2012 looking ahead

Well, the year will be over in a few short hours, from where I'm sitting.

I won't be sorry to see it go--on the whole, 2011 sucked. While some good stuff happened this year, most of it was off-set by the bad stuff that also happened this year.

So, while I intended to sort of sum up this year I've decided instead to talk about what I'm looking forward to in the coming year.

I'm developing an idea for a novel I had a few days ago. Still have a long way to go on it--still creating characters, deciding on the plot, all that--but I can tell you it'll be a science fiction/detective story, set in the not-too-distant future. Sort of a dystopian thing. When I finish it I'll probably self-publish it, as there would be no point in even trying to submit it to a regular book publisher.

I also had an idea for another song cycle that has nothing to do with the novel idea but is also a science fiction story--I'm calling it People of Earth . . . It's about an alien takeover. Or is it? It'll probably be six or eight songs, many of them instrumentals. I may write a little story to sort of explain it. Or I may not bother--I may just let the listener decide what the story is about.

I'm moving to Douglasville near the end of March, so that is about to become the next Big Thing in my life. More than likely most of my literary and musical pursuits will have to wait until I've got that behind me, as I hate having to stop in the middle of something and try to pick it up again later, and there's going to be a period where I'm just not going to be able to concentrate on anything else until this is done.

I've got mixed feelings about this move thing--I've lived in Savannah for years. But, maybe it's time for a change. Most of my friends have already moved on. There really isn't anyone left here in town that I'm all that close to anymore. Plus, the area I'll be moving too looks kind of interesting, just on Google Maps. I haven't actually been up there yet.

As far as the New Year's Eve thing tonight, I'm probably going to be sleeping. I lived in the Historic District of Savannah for years and have many New Years celebrations under my belt--now I'm more interested in relaxing, sleeping, chilling out, than I am going out and getting pissed as my Brit friends would say.

So, what are you looking forward to in the coming year?

Top Ten randomocity for 2011

Everybody seems to feel the need to do top 10 lists at the end of the year. I thought I would join in, except for one thing--I can't figure out what kind of list to do!

Top Ten movies? I probably haven't seen five films all year, and most of those were from previous years. I did see The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo last Friday and can highly recommend it, but that's pretty much it.

Top Ten novels? Really, other than my performance reviews and income tax returns I don't read all that much fiction these days. I think the only novel I've read all year is this one, which I can also recommend (read my review of it at the link). Yes, the author is my best friend, but it's still a good book. Unfortunately, though, I can't do a Top Ten list with only one item on it.

Top Ten albums? I did buy a lot of music this year, but other than the new Evanescence , the new Draconian, and the soundtrack for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, most of what I got was from earlier years, to fill some gaps in my music library.

Top Ten blogs? There are only a few that I actually follow, and I can share those with you, if you're interested:

• According To Sauce The misadventures and tribulations of a genuine Hooters girl. Check Sauce out. You'll love her. Plus, she's a babe.
• Red Means Go The hysterical adventures of a girl in Miami desperately seeking famousity. Annah's an amazing writer. Plus, she's a babe. Do you see a trend here? Heh.
• Contempulative Affliction My best friend's blog. One of hers, anyways. She doesn't write in it nearly enough to suit me.
• Contemporary Realism Jacqueline Gnott is an amazing painter of still lifes--you have got to see these things to believe them.
• Cakewrecks If you are one of the two or three people who doesn't know about this website you need to acquaint yourself with it. Nearly hurt myself laughing at a few of these.

But, again, that ain't ten.

Oh, well. I'm sure something will come to me. Or maybe not. Right now I'm too tired to care much. I hope you all have had a good holiday and have a safe and happy upcoming new year!

Sippin' coffee on a Sunday afternoon randomocity

I have finally found somebody who is even more stubborn about staying within his comfort zone than me. That's be my dog, Atari.

For the second time in a row we've gone to the vet so he can give a urine sample so they can check to see if his bladder infection has cleared up. Second time in a row he just would not take a piss. I know he needed to--I deliberately didn't walk him after our first walk early in the morning. They finally gave up and gave me a tray and a hypo to take home. The tray was to catch the piss when he let go after we got home, then I was supposed to draw it up into the hypo and cap it and take it back. Which is exactly what happened--two minutes after we got home he was taking an enthusiastic leak on some bushes.

He's the same way at my dad's house. He'll take a couple of leaks but not as much as I know he needs to. It makes me worry for when we move in March. We aren't coming all the way back to Savannah so he can take a piss!

But, aside from the annoyance factor, he seems to be doing fine. Other than the arthritis, which we really can't do anything about except give him meds for the pain. He's finally started sleeping on the heating pad I spent a small fortune on several months ago for him--it's designed specifically for dogs, but it's new so he doesn't trust it. He's finally figured out, though, that when those hips begin aching it feels so good to lie down on that thing.

Okay, enough grumbling about Atari.

On a completely unrelated subject, why is it the word genius is rarely used to describe women? I mean, you'll have, say, a female author who meets all the criteria--wildly creative, excellent at plotting, pitch-perfect at character development, with an uncanny knack for pacing--and you'll describe her as a great artist or something like that. Yet, if we were talking about a male author, the word genius would be the first one we'd use. As far as I know it isn't grammatically incorrect to use that word to describe a woman. Anybody know? Chime in if you do.

The woman that started me thinking about all this was Tanith Lee. Check her out, if you don't know her. She is an English author, mostly fantasy with some science fiction, and she is absolutely amazing. Yes, she is a genius. Read her Flat Earth novels, or Kill The Dead, or Sabella (all of which are available on Amazon, by the way) to introduce yourself to her work. She'll blow you away.

Don't forget to come back by here and thank me. I know you will.

Day off randomocity

I'm taking today off to enjoy a nice, non-holiday three-day weekend.

I did meet my co-workers for our annual holiday luncheon--it'll be the last time I do this with this particular group. Next year this time I'll be in Douglasville with a mostly new group.

I'm taking another non-holiday long weekend in a couple weeks--January 6, to be exact--because that is the release date for The Devil Inside. Not my usual film fare but Talyan has a small part in this one--she plays the central character as a child. So, I'll help to make the opening weekend as big as possible for it. I suggest you do the same--it does look like it'll be intense.

Did my xmas shopping the other day. It's easy for me since I only have a couple of people to buy for. Plus Atari, but he's happy with a Double Whopper with cheese.

I've got this idea for a new song but can't seem to find the words for it. Dammit. This is a weird problem for me--normally once I get the tune the words sort of fall into place. Not this time. What the hell is wrong with me?

Oh, and speaking of films, I am planning to see The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo a week from today. I'm going into it relatively "cold"--I haven't read the books and only have the broadest outline for the story. I do have the soundtrack and really dig it--I fully expect the movie to be equally awesome.

Oh, well. Maybe the words for this tune will come to me. Time to beat my head against that wall some more.

Post Chinese take out randomocity

Just enjoyed some nice chicken in black pepper sauce from Bamboo Garden--mmmmm . . . Atari dug it, too, and there's enough left for lunch tomorrow, as well. I don't know how some people leave Chinese food in their fridges long enough to spoil. Doesn't last more than a couple days in mine.

I did want to bring this book to your attention. Yes, the author is a very good friend. But forgive my bias and buy it, for yourself or for anyone you know who loves vampires. This will give you a taste of what a real, traditional vampire is like.

Creatively not much is going on with me, these days. I've got ideas for stuff but nothing that jumps up and down and waves to get my attention. I'm wondering if this isn't a symptom of some sort of larger problem, maybe.

I dunno. Right now I'm not going to worry about it. I'm sure something will strike me as a worthwhile project. In the mean time I'm going to reread some of my older stuff to see if it still strikes me as good enough to publish. In particular a novel I wrote a while back that, of course, utterly failed to even get looked at by an editor or agent. I liked it at the time--let's see if I still like it after being away from it for a while.

Atari is doing well. He had a cancer scare--he went to the vet for a bladder infection and the vet noticed suspicious cells in his urine sample--but he's been declared cancer-free. As far as anyone can tell. He does have a large stone in his bladder that will make him prone to get bladder infections, but that is something he can live with. He also has an enormous spleen but the doc took samples of it and the lab he sent it do found no cancerous cells in it. So, it's just a symptom of old age.

Sort of makes me wonder just how big *my* spleen is!

