Science, females, and Guns

I just felt some urges in my areas, watching the woman on Mythbusters shoot a .50 sniper rifle. So hot.

Then she said, "Science gets more fun when I gets a bigger gun."

I nearly passed out.

Blue Skies, Wet Pavement

The weather cleared. I'm going riding in the hills behind my house with my buddy Michael in about an hour. We have talked about taking a ride together for literally years, but with the vagaries of life, this is our first opportunity.

Until then: the writing, she beckons.

After that: more writing. The bitch won't leave me alone.

Recent News, Time Out, Tomorrow Off

Recent Events:

I have been away from the keyboard for a while, but still managed to get some writing done. I have been cranking a little bit at a time on the third scenario for Everytown, which is fairly short relative to the last one. I even got a whole paragraph written for the novel yesterday.

My daughter has started her second season of soccer, and I am her team's coach. We had our first game on Saturday, and she has some great girls on her team. My girl played well, the team performed exceptionally, and everyone seemed have fun. There is but one parent that puts my teeth on edge. Hopefully it was just a one-time thing, and a product of the stress I was feeling rather than something more.

Last night I spoke with an officer I hadn't had opportunity to speak with in some time. I told him what has happened with my writing. He congratulated me and in the subsequent conversation, revealed that he had given up being a struggling artist for the job. We talked some more, and I felt a sadness and an anger in him. I asked about it and he told me that he'd been burned as a younger man by an unscrupulous partner on a comic.

I told him that I am happier now than ever before because I am doing what I want, and what I am driven, to do. Further, I told him that I can work out some portion of my demons by writing them out and making the situations happen to my poor characters.

We talked about other things for a bit, mostly my fiction, and then we were leaving. As we did so, I couldn't help but meddle, and said, "I would think that someone as visual as an artist or illustrator would have clear recall of the shit we see, and relive it at odd times. Maybe getting that pen out will let you work some of that shit out. And if, as I suspect, you are driven to do it, you will just be happier drawing than not."

He gave a thoughtful nod, but didn't say anything. I hope he does pick it up again.

Future Plans:

I have tomorrow off, thanks to that venerable hero of California, Cesar Chavez.

I hope to get much writing done tomorrow and even a bit today. The weather is foul outside and if I can keep the damn TV off tomorrow I should hammer quite a bit out, and excercise those of my own demons.

A sad day, but a good day

One of the traffic court clerks I work with, Fred, came in today to have lunch with us.

Fred was recently forced into early retirement by a medical condition that required he re-test for his license. They did not give it to him. As he has a long commute to work, he had to retire. His neighbors and aquaintances told him to just keep going, that 'no one would know.'

"I'll know," he said, "I am not a hypocrite."

Born in upstate New York, Fred's a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam.

When he got back from Vietnam, Fred moved to Hollywood, where he was on the set of a new science fiction show with a buddy who was an aspiring actor. The buddy didn't make the grade, but the young stern-faced man with him was asked to don a red shirt and stand in the background. That's right, Fred served as a red-shirt on Star Trek, dying several times in service to The Federation.

Fred came north, got married, and started working as a clerk of the courts, first for the Public Defender, then in infractions. I met him in traffic court, and grew to respect his wit and wisdom.

Fred's a gentleman and fun sort, I wish him a happy and lengthy retirement.

Take 'em for at least as long as they took you, Fred. And have fun doing it!

Talking shit about writing

I recently posted some stuff about how not to write. Being new to the published author realm, I would like to add one more thing:

Writing the stuff you are getting paid to do is another good way not write the stuff you may want to write. I find myself wishing I could go back to the novel and get some things down, but find I have to work on the scenarios I am writing for 93 Games Studio. Not because they've set a short deadline, but because I'm getting paid to do it.

It's nice to have little things like 'what should I work on' to whine about rather than, "I can't think myself outta this hole, dammit!"

Why yes, I do believe I'll have some cheese with my whine, thankyou.

Fast Zombies, the true threat

This just in:

And the second is First Contact

Second bit of writing is for sale here.

Some errors crept in that I am a bit frustrated with, but it is still very nice to see it up and selling.