Amusing and Unamusing Musings

Where you been?

2010-02-21T07:12:00.000-08:00

2010 Lady Lancers Basketball Team after defeating rival Keswick 39-36 in the Regional Semi Finals.

Another basketball season ends with the Lady Lancers of Cambridge Christian School(Tampa) earning a trip to the Regional Championship game for the second year in a row. Unfortunately, we were unable to win but we were thankful to again be one of the top 8 1A girl's hoops teams in the state of Florida.

This year, more than any other, tested the team. From losing our starting senior forward and leading rebounder to a knee injury to playing sick and injured, to having to play our last six games of the playoffs on the road it was a true test of our team's character and resilience.

Here are some pics of the Regional Quarter Finals against First Baptist Academy of Naples a 44-38 win for the Lancers. naplesnews.com does a wonderful job of covering their prep. sports. Very impressive site.

#24 Chachere M. Adding to her double-double

#4 Susan B. aka "Suuuuzzzzeeee" going to the rack.

Cassy P., O, CB, and Lex. celebrating the win.

Next came the Regional Semis against our rival across the Bay, Keswick. They beat us during the regular season at home pretty handily and edged us for the District Championship 42-47 but that night saw 22-6 half time lead for Keswick evaporate into a 34-34 tie in the fourth quarter after a 3-Point bucket by #21 Rachel B. Seen here flying to the hole for two.

With the score tied at 36 after made free-throws by both teams, Rachel brought the ball up the floor with only ten seconds left in the game. She was hounded by the Keswick "D" who were trying desperately to keep her out of the paint. With time winding down Rachel rifled a pass to Chach who buried a 3 with 1.5 seconds left on the clock sealing the win. It was a huge shot and an amazing moment.

The Regional Finals found us matched up against the number one team in the state, Trinity Christian who last year beat a team in the Regional Tournament 111-25. We lost handily (75-38) as turnovers and foul trouble plagued us most of the night.

We give God all the glory for another remarkable season and thank all those who supported us and gave of their time and resources to make our season a success.

And that's where I've been.

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;" II Corinthians 4:8,9

Blog Neglect

2009-12-21T18:30:00.000-08:00

Been neglecting the old blog.

Avatar: Great movie
The Gathering Storm: Great Book
Christmas Break: Great Holiday

Way to hard to blog from my phone but I wanted to try it.

Excerpt

2009-10-04T17:35:00.000-07:00

Honestly, this is what I've been doing with most of my time outside of work. This is the beginning of what is currently designated "Chapter III" though that is subject to change (and probably will be changed). I'm planning on being in Michigan later this month and I will bring what I have done then.

III

“Is this your home world?” Nisla asked.

“Yes,” I replied, “in the hills above the Wolfwood.” We sat together atop a mossy boulder jutting from the gently sloping hillside. Tall pines crowded around us and the forest floor was a soft carpet of long needles. It was a misty summer morning and below us in the valley smoke wafted lazily from the chimneys of a dozen log houses to mingle with fog rolling down from the mountains. A herd of spearhorn, sleek in their brown summer coats, browsed around us lowing contentedly as they plucked needles and cones from the wiry pine branches with their long tongues.

“It is beautiful.” She sighed and snuggled up under my arm. I tensed at her nearness. “What is it?”

I stared off at the distant mountains. The earthy smell of the spearhorn mixed with the pungent sweetness of the pine needles and I felt the sharp pangs of homesickness. “Who is your master?”

“It doesn’t matter. I am relieved of my debt to him. I swore to bring you to him or die in the attempt. Since I died my oath is fulfilled.”

I smiled. “Clever of you to die like that.”

She wrapped her slender arms around me and laid her head against my chest. My heart quickened its pace. “I am clever, pehaps too clever. Have you experienced any symptoms of the overwrite?”

“Not that I’ve noticed. Perhaps my mind is stronger than you thought.”

“I doubt that,” she replied with a wry smile then grew serious. “Look.” She pointed to the sky above the village where a large winged creature soared high above the sharply peaked roofs. “Do you know what that is?” I held my hand to my eyes to reduce the glare from the rising sun and quickly lowered it. In my dreams I could simply tell myself that the glare was gone and it would cease to exist.

The creature looked like a giant cross between a lizard and a hawk. Glossy, black feathers covered its body save for its scaly, rust colored head and legs. Hooked talons tipped the creature’s three toed feet and a feathery “v” shaped tail tilted like a rudder as it sailed over the trees.

“No, I’ve never seen such a creature.”

“It is a drake-hawk, specifically my drake-hawk, Ti’krek. I hatched her and raised her from a fledgling. She was killed in a storm many years ago.” Nisla pulled away and turned her attention to smoothing the wrinkles from her hunting trousers. “Already my memories are invading your dreams. Soon they will affect your conscious thoughts. You must find me a new body.”

Septumble

2009-09-09T17:48:00.000-07:00

-My life is so full of school right now that it seems like I have about a half an hour between the time I get home and the time I go to bed.

-Writing is hit and miss which is not good.

-College football makes my heart sing, so there is that.

-Michigan plays Notre Dame this weekend. Go Blue! Definitely looking forward to that.

-I haven't been doing much but work. I don't read much these days. If I have spare time I write. I guess that counts as reading since I'm reading what I am typing. Ok, maybe not.

-Right now all I can think of is 'tired' and 'it feels really good to sit down'. Probably not the best time to blog. But I've been under a lot of blogging pressure lately and then Angie's crack about the month of August being over...=p

-Let me do a quick "First Glance" of the University of Michigan Football Team

-Freshman QB's: Overachieved. Impressive Big House debut for Forcier and Robinson. Forcier's poise was encouraging and Robinson's 43 yard TD run was amazing. His speed from a standing stop was jaw-dropping.

-Recievers: Hello there Junior Hemingway, nice catches. What's that? You had five catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns? Nice. Also, love Kevin Koger's hands. He had some moments last year at TE. Look for more of the same this year.

-The Running Game: Hopefully Brandon Minor can join Carlos Brown in the backfield this Saturday and keep the QB's from hogging all the ground gains.

-Defense: Fast, strong and aggressive. Looked great, played great. Nearly earned that hoped for shut out. Graham and Ezeh are stalwarts at DE and LB respectively and true Freshman Craig Roh looked good in his first outing. I also have to give a shout out to Donovan Warren the Junior CB who will have to shut down those Irish recievers on Saturday.

-Heh, Irish Reciever, sounds like an expensive hunting dog.

-BYE

August Rush

2009-08-07T14:22:00.001-07:00

-It's almost over. Or is it about to begin?

-I am concerned that I will not be able to keep up the quality/quantity of my writing during the school year. It takes a lot of time. I wrote for 2.5 hours today and I feel like I barely did anything manuscript wise.

-I also learned this summer that I cannot write all day or for very long really. You can't write for 8 hours like a normal job. For me, quality takes a nose dive after about the 3.5 hour mark. I found if I kept it to 2.5-3 hours per day I was hungry to get at it again the next day and I didn't have to revise as much.

-Cliches are evil. I try to weed them out by not going with my first impulse for an idea. "Wait, what if the antagonist is really the protagonist's father...ah, nevermind."

-I haven't been reading as much as I thought I would be this summer. Well, reading other authors that is. Been reading a lot actually.

-The new Harry Potter was good. I think they get better every time. Or maybe I can't remember the last one by the time the new one comes out.

-Speaking of father-son cliches, William is trying to start a little Rebellion of his own against my already established housewide Empire. I had to use the force against his bottom a few times lately.

-Need capital to start t-shirt company already have text for first shirt planned: "Excuse Me I Just Tweeted." Oh, look out Twitter users! That's my idea btw and I will sue anyone who attempts to steal it. Also in the wings: "Does Your Facebook Hurt?" on the front "'Cause it's Killin' Me!" on the back. BAM!

-The graphics for Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec have not aged well. I found myself squinting at a wall of pixels trying to make out if there was a curve coming up. I still love my PS2.

-One more: "OBAMAMA JEANS: Stylish Enough For Your Mom, But Made For A President." Cause remember when the President threw out the first pitch at the All Star Game? And he wore those jeans? "Mom jeans". Uh huh, I'm stickin' it to the man. Or am I the man?

-Please do not send this blog post to the White House under the heading "fishy e-mails" Thanks.

Scouting

2009-07-10T14:07:00.000-07:00

Lately I've felt like an NBA scout. In between daddy day-care and writing I've been scouring the interwebs to help make the Detroit Pistons a better team in 09-10. Here's a couple of theories.

1. The Pistons have made their Free Agent splash and are done signing impact players.

It's possible that Joe D. really will hearken back to the Bad Boy days when he Isaiah and Vinnie Johnson were running things on the perimeter. Stuckey and Rip starting and Will and Ben G. coming off the bench does sound dynamic and pretty much all the guards are interchangeable so there's a lot of flexibility in the back court. But it's the front court that is woefully thin. Barring the Pistons signing another big Kwame and Max would have to split time at center (Kwame playing against the Dwight Howard's and Shaq's and Max playing against smaller line ups)and the rookies would have to play a lot of minutes (not necessarily a bad thing if they can produce). And where does Arron Afflalo fit in? Are the Pistons really picking up Deron Washington? Isn't he another G/F that adds to the logjam in the back court? I can't help but think that Joe isn't quite done. I can't imagine that he would start the season with Kwame and Max as his centers. He seems to be biding his time, waiting for the right deal with the right player. But how long can he afford to wait?

2. The Pistons are going to trade Rip and/or Arron and/or Walter Sharpe for a decent post player.

I was sold on the Rip Hamilton for Carlos Boozer trade when the Pistons picked up Gordon, but there are pros and cons to consider.

Pro. Detroit needs a low post presence and Boozer seems to fit the bill. Also, there isn't enough time in a game for Detroit to play all their guards substantial minutes.

Con. Boozer seems to get hurt a lot and there are nagging character questions. Not to mention we just signed a PF so Boozer would probably have to play the 5.

Pro. Boozer's contract comes off the books after this year giving Detroit financial flexibility in 2010. Rip has four years left on his deal.

Con. Boozer is reportedly not much of a defender while Rip is very good in stretches. Also, Rip has championship experience while Boozer has only "I came off the bench in the Olympics" experience which the Pistons already have with Tay.

So, as you can see, it's three Cons to two Pros against the trade. Arron and Walter on the other hand I could very easily see getting shipped for a serviceable big. Which is a little sad because AA is one of Detroit's best on-ball defenders. And he can guard three positions.

So we wait. But while we wait here's three keys to success for next season.

1. Stuckey

Flat out Stuckey. Does he have a consistent jumper? Has his defense improved? OK, let's stop right there. If Stuckey can consistently hit that mid-range jumper, mix in a respectable three point percentage (over 30% is doable) and play pressure defense then Detroit will have a much better year. The guy is fearless going to the rack, he's big, he's strong, he's got a good attitude. His point guard skills will come with experience, ask Billups.

2. The Rooks

Can any of these guys make an impact his season? From what I hear Jerebko is the most ready and at reportedly 6'10" 231 lbs. he can play either forward spot. He has been described as tough and versatile, sounds good. Summers and Daye are intriguing. Daye is skilled but physically lacking, Summers looks like he's ready physically and apparently is a shooter. But how is his rebounding? Does he have a post game at 6'8" 240? Ideally all three of these guys (and a greatly improved Deron Washington) will be able to contribute right away.

3. Coach K

I like him. I watched his induction and he seemed like a stand-up guy who knew what he was talking about. He's got experience. He's been on some pretty good teams ('04 Pistons World Champions) and he seems like a good fit. There is definitely going to be some pressure because he's in Detroit and Pistons fans think if you don't win the Central and at least make the ECF then you better refund your salary and get out of town. But what can I say, the bar has been set pretty high. Anyway, good luck Coach. We'll be praying for you.

THE NEWS OF THE DAY

2009-07-05T19:10:00.000-07:00

-Gave my first charge ever at a wedding this weekend. Used Ephesians 5. The wedding was outside, it was hot and I was sweating on my notes. And on my face. I did not marry the couple of course because there is no "power vested in me" so to speak.

-Stop watching Charlie the Unicorn, it will rot your brain. "We're on a bridge Charlie!"

-The saying, "You only live once" is tricky.

-It is sometimes hard for me to discuss/debate topics because a)sometimes the topic while "biblical" in concept has no real bearing on how I live my life and therefore is relgated to the unenviable position of "nice to know things that are biblical in concept but have no real bearing on my life" i.e. the validity of slavery as a biblical concept or myriad other subjects. I have never had a servant/slave and I never will. While I appreciate that Jesus never spoke against slavery as a practice I can see how "loving my neighbor as myself" would probably prohibit me from keeping slaves and b)if the subject being debated does have actual "liveable" worth I usually already have taken a position on the subject. If anyone would care to know my position I would be happy to explain it to them and have them decide the validity of my stance. I would be happy to answer any questions they may have regarding said stance and the reason I subscribe/hold/endorse said position. Intellectual/verbal fencing (while sometimes an exciting spectator's sport) has too much potential to become emotional bloodletting sprinkled with veiled (or obvious) personal attacks. I'd rather spend my time reconnecting with loved ones, interacting with them, hopefully building them up/encouraging them and maybe, just maybe, letting down my guard and really sharing my heart with the few people in this world I trust. But I'm getting ahead of myself here.

-Everywhere you live will have its good points and bad point so just go where God leads. Stop trying to figure everything out, no one can.

-People fill their lives hoping to find that one thing, that one thing that's gonna be the answer. If people are honest that is what everyone is looking for and it gets depressing for those who think they found it and it turns out that what they found just wasn't it. It's Christ, and that's easy to write and so much harder for people( particularly people with a lot of things) to accept. And christians, we want crutches.

-It' hard for me to write fiction with an outline.

-Also, get off Rodney Stuckey, haters. He came from a small college program, he began playing with the most established starting five in the NBA and he's still learning. Chauncey Billups wasn't a great point guard when the Piston's signed him. Stuckey is obviously talented so step off.

-Nighty night

Kickin' it Old School

2009-06-26T07:35:00.000-07:00

In the mid 90's this is what it was all about. Notice the impressive decor the London House was best known for. That pie was awesome, that I can tell you. Also, notice in the background of the third pic a certain couple snuggling on the "oh so comfy" couch.

RIP Fish tank.

Thanks to Brian for the pics.

Dominican Republic

2009-06-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

The DR was an amazing experience. I had never been in a place of such abject poverty.

SCORE Intl. handled the trip and our lodging and meals. We brought two boy's basketball teams, the varsity girl's team, a baseball team and a soccer team. The basic format was we would play games and then give the Gospel in between games or at the the end of the day. It was the first time that the school had ever brought girls and our girls were great both on the court and while interacting with the locals.

The pic. above was taken in a sugar cane village. The occupants were mostly Haitian refugees.We brought them food and clothing but we had to leave without giving out everything when the crowd got too rowdy. The boy in the picture's named Alejandro. Thanks to my wife and in-laws I spoke enough Spanish to get by.

The trip really helped me get my priorities straight and to appreciate what I have and where I live. I could be riding a scooter through the crowded streets of Santo Domingo with my wife and child on the back wondering what we are going to eat for our one meal of the day.

I definitely see my life differently since I got back.

June

2009-06-07T18:17:00.000-07:00

Summer is finally here. Tomorrow will be the first day back at home after a week or so of vacation.

Michigan was very nice. It is always good to see my family and spend some time with those that I only get to see once a year. The weather was colder than I expected getting down into the 40's at night. I don't remember June being that cold growing up but I have become acclimated to Florida and so maybe it was and I was just used to it.

I am currently reading "Too Late the Phalarope" by Alan Paton and I just finished "Demons Don't Dream" by Piers Anthony. Wildly different books, I know. "Demons Don't Dream" may be Phils and not mine. Phil, please let me know if it is yours so that I can return it.

