Alas, it's only 8:35 a.m., but the mounting sadness that comes with the inevitability of Monday is wrapped around my back like a 200 pound gorilla. I usually don't start to feel this way until later on the evening, but today it has hit earlier. The one saving grace concerning the coming week is that it's a holiday week. I will be off on Friday in observance of July 4th. There's a break.
So, my life is relatively quiet these days. It's scorching outside, with temperatures regularly parking themselves at the 100 degree mark. It is so ridiculously hot that it's miserable. Just the walk to the car in the morning causes me to sweat through my button-up, resulting in salty, white stains. It's disgusting, and boy I can't wait for winter.
Sorry to sound be so depressing. It's just that these truly are the dog days of summer, and it's difficult to get excited about them anymore. There is hope, however. We are just months away from the kickoff of both college and professional football. That is the preoccupation that spawns dozens of daydreams throughout the week. They're games on at least four days a week, and the sports landscape is teeming with news of injuries, feuds and trades. And there's always fantasy football. I picked-up my fantasy football guide for the 2009 season last week, and I'm already studying for my 2009 campaign that hopefully results in a league championship.
This past week I finished 11 pages of the re-write. While that's not as much as I'd like to get done, it's still something. As long as I'm making progress everyday, as long as I continue the fight to get published, I'm doing something constructive. After my wife's Sunday Morning errands (I was told there would be none today), the rest of the day will be left to do whatever. Aside from typical house chores (clothes washing, possible lawn-mowing), I do plan to catch-up on a movie or two and get a couple of hours of writing done. Depending on what's finished today, there's a slight, and I do mean slight chance that this week I could complete the first re-write (It's really the second re-write, but I'm calling it the first).
And there is an excerpt coming. I don't know what it'll be, but I will be posting one soon. Keep a look out for it. Plus I'm trying to find someone to create a custom layout for my blog. Eventually I'll segway to Facebook and possibly Twitter, but for now the blog will be the main way I 'socially network.'
Until next time...
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Red is the Color of Panic
Today was one of those 'Office Space' days. I can't count the number of times today that I stopped mid-sentence and wondered what in the hell transpired that led me to where I am today. Seriously, I stopped in the middle of conversation and pondered.
Today was also a sad, sad day. My wife learned that Jon and Kate of the ever-popular, "Jon and Kate Plus 8," (which exploits the fertility medication-bred of offspring of this dysfunctional couple), are getting a divorce. Wow. There you have it. Somehow, I think the world will keep turning tomorrow. Well....maybe.
By the way, did you know that there's a reality show about choosing wedding dresses? There's also a series (not a show, but a series) on MTV called "Pregnant and 16," which exploits 16-year-old high school gals that have unfortunately become knocked-up at a way too young age. Not only is it shameful that this show exists, but it's shocking to know that it's a series! Do you know what that means? It means that there's more than one 16-year-old 'misguided' young lady to create a whole slate of shows on the topic. Awesome.
Moving on...
I'm on the homestretch of the first re-write of "The Plunge." God it's taking a long time. It's almost taking too much time, and at times, it almost makes me want to take a long-term hiatus. When I first tried to make a schedule for submitting my work for representation, I anticipated being finished with BOTH manuscripts by the end of June. Obviously, that's not going to happen. I'll be lucky to get "The Plunge" done by the end of the month. But so far I'm hanging in there, not being deterred by the delays (because of life events). As of now, I'm on page 280 of the re-write, with about another 30 to go. You'd think it wouldn't take long, but as I'm trudging toward the end, I'm noticing that the writing got pretty bland on my first go round. I think it's because I was tired and just wanted to finish. I was to give a 'moving target' guess of when this draft will be done, it's by the 4th of July. From there I'll start the second re-write before moving to the third.
Okay gang, it's off to bed. I'm falling asleep at the keyboard.
Until next time...
Today was also a sad, sad day. My wife learned that Jon and Kate of the ever-popular, "Jon and Kate Plus 8," (which exploits the fertility medication-bred of offspring of this dysfunctional couple), are getting a divorce. Wow. There you have it. Somehow, I think the world will keep turning tomorrow. Well....maybe.
By the way, did you know that there's a reality show about choosing wedding dresses? There's also a series (not a show, but a series) on MTV called "Pregnant and 16," which exploits 16-year-old high school gals that have unfortunately become knocked-up at a way too young age. Not only is it shameful that this show exists, but it's shocking to know that it's a series! Do you know what that means? It means that there's more than one 16-year-old 'misguided' young lady to create a whole slate of shows on the topic. Awesome.
