to mesh out and discuss and there are a
great deal of arguments to wade through.The eye thing is a no-brainer.A simple
creative decision that can be easily rectified.Her eyes started out blue, they
should remain blue.‘Nuff said. I’m afraid that if we include other things, that
the eye thing will get lost in the malay.It’s a simple request, and as long as
we keep it simple (and everyone does there part) and provided that someone is
listening (which they will be forced to do if they get flooded with these
e-mails) we should achieve our goal.
It's very simple and it will work if we stay united. I've already
written them, and they know that we're coming. Don't let me down.
That’s all for now!
Love, Peace &
Hair Grease.
Gates
stormgates@hotmail.com
___________________________________________________________________
February
25, 2000
Happy New Year!
Yeah, yeah, yeah.I know, I know.
Anyway, the site’s been updated and as you’ve no doubt noticed, there
are no stories.There are several reasons for that.The reason there are no
stories from other authors, no one has sent me any.
Why none of my stories…
Welllllll,
1) I’m working on submissions to a new comic book company that’s opening
up this year.It takes a lot of time.
2) I’ve been working on my own comic book that I’ve created, and I’ve
been on a creative streak with it so I keep on it.
3) It’s the end of the school year here in Japan so I have a lot of
work-work to do.
4) I’ve been getting a slew of ideas for new stories and I’ve been
writing them down before I forget them.
5) Some of the stories I’ve been working on, I could actually post a few
chapters of, but I’m trying not to create so many cliff hangers any more and
make more of my stories, one-shots.
6) It’s kind of hard to type when you can’t feel your fingers ‘cause
it’s colder inside your apartment than outside.
7) It’s hard to write about comics when I’m so far out of the loop that
I have no idea what’s going on in the books. (Well, I know what’s going on
generally, but it’s not the same as reading them for myself.)It’s difficult to
get inspired.
But I am working on my stories!I have not stopped writing!I’ve put up
teasers for some of the new stories I’m working on, on the ‘My Stories’ page.
And this update is not without excitement.Check out the X-Men Movie Info
page.There’s a slew of new pictures(that’s the second time I’ve used the word
‘slew’ in my entire life), and information that some of you might already know,
and some of you may not.The Coupe de Grace: the first trailer from the
movie!!!If you don’t have Quick Time 4 or higher, you might not be able to get
the sound, but it’s still great to look at!
That’s all for now!
Gates
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
December
4th 1999
Howdy!
That being said, we can continue.
Well, there’s lots of stuff for you this time! Valegra’s back,
and I’d like to welcome Jennie Jones, Diz, Lady Amythest, Dark River, Lady
Seraph, Mitch Kelly & Norma Graham, an Unknown author and Faux to Storm
Gates. (Although Faux doesn’t know that he or she is listed here.I saw your
story, loved it, but had no way of contacting you to ask you if I could post
it. (You didn’t include an e-mail address.)So I put it up anyway, and if you
want me to take it down, just drop me a line and I’ll pull it. J)
I’ve opened up a Discussion Forum on yahoo, since I couldn’t figure out
how to do one like Darqstar had on her Shifting Sands site. So please feel free
to use it in that same fashion.I kind of wanted it to pick up where the
Shifting Sands forum left off.If you want to talk about fanfiction, past or
present, the X-Men, Storm, go right ahead. Consider it your site. You might
have to join the yahoo clubs section, but don’t worry about it. It’s free, you
can use a fake name and they don’t bother you after your initial welcome
e-mail. Speaking of Shifting Sands, just to let you know, it’s finally back up
under it’s new management. Its new URL is under my links page as are a few
other new and interesting links.
The Locked Gates are open and I’d like to thank the authors who have
allowed me to post their stories, Lady Amethyst, Lady Sephra, and the unknown
author who I couldn’t contact because you are unknown, and of course Faux.I
would like to restate that the Locked Gates is for ADULTS ONLY. If you go
there, you are stating that you are of legal age in your country and I have no
responsibility for you.