I think my summer schedule will look something like this:

1-Get up, breakfast, work out

2-Chores and errands

3-Writing and/or editing

4-Lunch

5-Write

6-Run

7-Dinner

8-Write and/or edit

9-Read

10-Bed

Of course that is all subject to change. My posts have become info-dumps as of late. But at the moment I am tired and can't think of anything witty and/or interesting to say.

Goodnight for now.

May is Here

2009-05-10T15:31:00.000-07:00

-This is the month of transition for me where the school year ends and the summer begins. I have approximately 12 days left of school. The trick at this time of year is not to close up shop mentally.

-I've gotten more good reviews of the new manuscript then I expected. Currently I am only revealing the first 11 pages, but the positive input has been really encouraging.

-When I write something and then I show people what I've done and they like it I always get a little bit scared that I won't be able to duplicate the quality on the next page. This can lead to over-analyzing, but I determined just to write and not to worry. Just write.

-Someone asked me if I was going to pursue an advanced degree at any time. "If I need to," was my reply. School was really tough my last year as I was working 40+ hours a week and taking 21 credit hours and writing my senior paper on the Silmarillion of all things. Yes, I was too ambitious in my choice of topic.

-I am listening to Pandora right now. Cool site, check it out.

-Yes, I am on Twitter. No, I'm not one of "those" people.

-I can't wait to go home to Michigan in three weeks. It's way to hot here and it's only May.

-I wish I had something profound to say.

-End

NBA Playoffs: Pistons

2009-04-16T19:18:00.000-07:00

It's time for my second annual Pistons Playoff Preview (3P) But first let me address the regular season.

I told myself to hold off, not to pass judgement to soon. "Wait until after the All-Star break," I said. So I did. And here's what I learned.

1-The Iverson trade was a complete debacle for Detroit. Let me tell you, I had high hopes even though I was skeptical about trading away Billups (a great pg and leader)for ANOTHER shooting guard when we were already starting an All-Star, Rip Hamilton. But I jumped on the "We've got a bonafide superstar now too" bandwagon. Plus, it seemed like Joe Dumars had a plan for the future and like him or not Joe Dumars is a big reason I'm a Pistons fan. Good management is key to any sports franchise (see the Detroit Lions). And let's be honest here, the real value of the Billups/Iverson trade will not be realized until this summer. So, again, I have to reserve judgement. Best wishes to AI. Take care of that back my friend.

2-The Pistons look exactly how they should look right now: A group of aging vets, young, less experienced players, a largely underachieving bench (I got you Will Bynum), and a rook head coach. Nobody seems to know what to do in the 4th when Chauncey used to put the game away with timely passes, 3's and free-throws all-day. Now it's misreads, turnovers and HOW CAN WE STOP DRIBBLE PENETRATION moments.

Bigs: Their frontcourt is anchored by two aging vets who can still play (see McDyess) but logging heavy minutes wears them down quickly.

Kwame has been a pleasant surprise as of late, but he's still Kwame.

Maxiell and Amir Johnson have not improved as quickly as expected and 'Sheed is really starting to show his age.

Forwards: I like Tay, sue me. He's versatile offensively, doesn't complain and plays defense.

I also like what Walter Hermann brings to the game when he is hitting his shots and being active on D.

Tayshaun really needs to go at LeBron on Saturday. Forget the fouls, LeBron's gonna get calls anyway at least make him work on defense.

Guards: The brightest spot on the team. Richard Hamilton can still fill it up. He is an absolute nightmare when he is coming off picks and he has looked a lot better going to the basket this year.

Will Bynum has been a pleasant surprise though in the last couple games teams have been keying on him and he has struggled a little with his offense. Still, he was a great pickup.

I like Afflalo too. He is a versatile defender, hard worker and his offense is starting to pick up. He just needs time to get better.

Which leads us to Rodney Stuckey. I'm not going to lie, Stuck is the first name I look for in the box score after the game. I love this guy. People need to remember he is in his second year and is surround mostly with guys who have been in the playoffs since my house was worth what I paid for it. Just wait until he develops a consistent outside shot, then it will be pick your poison for opposing defenses. Like Afflalo, he just needs time to mature.

Playoff Prediction: Cavs in 5. I'm gonna go ahead and say the Pistons get a home win in this series. Believe me I feel like I'm going out on a limb saying it but the roster is loaded with guys with Conference and NBA Finals experience.

But you know, it's not even the talent level of the Cavs that will ultimately decide the series. It's the Pistons lack of cohesion. They look lost sometimes and you can't look lost in the NBA playoffs. The weird thing is, they seem to know it, but they can't figure out how to solve the problem.

This year has to be about patience and belief. Belief that the players and Coach Curry can solve the puzzle and patience for the future.

The Back of a Book

2009-03-31T19:13:00.000-07:00

Doesn't this sound like something you'd read on the back of a novel?

His mind wandered across hundreds of worlds, across thousands of battlefields. Worlds of air, wind, clouds and tempests, great cities rising from the backs of colossal flying creatures endlessly feeding as they soared through the trackless sky.

Worlds of fire where ash fell from the sky like rain, molten rock ran in steaming rivers and armies of scaled horrors battled each another across fields of writhing flame.

Green realms, like Aris, worlds that housed millions of life forms each more fantastic than the last.

He had brought the order of the Telek Confederacy to them all. Those who did not willingly submit were annihilated, their worlds remade to suit the needs of their conquerors. Some worlds, those who resisted too long or too bravely, were made examples. Purged of all life, stripped of their resources and consigned as refuse worlds, trash heaps, mass graves, prisons.

He had had a hand in it all. A mighty captain of House Erion; murderer of innocents.

Back from Break

2009-03-23T19:00:00.000-07:00

Spring break was great but now it's back to work.

I can't help but think the economy will rebound if we continue to throw unthinkable amounts of money at it. A trillion is a thousand billions. A thousand billions.

Number Three-I think Dwayne Wade is a great player and seems to be a good person, but the calls he got against the Pistons last game reminded me of why I hate the NBA sometimes and why I continue to support a Pistons team who won the title in 2004 WITHOUT a bonafide NBA superstar. That may never happen again. How would a team get to the free throw line?

Wade fell on Arron Afflalo and rode Stuckey like a rodeo bull. Ok I'm done. But nobody better breathe on D-Wizzle. Ok, for real, I'm done.

Michigan Basketball will continue its return to relevance next year with a great recruiting class and the return of Manny Harris and (hopefully) DeShawn Sims.

On the home front my car was so covered in pollen today I had to hose it off when I got home from school. It's probably because I have to park in an oak forest at the end of winding trail at work. I'm pretty sure I saw a bobcat the other day. It may have been a regular cat, but I don't think so.

-Goodnight

Not There Yet

2009-02-22T04:31:00.000-08:00

Turnovers turned out to be our downfall last night as we lost 71-26 to a very good Sarasota Christian team. Their 1-3-1 trap gave us alot of problems and really limited our offense. We finished the season 14-11 with a district championship and as regional runners up. We return all of our players next year as our two oldest players are only juniors.

We are very thankful for the great season that God gave to us and we are humbled by His goodness.

Thanks to everyone who came out and supported us throughout the year. We are looking forward to a great season next year and another run at the Final Four.

Friday 2/20/09

2009-02-20T10:31:00.000-08:00

NOTE-Scroll down a few posts to see new pic of District Champs!

It feels good to be able to sit and write for a moment. My life has been late nights and early mornings for the last month. If you've been keeping up with the blog then you know about the CCS Lady Lancers. Tomorrow is our "Elite 8" game against 1A power Sarasota Christian. Due to how the bracket is set up it is an away game for us, our first away game of the post season. I'm not sure how exactly it works since both we and Sarasota won our districts but I have been assured that our place in the bracket has something to do with it. Tune in tomorrow (or Sunday) to see if we make it to the State Final Four.

I have been pouring over stats, newspaper articles, game film, anything that I can get my hands on in order to scout other teams. But honestly, whether we win or lose depends more on us than them. How we play as opposed to who their leading scorer is.

I finished Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. It came highly recommended and it lived up to the hype. Great book. I was reading to some of my 8th graders and they love it. I was unsure whether or not to read it to my 7th graders but...they love it too.

Almost to the weekend. Hope you all are well and enjoying life.

Be blessed.

Cambridge Advances to Regional Finals

2009-02-18T14:25:00.000-08:00

A region basketball: Last-second shot keeps Cambridge alive
By Justin Dargahi, Times Correspondent
In Print: Wednesday, February 18, 2009
________________________________________

When Olivia Muenter missed a layup with 12 seconds left she thought she had just blown the game for her Cambridge teammates.

Then she got another chance. And this time she didn't miss.

Muenter's layup with five seconds to go Tuesday broke a 34-all tie and moved Cambridge one step closer to a final four berth with a 36-34 win over Seffner Christian.

"I didn't know how much time was left," Muenter said. "But when I missed it the first time I said to myself, I have to get it back and then after I made the second one I knew I probably just won the game."

Arielle Jadlowski's halfcourt attempt at the buzzer hit the top of the backboard.

The Lancers (14-10) jumped out to a 16-5 lead after one quarter, but the Crusaders (16-11) had a four-point lead at halftime.

Neither team led by more than four the rest of the way.

After Jadlowski gave Seffner a 34-32 lead with two minutes remaining, Chachere Moore tied it on a midrange jumper with 35 seconds left, setting the stage for Muenter's heroics.

Jadlowski led all scorers with 18. Moore led Cambridge with nine, while Muenter and Rachael Bode each finished with eight.

Cambridge 36
Seffner Christian 34

Class A region basketball: Cambridge wakes up in second half

2009-02-14T07:24:00.000-08:00

TAMPA — Cambridge used a big third quarter to break open a tight game against Walker Memorial Academy en route to a 48-33 win to advance to the Class A region semifinals.

Clinging to a 15-11 halftime lead, sophomore Rachael Bode caught fire to start the third quarter as the Lancers scored more points in the quarter than in the entire first half.

Bode scored 11 points in a four-minute stretch to help give Cambridge a commanding 15-point lead midway through the quarter.

"It was definitely a momentum changer," Lancers coach John Wilson said. "Bode hit a couple shots and with us being at home, it just built from there."

Bode finished with a game-high 17 points. Melissa Olsson added 12 and fellow junior Chachere Moore had nine.

Kristelle Lagabon led the Eagles (14-8) with 10 points.

Cambridge (13-10) faces Seffner Christian for the fourth time this season on Tuesday.

Justin Dargahi, Times correspondent

(Yes, that's right, we are playing the team we beat to win the District Championship in the Regional Semi-Finals on Tuesday. We are currently in the Class 1A equivalent of the Sweet Sixteen.)-MWVK

Lancers

2009-02-10T06:10:00.000-08:00

It has been a thrilling post season for the Lady Lancers. We entered district play with one of our best players, G Rachel Bode, injured. She suffered a severe finger sprain two days before our opening game against Tampa Bay Christian Academy. We had high hopes for this season as we were able to host the district tournament this year.

In the first round we found ourselves out of sync and down by ten at half-time to TBCA. Rachel checked in at half-time despite the pain in her finger and thanks to some better shooting and impressive defense we came back and won the game 32-26.

In the District Championship we faced Seffner Christian, a team that had beaten us badly twice during the season. We took a lead in the first quarter 10-6 with Rachel scoring all 10 of our first quarter points. But it wasn't to last. After going 0-6 from the free-throw line in the first half we went to half-time tied 14-14.

In the third quarter Seffner started out strong out scoring us by 5 in the quarter and taking a 27-22 lead into the fourth quarter. As I sat there on the bench I could feel the game start to slip away. But as the fourth quarter opened I could see that our girls were determined to not let the game get out of reach. We outscored Seffner 14-2 in the fourth quarter and made some clutch free-throws down the stretch to finish out the game. The end result was a Lancers victory 36-29 and a District Championship for Cambridge Christian. Despite the injured finger on her shooting hand Rachel finished the game with 23 points on 7-12 shooting from the field and 7-9 from the free throw line.

It was a great night.

Next up, Regional Quarter Finals at home Thursday night vs. Walker Memorial.

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T14:14:00.000-08:00

I realize that I there is no blog post for the entire month of December. However, rest assured, I am still blogging. I have been sick and with the busyness of the holidays/basketball season I have had little time to do any writing.

Happy New Year, welcome to 2009.

Hindsight

2008-11-15T17:29:00.000-08:00

My wife is out with some of her friends on a "Girl's Night Out". I think they went to Channelside to have dinner and get into mischief. Hopefully she doesn't get into too much mischief.

William crashed out early tonight and I am dreading having to wake him up and bathe and feed him. He looks peaceful rocking back and forth in his swing.

Sometimes I scoot around the interwebs and check up on old friends to see how they're doing. You see, the telephone and I...well let's just say that I would call the phone an acquaintance rather than a friend. Some might even say that I am a "bad phone talker". So I don't call anyone, usually. Okay I call some people (you know who you are) but on the whole I am, or have become, introverted (phone wise). Back to my point, I was a bit surprised to find out how little some of my old friends have changed. Now, before you get all, "I change, I grow and change every day" I'm not talking about anyone who reads this blog (conveniently) I'm talking about people I have not seen or talked to in years. I go onto their myface and spacebook pages and, wow, favorite music...the same, favorite pastimes...the same, and that quote from that movie that came out in 1999, yeah, still there.

Hmm. Before you think I am just sniping people for being consistent with their tastes let me say that consistency is good. But so is growing and changing. Growth is good. A few new favorites are ok. So are some new friends and sometimes even ways of thinking.

I'm 33 now. It's unbelievable how much my life has changed throughout the years. I think that's why I like working with kids because I remember what is was like in the 7th and 8th grade. How tough it was to be "cool" when I wore plastic framed glasses that almost hid my eyebrows. Not that I'm "cool" now but every experience of my (still young) life has shaped me, even the unpleasant times.

Share life with people. We all have it, that catalogue of experiences, emotions, and sensations that we can use to empathize with one another and build one another up. Use "you" to encourage those who are in a place in their life that you've already been in, help them navigate. Not pontificating, but giving, giving of us to help others. Not "be warmed and filled" but "hey, man, here's something real that I can share with you."

Take care.

PS
(I am cool actually)

(Just kidding)

(No I'm not, I really am cool)

November

2008-11-08T14:24:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a while. I don't like updating my blog once a month but it looks like that's how it worked this time.

Basketball season is in full swing and we have seven more practices before our home opener. We have been implementing the same offense that the Memphis Tigers ran last year, the dribble-drive offense. It's got good symmetry and lets your players be players. It also puts alot of emphasis on your players making good reads and reacting to the defense so we'll see how our players handle it.

I heard on Oprah the other day that some of her staff get together before every show and pray for President-Elect Obama. I wonder if they did that for President Bush? I'm just sayin'...

I've been posting a bit on some writing blogs which is great practice and helps keeps the writing skills sharp, but also reduces the post on AAUM (this blog). I also threw a post up on Absolute Write and I recieved alot of positive feedback.

I watched sports for most of the day today (Michigan won) rested and played with my son. I love Saturday.

TTYL

October

2008-10-11T16:22:00.000-07:00

It's hard to tell what month it is here in the tropics. October is much like September which is much like August. Sure, the rain lets up a bit and the temperature drops from the low 90's to the high 80's but that's about it. No annual color change is noticable in the foliage and leaves litter the ground only as much as they did in the preceding months. Nothing special.

Florida has two seasons, dry and rainy, and if anyone ever tells you, "Oh, it gets cold in Florida too," they're lying. Mid 40's is not cold especially when you grew up in a place where there was a real possibiliy of freezing to death if you were caught in a blizzard.

It's funny, I overheard a conversation where a mother was commenting on how cold it was at the college her son was attending...in the artic wilderness of North Carolina. Yeah, watch out for packs of marauding wolves coming down from the mountains around Chapel Hill.

