So, got the Great Green POS from the mechanic. They've informed me on how the dome light was powered up. There's a rolling switch on the left side of my instrument panel that was set to the 'on' position. I'm still curious though, how was it drawing power when I disabled the entire dome light assembly?
Hurm.
Anyway, only got out of there for a $20.00 tip to the guy that was doing the troubleshooting.
The next morning (this morning), my Honey informs me that she had to take the HoneyVan to the shop. This caught me by surprise as she was calling from the job. Apparently in the middle of the night, the passenger side window slid down into the door and was off of its track. The motor wouldn't pull it up. So for a little over $300, we got that fixed too.
Strange how things work out.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Movie Review: Watchmen
So, I've been waiting for this film for years. I was frightened and apprehensive that Alan Moore let another story slip out and it would turn out like LXG. Not that the League was a bad movie, there were just too many changes from the darkened place where the story came from.
Watchmen, happily (?), was not as LXG. It was bold, gritty and ugly in places, as it should have been. The storyline was true to the original, the special effects were fantastic, and the characters were cast almost out of the book. In short, I was impressed and not disappointed.
My Honey, on the other hand, had not read (nor does she have the desire to) the book. She was lost in the minutia of the characters. Primarily Rorschach's mask and the ubiquitous (and nude) nature of Dr. Manhattan, which the movie did not go into. She was OK with the Comedian being the epitome of someone who was drunk with his own powers and seemed to be all right with the Night Owl (she kept calling the Archemedes a pair of binoculars) and the Silk Spectre II.
My high expectations of the film were met but summarily left her in the dust due to the lack of a lexicon.
For parents: please ask someone in the know before taking the kiddies to this film. This is not a mainstream story like Iron Man, The Hulk or even the emo-esque Spider-Man 3. This is a story about superheroes and their decline within society. There is graphic violence, blood splatter, strong sexual content and full frontal (albeit CGI enhanced) male nudity. Be prepared for the questions that may come up if your youngling asks questions about Dr. Manhattan's Dangles or why Rorschach's mother is having different men in her bedroom all of the time.
I can't stress this enough. Not, and I do mean absolutely not, a kids movie.
Although rather long (2:40 min), the movie did not suffer and the story line was (thankfully) intact. I knew that the movie adaptation would not have the pirate story, but that's coming on the DVD.
Watchmen, happily (?), was not as LXG. It was bold, gritty and ugly in places, as it should have been. The storyline was true to the original, the special effects were fantastic, and the characters were cast almost out of the book. In short, I was impressed and not disappointed.
My Honey, on the other hand, had not read (nor does she have the desire to) the book. She was lost in the minutia of the characters. Primarily Rorschach's mask and the ubiquitous (and nude) nature of Dr. Manhattan, which the movie did not go into. She was OK with the Comedian being the epitome of someone who was drunk with his own powers and seemed to be all right with the Night Owl (she kept calling the Archemedes a pair of binoculars) and the Silk Spectre II.
My high expectations of the film were met but summarily left her in the dust due to the lack of a lexicon.
For parents: please ask someone in the know before taking the kiddies to this film. This is not a mainstream story like Iron Man, The Hulk or even the emo-esque Spider-Man 3. This is a story about superheroes and their decline within society. There is graphic violence, blood splatter, strong sexual content and full frontal (albeit CGI enhanced) male nudity. Be prepared for the questions that may come up if your youngling asks questions about Dr. Manhattan's Dangles or why Rorschach's mother is having different men in her bedroom all of the time.
I can't stress this enough. Not, and I do mean absolutely not, a kids movie.
Although rather long (2:40 min), the movie did not suffer and the story line was (thankfully) intact. I knew that the movie adaptation would not have the pirate story, but that's coming on the DVD.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Updates
Checked with the mechanic. The Great Green POS is ready. Apparently the dome light switch was on. It hasn't worked since I bought the thing. He can do nothing about the seat and directed me to find another one from a salvage yard.
Yeah, I'm gonna get right on that.
My latest addiction seems to be Mafia Wars, (I don't know why I'm not playing Pirates, I guess I found the other game first) and adding more buttons to my corkboard. It's doing helacious damage to my word count.
Yeah, I'm gonna get right on that.
My latest addiction seems to be Mafia Wars, (I don't know why I'm not playing Pirates, I guess I found the other game first) and adding more buttons to my corkboard. It's doing helacious damage to my word count.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Old Posts
In looking through one of my older blogs, I came across this post and thought it was still apt.
In Medias Res: A conversation.
Gee, aren't kids great?
In Medias Res: A conversation.
"PJ is a bully."
"Yeah, so?"
"And he's ugly."
"So!"
"As if!"
"Whatever!"
"And...?"
"Cathy is a loser."
