On March 21st, a general theme reveal was had by hundreds of bloggers who are participating in this year's A-Z Blogging Challenge. However, since I had a post already pre-scheduled, I could not participate in the reveal.
However, for today's post, I am revealing my theme for the 2014 A-Z Blogging Challenge, which will commence on April 1st (yeah, I am so doomed).
The overall theme for my blog's inclusion in the 2014 A-Z Blogging Challenge is everything connected with my adventures as a writer.
I have managed to tie 24 of the 26 letters of the alphabet with my adventures as a newbie/semi-newbie writer. Almost every normal conceivable topic that one can experience as either a newbie or non-newbie writer will be touched up in the month of April. Some will be funny, some will be poignant, and some will even be of the buyer beware syndrome that can plague us writers.
The remaining two letters, Y & Z, were the ones that I had the most difficulty in tying into my adventures as a writer, but I took a crack at it just the same, and I hope that you'll find those posts to your liking.
I look forward to sharing my personal adventures as a writer with everyone next month, both here on the blog and on Facebook, where I will post the blog links as well.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
March 28, 2014
March 26, 2014
Need To Find My Happy Place
I am not a happy camper right now, due to this latest piece of criminal stupidity perpetrated by those twin incompetent F's Massachusetts DCF and Judge Joseph Johnston (he of the equally corruptible Massachusetts Juvenile Court), who didn't have the balls issue his decision in court, who decided that Massachusetts DCF can continue with the slow torturous death of Connecticut teenager Justina Pelletier (note: my daughter is close friends with Justina and her sister Jennifer is her skating coach).
Because I am livid with rage and contempt with not only those people, but with my employer Connecticut DCF for not having the balls or spine to step in and do the right thing, I've decided that the best course of action would be to one, step away from my computer for a couple of days, and two, post a video, preferably of a song that will help me get to my happy place.
Maybe a little Dickey Betts is in order, eh?
Or maybe a little Boz Scaggs with Duane Allman?
Please enjoy this brief interlude and hope to catch up with you on Friday, where I'll have a very special announcement for the month of April.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
Because I am livid with rage and contempt with not only those people, but with my employer Connecticut DCF for not having the balls or spine to step in and do the right thing, I've decided that the best course of action would be to one, step away from my computer for a couple of days, and two, post a video, preferably of a song that will help me get to my happy place.
Maybe a little Dickey Betts is in order, eh?
Or maybe a little Boz Scaggs with Duane Allman?
Please enjoy this brief interlude and hope to catch up with you on Friday, where I'll have a very special announcement for the month of April.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
March 24, 2014
Check Those Out!
Get yer mind out of the gutter. I don't care what you may have read here before, but this ain't that. This is cleaner than a baby's behind after a summer mud bath. So there.
For the longest time, my limitation for reading library books was two. Any more and I would leave those books unread and unfulfilled. Any less and I would take extra trips to the library. The main reason why I have a cap of two books is that our library has a lending period of three weeks and for me, because of the (usually) abbreviated time period I have for my reading (lunch and breaks at work), 1 1/2 weeks per book works out just fine.
Up until early summer '13, I've always checked out two non-fiction books to read. Why? Well for starters, non-fiction is written/designed to allow the reader to stop at a particular passage and pick it up the next day. Fiction, sadly, does not. How many times have you picked up a book of fiction and discovered to your everlasting regret that the story has got you hook, line and sinker? And you found that even if you tried to put it down, it would smack your brain around until you picked it back up again.
Join the club my friends, join the club.
Nevertheless, in early summer '13 I decided that come hell or high water, I was going to check out a book of fiction with my non-fiction. And to be on the safe side, I came up with a fool proof plan: in order not run headlong into the problem described in the preceding paragraph I would check out historical fiction and/or non-series fiction.
I bet you're wondering how is this a good thing?
Most historical fiction that I've come across reads like non-fiction, in that I can always bookmark and come back later to none the worse for wear. So long as I don't deviate from that plan, I'm good. When I do deviate from that plan, then I have problems. Fortunately, those deviations have been few and far between.
But, we are in a new year, and a new year is always fraught with perils and promise. In this case, I have found fiction that I may have problems with in the coming months.
For instance, the other day I saw a new book by S. Thomas Russell. Upon closer examination of the jacket, I discovered that this new novel was #3 in a series of historical naval fiction set during the French Revolution. Now, I don't know if you have this same problem, but I am loathe to start a book series in the middle. So I found the first volume "Under Enemy Colours" and damn it, I done suffered the malady previously described as I read this book (about 500 pages) in roughly four days.
And yes, when I went back to the library, I grabbed the 2nd volume "A Battle Won" with the intention of reading it as well. However, while I was looking for a volume of horror by John Ajvide Lindqvist called "Let The Right One In" (two very fantastic horror films, one Swedish and one American, were made. Highly recommend that you see them, and this is coming from a person who as a rule doesn't like most horror), I joyfully discovered a book series by Jeff Lindsay. Who is Jeff Lindsay? His is the genius/mastermind behind the recently expired "Dexter" t.v. series. Oh, and the reason why I was looking for that particular horror novel to being with is that John Lindqvist just came out with a short story anthology that my library recently acquired and was featuring on a sort display of new fiction books.
Suffice to say, I now have a lot on my plate, reading wise. I do enjoy reading complete book series, but the problem I'll be having is making sure that I don't suffer from the aforementioned malady at work. I have no problem suffering the malady at home (which is where is should be) but at work, especially at my job, is a distinct no-no. But as they say, there is always a solution to any problem one may incur while pursuing a hobby that one is passionate about.
