Goodbye to Savannah

No, I haven't actually moved yet, but I will be tomorrow and I probably won't have Internet access for a day or so. And I will be coming back later this week to wrap some things up but I definitely won't have Internet access then, so I decided to go ahead and put my thoughts down now.

I've lived here almost twenty-five years. Almost half my life. A lot has happened to me here over the years--I've made and lost friends, grown a lot as a person, achieved a lot, been disappointed a lot . . . same as everyone else, I guess. Over the past few years, though, all of my non-work friends have moved away.

I've been told the change will do me good, and I really think that's true. The area I'm moving to is pretty close to all kinds of stuff--including the Atlanta airport. I may actually do a little traveling, if I can find a little money somewhere for a plane ticket, because of that, since I can catch direct flights to just about anywhere I'd want to go. (Savannah's airport also has direct flights to many major cities, though all of them are Atlanta.)

It's a little ironic that my last weekend in this city is just after the St. Patrick's Day celebration. I didn't do anything for it this year--as I've said before, I lived downtown for several years so I've been through enough of those for a lifetime.

Anyways, the movers come in tomorrow morning, I'll be packing up my computers and losing my Internet connection until I'm up and running at the new place.

Wish me luck as I begin venture into the strange new world that is Douglasville!

Post St Pat's Day randomocity

So, I had to go out of town during St. Pat's.

It was a family thing, really--I needed to sit with my dad while my sister-in-law had surgery. Still, I'm sure many of you think that it's weird that I left the city that hosts one of the largest St. Pat's Day celebrations in the country.

Well, I didn't have much choice--I didn't schedule SIL's surgery. Plus, I lived in the Historic District for something like seven years, so I was at Ground Zero during all those St. Pat's Days. I mean, the parade went right underneath my balcony. For the first three or four years it was fun. After that it got a bit tiresome.

Anyways, I'm home now and can resume working on my various projects--notably my potential film project, Seer. I actually missed being able to sit down and work on it.

Atari is doing fine, if you're interested. About the same. He hates it when we take these little trips--he's miserable the whole time, pacing around the house, not settling down like he does when he's at home. He's better now that he's back in his own digs.

I'm resting, musically. I have a few ideas for some stuff but nothing that is demanding to be worked on right now, which is good, as I want to concentrate on writing until I've finished Seer. Or at least until I've got Seer into something approximating a final form.

Also, watching House on USA right now--they have a House marathon every Friday. If you want to be a screenwriter, especially if you want to work in TV, watch that show. It's even better if you watch several episodes in order. That show is like a story-telling clinic. Pay attention to the rhythms, character development, subtexts and contexts. Try to notice the stuff you are figuring out without even realizing that you're figuring it out. Note how, while there are several really funny moments, it never resorts to becoming cutesy-poo--a failing of another show I do like, that being Bones. Of course, the top-notch cast helps House, too, but it starts with the writing.

It always starts with the writing. Let no-one ever tell you otherwise.

If you're planning a trip to Savannah

Just to help you have realistic expectations.

1. Unless you go to a drag queen show, you probably won't see all that many transvestites.
2. We do have crimes that aren't racially motivated. Like armed robbery. Our thugs are equal opportunity thugs.
3. Paula Deen's restaurant is overrated, overpriced, and overcrowded. There are a dozen other places within a block that have better food and are much more reasonably priced. And probably won't be nearly as crowded. And aren't looking to screw over ignorant tourists. Or at least not as much.
4. Unlike Disneyworld, most of the people you'll see in the Historic District don't actually work for the city, and really aren't there to entertain you or serve as guides. If you want someone to show you around take one of the tours. Yes, you'll have to pay somebody for that.
5. Don't sit around and complain about how much more wonderful things are Up North. If it's so fucking wonderful in Yankee-land, then remember that nobody is forcing you to come here, and nobody is forcing you to stay.
6. Before you start complaining about how the Civil War is history and we just need to get over it, think back and try to remember who brought the subject up in the first place. Was it you? Yes.
7. Don't drive around the squares in your car at 2 miles per hour so you can stare at the houses. And don't just stop in the middle of the street and get out to take a picture of a house. Believe it or not those are public roadways and people are trying to get from point A to  point B. Just like they do in your town. Believe it or not.
8. Being On Vacation does not mean that you can ignore traffic laws.
9. If you see someone sitting alone at a table in a restaurant and that person tells you that he is waiting for someone and does not want you to join him in the mean time, please believe him and go away.
10. Just be nice, have fun, and understand that not everyone around you is on vacation. Do that and you'll have a lot of fun.