I picked up Lord of the Flies from the library at school, you know, cause I work with 7th and 8th graders and I need some insight. I saw the movie a long time ago but I don't remember very much of it. The book's always better than the film anyway, well, almost always.

I'm also thinking about reading one of those vampire-love books the Twilight series I think it is. I'm really interested to see if they are well written or just gimmicky fluff written to enthrall middle school girls. (see Eragon and switch the word "girls" to "boys")

I have to go get dinner now. I really want to get working on my manuscript. It is killing me that I haven't been able to work on it lately. But when you have 160 middle school poems, memoirs and short stories to edit it doesn't leave time for much else.

New books read so far this year:

The Name of the Wind
The Lathe of Heaven
Dune Messiah
Lord of the Flies
Next, Ender's Game

-Adios

At Life's Grindstone

2008-10-05T16:52:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am again, blogging.

Getting any writing done has been really tough. I'm trying to juggle family, writing workshop, mundane things that I have to do (i.e. lawn care, laundry, et.al.)and spending quality time with the family.

I was able to spend time with a lot of my family this weekend and it was great. It was just a really chill and relaxing time. Plus, it was a distraction from the Michigan game.

I have a lot of work to do this week. Each of my eighty students submitted two manuscripts to be graded. So, I have one hundred sixty poems, short stories, memoirs and who knows what else to grade this week. Ah, well, I wouldn't trade it for teaching Algebra again.

At any rate, I should go and...do something.

I hope to continue working on the new manuscript. I just have to start scheduling an hour or so every day. I'd much rather have two or three hours to work, but I just don't think I can swing it on my current schedule. One hour will have to suffice.

Until next time

Offworld II

2008-09-20T19:50:00.000-07:00

"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.

Week, End!

2008-09-19T17:25:00.000-07:00

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.

Redux, so far

2008-09-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

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.

Thorsday

2008-09-11T18:31:00.000-07:00

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.

Remems.

2008-09-03T16:17:00.000-07:00

-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

Here We Go Again

2008-08-30T16:58:00.000-07:00

Michigan's opening game loss this year was easier to understand than last year's and therefore less painful, maybe not to watch, but to come to grips with.

The Good: Michigan's defense in the second half looked liked a defense that can carry them until the offense get's better. Unfortunately, the defense only looked that way in the second half.

Michigan's conditioning really showed in the penalties Utah racked up and the way Michigan's defense seemed to get stronger as the game went on.

The Bad: Michigan's sputtery offense. There was a question about the ability of Michigan's current squad to run the spread offense well. Let me answer that question. No, no they can't. At least not yet.

The Ugly: The "blazing" foot speed displayed by the Michigan quarterbacks. Quarterbacks tripping in the open field. Overthrown balls, underthrown balls, dropped balls.

All-in-all this loss showed quite a bit of promise for the future. However, Michigan sorely needs the personnel adjustments/offensive upgrades that are in the wings for next year.

Go Blue!

What what!?

2008-08-27T14:38:00.001-07:00

So tired
Hands like lead
Hang down
Words leap from my fingers
Leaking energy

Now that that's over I will post a Haiku by Ian, one of my students. Ahem:

Bulbasaur

Bulbasaur is green
it makes Pikachu jealous
when Ash chooses him

Ah, literature.

I finished THE NAME OF THE WIND and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Bast intrigued me.

It made me want to write more and get my mind a-workin' again.

Writing Lab is going well. For the most part my students are good writers. Like I needed to tell you that after posting "Bulbasaur".

Lataz

First Person

2008-08-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

Here's what I got so far tonight. I have to go to bed.

After my pa died I took up with the caravans. It was honest enough work, the pay was decent and I was able to see the sights from Shark’s Way up the Green Road all the way to Xin, The City of Wonders. I met Jon in Sillsdale, a run down mining town half-way between nowhere and the backwoods. There had been a misunderstanding regarding his national loyalty. The gentle folk of Sillsdale were King’s Men to the last and Jon, being from Lion’s Haunting and a Zagari, was thought to be a Freelander, which he was.
I had no wish to embroil myself in a political debate that seemed determined to end in bloodshed, but I couldn’t help jumping in on Jon’s side as he was outnumbered and I have learned, many times to my chagrin, that my loyalties most often lie with the lone wolf rather than with the pack. Besides, I would have bet all the silver in my boot on Jon against the entire town. Goats included.
“It’s a matter of diving right!” One of the locals was shouting up at Jon, the pitchfork in his hand quivered, mirroring the skinny fellow’s body. Jon, for his part, stood still as a stone, arms crossed tightly over his armored chest, a dark mountain staring down at the sputtering farmer through bars of his helm. “You Freelanders will be the end of us with your pagan ways. Some men are born to greatness, some are born to serve, but we all must follow our furrow until the end of our row. No man can change his destiny. It is written in the heavens!”
“And what man knows his destiny? We make our destinies everyday, in everything we do. We can all claim divine right as we are all children of the Maker. What is a king? He is man as I am.”
Shouts of treason and a few curses that even I had never heard before flew from the gathering crowd and some of the townsfolk stooped to gather stones from the dusty street. I had a feeling curses would not be the only things flying from the crowd that afternoon.
“Friends” I shouted, smiling “come now, let us be civil.” A score of hot faced farmers turned toward me in unison. My smile tried to slide from my face but I forced it firmly back into place. “After all, as this man said,” I lifted my hand toward Jon, “we are all children of the Maker.”
Murmurs of agreement rose from the sweaty throng. Pitchfork spoke up. “You one a’ them Freelanders too?” His face twisted in disgust at the word “Freelander”.
I tucked my thumbs behind my belt and tried to look relaxed and harmless even though the farmer’s stares made me terribly anxious and uncomfortable. “Me, ah, no. I am not much for politics. My father was a cleric you know, eighteen years ministering to the good folk of Joram’s Rift. I was always in the books, and helping my pa around the temple of course, didn’t really have time for much else.”
The farmers relaxed visibly. Many shook their heads in agreement as I spoke. I knew their type. Joram’s Rift had been full of them. They appreciated a chaste life, a life of order and hard work. There was safety in rules and ritual a safety the good folks of Sillsdale would kill to keep.

Night

2008-08-20T17:49:00.001-07:00

Yep, it's night. Tomorrow is the first day of school. I think I am ready. I am reading The Name of the Wind right now and so far I am enjoying it. It makes me want to try to write in first person. I've never written narrative in first person. I'm going to go try it right now.

Peace be unto you.

'Canes

2008-08-18T18:46:00.000-07:00

There is supposed to be a hurricane coming this way so the start of school has been delayed.

I am trying to decorate my school room this year with inspiring pieces of art. So far I have a couple of nice pieces but I am still looking for more.

I am trying to keep working on the manuscript but it is hard to find time these days. Preparing for school is really keeping me busy.

I best go bathe my son.

-Later

Toby Had It Right

2008-08-07T07:54:00.000-07:00

The title speaks for itself. I never attended the church where Toby pastored and I wasn't exploring the blogshpere when he was writing about his sermons and vision for the church so the old posts on his blog were a new read for me. I am posting an excerpt from one of his posts. It really made me think. If you want to read the rest of the post or the others that were recently re-posted just hit the link titled "Toby" in the Virtual Hangouts section.

"A great group of Christians isn’t a church, though.

A church is a group of Christians who, together, have submitted themselves to the Lord whom they have returned to because of the forgiveness and salvation they have been given by him.

They are a body.

Our church isn’t. Great group of Christians. Not a body, though.

This is why people have left. Perhaps they should not have been there. What I mean by that is, some Christians do not want to be apart of a body of believers who are collectively fleshing out the Lordship of their Master. They want to be apart of a group of Christians. If we were what we were supposed to be there would be no room for those who want to “play” Christianity.

So some have come and joined and have left, because we aren’t a body. Some have come and gone because they wanted to be apart of a body, but we were just a group of good Christians.

In my opinion, this is where divisions come into play. In a group of Christians you’re allowed to have you own view of how the Christian life is to be lived out. In a group of Christians you can even persuade others to follow your view; even if it goes against the pastors. Which, by the way, is going to happen. Most of the time the pastor is trying to lead people in his way of living the Christian life. Others disagree. Divisions come, as they must, because it’s a group, not a body. Divisions come because collectively they are not under the Lordship of Jesus.

In a group various families live their lives their way, inspite of the church. In a returned, submitted body, they together try to figure out how their Master wants them to live life. Together. Not the pastor’s agenda. Not the deacon wanting it done the way it was done in his old church. Not the big family wanting it done the way their favorite radio preacher says it should be. Not the aspiring preach wanting it to be done the way his favorite Christian influence thinks it should be done.

A body of returned submitted believers, together seeking their Master’s will in how things should be done.

After all that’s what they returned to him for. That’s why they washed away in the waters of baptism all their thinking and views. That’s why they have come together under him. He is their head. What does the head want the body to do and be? That’s what a church wants to do and be.

1 Corinthians 1:10 tells us that they were a group of Christians, but not a church. Some of them wanted it done the way Rick Warren said it should be done. Others were of the Fundamental movement. Others rang in saying they were middle-of-the-roaders, but they wouldn’t mind it if we still keep the old music. Others chimmed in, wearing tee-shirts and spiked hair saying their were of the emergent crowd. See what I mean?"

Oblivion

2008-08-06T18:24:00.000-07:00

I bought Oblivion back when it came out. 2006 I think it was. But, due to time spent crafting my Night Elf Rogue into an unstoppable killing machine it sat mostly on the shelf.

Well, I have now been WoW free for almost 5 months and so I was jonesing a bit for a video game to play, but not another MMO because of the time investment required. So, I popped in Oblivion. And I have to say it's been a lot of fun.

The game is totally open ended. Oh, you start with a quest to deliver the Amulet of Kings to this monk, but if you want to hunt deer, wolves and bear in the mountains the whole game you can do that too. Incidently, I shot myself a nice eight-point buck the other day near Blackmarsh. There are so many secrets to the game, some you just stumble on and some you really have to think to figure out. I mostly read some walk throughs...

The two guilds that are available for you to join at the beginning of the game are the Fighter's and Mage's Guilds. They're businesses that cater to helping people recover family heirlooms from crypts and finding lost loved ones in the mountains. I made the highest rank possible in the Fighter's Guild after a long quest line and alot of, well, fighting. Now the guild pays me about 1k gold a month and I pretty much assign how much the guild centers on recruiting and how much the guild centers on actual contracts. The Mage's Guild I've only dabbled in but once I get recommendations from all of the Mage's Guild leaders in the smaller cities I get to go study at the Arcane University in the Imperial City and perhaps even rise to the rank of Archmage! Whoopeee!

Anyway, the best guild I've joined so far is the Thieves Guild. It's the hardest one to get into. There are no guild halls, none of that. You gotta talk to certain people, bribe this guard, talk to this beggar, meet a guild member in a garden near the docks at midnight, steal some stuff to prove that you are awesome. Once in the guild you start sneaking into castles, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor all the while foiling the guards and selling all the Count of Leyawin's silverware to the fence you know down the street. I'm pretty sure the Count of Skingrad is a vampire and I am going to sneak into his castle later to find out. Oh, you can become a vampire as well and play the entire game as a vampire. You get bonuses and stuff but you have to suck blood. Eh, there's some give and take there.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of the game is the Create a Class feature. Yes, if you want to be a Bounty Hunter be one. A Jedi? A pirate? A ninja? A combination of the three? Yes. Go for it. Me, I created the Aiel Class. And yes, I can run down deer and kill them with my dagger. There has been just one hitch. There are no spears in the game, so I had to improvise a bit and my Aielman has become sort of an Aiel/Ninja.

Will the Dark Brotherhood come to you in your sleep if you murder someone? Yes. But I protest that Gaul, my Aiel/Ninja, murdered anyone. I was engaged in melee combat with a member of the Blackwood Company and I simply got the drop on him before he could take me out. And then this guy in this dark robe comes to me in my sleep and asks me to go kill some guy and become a member of a secret (and creepy) order of assassins known as the Dark Brotherhood. Well, let me tell ya, my Aiel/Ninja ain't no murderer so I have yet to take the DB up on their offer.

Mountain lions killed the bandits that were chasing me the other day. The cats just sprang out of the grass by the side of the road (much like the bandits) not far from the Imperial City and starting mauling. And then I killed the mountain lions.

Happy Gaming

Summer Time, Love and Basketball

2008-07-30T17:56:00.000-07:00

Being a teacher I don't "work" in the summer. Yes, I know, it's awesome. That's why I'm a teacher. And, I have to admit, I like working with kids. They are alot like adults without alot of the emotional scarring/hang-ups we grown-ups collect as we get older.

Anyway, back to not working. I live a mile from a nice beach. Now, it's on the bay not on the gulf so it's not great. But it is natural and it is at a small resort so it's nice. I live 25 minutes from St. Petersburg beach which is white sand for miles, on the Gulf of Mexico, really nice. But where do I spend my summers? Right here for the most part, on the computer, reading and writing.

Granted, summer in Florida is very rainy, it rains every day, usually in the afternoon. So being inside is ok. I go back to "work" in a couple of weeks. I am teaching all of the middle school writing labs. Really, I can't think of a better job. Well, ok, playing for the Pistons would be cool. Maybe, getting a book on the New York Times Best Seller list.

All that to say that even though I didn't get to the beach as much as I could have, or Busch Gardens (30 minutes away) or get out on the boat (just kidding I don't have a boat unless you count the raft I cobbled together out of our old dining room chairs: Cuba here I come!) I'm feeling pretty good about this summer. I don't feel like it got away from me. Which is good. It's not fun to look back at any period of time and feel like you wasted it.

Something strange happened to me the other day. Actually it was a month ago probably by now. I was playing basketball at this park with my friend Lamar and some of these people he knew from his church. It was winner stays and my team was pretty much whooping up on everyone there. And do you know what I did after the second game we won? I sat down, and I said, "I'm sitting this one out." Huh. I was playing good, scoring, rebounding, handling the ball, dropping a sweet dime here and there. The jumper was suspect (double rims ftl) but I was getting what I wanted inside. The fact was I just didn't want to play anymore. I didn't want to play anymore.

And at that moment I seriously thought about retirement. I felt like the love just wasn't there anymore. Then I got back in the game and hit a turn around in the post that would have made Rasheed Wallace stand up and cheer.

But I'm still seriously thinking about retirement.

1983-1989 The Golden Age of Cartoons

2008-07-18T16:46:00.001-07:00

In no particular order:

M.A.S.K.

Spiral Zone

Transformers

G.I. Joe

Thundercats

Dungeons and Dragons

1. Lifter-Bruce Sato probably had the best mask. I actually had the Brad Turner Motorcycle/Helicopter...Condor, yeah, awesome. But my brother had Matt Trakker's flying IROC, dope.

2. I would really like to see a current rendition of those heavily armed, single-wheeled motorcycles the good guys drove but not the wheel-chairs with tank treads the bad guys rode on. If you don't know about Spiral Zone and you were born before 1980 then shame on you. Wikipedia: Use it.

3. Transformers: Well, the Decepticons could fly so I thought that gave them a pretty big advantage. But the Autobots did a pretty good job considering they were mostly tow-trucks and volkswagons and what not. I had Starscream, Ravage, Rampage, and a few others.

4. The Joes and Cobras were probably my favorite toon of all. The toys were at their coolest when they directly modeled the military units of the time. My brother's Skystriker really looked like an F-14 right down to the payload. I mean you always had your A.S.P. type vehicles (which was very cool btw) but the realism was what made the toys for me. Favorite character: Stormshadow, Cobra Ninja.

5. Tygra was my favorite and I can't find any information on the Black Widow Shark, but I know it was on the show. Also, Lynx-O was cool cause he overcame his disabilities.

6. Oh yeah and that D&D cartoon. The one with Dekion the skeleton who is really a Celestial Knight is probably my fave. I really thought Eric was voiced by David Schwimmer but alas, it was Don Most.

List your fave cartoons, of the 80's or any era!

