Category Archives: Blog Post
Daily Update: Plowing through.
With the news of having a blown head gasket on sputtering truck and the expense of having to get it repaired coupled with the amount of money I’ve already put into the truck just to keep it going was a one-two I wasn’t prepared for. I let it get the better of me, but I let go long enough last night to knock out about 1500 words. It was difficult with everything gnawing away on my brain, but I wrote. I feel good about what I did write and I’m thinking I need to make some modifications. Not quite sure just yet.
To go along with sputter truck, I have pain in my legs I had through I was past. It took a few days, but shin splints are what I have now. What I had experienced before wasn’t like this. that pain was muscle pain from not working my legs in some time. The pain I have now is deep intense pain in the bone. It hurts to go up and down the stairs and I need to take a break from my walking until this pain subsides. I’ll also stop jogging until I get my legs in better shape to handle the stress. This was a case of too fast too soon. This is a little frustrating as I was so excited about jogging. Everything else about it felt good and I enjoyed getting out there. But for now, it’s resting my lower legs until the pain subsides.
I do still have my free weights so I’ll be doing something about my overall fitness. I also plan on starting 100 push-up and 200 sit-ups once again. I know I can’t just sit still anymore and expect my body to be alright.
Plotting for the Jack Kane sequel has begun. My writing partner, Mike Plested, and I plotted not only one, but three subsequent novels to take place in the Jack Kane universe. We could probably plan out a dozen, so for now 3 and 4 are just notations whereas we began delving deeper into what book 2 will be about. I can tell you this, I think 2 will be even more fun than 1. Speaking of book 1, I have it assembled in Scriviner for Windows. Hopefully this makes editing easier.
Mike and I also net with Scott Roche so I could give the two of them a hard time about not having their Action Pack works ready for next month. Of course they still have a lot of time, I just feel the need to give them crap about not being further along. Artwork and music are being prepared. The website is live, but in dire need of modifications. Hopefully in the next week or two that will happen. Excitement levels are still high for all of us, so look for good things.
Speaking of good things, I’d better get back at it.
Until Tomorrow!
WOO WOO!
Daily Update: In a Funk
I haven’t posted anything about sputtery truck lately so I’ll try to be brief.
Life happens. People die, events happen, vehicles break down. This is just the way life goes.
Currently I’m looking at my truck. It struggles to turn over (usually doesn’t the first few times but then will) and once it does I get a gout of white smoke. I don’t mean a little bit, I mean HOLY SMOKE SCREEN BATMAN! white smoke. This is a bad thing. Very very bad thing.
There are two potential issues. One would be I have a blown head gasket. The other would be warped or cracked heads. I thought, yeah, okay, so it’s a gasket. How hard can that be to replace? So I got a hold of my friend who groaned and said “Maybe it’s time to trade in the truck” and laughed. I knew I was in trouble.
So I started looking online last night at how difficult it is to replace a head gasket. It looks like it’s a royal pain in the guzunkus. No, really. It’s not a one day type of job. It’s a two, three, eight day job. Though the cost isn’t that much, the amount of labor is horrific and complicated. Now I’m not afraid of a challenge, but I don’t think I’m up for this and my friend didn’t seem like it was something we’d want to tackle in his front yard.
So I’m currently looking for a shop that can replace the head(s) and gasket(s). I’m not 100% sure if it’s one head or two being that I have an 8 cylinder engine. I’ve looked at the costs online and it ranges from $700-$1500 which includes the cost of the parts.
After a great call with Mike Plested and Scott Roche on different projects I was on a high and hit a terrible low. I really don’t have money like that to throw into a repair and without doing the repair, I’m without a vehicle. I would drive it, but from what I can tell, coolant is seeping into the engine until it runs out of coolant to dump into the engine and then it runs hot. I’m guessing that the issue with it starting is due to coolant in the cylinder(s) gumming up the works and getting into the oil.
So today I’ll be calling and getting estimates. I’m not looking forward to the answers, but I’ll have to bite the bullet and take care of business.
Writing didn’t happen yesterday, but walking did. I’ll post more on that tomorrow. I don’t mean to be a downer today, but life does have a way of happening to you whether you want it to or not. I’ll be happier tomorrow. Promise 🙂
Until Tomorrow!
WOO WOO?
Daily Update: Oh, I might as well.
