Hello, all – sorry for the long gap between then and now – now that the holidays are officially over and I have a minute to breathe in between loads of laundry. I hope everyone who reads this (eventually) had a good season and feels well enough to head back to work, if you have not already done so. Me? I am never ready to go back and detach then lop off my sense of individuality, respect and common sense. However, I fear that I may lose this job soon. Yeah, apparently after 3 years, they feel that I am not good enough since I’m not scoring 95% on random evals. Anyone who has been in this business knows that random evals (or seemingly random) are life and death. 2 out of the 6 I got for January were low (abysmally low). Well – as faithful readers here will note – I hate my job and I have already started to look for other places. While I don’t want to go back and lancet a troll with a leech, I’m afraid that it’s the only job I have now that will pay the bills. I do have a spot of good news, I have been contacted by a company through a friend of mine and I might be writing what called ‘content rich material’ for them. In other words, I am going to be ghost writing a blog! If everything works out – it’ll be 300-500 words at least 3 times a day. The pay will be small, but it’s a foot in the door. With any luck, I can parley this into some real, higher paying jobs.

Well, other than impending joblessness and a chance to get out of this rut – there is nothing else really to say. I’ve also been thinking about trying my hand a stock investing. I even found a small bank that will let me put in an amount of my choosing and buy and sell penny stocks. Hopefully, I’ll get up to the point where I can use that as income. Don’t get me wrong, I am still trying to break into writing, but I also realize that I should try to do something that is going to get me the money to keep my residence and the time to work on the novel – which I hope to have a finished chapter by daybreak tomorrow (and if I were writing about vampires, that would sound a lot better). I am going to also try to get a lot more regular about this blog – not because it’s a good way for me to communicate, but to also get into the discipline of writing short pieces for the business.

The only other interesting bit of news is that we are creeping closer and closer to “Game Of Thrones” on HBO! I have been waiting for this for a long time – almost as long as I’ve been waiting for the next book to come out (and I am looking at you, Mr. Martin). I’ve seen cast photos and I have to say this – perfect! Whoever did the casting did their homework. The people playing both Jamie and Daeny look dead on as they are described. I can’t wait!

Well, until next time Faithful Reader.

Kindest Regards,

Seething Apathy

I’m hoping that I am keeping track of my posting numbers. Next week is Thanksgiving – one of the few times of the year that I get to cook. Some would ask why I don’t do more cooking – simple – I don’t have enough time to make the dishes I want to make. I want to make a big meal – meat, starches, vegetables and a tasty dessert. I’m doing something similar to that Thursday with the turkey casserole, Hawaiian rolls, cranberry sauce and apple pie for dessert. I’m thinking of food because I’m hungry. I should grab something. Hang on. OK – I feel better now. Love Pringles.

I got my ‘birthday gift’ of a new laptop – a big ole ASUS. This is the only blog I have loaded into it, if only because I am bad at remembering passwords. This laptop is here to give me some glimpse into Windows 7 (and it’s such a cold place) and frankly, it’s a toy. My Frankenputer is good, but there have been issues with some of the software I have on it. My writing net-top is being only used for writing (of which I have done little), but it’s in such an unfortunate location, when I write on it, I have to take up half the doorway which makes it hard for my inky cyan fin and her news habits… which means I can only use it to write when she’s not here… which is not all that often. Then again, I have such a lousy work habit anyways; it all washes out in the end.

Enough about writing. That’s for the other blog. This is my private blog, Dead Reader.

So, with this blog, I am going to say this: if you drink the distillate of a certain plant for relaxation, there is a really good one that’s named for an infamous spy. Has a wonderful hint of cinnamon in the mix. Regrettably, it’s an old recipe, so I don’t know if it’s going to be there for much longer. I’ll have to see if the other recipe that they have still carried that hint of cinnamon. Really good. Might have some tomorrow – well, technically today, but after I sleep. I drifted off while I was watching college football – not my favorite thing, but it made some others happy. Thankfully, I didn’t snore. I am looking forward to the coming holiday season, if only for the wedding cookies (I hate weddings, but I like the cookies) and the coffee. Not a huge fan of some of the other things (near-crippling depression) that this season brings, but I have my plans set for that days ahead – getting horror films for Christmas. That is something I can’t wait for.

Well, I’m starting to get a little sleepy, so I think I am going to sign off for tonight. Hope your days are better than mine in this season of dimness.

Sincerely,

Me.

I am tired. Not the ‘I ran a marathon’ tired, but the ‘too many demands and not enough me’ tired. Trying to do Nanowrimo – and failing spectacularly… still have to do my Christmas story for the NCIS group. I’m going to try to make my next day off (this Thursday) somewhat more productive than this weekend.