There is the new X-Men Movie section to this site.Right now it’s just
pictures of the actors and whom they’re playing but I also have a pic of the
house in Toronto that is being used for the Xavier Mansion.More info will be
posted when I can.Any Storm Gates Forum would be a good place to post any
rumors you hear about the film.
The Rain Whisper’s Series:I have received a request by someone to use
one of my Rain Whispers characters in a story.I will admit, I have been
considering creating a Rain Whispers ‘Tangent’ Universe, where other people
could submit their Rain Whispers Stories.So if you would like, go ahead and
write them.There will be a different set of rules for this, however.I give
permission to use my characters only on stories submitted to this site.I don’t
want them posted anywhere else with the exception of (possibly) your own
personal site, and Shifting Sands since the Rain Whispers started there.I don’t
allow any of my stories to be posted elsewhere anymore, simply because I feel I
have more control over them that way.These characters are my babies so you’ll
have to forgive me for being a little selfish.Plus!!! I have to approve the
story before I’ll allow it to be posted or post it myself.Sorry, more of the
selfish baby thing.But I am not an Ogre (most of the time anyway) so don’t
worry too much about rejection.
Also, for all my writers present and future:I believe that every writing
program comes with a spell check and many come with a grammar check.PLEASE USE
THEM!I don’t like having to go through and fix everything myself.In some cases
I don’t even bother and just post the story so if your friends laugh at your
mistakes, I’m afraid it’s your problem.Not saying that I’m perfect, I’m always
finding mistakes when I go back over my tales, but please make an effort.I’m
tired of seeing Gambit fighting with Rouge.He’s not a drag queen. (In
most stories anyway…) J
Some of you may have noticed that I’ve added a few more upcoming titles
to my stories page and a few of you may have noticed that the story called Dark
Storm Rising, is no longer listed there or on the Locked Gates page. This is
because for now, that story is going into dry dock. I didn’t like the way it
was developing. It wasn’t pulling together right, so I’ve put it away. Some of
you were stating that you were looking forward to that story. DO NOT BLOW UP. I
have done this before. I once had a story called “The Debt” which I
axed, because it wasn’t working out like Dark Storm. Later, when I started a
new story that needed some oomph behind it, I thought hey… that old story “The
Debt” would work pretty well here. So I combined the two broken stories and
ended up writing something called “One Step Forward, Two Steps Back…” Which I
understand, some of you rather liked. J So you never know what might come of it.
Actually, tonight I started thinking of a possible new direction for Dark Storm
Rising but it hasn’t come full yet. I’ll keep you posted if you are so inclined.
Also, I was going to put up the first part of “In Another Time And
Place” but at the eleventh hour, I decided to make it a one shot story, so I
pulled what I had up.I think the story will work out better this way and I know
it will make you guys feel better because I know some of you hate my cliff
hanger habit. (I am the Queen!)So I’ll wait till the whole thing’s done before
I post it.
On a non-comic related but very serious note, I would really like you to
click here. This
is a petition being circulated by the UN. (Yes the actual UN) I’m not a radical
feminist, I’m not a big petition signer, but I had to sign this one. Please
just read it, and read the whole thing. It will take you no more than three
minutes. Please pass it on along your e-mail lists. This is something everyone
needs to know about, and it’s one of the few times in our lives when we can
actually get to play the superhero. I won’t tell you what it’s about in detail,
just please read it. GUYS TOO! This is not just a woman thing. LWomen are being murdered on mass, stoned and
beaten to death and so it’s everyone’s problem. Thanks.
Well, enjoy the stories and please, please, please, sign the petition
and pass it along your e-mail lines.
And on a final, more personal note:WHY HAVEN’T JAPANESE PEOPLE HEARD OF
CENTRAL/INDOOR HEATING???!!!I’m FREEZING!!!
Bye now!
Gates
___________________________________________________________________________
September
6th, 1999
I’m baaak!!!
Hello people, how are you doing? How’s your summer? How’s the family?
