Monthly Archives: March 2012

A very decent day overall

Today started early as I had an appointment to see my sweetie-wife’s chriopractor about my bum knees. Now I will admit to being skeptical as to the usefulness of this visit, but I agreed to hear the man and see what sort of things me might try.

He agreed with a physical therapist that had diagnosed my giant gait as being off. (Apparently I walk with my feet pointed outward.) After just one treatment the pain in my knee was gone. By the end of the evening it was coming back but far from as severe as it had been. I will stick with this and see how it goes for the next two months.

In the evening I ran my D&D game and that game went pretty well.

edited for spelling

 

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A surprisingly productive year – so far

I’m a little astounded at how well my writing productivity has turned out this year.  We’re not three months into 2012 and I have completed three short stories, two are about to be sent out for possible publication and the third is for a special project with the Mysterious Galaxy Writer’s Group. I have outlined and started a new novel. (A project delayed due to injury and illness at home, but now that both are safely in the past tense I can get back to work on Command & Control.) I’m now writing a mystery short story that has no fantastic elements, a genre I have never attempted, and several more short stores and a new setting for a novel are beginning to come together in my mind.

For a short period, less than 90 days, this has been a real race horse start to my writing year.

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Sprinting Towards The Goal

The 31st is approaching fast and with it the deadline for entries into this Quarter’s Writers Of The Future Contest. I made the goal this year to enter each and every quarter of the year and stopping only if I was awarded a winning place.

I did not win last quarter, did not even place in honorable mention as I have done hour times before so by my stated intentions I am committed to having an entry by Sunday.

I have one short story, “Lady Jane,”  ready, it is written, edited (though not reviewed by my sweetie-wife) and turned out interestingly. It represents a two fold experiment. First I explored the concept of the Captain/Ship romance, so common in science-fiction. Secondly I used this story as an attempt to sketch characters, with distinctly different traits and personalities with as few words as possible.

I think I succeeded in both attempts; however I’d prefer to hold off entering this piece. I am currently trying to complete a cosmic horror SF story entitled “Lies I tell myself” in time for this quarter. This story, the core concept something I have thought about and attempted for over 30 years, is coming along nicely. The question is can I finished it, and polish it before Sunday rolls around?

I think “Lies I tell myself” would be the stronger entry, but only if It is finished and not slapdashed to a “The End” late Sunday afternnon. If that turns out to be the case I will enter “Lady Jane,” a story that I have gotten zero feedback on.

 

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Not a bad weekend

Well, the weekend is coming to a close and all in all things weren’t too bad. Friday night’s D&D game, where I play a Paladin, was exciting stuff and for once my Paladin stole the show from the two Dwarves, slaying the big monster so quickly there was little for them to do beside taking about henchlings.

Saturday morning was a hit too pricey but there was nothing to be done. I needed 360 degree x-rays for the braces that are going to be put on my teeth and for the potential jaw surgery. The x-ray set me back nearly $400.

Saturday evenings D&D game where I am the game master went well. I got a new player character introduced and the rescue mission went off very well for the players. After the game I went to a midnight showing of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” at a local art house theater. While the print started off scratched, it cleaned up very quickly and I throughly enjoyed myself.

Today has been hanging with my sweetie-wife, walking in the park, and playing a couple of games of “Dominion.” (We each won 1 game.)

Now, in the early evening/late afternoon, the predicted rains have materialized and we can settle in and just listen to the storm.

 

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A generally busy day

So today has been doing tax paperwork, oh please stop the joyous fun, and prepping for the D&D (3.5) games I will be running tonight.

Because of that I do not expect to do any posting today. You will have to entertain yourself.

 

 

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The X from Outer Space

Last week my sweetie-wife and I decided to add HULU plus to our video on demand services. You see, we do not have regular cable services, the vast wasteland that is television has little interest to us. So what we watch comes from Netflix on disc, Netflix instant view, and now HULU plus, which gets us The Daily Show and The Colbert report in addition to a number of feature films and other tidbits to watch.
This week I decided to watch a Criterion Collection film – a vast number of the Criterion Collection movies are available on Hulu Plus — The X from Outer Space. This is a late 60’s Japanese giant monster movie, the sort of thing I wasted a number hour upon as a young-un, though I have no memory of this particular feature. Continue reading →

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