8/13/2010

Another trip 'round the sun...

In about 8 hours, give or take a bit, I'll officially make the 45 year mark of being alive.

Meh.

Honestly, I've felt kind of down about this birthday. Haven't made much progress on the home front. I'm still in the same job in the same position doing the same thing day in and day out. Relax, I'm thankful I even HAVE a job right now. It's just another year of stagnation.

Health hasn't been the greatest, and for the first time I'm really fighting to keep mobile. But, as always, I keep trudging onward.

Eh, more later. Gotta keep moving on.

7/06/2010

Giving in to the Muse...

I know, I'm finding any reason not to write. It's too hot...I have too much laundry to do...I can't focus right now...I have to lead the troops in battle to beat back the Zerg, for crying out loud!
Well, the Muse has tickled the writing bone and I need to write a few things out. I've got another post in mind after this, but this feels a bit more important right now.

Best wishes to Tee Morris and his daughter, Sonic Boom. You both have been through so much this year. I wish you both the greatest joy and the smoothest road in the coming months and years. Safe travels in the coming months and godspeed!

Best wishes to Philippa Ballentine. You've taken a great leap of faith for your calling and your dream. I know you have a horde of fans and "family" who are backing you and cheering you on all the way (present company included!). It's been wonderful hearing your impressions of American life from a different perspective. Good journey on your way back to NZ, and godspeed!

Best wishes to Brand Gamblin, Allison Duncan, and Elf Princess. As I learned of the sad news earlier this year that's impacted Tee and SB, I first learned of your ordeal, and ironically through that, your wonderful creative endeavors. I hope your faith in humanity has been rekindled a bit, and for what it's worth, this fan's cheering you on to succeed in all that you do.

Geez, I could keep this up all night with all the budding newcoming writers and podcasters--all of which are my heroes and inspirations for writing: Nobilis Reed, Chris Lester, Wil Wheaton (Yes, THAT Wil Wheaton!), Kimi Alexander, Nathan Lowell, Paulette Jaxton, P.C. Haring, Scott Sigler, P.G. Holyfield, Mur Lafferty, J.R. Blackwell, Jared Axelrod, O.M. Grey, J. Daniel Sawyer (it's his bet that has me writing again-and believe me I'm pulling up the rear in the contest!), Gail Carriger, Steve Eley, Christiana Ellis...ugh, I know i'm forgetting people...this feels like an Oscar acceptance speech!

You'll hear me mention these folks more in detail in the future, but I wanted to thank all of them for all that they do, how much I've enjoyed what they've created, and how much I've learned from all your creations. Thanks you so much, all of you, and I wish you all the greatest continued success--not that it'll be all that hard, because you all are brilliant, in my humble opinion!

Ok...got that Muse-packed bundle out of my head and into written form. Next!

6/14/2010

Drinking the ocean from a cocktail straw

I love Mur Lafferty.

Aside from being from my beloved birth state, she calls it how she sees it, pulls no punches, and constantly reminds me that I Should Be Writing!

Now, I'm a self-admitted Apple fanboy. I've loved working with Apple computers since my first Apple ][+ I bought with my own hard-earned money back in 1980. But Apple, AT&T, and the New York Times have incurred the wrath of Ms. Lafferty's rapier tongue, and I am amazed that my beloved Apple could repeatedly be this dense.

Mur posted THIS a few days ago, and I wholeheartedly have to agree with her on calling out the computer company that I dearly love.

We've been through what, Apple? Three iterations of the iPhone now? Then throw in the 3G iPad that the world is snapping up to the tune of how many millions of units? The whole time you stick with the miniscule pipeline of AT&T for your phone company you chose to go with, and while I know it's taking a while for AT&T to ramp up it's network to accept the bandwidth that the hordes of iPhone/iPad users are consuming at a staggering pace...but damn! Promise an unlimited plan, then recind it, trapping all your users with virtually DOUBLE early termination fees and completely cripple your fanbase. And then here comes the New York Times calling those folks who complain data hogs and admonishes them for the consumption that they've been promised! WTF?

My one correction I'd like to point out to Mur--the iPad has both a WiFi and a 3G model, so you can still get an iPad with the same functionality of your iPod Touch (I'm an 8GB model user myself) and have a much larger work surface. I'm personally wanting an iPad for home use, but would love it if I could use that iPad ANYWHERE I had a 3G signal w/o limits. Otherwise she is dead on with calling out the spin doctors of these guilty parties for backpedalling on the promised service, and geez, NYT! Thanks for making us out to be data hogs for just enjoying what we were promised in the first place!

And yeah, I COULD opt for a Droid or other Android phone--I'd rather have something that works seamlessly with my OS of choice.

So I'm getting off my ass and writing again. Apple and AT&T--time for you to get off of yours and get the pipeline opened up.

Dragging my ass

Ok...I've been at this over two weeks--have I written ANYTHING other than the kickoff to the Ass-Moving contest here? Heck no! Bad writer! Bad!

Ok...public shaming over...carry on.

6/04/2010

And so, it begins...again.

"You've taken your first step into a much larger world"
-Obi Wan Kenobi, STAR WARS

"Get off your ass!"
-Pink Flamingo, WONDERFALLS

Those of you who used to frequent the blog here...I'm back.

And I may have just lashed myself to the Great White Whale, but I'm going to enjoy the ride.

I started this blog back in 2004 when i felt that I needed a kick in my ass to get writing again. Whatever the subject, it was just for me to write. Write and get my creative energies flowing once again to tell the tales that have been running through my head.

And there I fell into the worst trap imaginable--I got a readership, and people commenting on my posts.

And it stirred up the fears that so many writers fall prey to: "Who am I kidding? My writing sucks! Nobody cares about my ideas! I had to be crazy to think anyone would care about what I have to say!"

And so I fell silent.

Well, Dan Sawyer has thrown the gauntlet, and I'm gonna step up to the challenge.

Part of me says I'm throwing away $10. But the writer in me wants to prove that other guy wrong.

Dead wrong.

I've written...gotten a lot of support, a lot of criticism, but also a lot of praise. I need my ass moved, and I'm the only one who can do it. It's time to move it.

I've wanted to relaunch RFG for a long while now. Mainly to share with the world the great things that I've found in the Podcasting community--the amazing stories that so many authors have recorded, wether reading their own work solo, or with an ensemble cast.

The new RFG will be partly that. Partly my writing progress report. Partly my free writing warmups.

But I'm writing. It starts here. Things will look pretty basic for now, and it'll be prettied up later on...but for now, I'm writing.

It feels good to be back. Hope you enjoy the ride along with me.