Okay, enough of the incidentals.You probably feel I owe you an
explanation.Well, I’m gonna give you one… in a minute.But I’ve got some other
stuff to get out of the way first.
This is a long *Rantings*, but I’d really like you to read the First Part.(Especially <on a personal
note> the next paragraph.)You can skip the explanation in the Second Part if you like.
FIRST PART:
Could someone please e-mail me and let me know what is going on with the
x-books right now.The last issue I read, Professor Xavier had turned into
psycho-bitch and had run Remy off, basically fired everyone else and told Logan
to hit the road.And Storm was saying something bad was happening and they
needed to contact Scott and Jean.After this I have no idea what is going on
(and I won’t know till Christmas) unless someone or ones fill me in.This is for
your benefit as well as mine people.If I’m too far out of the loop, I’ll loose
some of that realism that you guys tell me you like in my writing.So please,
someone please let me know what the big summer event was, or was the Prof just
PMS-ing.Thanks.(And if anyone is reading “No Man’s Land” from the Batman books
and knows what’s been happening recently <especially who the second Batgirl
was and what happened to her before the current mute chick took over as the new
Batgirl – all this happened while I was in Europe and there are no copies
left.> please let me know about that too – thanks.)
Oh, and as per usual, if you want your name on my update list and it’s
not already there (I think I may have missed a few people) please e-mail
me.That goes for if you want your name off the list as well.
If you know someone who visits my site and hasn’t received the update
September 1st update e-mail, could you pleas let them know the new
address of Storm Gates.The old address is still up, but since I am unable to
shut it down or leave a message with the new URL on it.It’s sorta like I had to
abandon ship.The explanation is in the big explanation below.Or if you’ve seen
my site linked somewhere else, could you let either them or me know so that I
can get them to change it from the old to the new.Remember, if you see
“simpatico” in the URL, you’re at the old/wrong address.
SPREAD THE WORD!!!
Also, if you find any links on the site that don’t work, or ones that say
“simpatico” please let me know.I think I got them all (I went thought and
changed every single link on every single page of this site – but
nobody’s perfect.)
If you have ever sent me an e-mail that you wanted me to answer and I
didn’t, (a question an opinion, please visit my site, whatever) please e-mail
me again.Things have been so psychotic in my life since January that I am only
just now beginning to calm down and can get back to everything else.
Also, I would like to know a little more about my readers.If you are so
inclined, when you e-mail me, could you include some basic stats?You know:age,
location, marital status, credit card number, social security, social
insurance… little things like that.Also, for some of you with unusual names,
your sex, ‘cause sometimes I can’t tell.Sorry.I’m not compiling a list or
anything, it’s just when I read, I like to have some idea of whom I am reading
from.
Also, you may have been expecting me to have written more stories than
are listed.I did, but I decided against posting them all at once because:
1)Some of them still need some fine tuning, and 2)If I through all my summer’s
work at you at once, what would I use on my next update.You’d be yelling at me
again because I haven’t written anything new.Ya hafta keep in mind that at any
given time, I am writing a minimum of five stories at once.That’s just the way
I do it.So if I posted everything at once, there would be even longer a wait
for the next update with my stories and you’ve made it blatantly clear that you
don’t like that.
I’d like to thank X-Info for featuring my “One Step…” story this summer
even though they don’t have a Storm Section anymore.I really appreciated it.And
thanks to the reader who suggested it to them.I never expected to be
getting such a response from this story.I’m so happy people seem to like it so
much.Seriously.That’s why I write: for people to enjoy.I sincerely thank you
for the complements that have been mailed to me about it over the summer.
If you have any information about “CROSS GENeration Comics” other than
that one page advertisement in one of this summer’s Wizard magazine, I would
very much like to have it.My brother and I are planning to submit something to
them (I write, he draws) and we’d like to know a little more about who we’re
dealing with.