Yesterday I wasn’t going to walk/jog. Yesterday I wasn’t going to blog or write. I wasn’t going to blog today either, but I am. Why?
Persistence.
I had my fastest time on my circuit yesterday. I jogged more than I walked. It hurt a little, but overall it felt great to get out there. I can tell my fitness level is improving because I’m moving quicker. It’s easier to go up and down the stairs (the first few days of walking were torture). My legs don’t stay sore as long after walking either. Overall it’s making me happier.
So yesterday I wasn’t going to blog either. Again I’m glad I did. I had a ghost story that I shared from my Navy days it even though it’s a ‘told’ story, it was still fun to write it down. It made me remember a lot about those days in the Navy when I did security duty. I had a lot of “I wonder what happened to so-and-so” moments.
I’ll give you a behind the scenes to the ghost story. Even though I cannot tell you what passed over the Blazer, I can tell you this. There was a fire, and it was put out. Long after I’d left the base I found out that one of the people I worked with had been setting fires all over the base. Usually small fires. Even though he’d been accounted for, it was over radio. He’d left the base when it was his 6 hours off and had walked out into the field in question and set the fire. He was the shadow I saw running around the fire. He was lucky to put it out in time before we got there. After the incident he had to take a few days off due to illness that I later found out was smoke inhalation. He was eventually caught and court-marshaled when he burned down a building that contained many of the base’s shipping and receiving records.
So even though the whole incident still gives me the creeps, I do know most of what happened that night. He was able to get part of the fire out, the rest burned into on open area with no fuel to keep it going. I only know this because we did talk many years after. Once he got out of jail that is. But that’s a story for another day.
At any rate, I’m glad I wrote yesterday. Why? It was one of the busiest days on the blog. I had a lot of people stop by to read the story and that made me really happy. How happy? Happy enough that I got up off my duff, got a haircut and went for my walk. When I finished I had intend to write, but dinner appeared, I wanted a TV show, got interrupted many times, but finally got about 100o words cranked out.
Despite it all, I had a productive day. I hope to have a repeat performance this evening.
Until next time!
WOO WOO!
Daily Update: Early to bed…
It was a long weekend. This week will be a long week. Unfortunately I need to be online for work at 6AM for conference calls. Not a big deal. I’m usually up at that time anyway. Just means I won’t be able to hit the snooze button is all. I can deal with that.
We did a little shopping yesterday, had some great food at the Cheesecake Factory. I’m a sucker for a good shepherd’s pie and they do make a good shepherd’s pie. I love me meat, potatoes, and veggies all rolled into one. Oh yes I do. I even have leftovers for this morning that I’ll have with an egg on top. Just sounds good. Of course we also had cheesecake to bring home (too full to heat it there.)
So last night we got home pretty early. I had intended to sit and write for a couple of hours. After cheering for my favorite daughter, driving, shopping, eating, eating some more, well, needless to say my brain just wasn’t about to get into gear. Didn’t matter what I did, creativity eluded me. It was one of those night’s I should have followed my own rules, but hey, life happens from time to time.
I will get writing done today. I will get work done today first which includes some training courses I need to take. But tonight words will fly! Or so I hope 🙂
Yesterday I mentioned I had some stories from the base I used to work on. I’ll have fun posting those. Here’s the first.
Rumors abounded that the base had 1) been built on old Native America territory and 2) multiple sightings had been made over the years the base had been in operation of ghosts, strange lights, odd fires, and unexplained events. There were many stories and I, being a skeptic, ignored them all and usually had fun playing pranks on people. This wasn’t a prank.
Fire on the base:
Working at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station I did the night shift. My schedule changed from time to time, but it was mostly from 6PM to 6AM with 6 hours on post and 6 hours off. Some nights it would be gate watch where I could sit and write or read being that I was rarely bothered. Mostly it was on patrol in a small Chevy truck. The supervisors had larger four wheel drive Chevy Blazers because the little trucks would get stuck from time to time on patrol and we had some areas that were inaccessible.
On one particular night on patrol I got a call. My supervisor was on his way to meet me. Someone had called in from outside the base that there was a fire in the middle of one of the fields. Being that it was in the middle of the field I couldn’t drive my little truck out there, I needed 4W drive.