I just really hate this season. Coming in dark, going out dark – stealing snatches of sunlight from behind the plexi windows of the office is not the best way to keep me at least non-unhappy. I just want to be left alone. When I come home, my mowing club wants to mingle with the fancy people and all I want is to sit down in the quiet for a few minutes. Sure, I have Saturday and some of Sunday evening, but – come on, just to be able to sit in quiet for a few minutes before I have to do anything else. Right now, the only peace and quiet I get is in my car. So, for now, I don’t mind the commute, I just mind the destination. Holy cow, do I mind the destination. I am so glad that I have this Thursday off. I am going to write as much as I can in between my different errands. If I want to be a professional writer, I need to get committed like a pig in breakfast.

Oh, if you want a good idea for a series to watch on TV – I cannot recommend Walking Dead highly enough. I’m a fan of the comic book series (have all up to 12) and I love the translation to the small screen, and it looks like they’re following the books. They’ve been green-lit for a second season. If that’s the case, they’re going to run out of comics before they run out of show. I wonder when they’re going to depart from the comic (if they do it before they get to the place where the comic stops), and what direction they’re going to take.

On some better notes: I am getting ready for my Christmas Horror-fest. I’ve got Drag Me To Hell, but I’m going to need some more because I am going to stretch this out for three days (Friday, Saturday and possibly Sunday) with the big day on Saturday. If anyone has any other ideas for good horror films – this is what I am planning on right now:

• Drag Me To Hell
• Cloverfield
• Paranormal Activity
• Mirrors
• Mirrors 2
• The Orphanage

Needless to say, I am going to have to buy quite a number of films – I might see if I can rent whatever ones I can’t buy from my favorite rental place, hopefully they’re going to be there still when December rolls around. Might even see if there are any On-Demand movies and put some extra money on my bill.

Well, Constant Reader – I wish you well.

Seething Apathy

There is something to be said for vacations. The chance to let the work world turn without out me for a week is something that I adore. Let’s all face it – this is the job. The career will be worked on with an eye towards be nevermore fresh pouts,

Wow, this alcohol is pretty darn good. It helps to relax. I’ve always had a problem with relaxing. I’ve always had this undercurrent of tension. Always had sleep issues, always felt tense and on edge – don’t know really why – but let me tell you, discovering alcohol is the best thing ever. There are other parties that believe that I would be better off without it. Those other parties don’t know what it’s like to have a life of tension and looking for anything to seek relief and finding out that the only way out is through chemical assistance from Chernobyl and other parties. Well – that;’s their problem not mine, My only problem is not getting it regularly.

Now we have fleas. This is great. This wasn’t my idea. The house wasn’t my idea. The marriage wasn’t my idea, but I do what I had to do to keep from going back home. She’s nice, but I swear I do half the stuff to shut her up. I honestly don’t want to be married to her, but there were incidences in my past that no doubt contribute to this. If there is anything to take away from this dear reader it’s this: marry in haste and repent at leisure.

Yeah – I’m drunk. This is going to be a short post, because I am going to go to bed soon before I say something that will reveal my identity. I am also ready for bed.

Good night, gentle reader. Please do not dismiss me as some drunkard. I am also a fool and an ingrate.

Ta-ta!

This is the week before my vacation and holy cow, am I looking forward to it. A whole week of nothing but X-Box, writing and generally hanging out at home – it’s what I was made for. I’m more looking forward to the idea of being alone for long stretches of time. Let’s all face it; I’m not really that much of a social person. The most meaningful interactions I’ve had have been mostly online with any magnolia in an oozy hovel… and honestly, ever since the show went off the air, that place has gone downhill. The ethereal cygnet seems to vacillate between “We need to do something”… and never really follows up, or “screw it, I’m shutting this thing down” and everyone will get upset.

Well – to the woman who would glance at the ether yet, I will say this: put up or shut up. You complain that no one does anything? Well, more than likely it’s because when someone does something, no one gives a rat’s ass. I wrote something that’s rather good, but I haven’t finished it yet because no one asks about it. We had a round Robin and no one cares. The people I want to hear from the group, I have their email addresses so I don’t need to go through the group to talk to them. Her tenant legacy is the very definition of a fanatic: someone who redoubles their efforts while losing sight of their goal. I don’t understand people like that – then again, if you ask me, it all went downhill when the founder left. Enough of that – what was I talking about originally?

