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
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
The Fall of Clan Kingshammer
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.
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.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Eldrick's Spark
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.
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.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
January 20
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.
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.
Friday, December 28, 2007
New Blog
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
http://offworldstory.blogspot.com/
-Matt
Monday, December 24, 2007
Christmas Eve 7:06
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.
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.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
So tired
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!
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!
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