Someday I may enlighten everyone on just exactly what the solution may be to this problem. Until then, check out those three writers when you get the chance, because you won't be disappointed.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
For the longest time, my limitation for reading library books was two. Any more and I would leave those books unread and unfulfilled. Any less and I would take extra trips to the library. The main reason why I have a cap of two books is that our library has a lending period of three weeks and for me, because of the (usually) abbreviated time period I have for my reading (lunch and breaks at work), 1 1/2 weeks per book works out just fine.
Up until early summer '13, I've always checked out two non-fiction books to read. Why? Well for starters, non-fiction is written/designed to allow the reader to stop at a particular passage and pick it up the next day. Fiction, sadly, does not. How many times have you picked up a book of fiction and discovered to your everlasting regret that the story has got you hook, line and sinker? And you found that even if you tried to put it down, it would smack your brain around until you picked it back up again.
Join the club my friends, join the club.
Nevertheless, in early summer '13 I decided that come hell or high water, I was going to check out a book of fiction with my non-fiction. And to be on the safe side, I came up with a fool proof plan: in order not run headlong into the problem described in the preceding paragraph I would check out historical fiction and/or non-series fiction.
I bet you're wondering how is this a good thing?
Most historical fiction that I've come across reads like non-fiction, in that I can always bookmark and come back later to none the worse for wear. So long as I don't deviate from that plan, I'm good. When I do deviate from that plan, then I have problems. Fortunately, those deviations have been few and far between.
But, we are in a new year, and a new year is always fraught with perils and promise. In this case, I have found fiction that I may have problems with in the coming months.
For instance, the other day I saw a new book by S. Thomas Russell. Upon closer examination of the jacket, I discovered that this new novel was #3 in a series of historical naval fiction set during the French Revolution. Now, I don't know if you have this same problem, but I am loathe to start a book series in the middle. So I found the first volume "Under Enemy Colours" and damn it, I done suffered the malady previously described as I read this book (about 500 pages) in roughly four days.
And yes, when I went back to the library, I grabbed the 2nd volume "A Battle Won" with the intention of reading it as well. However, while I was looking for a volume of horror by John Ajvide Lindqvist called "Let The Right One In" (two very fantastic horror films, one Swedish and one American, were made. Highly recommend that you see them, and this is coming from a person who as a rule doesn't like most horror), I joyfully discovered a book series by Jeff Lindsay. Who is Jeff Lindsay? His is the genius/mastermind behind the recently expired "Dexter" t.v. series. Oh, and the reason why I was looking for that particular horror novel to being with is that John Lindqvist just came out with a short story anthology that my library recently acquired and was featuring on a sort display of new fiction books.
Suffice to say, I now have a lot on my plate, reading wise. I do enjoy reading complete book series, but the problem I'll be having is making sure that I don't suffer from the aforementioned malady at work. I have no problem suffering the malady at home (which is where is should be) but at work, especially at my job, is a distinct no-no. But as they say, there is always a solution to any problem one may incur while pursuing a hobby that one is passionate about.
Someday I may enlighten everyone on just exactly what the solution may be to this problem. Until then, check out those three writers when you get the chance, because you won't be disappointed.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
March 21, 2014
Cross My Roads And Hope Like Hell I Find The Middle Of The Other Side
I often like to do word play with my post titles, mostly to see if anyone can get the gist of what my actual intentions are for a given blog post, which in this case would be this one.
For the past few weeks, okay the past month, my muse has basically gone out to lunch with no forwarding address to speak of. Which means that no inspiration is to be had, no wishful thinking to be thought about, no creativity in action, and most importantly, no excess verbiage to unleash on to an unsuspecting general public, or at the very least, an unsuspecting writer.
To get everyone up to speed, I have to come to screeching halt without a seat belt with my latest writing project. The main reason as to why is that I basically gave up trying to figure how to re-write a key scene that leads into the final climax (get your mind out of the gutter) of the story. Try as I might, I shot blanks like...well....hmmm....you know (gotta keep this PG-13), I just shot blanks.
You can probably well imagine that my inability to do anything with my writing has put me in a rotten frame of mind. Now couple that rotten frame of mind with an unhappy work environment, and presto! you got a person whose outlook on life is nastier than the media's loathing of GWB (which is saying quite a lot if you think about it).
Take that rotten outlook on life and add some self loathing courtesy of Facebook. You know the kind of self loathing I'm talking about. You read the rah-rah-rah updates from your fellow writers and you want to do one of the following things: post select descriptive adjectives about your hatred of those kind of updates; disattach yourself from those writer friends and writer's groups and continue practicing your self loathing.
Or, you can come up with a 3rd thing to do. A 3rd thing that runs completely counter to who and what you are (like the President suddenly developing a spine like Bill Clinton). A 3rd thing that suddenly brings your muse back from her one month lunch break and makes her to jump inside your head and scream like she's experiencing the biggest O in her entire short life, "Yes! Yes! Yes! Do it! Do it! Do it! Now! Now! Now!"
What's that 3rd thing you might ask? Well, if you're me, it's the slush novella that gave you nightmares whenever decided to work on. The slush novella that made the words pour out you faster than the paparazzi creaming their collective shorts over unlimited access to the hottest A-list Hollyweird celebrities. The slush novella that gave you the creeps just when you opened the notebook to refresh your memory. The slush novella that almost one year later, you still can't bring yourself to tell anyone, and I mean anyone, what the general plot is beyond involving two serial killers. The slush novella that runs counter to how you actually feel about those kind of stories to begin with.
That's right, that slush novella.
A writer friend of my on Facebook just came out with a new book about a serial killer, which in turn got me to thinking about my unfinished slush novella. Well, it didn't really, as I was already drifting that way with my thinking to begin with as the 1Q of 2014 has really sucked major moose testicles, so with her advertising her new book crime book (did you know that Amazon ranks weird categories like serial killers?) it was more like a hard shove off a tall cliff.