Vacation. Yes – I have some plans for it. Might even take myself out to lunch at Olive Garden, but I can’t spend too much because I am going to get a new lap top so I can start to familiarize myself with Windows 7 and have something else to play with. So far, I have a desktop for general computing, the net-top is for strictly writing projects. The laptop will more than likely become the road game version of the PC – a couple of games, some word processing programs and maybe some movies that I’ve ripped and loaded. Might even have a recording device if I can ever find a recorder that will work for me and my gosh awful voice.

Anyone have any good suggestions for movies to watch while I’m on vacation? I’m going to go see “Jackass” as a guilty pleasure, but I want to see more than one film over the course of the weeks. I’m also going to try very hard to use this time to foster some decent work habits as far as both writing and working out – I’ve probably said that before, but this time I mean it (probably said that before too). I’m going so far as to tweet my results. When that starts (more than likely this Friday) I will give up my twitter account name here.

Well, other than that, there is nothing of interest here going on. Maybe next time, I’ll wax geekily poetic about my love affair of keypads and pens.

Yeah – that’ll bring the crowds.

Until net we meet, Gentle Reader

Wow – I haven’t been here in a while. Just to catch everyone up.

1. I hate my job, even now more than ever
2. I’m getting ready for NaNoWriMo – so get ready for even more uneven updates – yeah, even more uneven that this.

Well, I have a cup of absinthe (if you want an idea what it tastes like, think of black licorice) in my hand and I want to just ramble. Lucky you, lucky, lucky you. I am getting some new ideas for another novel – but I think it’s going to be a strict graphic novel.

This ends the writerly sort of things. That’s on my other blog.

I’m having some good old friends coming over to play X-Box – honestly can’t wait. I’m not a huge ‘meet and greet’ sort of person as one would think. So having two people over that I really like is a big thing for me. I’m not really a social person – not since that deprecatory tit and hump tossed me in the hay. Of course, I am pumping out a lot of money for this – I’m hoping to get some sort of return on my investment.

Anyhow – I’m trying to keep up at my other blogs, but failing miserably (as you can see). My political blog hasn’t been updated in almost a week and I think my writer blog hasn’t been worked on in twice as long. Not to mention other things. Oh, well. I know I shouldn’t have a cow over this sort of thing (there I go, showing my age), but every time I don’t do something I feel like I should be telling myself that I love my job now and I should make every plan to try to rise above the crap station that I am at now – but we all know that is a lie, is it not Good and Gentle Reader?

Well, my birthday is also coming up soon, and I am looking more towards the time off – maybe I’ll try to develop some decent work habits… or get drunk. All depends on whether or not I still have a bottle of absinthe to come home to for the week. I should send that sweet red head a bottle as I promised. I’ll do that when I get paid again and drink the one I have here. Don’t care what anyone else says – I’ll be fine.

You know, I don’t know if I’ve talked about this on other blogs – but I love absinthe. Not for the taste mind you – although this particular brand (Gold68 – you’re welcome) doesn’t have the heavy absinthe taste that the others have because it has no anise in it, which gives it its characteristic flavor. I like it because it does relax me – a major feat in itself. I don’t get uproariously drunk like I did with rum (which is coming this Christmas, I hope), I just get mellow. Really mellow. Takes three big glasses to do that (I ain’t a tiny person), but it’s nice. Might do it this Saturday for giggles—not really going out anywhere other than the gym (don’t get me started on that either!) so I can save gas until I get paid again. I hate getting paid twice a month. Then again, if I hate getting paid every two weeks, how am I going to handle getting paid every three months? Hire an accountant, I guess.

Well – that’s all for now. I promise to try to update more regularly here, or elsewhere.

Stay well, keep your head down.

Seething With Apathy

Well, I have to go back to work tomorrow. My week long vacation was what I needed – a reminder that I need to get out of my job as soon as possible. I am going to make a small announcement on my other blog, but as for here – I hope this is a serious offer, which reminds me, I need to get a proposal together for the teacher site. I did get some writing done, but not on the novel project, working on the scripts instead. I like how the Q project is coming along – in spite of being started and restarted several times. My personal project has some fits and starts to it, but as soon as I get over this one hump, I’ll be OK. Also, I’ll be starting my personal political webcast today – trying to talk extemporaneously for 15 minutes (while my wife is hovering about – perfect!) about news and politics.

The process of replacing everything has begun – I got the last real Arcade from Wal-Mart – with no power supply or game and the box itself looks scuffed up. I think I can load the pictures… this is minutes after opening and trying to assemble the X-Box:

Notice – no power pack.

A close up of the Box:

Really, Wal-Mart? This very Wal-Mart?

With any luck, I can at least get a new X-Box out of this.