Old Newman

2008-07-09T11:57:00.000-07:00

Vacation was great. We really needed to get away for a while. The weather was perfect for the days we were in Michigan. The only bad part was the flight to Detroit from Tampa. There was alot of lightning around the plane and the turbulance was so bad it woke William from a deep sleep. He just scowled at me and went back to sleep though. He was great all trip.

It was great to see my family and friends. It was a "Phil and Pam + Fam." kinda trip which as you probably already guessed = Fun.

Magic was good, lots of fun, competative games for the most part. Football was a good time, though I think it made everyone sore and volleyball was great.

The trip back was good, though my mom was sitting a few rows behind my wife and the baby and I and when I politely asked the guy who was sitting in our row if he would like to trade seats with my mom he got all huffy and started swearing and giving me crazy eyes. I said, "Hey man, you don't have to move." He mumbled and ran to the back of the plane to my mom's old seat. To be honest he started sweating and rolling his eyes when he saw us coming with the baby. He looked kind of like Newman from Seinfeld with gray hair. The weird ending to the story is that we saw him at the luggage carousel and actually rode the parking garage elevator with him to where we parked. I thought I would thank him again for the seat as we exited the elevator. "Thanks again," I said. "CRAZY EYES," he replied.

Crazy eyes indeed, Old Newman, crazy eyes indeed.

Revelation 21

2008-06-30T12:47:00.001-07:00

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5 ¶ And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Ome'ga, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Follow the Leader

2008-06-29T17:54:00.000-07:00

Why do you have to be a nonconformist like everybody else?

-James Thurber

War

2008-06-28T13:59:00.000-07:00

He, therefore, who desires peace should prepare for war.

-Flavius Vegetius Renatus from De Rei Militari

Love

2008-06-27T08:19:00.000-07:00

Such was ever love's way; to rise, it stoops.

-Robert Browning

Summer Time, Magic Season

2008-06-24T14:06:00.000-07:00

Yes indeed, the best months of a teacher's year and I am smack-dab in the middle. It's hot, it's rainy, it's good writing weather. Thunder is rolling outside right now, though as I look out the sliding door I can see blue sky.

William is playing on his "jungle mat" complete with monkeys and toucans. Been working on the new manuscript, doing laundry, dishes, lawn stuff, hanging out with William and building some new decks. It's time for Summer Magic. That's right, all the pageantry, the glory, the thrill of victory and the agony of the combo deck gone wrong. Witness the pack-produced power of the Mortivore, the maddening effect of the third Blatant Thievery of the game and the raw power of Mana Geyser + Fireball.

SEE YOU IN JULY FOR THE CARNAGE!

Blogging

2008-06-15T09:43:00.000-07:00

I've got a new blog up, Titan.

http://offworldstory.blogspot.com

I'll post material from my new manuscript for your comments.

Stop by and take a read when you get a chance.

New Car Smell

2008-06-13T12:10:00.000-07:00

I got the car washed a few days ago and when they asked what scent I wanted in the car I hesitated. Vanilla I like but it can be overpowering, as can Cherry. I settled on New Car. Everyone likes that new car smell right?

Well, my wife went to get groceries yesterday and I was bringing them in. I couldn't help but notice the fascinting scent wafting from the Altima's cabin. New Car Smell? Try, Old Folks Home. What an aromatic bouquet of Ben-Gay, Depends and Polident. It must have taken a few days to really "kick in" because I honestly had no idea that anything remotely that bad smelling was available to the average consumer. I could see its military applications, but a smell like that is only so useful to us civilians. Needless to say my wife wants me to remove the offending odor pads and replace them with something more fragrant. Like Hot Dumpster.

GO THERE

2008-06-12T17:37:00.000-07:00

Check out Arianna's blog and her "Lifehouse Everything" post and watch the video. I thought it was going to be corny and ended up with tears in my eyes.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

2008-06-12T16:49:00.001-07:00

What would you do if you woke up tomorrow deathly ill only to realize that everyone you know has vanished and the city you live in is in ruins?

That's the situation in which Omeym finds himself in "The Last Vial" the new manuscript from the same guy who guilted you into reading CHOSEN.

Will Omeym survive long enough to save himself, find his people and topple an empire? Only time will tell how Omeym decides to use "The Last Vial".

*Not available in stores.
*Or anywhere else.

WEDNESDAY

2008-06-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

William is excited because Wednesday is trash day!

Yep, put the trash out this morning at about 8. I have alot of trash because we are redoing all the mulch and some of the plants in our flower garden. All the old mulch and weeds are in huge, black, plastic bags. They're heavy. So I dragged them all out to the road so the trash guys could take them. Well, it's 2pm now and they're still out there in a sky-scraping ziggurat of trash. I'm not sure if I'm going to move them or not. Dragging them back up the driveway will solve nothing. Whether the trash guys take them or not they're going to have to be moved and keeping them near the curb makes it easier to move them. I bet my wife makes me move them away from the road though. Who wants to bet? Oh, nobody is taking that one?

William and I went for little run this morning which was nice. We have to get out early before it gets to hot.

Forecast for today: Hi of 92 with 85% humidity and a 50% chance of rain this afternoon. Ah, summer in Florida.

Well, being a house husband I have alot of things I need to get done such as, finish the laundry (FOLDING!!!) take care of Baby William and try to get some writing and reading done.

-laters skaters

DUNE

2008-06-09T11:35:00.000-07:00

I just finshed DUNE MESSIAH. I never read the original DUNE but I have seen the movie...a few times. I kind of felt like I was reading Jack London on crack because the text is saturated with humanism. I always find books with a humanistic slant to them morbid to read. Where's the hope? Mind you, I really like Jack London because there is a truth to his writing. Fact: wolf-dogs are better at surviving in the Yukon than men. But we come to that conclusion from vastly different view points. Jack says "Look at evolution at work. Buck knows better then to go out in a blizzard because thousands of years of ancestral instinct tell him to stay inside". I say, "God made animals to survive and thrive in the woods and Buck here is doing a pretty good job of that." While I don't discount instinct, I believe Buck's instinctual make-up comes from God rather than millions of years of genetic randomness.

The main character (Paul Muad'dib Supreme Ruler of the Universe) is prescient, he can see the future. But not only that, he can see every imaginable variation of the future. To put it simply he can see the "Butterfly Effect" and can choose his path accordingly. Unfortunately for Paul all his options are pretty crummy and he has to settle with the lesser of the evils between the end of humanity and intense physical, mental and emotional pain for himself and his loved ones. He, being the guy that he is, saves humantiy and loses everything else.

The Fremen and the Aiel have some interestingly similar qualities:

Both live in an incredibly harsh, desert, environment.
Both revere water and kill people who waste it.
Both have a complex tribal social structure.
Both are the most fierce fighters in their perspective worlds.
Both follow a saviour figure who comes to them from a far-away land, posseses awesome powers and leads them in victorious battle over people who have alot of water.
Both are regarded as wild, dangerous and fierce by off-worlders/wetlanders.
Both are the personal guard and advisors of their respective saviours.

That's just a few I could think of off the top of my head. But when I was reading the book I was thinking "Aiel" whenever the Fremen were described as a people.

Morpheus should have read about the Butlerian Jihad during the Matrix Trilogy. The Duniverse had it's share of the same problems. Thinking machines overran Earth. Earth was devistated by the use of atomics against the machines and every human on the planet either died or became a slave of the Omnius of Earth. Well, thanks to settling on other planets across the universe,(insurance, Neo!) the humans fought back winning the war, destroying the machines, cyborgs and cymeks. In the end, even calculators were banned and, thanks to genetic tampering, humans who could think like computers were trained and called Mentats and no one ever used a keyboard again.
The End

Until next time, keep an eye on your toaster.

Excerpt from "The Last Vial" (New WIP)

2008-06-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

New manuscript in progress. Enjoy.

And it came to pass that in the three hundredth year of the reign of the goddess Thanak that a servant of Olo, Who Is, arose out of the West. From an ancient house he came a champion of old. Son of the Eagle, yea even the White Eagle, he walked among us a prince of the children of the sun. And he slew the Dreneshites and the Agorians and the children of Lod with the edge of the sword and he cut them in pieces before the eyes of Olo. Then the people wondered at his coming and trembled at his might. And they named him Ash-Azaz, the Endbringer, the Titan.

-The Book of Olo

Nemmen: A Fantastic Tale

2008-06-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

Wow, haha. Turned out to be not so fantastic after all.

I guess I'll wait a while before trying to write something "funny" again.

I got some interesting reactions over at Absolute Write in the "Share Your Work" forum.

So, ah, yeah...

2008-06-01T14:17:00.001-07:00

This is the view from a beach near my house.

I should be reading right now. I have been assigned a book to read for a meeting I have at school tomorrow, but I'm blogging instead.

It appears I need to add some people to my Virtual Hangouts. Jen and Tara both have very interesting sites. So, I'll get right on that...right after I finish my reading.

The baby swing has mystical powers and no matter how hard Baby William tries to fight against its sleep inducing effects he fails and falls asleep. "Baby Swing, I choose you!"

Got this new manscript idea planned out a bit. At least I got the main idea for the piece. Now it's time to embark on another danger fraught journey into the dark recesses of my mind. This time I'm bringing a flash light and a juice box. I'v never tried to write something that was funny. My works were always (except for some poetry) pretty serious. Which is odd because I am not (serious).

Writing Chosen was a great experience. It was a real learning experience too. It gave me confidence that, given enough time, I can put down 63k words on my computer and it comes out semi-coherent. Mind you, I was back-filling plot holes for a while before I decided to put Chosen away for a while. I expect I'll get the manuscript out again and maybe even try to get it published (again) at some later date.

I'm either going to go read for a bit or work some on my new manuscript tentatively titled "Nemmen: A Fantastic Tale".

-Later

It's Over

2008-05-30T20:23:00.001-07:00

It took the Boston Celtics one more game to finish off the Atlanta Hawks then it did to beat the Detroit Pistons. Detroit's Bigs (Rasheed) killed them this game, and while the guards played great, it wasn't enough to beat a determined Celtic's team.

I imagine this will be the last we see of the Detroit Pistons as they are now. I doubt Joe Dumars will keep a group together who flame out yearly in the Conference Finals. Flip will probably get fired, but I'm not sure that this year's defeat was his fault. Flip doesn't throw the ball away on offense, Flip doesn't let Ray Allen go full-court for uncontested lay-ups. But ultimately, he will get blamed. Anyway, it's gonna be a long summer for the Pistons. They have alot to think about. But there is a bright side, two actually, and their names are Rodney Stuckey and Jason Maxiell. If Amir keeps coming along and Tayshaun (not the best series for Tay) keeps improving the Pistons have a bright future ahead of them. Maybe even a few more Conference Finals appearences.

But, the opportunity to contend for a title doesn't come easily or often in the NBA. It's a shame the Pistons couldn't have made more of their chances.

NO MORE EXCUSES

2008-05-27T18:40:00.001-07:00

Dice has been giving his all this series and Boston seems to have no answer for him. He led all players last night in scoring (21 pts) and rebounding (16 reb). It's a whole new playoff now, best of three, but Boston still controls the homecourt. No more excuses for the Pistons. It's time to put some pressure on Boston, pressure they haven't felt so far this post season. Big game tomorrow night. Stay tuned...

ALMOST THERE

2008-05-21T16:03:00.000-07:00

Only 2 more days of school left this week. Then I'm off to Miami for our annual Puerto Rican Memorial Day Extravaganza.

I have to got start the grill for burgers tonight. Burgers and fries, burgers and fries...

My pics for tonight are the Lakers and David Cook(sorry Archy).

Speaking of grills, mine has taken a beating since we moved from our apartment to our home. I think it may be because instead of sitting in a covered lanai it now sits in the wild and dangerous back yard.

Driving home from work the other day my friend John and I saw an obese man sitting in front of a gas station in a motorized wheel chair wearing nothing but what looked to be a hand towel over his danger zone. It was one of those moments when you both see something at the same time that is so unexpected you just stare and then look at each other in shock/disbelief while simultaneously shouting, "Did you see that?" We laughed but it wasn't a derisive laugh it was a nervous laugh because here was a puzzle we could not figure out. I thought I saw him motoring down the street in a black choir robe but without the hand towel it was hard to tell.

-Peas

NICE

2008-05-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

Bill Simmons, the Sports Guy on ESPN The Magazine online writes,"Fans spend an inordinate amount of time analyzing the mental makeup of their favorite players, so you can only imagine how many hours I've spent thinking about Garnett. After all, I'm the same guy who once wasted an entire afternoon trying to figure out Hickory High's box score in that final game in Hoosiers. (If you care, I had Chitwood down for 30 on 14-of-18 shooting.)"

APATHY KILLS

2008-05-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

I sometimes think that we destroy ourselves because we honestly think that we have nothing better to do.

It's Settled

2008-05-18T16:18:00.001-07:00

Boston finished off the LeBrons tonight in a hard fought game 7. Personally I was glad that Boston won. Why? I'll tell you.

1. No LeBron
What more can I say. The guy is a force of nature and he gets calls. Now, when I say he gets calls I mean that LeBron may put you in the Walls of Jaricho while you go in for a lay-up and YOU will get called for charging. Or, LeBron may slap the ball from your hands and then hold your jersey as you try to recover it all the while winking slyly at the refs who shrug and wink back with impish grins and "thumbs ups". I know, I'm exaggerating...a little. But if you asked me, "Hey, would you rather play LeBron and have homecourt in the Conference Finals, or would you rather play Boston whose mainstays have never been this deep in playoffs as a unit?" I'll take the Celts everytime, thanks. Let's not even get into the bad memories from last year that would haunt my dreams. "Zzzz...No Lebron, no, not another and-1 layup...zzzzz."

2. Experience
I already touched on this but it has been made more apparent that the Celtics really haven't got alot of deep playoff experience from their starters, at least when compared to Detroit. I'm not ready to give Boston the "backs against the wall" moniker that has followed the Pistons for years, but doesn't it seem that Boston only wins when it really has to? Like in Game 7's against the Atlanta Hawks? I think experience, as a whole, is a bit overrated (see Rodney Stuckey). But just a bit.

3. Fatigue
Boston vs. Cleveland was a brutal, physical, emotional, defensive grind. LeBron and Co. took alot out of a Celtics team that had already endured a long series with Atlanta. The Pistons took care of business vs. Orlando and are fresh. If Detroit is aggressive coming into game one they could steal homecourt from Boston.

4. Matchups
I'll try to be as objective as possible here:

Point Guard: Billups vs. Rondo
Advantage: Billups
Chauncey wins this battle by virtue of his size, strength and experience. Rondo, however has the speed advantage and finishes well so Chauncey will have to be on his a-game defensively. To me this is the most exploitable mismatch on the floor for Detroit.

Shooting Guard: Hamilton vs. Allen
Advantage: Hamilton
This matchup was close before the playoffs started and Ray Allen was replaced by a well disguised Mateen Cleaves. Hamilton was such a force vs. Orlando when Billups went out that if he can carry some of that energy over to this series this matchup may overtake Billups/Rondo for the "Most Exploitable" award. Allen's defense has been porous and if his shooting woes continue we may see alot more of Eddie House being posted up by Rip Hamilton.

Small Forward: Prince vs. Pierce
Advantage: Even
Now, you might say, "Come on MW, you are clearly showing bias by calling this matchup even. Didn't Pierce carry the Celtics in Game 7 going toe-to-toe with LBJ?" And I would have to concede the point that Pierce was magnificent vs. LeBron but that we also have to take into account Prince's performances (both offensively and defensively) in these playoffs. AI-Neutralized, Hedo-See "The Block II". The aforementioned are the go-to perimeter players on their repective teams and Prince came up big against them both all the while shooting nearly 60% from the field and sharing ball handling duties. This is where not playing Cleveland really helps Detroit because Prince matches up with Pierce much better than with LeBron. Prince is taller than Pierce and Pierce, though he is a great player, is not nearly as physical as LeBron. This is going to be the key matchup of the series and if Prince can truly keep the advantage even then the Pistons will go to the Finals.