Yes, I watch The Walking Dead

It may come as a shock to people who know me, as I'm not particularly fond of zombie movies and stories (I can't remember one that I actually liked, to be honest), but I love AMC's The Walking Dead.

I'm as shocked as anybody, really. I started watching it just out of curiousity--other people who I know don't dig zombies, either, were singing its praises--and got hooked. Now I've seen every available episode.

It's not like a Romero flick, really. The characters are complicated, the storylines deep and well thought out, and there hasn't really been a surprise twist yet that actually wasn't a logical turn for the story to take in retrospect. The writers play all sorts of tricks--they remind us that a story often has more than one side and to others our heroes may not, in fact, be heroes, and people--all of us, each and every one--are all complicated and multi-dimensional, from the biggest moron to the most highly intelligent scientist. People you kind of liked initially you'll wind up despising, and vice versa. I loathed Darrell in the beginning, for example, and now I think he's pretty cool. Not a rocket scientist or anything, but not really a bad guy.

Take what I'm calling Jeff's Walking Dead Challenge. Go to ITunes. Or Netflix. Or whatever. Download episode 1.06--it's called TS-19 and it's the finale to season one. Watch it. You will have tears in your eyes, even though at that point you won't know who these people are and whether you should give a shit about them or not. There's a scene at the end of the second act so well written and well acted that I can't describe it. In me it brought out all sorts of emotions--joy, longing, sadness, shock . . . just look for the playback of the MRI. You'll have to watch it to see what I'm referring to. Those couple of minutes really changed my perspective on a lot of things, actually, that really had nothing to do with the show. I don't remember the name of the guest star in that episode but he's one of those character actors who usually plays some kind of dork, but he was incredible. As is the regular cast.

After watching that you will want to go back and start at the beginning, and watch them all, I know you will. Yes, there are horrific scenes, gross scenes, even one or two stupid scenes. But, it's not an exploitive show--when they do something like that they have a reason to beyond just trying to gross out their audience. And actually it doesn't happen as often as you would think.

And, really, in this format zombies make for pretty scary bad guys. They are liable to pop up any damned where--they just wander around until something attracts them--so even if you are out in the middle of nowhere you can't relax your guard for even a second or you'll get eaten. Or at least bitten.

If the remainder of this season maintains this quality, and next season also stays at this level, I will start calling this the best show on TV. I won't have any choice. Take my challenge and see for yourself.

Post holiday randomocity

Atari and I are back from a visit to the family home.

It wasn't too bad. We wound up having our official holiday meal at Huddle House, which was actually fine with me. I've already done the traditional turkey, dressing, etc., thing at work so I'm set for now.

And today is Black Friday where the lunatics go out to spend their last dollar getting gifts for people who they think will love them for it. Trust me--if they don't love you already ain't no amount of money you can spend that'll change their minds. You just look pretty pathetic. And broke. If the people you loved get pissed at you because you didn't get them what they want then maybe you need to re-evaluate the people you love.

As for me, I'm getting my goddaughter something, and my best friend something, and that'll be all of my xmas shopping for the year. I'll do that online, too, in a couple of weeks. Will they get me anything? Maybe. Maybe not. I don't really care. I love them both from the depths of my cold, black heart regardless.

Anyways, I'm back home, unpacked, showered, ready to relax a while. Probably finally watch the series premier of The Walking Dead, which I got from ITunes the other day. (I watched most of season two on VOD and now I'm hooked. Dammit. Just what I need. A new obsession.)

So, if you got any time off enjoy it. Don't partake of the shopping madness. Give the people on your list a thoughtful little note or something. Maybe a nice box of candy that they like. Don't go broke for them.

If they really love you that's what they'd want.

For my next trick . . .

I thought I'd give an update as to my plans for future projects. It's been a while.

I'm still waiting on my guest singer to find the time to lay down the vocals for "Travelers." She's pretty busy and with the holidays it might be a while. After she does that I'll do a final mix and upload it to the usual places. I'm sure you'll dig it.

I also want to do another song, one that was inspired directly by my goddaughter--who is getting a co-writing credit on it, since she came up with the whole concept, bascially. Only seven and already knows all about rock and roll. Anyway, that'll be next.

After that I'm planning a pretty big project I'm calling Dagon for now. That may change. It'll be six or eight songs, most of them instrumentals, most of them dark and scary I hope. Another attempt at a soundtrack for a film that doesn't exist. The music that's going through my head now for it is quite powerful and a little complicated--this one is going to be a bit tricky. To be honest I'm a little intimidated. It's going to be a lot of work. But it'll be incredible if I can pull it off.

Problem is, I'm going to be moving in March. So, I'm not going to really get started on it until maybe April. I don't want to get half-way through it and then have to put it down for a couple of months--I know from experience that I can't just go back and pick up somewhere after staying away from a project for more than a couple of days. So, while I'll be planning and writing away, I won't actually start tracking until next spring.

And since this thing is supposed to be a unified whole I probably will upload all of it at once instead of incrementally. So that'll take even longer before you'll be able to freak yourself out with it.

So, in the mean time, you can listen to the stuff I have out there now. You'll find a good mix of heavy, dark tunes, and lighter, introspective stuff, some instrumentals . . . something for everyone. Keep an eye out for the two new songs, and maybe a few others if any stand-alone ideas occur to me in the mean time.

And have a happy holidsy!

Still Constipated

My imagination, that is.

Interesting metaphor--that imaginative output can be equated with physical waste--but work with me, here. While there may be a vast difference physically between physical and psychic constipation, both considitions have a lot in common.

Ahem. Anyway . . . I've decided to ditch the idea I had earlier. I still think it's a good idea, but it's a good idea for a TV or comic book series, which is something I don't want to start right now. I want something stand alone. A single novel or something like that.

I want to write an SF novel, set in space, about a group of people doing something desperate and heroic. Something like the movie Sunshine, I guess. My problem, now as always, is everything I come up with gets too freaking complicated. Which means the initial idea isn't very strong.

Fellow writers out there, hear me now--if it takes more than three or four sentences to sum up what your work is about, it's too freaking complicated. Simplify it, or do something else, or your work will become a muddled mess, which will totally obscure the story you are trying to tell. I know this, from bitter personal experience.

Personally, not much has been going on with me these days. Work has been busy, but that's a good thing, right? Atari just had a bath and he's pouting about it, which is normal. I'm considering recording an instrumental or something while my potential guest singer ponders whether or not she wants to contribute vocals to this tune I've been working on--she has a rough mix of it now, along with a mix with my own vocals for her to use as guidance as to what I want. We'll see. I think she's kinda iffy about it--it's not what she normally does anyway. I reckon we'll see.

So, enjoy your weekend, relax as much as you can, and keep your fingers crossed the crap that's been building up inside of me finds an outlet soon. Before it makes one. Yuck.

Random Sunday Morning Randomocity

Let's see, it's been a while . . .

I'm hoping to have the new tune, "Travelers," ready in a couple of weeks. This one will be a little different, in that I'm going to have a guest vocalist. If she still wants to do it when I'm ready for her. It's shaping up nicely, I think, after a false start.

This may lead to a new song cycle, and possibly a novel or something. It's one of those things I can't talk about here too much, as almost anything would turn out to be a spoiler. Maybe the music will turn out to be an inspiration for the story.

On the home front, Atari is doing okay. It's chilly and not all that humid, which is his favorite weather.

I'm moving to Douglasville in March, I've found out. I'm dreading it, and at the same time I'm looking forward to it. I'll hate leaving Savannah behind but I think it is time for a dramatic change.

So, that's what's up with me. If you're interested.

Boo, y'all randomocity

While I enjoy the idea of Halloween, in theory, I don't participate, these days.

Mostly 'cause I don't know any of the kids around here any more, or their parents, so I'm hoping they'll give my place a miss.

Halloween over the past few years has gotten kind of scary anyway, and not in a good way. Trick-or-treaters are getting older---look, if you're old enough to drive, you're too old to be knocking on doors asking for candy. You should be at a party with your friends when you reach that age, unless you're escorting a younger sibling or something.

I'm not kidding--one Halloween a few years ago I stupidly answered the door and was confronted by a group of teenages in costume who demanded money from me. They didn't get any, but still . . . I don't remember that happening when I was a kid.

So, my plan is to stay in, lights out, and listen to music or watch TV. And not answer my door

Have fun, kiddies, and enjoy the day, and leave the grouchy old coot to his life of despair.