"You can't even spell. My name starts with a 'K', stupid."
"Stupid!"
"Stupid is as stupid does."
"At least my Mom and Dad aren't siblings!"
"You're ugly and your momma dresses you funny!"
Gee, aren't kids great?
WIP Update
Ok, got through the scotoma I was having with the part of the backfill I've been working on. Scene by scene, word by word, this damned thing will be finished.
Got the double copies made. Up to 46,831, not quite a thousand words today. I'm kind of tired though and that's what makes it rough to see the scenes and write them down.
Bonus though! I found an old document with a picture of the map that I based the WIP on. Having a visual reference like that is going to be helpful later on. Granted, many of the names and locations have changed from then until now, but that resource will give me a better prospective on things in the future.
My new mantra, "focus on finishing, do the 'to-do' later."
Got the double copies made. Up to 46,831, not quite a thousand words today. I'm kind of tired though and that's what makes it rough to see the scenes and write them down.
Bonus though! I found an old document with a picture of the map that I based the WIP on. Having a visual reference like that is going to be helpful later on. Granted, many of the names and locations have changed from then until now, but that resource will give me a better prospective on things in the future.
My new mantra, "focus on finishing, do the 'to-do' later."
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
On Waiting
Waiting absolutely is one of my least favorite things to do.
Right now, with the Great Green POS in the shop, my Honey and I are sharing the HoneyVan in order to get to our jobs. Luckily she's working primarily in the mornings until next week when her 70-hour work weeks begin.
I'm out of my comfort zone. Usually I'm on the road by now.
As far as the WIP goes. I'm at an empass.
Whenever I delve into an area that I don't know about, I tend to research the hell out of it until I can speak about it with conviction and confidence. I'm noticing that is putting a good sized brake on the process. I'm trying not to overthink the issues and let the research happen when it needs to happen.
I've left myself a note on the pad I'm using at the day job.
"Don't overthink!"
Right now, with the Great Green POS in the shop, my Honey and I are sharing the HoneyVan in order to get to our jobs. Luckily she's working primarily in the mornings until next week when her 70-hour work weeks begin.
I'm out of my comfort zone. Usually I'm on the road by now.
As far as the WIP goes. I'm at an empass.
Whenever I delve into an area that I don't know about, I tend to research the hell out of it until I can speak about it with conviction and confidence. I'm noticing that is putting a good sized brake on the process. I'm trying not to overthink the issues and let the research happen when it needs to happen.
I've left myself a note on the pad I'm using at the day job.
"Don't overthink!"
Who Knew?
This was originally posted over at The Dire Cafe.
Between Jethro Tull and Run DMC, there IS: Super Mario Brothers.
Between Jethro Tull and Run DMC, there IS: Super Mario Brothers.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
At Least its March
The Great Green POS is at the mechanic. Hopefully they've got a protocol driod to plug into it to see what the hell is the problem is.
We'll see what is going to happen with the day job. At this point in time, my function is somewhat useless as there is no one to help along the way to being a certified employee. What this usually means is that I'll be playing phone-jockey until the business picks up.
Glee.
As others tell me, and I tell myself, it could be worse, therefore I am grateful.
I need to get more words done on the WIP. I did a piece of flash fiction set in the cyberpunk genre. It seemed too easy to pop out 1000 words on that, but it was only a character sketch. There was no real story. There was only the deep thoughts of one character, one Judas Blue, and his rather interesting thoughts on his current lifestyle.
For the rest, we'll see what happens.
Cheers.
We'll see what is going to happen with the day job. At this point in time, my function is somewhat useless as there is no one to help along the way to being a certified employee. What this usually means is that I'll be playing phone-jockey until the business picks up.
Glee.
As others tell me, and I tell myself, it could be worse, therefore I am grateful.
I need to get more words done on the WIP. I did a piece of flash fiction set in the cyberpunk genre. It seemed too easy to pop out 1000 words on that, but it was only a character sketch. There was no real story. There was only the deep thoughts of one character, one Judas Blue, and his rather interesting thoughts on his current lifestyle.
For the rest, we'll see what happens.
Cheers.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Today's Monday, Right?
Ok,
Car started this morning.
Check.
Called the Honey to let her know.
Check.
Called the mechanic to get appointment for the Great Green POS.
Check.
Flipping backed up all of the WIP in PDF format.
Double Check!
Monday, pretty good so far. No words written yet, life is wanting attention.
I did, however, re-read what is not yet posted at the WIP. There's alot of rough work there. Some good nuggets, but damn. My mind was scattered to the four winds when I wrote those pieces. As I'm going through the completion of the WIP, my internal editor is screaming at me. I'm trying to keep him satiated with food and telling him, "It's all right. I can bridge that."
