"Sometimes doing a friend a favor forever changes the history of a billion universes."
-Finmore Williams
After fiddling with the manuscript a bit I've posted some rough draft of the redux over at offworldstory. Just use the Titan link in the Virtual Hangouts section of the blog. Comments are welcome and encouraged.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Week, End!
This post's title is a command more than anything else. Man, am I glad it is Friday. Seriously, is it Thanksgiving yet?
I was a tad off about the U of M game last week, but how was I supposed to know that it was going to be a fumblefest? I am becoming a part time Buccaneers fan as the Lions are the worst team in professional sports. Are the Pistons playing yet? After the Lions it is hard to complain about reaching the Conference Finals the last six years in a row, even if we do lose almost all of them in maddeningly disinterested fashion. But guess what? The Pistons look good again this year. Go good management! I think Joe Dumars should be the GM for the Lions AND the Pistons and Chauncey Billups could play free safety...
Phil's latest post summarizes exactly why I cannot in good conscience vote for Obama, no matter how trendy. I don't really get into politics but Palin was a genius pick. Honestly, who saw that coming? Alaska? Hockey Mom?
You know I chose to write my senior thesis on The Silmarillion. It's not even a book really, not like LoTR, it's a collection of histories. It was an ambitious pick, and not a good one. There's not enough continuity.
I need to start working on my manuscript more. It's really hard to find time during the week so I have to take advantage of the weekends.
I worked out a couple of times this week and I feel good. Incredibly sore, but good.
I have to go pick up some baked ziti and garlic rolls for dinner.
Don't let the man get you down.
I was a tad off about the U of M game last week, but how was I supposed to know that it was going to be a fumblefest? I am becoming a part time Buccaneers fan as the Lions are the worst team in professional sports. Are the Pistons playing yet? After the Lions it is hard to complain about reaching the Conference Finals the last six years in a row, even if we do lose almost all of them in maddeningly disinterested fashion. But guess what? The Pistons look good again this year. Go good management! I think Joe Dumars should be the GM for the Lions AND the Pistons and Chauncey Billups could play free safety...
Phil's latest post summarizes exactly why I cannot in good conscience vote for Obama, no matter how trendy. I don't really get into politics but Palin was a genius pick. Honestly, who saw that coming? Alaska? Hockey Mom?
You know I chose to write my senior thesis on The Silmarillion. It's not even a book really, not like LoTR, it's a collection of histories. It was an ambitious pick, and not a good one. There's not enough continuity.
I need to start working on my manuscript more. It's really hard to find time during the week so I have to take advantage of the weekends.
I worked out a couple of times this week and I feel good. Incredibly sore, but good.
I have to go pick up some baked ziti and garlic rolls for dinner.
Don't let the man get you down.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Redux, so far
I've retooled the manuscript, a lot. Kept the same setting, some of the same characters, added a bunch of new characters/locals, and changed from third person to first. Here's a sample:
I was taken violently from my home world like so many others but I was unaware of why. I was ignorant to the vast system of checks and balances that keeps the omniverse in a constant and tenuous state of equilibrium. I failed to realize that I was only currency, another flesh-coin from some out world that had to pay its tribute to the Telek.
“Ted,” I whispered, “you there?” A chorus of stifled sobs echoed off of the cold metal walls.
“We’re dead man, dead.” A voice whispered in the darkness.
“Ted,” I whispered again, “Ted, you there?” Someone close by was mumbling what might have been a prayer. I felt along the wall whispering Ted’s name as I went.
“We’re dead. This is it. This is hell.” The voice was louder this time.
“We’re not dead you idiot. We’re in some kind of cell.” A soft voice from the black answered the morbid fellow. “This is some kind of holding tank.” Knuckles rang against metal.
“Stop it you fool,” a woman cried, pleading, “they’ll hear you.” Fear blossomed in my mind. Fear of what kept us trapped. Only once had the deep blackness surrounding us been breached. A circle of light had formed and inside the circle stood a creature out of nightmare, all scales, claws and teeth. It had reached out and snatched a gibbering man from the floor and dragged the poor fellow screaming into the shining circle, the death circle. Then, as suddenly as it had come, the light winked out silencing the doomed man’s pleas for help. Everyone began whispering after that.
The silence was palpable as I waited in the cold darkness, waiting for the death circle to shine down again like God’s wrath. Silence for an hour, then two. I renewed my voyage through the sea of bodies whispering for Ted. Listen, whisper, listen. Always keeping one hand on the solid metal wall. Despite the numbing sensation I experienced after only a few minutes contact with the freezing surface I refused to step away. The wall was the one remaining bastion of reality in the waking nightmare in which I found myself.
As I passed along I could feel knots of bodies, people crouching in groups of three or four, whispering, crying, huddled together for warmth. Other travelers passed by me unseen whispering the names of friends or loved ones, groping through the blackness for a familiar touch, scenting the air for a lover’s perfume or the scent of a favorite soap.
I was taken violently from my home world like so many others but I was unaware of why. I was ignorant to the vast system of checks and balances that keeps the omniverse in a constant and tenuous state of equilibrium. I failed to realize that I was only currency, another flesh-coin from some out world that had to pay its tribute to the Telek.
“Ted,” I whispered, “you there?” A chorus of stifled sobs echoed off of the cold metal walls.
“We’re dead man, dead.” A voice whispered in the darkness.
