Channeling Hank Moody and Being Assaulted by Hazardous Chemicals

The full realization of my Internet dependence hit me when I realized I would be without it at home for a few days. In the process of moving to a new apartment, these things happen. Yet, I'm still amazed at how much I basically use my home computer to go online. I catch myself attempting to log on in the morning to check the weather before I head to work, only to shake my head at my own stupidity.

So here I am, writing this entry from a large university computer lab. It makes me fondly recall the episode of "Californication" when Hank Moody -- having smashed his home PC in a fit of writer's block-induced rage -- bangs out his blog entry for "Hell-A Magazine" from a nearby Mac Store. The difference being I'm not getting paid to write this. Nor am I as cool as Hank Moody. And I'm not in California, either.

Okay, so maybe there isn't that much of a resemblance.

I also had to take a break from writing for a few days. I've been cleaning to such an extent (both the old apartment and the new) that at this point I'm pretty much exhaling Clorox and sweating Windex. Yeah, I baked my brain on cleaning chemicals. I wore a filtration mask, but that can only do so much. And no, I didn't actually mix bleach with ammonia. I used to clean rooms for a living, so I've learned that much at least. Regardless, the fumes of the chemicals I was using were overpowering. Even Mr. Clean's bald head would've shriveled under the sheer power of what I was cleaning with.

So after a weekend of heavy cleaning and heavy lifting, I walked into work on Monday and immediately knew I was too ill to be there. Have you ever watched a sane person talk to someone completely out of their mind? The crazy person rambles on and on, and the sane person just smiles and nods those little polite nods, desperately mapping out possible escape plans. I was getting those very same smiles and nods at work whenever I'd open my mouth. Who knows what point I was even trying to make. So after awhile, I brought up the option of taking half a sick day and just going home early. My co-workers immediately agreed. One even suggested that I just take off the whole day.

My poor co-workers. Yet again, strangeness and I are pretty good buddies by now, so they're probably used to it anyway.

So until I get Internet at home, which probably won't be until next week, I'll be doing most of my writing here in the lab. Ah well, writing is writing, regardless of where it's done.

Later, everyone. Stay outta trouble.

Style

It's been a busy week so far. Catching flights, catching up at work, catching up with a few friends, and working out my move to a new apartment are all pretty exciting. Next week holds the promise for more adventure.

Speaking of exciting, I'm coming up to a major event in Dogtown. The big choice I face is, after the event occurs, do I want to switch writing styles -- like third person to first person, etc -- or maintain the current style I'm using? When I'm reading other authors and they pull a stunt like that, I usually find it frustrating or annoying with very few exceptions. I'm mulling it over now in the hopes that I'll have reached a decision by the time I get to the event.

In regards to reading, after finishing Wally Lamb's The Hour I First Believed, and Orson Scott Card's Ender in Exile, two great but also tragic novels, I was in the mood for something comedic. My cousin recommended Paul Neilan's Apathy And Other Small Victories, which turns out to the the perfect balance to the other two novels. In other words, it's fucking hilarious. Reminds me a lot of John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces, another one of my favorites.

For movies, I haven't been to the theater in awhile, but two movies have been recently released that I've been looking forward to for a long time: The Hurt Locker and 500 Days of Summer. So far these films have received nothing but sheer praise, yet I keep hearing people say that nothing good is coming out this summer. Why not check these ones out?

I think the next post will be about adaptations. Until then, "stay frosty" folks. Bonus points to anyone who can guess which movie that line comes from. Hint: J.K. Rowling paid homage to it in her final Harry Potter book.

Pecking Away

Home in Ohio for the grandma's 80th birthday, or "the 41st anniversary of her 39th birthday," as my dad puts it.  So I'm currently home relaxing with the family, seeing some much-missed relatives, and chilling with my two dogs.  Life is good, as the saying goes.

When I'm not doing one of the above activities, I'm pecking away at Magic In Dogtown.  I had to stop earlier due to the sudden urge to alter a crucial plot point of the story.  Mulling it over while running an errand, I decided not to pursue the change.  I'll wait until the first draft is finished until I begin to think of alterations, major or minor.

I constantly do that, go back to alter the pacing or rework dialogue before a draft is even finished.  I view it as a bad habit, so I'm trying to cut back.  Sure, the changes may help, but it halts momentum.  And, while writing, momentum is everything.  If I'm not racing to the finish with that first draft I know I'm in trouble.

So this weekend, among other things, I'm basically just trying to stay outta trouble.  I hope you all have success doing the same.

Short Update

Hi again.

Just a short update due to a busy schedule this week.  Here's what's new:

1.  The collaborative project I'm working on is going swimmingly.  We worked out an alternating due date system that involves us sending each other sections of the story every other week.  The other writer is a genius and it's an exciting challenge trying to keep up with the ideas he sends me.

2.  Wrote a lot of Magic In Dogtown.  I found an alternate way to explore the characters' pasts without resorting to flashbacks that I rather enjoy developing.  It's too early to tell whether or not readers will enjoy reading it -- although I hope they do -- but it's definitely been a blast to write so far.

3.  Birthdays, birthdays, and more birthdays.  There've been so many birthdays of my loved ones to remember and celebrate recently that it's hard to keep up!  I'm horrible at remembering, so I hope I didn't forget anyone and offend!

4.  I've been doing my best to explore some of Bryan Fuller's work, through Hulu.com.  The television episodes he's written are always simultaneously intense and touching (Past work includes Pushing Daisies and Dead Like Me).  Amazing talent.  Check out his shows when you get the chance.

That's it.  Happy Fourth everyone!