I really need to get busy on this new tune. I've found a female vocalist who I think will do it justice, but I had to take my bass to the shop--changing the strings on that puppy turned out to be a little more complicated than I anticipated. I have another bass--a cheap four-string--but I'd rather use my bad-ass six string for this. If possible. And, of course, this song will be all about the bass line.

That's just how it works. Oh, well.

I do apologize . . .

I'm afraid I'm in one of those moods tonight.

It has been one of those days where I realized that every aspect of my life--from the huge, earthshatteringly important, to the trivial, ninety-nine cent stuff--is in the process of warping beyond recognition.

This wouldn't be so bad if these changes were for the better. Or if at least a couple of them were. But they're not. Not to me.

Some of it is inevitable, like Atari getting older. It's getting more and more difficult to get him to get up and move. His arthritis.

Some of it's work. I'm going to be relocating in a few months and I'm dreading that. Plus, my job by its very nature changes constantly.

Mostly it's just something that's been buried deep inside me, a hope for something, that is finally dying. This is hard, as you can imagine, and I'm struggling with it. It was a foolish, forlorn hope, true, and I realize that, but still, it was hope, and one I realize now was false. That's gone, now.

This makes me sad. I went out behind my apartment building just now and smoked a cigarette--the weather right now is cloudy, the wind is howling, and while I was back there I could not see another person. Nor could I hear anybody. It was like I was the last person left on a chilly, desolate world. I realized then that I've been having dreams that reflect that reality almost every night. My subconcious, as usual, was there ahead of the rest of me.

Still, I'll eventually emerge from this funk. Or maybe not. Maybe it's better this way.

Rainy Tuesday randomocity

I may have found a female vocalist to help me with a project.

While the lyrics I have for this one song--and the ideas I have for others--aren't gender-specific, for some reason I hear a woman singing them. Maybe I've found that woman. We'll see. I haven't actually heard her sing yet, though I know she does, a lot. I'm sure she'll be fine--I'm not asking for many vocal pryotechnics or anything..

It's a little scary. I've never worked with anybody on a musical project before and I'm a bit of a control freak. Hopefully I won't turn into a raging asshole and let her put her own unique touches on the little tune we'll be starting out with. If it comes together, that is. Of course, I have to like her voice, and she has to like--and be willing to do--what I"m asking her to do. And as nuts as my life has been lately I don't know when I'm gonna be able to sit down and record this thing. I'm pretty much spent at the end of the day lately.

On another note, I saw The Thing this weekend. I dug it--I give it a B+, but only because it sort of dragged in a couple of places. If you liked John Carpenter's version you'll like this one, too. Of course the critics just don't understand it--I read one review that said it was completely unnecessary. Of course it's completely unnecessary. It's a movie, dumbass.  No movie is necessary. It's just supposed to entertain.Which this one does, I thought.

Speaking of movies, put The Devil Inside on your "got to see" list, mostly cause Talyan has a small part in it. It's not my normal thing--I'm not big on supernatural horror--but this could be kinda interesting.

And speaking of my goddaughter, I know you saw her in the Lifetime movie, Five. You can actually watch the movie from the link. Talyan is in the last segment, "Pearl." Watch for the little girl who says, "That's the best, best part!" That's her. She was awesome. And adorable. The rest of it's pretty good, too. Have a box of tissues handy when you watch it.

For those following the continuing story of Atari, he's about the same. It's getting really difficult for him to get around with the arthritis, and of course the medication is gradually losing it's effectiveness. I wish I could do more for him.

Anyways, that's what's up with me tonight.

Travelers

I can tell from the look in your eyes

you're lost like me, you're scared but you're free

You may think you've found the perfect disguise

But you know we can tell our own kind

You're missing, you don't want to be found

I see it in your face, you're out of place

you can vanish without making a sound

it's like you were never there

But I know that you're tired, like me

I know that your wired, like me

Rid of your ties, so wild and free

I know that your scared, like me . . .

I can tell from the look in your eyes

you're lost like me, you're scared but you're free

You may think you've found the perfect disguise

but you know we can tell our own kind

I know that you're scared, like me . . .

words and music by J Franklin Evans

Just RIP, baby . . .

I just heard legendary Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis has died.

I grew up loving the Raiders. They were outlaws, outcasts, scary, people nobody wanted on their teams. Which means I thought they were a lot like me. Players who were busts everywhere else suddenly seemed to discover who they were when they wound up in Oakland. Maybe it was because of the top notch coaching they had back then--John Madden, among others.

Maybe it was because they realized Oakland was their last stop. If they didn't make it there, they were going to be out of the game.

Or maybe it was because of Al Davis--a bit of an outlaw himself. Eccentric, either a genius or a madman, it was impossible to tell. His own vision of who he was influenced the identity of the team. They became a reflection of him.

This was good, up to a point---he was tough, focused on winning, focused on the team as opposed to the individuals on the team. He would take it a bit too far, sometimes, however, which could become infuriating. His decision to move the Raiders to LA for a while drove me nuts--they were the Oakland Raiders, dammit! He tended to short change his own players, not paying them what they could make if they played somewhere else. He interfered with the football decisions of his coaching staff, sometimes firing coaches for no apparent or for bizarre reasons, or allowing others to stay on even though every other organization in the league would have given them the axe.

But Oakland is the only team that had a frakkin' offensive lineman I used to adore--Jim Otto, number 00, center. I used to watch him on every play. Then there are the other guys--Snake, Mark Van Eegan, Tuz, Sistrunk, Lamonica, Ray Guy, Blanda, Bo frakkin' Jackson, Marcus Allen . . . . other than my Falcons, the only team I would watch on TV regardless--and make plans to stay home so I could do so--was the Raiders.

So, love him or hate him--and I did both--Al Davis is going to be missed. RIP, man. There will never be anyone else like you.

Proud godfather and randomocity

Tonight is opening night for the play Talyan (my goddaughter) is appearing in. That's her, in the above poster. If you're in the LA area you ought to get tickets to see it. Info on the theater can be found here. Judging from the synposis it's an intense experience. I wish I could be there.

Instead I'm planning to be home, napping as much as I can. I feel like I'm coming down with something. Which is just what I need, to get sick, right now.

I need a project. I've been mulling over different ideas but nothing has really sat up and clamoured for my attention. It's beginning to get depressing.

I've never really had this problem before--coming up with something to work on. Usually there's a novel or story or musical idea waiting in the wings for me to find the time to work on it. Over the past month or so, though, nothing. Nada. Not a goddamned thing. My imagination is constipated.

Oh, well. I can be sure that, eventually, something will step forward and demand to be created. Something always does.

Just read an article that says that another recession is a sure thing now, and that it'll be worse than the previous one. Lovely. Something else to look forward to.

Oh, well. I'm just going to dwell on Talyan's big opening tonight, nap as much as I can, and extract whatever pleasure out of life I can find.

Guilty pleasures and randomocity

I'm getting caught up in Project Runway again this season.

For those who know me this could be totally astonishing. I know, I don't seem to be the type to get into fashion, but there are a couple of reasons I dig this show. Three, I can think of, right off the top of my head.

1. Fashion is an art, and as an artist I feel the need to have some sort of understanding of it--what makes something "good", something "not good", that sort of thing. I'm actually starting to get a feel for it, I think.
2. I always love to hear artists--no matter what their medium--discuss their art. It's almost always enlightening. It's cool to me to hear what the designers are thinking when they create a look according to the rules of a particular challenge. The creative process is endlessly fascinating to me.
3. Anya. I'm in love. She's so frakkin' hot. And brilliant. Well, except for last week. Though it was a menswear challenge and my new love has no experience with that. Fortunately the judges cut her some slack and let her stay. So, I can enjoy her hotness for at least one more week.

No, I'm not surrendering my man card because I dig this show. I know, it's not a guy thing, but as usual I don't care. And I'm watching a college football game right now as I type this. (UGA vs Ole Miss) So there.

While you're visiting MyLifetime.com, check out the preview for Five, a Lifetime movie that'll be airing October 10. In case you missed it, my goddaughter is in it. She's in the trailer you'll see at the above link, too, just for a second, about 40 seconrds or so in. Right after a shot of Rosario Dawson running down a hallway, there's a shot of a little girl with someone touching her face--that's my Sweets.

In a little bit I'm going to do some ideation exercises to help me come up with a new project. I've got some ideas for diffferent things but none of them are especially appealing to me right now. I need something new. Hopefully playing with a dictionary will lead to something interesting.

