Monday, November 28, 2011

Back in the saddle again!

After a few weeks of hiding behind various excuses (some legitimate!), I am back to writing fiction.  Nothing majorly astounding.  Just working on some WIPs.

Last night and this morning were all about me getting myself caught up on school work.  I was a week behind on my online postings, and I managed to make that up in one class.  The other class, I couldn't do it, so I get a Zero for last week's assignment (the Prof closes the discussion board at the end of each week).  But, I managed to do this week's post for that class, so I'm not behind anymore.  This morning I got about 800 words done on my Academic Book Review.  Did I mention that the original draft, which was about 1100+ words already, got corrupted?  Same way as my Orc story a couple of months ago.  I think it had something to do with my flash drive.  When I plugged it in at home, Windows Vista detected problems and fixed them for me.  But, too little too late.  Now I have to start over, and it's due on Sunday.  No problem.

This afternoon I decided to do some fiction writing in between work-related tasks.  So, after some snooping amongst all of my various projects, I decided to work on the new Orc story for Scott Oden's anthology.  What ensued was almost 700 words of mostly dialogue.  The story progressed, and the chase is on.  The rest of it is going to be pretty action-oriented, with a cool ending (well, I think it's cool, anyways).

I'm also thinking about a few other works.  I wrote an orc story based loosely on the universe of Disney's Treasure Planet a while back.  Today I started thinking about the sequel.  I think I may go back and expand the first story some, and flesh it out.  Then write two more stories about the character as sequels.  Then self-publish (or maybe send off to a few publishing houses first) the whole collection as a novel.  I kind of like that idea.

And lastly, I am going to try to finish up the Thomas Magni story, and submit it for publication.  Already have a couple of markets scoped out for that one.  I just need to write the last third, which is already done in my head, and I just need to get it on paper, so to speak.

In non-writing news, I got a new car.  A 2008 Chevy Impala.  It's a red sedan, and is a very nice drive.  The gas mileage is a smidge better than the XTerra was, but the payments are much lower, and insurance should be as well.

But, the biggest news of all is that my wife quit her job on Saturday!  She is a hair-stylist, and has been working at the same salon for about fifteen years.  She'd finally had enough of various problems, so she is going out on her own.  She is renting a suite, and expects to be opening her doors to clients on December 8th.  She is now self-employed, and it is very exciting.  So, if you're in the Madison area, and you are looking for a new stylist (men, women, children) look her up at Lily's Head Space.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Top 5 War Movies

Been a while since I did a list, so, in honor of my obsession with Battlefield Play4Free, here are my top five war movies.

Heartbreak Ridge (1986) – Because of this movie, I almost joined the Marines. Had I not had a pathological hatred of Jarheads (they invaded my high school and took all the hot chicks), I might have been in a Recon platoon. As it was, the story, characters and technical details of this movie make it an instant classic. One of Clint’s most quotable non-western films, too.

The Wild Geese (1978) – Mercenaries in Africa on a mission to rescue a political prisoner. This movie has got it all. Cool characters, a bit of spy-noir at times, superior action, intrigue, danger, and betrayal. And in the end, there are even some tears. For pure military action, you just don’t get much better than this. I’ve never been a fan of Roger Moore as James Bond, but in this role he stands out.

A Bridge Too Far (1977) – A semi-fictional account of Operation: Market Garden, the largest Allied Airborne operation in WWII, the cast alone makes this movie worth watching. Add to that some real stunning action, heart-wrenching battle scenes, and more paratroopers than you can shake a Nazi stick-grenade at. I used to don my old red beret while watching this movie. Nothing brings out my Airborne pride like this one.

Platoon (1986) – Probably Oliver Stone’s best movie, this is the story of a young college kid who volunteers for Vietnam. While there he meets an outrageous cast of characters. And although no unit ever had all of them, every one of those characters probably really existed somewhere. This was Vietnam; the black stain on our military history. But told with heart and guts. Nevermind the politics of the war, the boys who fought it deserve respect.