OH YES!!!How could I forget?The LOCKED GATES!!! As you might have
noticed, there’s a new entry on the Storm Gates index page.The Locked Gates is
a strictly ADULT section of Storm Gates that I have added due to many
requests.If you go there, you are claiming to be of legal age in your country
and I will not be held responsible for your actions.You’ll probably notice that
there are no stories there right now either.I am e-mailing around and asking for
some, and I am also accepting submissions for this.Locked Gates is not only for
stories that are blatantly you-know-what, but stories that are actually stories
and have an actual story to it, but they also contain a few spots of graphic
adult content in that real story story, (know what I mean), or for stories that
may be considered slightly disturbing.And understandably, because of this new
section, my “Join Me!” rules have altered slightly.
If you are an adult, and you go there, you will see an non-accessible story
of mine called Dark Storm Rising.You may also notice that this story is also
mentioned under my regular stories and is also non-accessible there.It is
inaccessible because I haven’t posted it yet and it is under both archives
because I will be posting two versions.The regular one and the adult one.(This
is one of those story-stories that I was talking about.) The story will be the
same, just one will have a little more detail than the other.I will probably
submit a tame version of any story I write for the Locked Gates. (Unless it’s a
blatant you-know-what tale.)Feel free to do the same if you wish to submit to
this section.All Locked Gates stories when listed on the “What’s New?” page
will have: (LG) next to it.If you are submitting a story to this section,
please write “Locked Gates Submission” at the top of your e-mail, perhaps in
the “subject” section.If it is a story with a removable Locked Gates chapter in
it, please let me know that too.
Also, you can submit a story to this site and I will post it as anonymous if
you like, and I can also forward any e-mails sent to that story directly to you
so that your privacy is assured.
I am also considering (thinking about… pondering…) maybe including a Nightwing/Batman
section to this site.I am a Batfan (mostly Nightwing a.k.a. Dick Grayson, the
original Robin – he’s sooo cool now!) and I do enjoy reading their fanfiction
and have even started tinkering with a little of my own, even though I don’t
know as much about DC history as I do about Marvel, but I can always tap my
cousin’s brain for that.
What do you think?Should I taint the site? Or should I just submit my
Nightwing stories to some other site?
INPUT, PEOPLE!!!!!!
If you don’t want it, I won’t put it.After all, if you don’t come here,
what’s the point of me having a site in the first place?
‘Kay?!
SECOND
PART:
And now for the big explanation.
If you don’t want to take the time to read it, all you have to know is
that I’m back and the site is up.Have a nice day. (Mmmm, Beefy – Can someone
tell me where Mick Foley went?).
As for the rest of you loyal lots, here’s the whole shebang.
First of all, the original “big update” that didn’t happen.Turns out
that the disk drive was acting funky.But by the time it was fixed, I was
already in Europe. (Cool place. Made lots of friends, but it’s sooooo expensive
there!)While I was in Europe, I called home a lot. On one of these calls,
(while I was in Corfu Greece actually – If you have the means, I highly recommend
going—It’s so choice.)my dad informed me that he had been trying to load a new
Word Perfect program, but then decided to go with a new Microsoft instead.Then
he discovered that somewhere along the way he had wiped my entire Storm Gates
file off the computer.(According to my brother, he crashed the whole thing! –
Shhh!It’s a secret! – Not!) So now the files were off the computer, which is
why some of you could not get it.For me, however, I could still bring up the
site for the most part, (Unfortunately, I didn’t notice until I got back that
the Poisonhart section was no longer running.) but I couldn’t edit my site,
even if I was there.
So I got back to Canada and even if the site hadn’t been wiped out, I
don’t know what possessed me to think I could possibly have the time to update
between the time I got home an the time I moved to Japan. (I am in Japan right
now for those who hadn’t realized it.)