“Ted,” I whispered again, “Ted, you there?” Someone close by was mumbling what might have been a prayer. I felt along the wall whispering Ted’s name as I went.
“We’re dead. This is it. This is hell.” The voice was louder this time.
“We’re not dead you idiot. We’re in some kind of cell.” A soft voice from the black answered the morbid fellow. “This is some kind of holding tank.” Knuckles rang against metal.
“Stop it you fool,” a woman cried, pleading, “they’ll hear you.” Fear blossomed in my mind. Fear of what kept us trapped. Only once had the deep blackness surrounding us been breached. A circle of light had formed and inside the circle stood a creature out of nightmare, all scales, claws and teeth. It had reached out and snatched a gibbering man from the floor and dragged the poor fellow screaming into the shining circle, the death circle. Then, as suddenly as it had come, the light winked out silencing the doomed man’s pleas for help. Everyone began whispering after that.
The silence was palpable as I waited in the cold darkness, waiting for the death circle to shine down again like God’s wrath. Silence for an hour, then two. I renewed my voyage through the sea of bodies whispering for Ted. Listen, whisper, listen. Always keeping one hand on the solid metal wall. Despite the numbing sensation I experienced after only a few minutes contact with the freezing surface I refused to step away. The wall was the one remaining bastion of reality in the waking nightmare in which I found myself.
As I passed along I could feel knots of bodies, people crouching in groups of three or four, whispering, crying, huddled together for warmth. Other travelers passed by me unseen whispering the names of friends or loved ones, groping through the blackness for a familiar touch, scenting the air for a lover’s perfume or the scent of a favorite soap.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Thorsday
Yes, it is again Thorsday. I really don't have much to say. I am reading The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula Le Guin. So far so good, I just started it though.
My new manuscript keeps evolving. It's weird how pieces of what I've written over the last 5-7 years are now coming together into this book idea.
Some of the poetry I write I like and some of it I go back and look at and I'm like, "What is this pile?". Ah well, at least I don't hate it all.
I am probably in the worst shape of my adult life right now. I'm not sure how many times I could get up and down a basketball court. But, have no fear, conditioning for the Lady Lancers Varsity Basketball Team starts next week and guess who will working out with/coaching the team..uh huh. Btw, I really like the new offense that Coach Wilson has chosen, very organic, very versatile. It's the same offense that the Memphis Tigers ran last year.
Tomorrow we have a pep rally at school during 8th period so I don't have to teach health class. Needless to say I am overjoyed. I'm not sure if you've ever discussed the anus with a room full of 8th graders, but let me tell you, it's a treat.
Video games, where have you gone? I haven't played one in about a month.
I missed the deadline for a fantasy football league I was invited to. I felt bad, but really I don't know if I could have even spared the time.
I think Michigan will beat Notre Dame on Saturday, but not by a lot.
13-9 Michigan in a barn burner.
My new manuscript keeps evolving. It's weird how pieces of what I've written over the last 5-7 years are now coming together into this book idea.
Some of the poetry I write I like and some of it I go back and look at and I'm like, "What is this pile?". Ah well, at least I don't hate it all.
I am probably in the worst shape of my adult life right now. I'm not sure how many times I could get up and down a basketball court. But, have no fear, conditioning for the Lady Lancers Varsity Basketball Team starts next week and guess who will working out with/coaching the team..uh huh. Btw, I really like the new offense that Coach Wilson has chosen, very organic, very versatile. It's the same offense that the Memphis Tigers ran last year.
Tomorrow we have a pep rally at school during 8th period so I don't have to teach health class. Needless to say I am overjoyed. I'm not sure if you've ever discussed the anus with a room full of 8th graders, but let me tell you, it's a treat.
Video games, where have you gone? I haven't played one in about a month.
I missed the deadline for a fantasy football league I was invited to. I felt bad, but really I don't know if I could have even spared the time.
I think Michigan will beat Notre Dame on Saturday, but not by a lot.
13-9 Michigan in a barn burner.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Remems.
-Seems like the internet used to be more fun. Now I just get on to do my banking, read my e-mail, check blogs and read about sports news. Actually, I do alot on the net. Maybe I'm just so used to the internet now that it's not fun anymore. I remember when Al Gore invented the internet. It was a great day for America.
-I've been thinking alot about my past. It's been fun. I've known alot of really cool people. Though, I don't know if I have been the best friend. In fact I know I haven't.
-You know, it's hard to see yourself as you really are. Mental clarity of self, I think, is one of the greatest things anyone can possess.
-Everyday I drive into Tampa to work and I think about growing up in Roscommon, a town of, what, 800 people? I pass more people than that on my daily commute. It was a good place to grow up though.
-I never thought I would live in a home with granite countertops. I didn't even know granite countertops existed until I was in my late 20's. Now I'm a countertop snob!
-Hadoken
-I've been thinking alot about my past. It's been fun. I've known alot of really cool people. Though, I don't know if I have been the best friend. In fact I know I haven't.
-You know, it's hard to see yourself as you really are. Mental clarity of self, I think, is one of the greatest things anyone can possess.
-Everyday I drive into Tampa to work and I think about growing up in Roscommon, a town of, what, 800 people? I pass more people than that on my daily commute. It was a good place to grow up though.
-I never thought I would live in a home with granite countertops. I didn't even know granite countertops existed until I was in my late 20's. Now I'm a countertop snob!
-Hadoken
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