So These Made My Day

I happened to look through my novels (see HERE) and checked my reviews. Made my day. Truth? There are few times that these DON’T make my day. Overall, that’s a good thing. I think it speaks well of my writing, right? 

Now these are from all three of my books. I won’t say which is for which book, but it’s fun to see that all of them are getting decent reviews, still. I know I don’t have many, yet, but compared to three years ago, this is an overwhelming number!

Hypocrisy and Self Authorship

I would like to do some research on self authorship and hypocrisy. I think I know what the answer would be, but it’s pretty interesting to look around at the world today and see the different things that are happening and how different people react to it. 

For one, it shows me just how prevalent the “socialized” mindset is in society. What do I mean? I mean, I think, that I believe the socialized mindset is is one that is characterized by getting along with and going along with the crowd. There’s a lot of that in politics, going along with the crowd, and that’s where I see most of the hypocrisy displayed. 

Innovation is in my Genes

I am the Vice President of Innovation at work. A strange title to be sure, but it’s supposed to help me stay inspired to think outside the box. I actually have a tendency to do this. I like to think up new things and invent futures in my mind. Anyone who knows me will have heard me spout off about this. 

First there was RadioBoox, the idea was to have a serial on the radio that people could listen to. Books on tape, but via the radio. I thought it would be like soap operas but for people who drive. Something to look forward to each day. Sadly, it was an idea of the 90’s and the internet, tech boom killed it quickly. 

Lotta Comments

I heard from several of my reader (Hi Mom!) about my post on Social Distortion and When the Angels Sing. The predominant question was how in the world could I like that song. Truth? I'll put that song on loop and listen to it over and over and over and lose myself in it. One of the few songs that I can do that to. The only ones like that right now might be: Leo Kotke's Snorkel or Busted Bicycle . . . or Rocketman on solo piano. 

Regardless, what is it about When the Angels Sing that speaks to me?

I remember in Ranger School we had the opportunity to go to church every Sunday. No matter what else was going on, on Sunday I think they had to provide us the opportunity to worship. The chaplain would come out and it was one service for all for the most part. There was a bit of a communion I remember, and I think most of us went for the slice of white bread they gave out for communion. 

Back on the Speaker's Tour!

I feel like it's been a while since I had to speak at a conference. Well, that ends tomorrow. 

Vector First

Despite not really enjoying it as much as I hoped, I still finished it . . . it being Vector by Robin Cook. It took me back to summer days when I hung out with my grandfather on his Bed and Breakfast (see HERE) in Chappell Hill. 

We would go hit the resale book shop in Brenham and I'd buy novels. I'd buy Louis L'Amour books, Stephen King novels, whatever Sci-Fi and Fantasy books they might have. We, my grandfather and I, were voracious readers and would compete to see who could read the most and return the most books while we were there. I remember buying Robin Cook's there too. I guess as a young student, middle schooler and high schooler, he was fun to read. 

Westerns as Political Allegories

Anyone who reads this blog will know I have a little piece of my heart reserved for Louis L’Amour dime store westerns. I used to read them just for light fun. They’re great because there is no moral controversy. There’s a very clear line of wrong vs right. They’re a bit nonsensical and fantastic. They’re light and fun. 

The first one I ever read, I settled in for a good long novel, and instead I got a series of short stories. I didn’t know the Bowdrie novels were only short story pieces. I was hoping for a novel about the character. Still, they were great little ditties. 

Westerns as Political Allegories

Anyone who reads this blog will know I have a little piece of my heart reserved for Louis L’Amour dime store westerns. I used to read them just for light fun. They’re great because there is no moral controversy. There’s a very clear line of wrong vs right. They’re a bit nonsensical and fantastic. They’re light and fun. 

The first one I ever read, I settled in for a good long novel, and instead I got a series of short stories. I didn’t know the Bowdrie novels were only short story pieces. I was hoping for a novel about the character. Still, they were great little ditties. 

Self Care

I’m not a fan of self care. I think it’s a silly term and whenever I hear someone use the term I roll my eyes just a bit. Not enough so that anyone might notice, but it happens. Well, the other week I had a bit of an episode, an eye opener, that made me realize I need to invest in a bit of self care. 

When I was a kiddo I had back pain every so often. It was debilitating for short times. When it hit, I was down for the day. Never figured out what it was, but when I joined the Army it seemed to get a lot better. Was it all the front leaning rest building the core? All of those flutter kicks? All the workouts? The rucking? Could be, probably was. 

I'm a Streaker

I've determined, over the past 50 or so years, that I really enjoy streaks. What's that mean? It means I'm a person of habit. That I enjoy having a system, or a set habit every day. But, sad to say, a long running streak I was keeping up quite well, has fallen at 122 days. 

I was using Duolingo to not only get into interactive learning environments and microlearning but also to try and prep for my eventual . . . and hopeful (HERE) . . . live in Costa Rica . . . Four years away and counting . . . (down). 

Always Someone Worse Off

An auspicious title, no? What could that mean? What inspired so much negativity? 

I remember talking to someone a while back about how I see my life and attitude about life as sine wave. It goes up and it goes down. The amplitude isn’t too steep, nor too deep. It’s a smooth wave that slowly goes up and down never too far from the y axis. What’s the y axis in this case? That’s me. That’s my attitude. Sometimes I’m up, sometimes I’m down, but I’m never too far from the “norm” or the standard. And the standard, that y axis is on the positive side of the graph. 

Feel Good Reviews!

I haven't checked in a while, so I ran into two reviews and I was pleasantly surprised, and happy to read them. As I've said before, this is the best part of the job.

This first one is short and sweet. I like that he was expecting one thing, and I gave him something unexpected and surprising. Plus, every writer wants to hear that they have written a realistic and relatable character. 

Reading Multiples

When I was younger I had several rules for reading. 1) I had to read every book I started. No matter what I had to slog through it. 2) I could only read one book at a time. 3) there are several other rules, but none so easy to express or remember as the first two. 

What happened to rule #1? Well, I realized that life was too short for bad books. It takes a lot for me to give up on a book, but I will. I will set a book aside if I start reading it and realize it's just not worth it. I have better things to do. 

Last Cook?

It's been a while since I read a Robin Cook novel. Medical thrillers are fun, and because I'm not in the medical field, they're new and novel. Robin Cook's books, as I remember, are fast-paced and interesting. So I was surprised it had been such a long while since I read one. 

I remember now . . . that besides being fun, fast-paced, and new, they're also fairly poorly written. 

Work Intrudes

 I’ve had to take a break from my creative writing. Which is too bad. I was hitting a good daily clip of writing at least 600 words a day. But, as always, work and life intrude on creative writing and I had to refocus my attention for a bit. 

BUT, that doesn’t mean I’ve not been writing. In fact, the work that intruded had everything to do with writing.