Look! Information!

I have a hard time understanding how I got this far behind on things, but I have. I got sick this weekend, well, not sick sick, but sorta sick. Enough where I feel like doing nothing but sleeping, which I didn't do because of my dumb dogs, who think 6 a.m. is party time. That includes lots of face licking and cover removal. 

I worked on Saturday. Yuck.

I also managed to do something I'm proud of, which is submit a short story, in this case to the WOTF that I mentioned of Friday.

BUT, with all that said. I wanted to start off today with my comment of the week. It came from Friday's post where I mentioned that the story I was about to submit involved more than a few references to Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. 

 

That's right. Jay Noel knew a member of the Funky Bunch. That made my day. No, that made my week. Jay not only knew a member of the Funky Bunch, but after careful consideration, Jay called into question said person's true Funkiness. 

Anyone else have a brush with pop culture fame that would wow us all?

Also - the careful observer may note that I have begun a blog roll. Yes, I'm no longer going to depend solely on memory to visit others. I have left it relatively small to start off with, but I will expand it as my confidence grows in my ability to manage it. I'm pretty excited about it right now, we'll see how it goes.

Oh, last thing. Please check out Briane Pagel's plight with his health (Pt 1 & Pt II). The guy has a huge heart, wait, that was a pun I didn't intend to make. Anyway, he has some health issues and a newish book out. I heard it was great, so I picked up my copy and can't wait to read.

I won't lie, Monday's are terrible, terrible things. I'm doing my best to start this week off well. Wish me luck.

Maybe I'm Known Just A Little Too Well

I sneak off to lunch today to enjoy my ever most favorite burrito on earth, from Salsarita's. Now, I eat there a lot. Not many of the folks there are fluent in English, but most at least recognize me when I show up. I say hi and move on. But today when I showed up, the place was hopping.

The line was long and it was a mad rush to get the food out. I don't know if any of you have ever been there, but it's one of those faux Mexican places that seem to have taken over the States in the last few years. You walk in, they ask what you want, then they slide your food down from station to station, like a cafeteria, and pile more and more toppings on your food as it gets slid down.

Cool, that's pretty much how they all look. I never thought much about it, but today. The guy at the first station who normally asks what I want, burrito, nachos, quesadillas, whatever.

Today, he pulls out a wheat burrito and puts in on the counter when it's my turn. Weird, I think, but still, not too strange. The next guy, beans, rice, chicken. Slides it down. Next person, a dollop of sour cream, and two heaping spoonfuls of guacamole, just how I like it.

It's starting to get weird.

I make it down the line and get the best darn burrito I could have hoped for, without doing much more than nodding. It's not that one person knows me. They all do.

Next time, I'm ordering Nachos.

Anyway, my mini vacation from the internet is over I suppose. I'm sure the online world at large can breath a big sigh of relief now.

In other news, my short story I turned in to WOTF in the spring was summarily rejected. I'm pretty sure it's pure genius and the rejection was due to some technical snafu on their part, but whatever. Happy days everyone.

Well Folks, I Can't Do Anything About it Now

In the past week I've submitted a short story to writers of the future and as of today, sent a two page synopsis and first five chapters of my novel to the fine folks over at Angry Robot Books. They promise that they'll read it and get back to me within the next six months or so.

Great. Now what?

Actually, I've got several other things that await my attention. I won't be lacking for things to do. I think my bio says I've got a closet full of manuscripts. Well, I guess I'll try to get as many of those things cleaned up and ready  to go as I can. That should keep me busy for several months.

Lets see. What else? My son, has recently decided to become a footballer. Um, an American footballer to any non U.S. residents out there. He's decided his position will be wide receiver. I, of course, decided to go out there and toss the old pig skin around with him and within seconds managed to almost break his fingers. Oops. He may not be doing much of anything that requires the use of said fingers for the next week or two.

But the whole reason I was out there is that a foot injury that has plagued me for the past six months has finally showed signs of relief (thanks to drugs and all sorts of medical devices prescribed to me to alleviate that pain). So I was running and jumping out there. I felt, for a few minutes at least, like I was a young pup again.

My knees however, those still hurt. But whatever, at least the feet are feeling good.

Happy Monday everyone.

Happy Day

Another week is ripping on by at breakneck speed and I have little to show for it. But, I did send off my short story to Writers of the Future in high hopes of that $5k prize they promise. I would consider converting to Scientology if it will help me win.

Of course I took a quick peek at my story just after I hit the submit button and found several oopses that I can't believe I didn't see the first 27 times I read over manuscript. But you know, whatever.

So that one is gone, good riddance. Also have been trying to write a two page synopsis for my novel. I'm about to send it off and need that damned synopsis. I've spent more time trying to get that together than I spent on the stupid book in the first place.

But, the one part I think is fun is this thing I've heard that publisher's love. Summing up the novel in a single sentence. I heard a couple of interviews online in the past few weeks and it seems that you want to throw out no more that three popular references that anyone might now if they were to hear it.

So what do I say in my one sentence summary? It's Rendezvous with Rama meets Apollo 13 meets Psych.

I'm worried that Psych isn't popular enough though. I can't describe an unknown, unpublished, novel by referencing an obscure show. I did have an earlier version of my one sentence summary that replaced Psych with Clerks, but I think Psych is a much better descriptor of the novel. Oh the problem.

Makes me wonder though, if you are writing a novel, or already have, what would your one sentence description be if you have to use a mash-up of popular movies or novels to describe it?

Oh, and I heard today that the traditional color associated with Saint Patrick was blue. I can't wrap my head around that. It'll take a few more beers for me to make sense of that.

And I know I've got those blogger awards things hanging around my neck like a noose. I think I'm going to be working this weekend, at the office and at home. But I'll try to at least get something out there.

Drink safely