The only thing I did find the time for was to download the site onto
disk to later transfer it to my new laptop. (And by fid the time I mean
<indulge me people, I need to vent> Friday 23rd I had a
meeting in Toronto for my Japan program.I stay up all night transferring
files.I leave for Toronto Airport at 5am.Flight’s delayed.Get on it.Go to
Chicago.Stay for 3½hours. Transfer planes.Fly 14 ¾ hours to Japan.2-hour bus
ride to my hotel.No sleep during any of this, and did I mention I was still jet
lagged from my Europe trip?!!! –Sigh.But I’m not bitter. (We flew Business
Class all the way, got to stay in the 1st class lounge during our stopover and
stayed in a 5 Star hotel once we reached Tokyo – tee, hee!)
Anyway, back to the story.
So I get to Japan and the stupid touch pad on my stupid new computer is
no longer working, (although, it was on the plane) and I forgot to bring my
mouse from my old stupid computer.(I forgot alot of things – happens when you
don’t sleep for three days. So I buy a mouse.It doesn’t work, because it only
understands Japanese language computers and although my new one is a Sony… well,
you get the idea.So I return it and finally get one that works.Next problem:
find a n Internet provider.I don’t even know how to do this Internet stuff in
English, let alone Japanese! That’s fine, most of the services in Japan have
bilingual operators or instructions. Of course, the one local provider with the
only reasonable rates is all in Japanese. (Sigh) So after a week of trying to
interpret the form they finally sent me, (it took me 20 minutes on the phone to
say “send me an application form”) I finally broke down and asked one of my
teachers to translate for me, which she kindly did.Then I had to wait for my
first paycheck so I could pay the provider and don’t get me started on my
banking experiences so far.(Although I love the fact they give you a gift
whenever you come in.When I opened my account last week, they gave me two roles
of toilet paper—I am dead serious.My friend got a box of Kleenex.)So I get the
info from the provider and I somehow figure out what it says.I call the phone
company and ask for their special 11pm –8am monthly flat rate (that would be
10am – 7pm Toronto or New York time in summer).I finally get everything
together and…….
It works!!!!
(It’s alive!!! ALIVE!!!!!!)
Everything worked and was so honky dory that I could cry. (Except for
being soooo damn slow – it took me over four hours to upload the site when in
Canada it would have taken me maybe 20 minutes!)
Then just when I think everything is going to be fine I tell myself I am
going to update on September 1st.September 1st roles
around and what happens?!? Massive rain and lightening storm.My apartment is
without power.I have to go to a conference that night after school and it is
only at this conference that I realize that maybe my circuit breaker needs
adjusting.So I get home, dead tired, finally figure out which one is the
circuit breaker, flip it and…. I have power.Unfortunately it is three o’clock
in the morning, and I have to get up at six so I cannot upload the last three
pages (did I mention this thing was slow), because it would take too much time
and I wasn’t really thinking straight at that hour—not that I have fully
recovered from that experience as evidenced by the length of this rant, but I
thought I should let you know.I think.Yeah.Whatever.Okay.
The end.– OY!!!
So the stories are up now.Enjoy!I’m gonna go lay down.
Bye Now!
Gates
Oh! And remember to write down the New Storm Gates address and/or (if I
may be so bold) include it in your Bookmarks.
http://www.oocities.org/Area51/Comet/1604/index.htm
Bye!
Zzzzzzzzzz….
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
June 6th, 1999
Okay, so you've probably noticed (again) that
none of my stories are up, even though I said they would be up by today.
I am trying to remain very calm about this, but I am quite upset. I have
been trying to upload my stories off my disk for the past two days. It
isn't working. Something is wrong with my disk drive and it is not
accepting any kind of 3.5 disk, which is what my stories are written on. (I
write them on a laptop then transfer to the family computer.)
I am quite royal about this right now as I'm
sure some of you must be too.
My father will be taking our computer in to get
it checked out, tomorrow. Unfortunately, I will not be able to update
then as I leave for Europe in about five hours.
I am really sorry about this, but the big
update I promised will have to happen once I get back in about five
weeks. There are quite a few stories including the completed
"...Such Men Are Dangerous", the next part to "What Price
Honor?", Rain Whispers and two new stories you've never heard of--
"Cold Hands..." and and another one which I can't give you the name
to because it will be a dead givaway about what the story is about and I don't
want to ruin the surprise. I am also almost done the next chapter of
"Academy" so that will probably be on the next update too.