Moving on...
I'm on the homestretch of the first re-write of "The Plunge." God it's taking a long time. It's almost taking too much time, and at times, it almost makes me want to take a long-term hiatus. When I first tried to make a schedule for submitting my work for representation, I anticipated being finished with BOTH manuscripts by the end of June. Obviously, that's not going to happen. I'll be lucky to get "The Plunge" done by the end of the month. But so far I'm hanging in there, not being deterred by the delays (because of life events). As of now, I'm on page 280 of the re-write, with about another 30 to go. You'd think it wouldn't take long, but as I'm trudging toward the end, I'm noticing that the writing got pretty bland on my first go round. I think it's because I was tired and just wanted to finish. I was to give a 'moving target' guess of when this draft will be done, it's by the 4th of July. From there I'll start the second re-write before moving to the third.
Okay gang, it's off to bed. I'm falling asleep at the keyboard.
Until next time...
Monday, June 15, 2009
Wake me up When September Ends
Funerals are typically the last place on Earth I'd rather be. There's something about them, perhaps the atmosphere, the tears and glum faces--the general ambiance isn't warm and cuddly.
Today was the funeral of my wife's grandmother, who'd been battling pancreatic cancer ever since I'd had to the pleasure to get to know her. Over a hundred people came to pay their last respects to a woman who by all accounts was one of this world's true gems. And it's not often one can say that these days, with all of the adversity and the evolution surrounding the modern American family.
Death causes me to ponder my own fate, my own life. When I was a little kid, I don't quite recall ever wanting to grow-up to be a Director of Finance at a business school. Admittedly, I gave-up wanting to play professional basketball in junior high when I realized 6-foot white guys who can't jump rarely make it to the NBA. Then I began to summize where I wanted to be forever. The depressing part is, is that I'm no closer to discovering that reality than I was 15 years ago.
Lots of people define their lives by how much money they make. Where are they on the good 'ole corporate ladder before they reach their ceiling. Days of slumming two hours a day in the car, followed by 9 hours of party-planning, reports and conference calls for thirty years isn't exactly what I call living. Unfortunately, that's the track I'm on now. I always swore that would never be me, but now, that's road I'm on right now. It's not too late for me to change course, but I'm now to the point where it might be all that's there for me. You know, that might just be okay.
I can be a husband and one day a father, and I can work twelve hour days, commute, sleep five hours a day and be a good person. I can raise my children to be good people, and provide for them everything in the world. Money is nice, but in the end, it's just you and your Maker. Maybe one day I'll have a family that loves me, and at my funeral everyone who's ever known me can attest that I was a good man. I suppose that's not a bad ending, either.
On a lighter note...The Ghostbusters Videogame came out this week, and I don't know if I'm going to be able to pass it up along with the Blu Ray release of the original film on its 25th anniversary. The game sports the prime cast members reprising their roles with a script written by Harold Ramis and Dan Akroyd. Wait, I think I just talked myself into it.
Oh and by the way, I'm watching some show about a husband and wife that have sextuplets. Of course, my wife has this on as I sit writing on the floor. Now, tell me what's to fascinating about two people feeding kids, cleaning the house and going to the grocery store? Oh, that's right; there's SIX kids! That makes it so much better. And we just learned that the father is obese, and he's complaining about drinking protein shakes. Wow, I take protein shakes everyday, too! Why is this crap on television, and more importantly, why is my wife watching it?
Until Next Time...
Today was the funeral of my wife's grandmother, who'd been battling pancreatic cancer ever since I'd had to the pleasure to get to know her. Over a hundred people came to pay their last respects to a woman who by all accounts was one of this world's true gems. And it's not often one can say that these days, with all of the adversity and the evolution surrounding the modern American family.
Death causes me to ponder my own fate, my own life. When I was a little kid, I don't quite recall ever wanting to grow-up to be a Director of Finance at a business school. Admittedly, I gave-up wanting to play professional basketball in junior high when I realized 6-foot white guys who can't jump rarely make it to the NBA. Then I began to summize where I wanted to be forever. The depressing part is, is that I'm no closer to discovering that reality than I was 15 years ago.