Anywho, I started thinking about switching speeds, from re-writing to original writing, but still staying within the same genre. And can you believe my muse decided to grace my conscience with her presence? Who knew that I had such a seriously F'd up muse? Certainly not me. I've always thought that my muse was a vibrant, sensual yet hard driven individual (yes, my muse is female) that took nor gave no quarters. But to suddenly find out that my muse has a sick puppy dog imagination simply blows me away.
So that is my crossroads for the incoming weekend: continue rewriting a worth novella or restart a novella with original writing.
Sometimes, it really does suck to be me the writer.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
For the past few weeks, okay the past month, my muse has basically gone out to lunch with no forwarding address to speak of. Which means that no inspiration is to be had, no wishful thinking to be thought about, no creativity in action, and most importantly, no excess verbiage to unleash on to an unsuspecting general public, or at the very least, an unsuspecting writer.
To get everyone up to speed, I have to come to screeching halt without a seat belt with my latest writing project. The main reason as to why is that I basically gave up trying to figure how to re-write a key scene that leads into the final climax (get your mind out of the gutter) of the story. Try as I might, I shot blanks like...well....hmmm....you know (gotta keep this PG-13), I just shot blanks.
You can probably well imagine that my inability to do anything with my writing has put me in a rotten frame of mind. Now couple that rotten frame of mind with an unhappy work environment, and presto! you got a person whose outlook on life is nastier than the media's loathing of GWB (which is saying quite a lot if you think about it).
Take that rotten outlook on life and add some self loathing courtesy of Facebook. You know the kind of self loathing I'm talking about. You read the rah-rah-rah updates from your fellow writers and you want to do one of the following things: post select descriptive adjectives about your hatred of those kind of updates; disattach yourself from those writer friends and writer's groups and continue practicing your self loathing.
Or, you can come up with a 3rd thing to do. A 3rd thing that runs completely counter to who and what you are (like the President suddenly developing a spine like Bill Clinton). A 3rd thing that suddenly brings your muse back from her one month lunch break and makes her to jump inside your head and scream like she's experiencing the biggest O in her entire short life, "Yes! Yes! Yes! Do it! Do it! Do it! Now! Now! Now!"
What's that 3rd thing you might ask? Well, if you're me, it's the slush novella that gave you nightmares whenever decided to work on. The slush novella that made the words pour out you faster than the paparazzi creaming their collective shorts over unlimited access to the hottest A-list Hollyweird celebrities. The slush novella that gave you the creeps just when you opened the notebook to refresh your memory. The slush novella that almost one year later, you still can't bring yourself to tell anyone, and I mean anyone, what the general plot is beyond involving two serial killers. The slush novella that runs counter to how you actually feel about those kind of stories to begin with.
That's right, that slush novella.
A writer friend of my on Facebook just came out with a new book about a serial killer, which in turn got me to thinking about my unfinished slush novella. Well, it didn't really, as I was already drifting that way with my thinking to begin with as the 1Q of 2014 has really sucked major moose testicles, so with her advertising her new book crime book (did you know that Amazon ranks weird categories like serial killers?) it was more like a hard shove off a tall cliff.
Anywho, I started thinking about switching speeds, from re-writing to original writing, but still staying within the same genre. And can you believe my muse decided to grace my conscience with her presence? Who knew that I had such a seriously F'd up muse? Certainly not me. I've always thought that my muse was a vibrant, sensual yet hard driven individual (yes, my muse is female) that took nor gave no quarters. But to suddenly find out that my muse has a sick puppy dog imagination simply blows me away.
So that is my crossroads for the incoming weekend: continue rewriting a worth novella or restart a novella with original writing.
Sometimes, it really does suck to be me the writer.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
March 19, 2014
B(ooks) A(lready) R(ead) VII
part 1st, part 2nd, part 3rd, part 4th, part 5th, part 6th
Here is part the 7th of my series featuring books that I read in 2013. Hope you like my choices, as well as my reviews, and please remember that all these books are either from my modest collection of quartos or from the public library's vast collection of quartos.
37} A Game of Inches: The Stories Behind the Innovations That Shaped Baseball by Peter Morris. Baseball has always been my go-to sport for history and minutia. Growing up, I used to buy copies of the Baseball Encyclopedia and read them voraciously from cover to cover (the version I'm talking about features a year by year synopsis and includes stats/standings for each year, as well as overall personal standings). I also would check out from the library all kinds of books about baseball, from bios about individual players to bios about teams and beyond. This particular book is the definitive book about baseball, as it covers ever single rule/development that was inserted/created in the baseball rule book. From baseballs to throwing, to players and types of plays, and everything else in between, this book is a must for those who truly enjoy the history and minutia about baseball but doesn't want to be put to sleep reading Sabermetrics.
38} Baseball Eccentrics by Bill "Spaceman" Lee. I love to read about the eccentric characters that make baseball such a truly bizarre sport to watch, and this books was no exception. If you can ignore the fact that Bill injects his personal political viewpoint periodically into the book, it really is a remarkable read. Bill is a surprising articulate and truly funny guy and this book will not disappoint.
39} Move Over Darling by Christine Stovell. This tidy little British romance was given to me as prize won in a contest sponsored by a popular writer's blog. As most of you know (or not know) I'm wickedly picky about the type of romance novels I read. Romance is genre that I have still have issues with from time to time, so it's something that I don't make a habit of consistently reading. This particular romance novel kept my interest from beginning to end as Christine was able to keep multiple plot threads going without letting the reader get lost in the process. Definitely something I would recommend to those who would are looking for something a little different.