Power Forward: Wallace vs. Garnett
Advantage: Even
Even? There I go again, huh? As with Prince vs. Pierce this matchup is going to be key. Size wise they are nearly even with Wallace being a bit heavier and Garnett maybe a tad taller, but pretty even. I like this matchup, again, for Wallace's experience vs. Garnett's energy. They are both great scorers and great defenders (Rasheed is really underrated)and are mobile big men with range on their jumper. This will be a real battle and one I am looking forward to.

Center: McDyess vs. Perkins
Advantge: McDyess
Experience, mobility, outside shooting, and perhaps most of all, drive give 'Dyess the advantage in this matchup. Perkins is taller and heavier ( 6'10" 264 vs. 6'9" 245)and could cause problems in the post for the smaller McDyess. But if the Orlando Game 5 McDyess shows up and begins nailing jumpers and ripping away rebounds Perkins will quickly find his way to the bench with foul trouble.

The Bench: Detroit vs. Boston
Advantage: Detroit
I have to go Detroit on this one. I had the benches as even, but the more I thought about it, the more I think back on the preceding series I have to go with DP. The Celtics reserves are no slouches. Powe is nice, Big Baby has given DP trouble in the past, House is instant "O", Brown is a cagey vet, and Posey has alot of experience vs. the Pistons in a playoff atmosphere. But the Pistons counter with a deep bench of their own. Maxiell is a beast, Stuckey would start for the Celtics, and the list goes on. One thing that I noticed about Detroit during the Orlando series is that they wear you down. You might get on a roll and make some shots but Detroit just keeps pushing, keeps coming at you, patiently, keeps throwing fresh guys at you, guys who can play( Stuckey), althletic guys (Walter, Max, Theo,) stoppers( Lindsey, Aaron) scorers(Jarvis and Juan). They play physical, they create matchup problems and more often than not their energy changes the face of the game in the Piston's favor.

There you go, there's my matchups. Of course what really matters to these teams is drive, focus, energy and will. Who is driven to win? Whos is more focused on the goal each game? Who brings the most energy? Who will impose their will on the series?

It's gonna be fun.

A Balmy Sunday

2008-05-18T08:15:00.000-07:00

Here's a Happy Mother's Day Pic of Yuisa and William.

I do a little bit of writing at absolutewrite.com/forums. It's free to sign-up and a great place to network with and learn from other writers.! And it's fun.

Here's my latest post on the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Forums in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy First Line Game.

Erasimasterus, Lord of Oakenwood and High Protector of the Holy Tree, stood before his gathered legions and holding an acorn high above his armored head screamed a battle cry that for countless generations had rallied the Squirrel Clans to war, "Protect your nuts!"

Yeah, it's balmy here. Windy, overcast and 84 degrees? That's balmy.

I'm hungry and I think I'll go grab a pouch of fruit snacks. We get them at Costco in the whoppin' 84 pouch box! That's what I'm tallkin' 'bout.

I went over to Homestarrunner.com cause I haven't been there for a while. It made me miss my Strongbad T-shirt which got ruined somehow (moths?) and my Cheat Commando's T-shirt (stolen?) ah well I always have my wife's Teen Girl Squad T-shirt (which I wore last night to Macaroni Grill thank you very much).

Smell that? It's summer, and it's right around the corner. Next week only four days o'school. Cambridge Christian's Varsity Baseball Team is going to the State Final Four in Sarasota and so we are only having school until 10:30 on Monday so people can make the game. Thanks baseball team.

I'm anxious to get started on my new project.

-Later.

The BIGS

2008-05-15T16:07:00.000-07:00

Rasheed Wallace is not just a good player. He is great. He is nigh unstoppable when he gets it going in the post and because of his range he is a constant threat when he runs the high pick and roll with Billups. How many times have you heard this, "Rasheed shoots to many threes"? Wrong, Rasheed is versatile. His range is much more of an asset to his game than a detriment. He stretches defenses with the three ball. You think Big Z wants to come out and guard Rasheed 23 feet from the bucket? No, no he doesn't. Pulling shot blockers out of their comfort zones allows Prince to abuse people in the post and allows the Piston's guards to drive with impunity. Rasheed's fade-away jumper is the toughest shot to defend since the Skyhook. He's 6'11" his release is high and he's fading away. That's no slouch defending him in the pic, that's All-NBA 1st Teamer Dwight Howard getting torched. Despite the potentcy of his offense Rasheed is key to the Piston's title run because of his defense. He (along with the other Piston's Bigs)kept big Dwight out of his comfort zone and forced him into bad shots and turnovers. I like 'Sheed, always have. His emotion is his biggest strength and biggest weakness. But he is a great player and if you ask the Pistons, a great teammate. Ask them what they think of his outbursts and they just reply, "'Sheed's gotta be 'Sheed." Amen to that.

I have to be honest when McDyess began shooting jumpers in the 4th quarter each shot was preempted by a sharp inhale from your's truly. When 'Dyess get's rolling his jumper is nasty, but when he's off...well he's off. He was rolling in Orlando. McDyess brings alot to the team. His jumper, strength in the post on both D and O and hunger. He has got to be the hungriest vet on the team. He wasn't there for '04 championship and he tasted the bitterness of Game 7 in San Antonio in '05, the Heat debacle in '06 and the LBJ dismantling in '07. That hunger is important and I hope 'Dyess continues to motivate the team the way he did after he donned the mask this year. He was an absolute beast in Game 5 vs. Orlando. The Magic looked helpless as he flew all over the court grabbing rebounds, hitting shots, snagging loose balls and, along with the rest of the squad, playing suffocating D. Every player on the team plays a key roll but if McDyess continues to bring the strength and energy (particularly on the boards) that he brought vs. Orlando it will make the Piston's bid for the title that much stronger.

Tayshaun, the unsung All-Star, the Stopper, Mr. Consistent. Tay has more upside than any other vet on the team and it is easy to imagine him leading the team in the future. Flip moving him to point-forward was a nice move. He handles the ball well, makes good decisions and is another match-up nightmare. Where can't he score from? He pulverizes smaller players in the post and drives past bigger players to the bucket. His jump hook is very tough to defend and when he gets by his man he dunks the ball with authority. He shoots the three at 33% and is shooting inside the arc at a scintilating 56% in the playoffs. Of course he does all this AND draws the opposing team's best perimeter player where he becomes a walking migraine for the opposition. Just ask Andre Iguodala and Hedo Turkoglu.

I was going to include J-Max in this edition of DP Today but I will include him in my next segment: The Zoo Crew and You.

-Peace

You, Me and DP

2008-05-14T15:27:00.000-07:00

This play stupified me, in a good way. The degree of difficulty, the implications of the game...there I go again. Prince, adding to his legend.

Here we are, You, Me and the DP. Back in the Eastern Conference Finals. Back to where we were humbled last year by a Cavaliers team that went on to get massacred by the San Antonio Spurs. The Magic series was a good one. After Detroit turned it around vs. Philly I began to take notice of their focus, their energy level and their aggressive play. Let's be honest, that's what it comes down to at this point for the Pistons. They have been to the Conference Finals 6 consecutive times, 6 times! They know they can score. They know they can pass and rebound. They know they can get stops. The question is will they be focused and make their shots? Will their energy level power them to secure rebounds and recover loose balls? Will they be relentless on defense? Will they be physical and force their will? If they do the aforementioned they will win the NBA title this year. There, I said it. There is not a team out there that can match up when the Detroit Pistons are focused, sharing the ball and locking things up on D. Not LA, not San Antonio, not New Orleans, not the LeBrons or the Celtics.

First of all the backcourt (and Chauncey getting the chance to rest will be key) is a match-up nightmare. Billups is not terribly quick (though I have been impressed with the way he had been finishing at the rim before the infamous "stretch") but he is strong, he doesn't turn the ball over and he is a versatile scorer (in the paint on a post up or 26 ft. from the basket on a pull-up three). Besides that, Chauncey brings a stablizing effect and on-court leadership to every game he plays. No matter what the score I never feel like a game is out of reach when Number 1 is on the floor for Detroit.

Rip is hitting his stride at the right time. In game one versus Orlando he was hitting his jumper with such consitency that I nearly broke down in tears for the beauty of it all. He also reminded me during the Orlando series that he is 6'7", fast, and able to post up better than I thought he could. He was an assassin from the free-throw line allowing him keep the pressure on the Magic even when his jumper wasn't falling. Now throw in Stuckey at 6'5" with 15 pts., 6 assts. and 0 Turnovers in a close-out playoff game AND Lindsey, (what is the guy, like 80?) who can still lock people up and has a knack for hitting shots when the team needs him to, and you have the makings of a championship backcourt. (Rodney, you can consistently shoot over smaller, quicker, players and drive past bigger, slower, players.Plus you are money from the line. One of these days you will realize that you really cannot be stopped and I hope I'm around to see it).

By the way, if I had to pick a player of the game last night 'Dyess would edge out the rest of the team for his 4th quarter performance. 11 points and 9 Rebounds in the fourth quarter of a close-out playoff game after you just heard that your grandma who pratically raised you had died back in Miss.? Guts, heart, drive, focus. 'Nuff said.

Next: The Frontcourt, More McDyess, Uncle Rasheed and the Incredible J-Max.

My Main Man

2008-05-09T18:15:00.000-07:00

Billups will not be denied. I hope that they don't push him to play to early.

WTH PISTONS!?

2008-04-21T15:32:00.000-07:00

O.k. I wait all week for the Piston's game Sunday night. I buy into the "deepest team ever-rested the starters all year-motivated to win because of the way they got smoked by Cleveland last year" hype. I was ready for them to live up to the hype. They seemed ready. They had the pieces. Then they go out and lose the HOME OPENER to Philly. Philly didn't even finish over .500 for the season! I'm done. I'm not watching the rest of the series. I'll just check the paper for the scores.

Do I think Detroit will win the series? Yes, I do. Did they send a message to the Celtics and Magic? Yes, they did. "We are the same old Pistons as last year."

Maybe this is just what the Pistons needed, a wake up call. Maybe they needed a humbling experience. Maybe this will jolt them into playing like every game could be their last, shutting down teams early and keeping them shut down. Because right now there is no way they can beat Orlando, let alone Boston or Cleveland.

Prince William

2008-03-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

Here is the reason I have not been blogging lately, William Daniel. He looks a little bit different at this point as he is just over a month old now. This shot was taken as he left the hospital for the first time.

My days now consist of, get up, go to work, come home, change the baby, burp the baby, comfort the baby, bathe the baby, go to sleep. Oh, but it's not over after you go to sleep. No, the baby is a 24/7, equal opportunity (except for feeding) responsibility. I don't know what I expected but I'll admit I was not fully prepared for the level of care that this little person requires. It's not like I can say, "Hey, Will, entertain yourself while I cook dinner (something I have been doing alot more as of late. Mac and Cheese anyone?)."

He is awesome though. It's hard to describe but it's cool holding a tiny miracle in your arms.

Anyway I have to go because my hardboiled eggs are ready and I have to feed my wife who is in turn feeding the baby. It's the circle of life, like the Lion King but less hairy.

I'm have a new project lined up for the summer tentatively titled "Nemmen: A Fantastic Tale".

It's a satire on modern American culture full of memorable characters and hilarity such as the baby dangling, skin color changing King of Popp and the cunning Goblitician Snorg. Not to mention the elite female infantry unit known as Britney's Spears.

Peace

None

2008-02-17T12:37:00.000-08:00

Basketball season is over. We lost in Regionals in a cold, dark gym near Orlando. I am sad to see our Seniors go as they are great leaders and great players but I am also excited about next year as we return three of our starters (two freshman and a sophomore)and a solid core of reserves.

It's nice to have more time in the day but from what everyone tells me once the baby comes (6 days til the due date) that goes out the window as well. Sometimes I think people are trying to give me the old "you just don't understand what you're in for" speech. I say, Bring It On! As Bonecrusher once said, "I ain't never scared."

My wife is nesting with the might of a thousand chickens and we are cleaning the house all weekend and making sure the nursery is in order.

Rick, I am sorry to hear about Moose, I hope he gets better soon.

Dave, blog something.

Mike, what about the Cosby Show?

Phil, nice trailer, thanks for posting it.

Jay, great pics. Sometimes I miss snow...sometimes.

Toby, RPG's are the best, sorry about your archer. Blame the healer imo.

Joe, I'm not sure if you read this, but I'm glad your trip went well.

Chuck, (see Dave)

Angie, Glad to see everything is going well.

peace and chicken grease

The Fall of Clan Kingshammer

2008-02-10T16:15:00.000-08:00

Collin awoke to the barking of dogs. The interior of the longhouse was illuminated by the embers of a dying fire and shadows danced on the hide walls and swarmed over the sleeping forms of his family. Collin sat up pushing the bear skin from him and rubbed his eyes sleepily. After a moment the dogs stopped and Collin flopped back down on the hide covered pine boughs that made his bed. His eyes flickered once and closed. A scream sounded loud from close by and then the shouting of men and the war bells.
Collin was on his feet in an instant and he was not alone. His uncle Angrew was shouting as a score of his cousins pulled mail shirts over leather jerkins and grabbed weapons from the racks on the longhouse walls. “Step to lads,” Angrew cried hefting his war axe in his massive hands, “the bells call us to glory. Collin, see to your mothers and sisters, let no one past the door.” Angrew clapped Collin heavily on the back. A feral smile split his bearded face as he rushed out the door. Collin could hear him shouting, “Show no mercy lads, split them, gut them…” The rest was lost to the sounds of battle.
Collin took his place in the doorway hefted his broadsword and swung his shield into position. Glancing behind him he saw his first mother, Ursula and second mother, Agris handing weapons and shields to his sisters and cousins maneuvering them toward the back of the longhouse in a tight wedge with Ursula at the point. Collin smiled in spite of himself. He did not envy any attacker who managed to fight their way past him. Ebresh women were a match for any man in armed combat.
A giant warrior hurtled through the longhouse door barreling into Collin and sending him crashing into the empty weapon racks on the far wall. Ursula screamed, “Death to the Shogar,” and her war cry was echoed by a score of piercing calls as the women charged the hulking Shogar warrior. Collin’s head swam as he stood shaking to his feet. The Shogar’s head brushed the ceiling beams as he turned toward the women. The brute raised his obsidian studded cudgel as a spear struck him in the thigh and another took him in the shoulder. The Shogar merely grunted at blows that would have skewered a boar and swung his cudgel with all of his immense strength. Ursula raised her shield just as Collin crashed into the Shogar pushing him off balance and causing his attack to go wide. The Shogar fell to his knees and raised his weapon for another strike. The women crouched behind their shields bracing for an attack that never came as the point of Collin’s broadsword blossomed from the warrior’s neck in a crimson spray. The Shogar gurgled his final breath and fell forward onto the fire pit shrouding them in cold darkness. Collin’s victory shout was cut short as smoke filled the longhouse and flames leapt from the burning walls.
“They’ve set us ablaze,” Agris cried.
“Run children, run!” Ursula shouted.
Collin leapt out the door, sword leading. Fire, the entire village was aflame. Smoke mixed with the frigid night air seared his lungs as he searched for Angrew in the chaos of battle. Knots of Ebresh warriors stood locked in combat with the Shogar raiding party. The snow was stained red and littered with the bodies of dead Ebresh and dying Shogar. Flames from burning longhouses reached toward the stars and some of the nearby trees were wreathed in flame.
“Collin,” Angrew shouted from where he stood striking down a wounded Shogar. His axe caught in the giant warrior’s neck and he ripped the brute screaming to the ground dispatching him with a two-handed blow. “Collin, get out. Take them to Nevermoon. There’s nothing to be done here. Protect the clan. Go!” Angrew shouted as Collin hesitated taking a step toward his uncle. “Go now, before it is too late.”
Collin led the remnant of Clan Kingshammer into the freezing darkness, into the vast expanse of the Frostpine Forest, hoping beyond hope to reach the ancient fortress of Nevermoon before they were found.