But not just yet. Atari wants to go walkies, like,  right now.

Pre-Falcons game Sunday randomocity

Yes, I love my Atlanta Falcons, even though they looked like a Pop Warner team last Sunday against Chicago. They play like that tonight they will lose. Again. They're playing Philadelphia, which starts Atlanta's former quarterback, Mike Vick. Yes, I loathe Vick, and not just for the dog-fighting thing. It won't be long before Eagles fans start seeing what I saw when he was in Atlanta. And then they will not be shy about showing their displeasure.

I need a project. I've made a second start on this novel but, while I am happy with what I have so far, I'm just not feeling it. I may try to do a little more on it and see where it goes, but I'm thinking it's pretty much DOA. I just don't feel like it's something I need to be working on.

This drives me crazy. I know what sort of story I want to be telling, but I don't have the actual story. It's not something I think I can explain to someone. If you are an artist of some type, though, you'll understand.

I do know that I'm not all that interested in returning to prose fiction, really. The prospect just doesn't do all that much for me, even though I'm much more likely to achieve something that way than by writing a screenplay or something. I actually have sort of a relationship with a small publisher and get asked sometimes if I have something they'd like--I always have to answer 'no' because they specialize in horror and that's not a vein I'm interested in mining right now. Believe it or not.

I'm going to work on coming up with an idea, and I'm sure something will come up, sooner rather than later. I may do another screenplay, though I'm not sure if that's worth the time right now, for a variety of reasons.

And I found out--unofficially--that I'll probably be moving at the end of December. Which means my holidays are going to be really crazy this year. I'll probably go up to Douglasville to look around for an apartment around December 1st--there are a lot of places right around the office up there, apparently, so maybe I can find something I can sort of afford and which will allow me to keep Atari. Lots of apartment complexes have this rule about no dogs larger than 60 pounds--hopefully I can find a place that doesn't discriminate.

So, root for my Falcons tonight! If you know of a decent apartment complex in Douglasville, GA, let me know!

The metaphor of the stick and other randomocity

My mom told me that when I was just learning to walk I had to hold onto this stick.

The stick was a substitute for someone's finger--I started walking by holding onto mom's finger and using that to help me keep my balance. Mom gave me the stick--it was short, just a bit longer than her finger--and it served just as well. As long as I was holding onto that stick I could walk. It was like magic.

Eventually, of course, I figured out I didn't need the stick to walk. But I've always thought this was a very apt metaphor for religion--I thought the stick was helping but it was just a stick. I was actually doing it myself. Anyways, I always found that profound.

On another subject, I just missed a wonderful little photo-op with my dog, Atari. I just went out to get my head shaved--yes, I'm bald again--and while I was there went by Cheesesteak Charlie's to get a grilled steak sandwich and some fries. Of course, when I brought them home Atari smelt the meat and started salivating.

I fully intended to give him a taste of the sandwich but just couldn't stop myself until it was gone. I did have some fries left over, though, and he likes fries, so I dumped those in his food dish. He eagerly ran over and stuck his snout into that dish and then, realizing that there wsa no meat in there whatsoever, gave me the saddest, most disappointed look ever. I wish I'd had a camera ready. It was one for the ages. He ate the fries but you could tell his heart wasn't in it.

My little mini-vacation is over today. Back to work tomorrow morning. Woo-hoo!

The inevitable Where Was I on 9/11? post

I was in the lobby of downtown Savannah's historic Lucas Theater, waiting to buy tickets to an upcoming Penn and Teller show. They were to be Christmas presents for my best friend and her boyfriend--I got one for myself, too. It was the first time I'd been in the theater--it had just been through a multi-million dollar restoration. It was gorgeous, too, an old-style venue, what you think when you recall those days when everyone went to the theater on Saturdays. (The show was in January and it was every bit as fun as I had expected--and those expectations were quite high. If you have a chance to see Penn and Teller, go. You'll have a blast.)

I was on vacation from work, and I lived right around the corner from the theater, so I had walked over. In the lobby the attendant sitting in his little booth looked at me strangely, like he couldn't imagine someone coming in and buying tickets. I hadn't turned on a TV that day, and I had only checked email online, so I didn't know why. Until I turned around and saw where someone had set up a TV in the lobby and it was on. I turned around just in time to see a replay of a video showing the second plane flying into one of the Twin Towers.

I completed my business and walked home in a daze, turned on the TV and watched the news in horror. I got online and went to a chatroom where a bunch of my online friends hung out--most of them were at work so I'd give updates when CNN had any.

Ten years later, I have definite opinions about the official reaction, how it was handled, all that. Maybe you would agree, maybe not. I feel like, probably not. I feel like, with the erosion of personal freeedom for the sake of security, the terrorists accompished at least part of what they wanted to do. I also continue to be horrified at what people are willing to do to other people in the name of their religion. Look, if you decide to dedicate your life to following the alleged teachings of some invisible creature--Allah, Jehovah, whatever--at least read the damned book upon which your religion is supposed to be based.

You'd be amazed how rarely people can be bothered to do that. Or, maybe not.

Sunshine and other randomocity

I almost accidently caught the film Sunshine on Syfy the other day.

I've been struggling with it, to be honest. It's science fiction but the science is so wonky--and that gives me trouble. However, it was so visually beautiful, and well-written and acted, that I finally decided I didn't care. So, I just bought it. I don't know when I'll actually get around to seeing it again--after watching the edited-for-television version the other day I was exhausted--but I have it now and can watch it anytime I please, thank you.

I couldn't find a link to the soundtrack album but that is also highly recommended. Beautiful, powerful music, and a perfect companion for concentration. Excellent stuff to write by. Or just to listen to. Lovely, lovely stuff.

For something completely unlovely my blogging buddy, Sauce, has been asked by Hooters--her employer--to take her blog down. She's very upset about it and I am, too--she's a gifted writer. I recommend you check her out while you still can: http://www.accordingtosauce.com/. I hope she'll continue blogging after removing all the Hooters paraphenalia and whatnot. It's Hooters' loss, really.

Have I mentioned that my amazing and talented goddaughter, Talyan, is going to be in a film? It's called Five and it'll air on Lifetime on October 10. I suggest you check it out. There are other people in it, too--you may have heard of some of them.

Seriously, it's going to be a really good movie--I'd want to see it even if she wasn't in it. She appears briefly in the trailer, too--you can see her face there around 40 seconds end. You can see it here: http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/five.

And while you're clicking links, check out my brand new tune, "Okay." http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10087292

Okay, I've given you enough homework for now. Check out Sunshine, check out Sauce's blog, check out  Five. You'll thank me for all of that.

Okay--available for your plea-zuh

The new tune, "Okay," is now available. Take 3 minutes and 29 seconds to give it a listen:

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10087292

It's a bit of a departure for me. It's not as heavy on the guitars, mostly. I did rewrite the lyrics from what I posted here a while back--I think it's better this way.

Anyways, give it a listen, let me know what you think!

Another side effect of high unemployment

I got a look at a short biography of the people I'll be working with in a few months--these are all new employees, and I'll be joining them at the new location for our office.

These people are all ridiculously qualified. Sheesh. It looks like this:

• Former space shuttle astronaut, combat fighter pilot, Master's Degree in Physiology and Philosophy. Hobbies include world travel, learning new languages, playing in the NFL, and consulting with US Presidents.
• Former Justice, Ninth District Court of Appeals. Jurist Doctorate from Harvard, BA from Yale, body by US Steel. Hobbies include translating ancient manuscripts and knitting prosthetic limbs for wounded veterans.
• Former neurosurgeon, MD from Princeton, minor in Ecclecticism. Hobbies include writing best selling novels, directing multi-million dollar feature films, and high wire.

Yadda yadda yadda . . .

Then there's little old me. No degree. Just one published story, a collection of tunes online that only I listen to, and I have to get up to pee at least four times a night.

I'll get over it, I'm sure. I bet they'll be a dream to work with, and that's not sarcasm.

In other news, I'm really struggling with this new tune. I think--maybe--I've finally cracked it, but the next attempt will be the fourth. This is the hardest it's ever been to create the sounds I hear in my head. It's dificult, but if I can pull it off it'll be really good. So, it's worth it.

So, that's what's on my mind this Friday night. What are you thinking about? How are things with you?