40} The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About The Murder of Matthew Shepard by Stephen Jimenez. Matthew Shepard has always been a touchy subject to talk about, and speaking from personal experience, if you don't kowtow the official line, you can expect yourself to be bashed from pillar to post by well meaning if slightly misguided individuals. This book, written by the man who helped produce the 2005 20/20 show covering the case, succinctly and completely shatters the myth that has made Matthew Shepard a gay icon to the LGBT community. I highly recommend this book to anyone who claims to be open minded, gay or straight, because this book will make you reexamine your firmly held beliefs about Matthew Shepard.
41} 80 Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's History Making Race Around The World by Matthew Goodman. I love history, and because I was only vaguely aware of this historic event via an old movie about it, I decided to check out the book. If you love history, especially the late 19th century, then this book is for you. This story was that century's modern day equivalent of today's media frenzy over celebrity trials and tribulations (ie. O.J., Princess Di, Michael Jackson, etc.), and Matthew Goodman does a fantastic job of writing about it, and does an excellent job of stating that sometimes coming in first can be detrimental to one's reputation for years/decades to come.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
Here is part the 7th of my series featuring books that I read in 2013. Hope you like my choices, as well as my reviews, and please remember that all these books are either from my modest collection of quartos or from the public library's vast collection of quartos.
37} A Game of Inches: The Stories Behind the Innovations That Shaped Baseball by Peter Morris. Baseball has always been my go-to sport for history and minutia. Growing up, I used to buy copies of the Baseball Encyclopedia and read them voraciously from cover to cover (the version I'm talking about features a year by year synopsis and includes stats/standings for each year, as well as overall personal standings). I also would check out from the library all kinds of books about baseball, from bios about individual players to bios about teams and beyond. This particular book is the definitive book about baseball, as it covers ever single rule/development that was inserted/created in the baseball rule book. From baseballs to throwing, to players and types of plays, and everything else in between, this book is a must for those who truly enjoy the history and minutia about baseball but doesn't want to be put to sleep reading Sabermetrics.
38} Baseball Eccentrics by Bill "Spaceman" Lee. I love to read about the eccentric characters that make baseball such a truly bizarre sport to watch, and this books was no exception. If you can ignore the fact that Bill injects his personal political viewpoint periodically into the book, it really is a remarkable read. Bill is a surprising articulate and truly funny guy and this book will not disappoint.
39} Move Over Darling by Christine Stovell. This tidy little British romance was given to me as prize won in a contest sponsored by a popular writer's blog. As most of you know (or not know) I'm wickedly picky about the type of romance novels I read. Romance is genre that I have still have issues with from time to time, so it's something that I don't make a habit of consistently reading. This particular romance novel kept my interest from beginning to end as Christine was able to keep multiple plot threads going without letting the reader get lost in the process. Definitely something I would recommend to those who would are looking for something a little different.
40} The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About The Murder of Matthew Shepard by Stephen Jimenez. Matthew Shepard has always been a touchy subject to talk about, and speaking from personal experience, if you don't kowtow the official line, you can expect yourself to be bashed from pillar to post by well meaning if slightly misguided individuals. This book, written by the man who helped produce the 2005 20/20 show covering the case, succinctly and completely shatters the myth that has made Matthew Shepard a gay icon to the LGBT community. I highly recommend this book to anyone who claims to be open minded, gay or straight, because this book will make you reexamine your firmly held beliefs about Matthew Shepard.
41} 80 Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's History Making Race Around The World by Matthew Goodman. I love history, and because I was only vaguely aware of this historic event via an old movie about it, I decided to check out the book. If you love history, especially the late 19th century, then this book is for you. This story was that century's modern day equivalent of today's media frenzy over celebrity trials and tribulations (ie. O.J., Princess Di, Michael Jackson, etc.), and Matthew Goodman does a fantastic job of writing about it, and does an excellent job of stating that sometimes coming in first can be detrimental to one's reputation for years/decades to come.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
March 17, 2014
Weep Genuinely And Weep Deeply, For XP Is No More
On April 8th, life as a truly active XP user for me will be over, as Microsoft officially ends its support for one of the most popular systems that they've ever had. Eventually they will be doing the same for Windows 7 (saw a soft date of 2020 while doing research for this post), but that is way in the future.
For me, I've been fortunate enough to start prepping for the end around this time last year. I bought my current computer via Staples onlilne because I did not want anything to do with Windows 8 (and still don't, but we'll cross that bridge when the time comes), and have been slowly migrating my writing/blogging related stuff to it from my old XP.
Over this weekend, I bought two new components for my computers, Word 2013 for my Windows 7 and a new flash drive for my old. The reason why I bought a new flash drive for the old is that with the elimination of support for XP I needed a new way to transfer certain updated files from my old computer to my new computer. A new flash drive will be the cheapest and easiest way to do what I need to do.
My next goal is to buy a ridiculously cheap printer for my new computer as the one I have for my XP is non-compatible with Windows 7. This I found out when I finally found the software for it a week ago (along with the software to reload a video drive long thought lost when I had my old computer fixed some 5 years ago). I need a printer because I do get stat reports for my blog, as well as coupons for a store I shop at, and I would hate to forward those e-mails to work in order to print them out.
I do plan on continuing to use my XP for writing as it's still good for that. However I did make sure to follow one tech writer's advice about continuing to use XP after April 8th: I have a sticky note pasted on my copy holder reminding me to disable my Internet connection on March 31st. Since I actually have a small modem/tower (about five inches in height) for the wireless there, it will be the simple issue of unplugging the tower, disabling the connection and uninstall the software. So long as I'm not connected to the World Wide Web, I should be good to go. And I should probably uninstall McAfee on my XP as well. After all, no WWW means no anti-virus, yes?
So my friends, are you ready/prepared to face the inevitable?
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
For me, I've been fortunate enough to start prepping for the end around this time last year. I bought my current computer via Staples onlilne because I did not want anything to do with Windows 8 (and still don't, but we'll cross that bridge when the time comes), and have been slowly migrating my writing/blogging related stuff to it from my old XP.