Lots of people define their lives by how much money they make. Where are they on the good 'ole corporate ladder before they reach their ceiling. Days of slumming two hours a day in the car, followed by 9 hours of party-planning, reports and conference calls for thirty years isn't exactly what I call living. Unfortunately, that's the track I'm on now. I always swore that would never be me, but now, that's road I'm on right now. It's not too late for me to change course, but I'm now to the point where it might be all that's there for me. You know, that might just be okay.
I can be a husband and one day a father, and I can work twelve hour days, commute, sleep five hours a day and be a good person. I can raise my children to be good people, and provide for them everything in the world. Money is nice, but in the end, it's just you and your Maker. Maybe one day I'll have a family that loves me, and at my funeral everyone who's ever known me can attest that I was a good man. I suppose that's not a bad ending, either.
On a lighter note...The Ghostbusters Videogame came out this week, and I don't know if I'm going to be able to pass it up along with the Blu Ray release of the original film on its 25th anniversary. The game sports the prime cast members reprising their roles with a script written by Harold Ramis and Dan Akroyd. Wait, I think I just talked myself into it.
Oh and by the way, I'm watching some show about a husband and wife that have sextuplets. Of course, my wife has this on as I sit writing on the floor. Now, tell me what's to fascinating about two people feeding kids, cleaning the house and going to the grocery store? Oh, that's right; there's SIX kids! That makes it so much better. And we just learned that the father is obese, and he's complaining about drinking protein shakes. Wow, I take protein shakes everyday, too! Why is this crap on television, and more importantly, why is my wife watching it?
Until Next Time...
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
My Friends Say I should Act my Age
The days are peeling back fast, and it doesn't even really feel like summer. Of course I know it's summer. There are no damned, long, ridiculous yellow buses preventing me from getting everywhere, and when I step into my car after work it's so hot I feel like I can peel my face off. But that's the only reason it feels like summer. When I get home, the sun is barely up. When I leave the house in the morning, the sun is barely up. Hell, I'm having a hard time convincing myself that I don't live in an Alaskan town where the sun never goes down for four months a pop.
So I'm taking the time to scan through my email a week or so back (that's about 75% of my free time for the day), and I come across an interesting email: 'BLINK 182 Pre-Sale.'
Upon doing some digging, I found out that one of my favorite bands of all-time, Blink 182 is reuniting for a summer tour and they're going to make a stop in Houston with both Fall Out Boy and the All American Rejects. Now for those of you who know me, that's just Bon Jovi away from being my personal greatest line-up of all-time. Let me clarify that Bon Jovi comment; non-country music Bon Jovi. I'm talking about, 'Livin' on a Prayer', Bon Jovi.
Blink 182 was the band that spontaneously pulled me from the depths of rap music fandom and into the 'Pop Punk' Alternative Emo movement. I still remember the day in the summer of 1998 when I road in a car with three of my best buddies (only one of which I'm still in contact with today) as the cranked, "What's My Age Again" from the album, "Enema of the State." The G-C-D chord pattern and the sophomoric humor had me at hello. I became a fan. That album, and the band for that matter, became synonymous with my high school and early college life. Songs from their first four albums still elicit vivid memories from that time and make me smile. And now they're back again.
Blink 182 isn't comprised of musical geniuses, and their music isn't going to write any political wrongs or save the children in Darfur. They used to be damned fun to watch, and within the span of a few months I'll get to catch both Green Day and Blink 182. For me, it can't get much better musically unless there's a New Kids on the Block reunion...wait a minute...
My wife is recovering, but it has been very slow and at times difficult. Luckily, my mother-in-law has been staying with us and caring for my wife during the day. It's still difficult for my wife to do things on her own, but hopefully by this time next week she'll be back at about 75%.
Unfortunately my writing has come to a screeching halt. Just when I could see the light at the end of the first-rewrite tunnel, work became hell on Earth and my wife had her surgery. I'm down to the last 50 pages to rewrite, plus I'll need to add a chapter that I conjured up while my wife was editing the rough draft. It will get there, though. I'm behind so many schedules that I've decided to stop making them. The damned final copy will be ready whenever it's ready.
Sorry for the delay in getting some content posted. It should flow more regularly now.
Until next time...
So I'm taking the time to scan through my email a week or so back (that's about 75% of my free time for the day), and I come across an interesting email: 'BLINK 182 Pre-Sale.'
Upon doing some digging, I found out that one of my favorite bands of all-time, Blink 182 is reuniting for a summer tour and they're going to make a stop in Houston with both Fall Out Boy and the All American Rejects. Now for those of you who know me, that's just Bon Jovi away from being my personal greatest line-up of all-time. Let me clarify that Bon Jovi comment; non-country music Bon Jovi. I'm talking about, 'Livin' on a Prayer', Bon Jovi.