Post doctor visit randomocity

First, a little bragging--the trailer for the film that Talyan, my goddaughter appears in is now available. Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZkPzlxnG6w&feature=youtu.be. You can see her face, briefly, at 0:42. She has dark hair and she's seven.  The film is called "Five" and will air on the Lifetime Network on October 10.  The song you'll hear is Linkin Parks' "Iridescent."

Just got back from my doc for a routine checkup--he was giving me grief for gaining weight. I don't really know what to say, other than, "So?" I've been fat all my life. I simply don't give a shit anymore. I've lost all the weight before and it really didn't make my life all that much better. So, to hell with it.

I've been working on a new tune--I got maybe a third of it done and decided I'm not happy with it. So, I'm redoing it. It'll be a lot better now than it would have been.

So, watch the trailer, let me know how adorable Talyan is, and keep your eyes and ears open for a new tune, coming up . . . sometime.

Okay

I know one day I'm gonna burn

but not today. Not today

I know one day I'm gonna learn

but not today. No, not today.

I know one day it'll all end

until then I'll stay your friend

I know I'm gonna burn, but not today

I know one day I'm gonna forget

but not today. Not today.

I know one day but no, not yet.

Not today. Yes, not today.

I heard you call my name

I abandoned you just the same

I know I'll forget, but not today.

You think I'd know for sure by now

not matter what I say, or how I disavow

I do the same thing I get the same story

You think I'd know for sure by now

I know it's gonna get better than this

but not today. No not today.

There's a you and me but no us.

Not today. No, not today.

I don't regret what I have done

It ended badly but I had fun

It's gonna get better but not today.

words and music by J Franklin Evans

Sunday morning fashionable randomocity

I've been thinking a lot about fashion lately.

For those who know me, this will trigger gales of laughter. I'm not a fashionable guy. But it is interesting to me, so I've been trying to learn a bit more about it. Gradually, ever-so-gradually, I think I'm learning a bit about what is and isn't chic. In about ten years I may have a clue.

On that subject, one way I've discovered to figure out that a TV show isn't worth watching is looking for the word fashion in reviews. Trust me. Unless the show is about fashion, people shouldn't focus in on what the characters are wearing. If they are, then they aren't paying any attention to the story. Which means the story isn't very interesting. Even good reviews, even raves--if all the reviewer wants  to talk about is what everyone was wearing, the show sucks.

Same thing applies to music. I've seen documentaries about bands where the entire thing was about the band's fashion sense. Not word one about the music. And none of those bands had produced anything worthy listening to. They were so focused on their look they neglected their sound.

Oh, well. I don't really have a point to wrap up with. I guess that's why it's randomocity.

An open letter to President Obama

Dear Mr. President--

During the current economic crisis I'm sure you're hearing the words "stimulus package" yet again, and I'm sure over the coming months you will be hearing these words more and more often from your advisors, the news media, and various pundits and experts.

I am no expert. I'm just a middle-class guy trying to make ends meet in these really trying times. But, while I'm no genius, I do have an idea and some advice regarding any future stimulus packages.

While previous packages have worked somewhat, they have fallen short of expectations. Here's why: the stimulus money went to the wrong people. Big corporations--banks, mostly--took the money and sat on it. In the mean time they jack up their fees on their customers and refuse to issue loans to small businesses and individuals. The "toxic" assets they have cluttering up their books are still on their books, so they still have a large accounts receivable. Plus they have the money they were given during the stimulus. In short, this doesn't help anyone but the banks.

My proposal--and I admit this is not original with me, and also that there are certainly problems with it that I'm not aware of--is that you urge Congress to approve another stimulus package, as large as the previous ones, and instead of sending that money to sit in the acccounts of another huge corporation, that it be paid to the citizens directly.

What I suggest is something similar to what the previous administration did, except they didn't go far enough. I propose that this time a payment be made to as many middle-class tax-payers as possible of $100,000 each.

I know this sounds crazy, but think about it. For example, what I would do with mine: I'd pay off my debts. Meaning the banks would get the money anyway, but they would have to credit my account, eliminating a portion of their accounts receivable. I'd use the remainder to pay for a new vehicle, since my truck is getting old and starting to fall apart. Since my monthly debt burden will be reduced to nothing I'd be able to increase my investment into my 401K for my retirement.

Multiply this by several million taxpayers doing the same thing, and what do you have? Banks who are flush with cash but with a diminished accounts receiveable. What would they do with that money? Make it available to individuals and small businesses as loans. They would have no choice.

It would, in effect, trigger an economic reboot, which is what we need. It would put the power of our economy back into our hands, instead of in  the hands of the huge corporations who will basically take any money paid to them directly and sit on it, just like they did before.

There will be those who will say this would lead to a catastrophe. As I've stated, I'm not an expert. I'm sure there are consequences to this that I haven't considered. But I would also urge you to look at the nay-sayers and think about who they truly speak for.

This is just a modest proposal, and I'm sure it's totally impractical, but I do think it's worth considering. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely

J Franklin Evans

Your mission for today . . .

I'll tell you up front that I'm whoring for my music right now. I thought I'd post links to some specific tunes that I'm particularly proud of, for your listening pleasure.

Seer is an instrumental piece, inspired by a screeplay I'm hoping may one day actually get produced. I was trying for bittersweet. Tell me if I made it.

Far From The Sun is another instrumental, inspired by a short short story I wrote (and posted here, actually) about a giant space flower.

Walks Like A Man is the sound I strive for. Driving, aggressive guitars, and an interesting story. A horror story. Maybe. Or maybe not . . .

Inside is another good example of what I'm usually trying for. One day I'm writing a screenplay for a short film based on this one.

West of the Moon is an instrumental inspired by my amazing goddaughter.

Beast of Love is a fun little tune. It'd make a really cool video, too. The whole point is to provoke a chuckle or two.

Necrotopia is a story set in the city of the alive and dead and alive again . . . I was going to base a series of stories here. I may go back to it. I stil like the idea.

After The Blood is an older tune--a vampire celebrating a kill. I tried to sound a little stoned on the vocal.

Wraith Tech was inspired by Stargate Atlantis. Imagine hiding aboard a Wraight hive ship as it travels between the stars with the wraith's relatively primitive hyper-space drives, having to drop out to let the engines rest, and for the crew to feed . . .

Click the links, listen to the tunes--some of them you can download, too. Let me know what you think. Get busy!

The line

Part of the art--probably the most important part, actually--is deciding how much information to give the reader/viewer/listerner/all of the above.

What I mean is, how much do you explain? How much do you let the reader/etc decide for him/herself?

Many if not most of the most popular novels and films draw that line near one end of the spectrum--they explain almost everything, assuming that readers can't figure anything out for themselves. For example, if there is a character who is gay, someone is going to explain in the narrative that the character is gay, even though he is shown making out with or even having sex with other men. Because, until somebody (either another character or in the narrative) says it, then we wouldn't know it.

Others--less successful, financially--go to the other extreme, and don't explain anything at all. You have to figure out everything. Like James Joyce. I read his story "Araby" for a class once, and totally didn't get it--I mean, the story made sense, but I couldn't figure out why somebody would write it. The teacher had to explain it all. I still hate the story and can't bring myself to read Joyce, because I don't like reading stuff where I need a translator. That's the author's job.

So, my own tastes range somewhere in the middle. I'd figure out for myself that a character is gay--and won't really care unless it's somehow germane to the story. But when something is a metaphor for something else, and if I don't know that I won't get it, I get pissed. I don't mind working a little bit myself (films like Alien, and The Godfather, in my opinion, find that line perfectly)--there's nothing like unravelling a little something the writer concealed in the story that sort of adds context or texture. But if you have to pause after every sentence, parsing it out, consulting your handbook that lists what colors, tenses, letters, etc., represent, I'm exhausted after a page or so and toss it. Explaining every tiny little thing (Spielburg) makes me feel insulted, like you think I'm an idiot. Not explaining anything (Kubrick) makes me think you are one of those arrogent pricks who has created his own world and just expects everyone else to figure it all out.

Anyways, I promise not to condescend to any readers/listeners/viewers of my own stuff, though I will try to leave little easter eggs here and there for you to find for yourself that won't detract from your enjoyment of whatever it is of mine you are consuming. That's my goal.

It's the least I can do for someone who has the exquisite taste and unquestioned intelligence required to tackle my stuff.

Sunday morning drowsy randomocity

As I promised myself, I watched Alien again last night.