Over this weekend, I bought two new components for my computers, Word 2013 for my Windows 7 and a new flash drive for my old. The reason why I bought a new flash drive for the old is that with the elimination of support for XP I needed a new way to transfer certain updated files from my old computer to my new computer. A new flash drive will be the cheapest and easiest way to do what I need to do.
My next goal is to buy a ridiculously cheap printer for my new computer as the one I have for my XP is non-compatible with Windows 7. This I found out when I finally found the software for it a week ago (along with the software to reload a video drive long thought lost when I had my old computer fixed some 5 years ago). I need a printer because I do get stat reports for my blog, as well as coupons for a store I shop at, and I would hate to forward those e-mails to work in order to print them out.
I do plan on continuing to use my XP for writing as it's still good for that. However I did make sure to follow one tech writer's advice about continuing to use XP after April 8th: I have a sticky note pasted on my copy holder reminding me to disable my Internet connection on March 31st. Since I actually have a small modem/tower (about five inches in height) for the wireless there, it will be the simple issue of unplugging the tower, disabling the connection and uninstall the software. So long as I'm not connected to the World Wide Web, I should be good to go. And I should probably uninstall McAfee on my XP as well. After all, no WWW means no anti-virus, yes?
So my friends, are you ready/prepared to face the inevitable?
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
March 14, 2014
Continuity Is A Good Thing?
Continuing on the theme, I'm still not my uncola self.
To whit: I have been death warmed over since early Wednesday and brain-toasted-to-a-natural-golden-brown since Thursday. While Wednesday featured all of the usual things that come with being sick (nightmares, muscular aches/weakness, pulled stomach muscles from saluting the porcelain gods twice, etc. etc. etc.), Thursday only featured moderate brain deadness and moving at the speed of slow.
Still, neither lack of good health or an abundance of ill health will stop me from churning out my requisite Friday blog post for everyone to peruse and ignore. So, let's get on with it.
Up first, a semi-special announcement. In the past few months, you may have heard me talk about either here or on Facebook about the grave injustice being done by Massachusetts DCF to Connecticut teenager Justina Pelletier. Long story short, she is being held hostage by DCF on trumped up charges of medical abuse. To date, her story has been pick up by the local major daily The Hartford Courant, the local Fox affiliate here CT, The Kelly Files on Fox News, Studio B with Shepard Smith on Fox, Glenn Beck's web show, as well as a mention by Governor Huckabee on his show, also on Fox.
You can now add Dr. Phil to the mix, as Lou and Jennifer Pelletier (Justina's dad and sister) will be appearing with Dr. Phil this coming Monday on his show. This is something that you certainly don't want to miss, so make sure that you DVR it if you can't watch it when it comes on.
Next, we have our blogging. As some of you may know, I decided to participate in the 2014 edition of the A-Z Blogging Challenge. To give you an update on my progress, I have 24 of the 26 letters pre-written, so it's the matter of copying and pasting. However, with the last two letters, Y & Z, I'm running out of steam/ideas for the letters, so Y may wind up being some kind of free form whimsy, while Z may be just a few videos of Warren Zevon.
Oh, and one more little factoid: I changed the templates to my other blogs, simply because Blogger will be eventually phasing out the classic template, so I figure no time like the present in moving forward.
On the writing front, just got socked with the inevitable rights revision offer with my debut novel. I kind of figure it was going to come, since not only is erotica tough to pimp, but Solstice seems to be moving away from that kind of stuff and sticking what is working for them best, which is westerns, YA and mystery/thrillers. I have nothing but good things to say in regards with Solstice, so right now the only thing I'm negotiating with this offer is the length of time, since my contract isn't due to expire for another year.
Finally, on a lighter note, a good Facebook friend Lana Gramlich (photog extraordinaire) turned me onto this nifty puzzle site run by The Puzzle Baron. This one happens to deal with logic puzzles, but they have links to other types of puzzles as well.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
To whit: I have been death warmed over since early Wednesday and brain-toasted-to-a-natural-golden-brown since Thursday. While Wednesday featured all of the usual things that come with being sick (nightmares, muscular aches/weakness, pulled stomach muscles from saluting the porcelain gods twice, etc. etc. etc.), Thursday only featured moderate brain deadness and moving at the speed of slow.
Still, neither lack of good health or an abundance of ill health will stop me from churning out my requisite Friday blog post for everyone to peruse and ignore. So, let's get on with it.
Up first, a semi-special announcement. In the past few months, you may have heard me talk about either here or on Facebook about the grave injustice being done by Massachusetts DCF to Connecticut teenager Justina Pelletier. Long story short, she is being held hostage by DCF on trumped up charges of medical abuse. To date, her story has been pick up by the local major daily The Hartford Courant, the local Fox affiliate here CT, The Kelly Files on Fox News, Studio B with Shepard Smith on Fox, Glenn Beck's web show, as well as a mention by Governor Huckabee on his show, also on Fox.
You can now add Dr. Phil to the mix, as Lou and Jennifer Pelletier (Justina's dad and sister) will be appearing with Dr. Phil this coming Monday on his show. This is something that you certainly don't want to miss, so make sure that you DVR it if you can't watch it when it comes on.
Next, we have our blogging. As some of you may know, I decided to participate in the 2014 edition of the A-Z Blogging Challenge. To give you an update on my progress, I have 24 of the 26 letters pre-written, so it's the matter of copying and pasting. However, with the last two letters, Y & Z, I'm running out of steam/ideas for the letters, so Y may wind up being some kind of free form whimsy, while Z may be just a few videos of Warren Zevon.
Oh, and one more little factoid: I changed the templates to my other blogs, simply because Blogger will be eventually phasing out the classic template, so I figure no time like the present in moving forward.
