More Ick

Now I am taking horse-sized antibiotics for my sinus/upper respritory infection. I am tired of being sick. Really.

In other news: Kate Beckinsale is hot in leather and latex. Really, really hot.

In still more news: I got some writing done, both for The Last Captain and for Twilight 2013. Really.

And now for something completely different: I have played roleplaying games for 26 years now. Usually as a GM, running things, telling stories with a group of friends. It was and remains one of the easiest means of release for my creative energies. It is also cheaper and safer than drinking and hitting strip clubs, two other ways I could be spending time with buddies.

These players are my buddies. Most of the group has been sharing stories with me for five years now, one played with me in Geneva, where we met. Like a well-oiled team, they tackle most of what I put out there and add to it immeasurably. They are high-speed low drag roleplayers, able to take on most any challenge.

Just before the advent of the 2013 writing gig, I changed the group over to that system and started to run a campaign set in the Sierra Nevada. It is a slick system, but a bit numbers- and realism- heavy for some of my players.

I had been tired of playing Dark Heresy and Warhammer, as the games required a bit more mental work preparing than Twilight 2013. I am intimately familar with all three settings, it was just getting hard to find something that entertained me and was relatively new for my players in Dark Heresy or Warhammer.

I was slowing down, not feeling very motivated, and working hard on my second novel.

At any rate, I switched us from Dark Heresy to Twilight 2013. I didn't ask the guys, I just did it. Eventually it became apparent that some of the players were dissatisfied with the change. With only one night every few weeks to play, some of the players rebelled. One up and straight up told me he wasn't going to play in my group again. The others slowed their responses, begging off and generally not putting in quite as much time with the group. It left me nonplussed, I had some players enjoying the game I was running, and some new blood joined us, filling in the vacancy left by the one player that left.

Today I had a good talk with one of my player friends. He told me what was up. I came to a few realizations from what he told me:

It is about friends and fun. Enthusiastic players and good friends make for fun games.

So it's back to Dark Heresy and catering to my players, to have more fun.

Really.

Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement

Reading Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement right now. It is written by Ph.D. Kevin Gilmartin, and is an exceptional exploration and explanation of the particular strangeness of the emotional life of law enforcement personnel.

I've felt gut-shot a few times, reading it. It explained some of my own behavior, my wife's responses to it, and many of idiosyncrasies of my colleagues.

Despite the short length of the book, I am not quite done with it as each section makes me want to ruminate on it. I particularly liked the sections on assholes and bullshit.

If you have an interest in why cops do things the way they do, and what they think of what it is they do, then I suggest you read it. If you are related to a police officer, I highly recommend it. If you are LE, you should already have read it.

Recent Activity

I am sick AGAIN. A cold snuck up on me and bit my throat. I need to see an allergist, I think. I am tired of sucking air through rocks in my nose every morning.

I printed out The Last Captain today. I had become a bit lost in my own plot, which, while mildly entertaining, was a bit worrisome. There is an element of mystery to this book, and it is a challenge to keep it all organized. Now I am taking highlighters to it in order to organize for myself who knows what and when they learn it. I also managed to get a bit of writing done, despite the ick and the confusion.

I am still waiting on both checks and publication of the stuff I did for the games studio. The weather out there is still abominable, so I am not feeling very impatient.

Once I get those checks, I will purchase my membership for World Fantasy 2010, in that Mecca of Metropoli, COLOMBUS, OHIO! And shortly after, my hotel reservations and plane tickets. I sent several of my Facebook pals a message about it, hopefully they will be able to attend. I highly recommend it, and I haven't seen many of them in some time.

About 500 Important Words

Got very few words written down on the novel this weekend, but they were pretty important, I think. My ass hurts from all the writing/scratching/writing again I have been doing.

I ended up having to re-read my own work because the plot had become a bit snarly. I have turned the corner, and should be able to get her done by tax time, all other things being equal.

In the meantime:




Just so we are clear, I was seated and writing. Not writing on my ass, then scratching it, then writing more...

Just wanted to be clear.

More Cyanide and Happiness Fun

Gods, but these guys are good.


Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

Muse

Been listening quite a bit to these fellows. I think I am late to fanboi status, as they have had several successful albums already, but they hit me in the gut with this and several other tracks.

I find myself chanting while writing, while riding, and doing my day to day...

I am unsure of their politics, but like my admiriation for Rage Against the Machine, I like the music too much to be turned off by such petty details...



And Giant Monster Teddy Bears are just too damn cool!

Happy VD

Yes, and spread it.