Eldrick's Spark

2008-01-21T15:13:00.000-08:00

Eldrick crouched low and shuffled as quietly as he could throw the tangle of wild grape vine and thorn bush that lined the fence row of his father’s farm. In one hand he clutched a short bow tightly against his rail thin body to keep it from snagging on the dense underbrush and with the other he steadied the quiver clasped to his wide belt. Dead leaves decorated his sandy hair and red welts were rising where the razorvine and quillweed had caressed his sun-browned skin. Ahead of him the trees grew tall and wide apart and the brush grew less dense. Behind him stretched miles of tilled earth and green clad pasture. The sun beat down mercilessly on Eldrick as he shuffled forward. Despite the shade the dense undergrowth seemed to amplify the heat rather than dispel it. The pungent smell of crushed greenery and sweet pollen filled his nose as sweat leapt from his tousled hair and slick arms to spatter the dusty ground.

Flies buzzed loudly ahead of him and through the itchy green tangle another sound made Eldrick’s heart skip a beat for fear. It was a menacing rumbling sound, a sound man had feared since the world was new. A vicious snarl followed, then the sound of tearing flesh and the crack of bone. Eldrick’s feet froze in place. His heart beat like a kettle drum in his ears and he was sure his breathing could be heard from several miles away. Fear gripped him. Fear of being rent and crushed and eaten, primal fear.

Eldrick slowed his breathing as his father had taught him. Slowly he raised his hand and gently brushed aside the thick strands of viper grass that blocked his view. Inch by inch a massive tawny shape materialized before him. Neck muscles bulged as the lion tore hungrily at the belly of the dead bull. Blood smeared the muzzle of the beast as it ripped great chunks of flesh from the bull. To Eldrick the lion was the most wonderful and terrible thing he had ever seen. The great cat was all muscle and power and beauty. A creature created to rule over all others. He looked nervously at the suddenly pathetic weapons in his hands, the curved stick that Men had named “bow” and the sharp feathered sticks in his quiver. He looked at again at the lion which had stopped feeding and turned its great golden eyes on him. Eldrick wanted to run, he wanted to scream and throw down his puny weapons and run, but he could not move. Mastery was in the lion’s eyes a knowing of the order of the world, of its place in the order of things. The lion was undisputed in this place as surely as an Eastern King on his throne.

A guttural rumble sounded from the lion’s bloody maws and reverberated through the trees and across the fields. Eldrick put a trembling hand to the quiver at his side and drew a goose fletched shaft from among its brethren. The lion growled blood curdling thunder and rushed. Eldrick’s arrow never found the bowstring as he was crushed to the ground by the powerful predator. Heat washed over him in waves, heat that made the sun seem cool, heat that stole his breath and replaced it with sulfur and brimstone. Then darkness came, cool and quiet and he was alone.

January 20

2008-01-20T09:04:00.001-08:00

Things have been hectic up until today. Along with school, basketball, home remodeling, baby planning and cleaning I have been trying to get a little writing in (little being the key word).

The Cambridge Christian School Lady Lancers are currently 11-8 with districs coming up at the end of the month. You can check the team out here http://www.maxpreps.com/FanPages/Team.mxp/AreaID-7bcaf5fa-f8bd-4fe8-a970-f05012cd05b2/SchoolID-c4c227a5-9602-4a5c-9c01-956ff6d738a0/Girls_Varsity_Basketball_Winter_07-08/Florida

Our baby is due February 22nd so once basketball is over a whole new game begins. Today we have to run errands in the afternoon, go to Babies-R-Us, Target and a few other stops. I hope everyone enjoys MLK day tomorrow, hopefully you have some time off.

New Blog

2007-12-28T12:02:00.000-08:00

I'm going to move all of my manuscript stuff to a new blog Offworldstory. So, if you are interested you can ring in on the ideas and processes as I try to get my new project going.

http://offworldstory.blogspot.com/

-Matt

Christmas Eve 7:06

2007-12-24T16:06:00.000-08:00

My entire Puerto Rican family came over from Miami for Christmas this year since my wife is unable to travel due to the baby. As I write they are sitting in the living room watching what I can only decribe as Latino Musica videos. These videos are not the MTV run of videos but more akin to watching Sinatra or Tony Bennet in concert (on dvd). Since I probably wouldn't watch Sinatra or Tony Bennet on DvD (actually there are precious few musicians I would watch on dvd) and I understand what they are saying due to English being my mother tongue I decided to take a break from the festivities and blog a little bit. Have no fear though my Spanish is improving poco y poco (little by little and I can follow a conversation now and at least get the gist of it.

We put an addition on our house in order to make more room for baby William and after Christmas I will be moving the computer and our mini-library to the new study. It's supposed to be in the mid 70's tomorrow. I have been in Florida since 2000 and I have never gotten used to the Christmas season down here. "Dashing through the grass," never worked for me and it never will. Ah well, you take the good with the bad. No black ice, no sleet, no slush, no "warming up the car" it's a fair trade off.

I've seen Mike and Tim back online and it warms my heart. Not that they are playing video games but that I get to talk with them and interact with them a little more even if it is in a limited way.

After the music videos we are going to a party at Frank's house. Frank is the guy who put in our new floors and the addition to our house. He is a friend of the family and a great guy. After the party we are coming back to the house for...more latino music videos and then who knows.

Well, I'm off for more frivolity and fun, talk you all later.

So tired

2007-12-19T09:44:00.000-08:00

I was up until 12:30 this morning painting and now, 12 hours later I give you "An Ode to Groginess."

I hate you grogginess
Dragging me down
Like starving jackals
Pulling at the tender nose
Of my wildebeest calf
Which is sleep
Dragging me down
Begone Jackals!

Peeps

2007-12-19T07:58:00.001-08:00

This is really rough. It's looks a little like stream of consciousness writing. Anyway, here it is.

Of Men:
Midlanders
Ebresh
Easterns
Podes

1: Midlanders
An agricultural society inhabiting the fertile plain that dominates the middle of the continent, Midlanders tend to be of average height (5’10” to 5’11” for males and 2 to 3 inches shorter for females). Midlanders have pale to brown skin and are usually sun darkened from working outside. The Midlands are the bread-basket of the continent and as such most Midlanders are farmers, shepherds or herdsmen. They are widely known for their hospitality but also for their stubborn nature and their colloquial wisdom (snow like meal, snow a great deal). Midlanders society is made up of independent farms each governed by a family and sometimes supporting several families on larger farms. Midlanders meet once a week at the local market (usually a collection of tents and booths clustered in a field) to trade and socialize. There are no cities as such in the Midlands though some farms have grown large enough to resemble small towns. The most famous of these farms is the Linkton Farm in the North Midlands. Midlanders are shrewd traders and supply many of the countries surrounding them with goods. They are constantly in danger of bandit attack and each farm employs it’s own fighting force usually trained by a former soldier or elder militiaman. The Midlands also enjoy special protection from surrounding countries due to the nature of the land and the value of the people that work it as the Midlands provide nearly all the food for the surrounding countries. As stated before Midlanders are fiercely independent and do not take sides when nations go to war choosing instead to profit from supplying both armies with food and goods. Some Midland farmers are wealthier than the kings that buy their goods but due to the nature of the people of the Midlands one would never know it.

2: Ebresh
A tribe of hunters and warriors residing in the High North, the Ebresh are a dying race. They are the tallest of the tribes of men and men over seven feet tall are not uncommon. Ebresh men ten to wear well-trimmed beards while the women keep their hair in thick braids. A man’s beard is symbol of his authority and to have one’s beard shorn is a sign of deepest humiliation. For the women hair is much less important than having children according to the Ebresh a truly blessed woman will bear more than ten children, more than thirteen children is considered a sign of divine favor. The Ebresh are hunters and subsist by hunting and foraging in the northern forests they call home. They are great breeders of dogs and often cross their own fierce breeds with the massive wolves that share the forests with them. Typical Ebresh family society is man and usually two wives. One wife a man takes when he is young, in his early twenties is typical marrying age for young men, for women it is typically younger (15-19). When an Ebresh man is old (in his late 50’s to early 60’s) he takes another wife to comfort him in his old age and to assist the fist wife with the work. When an Ebresh man dies his possessions pass on to his second wife who is responsible for caring for his first wife until she dies. When only the second wife and the man’s children are left a brother of the dead man who has no second wife takes the widowed second wife of his brother to himself and raises the firstborn son of the dead man to take over the house which then passes to him upon marriage to his first wife at which point the cycle is repeated. The Ebresh share the High North with the vicious Shogar and are at constant war with them raiding back and forth and killing as they may. Both races have suffered greatly from the constant battle and now the Shogar have been pushed high into the tundra while the Ebresh live in scattered bands throughout the vast forest. The Ebresh are accomplished metal workers and craft marvelous coats of mail, swords spears and axes. They are the greatest archers and trackers in the realm and are often called upon by southern kingdoms to catch criminals or scout for military campaigns.

3: Easterns
The Easterns are shorter than both the Ebresh and the Midlanders and their skin ranges from dusky brown to bronze to nearly black. They are a sea people, builders of boats, navigators, shipwrights, fishermen and explorers. The people of Manslin are Easterns. Eastern families are typically small with three children being considered a large family. This is due to the fact that Easterns are great builders and the largest cities on the continent lie on the Eastern shore. Easterns are an urban people and consider the Ebresh to be barbaric and the Midlanders simple. They are typically a wealthy people taking pearls and coral from the sea and trading their wares for gems, gold and dry goods. Both men and women wear jewelry in the form of rings in the ears and nose as well as necklaces, bracelets and finger and toe rings. The men are frequently tattooed on their backs, forearms, and chests with images of the sea, sea creatures, or runes. Women wear their hair unbound in various styles and are often tattooed at the small of the back, ankles, wrists and around the navel. Easterns are great traders and convey goods up rivers and down coastlines to the farthest corners of the continents. Easterns ships are the largest and fastest on the water and the Shipping Guild closely regulates who and what is ferried about in them.
Note: Mansliners are sometimes considered a sub group of Easterns as they focus all their maritime efforts on fishing and do very little trading or exploring. They are by far the most insular of Easterns.

Podes:

Ran out of time.
More to come...

Off World

2007-12-08T20:18:00.001-08:00

Thanks for the encouraging and helpful replies to my last post. The Ahmzad are my dwarf type race and I have yet to figure out who side they are on and what special abilities they have. Right now they are a wild card race. If you've read the post "I gotz teh ideaz" or whatever messed up title I had for that post you'll know that Eldrick is a War Wizard and he was taken from his family at a young age to the Blackspire which is where War Wizards learn to be, well, themselves. It's on an island and is surrounded by a small fishing town.

My original idea was to have Eldrick return home to find that his family had been abducted by vampires for larder stocking purposes and that his younger sister had actually been turned. That idea has been shelved.

A while ago I wrote a couple of short stories titled "War Planes" about these plane jumping armies battling on hundreds of different worlds. I've combined a couple ideas (thanks Orson Scott Card) and now I have...

The Shogar are, in truth, trying to burst through Lorin's Gap into the Midlands (the breadbasket of Eldrick's homeland)(thanks Phil) they are not however raiding. They are being displaced by a rogue battalion of the Telek Army led by General Ian Gin (a name I used in a previous manuscript). No one believes the Shogar's land is being overrun because they are thought of as savages by the people of the South and mortal enemies of the people of the North, the Ebresh. In fact, the Ebresh have been fighting the Shogar for so long that they are actually dying out as a people due to decades of war.

The war wizards are called in to help save the Midlands from certain destruction at the hands of the giant Shogar. That is where Eldrick comes in. As a war wizard he is sent to the front only hours after being secretly married to a village girl named Niah who he has loved since arriving on the island as a child.

Thanks to the Eladii (think Tolkien's Elves but more exclusive and warlike)who arrive to assist their long time allies the Ebresh the Shogar are stopped and one of their head men, Golga, is captured and packaged to return to the Balckspire for questioning. Golga warns his captors about the Telek but to no avail.

Upon their return to the Blackspire the War Wizards find their fortress leveled and the town under the domination of a Telek Captain and the 3rd Mechanized Infantry. Most of the War Wizards are dead, some escaped to hidden lairs off the island. The majority of the townsfolk have been taken to various prison camps for transport off-world and the few that remain try to go about their business ignoring the roar of Telek Starstrikers overhead and the earth shaking rumble of Telek Destroyers as they search the ruins of the Blackspire for signs of survivors and powerful artifacts.

Eldrick and an Eladii he has befriended, Omeym, escapes discovery by a Telek patrol and suddenly Golga doesn't sound so crazy after all. Eldrick is sick with worry and is set on finding Niah before she is taken off-world. Omeym's people rarely leave their homeland in the far west and have magically barred the gates to their realm from the rest of the world. Only a small group of volunteers left Sol, City of the Sun to aid the Ebresh at Lorin's Gap and once the Shogar were stopped all of the Eladii returned home save Omeym as it was deemed necessary for him to stay to guard such a powerful being as Golga until he was secure in the Blackspire. Omeym chooses to help Eldrick and they loose Golga in order to increase their chances of escaping the Telek blockades and patrols.

Golga simply wants to kill all the Telek he can and return to his homeland to reclaim what is left of the High North and begin rebuilding what the Telek destroyed. He needs the support of the War Wizards in order to defeat the Telek, however, and he believes that Eldrick can help him gain what he needs.

More to come...

Anew

2007-11-30T19:10:00.001-08:00

Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card is a good book. Over Thanksgiving I was able to really sit down and read it and it was refreshing. I am going to try to finish it by New Year's Day so I can absorb the ideas and use them this summer when I begin writing again.

I have started working on some new stuff. Just a start.

Eldrick: A war wizard and the main character
Niah: Eldrick’s love. A resourceful, intelligent young woman.
Golga: A powerful Shogar Shaman captured during the battle at Lorin’s Gap.
Omeym el Erion: An Eladii Dragoon who befriends Eldrick at Lorin’s Gap.
General Ian Gin: An ambitious Telek General set on conquering Eldrick’s homeworld.
Rok: King of the Ahmzad.
Collin Kingshammer: Uncrowned King of the Ebresh.

Ebresh: A once powerful tribe of men now in decline due to constant war with the Shogar.
Eladii: Tall, powerful warriors attuned to nature and unmatched in physical combat. Not human.
Shogar: Massive half-giants locked in constant battle with the Ebresh and the Eladii.
Telek: Planes-Jumping, war-like people possessing advanced technology and a desire to conquer worlds.
Blackspire: The school of training for war wizards.
Midlands: The breadbasket of the civilized world.
Cloudtops: Mountains separating the Midlands from the High North.
Quicksteel: Living armor worn exclusively by Eladii Dragoons. The relationship between warrior and armor is symbiotic in nature.
Truesinger: An Eladii able to control the forces of Nature, particularly animals, by using an intricate chant or song.

Stop Frontin

2007-11-16T23:02:00.000-08:00

I'm tired of people QQing about how bad Christians are.

I'm tired of the generalities they make while at the same time patting each other on the back for their "tolerance" of others. If you're tolerant to homosexuals but think Christians in general are narrow minded idiots who are incredibly naive you're still just a much a bigot as the guy with the sign that reads, "I hate gays". Just because christian bashing is more socially acceptable than gay bashing doesn't make it right and it doesn't make you a champion of freedom and tolerance. It makes you just another bigot. Stop playin yourselves.

I'm sorry a pastor/deacon/Sunday school teacher you know/knew is/was a jackass. Lots of people are jackasses. Lots of jackasses go to church and some become pastors. Sorry, but stop QQing over it. Move on. If one person who happened to rise to a position of "power" in a church abused their authority and because of that you're "just not sure your a christian anymore" maybe your right. Maybe it's time to be honest and really examine what you believe is true.