On the writing front, just got socked with the inevitable rights revision offer with my debut novel. I kind of figure it was going to come, since not only is erotica tough to pimp, but Solstice seems to be moving away from that kind of stuff and sticking what is working for them best, which is westerns, YA and mystery/thrillers. I have nothing but good things to say in regards with Solstice, so right now the only thing I'm negotiating with this offer is the length of time, since my contract isn't due to expire for another year.
Finally, on a lighter note, a good Facebook friend Lana Gramlich (photog extraordinaire) turned me onto this nifty puzzle site run by The Puzzle Baron. This one happens to deal with logic puzzles, but they have links to other types of puzzles as well.
Hope your Friday is a goody.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
March 12, 2014
This About Sums Up My So Far
I wasn't particularly motivated to write anything in the way of a blog post today. Before you ask, it wasn't one thing that non-motivated me for today, but just a bunch of little annoyances that added up to one huge annoyance, and that one huge annoyance has got me motivating away from my computer.
However, before I go motivating away from my computer into the great unknown so that I can find the fake me, the real me, the uncola me, I will leave you with a video of a song that I heard yesterday while driving in to work. This song got to me so bad that I didn't shut off the engine when I'd finished parking the car until the song had ended.
Catch you all on the flip side going into the weekend, when I should be sufficiently recuperated from a mini day and a half vacation.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
However, before I go motivating away from my computer into the great unknown so that I can find the fake me, the real me, the uncola me, I will leave you with a video of a song that I heard yesterday while driving in to work. This song got to me so bad that I didn't shut off the engine when I'd finished parking the car until the song had ended.
Catch you all on the flip side going into the weekend, when I should be sufficiently recuperated from a mini day and a half vacation.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
March 10, 2014
I's Gots A Routine!
Howdy do folks! Tis I, the queen of my master's humble abode, Holly! Today, G.B. is unfortunately suffering through the side effects of a major FUBAR* that was initially inflicted on him this past Friday (3/7). He's hoping for the side effects to disperse by Tuesday, so until then, he has made a call to the bullpen and called in his now number one reliever to make the start.
I thought for today, I would give you an example on how animals have established routines much like humans have established routines for certain things.
I am a creature of habit when it comes to eating my breakfast in a timely manner. When I sit on your chest first thing in the morning, that means FEED ME! NOW! Because I'm not a completely heartless feline, I'll give you a grand total of one minute to get your sorry ass downstairs to feed me. I'm hungry and I want my food now. Not two minutes from now, not three minutes from now, but now. NOW, NOW, NOW, NOW, NOW!!!!! Got it?!
Further more....AAAAIIIGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!
Hello there folks! Tis I, Yello Bear! And Yello Bears none-too-happy about his being usurped from his number one position, so I's have taken steps to remove the interloper from the premises with extreme prejudice.
Anywho, dat interloper was going ons about how animal's have routines like humans. Well, I's don't knows about yours truly, as the only routines I has is sleeping, waking up, consuming a dozen honey jello shots and if I cants get's my daily quoitient, then i's go on the prowls for monies to get my jello shots, has a set routines, but I does know that a certain furrball has a seriously annoying routine about stuffing its face at the same time every freakin' morning.
F'r instance, as soon as G.B. wakes up, she's walking between his legs so that he winds up tripping into the door. However, as soon as he gets his balances, she's running down the stairs to stuff her face. When he doesn't go down right away, she runs back up the stairs to bug him until he makes a move towards the stairs. Then she blitzes down the stairs looking to stuff her fat face.
Kind of rinse, lather and repeat.
And heaven forbid if G.B. wants to sleeps late, like because of yesterdays time flunctuations for example. The she sits at the bottom of the stairs screaming at the top of her lungs, MEOW!!! over and over again until she wakes up the ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD!
I mean, really, you have to wake up the ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD 'CAUSE YOUR OWNER ISN'T MOVING FAST ENOUGH FOR YOU???
And you wonder why no one really likes you, you self-centered heavy OCD tainted feline.
Fortunately, night times feedings is slightly less intorelable, in that the second she see's G.B., no matter what time it may actually be, she's already jumping on the windowsill looking for foods.
So there's you have it: two prime examples of animal routines. One that light on OCD and heavy on living for the moments, and another that is overly heavy on the OCD and light on spontaneity.
So mys questions for you is thusly: what kind of animals would you have for a pet?
*in all seriousness, I was drawn into a situation not of my making that I'm desperately trying to extract myself from. I wish I could elaborate further, but I am sworn to secrecy on this.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
March 7, 2014
A C. M. Classic: Post #860
Today's post is another in the series Cedar Mountain's Classics, in which I take an old post and try to put a new twist on it. For those who were here last month, I did a nifty whimsy/stream of consciousness post on wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. The C.M. Classic for today is entitled Blogging On The Fly, and this one will be extremely tough to beat. Why? Whereas the previous one was a beautiful piece of whimsy based on a semi-serious post, the post that I'm attempting to update is already a beautiful piece of whimsy to begin with. If you don't believe me, just click on the link to check it out.
So.
How in the world do I do what I do when I do how I do why I do who I doobie doobie doobie.....hmmm....good stuff....
Gotta cereal up here....no really, I do have to pour a bowl of cereal...'course, I eats my cereal sans milk....cow by-product is just plain nasty....
The preceding sentence was brought to you today as an example of how I write whimsy. In that example, the whimsy is so-so, mostly because I really wasn't in the mood to write whimsy. Just like some people have to be in the right frame of mind to do something that they're good at, like writing a murder mystery or crime noir, I usually have to be in the right mood to write whimsy.
I know it sounds weird, but it's true. Whimsy isn't something that I can just simply turn on with a flick of the switch and churn out something that will leave everyone with a smile (I said smile, not simile) on their face. I have to be properly motivated/inspired/wickedly bored to write whimsy.