He drove out and met me behind one of the bunkers. I stood up on the side where I could get a good view of the fire. It looked more like a large bonfire and sure enough, it was in the middle of the field where I couldn’t get to it. It could have been a trick of light or it could have been people, but I saw, and reported people around the fire.
It wasn’t uncommon for people to break onto the base. “I can neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at this facility.” That was standard mantra even though security guards were well aware of when nukes were on the base and somehow the public would find out as well and often lay across the entrances to the base in protest until the police arrived to escort them away for interfering with base operations.
Eventually my supervisor arrived in his Blazer with a few fire extinguishers. By this time we had reports from multiple people outside the base about this fire. We had alerted the police and fire departments that the fire was in an unused portion of the base, not easily accessible and currently posed no threat to personnel. There was no need for them to come and assist until we had assessed the size of the fire and if we’d be able to put it out on our own. Even so, the fire department had been called by civilians living across the street from the base and firetruck sat on the other side of the face much too far away to do anything about the fire.
My supervisor and I drove around the bunker, slowly due to there being no road and the field being filled with large dips and rises and tall grasses. The entire time we kept in contact with the main base keeping them appraised of the situation.
Now this is where things got weird. We stopped to try and determine where we were in the field with relation to the fire. The grass was tall and driving through it difficult. I had opened my door and stood looking over the top of the Blazer. I heard something that sounded much like an earthquake. Living in Southern California you hear many before you feel them. I told my supervisor that I thought an earthquake was coming, but the sound changed. He turned out the lights to help us get a better bearing on the fire. I could smell smoke. I could see the glow. I could hear the nearing rumble.
I can neither confirm no deny that a horse jumped over the hood of the Blazer as I stood there. I can neither confirm no deny that the horse had a rider that looked very much like a Native America brandishing a spear.
What I can confirm is this. 1) The glow of the fire disappeared. 2) The rumble stopped. 3) The fire department called our base to congratulate us on putting the fire out. Both my supervisor and I were given letters of accommodation by the captain of the base for our diligence in handling the situation.
In the dark of the field, we emptied the fire extinguishers and our bladders. In the dark of the field we both confirmed and denied what we saw. In the dark of that field, my skepticism found it first true challenge with something I could not explain.
I had the watch for the rest of the night and I had the heebie-jeebies for the rest of that watch. As the sun started to come up, I made my way back to the fence-line on the edge of the field. I stood on top of my truck and I saw the scorched area where the fire had burned. No other vehicles had been in the area as all vehicles were accounted for as well as all personnel during the situation. The firetruck would have been at least two hundred yards away. I couldn’t make out any path or tracks through the field that led to the scorched area. I never spoke of that fire again.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Believe what you want, I know what I experienced. I’ll have more for you in the coming days.
Until Tomorrow!
WOO WOO!
Daily Update: Long Day.
Last night we drove up to L.A. (Anehiem) for my favorite daughter’s first travel team’s volleyball tournament. To make a long story short, many mistakes were made by all the girls and it was a painful first outing. This was not the same team I’ve been watching practice since early December.
Enough about that. I could go on and on, but I won’t. It was a learning experience for the girls and they still had a great time. Our next one is in two weeks and we’ll be better prepared.
I was going to write a blog post on the road, but we got up early and got moving quickly. There was much discussion between the parents in between matches. Basically there was little time to do anything so I didn’t post until now. Suffice to say, today was a day off from walking. It’s far too cold right now and I’m already pooped. Yesterday was almost a day off from writing, but I did manage to get a blog post out as well as an Unorthodox Writing Tips. Tonight we’re back home and I’ll be sitting down and writing soon.
I have many things in the works. I feel good about all that I have going on. As things happen I’ll make sure you know about them as quickly as they happen. At the end of this month both my home life and my writing life will be going full speed ahead and I’m excited to see if happen. I need to spend as much time sitting and writing as I can. I need to increase my word output dramatically. A thousand a day just won’t cut it. I was happy when I noticed that I was a little ahead, but I’d like to be much further ahead. Look for numbers to start jumping.
Speaking of writing, I think that’s enough for now. Tomorrow I’ll have a story about the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station where I did a couple years of security duty while in the Navy. Obviously I can’t tell anything about the people or operations of the base, but I have some interesting anecdotes as well as a couple of ghost stories. Being that we drove by the weapons station on our way to and from the volleyball tournament, all these memories came rushing back. I had fun sharing them with the wife and my favorite daughter.