Oh, and relativists, it's so easy to say that good and bad are relative until bad things start happening to you and/or your family. Then I bet you want those bad things to stop happening to you and yours, not "relatively bad things" unequivocally bad things. Nothing is relative, stop deluding yourselves into thinking that your reality is not your neighbor's reality because if your not careful, in the future,
whoever has the biggest gun will determine your reality for you.

"Jesus was a radical teacher who shook things up." Yeah and so was Lucifer, the first real revolutionary. Before him no one had ever thought of disobeying God, what a free-thinker. Be careful who you compare Jesus to or who you say is acting like Jesus.

The world is full of wonder and the world is full of crap. Let's try not to get the two confused.

Arenas and other trivialities

2007-11-12T14:01:00.000-08:00

It's 5 o'clock and you know what that means! Writin' time!

I have today off for Veteran's Day, so thank Veterans for all that you do/have done for our country.

Our arena team took a beating last week going 8-11 or some such debacle of a record. We got Rick-Rolled 3x in a row by 2 Resto Shammies, Shadow Priest, Lock and Rogue. Now let me tell ya (in case you don't know) Resto Shammies and Resto Druids are the worst, THE WORST I say. I would rather fight two pallies than two Resto Druids (or Shammies). Anyway, with all the cc fears the lock and sp were throwing about and the insane cross-healing from the shammies it was lights out, the rogue just had to clean up the stragglers.

Our group composition btw, is Pally, Holy Priest, Hunter, Warrior, Mage and Rogue. The new patch (2.3) should make us better because of the changes to hunters and rogues. However Pete tells me that Frost Mages are going to get nerfed, which stinks because he excels at playing his Frost Mage. He respecced to PoM-Pyro which is a tough build to use in 5v5's because you can't 2-Shot anyone. Everyone has 400+ resilience, ain't gonna happen.

Ah well, I don't tell anyone how to spec, that's personal preferance. (Look for 31/30 maces to rock the arenas next season).

Also, locks own everybody but me. That's not to say that I'm awesome or whatever, but Cloak of Shadows>Locks. Unfortunately as all-time-healer-locker-downer I don't get alot of shots at the NUMEROUS locks we fight every week cause I'm always kicking a priest in the behind or gouging a pally or druid in the eyes. Hopefully after the next patch our hunter can switch to all-time-healer-pwner and I can go on cloth-dps-annhilator duty. We'll see.

In RL the Lady Lancers have our first game Thursday at home. Sweet.

I'm gonna get some food. It was great to have a day off even though I did have to drive up to work for basketball practice.

later

My thoughts after pulling weeds in the garden.

2007-10-25T17:14:00.000-07:00

I’ve seen the stars of heaven rise,
Over blissful days like these,
Beneath the glowing glory shine,
They bring me bleeding to my knees.

Thorns and thistles win the day,
And all the parasites rejoice,
My blood flows through the mouths of they,
Whose deafening roar comes without voice.

Squirrel Eggs

2007-10-24T14:27:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I had my Algebra I class believing that squirrels laid tiny eggs and that the trees outside the school were full of them.

"Now go gather me some squirrel eggs children so that I may make a delicious squirrel egg breakfast, and be quick about it!"

Ah, the joys of teaching.

Also, I am tired. Just FYI. Get up at 5:30am-Schoolfrom7:15-3pmBasketball Practice til 6pm-home at around 7:15...ah twelve whole hours to myself. Wait, I need to sleep...bummer.

Gotta re-muclh the garden. Yeah, I do that these days. I re-mulch and paint and mow and haul and hammer and hang pictures and such. I'm afraid I'm becoming fairly domesticated.

I'll write more later, I gotta go climb a tree. I'm making omelettes tonight.

I gots teh ideaz

2007-10-15T19:31:00.000-07:00

New story idea. You like? I like.

Eldrick looked out over the rolling hills of Honey Mead and smiled. He was almost home. It had been ten years since he had set off with the war wizards to begin his training in the Blackspire. How he had cried that day. He had been just a boy when the Searchers had come for him, just a boy when they pulled him from his mother’s arms and ferried him across the Gullway to Manslin and the dark tower that dominated the skyline of that humble fishing town. Master Collins brooked no nonsense, however, and soon after he arrived the tall wizard’s caused Eldrick to fall in line with the rest of the boys at the “Spire”.
For eight years he ate, drank and slept magic, pouring over ancient tomes and new treatises and theories with equal vigor. He learned quickly and would have been promoted to Head Boy had it not been for his temper. Eldrick took offense easily and was as quick with his tongue as he was with a spell. Several would be bullies had been temporarily blinded by a powerful hex or else frozen to their beds while they slept and had to be thawed out, a painful, slow, process.
He made few friends in the Blackspire, but on the scant feastdays and holidays the war wizards permitted their charges to celebrate he would go into town and explore. That is where he met Lia. She was a dark haired slip of a girl with the olive skin typical of all Mansliners. He had done simple tricks for her that made her squeal with delight, levitation here, a conjured spark dragon there were enough to keep Lia smiling and laughing for hours. For Eldrick she was a reminder of home, of his family in Honey Mead of his mother and sister laughing as they prepared supper, and of his father, wise and strong, threshing new cut wheat in the sun.
Every feastday was spent with Lia and as they grew so did their feelings for one another. Eight summers had transformed Eldrick from a pale, thin, boy to a handsome, fair-haired man and when Eldrick looked at Lia he no longer saw the skinny slip of a girl he had known as a child, but a slender brown-eyed beauty blossoming into womanhood. They pledged their undying love to one another one midsummer evening and made plans to be wed. The Mansliners were of the typical disposition toward wizards; they were fine as a fiddle as long as they stayed in their tower and left the good folk of the town alone. Lia’s parents were no exception and disapproved of here seeing the “wizard boy”. They were to marry in secret at the summer solstice under the sympathetic eyes of Acolyte Kinsmon, a cleric that Lia knew well.
It was not to be. The night of the wedding Eldrick was awakened by the bass of Master Collin’s magically augmented voice booming in his unsuspecting ear. He was to report to the Chamber of Travel immediately. War had broken out in the north. The savage Shogar had sacked the towns of Rilius and Sinster and were threatening to sweep south into the very heart of the Midlands. Only Collin Kingshammer, Lord of the Ebresh, and a small force of Eladii Dragoons were keeping the Shogar from pouring through Lorin’s Gap and putting all before them to the sword and flame.

Been Paintin'

2007-10-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

Yep, been paintin' the bedroom. Gonna paint the master "Sand" and the master bath "Tidewater". Nice. It's like the beach, without the seagulls pooping on you and trying to steal your fries.

Dear Alliance in Arathi Basin,

Stop capping the stables and then riding off to the Lumber Mill before it caps. That doesn't do anyone any good. Defend something. And for the love of gravy, kill the healers first. Yeah, you know that MS Warrior you can't kill? It's not his armor, it's the Resto Shaman behind him.

Sincerely,
L2P

Some of the kids at school were having trouble opening the combination locks on their lockers. I told them they weren't spinning them fast enough. "Remember children, the faster you spin them the more likely they are to open, so speed up!"

Just kidding I wouldn't do that...or would I?

GO BLUE! Is Michigan really making a comeback? Do Michigan and Florida currently have the same number of losses? Will Michigan win the Big 10? Maybe, yes and who knows. At least I feel some pride in the Wolverines. By the way, I don't think Mike Hart is hurt that bad. Look for him to continue to lead the Big 10 in rushing. Do I think U of M will win the Big 10? If Hart stays healthy and they continue to play like the only way they can redeem themselves is to win the conference I see them taking it. Besides, Russel Crowe is Lloyd Carr's BFF. How can they lose? They've got MAXIMUS!

"Are you not entertained?!"

Laugh,
Love,
Live,
Kidney Shot.

you never see it coming...

I took that "Which LotR character are you?" from Toby's blog. I got Legs...
'>http://

Mike, I do read your posts...all of them

2007-10-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

Been out of cyberspace for a while. My mom had her 70th birthday party this last weekend. It was great to see my family. I'm glad all my brothers and sisters were able to come down to Florida.

In case you didn't know, my wife and I are expecting a baby boy in Feb. We are very excited.

I read a description of Robert Jordan's funeral and of his last hours online last week. It made me sadder than I thought I would be. I feel especially bad for Harriet, his wife. But I also feel bad that such an imagination, such an incredible creator and story teller has gone out of the world. I could never write like him, the scope and the detail of his work is overwhelming at times. I will miss him though. Even though we never met. Even though I'm pretty sure we never would have if he had lived. He had such gifts.

People continue to ask me about my book.
"How is it going?" they say. It's not. I get up at 9:30 and get home at 6:00. When I do get home I am (a) exhausted or (b) keeping up the yard and house. ( I have duties.) So no I have not been writing. I got the shimmer of an idea the other day and I wrote it down "A boy loses his parents."

That's it. But see, now I've got a problem to write around. I may begin writing in 1st person for a bit and see how that sounds. Just to shake things up a bit.

There was an awesome post of opening lines on the Absolute Write forums but I can't seem to find it. http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=39&order=desc

Things are good. I'm just tired.

-Peas

This Is How We Roll

2007-09-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

Big things poppin' AND lil things stoppin'

Friday was an all-out conference fest at school. 8 hours of parent conferences. I am happy to say that no one was assaulted...not even verbally, which was kind of a bummer, but I digress. Tomorrow, our new floor is getting put in. Will I post pictures you ask, maybe!

Let me see, let me see, what else. Ah, so we've started weight training with the girls varsity team at school. The first few days we had to walk them through the workouts but now they pretty much do it themselves. Basically what that means is that while they are doing their thing, I get to lift, which is nice, and healthy. So I look hot now. (Pictures to come!!)

And, next Wednesday we find out if our baby is a boy or girl. Do I care? Good question! Not really, healthy is really all I care about. My wife thinks it's a girl which means it probably is a boy.

And also, I am going to be here for Christmas and New Years. Yeah, in Florida. My wife will be far to pregnant to travel and so we will not be going to Michigan for Christmas this year. I was talking to Dave on the phone and I remarked that I could not remember ever missing the Christmas get together. I always made part of it at least. So, think of me when you're wiping the board or throwing down that timely Holy Day.

Things are going really well. My beard is full and lush, my eyes, blue as the whale whose name they inspired, and my...well, you get the picture.

I am not handy. I don't really want to landscape my lawn or spread seeds around or build an addition to my lanai. Oh, but I will. I'm growing and changing every day. How bout you?

Reflections on the AuSable or My Brain as a Trout Stream

2007-09-13T17:46:00.001-07:00

Cool and clear
Like a swift stream
That’s the way the mind flows
Bubbles and gurgles and shallow waves
Thoughts bob by in a spray of foam
Floating and spinning
Whirling and rocking
Fuzzy ideas follow feathered flashes
Like a mallard’s ducklings
While the shiny thoughts
The brook trout thoughts
Swish their dappled tales and rise
Only occasionally to the surface
For a brief splash in the sunlight
Then back to the deep holes
The dark holes where the big ideas live
Someday I’ll catch me a big idea

Changing Clothes

2007-09-13T16:45:00.000-07:00

I was physically shaking when I approached my brother's casket. I was in the back of the procession. We were coming up through the church basement and I stopped in my tracks. My wife tried to gently pull me forward up the stairs and into the sanctuary. I just stood there and shook my head. I was terrified. I wouldn't move. After about thirty seconds I started walking again and we moved up out of the dark stairway into the narthax and then through the doors into the sanctuary. I could see my brother's body from a distance but as I neared the casket the strangest thing happened.

I felt relieved and a little confused. The body in the casket looked nothing like my brother did in life. It was ludicrous. I smirked. I looked around as if to say, "Who is this in my brother's casket?" For sure, there was some resemblance to the man I knew and love and certainly it had to be his body, but without his spirit, the thing that is Dan and that will always be Dan, it was simply a form. I was relived because I knew that my brother was not there anymore.

At the cemetery I was not sad when they lowered the casket into the ground(I could barely stand I was so sick) because I knew that my brother was not in that box. I had seen his form, the thing that housed him for 25 years, but I could not see him. No matter how hard I stared, no matter how long I looked at that body I could not see him and I was relieved because I knew he had gone.

U of M Debacle and Other News

2007-09-01T15:58:00.000-07:00

First let me say that the University of Michigan has really done every fan and everyone who watched the game today a diservice. I only hope that through this lowest point in the school's football history the Wolverines can grow stronger. That aside, the Wolverines have definitely made my weekend in Miami less enjoyable.

Being the ONLY fan of Michigan sports among my inlaws I am harrassed everytime the Wolverines, Lions, Pistons, Tigers, Red Wings or sometimes even the Shock, lose a game. But the worst, the absolute worst is when a team, most notably the Pistons and Wolverines, is perpetually in the hunt for a championship. Pistons vs. Heat in the playoffs can get down right nasty. Thank goodness the USA just beat Puerto Rico in the FIBA World Championship, a loss there might have been unbearable.

So far this weekend has been pretty relaxing. Today (Sunday) we are having some kind of party in the afternoon. Should be fun.

I need to go grade some schoolwork. I'm trying to get everything caught up before school begins again on Tuesday.

I'll write more later.

Noodles and Pot Pies

2007-08-14T17:17:00.000-07:00

On the basketball court I was a totally different person. That rectangle of wood or blacktop or even carpet was a different world, a world that shunned the manners and customs of polite society and rewarded the brash and confident. I talked a lot, we all did, but there was always that unspoken rule, “Don’t talk trash if you can’t back it up.” One summer night in the early 2k’s I got to see first hand why that unspoken rule is so important.

We always showed up as a team when we went to the local park, at least enough so we only had to pick up one or two, two at the most. We could carry two. My roommate Brian played post which was odd because I was at least two inches taller than his 5’11”. But he was tough. He never played ball in high school because wrestling season and basketball season overlapped and he was first string at 189lbs.

It was mid-summer in Grand Rapids and we showed up at around 7 at the park near the house we were staying in at the time. The community was very mixed, very diverse. The housing was lower income and the ethnicity seemed to change by street. Our street was white at one end and Mexican at the other. The street over from ours was largely black and so the pattern continued with a mix of whites, Hispanics and blacks on the streets stretching north and south away from ours for several blocks. Anyway, we got to the park a little bit late and two teams were already running but the wait was not that long. We were standing behind a chain link fence under one of the baskets when this kid gets a fast break straight toward us and the unguarded basket.

Brian yells, “Dunk it!” right as the kid enters the lane and does a handy little lay-up over the front of the rim. Brian continued to jab the kid for his lay-up, “I thought you were gonna dunk it.”

“ I’ll dunk on you,” the kid shot back.

Now the kid had some decent size probably 6’2” or 6’3” and not skinny, but Brian had backed down and bodied much bigger players than the “lay-up kid” since I had started playing with him and he immediately took offense to the kid’s tone.

“We got next,” he yelled pacing down the fence line toward the kid who was now retreating down court to play defense as the opposing team brought up the ball, “and I got him!” his arm was completely outstretched, finger jabbing at the kid, his body taught as if his index finger was iron ore and the “lay-up kid” a colossal, freckled magnet.

Much to Brian’s delight the “lay-up kid’s” team won the game and our team piled out onto the court. I shot for ball and missed. (Hey it was double rims, you know how they are.) We jogged down the court and turned waiting for the other team. The “lay-up kid” looked focused as he brought the ball over mid court and straight at Brian who was waiting for him at the basket. The kid jumped from the right block and reached for the rim, the ball cradled in his outstretched arm. He didn’t quite make it. Brian came flying from his right side and threw him down. Now, I say “threw him down” as opposed to “threw it down” because Brian didn’t just block the ball. No, he put his hand on the ball and threw both it and the “lay-up kid” to the hot asphalt.