It was the director's cut, and I downloaded it from ITunes. I already have it on DVD but I wanted it on my IPod--the picture on that tiny screen is incredible, and listening to it with headphones helps me to hear and appreciate the sound mix better. It was an awesome and terrifying experience.

Of course, the whole point in this little exercise was to remind myself of why that film is so special, as it embodies the qualities I want to capture for my newest project, which I have decided will be a novel. Yes, it was helpful, and I came up with a couple of practical ideas, too, as to the creature that will be at the heart of the story. With any luck it'll scare the everlovin' piss out of whoever reads it.

Horror lately has been so disappointing to me. Nobody seems to be interested in being scared anymore. It's all gore--make as grisly a death as possible. It's really uninteresting, not worth watching. Plus, nobody seems to understand how to do monsters. From what I understand--I haven't seen it--J. J. Abrams understood in Cloverfield. In that one the monster is kept mysterious as long as possible--you can see what the creature does, which is create an incredible amount of death and destruction, but you don't see it. The thing remains shrouded in mystery. Which is how it's supposed to be done.

Lovecraft is a master at that sort of thing, too, and since I see Alien as sort of the progeny of Lovecraft's work, he's the basis for what I think of when I think about truly effective horror. Lovecraft at his best captured the awe-inspiring, terrifying vastness of the cosmos. Granted his prose tended towards the purple, and most of his stuff is way too wordy, but read "The Dunwich Horror" or "The Shadow Out of Time" to see what I'm talking about. The latter story is a perfect example of the last sentence in the work giving rise to a massive episode of horripilation, as H. P. himself would say. (You're on the Internet right now--look it up!)

Anyways, the very beginnings of the plot are now starting to come together. I'm going to relax a while, then have lunch, and by then hopefully I'll have enough to be able to go into my little home office and start on a basic outline.

Lunch, btw, is gonna be a nice New York strip steak, some fried popcorn shrimp, and some fries--good old surf 'n' turf.
So, stay cool! Stay out of trouble--or, if you can't, at least come over here and tell me all about it!

Watching TV on a Friday Night randomocity

So, here I am, doing what I'm usally doing at this time on a Friday night--watching TV.

It's Haven on Syfy tonight. Check it out, if you haven't already. It's a show with a ton of heart.

I'm off this Monday and Tuesday. Plan is, Monday, to take Atari to get his yearly shots and have some bloodwork done--the vet has to see if the meds he's on for his arthritis are damaging his liver. Tuesday I need to get some preventive maintenance done on my truck. Whether I actually do that or not depends on how much money I wind up dropping at the vet's.

Other than that I'm planning on plotting out this novel I've been mulling over for over a week now.

Still got a ways to go on it, really. I need a monster. Something terrible, that'll cause someone's hackles to rise, something that'll just bypass the reasonable parts of a person's brain and go straight to the reptilian places where deep-seated fears live. Yes, like Alien. In fact, part of the plan is to watch that film--the director's cut--sometime this weekend. Go back to the source material for my nightmares.

I also intend to create a sort of oppressive, claustophobic world for my characters to live in. That' still something I'm thinking about. I think the contrast between the stifling confines of the world and the characters--who are jsut trying to live their lives as best they can--will addd some texture to the whole thing, make it more effective by making you care about the characters. Because, if you don't care then you may as well be reading a newspaper.

Another storm is rolling in, and Atari's feeling antsy again. Thunder scares him and lately with had some storms that were real humdingers. I'm just hoping we get some rain to cool things off. It's a bit ridiculously hot here.

So, that's my weekend. What about you? Got any plans?

My right ankle - a tale of horror

Since I was a kid I had this problem with my right ankle.

I would run a few steps and it would get sprained. Every. Time.

PE teachers, of course, didn't believe me, and would force me to run anyway. Until I just refused and would not change my mind. Doctors thought I was just trying to get out of PE and wouldn't even look at it. I had one who wanted me to hop on this board he had sitting atop of dowel rod--he wanted me to roll the rod back and forth by shifting my weight on the board. I couldn't. Doc said I was lazy. (For the record, there are professional athletes who couldn't do that. Doc was just an asshole.)

I finally got to the point where I didn't have to worry about it any more--I have no need to run, so except for the occassion misstep it didn't happen.

I took up bodybuilding for a while and also running--I was running--running, not jogging--three miles at a clip. No problems. My legs became enormously powerful, I have to say--I was squatting with an awful lot of weight. I actually enjoyed working legs at the gym.

It wasn't my ankle that eventually gave way and make me stop with the weightlifting. It was my left wrist. And that is a whole 'nother story, though I had a similar issue--convincing a damned doctor that I was indeed experiencing the searing agony in my hand that I claimed and wasn't just fishing around to get on worker's comp Anyways, after surgery on the wrist, and having the arm in a cast for a couple months, my interest in weight lifting diminished.

So, a little while after that I was playing tennis with a friend and moved to cut to my left and I felt something in my right ankle give way. The pain was illuminating, defining. That was over ten years ago and I can still feel something there, where it tore--I'm guessing a ligament that had always been weak finally gave way. But after a day or so the pain diminished and I could walk with only a barely noticeable limp.

Fast forward to today, when I'm going down the stairs here and feel a sudden tear, this time in the calf area, on my right leg. Sheesh. What now?

Anyways, I'll mention it to my doc when I go back to him--got an appointment coming up--but I strongly suspect I'll get the same reaction from him I've always gotten--he won't believe me.

Days like this make me wish I'd stuck with my childhood dream of becoming a rock star. I'd either be dead or have my own reality show by now.

Hot, Steamy Randomocity

It's damned near 100 degrees here--probably around 110 or so with the heat index. Hence the title. In case you were wondering, or maybe expecting some porn. Sorry. Maybe one day. Though it's unlikely.

I think I'm close to have the story I blogged about earlier ready to send to this contest. I've reworked the area I was having some problems with and it reads much better now. Still, got to tweak a few things, sort of massage it all into place, caress it into a coherent whole, nibble away at a couple of plot points . . . damn, yeah, I need to  get laid. But, really, it is almost ready to send off, I think.

As I mentioned, it's hot here. Need to give Atari his bath but that will have to wait--someone was using the hose earlier, then someone else when I checked later, and now it's just too frakkin' hot to go outside. He'll get his bath in the morning. Which is fine with him.

Once I get this story submitted I'll be faced with a problem--what next? I have to be working on something. Some project, either a screenplay, story, or something musical. Or all of these. So, what's next?

I've been thinking about an idea that I've had for a long time. It's a swords-and-sorcery thing, and I think the central character could become one of those iconic characters, like Conan. The other story I sent to this contest is sort of a prelude to that--it introduces the character and sort of relates one of his defining moments. And sets up the situation that would be the heart of the story, should I decide to sit down to write it. It involes a lot of other things, too--politics, power, sex, religion--but it'll mostly be about this huge and bloody war for the survival of humanity.

The reason I'm thinking about it is because an ending occurred to me the other day for it. Which is almost (but not quite a guarantee) that I'll do it. The ending itself will require a little more thought--as it is, it's a little bit too . . . something. But I think I can handle that.

It'll be a long, complicated path to that ending, but maybe I can make it worthwhile. If I decide to write it. Part of that decision will be made for me--I want to see how the story gets received by the editor and the judges of this contest. If they dig it, it might be worth pursuing. If they don't . . . it still might be.

Speaking of Conan--I've been seeing trailers for the new Conan film, and it looks very promising. I may actually go see it. I dig the new Conan, Jason Mamoa--check out his work on Stargate Atlantis, if you're curious. Plus, the ladies really dig him, probably more than they dug Ah-nold. I was always a bit disappointed by the Conan films, mostly because I think they strayed too far from the spirit of the stories by Robert E. Howard. Yes, I've read them, all of them--there really aren't all that many--and they are awesome. I find most of Howard's other stuff to be pretty dull, but the Conan stories are vibrant, action-packed, and damned fun. I do urge you to check them out, if you haven't. I'm talking the original stories, here, by Robert E. Howard. I haven't read any of the pastiches so I can't comment on those.

So, I've given you plenty to read and watch, so run along now, watch the complete run of Stargate Atlantis, and read all of the original Conan stories. I'll be here when you come back to thank me.

Sick, twisted randomocity

I'm rewriting this story I wrote a while back. It's a bit odd, for me, in that the viewpoint character is an antihero. For those who don't know--he's basically the bad guy, and the story is told from his point-of-view.