On a happier note, I would like to
welcome Maggie the Cat to Storm Gates. I hope you will enjoy her story as
well as the next two parts to Lone Wolf and the Goddess, which, because they
were already on my hard drive I was thankfully able to post them.
You can still e-mail me over the next month if
you wish to -- death threats or whatever -- as I will have access to e-mail on
my tour and will be checking in from time to time.
Also, the May 30th *Rantings* about the e-mail
update list still holds, so let me know if you want on the list.
Again, I'm really, really sorry about this.
Bye, for now!
Gates
stormagates@hotmail.com
___________________________________________________________________
May 30th, 1999
Hi there. Don't worry, the stories are coming! This is regarding
notification of updates
.
As some of you already know, I have been personally e-mailing some of
you whenever I update my site. Well, I'm afraid I've lost some of those e-mail
addresses and frankly it takes a lot of time for me to e-mail everyone.
So what I'm going to do is
include people who wish to be notified in one big lump e-mail. So I just
write one message and hit send once and it goes out to everyone.
The only possible issue in this is that when I send the e-mail, everyone
I send it to will have their e-mail addresses visable to everyone else I send
it to. I.E. everyone who wants to be updated will see your e-mail address.
I don't believe any of my reader
(at least the ones who write me) are more psychotically desterbed than I am,
but then again, you just might not want too many people to know where to reach
you.
So if you are okay with having
your address showing and you want to be informed when my site is updated, send
me an e-mail (A.S.A.P. for the big update) saying so and the e-mail address you
want me to use for the list.
That's all for now!
Bye!
___________________________________________________________________
April 20th, 1999
Hi there!
Well... today is my 23rd Birthday and I'm giving you the treat-- the
site has been updated! Tee Hee!
Sadly, in case you haven't noticed, Poisonhart's Ace Of Spades Network
has been completley shut down. But Poisonhart was kind enough to allow me
to continue to post her wonderful stories, including the Remy and Cici set, on
this site. The original stories are already up and new ones are
forthcoming!
I'm sure you've also noticed that no new chapters of any of my stories
are posted. Well, there's a reason for that-- I haven't written them --
Exam time you know.
Also, I feel the need to tell you that there will be no new story
updates at all from June 6 to July 14 at least. Why? I'm getting to
that.
You see, my two best friends and I are graduating university and as a
grad gift to ourselves, we are sending ourselves on a European tour. Tee
Hee again.
So what I will be doing throughout the month of May is finishing and
continuing with as many of my stories as I possibly can. Then before I go
away, I will upload giving you one big fix.
And I do plan on writing while in Europe. I'm a writer.
That's what I do. It keeps me sane. (Sorta-- nothing really works
in that capacity) I won't have a computer with me so you'll have to wait 'till
I get back and type up what I've written before I can post it.
Next order of business. After I return from Europe on July 14, on
July 24 I will be moving to Japan for at least a year to teach English.
DO NOT PANIC!!!
I am working on grabbing myself a laptop to take with me. I will
transfer all my files to the laptop - easy enough. Then my only problem
is figuring out how to get web space -- Like do I need a satalite phone or
something?-- Ah, well, I'll figure it out!
Basically, what I am saying is that my site might be down for a couple
of days or even a couple of weeks, but I WILL
RETURN. THIS SITE WILL NOT BE DOWN PERMINANTLY!!!
In fact, it's really the main reason I'm getting a laptop in the first place--
my writing.
Well, that's all for now. Wish me luck on the rest of my exams or
wish me Happy Birthday -- wish me something as I could use all the help I can
get!
Bye Now!
___________________________________________________________________
March 13th, 1999
Hi there! Well, I updated today because I felt
I had to give you something. I wasn't planning on updating for a little while
longer because I wanted to finish ...Such Men Are Dangerous before I posted.