Saving Private Ryan (1998) – I admit, I have a thing for WWII movies. That’s probably due to the romanticized representation of the era that Hollywood has always given us. This movie takes that view, and makes it brutally real. From the moment you’re taken to the beaches of Normandy, all the way to the last stand, there are moments in this movie that will stay with you forever. Sometimes I get chills just thinking about some of the scenes.

Honorable Mentions:

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) – I would classify this movie as more “action” than “war.” Otherwise it might have made the list. This film was highly influential on me, and I regard it as one of the main reasons I joined the Army as an Airborne Infantryman after high school. And although it seems almost hokey nowadays, I still hold a special place for this entire series in my heart.

Full Metal Jacket (1987) – Admittedly, I only watch about the first 45 minutes of this film. The basic training segment is brilliant, and R. Lee Ermey is amazing. Funny thing is, he wasn’t really acting that much. He was basically playing himself. After they graduate I turn it off. Because at that point it becomes just another Vietnam film. And after the emotional roller coaster of that first 45 minutes, I don’t usually have it in me to watch the rest.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – I classify this as a “superhero” movie, but it definitely captures the spirit and feel of the old Hollywood WWII epics perfectly. This movie does a great job of blending history with comic book mythology. The acting is superb, and the sets and action are amazing. This is currently my #1 favorite movie. But, I may be a little biased.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Thanks!

Sydney, Me, Michele, Connor and Faith.
My family.
Well, with tomorrow being Thanksgiving, I thought I would do that thing that so many bloggers do these days and talk about what I am thankful for.

First and foremost is life. I have an extraordinarily good life right now. I have a steady job that pays decent, and would be difficult to get fired from, unless I REALLY tried. I have three loving kids who love me unconditionally, even though sometimes I’m kind of a failure as a dad on some levels. And I have the most amazing wife a man could dream up. She is beautiful, funny, nerdy, geeky, and several other qualities I love. I can’t imagine life without her in it now.

I’m thankful for my talents. I’m a pretty decent writer, with a good grasp of the English language. I understand what makes a good story, even if I am still learning how to use that knowledge. I can draw fairly well, at least better than stick figures. And I have an eye for the artistic, to some extent. I have other talents I am thankful for, but we don’t need to get into those here.

As a friend of mine recently stated in his blog, I am also thankful for my stuff. We have a decent apartment to live in, the neighborhood may not be the best, but it’s a far cry from the ghetto. I just recently bought a new(er) car that I LOVE. I have a computer, a smart phone, a Blu-Ray player, and a large plasma TV. Yeah, I got cool stuff, and I love that I do. I also have a healthy collection of old comics, and many, many books that will one day see a nice bookshelf, instead of boxes in storage.

I have friends. Lots of friends. Some old that I’ve known for decades, some new that I only just recently met. Some I have spent many hours and days with in person, and others that I have only communicated with online. Some that I have learned many things from, and others who are eagerly receptive to what knowledge I have. I have friends I talk to almost daily, and others with whom I have shared very little communication, but they are still there, and I still consider them my friends.

I’m thankful for my memories and experiences. Without them, good or bad, I would not be who or where I am today. Sure, I have regrets. But who doesn’t? I wish I had played high school football. I wish I would have tried to get into Special Forces. I wish I would have moved to LA and pursued my dream of making it in Hollywood. But, hey, if I had done any one of those, where and who would I be today?

In short, I am thankful for all that I have, and all that I am. But most importantly, I am thankful that I have a future. Though there will be dark periods, and some points in my life will no doubt be very difficult (as my past has already illustrated), I know that in the end, I will come out ahead. And mainly thanks to the aforementioned things I am already thankful for. Life is funny that way.

But, at this moment, I am thankful that I am about to have a 4-day weekend. And I am thankful that you came here to hear me ramble for a bit. That means a lot to me.