Blink 182 was the band that spontaneously pulled me from the depths of rap music fandom and into the 'Pop Punk' Alternative Emo movement. I still remember the day in the summer of 1998 when I road in a car with three of my best buddies (only one of which I'm still in contact with today) as the cranked, "What's My Age Again" from the album, "Enema of the State." The G-C-D chord pattern and the sophomoric humor had me at hello. I became a fan. That album, and the band for that matter, became synonymous with my high school and early college life. Songs from their first four albums still elicit vivid memories from that time and make me smile. And now they're back again.
Blink 182 isn't comprised of musical geniuses, and their music isn't going to write any political wrongs or save the children in Darfur. They used to be damned fun to watch, and within the span of a few months I'll get to catch both Green Day and Blink 182. For me, it can't get much better musically unless there's a New Kids on the Block reunion...wait a minute...
My wife is recovering, but it has been very slow and at times difficult. Luckily, my mother-in-law has been staying with us and caring for my wife during the day. It's still difficult for my wife to do things on her own, but hopefully by this time next week she'll be back at about 75%.
Unfortunately my writing has come to a screeching halt. Just when I could see the light at the end of the first-rewrite tunnel, work became hell on Earth and my wife had her surgery. I'm down to the last 50 pages to rewrite, plus I'll need to add a chapter that I conjured up while my wife was editing the rough draft. It will get there, though. I'm behind so many schedules that I've decided to stop making them. The damned final copy will be ready whenever it's ready.
Sorry for the delay in getting some content posted. It should flow more regularly now.
Until next time...
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Do you Know What you're Fighting for?
I'm laid-up in the hospital with my wife this afternoon, off of work and watching her sleep silently. Oh...wait, she just woke-up.
With the day off from work, and a short day tomorrow to assist with Amanda's healing effort. I've got to be honest; I'm not not very sad about it. Work's been a grind lately, to the point where I want to cash it in. Now that you've heard me complain enough, I suppose we can get on to some meaningful stuff.
Amanda's surgery went well, and she should be released by Friday. She'll be off her feet for a few days to allow for healing, and it'll be week after next before she's eligible to return to work. This weekend it'll be 'Nurse Tom,' and 'Beer Friday' is going to be quite a bit different from typical iterations. I happy Amanda's had her issue permanently addressed (GERD), and that she can live her life without daily medication.
Due to work, the coat of polish I'm putting on 'The Plunge' has been delayed somewhat. I got to work for about an hour here in the hospital, and will likely get another done before I go. A friend of mine's daughter has a book going with Simon and Schuster, and her rewrite is taking at least six months. Of course that's a professional job with real editors and whatnot. I'm just a simple man, trying to make my way in the universe (Star Wars reference). We should see the first rewrite completed shortly, and then it's the biggest editing job ever!
Until Next time...
With the day off from work, and a short day tomorrow to assist with Amanda's healing effort. I've got to be honest; I'm not not very sad about it. Work's been a grind lately, to the point where I want to cash it in. Now that you've heard me complain enough, I suppose we can get on to some meaningful stuff.
Amanda's surgery went well, and she should be released by Friday. She'll be off her feet for a few days to allow for healing, and it'll be week after next before she's eligible to return to work. This weekend it'll be 'Nurse Tom,' and 'Beer Friday' is going to be quite a bit different from typical iterations. I happy Amanda's had her issue permanently addressed (GERD), and that she can live her life without daily medication.
Due to work, the coat of polish I'm putting on 'The Plunge' has been delayed somewhat. I got to work for about an hour here in the hospital, and will likely get another done before I go. A friend of mine's daughter has a book going with Simon and Schuster, and her rewrite is taking at least six months. Of course that's a professional job with real editors and whatnot. I'm just a simple man, trying to make my way in the universe (Star Wars reference). We should see the first rewrite completed shortly, and then it's the biggest editing job ever!
Until Next time...
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Do You Know Your Enemy?
Damn, yesterday was tough. Work went long for a Monday, so by the time I got home I had time to grab dinner, watch thirty minutes of television and go to sleep. It wasn't a 'red letter' day by any stretch. Matter of fact; yesterday sucked....hard.