Buuuuttttt... While I have already written the
epilogue for the story and I have started writing chapter 8 (the final one I
believe) I have encountered a bit of a problem: writer's block. So the first
couple of pages of the chapter are written, no matter how much I stare at the screen,
nothing for this story comes to me.
But fear not! I have been here before, and no
doubt will be there again. So that's what took me so long to update. All this
other stuff was ready about two weeks ago.
So I decided to put something, including a couple
of new writers up, rather than make you wait for my block to pass. I have
posted a new story of mine, "One Step Forward, Two Steps Back" you
may have noticed that in earlier Ramblings I mentioned a story I was writing
called "The Debt". Well "The Debt" no longer exsists (on
its own). It has been amalgamated with another story I came up with and the
combination has resulted in "One Step...". So don't look for
"The Debt" unless I decide to call another story that name which I
have not intention of doing right now. I hope you like the new story so far.
And finally, I'd like to welcome Valegra and
Tempest to my site! Hope you enjoy them!
Well, by for now!
___________________________________________________________________
November 2nd, 1998
Howdy! Sorry it's been so long since an update,
but October = Mid-terms = No time. I didn't even have time to write last month.
And I'm afraid I'm not out of the clear yet. November is Essay month and
Christmas Exams follow. But it shouldn't be so long between updates this time
though. (Ahh, University!)
Anywhoo, Hope you enjoy the stuff! Hope to hear
from ya.
Oh! And if you notice that I've missed any
links, please let me know so I can fix them! Thanks!
Well, gotta go study now!
Bye!
Gates
___________________________________________________________________
SEPTEMBER 13th, 1998
Hello. I just thought I'd write this because I've
gotten a lot of e-mails asking where the next parts of my stories are. Well, I
first of all have been really busy finishing up my summer job and getting ready
for my fourth year of university. That was the biggest reason. Since those
affairs have all been settled, I have been writing again, but not anything
you'll be seeing for a while.
You see, usually when I write a Rain Whispers
story, I write them chronologically. Even if I have a the plots or ideas for
future stories, I usually write down the points, sections and ideas, then go
back to the current story.
For the past few weeks, a R.W. story has been
simmering in my brain and now it has come to surface. The story is called
"When One Is Expected" and it's either the fourth, fifth or sixth
story after Jerri, I can't really recall which right now. Anyway, it is
the most emotionally and creativly intense story I have ever tried to
write. I really don't feel that I can simply write down points and then go back
to "Jerri", I am afraid I might loose some of the intensity. (Indeed,
in just writing down a conversation that just ran through my head, I always end
up loosing something.) Well, this I really feel this story is too important to
loose, so I'm writing it all now, even though it may well not be up until
around Christmas. But when you read it, if I manage to do what I set out to do,
hopefully you'll understand.
But FEAR NOT!!! I have indeed (I've been
watching "Pride And Prejudice" a lot and it's affecting my language -
the reason for all the "indeeds") I HAVE started writing
"Jerri" - Part 2, "Academy" - Part 2, "What Price
Honor?" - Part 3, and even have been tinkering with "Ties" -
Part 3. (It's coming, it's coming... sheesh!) As well as another Storm story,
"The Debt", that popped into my head. (Some of you, like my friends
are probably saying, "Why doesn't she just finish one first before working
on another?" but that's just the way I write. When an idea pops into my
head, I gotta put it down. If I feel the urge to work on a story one minute,
I'll drop another story right in the middle and work on the other. That's just
me!)
Anyway, feel free to feedback on my ranting,
and I promise I will have something of my own up within the next few
weeks.
Bye!
___________________________________________________________________
AUGUST 16, 1998
I have decided that I will also be accepting
Gen X fanfiction on this site. Why? Cause I like 'em! I won't be accepting
X-Factor, X-Force or Excalibur though, because frankly, I don't really read
those books and it's my site, so it's my choice. 'Kay!
___________________________________________________________________