I’m off to go make words happen
Until Next Time!
WOO WOO!
Daily Update: I Hope This is Only a Phase
I set my alarm for 6. I reset it for 7. I’m just now waking up. My body is tired. My brain is tired. I ache.
Don’t get me wrong. I know what I’m doing for my body and my brain is the right thing. As far as I know this will get easier. It’s been a very long time since I pushed my body and my brain at the same time and both really need the work out.
Last time I decided to exercise I wasn’t writing and I really wasn’t pushing myself. Last time I went on a writing binge (at the end of last year) I wasn’t exerxising. Now I’m pushing myself n both areas at the same time. I’ve been working out nearly every day and writing every day.
I’m not complaining. Perhaps I need to look at what I’m putting in my body as well. Let’s think about this for a minute. Last night I had two hot dogs, so e left over macaroni and cheese and one beer. Hmmm. I don’t drink often. I enjoy a beer when I have one. Perhaps I’m just overreacting to this one slow wake up. Perhaps. I’ll let you know.
Speaking of writing, I finished my story for the Mad Scientist Handbook Anthology and got that sent off. Felt good to complete another piece. Felt even better sending it off. It’s been a very long time since I’ve actually completed works and sent them off.
On the walking front, I continued the walk/jog on my circuit. I shaved off another minute. My legs are stiff and sore, but in a good way. I’m still stretching them several times per day and this does help. Not sure I’ll get my walk in today. It’s tme to clean the house, pack, book the hotel and head off to LA.
We’re heading to Lakewood California (not the nicest of neighborhoods but not awful either) for my favorite daughter’s first travel team volleyball tournament. Kind of excited as I’ve seen how well they’re doing in practice. They should do really well.
Speaking of Lakewood. It’s next door to Long Beach. I used to li e in Long Beach. But that’s a story for another time.
Until tomorrow
Woo Woo!
Daily Update: A New Kind of Pain
A few days ago when I started walking I mentioned that I recognized a pain usually labeled “No pain, no gain” and a pain that said “SOMETHING IS WRONG”. Today I suffer from the former.The past two days I jogged a little during my run and greatly increased the pace at which I complete my nearly three mile circuit. I also said I run on my toes, not heel-toe as many people do. So yesterday I was a little stiff in the calf muscles, today I’m a lot stiff. I have been stretching and will continue stretching.
On the plus side, the shin splints I suffered from seem to have mostly been alleviated. That makes Jay a very happy boy. The only pain I get in my shins is during the walking portion of my walk if I extend my stride too much and I know continued walking will eventually make that pain subside as well.
Do I feel fit yet? Heavens no. Not really even close. Even though I’m jogging, I’m not running. It’ll take time to get there. How much weight have I lost? No idea. I honestly don’t even have a starting point. My goal is to get into better shape. Not lose weight. One will follow the other naturally. I’m not going to stress if I’m a pound or two overweight. I will stress if I stop working out.
Good habits are difficult to form and easy to break. Bad habits are easy to form and difficult to break.
My favorite daughter didn’t have practice last night. I had intended to write a lot. That didn’t happen. I did find time from 9-9:30 to crank out 800 words for a story (written in interview form) for the Mad Scientist Handbook Anthology. I also did a little editing on Kance Encounter, the short story I’ll be releasing at the end of this month.
On the Action Pack news front: I’ve procured a friend to do some music for each segment in the podcast. I’ll have to find some transition music/sounds for each scene transition inside of one of the works. Just thinking out loud here. You can ignore me if you like.
On the workplace front: Today I hit 15 years with AT&T. Although I’ve had some complaints over the years I have to say that the choices I’ve made in my career have helped me a lot and made for a fulfilling time. I started out as a member of the CWA (Union) and quickly moved on to management. I am NOT a supervisor, but instead I am an independent contributor. For those that don’t know me, I develop internal web applications for AT&T. I freakin love my job.
Speaking of loving my job, time I got at it.
Until Tomorrow.
WOO WOO!
Daily Update: I actually ran!
No, really. I walked up the hill, then ran on the flat and downhill parts. Okay, okay. I walked up the hill and started a light jog, but I was still moving much faster than walking. I didn’t think I was going to start, but as I walked, I just had this urge to start going faster than a brisk walking pace.