God bless, and have a happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 18, 2011

A wee bit...

Oddly, I feel very Irish today. For those who don’t know, I’m probably about a third Irish (along with some other European descents, topped off with a healthy dose of Native American), and I really identify with this part of me some days. Today is one of those days.

Perhaps it’s my gray tweed flat cap and wool scarf that come out when the temperatures drop. I would like to be wearing my Pea Coat as well, but right now it’s more of a “pee” coat, thanks to those furry, four-legged freeloaders who think they run the place. Combine these with my growing beard, and I feel like I could walk the Irish countryside down to the Pub and share a pint with me mates!

Well, today I settled for walking down to the Capital Square to Brocach Irish Pub for some Bangers and Mash. Although I was tempted to have a beer, I opted for iced tea, since I would have to slog it back to work afterwards. The food is pricier than my normal lunch fare, but so worth it. I am stuffed to me gills, lads!

I sat in the pleasant atmosphere of the pub reading about the Persian Wars of Sparta and Athens. That’s the other thing about this ensemble, it makes me feel scholarly. And considering I am studying for a Masters in History, with a focus in Ancient and Classical Cultures, that seems like a good thing. Perhaps someday I will have a University office with “Prof. Thomas Doolan, PhD” stenciled on it. Wouldn’t that be some shit?

Looking forward to getting my game on tonight. Been a month since we played D&D, and I miss it. I mean, I’ve been playing CoH and Battlefield a lot lately, but it just isn’t the same. There’s something very personal about rolling dice and interacting with my voice, rather than my fingers.

That being said, a couple of friends are playing Skyrim, and with each new report from them, I find myself just a little more envious. Almost makes me want to switch to WoW, or maybe some other FtP fantasy MMO. But then Star Wars comes out next month, so I need to just bide my time. Besides, I really should focus on writing more. Games tend to cut into that severely.

Speaking of writing, nothing new to report. I still have all of my WIPs sitting around. And eventually, I will start carving away at some of those again. Orcs, interstellar mercenaries, and a Spartan King all want their stories told. Calm yourselves, boys. All in good time.

*leans back in his chair and stares out the window at the rolling hills while sipping tea and puffing his pipe*

A man must dream to appreciate life.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Great scott!

It's been almost two weeks since I blogged!  I am shamed.

Actually, not much to report.  Been stressing over school, work and life recently.  No time for writing for fun.  And forget NaNoWriMo.  I have to admit, I get jealous when I see people posting word counts on Facebook.  But then, I just remember that if there is any blame for my lack of production, it is 100% on me and my own choices.  And I'm actually ok with that.

What I am writing is academic in nature.  I did a 1,400+ word essay in a few hours, citing five different sources.  Despite all of the markups my professor put on it (mostly editorial and technical aspects) he really enjoyed the paper, and gave me 10 out 10 points on it.  I'm sure if I were to polish it up it would be pretty darn good.

Today I am starting to write an Academic Book Review on The Spartans by Paul Cartledge.  The difference between an "Academic" review and just a regular review is intent.  With an Academic, I need to make comments and cirticisms on not only the delivery of the author's work, but whether his goal for the work was achieved, and to what degree it succeeded or failed.

Interestingly, this needs to also be about 1,250+ words.  So, as far as length, I'm getting to where I can do that in my sleep.  And even though I haven't finished reading the book yet, I could probably fudge a pretty good review just based on what I have read so far.  I'm fortunate in that I have read certain portions of this book before, when I started researching the agoge and King Agesilaus.  But I do intend to read the whole thing, and will eventually add a copy to my personal library, as it pertains to my main area of focus, Ancient and Classical Cultures.