He's a greasy little bastard, too--a pedophillic minister, though he's not Catholic. I don't give many details as to just what his denomination is, except he's Protestant, and very conservative. Anyway, he's a truly hateable f*ckwad, and I think I did a pretty good job with him. You'll want something really nasty to happen to him at the end--and trust me, you'll get your wish.

When I'm done I'm probably going to enter it into the Jounal Stone short story contest for this year. This'll be my second entry, if I think it's worth submitting. The first was a swords-and-sorcery thing I wrote as a prelude to what was going to be a mammoth series of novels.

I was actually one of the winners in this thing last hear, leading to my first published story, "Cabin Fever." I suggest you check it out. 

This is the anthology m story appeared in. The other stories ain't bad, either.

For those of you who read my previous blog, yes, my friend has put her dog down. It's a terrible, sad thing.

My own dog is doing about the same. His arthritis is worse, I believe, but that's inevitable, and there's not much that can be done. He's already on the strongest medicine he can be given safely. He can still get around but only slowly, and obviously it hurts. I wish there was more I could do for him.

Anyways, that's what's on my mind this morning. I'm just writing this to delay going back into the head of this douchebag character--I guess I can't put it off any longer.

Rainy Saturday randomocity

Just an update about my friend's dog that I blogged about the other day--he has osteosarcoma. Which means he's going to be put down, probably sometime this week. My dear friend Rox is devastated, as is her daughter--my goddaughter.



This is another one of those times when I wished I had one of those Stargate ring transports so I could be there for them in person.

So, that's why I'm so down tonight.

Do you know about Vampire Mob? It's a fun little webseries about vampires and mobsters--sort of like the Sopranos with fangs. Sort of like the movie Innocent Blood from a few years ago, except it deals more with the practical aspects of being a mobster and a vampire. Like the Sopranos. Also, there's a lot of cursing. I'm a supporting producer--it's a good show and deserves to be supported. Plus, the star, John Colella, is going to be huge. He's great. You'll see some other familiar faces, too--especially if you're a Criminal Minds fan.

As the title above indicates it's rainy. It's not heavy, and it's ended the heat wave. Unlike the other night when we had one of those storms that settled in directly overhead and just stayed there for hours, pouring rain, with continuous lightning. Poor Atari was freaked--he wanted to lay on top of me all night long. I totally understood, too--it was scary. We haven't had one like that in a very long time. Probably not since he's come to live with me, now that I think about it.

Well, that's all I have on my mind right now. What's up with you?

Let's play a game!

I think most of us have, at one time or another, met at least one celebrity. I've seen Clint Eastwood--didn't talk to him or anything (though my roommate at the time--in a completely separate incident--got on his nerves) but I did see him. I can tell you that he's not one of those celebrities that you have to look at a while to recognize. He looks exactly like he does in his films.

Over the years I'd run into The Nature Boy, Ric Flair, Denver Bronco/Baltimore Ravens tight end (and now CBS football analyst) Shannon Sharpe, former host of ESPN's The Sports Reporters, the late Dick Shaapp, walked past Tommy Chong in the Historic District (didn't recognize him until it was too late--sorry, Tommy).

All of those people have a special place in my heart. All of them are people I admire and respect for one reason or another. But I have yet to meet anyone who is, to me, a real superstar. So, I thought I'd compile a partial list of people who, if I wound up on an elevator with them, would probably think about calling security because I'd turn into an idiotic, raving fanboy. See names you don't recognize? That's what Widipedia is for.

• Elton John
• Ringo Starr
• Paul McCartney
• Maynard James Keenan
• Adam Jones
• Amanda Tapping
• Tanith Lee
• Amy Lee
• Cristina Scabbia
• Morgan Freeman
• Andre Braugher
• Carlos Santana
• Ridley Scott
• Melissa Etheridge

So who would go on your list? Please restrict yourself to people who are still living or we'll be here all night. I know I would, anyway--Julius Caesar, Albert Einstein, Walter Cronkite . . .

Sunday morning randomocity

My dear friend Rox's dog has something wrong with one of his legs--it's a bone issue. At this point we don't know what it is, exactly--bone cancer or some sort of disease. Either way it's devastating to her financially. So, she's set up a Pay Pal account for contributions. If you've ever had a dog in your life your life you know what a terrible time this is--you can help by contributing, even a few dollars. Every little bit helps. The URL is https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=XUXJLZVA5FA6J if you need it. Thank you for any contribution you can make.

I'm probably 90 percent done with the first draft of a treatment for a TV show pilot. I'll probably finish it today, then start rewriting it. Treatments are sort of fun to do--it's like writing a script without actually writing a script. Sort of an outline on steroids. They give producers an idea of what the finished product will be like, so they can tell if it'd be worth investing in the project. It also gives the writer a chance to think through the project and identify and resolve any potential problems in the early stages of development, which is always easier than trying to resolve them at the actual scripting stage.

It's been a lazy weekend. I need to do some stuff to get ready for my impending move--I got a ton of stuff to get rid of, one way or another. The more crap I can eliminate from my life, the better off I'll be. I got rid of one of my cheaper guitars the other day by giving it to a co-worker whose son is thinking about learning to play. Gave him this cheap little amp, too. Kid has been having a rough time--he's started having seizures and nobody knows why. His mom told me he was delighted by the guitar, which does my heart good.

ABC Family is showing all the Harry Potter movies this weekend, so I'm set as far as television is concerned. I can just leave it there and mess around the house, sit down to watch a few minutes, and still know what's going on, since I"ve seen most of them anyway. If that makes any sense.

That's about all that's on my mind right now. Visit the link above, kick in a few bucks to help her out. Trust me, it'll be thoroughly appreciated.

Draconian: A Rose For The Apocalypse

If you've been reading this blog for a while--and I hope there are a few people out there who can say that--you'll know that I adore this Swedish Goth Metal band. Love love love them. So, I wasted no time getting their brand new one (just out today)--A Rose for the Apocalypse.

I'll just tell you up front that I love it. It's not quite impressive enough to overtake their previous release, Turning Season Within, but it's close.

Draconian has this gift of writing music that is both powerful and beautiful--a throbbing, pounding beat accompanied by a synth line or vocal that is almost heart-breakingly beautiful, or a quiet, peaceful moment that erupts into a wild, powerful cacophony that will make you wish you were holding a guitar so you could bang along. (Fortunately for me that is an option!) Female vocalist Lisa Johannson has one of those magical voices that soars over the music or blends in with it--many times her vocals are layered in with the synthesizer line in the mix. Anders Jacobsson's harsh vocals provide a nice contrast--beauty and the beast, sort of. The interplay of their two different vocal styles, the friction that results, is a large part of the charm. There's a reason I've said I want to start a Draconian tribute band. If I can find a group of musicians who can produce music like this, this powerful and this dramatic, then they'll be able to play the kind of music that regularly thunders through my brain, too.

Another secret to their success is their production--there are a lot of sublties in the mix, little things that add so much. These guys know their sound.

Favorite tunes on this one? I've only listened to it all the way through once, and there aren't any tunes on here I don't like, but I'd have to pick "The Drowning Age," "The Last Hour of Ancient Sunlight," and "Elysian Night." Subject to change after repeated listenings--of which there will be many, I can assure you.


My final verdict? An A. Buy it. Now. And get Turning Season Within, too, while you're at it. And prepare to have your mind blown. Yes, it is possible for someone to make music like this.

There's hope for us after all!

Independence Day randomocity

I think I'm finally beginning to emerge from my slump.

Over the past couple of weeks everything I've tried to write--with the exception of a couple of song lyrics--has royally sucked. I tried writing a few treatments for film and TV show ideas and they were just awful. Good ideas, just terrible execution.

This morning I made another attempt at a treatment for a pilot for a TV show and this time I think it's hanging together. So far. I'm about halfway through it. And, of course, it'll need to be rewritten a few times, but that's something I'll worry about when the time comes.

That's the real secret, really--just get it down on paper. Don't worry if it's beautiful, or perfect, or grammatically correct, or even logical. You'll have plenty of opportunities to rewrite, and nobody expects a first draft to be perfect. Get it down and then worry about making it beautiful, logical, dramatic, funny, etc. It's my boss's favorite saying--how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. The first draft is that first bte. Don't worry about the second bite, don't even think about it, until you've chewed and swallowed the first one. And so on.

To help celebrate the holiday I got some ribs from Outback yesterday, and I have to say they were lovely. Outback also has a really cool online ordering system, too. Check it out. About as easy as it can get.