Properly motivated means, "Holy cow! I need to write something for tomorrow's scheduled post otherwise people might call me a punk!"
Inspired means, "Yes! I can use that for a post!" (I say this after I hear something very unusual. A good example is this NC17-rated post based on the phrase, stuffing envelopes).
Wickedly bored means that I had run out of stuff to do at my job, so in order to stay out of trouble, we would write nifty little stories like this (not NC-17, but a very clean PG-13).
So you see, writing whimsy is actually very hard work. After all, you can't force creativity in action, you have to let it marinate and simmer in its own juices first, then whip out some tangy bbq sauce or some kick ass hot sauce (like this), throw a couple of baked potatoes into the mix, some good old fashioned home brewskis, and a little music, and you got it made.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
So.
How in the world do I do what I do when I do how I do why I do who I doobie doobie doobie.....hmmm....good stuff....
Gotta cereal up here....no really, I do have to pour a bowl of cereal...'course, I eats my cereal sans milk....cow by-product is just plain nasty....
The preceding sentence was brought to you today as an example of how I write whimsy. In that example, the whimsy is so-so, mostly because I really wasn't in the mood to write whimsy. Just like some people have to be in the right frame of mind to do something that they're good at, like writing a murder mystery or crime noir, I usually have to be in the right mood to write whimsy.
I know it sounds weird, but it's true. Whimsy isn't something that I can just simply turn on with a flick of the switch and churn out something that will leave everyone with a smile (I said smile, not simile) on their face. I have to be properly motivated/inspired/wickedly bored to write whimsy.
Properly motivated means, "Holy cow! I need to write something for tomorrow's scheduled post otherwise people might call me a punk!"
Inspired means, "Yes! I can use that for a post!" (I say this after I hear something very unusual. A good example is this NC17-rated post based on the phrase, stuffing envelopes).
Wickedly bored means that I had run out of stuff to do at my job, so in order to stay out of trouble, we would write nifty little stories like this (not NC-17, but a very clean PG-13).
So you see, writing whimsy is actually very hard work. After all, you can't force creativity in action, you have to let it marinate and simmer in its own juices first, then whip out some tangy bbq sauce or some kick ass hot sauce (like this), throw a couple of baked potatoes into the mix, some good old fashioned home brewskis, and a little music, and you got it made.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
March 5, 2014
It's....Deja Vu, Or How I Made The Exact Same Mistake Twice 8 Years Apart
Once again, this has happened to me while working on my latest project:
If you're not quite understanding the intent, then maybe this tiny little info dump will help.
Back in the spring of 2007, I was working on a novella called Cedar Mountain. It was a crime novella of sorts and I was happily plugging away without a care to the world (unlike now, I hadn't a clue on how to write) when I somehow wrote myself into a bad corner with seemingly no escape possible. For about two weeks, I tried to figure a way out of it, but to no avail. Frustrated beyond capacity, I took to the Internet, and the rest as I'm wont to say, is history (yeah, you really don't want me to give you the one page synopsis of how I got to be talking to you today, now do you?).
Not only is it history, but as the title up above indicates, I done gone experienced deja vu. At the exact same spot. With the exact same problem. Within the exact same scene.
Honest and for true.
In 2007, I was at a pivotal scene that next dovetailed into the ending. The scene was the female MC Erica, was theoretically driving the male MC Jon to his parents house, but the directions she was given had her driving him elsewhere. Jon had a key confrontation with Erica over the destination. Additionally, the drug dealer that was trying to do a hostile takeover of Bradley's drug operations was attempting to implement the 3rd part of his plan by getting Bradley to come to him (Bradley is Erica's violent boyfriend/Jon's boss). Within this drive-by mangled wreckage of a scene is where I became collateral damage.
Fast forward to 2014.
I am chest wader deep with this novella, now titled It's Just Business, in that I've been rewriting it from scratch. Using the original story as a basic outline, I've been tweaking some parts, keeping others as is and completely severing others from the story. However, once again I am stuck in the exact same spot with the exact some problem, although it's a tad worse than expected. Because I'm rewriting this novella, the particular part where I'm now stuck, while technically part of the story, will cease to be in its current form.
What does this mean? Well, it means I have to decipher roughly 6 pages of gobbledy-gook and figure out not only what the hell it was that I wrote, but what it was exactly that I conveyed with what I wrote. If you keep in mind that the key elements that make a good story a good read were basically non-existent for me in 2007 (because I didn't know what the hell I was doing), then you have a solid grasp of the issue that I'm facing right now.
Because in order for me to move forward and complete this rewrite, I need to do my best impersonation of Jules daring Brad to say "What?" one more time so that I can make myself explain to myself the rationale to what I had written.
Confused?
Tell you what, check out this nifty video, which should ease any confusion that you might have, because you know that music can cure any confusion that you might have.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
If you're not quite understanding the intent, then maybe this tiny little info dump will help.
Back in the spring of 2007, I was working on a novella called Cedar Mountain. It was a crime novella of sorts and I was happily plugging away without a care to the world (unlike now, I hadn't a clue on how to write) when I somehow wrote myself into a bad corner with seemingly no escape possible. For about two weeks, I tried to figure a way out of it, but to no avail. Frustrated beyond capacity, I took to the Internet, and the rest as I'm wont to say, is history (yeah, you really don't want me to give you the one page synopsis of how I got to be talking to you today, now do you?).
Not only is it history, but as the title up above indicates, I done gone experienced deja vu. At the exact same spot. With the exact same problem. Within the exact same scene.
Honest and for true.