The world I'm creating for the story is a bit...different. Yeah, it has the tropes of fantasy, there is magic and religeon and foul beasties. I'm trying for more of a character reference. Showing off the world through their eyes. That's not the part that's different.
For me the part that is different is the creating of the cultures and interactions between the culture and various characters. There are so many facets and facts that I'd created along the way, that it can be a difficult process to update and make into a cohesive work.
As with the WIP, faith is the key. I have faith that I'll finish it and it will be good. My Will be done!
[chuckle]
I know, I'll burn for that, but hey, I'm the Author!
Car started this morning.
Check.
Called the Honey to let her know.
Check.
Called the mechanic to get appointment for the Great Green POS.
Check.
Flipping backed up all of the WIP in PDF format.
Double Check!
Monday, pretty good so far. No words written yet, life is wanting attention.
I did, however, re-read what is not yet posted at the WIP. There's alot of rough work there. Some good nuggets, but damn. My mind was scattered to the four winds when I wrote those pieces. As I'm going through the completion of the WIP, my internal editor is screaming at me. I'm trying to keep him satiated with food and telling him, "It's all right. I can bridge that."
The world I'm creating for the story is a bit...different. Yeah, it has the tropes of fantasy, there is magic and religeon and foul beasties. I'm trying for more of a character reference. Showing off the world through their eyes. That's not the part that's different.
For me the part that is different is the creating of the cultures and interactions between the culture and various characters. There are so many facets and facts that I'd created along the way, that it can be a difficult process to update and make into a cohesive work.
As with the WIP, faith is the key. I have faith that I'll finish it and it will be good. My Will be done!
[chuckle]
I know, I'll burn for that, but hey, I'm the Author!
WIP Update
I thought I was going to freakin die!
So, going through the periodic saves (save early and save often!), my MS Word decided to take a dump. Arrgh!
Luckily, I'm a bit of a technogeek as well. I was able to pull up the .tmp file and recover my opus without too much loss.
Up to 45,613 BTW, and Chapter 03.1 (yeah, I know) is up and ready.
Wo0T
G'Night America.
So, going through the periodic saves (save early and save often!), my MS Word decided to take a dump. Arrgh!
Luckily, I'm a bit of a technogeek as well. I was able to pull up the .tmp file and recover my opus without too much loss.
Up to 45,613 BTW, and Chapter 03.1 (yeah, I know) is up and ready.
Wo0T
G'Night America.
Random Late Night Thoughts
Still working on the WIP and I get to wondering... just how long does this have to be to be a novel?
Enter my bestest friend in the world, wikipedia.
50k words + equals novel length material.
20k to 50k equals a novella length piece of work.
1k to 20k is a short story.
Up to 1k is what's called flash fiction.
Hurm. I'm almost up to novel length with the WIP.
In comparison, Animal Farm by George Orwell was 30,000 words and Moby Dick by Herman Melville was 211,000 words. Here's hoping that I land somewhere inbetween the two with this part of the WIP.
The car is still a great green POS. Today, had to have it plugged up to the HoneyVan for nearly 15 minutes before it would actually crank over.
I left it running for nearly 2 hours before I came to work. It was touch and go. I can't wait until I can sell this novel so I can get a new bloody car.
[grumble]
On a personal note, I'd like to thank my colleague for giving me his feedback on the WIP. I'm not sure if I want to share the work with others at work, but I'm more inclined to do so. Chris Baty from the NaNoWriMo does give advice to not show others the work (in its entirety or during the WIP) during the process, but I'm inclined to disagree based on the direct feedback conduit that I've developed with my co-worker.
Did I mention that wikipedia absolutely rocks?
Enter my bestest friend in the world, wikipedia.
50k words + equals novel length material.
20k to 50k equals a novella length piece of work.
1k to 20k is a short story.
Up to 1k is what's called flash fiction.
Hurm. I'm almost up to novel length with the WIP.
In comparison, Animal Farm by George Orwell was 30,000 words and Moby Dick by Herman Melville was 211,000 words. Here's hoping that I land somewhere inbetween the two with this part of the WIP.
The car is still a great green POS. Today, had to have it plugged up to the HoneyVan for nearly 15 minutes before it would actually crank over.
I left it running for nearly 2 hours before I came to work. It was touch and go. I can't wait until I can sell this novel so I can get a new bloody car.
[grumble]
On a personal note, I'd like to thank my colleague for giving me his feedback on the WIP. I'm not sure if I want to share the work with others at work, but I'm more inclined to do so. Chris Baty from the NaNoWriMo does give advice to not show others the work (in its entirety or during the WIP) during the process, but I'm inclined to disagree based on the direct feedback conduit that I've developed with my co-worker.
Did I mention that wikipedia absolutely rocks?
Sunday, March 01, 2009
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