However, it is Tuesday and another new beginning. Tomorrow my wife goes in for surgery for her acid reflux and a recently discovered hiatal hernia. She's out of work for a week and a half, at least, depending on well the surgery goes. So tomorrow I'll be taking the day off from work and sitting at the hospital with her. The bad news is, that my wife's having very painful surgery. The good news is, that I get to spend most of the day writing! At least there's something good to come out it.
So this weekend I was at Kroger, picking up some food wares for my wife and her very particular appetite. On the way out, I made it a point to stop by the surprisingly robust book/magazine section, which sported a wide variety of stuff. I like to stop by and pick up a random book here and there. I flip open the cover, read a few lines and nine times out of ten think, "Man, this stuff isn't any better than mine." It makes me feel good and reassures me that most authors aren't that great, anyway. I mean, don't get me wrong; they're good, but they're not 'from another planet' good.
After I stroked my ego a bit, I perused the book selection to see what stocked the shelves in the way of young adult fiction. And son of a gun, half the books were about vampires. I mean, haven't we just about had it with the vampires? I guess back in the early to mid 90s we had the Anne Rice craze and a slew of new vampire flicks to accompany the media onslaught of the undead. Now of course it's 'Twilight,' and about five other new series with werewolves and the like. And I picked-up, "New Moon," one of Stephanie Meyer's books, and I'll tell you what; Stephen King had it right. Stephanie Meyer does suck.
"Oh, he touched me, and the electricity shot through my body as my hands quivered against the unearthly cool embrace of his silken touch..."
See! Anybody can do it!
Until next time...
However, it is Tuesday and another new beginning. Tomorrow my wife goes in for surgery for her acid reflux and a recently discovered hiatal hernia. She's out of work for a week and a half, at least, depending on well the surgery goes. So tomorrow I'll be taking the day off from work and sitting at the hospital with her. The bad news is, that my wife's having very painful surgery. The good news is, that I get to spend most of the day writing! At least there's something good to come out it.
So this weekend I was at Kroger, picking up some food wares for my wife and her very particular appetite. On the way out, I made it a point to stop by the surprisingly robust book/magazine section, which sported a wide variety of stuff. I like to stop by and pick up a random book here and there. I flip open the cover, read a few lines and nine times out of ten think, "Man, this stuff isn't any better than mine." It makes me feel good and reassures me that most authors aren't that great, anyway. I mean, don't get me wrong; they're good, but they're not 'from another planet' good.
After I stroked my ego a bit, I perused the book selection to see what stocked the shelves in the way of young adult fiction. And son of a gun, half the books were about vampires. I mean, haven't we just about had it with the vampires? I guess back in the early to mid 90s we had the Anne Rice craze and a slew of new vampire flicks to accompany the media onslaught of the undead. Now of course it's 'Twilight,' and about five other new series with werewolves and the like. And I picked-up, "New Moon," one of Stephanie Meyer's books, and I'll tell you what; Stephen King had it right. Stephanie Meyer does suck.
"Oh, he touched me, and the electricity shot through my body as my hands quivered against the unearthly cool embrace of his silken touch..."
See! Anybody can do it!
Until next time...
Monday, June 1, 2009
Videogames 'til the Towers Fall
Good Morning!
As usual, I'm running late for work and trying desparately to jot down a few lines before I head out of the door. Things are hectic in the Cathey household, with my wife scheduled for surgery this Wednesday. From the sound of things, she's going to be off her feet for over a week, which means we'll be sticking close to home for the forseeable future.
I had an epiphany this weekend, and that is that, "The Plunge," is really, really good. I think I may do a 'side-by-side' to show you the work before rewrite and after rewrite. The transformation is pretty sweet.
I'm thinking of starting a bi-weekly serial, which would focus on an unnamed superhero (that I create, of course!). Shoot, I guess I better run...I'll be back with more tonight.
Until next time...
As usual, I'm running late for work and trying desparately to jot down a few lines before I head out of the door. Things are hectic in the Cathey household, with my wife scheduled for surgery this Wednesday. From the sound of things, she's going to be off her feet for over a week, which means we'll be sticking close to home for the forseeable future.
I had an epiphany this weekend, and that is that, "The Plunge," is really, really good. I think I may do a 'side-by-side' to show you the work before rewrite and after rewrite. The transformation is pretty sweet.
I'm thinking of starting a bi-weekly serial, which would focus on an unnamed superhero (that I create, of course!). Shoot, I guess I better run...I'll be back with more tonight.
Until next time...
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