In 2007, I was at a pivotal scene that next dovetailed into the ending. The scene was the female MC Erica, was theoretically driving the male MC Jon to his parents house, but the directions she was given had her driving him elsewhere. Jon had a key confrontation with Erica over the destination. Additionally, the drug dealer that was trying to do a hostile takeover of Bradley's drug operations was attempting to implement the 3rd part of his plan by getting Bradley to come to him (Bradley is Erica's violent boyfriend/Jon's boss). Within this drive-by mangled wreckage of a scene is where I became collateral damage.
Fast forward to 2014.
I am chest wader deep with this novella, now titled It's Just Business, in that I've been rewriting it from scratch. Using the original story as a basic outline, I've been tweaking some parts, keeping others as is and completely severing others from the story. However, once again I am stuck in the exact same spot with the exact some problem, although it's a tad worse than expected. Because I'm rewriting this novella, the particular part where I'm now stuck, while technically part of the story, will cease to be in its current form.
What does this mean? Well, it means I have to decipher roughly 6 pages of gobbledy-gook and figure out not only what the hell it was that I wrote, but what it was exactly that I conveyed with what I wrote. If you keep in mind that the key elements that make a good story a good read were basically non-existent for me in 2007 (because I didn't know what the hell I was doing), then you have a solid grasp of the issue that I'm facing right now.
Because in order for me to move forward and complete this rewrite, I need to do my best impersonation of Jules daring Brad to say "What?" one more time so that I can make myself explain to myself the rationale to what I had written.
Confused?
Tell you what, check out this nifty video, which should ease any confusion that you might have, because you know that music can cure any confusion that you might have.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
March 3, 2014
Cordially Anti-Social
Yeah, that title is a bit of an oxymoron, isn't it?
I originally came up with this post based on that phrase from an e-mail response to a good friend that had asked me the innocuous question, "How's tricks?"
Normally those two words really don't go together.
For example, the 1995 edition of Longman's Dictionary of Contemporary English gives a 2nd definition of the word cordial as thus: An adjective, friendly but quite formal and polite.
The same edition gives the definition of anti-social as thus: 1} unwilling to meet people and to talk to them, especially in a way that seems unfriendly or rude; 2} an activity that is anti-social does not give you the chance to meet other people; 3} anti-social behavior shows a lack of concern for other people.
Thus when you put both words together, what you ultimately wind up with is what I'm currently practicing at work. And that my friends, is not short term, but long term, or as long as it takes me to get another job at another agency.
For those of you who are curious as to the reasoning behind my apparent attitude change from a relative well-adjusted, if not slightly abnormal, worker bee to one who has turned very bitter and cordially anti-social to everyone within earshot, it's very simple.
I was passed over from a promotion that I sincerely believe that I deserve. Twice. And I'm none too thrilled about the ultimate reason that was given to me for being passed over. For me, not only was it a major slap in the face, but a serious lack of disrespect as well. I busted my butt and gone above and beyond to what my job requires of me, but apparently, having a fantastic work ethic ultimately gets you diddly/squat in the long run.
Having basically read the writing on the wall, I have decided in addition to become cordially anti-social towards my co-workers, that giving maximum effort is counter productive to my well being. Therefore, giving my absolute minimum, which is head and shoulders above everyone else's maximum, is the working phrase of the day.
Believe it or not, there is a silver lining in all of this, which is that basically I'm left alone to my own devices so that I can do my job with zero interference from those who would want to "supervise" me. With subtlety and tact, I managed to let people know just how upset I am over this, without showing overt displeasure (i.e. ranting and raving) towards those who could make my work environment extremely uncomfortable.
While I may like my actual job, where I currently work is not conducive to performing the duties of my job to the best of my ability. I will still continue to get everything that needs to be done, done, as being a slacker goes against my natural grain.
I leave you with this song by Randy Crawford entitled "Windsong" in which to start off your Monday.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
I originally came up with this post based on that phrase from an e-mail response to a good friend that had asked me the innocuous question, "How's tricks?"
Normally those two words really don't go together.
For example, the 1995 edition of Longman's Dictionary of Contemporary English gives a 2nd definition of the word cordial as thus: An adjective, friendly but quite formal and polite.
The same edition gives the definition of anti-social as thus: 1} unwilling to meet people and to talk to them, especially in a way that seems unfriendly or rude; 2} an activity that is anti-social does not give you the chance to meet other people; 3} anti-social behavior shows a lack of concern for other people.
Thus when you put both words together, what you ultimately wind up with is what I'm currently practicing at work. And that my friends, is not short term, but long term, or as long as it takes me to get another job at another agency.
For those of you who are curious as to the reasoning behind my apparent attitude change from a relative well-adjusted, if not slightly abnormal, worker bee to one who has turned very bitter and cordially anti-social to everyone within earshot, it's very simple.
I was passed over from a promotion that I sincerely believe that I deserve. Twice. And I'm none too thrilled about the ultimate reason that was given to me for being passed over. For me, not only was it a major slap in the face, but a serious lack of disrespect as well. I busted my butt and gone above and beyond to what my job requires of me, but apparently, having a fantastic work ethic ultimately gets you diddly/squat in the long run.
Having basically read the writing on the wall, I have decided in addition to become cordially anti-social towards my co-workers, that giving maximum effort is counter productive to my well being. Therefore, giving my absolute minimum, which is head and shoulders above everyone else's maximum, is the working phrase of the day.
Believe it or not, there is a silver lining in all of this, which is that basically I'm left alone to my own devices so that I can do my job with zero interference from those who would want to "supervise" me. With subtlety and tact, I managed to let people know just how upset I am over this, without showing overt displeasure (i.e. ranting and raving) towards those who could make my work environment extremely uncomfortable.
While I may like my actual job, where I currently work is not conducive to performing the duties of my job to the best of my ability. I will still continue to get everything that needs to be done, done, as being a slacker goes against my natural grain.
I leave you with this song by Randy Crawford entitled "Windsong" in which to start off your Monday.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
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