“I thought you said you were going to dunk on me punk!” Brian had picked up the ball by then and stood screaming over the “lay-up kid” who was curled in the fetal position under the bucket.

I couldn’t help but grin, but my smile turned to confused brow-wrinkles as the “lay-up kid” lay there and whimpered, “Why’d you do that? Why do you gotta be so mean? Leave me alone. Ow, that hurt.”

We really didn’t know what to say. Everyone on the court just kind of looked at him. Normally, if you get thrown down you get up and get back in the game if you can. Maybe you scream a little at the guy who blocked you to the ground, get in his face, threaten him a little because let’s face it no one wants that to happen to them. All physical danger aside it’s one of the most embarrassing things that can happen to you on the court. We didn’t know whether to laugh or get a broom so we could push him to the side and keep playing. After a few more agonizing seconds he got up, and to his credit, finished out the game, though he was never a factor and we handily beat his team. After that game we never saw the “lay-up kid” again. I guess someone should have spoken to him about that all-important unspoken rule.

Here's How It Went Down

2007-08-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

So, I'm back teaching again, but not at the school I had mentioned earlier. The school at which I am currently teaching is a christian school, however the pay and benefits are better than what the public school currently offers, at least in my case.

I thought my chances of teaching at the school were nil since I had sent my resume' in twice and both times it was rejected due to lack of positions available. I thought God was saying "no" but it turns out he just wanted me to wait. Right about the time when I stopped blogging anything longer than a sentence I got a call from the Upper School principal to come in for a middle school math interview. After meeting with the principal and the headmaster I was offered the job which I snapped up.

Pros:
1-I had already committed to helping my friend John coach the varsity girls basketball team at said school, so working there helps us plan.
2-Competetive pay-No christian school I had interviewed at before could touch what the current school offered.
3-Small class sizes-yes, all my classes except one are the in the teens for numbers ( i have one with 8 kids in it) so no more 30 kid classes.
4-Sweet Nike hook ups through the Assistant Athletic Director (who used to work at Nike and tried out with the Houston Rockets before injuring himself and losing his shot at being drafted)
5-The peeps there seem cool and genuine which is a big plus to me.
6-My friend John is there so we can "cut-up" alot.
7-They gave me a new laptop.

Cons:
1-The school day starts early and runs late. (7:15-4pm) The students leave @3 which gives the teachers an hour after school. I guess I'll take advantage and never bring work home.
2-I am teaching Math, albeit middle school Math so no big deal. (I'm just more of an English, History, Science...well anything but math...guy.) I've looked through the curriculum, so far, so good.
3-I've heard the parents can be a pain which will be new for me because in my last 4 years of teaching the parents were largely non-existent.
4-I am currently teaching 5 periods of Math, 1 period of PE, assisting with the girl's varsity basketball team, and doing chapel anouncements/speaker introductions. (Alot of work for my first year at the school and learning their system. Can you say burn-out?)

In other news, it is hot. I hate August because all you do is sweat unless you are indoors. Oh, and it rains every day and sauna's things up nicely.

I saw an alligator the other day near my mom's Florida residence. Having not grown up around them I think they are cool. Locals probably think I'm weird the way I thought city missionaries were weird when they asked my dad and me to take them down some trails near our house in Roscommon so they could see some deer. We didn't see any but they enjoyed the wilderness of the Roscommon village limits.

I have gummi bears and I'm starting to think they are my favorite candy...seriously.

http://megaman2box.ytmnd.com/

-Peace

teaching

2007-08-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

I'm teaching school again.

Comics, Azeroth Style

2007-07-24T15:34:00.000-07:00

Yes it's WoW the comic book http://www.dccomics.com/dcunlimited/wow/?action=the_comic_art and it looks pretty good so far. I got the Troll Shaman and the Gnome on his Mechanostrider. Click the link to check out the rest of the artistry.

Jobs

2007-07-23T08:28:00.000-07:00

I will not be going back to the school I was teaching at last year. My feelings are mixed. Teaching is not my passion. It just seemed logical for me that with my background working with kids at the Children's Home and my degree in English (not even English ed., nice degree right) that teaching was available and left me alot of time to work on my manuscript. For four years I taught. It was public school, some schools were better than others, but now I find myself at a crossroads. Here is where I take a turn.

Job A is working at a christian school teaching PE a couple of academic classes coaching the basketball team and taking a 10k paycut. I'd be "in the ministry" so to speak or "full time christian service" whateverthatmeanscauseshouldn'twebedoingthatanywayinourdailylives?

Job B is a writing job. I would be a business porposal writer at an office situated directly across from St. Pete Beach and I would be able to wear shorts and sandals to work. It is not a paycut and may, in fact, be a pay raise. It is something new, something that will help me become more disciplined in my writing perhaps and offers all the perks of a regualr job (401k, etc.).

Tomorrow I meet with the pastor of the christian school. That job is pretty much mine if I want it. Job A that is.

Job B requires another interview than the initial phone interview I had with a contracted recruiter.

Thoughts?

I have been editing my manuscript and I am working on some new plot lines and have eliminated all members of the Jade Council but 1, Preston. They were unecessary and now the story reads a bit cleaner. I just have to work out all the holes I created by moving them out but I have enough characters in the manuscript that I can assign their roles away without much trouble.

Bros.

2007-07-16T15:15:00.000-07:00

Today is my brother's birthday. I miss him because he was awesome.

Children of Hurin

2007-07-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

Finished it on the way back from Michigan and the proceeding two days. Good book, better than I thought it would be. It could be very easily made into a movie...and it should be. I had already read it in the Silmarillion but this version (as Phil mentioned) was more detailed and longer (and better).

Deep Summer

2007-07-13T10:16:00.000-07:00

We are now in a time known as "deep summer." It's the time of year after the 4th of July but before the kids go back to school. Deep summer, the time of year when you wish you were outside when you're inside and when you're outside you wish you were sitting on a block of ice.

So Jay's "post you dork" comment really got me motivated. Actually I have felt the need to post for a while but...yeah you guessed it...I've been busy editing my book. I've been tearing out huge chunks and adding in more exciting more pertinent to the story type information. Yesterday I just went through and asked myself, "What is the point of this paragraph? Does it add anything important to the story or is it just fluff?" Thus the chunk tearing.

Today I will continue to make modifications to the Jade Council, changing the members perhaps. The Jade Throne is now the Jade Crown (or High Lord's Crown) and each member of the council has a stone that fits into the crown and when all the stones are socketed, wahlla..."

In other news Blue Laser went 5-5 in the arena this week and we're hoping that Cheat Commandos can give us at least a 1600 rating...at least...in the 3v3 bracket. People continue to ask if Nassae is ever going to get on and arena with us again and I have to tell them I simply don't know. It is only about an hour/hour and a half of your time per week...I'm just saying.

I went to a job interview for a position at a christian school and to make a long story short 25k per year and my wife has to wear skirts everywhere she goes. I'm still thinking about it. No, no I'm not. There were other stipulations as well, plus it's nearly 50 miles away from my home.

Well, no doubt I have more job applications to fill out and I need to do dishes and get some more editing done.

I finished Genesis yesterday and got 15 chapters into Exodus this morning. Yep, that's me, grow, grow, grow.

Steve's coming over this weekend so we'll see what kind of shennanigans we get into.

Sorry to all you who have the old manuscript, the story is a'changin' but in good ways. It's just gonna be somewhat different from what you have...maybe alot different.

That pic is from when my niece and I stepped on one of those National Geographic pressure plate/tripwire nighttime cameras as we were crossing a major thoroughfare at Disney. I'm told we are going to be featured in an upcoming article, "Nocturnal Creatures of the Theme Park".

Sweet.

Vacation

2007-06-28T06:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's that time of year again. Our annual trip to Michigan is upon us and we are headed out to Detroit tonight. After staying there a night it's off to my nephew Zack's wedding in Indiana and then up to my mom's in Fenwick for Sunday morning. Sunday afternoon we're headed up to Petosky to see Phil and maybe others? Anyway we'll be there until Tuesday morning when we head back down to my mom's for our 4th of July get together and the rest of the week, I will update the blog whenever I can. (Which probably means when I get back.)

Truth

2007-06-20T12:14:00.000-07:00

And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is,

Hear, O Israel;
The Lord our God is one Lord:
30
and thou shalt love the Lord thy God

with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: Deut. 6.4, 5

this is the first commandment.
31
And the second is like, namely this,

Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Lev. 19.18

There is none other commandment greater than these.

War

2007-06-19T12:05:00.000-07:00

Battlefield: 21 Days on the Empire's Edge

I just finished watching the end of it. It's a documentary on the war in Iraq. One of the interviewers was an Iraqi man who had fought against Hussein's faction and fled to America. He was returning home after many years to see his family. The other interviewer was a woman who I didn't learn that much about, but her translator was also a woman, an Iraqi woman. Having the two viewpoints gave the film more perspective.

I liked the film because the news we get here in America is so sketchy, and by sketchy I mean biased and skewed. I like to hear the soldiers talk and I like to hear the Iraqi people talk. Politicians and foreign correspondents I can do without.

I am not going to transcribe the entire film but one scene especially stood out to me.

A large group of Iraqi men are gathered around the camera and they are stating their various grievences (as any person whose homeland is being ravaged by war would) and one man states, "There is one god, and America is the enemy of Islam." This then becomes a chant accompanied by clapping and shouting. The camera pans back and there are American soldiers standing nearby on picket duty. They're interested in the crowd, but not nearly as interested as I bet they would be if they had subtitles popping up in their goggles like I did on my tv screen.

Pull out of Iraq? Don't pull out of Iraq? America will be fighting the war on terror, somewhere, long after I am dead and buried. "There is one god and America is the enemy of Islam." We can pull out of Iraq, but we will be fighting somewhere else soon after and it will be worse.

I grieve for the loss of life, both American and Iraqi, that the war has caused. I read the names of the soldiers who have died, ninety percent of whom are younger than I am, and I think of their families, their mothers and wives and kids.

I honor our men and women in the military for making the ultimate sacrifice. They bleed for us. They go out to fight so the enemy does not come in again and kill thousands more innocents.

Iraq or Illinois, where would we rather the war take place? The fighting will continue, one place or another. The question is, would pulling out of Iraq make an already bad situtation worse?

meh

2007-06-13T16:55:00.000-07:00

Love that word "meh" it so full of emotions. Not the kind of emotions that make you cry or laugh or fall in love, the kind of emotions that make you want to stay in bed all day, the kind of emotions that come in to play when you drop a grilled cheese sandwich on the kitchen floor and pick it up and eat it anyway. That's "meh" that's what I'm talking about. It's kind of like "oh well" but really that doesn't even come close to encompassing all that is "meh". "Oh well" is resigned and singular, "meh" on the other hand can be the most defiant word spoken at the table or an off handed remark made after you spilled water on the crotch of your khakis. "Meh" is mostly about perspective and strength not nessecarily resignation or apathy. Example:

Guy 1-"Hey man, it's too bad that you broke up with Jill."

Mike S.-"Meh."

Guy 1-"Yeah, you're right."

Yeah, I know where my manuscript needs a fixin'. I already added a "tense" scene between Jan and Marli that I hope shows a real conflict. I am working on removing the Ahmzad completely from the the manuscript (so those of you who got a glimpse of that hardy and taciturn race consider yourselves lucky). P.S. you're not supposed to like Jan at the beginning, he's not good, has no redeeming qualities. Haven't we all met people like that? Um, grammar I understand. Not enough commas too many periods. I get it, easy to fix. Ah, I need to rework some of the betrayal elements as far as Cyrus and Sophia go. Cyrus is getting a new scene. I'm going to be cutting alot of the "nice to know" travelogue stuff and adding more dialog between characters. I'm going to try to give the world a little better sense of time. That's something I really want to get into in the next book.

Reoccuring characters that don't do much. Well, since this is a trilogy I hope to be able to work everyone in. Yeah, I know I introduced alot of people in the first manuscript but I kill a few of them off too, eh? Ellis Drake and his father I need to work out something there regarding their feud. Also Lars Buldin, I just kinda introduced him and then killed him in the Transformation Experiment. Lord Mobus, need to expand his character quite a bit.

The Jade Throne I am stuck on. I have to be honest. My description of this chair and reason for it to be in the manuscript is murky at best. Its use is even murkier. I really have to get something hammered out. Something solid. It's in the finale of the book and is an instrument in the destruction of a Council Member. I think I'll need to make it a religious artifact. But there has to be a better explained key to unlocking its power.

Overall I feel the manuscript is missing something. Thus the scores from the contest judges. I think they were acurate. Polish? More hutspah? The kaibosh?! I'm not at the level I want to be at yet. I know, it'll come. That's what they all say and they're probably right. It takes alot of time though. Anyone out there who wants to write a book, particularly a novel. Unless you can give all your time to it be prepared. Life keeps getting in my way.

Meh.

yeah

2007-06-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

So is The Children of Hurin the story of Turin son of Hurin? Because if it is I've already read that story in a little book I like to call The Silmarillion. Hm, I'm not going to buy it if I've already read it, yesterday, and already know how it ends. The story of Turin is sad and one of Tolkien's best.

The Cavs failed to squeeze out a victory last night. By the way, LeBron was mauled by Bowen as he gathered himself for that last shot. He had a legit gripe. But hey, gotta make those big guy, fouls or no fouls.

Which leads me to my next point. NBA refs have wayyyy (yep 4 "y's") to much control over the game. In what other sport can a player be removed from play just because he is playing the game hard? I ask you. Football? Nope your team is penalized yards for almost all infractions with a loss of down thrown in for good measure. Barring an all out brawl it is very difficult to be ejected from any of the big three (baseball, football, basketball) except for basketball. And don't even get me started about hockey, fighting is a part of that game, a part many fans look forward to (like me). I say after a player accrues six fouls either give him "penalty box" time or let the other team shoot free throws after every foul committed AND retain possession of the ball, or some such combination. But stop throwing players out.

I can't wait to get up to Michigan in July. I haven't been Up North since Christmas.

New Prologue Idea

2007-06-04T12:10:00.000-07:00

Idea One: A Speaker Falls

"Speaker, no," the Eladii's voice boomed through the near empty audience chamber. The tall warrior stood over the body of a beautiful dark-haired woman stretching his sword out toward the broad-shouldered man walking slowly away.Two dozen dead and dying soldiers littered the chamber, a testament to the Eladii's skill with a blade. Aurelious Preston whirled at the Eladii's voice. Tears stained his pale, drawn face as he jabbed an acusing finger at the armored figure.

"Do not speak to me," he screamed, "murderer, you took her from me, you took my soul. He, he can help me. He can bring her back." Aurelious pointed to a figure even taller than the Eladii standing at the far end of the rectangular chamber.

Motes of light coalesced and swirled around the towering being obscuring his face. His voice was melodic and rich, "Come my child, come, I will soothe your hurt. Pay no heed to the words of this traitor."

The Eladii's voice was pleading now, "Speaker, please, she was an assassin, she was sent by our enemies to destroy you."

"I know my enemies," Aurelious replied as he turned to stand beside the shining figure. The Eladii's eyes glowed menacingly and he brought his shield to bear as green helmeted soldiers flooded the room, surrounding him.

"Are his companions disposed of?" the shining figure asked casually turning from the chamber with Aurelious in tow.

"Yes, almighty one, only this one remains," a broad soldier with a down-turned spear stamped into the front of his helm replied.

"I want this one taken alive, Captain Gin," the giant commanded as he exited the room. "As you wish almighty," Ian Gin gritted his teeth behind his dark visor and raised his rifle.

Across the room the Eladii brought his sword up and back, ready to strike. Futility momentarily overwhelmed him and he hesitated in his attack. He had failed. All was lost. The Speaker was gone. His brothers were dead. He had failed. Futility turned to grim determination as the first shots rang through the chamber slamming into the Eladii's tall shield. Only death could bring him peace. With a defiant scream he hurled himself into the armored throng.