Addendum: was able to exchange the X-Box and get a brand new one, only had to pay the difference. Should have quibbled, but hey – new X-Box. Got a couple of new games – “Bioshock” (which can’t be read by my new X-Box… I have never had the best luck with Microsoft. I’m telling you, if I find that guy who stole my stuff, I am going to beat him to death.) and “Gears Of War” (which I am going to have to learn a brand new system of control… which means a lot of death on my part).

Well, I’m going to finish up “Destination: Truth” and go to sleep – here’s to hoping tomorrow will be somewhat sedate.

Well, I am on vacation and not due back at work until next Thursday – giving me ample enough time to write… or goof off, or whatever, just so long as I am not taking calls from people that use spent pop as a crutch. This would be better if my X-Box hadn’t been stolen, but on the lighter side, they have someone in custody. I get to go get the report from the officer on Tuesday. Hopefully, we’ll get some sort of compensation out of this… and have our stuff returned.

I’ve been steadily working on the absinthe which is a lot better than the stuff I had been drinking earlier. Hopefully, I’ll get the promised bottle from the mix-up before the end of my vacation. I would like to have the chance to compare the two tastes – one without anise and one with. I hope the anise-free one will taste better – but I use a lot of lemonade with the anise. Kinda nice at times – can get really mellow after three good glasses.

Other than that, it’s me just chilling out at home, trying to stay awake and get caught up on some of my shows. My political blog is suffering, I am going to try to use Monday as a “re-boot” day, sane with my official writer’s blog. It’s odd to feel this relaxed for several days in a row. That almost asleep feeling – pleasant, but can be a little disconcerting at times. The pressure to do something, but the complete lack of desire to do anything overwhelms me. Maybe I’m just being lazy for a change. I probably should do something.

Know what I hate? Those obnoxious genealogy commercials on TV. I spend a good part of my life trying to get away from my family. Why would I want to rush off to learn more about them? Maybe it’s me – I’ve never really understood the concept of family… or at least the positive aspects of it. Family has always been one of those abstractions I can only understand on an intellectual level. Like physics or chemistry or basketball,

Well, I think I’ve bored myself enough – now to test this microphone.

I was robbed. Not in the ‘you mean I can play video games for a living?’ sense, but in the ‘some prick busted through my door and took things that did not belong to him’. My video game system was taken (and the games and the controller), not to mention some heirlooms. In the grand scheme of things, everything is replaceable (well, not the heirlooms, but they’re not mine) and the door can be fixed. What can’t be replaced immediately is my sense of well-being. My house is the only place where I feel completely safe. Every other place, I feel as if I am walking through enemy territory. I get so wired for combat (perceived or otherwise) that when I get home, I am utterly spent. That’s why I’m such a homebody. Out of my little circle of friends, I only have three people that I trust to come in: The hatch maid with no fins and representatives. Thanks to my signature liquor – I am doing a lot better now.

At least I got a day off out of it. On Saturday, they’re going to replace the broken door. My other writing has suffered a little, but I can be back on the saddle soon. I just need to get over the overwhelming desire to find this person and do things to him that would make the Marquis de Sade flinch. Now I feel drunk. So, I am afraid that this particular post will come to an end soon – other than what’s happened, there is nothing new here. I promise to write a longer piece when I have something better to expound upon.

Seething With Apathy

I hate overtime. My employer, who enjoys copycats who strangle inopportune champions, tells us that we’re going to have mandatory overtime this week (worked today 10:30-2:30) and that we’ll have the new hires out this coming week to help pick up the slack. Fine. I can live with that. Then they call for optional overtime for next week. I thought that having the new hires on the floor was to help keep us out of overtime. This is the big reason why I want leave this job – the higher-ups will say one thing, but do something else. They tell us that it’s all about a single call solution, but they still worry about calls in queue – which tells me that they are worried about call times and the such. If you’re going to lie to me, at least don’t insult my intelligence in the process.

Well – I haven’t been writing much, mostly from overtime, but some from my wife who feels the need to talk aloud. My PC doesn’t have a decent sound driver for headphones, so when she talks, I get distracted. Oh, did I mention that the time of rankless poofters and gathering bloodstains is approaching? Yeah – there’s going to be some harsh words exchanged soon if she doesn’t learn to not talk so dang much. Or I get a better driver for the sound system.

Anyways – I’m watching a story about ghosts… right before I go to bed. Tee Hee.

That’s over, now I’m watching something about the Filthy Few. Sorry that I’m not very engaging today, but I’m tired and I think all the caffeine I’ve had today is wearing off, and I still need to finish the laundry. Did I mention that I hate overtime?

Good night all. I’m going to see “The Other Guys” tomorrow – I might do a mini-update about the movie tomorrow.