As I type this Style TV is rerunning the 2006 season of Project Runway--I think that was the last season I followed the show. Fashion is one of those things that has roven to me that it is, indeed, possible for me to appreciate an art form without necessarily wanting to participate in it. That's something of a first, for me--normally when I read a great book, or see a great film or TV show, it inspires me to try to create something like that myself. Not so, with fashion--I can appreciate it without wanting to create it myself. Of course I'm the same way about the visual arts, I guess, since I have no talent for drawing or sculpture.

I do still dig the show, btw--it's the only reality TV show I'm even passingly interested in--but it usually conflicts with something else I just can't miss. Since I don't have a DVR, something has to go . . .

Oh, and if I haven't mentioned it before, I"m becoming addicted to the xkcd comic strip. Genius. It also inspired an idea in me for a web series--that, though, is something I'll need to think about for a while yet before going into any further details. But, in the mean time, if you are one of the unititiated, go to http://www.xkcd.com/ and take the plunge. You'll thank me.

So what are you doing this holiday?

OK, then, riddle me this one. . . or two . . .

Why is it some people, when they are out driving around and find themselves totally lost, decide to do whatever the car behind them does?

It has to be the car behind them because these people are usually driving 1 mph so there are no cars in front. And they'll continue to drive 1 mph because they have to keep a close eye on their rear-view, in case the car behind them--driven by me, most likely--flips on a turning signal. So they can turn, too.

I've had people tell me they do this. None of them have been able to tell me why they think frustrating the bejeezus out of some random stranger is the solution to their problem. I even had a big tractor-trailer do it to me once--I was trying to find a place where we were having a work-related meeting and I just couldn't get out from behind this huge rig. I made a couple of U turns and he made them, too. Only way I could get past this idiot so I could actually see where I was going was by turning into a parking lot and shooting around him after he stopped.

It is possible to have some fun with these people, though. When I lived downtown I would send these people the wrong way up a one-way street, once I figured out this is what they're doing. It's easy--just flip on your signal light as you approach an intersection and they'll make the turn. Then I would just turn off the turn signal and keep going, finally able to drive close to the speed limit. Until I get behind another lost idiot.

Also--why do people suddenly decide, while they're driving along, to suddenly put their cars in reverse? I almost got nailed twice by the same guy who does that--he'll drive by, I'll start backing out, unaware that after he got past me he put his car in reverse and is now driving backwards, and of course not even thinking to check behind him. I did get dinged in the parking lot at the grocery store by an old lady who did that--she had the nerve to start berating me bcause I was backing up. Though I was backing out of a parking space and she had come to an interesection and decided for some reason she needed to back up. Without, of course, checking behind her. She decided it wasn't that big a deal when I took out my cell phone and called the cops.

So, any of you have any ideas why people do this crap? Beyond just general stupidity, that is?

The goat and the need

I've been reflecting a bit on scapegoats lately. It's because of an idea that I'll use eventually, that goes something like this:

The FBI is called in to investigate a crime. They know the suspect is in this small town. They move in, begin asking around, and everyone points the finger at the same guy. Apparently he's a one-man crime wave--he's committed arson, burglary, made obscene phone calls, stolen cars, all sorts of things. So, why isn't he in jail?

The Feds talk to the local sheriff, who says that he doesn't bother to bring that guy in anymore, when a crime is committed--beyond a couple of petty juvenile offenses he hasn't done anything. Everything the locals accuse this guy of is a closed case--someone else was caught and convicted or plead out. The townspeople don't bother to mention this--to them, this guy did it even if someone else was arrested and convicted of it. Basically they just became convinced that this guy is a scumbag and nothing will change their minds.

You see, when people feel the need to blame someone they don't really care who it is, and it doesn't matter if it's the person who actually committed the act. We use an offense of some kind to justify our own prejuidices.  That's why I try not to rush to judgement. Having been used as a scapegoat many times myself, I know what it's like to be accussed, so I have a bit more sympathy towards the accused than many others. I know what it's like to have to defend yourself against a bullshit charge. Granted, once or twice it wasn't a bullshit charge, but in those cases I've always come clean about it. When I'm guilty you'll know it, because I'll tell you.

But people will always need someone, a monster in their midst who has offended the gods and brought down all our misery.

If they can't find one they'll create one.

Dysphoria

I open my eyes in the darkness


Images in my mind holding sway

Feeling the fears of half a million years

Unable to face the day



I close my eyes in the darkness

What does it matter anyway?

Shed or unshed, tears are still tears

And dead memories come out to play



And I wonder what I could have done . . .



I hear your lies in the darkness

Swearing you’ll always be true

As the dawn nears the haziness clears

I was always right to doubt you



My love dies in the darkness

Along with my dreams about you

After all these years I finally feel these fears

But I feel nothing, too



And I wish I could be different . . .



I really wish I knew how it felt

That feeling so many claim to feel

In place of this deep and cold numbness

A gaping wound which will not heal



I live my life in the darkness

And I will until the end

I’m not secretive I just got no alternative

No intention to offend



I’ll end my life in the darkness

Going out like I came in

Unknown, unknowable, the pain so unbearable

Like my whole life has been



And I just want it to be over . . .



By J Franklin Evans

New project!

I finally had an idea for another film that appealed to me.

I can't go into details about it right now, really, but it's a basic idea I've had for a while but didn't have enough to proceed. I think maybe the missing pieces have finally appeared on the board--now I have to figure out how they all fit together.

It's one of those weird things that, if done properly, will be sort of strange but fun and interesting. If not done properly it'll be pretentious and not make any sense. And probably not get made. I can say that my name for this project, at least for now, is Travelers, and it's a dark fantasy. Not quite horror, but close.

The next step for me is to write a treatment, where I lay out the plot, introduce the main characters, that sort of thing, not more than six pages or so long. While most people hate this stage, I love it. It gives me a chance to anticipate any problems and work them out before I actually start writing it. So when I sit down and start with the actual screenplay I can just write the damned thing.

Most other writers I know sit down at their computers, think for a while, then start writing. Then they stop, think, then write some more. I've never worked like that. When I sit down at my computer I've already written whatever I'm going to write in my head--it's just a matter of physically typing it. I actually write while I'm out walking Atari, or listening to music, or sitting at my desk at work--even though I'm not actually writing anything at all, or at least anything that pertains to the particular project. So, I may not physically work on something for weeks, but that doesn't mean I'm not working on the project--it just means I'm not at the point where I want anything down in a physical, semipermanent medium.

That's just how I roll.

What I like

People are often surprised, when I'm discussing books, movies, or music, not so much at the stuff I like but at the stuff I don't like. I realize that, as a writer and musician, my tastes are pretty narrow and specific. As opposed to so many other writers and musicians who have a very broad palettte and like all sorts of stuff, even if they only write or play a specific genre.

For example, I don't care for fiction. Period. I did, at one time, but I don't anymore. I just lost my taste for it. And everyone that hears that says the same name and heartily recommends his stuff--Dean Koontz. Sorry. Read several of his books, and really didn't care for them. I just didn't see it. And please understand that I'm not saying there is anything wrong with people who like Koontz--many of my friends enjoy the guy's work--but it's not to my taste. I mean, I really hated it.

Musically, about all I like is metal of some kind--usuallly Gothic but I do branch out into other areas. I don't care for pop music, I detest country, I do not understand hip-hop. Punk bores me. Rockabilly makes me really irritable. Evanescence is about as light and pop-py as I get these days. Again, if you dig that stuff, I'm not saying it's wrong. I'm just saying it's not my thing.

I like music that has life and energy. Music that's full of some sort of genuine emotion, even if that emotion is rage or sadness. Most of the stuff that gets produced these days lacks that--it's all formulaic, processed, all the emotion and meaning carefully removed to make it palatable to as many people as possible. Or it's just one mean-spirited, sarcastic song after another-- a little of that is okay, but that starts getting on my nerves eventually, too.

Anyway, people seem to take it personally when they discover I don't care for their particular style of music, or their particular artist. I don't know why. I don't take it personally when people say they don't care for my music. In fact, I'm usually surprised when somebody does.

Same with movies--I'm not wild about the formulaic, processed stuff that dominates the theater during the summer. Visually some of them are interesting but unless there's a compelling story with characters I find interesting a series of pretty pictures gets boring to me really quick.

But, again, that's just my opinion.