On a more whimsical note, I am enjoying taking time in the evenings, before the kids go to bed, to play online video games while they play and watch TV (after they go to bed, I try to focus on homework...sometimes I even succeed!).  Lately, I have been really getting into Battlefield Play4Free.  Basically it's a modern warfare FPS.  I actually made a micropurchase and got my character a beret and a MUCH better rifle.  It makes a huge difference.  Plus, as I play more and get better familiar with the controls, I can start using basic infantry tactics.  I'm to the point where, generally, I end an engagement with as many kills as I do deaths.  A far cry from the 1/20 ratio I started out with a few weeks ago.

Last night I also reupped my City of Heroes account, just so I could play with my wife.  She has been playing a couple of years longer than I have, and has some serious time and energy invested in the supergroup (of which she served as leader for quite some time).  We started new characters last night, just to test out the new content for low-levels.  The whole game is really slick now.  Granted, the graphics are still just a little sub-par (especially compared to DCUOnline), but the content, social interface, and character options more than make up for that.  Even the FTP content is better than most games, IMHO.



Of course, that all goes away at the end of next month.  Star Wars: The Old Republic comes out, and I am chomping at the bit for it.  A friend got to play in the first beta last weekend, and he gushed on and on about it in chat today.  I take that as a really good sign, since he is somewhat of an MMO snob, and judges these games with a very critical eye.

With all of this, life is kind of moving pretty fast.  My wife is gearing up for her new business venture that will be taking off like a rocket in about two weeks.  Then there is the AdvoCare business, which is already starting to gain some momentum.  The future looks pretty bright, and the darkness we have been bumbling through lately seems to be lifteing, slowly but surely.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Like butter over too much toast…

Because he said it in the movie...
Well, it’s only day 3 of NaNoWriMo and I feel like I may be stretched a bit this time around. Working a full-time job (which admittedly is not that busy, and affords me some ample writing time…if the muse strikes), taking care of a rambunctious nearly-3-year old boy, and worrying about my daughters and their own problems and obstacles. Not to mention the changes in our personal life as my wife embarks an another incredible journey. And finally, as if that weren’t enough, throw in a dash of Grad School and mix well.

I’m still going to plug away at my book. I may not make 50,000 words by the end of the month, but I will still try (stranger things have happened). But, in the meantime, I have to read Spartans, an historical reference book, by the end of the month and then do an Academic Book Review, as well as the weekly assignments for my two classes. Unfortunately, even though they are History classes, they are more about the study of studying history (a discipline referred to as Historiography). Granted, after these two, it will be more straight up reading about history. Which is the part I like.

In other news, Scott Oden’s Orcs Anthology should be getting a due date for the submissions soon. I’m about 1/3 done with that story. I have a basic plot, some interesting characters, and I’m sure I will get it done. But, there’s still a part of me that dreads deadlines. Even though I work well under them (my prof. gave me a 10/10 on my essay this weekend…one that I wrote and cited five sources for in a single afternoon).

And, not at all surprising, my brain still keeps wandering in and out of different genres. Right now, with my degree focus being in Ancient Cultures, I am once again reminded of the historical novel I started about Agesilaus. I think I’d like to finish that some day. And who knows, maybe it will spur me on to do an academic study of him. I’m also thinking about some offbeat stuff. My friend is developing a campaign setting that he would like to see published as a compatible setting for the Pathfinder RPG. It’s kind of a a blend of Dragonstar and Stargate, with a Steampunk feel. At least that’s the vibe I am getting from his stuff so far.

Some good news on the tech front. I got my computer working again. Turns out it was some corrupted sectors. Running CHKDSK cleared it up, it appears. I still plan on getting a new laptop for me, and making my desktop the “family” computer. But at least now it’s not a priority. I also found the flash drive I thought I had lost last week. I was working around not having it. I couldn’t back all of the files up on an internet site (thankfully, I had backed them up on my work computer just the day before it disappeared), because my work blocks “file sharing” sites. So, I was using Google Docs, which works, but is a little cumbersome, compared to the convenience of a flash drive. Now, that’s a non-issue.

Well, looky there. Another “off-the-cuff” blog post. I’m getting pretty good at these.