A funny thing happened.
Now let me explain something. As I’ve been saying, shin splints have haunted me and my walking. It has for years. I was working out on an elliptical which was nice because it was non-impact training. The new shoes and a shorter stride have helped alleviate the pain of shin splints. But when I run I don’t run heel-toe, heel-toe. My cross-country/track coach in high school had us run on our toes.
So I’ve been told that I look a little funny when I run. I’ve also been told I have Barney Rubble legs (short and stumpy). But hey, when I start jogging, I’m running on my toes and not heel-toe so the pain in my shins is lessened greatly. This was almost as awesome as doing 12 minute miles yesterday. Down from 17 minute miles just a couple of weeks ago.
I’ll be jogging/walking/jogging/walking from now on. I’m going to try and extend my jogging periods and shorten my walking periods. When I can get below 10 minute miles, I’ll reverse my direction. Wait, what? See, currently I go up one big hill, then a LONG, slow downhill. Once I get into better shape I’ll do the LONG uphill with a short, steep downhill. Just to mix things up. There are even different routes I can take that’ll provide more hills, again, just to mix things up.
On the writing front:
I mentioned the Action Pack yesterday. Well I also spoke with Dan Dan the Art Man and he had already agreed to do my cover for my Action Pack story. I’ve now convinced him through my magical ways to do the cover art for both Mike Plested and Scott Roche as well as providing us with a banner and logo for the Action Pack! I mean, how cool is that? Dan is filled with awesome and every time I see him produce something I’m amazed. Dan, if you’re reading this, we promise not to abuse you. Too much.
Yesterday My Favorite Daughter had a late volleyball practice (her first tournament is Sunday). It went until 9PM. Didn’t get into a sitting position until 10PM to start writing and banged out exactly 800 words. It’s always strange to end on a specific number. No practice for her tonight or tomorrow so I should be able to bang out a couple thousand a day. I hope. I’m really enjoying the direction To Fall From the Sky is taking. I had something bad happen to the protagonist, and I used the antagonist’s POV to explain what had gone wrong. I’m not even a third of the way through and I can already see where this is going. I’m going to have a blast once I get into the final parts of this book. Heck, I’m having fun now just thinking about it.
I’ll be posting more updates tomorrow and keep you apprised of what is happening with the Action Pack. We’re currently shooting for the first episode to drop at the end of February, so keep your eyes peeled. Oh, and I also have my first short getting itself ready for release at the end of this month. Dan Dan the Art Man is also doing the cover for that. It’s going to be amazing!
I’m rambling, aren’t I? Ok. Get out of here. I’ve got words to write.
Until Tomorrow
WOO WOO!
Daily Update: Good Things are in the Works
I’m a fan of dessert. My motto: Life is short, eat dessert first.
So when I took my daughter to 7-11 the other day, I looked up at the Rancho Bakery and Deli next door and decided to walk in. Why? Hey, I’m curious. It’s what I do. I see a new place, I need to go see what’s inside.
Side note: There is a sweet shop next door to the bakery (Pistachio Sweets) that hasn’t opened yet. It’s been months and it’s driving me nuts.
Back to the story. So I dragged my daughter into the bakery. They had fresh produce, some great looking cheeses (I also love cheese) and lots of dairy goods and meats. Then there was the baklava section. Now, I’ve seen baklava before. I’ve eaten it many times. I really like it. This didn’t look like baklava.
I introduced myself to the store owner.
He gave me a sample.
Oh! I mean. Oh! Yes Yes OH GOD YES!
So I bought a small container to take home. I wanted to buy a lot more, but I also didn’t want it to go bad. Apparently the bakery is a middle-eastern bakery. He explained to me the history of baklava and that in the middle-east there are over 150 different kinds of baklava. The display they had there had a couple dozen (I’ll take a picture of that when I go back.) It all looked great!
We got three different varieties. All of them were delicious. It was only $5 so I know I’ll be going back. I’ll also be posting the experience as an Unorthodox Writing Tip this weekend with more details.
On the walking front. Took the day off yesterday. Will resume today. The Kid (she wants me to start calling her My Favorite Daughter) has Volleyball practice tonight. I’ll be cheering her and her team on. WOO!
On the writing front. I got a lot written yesterday. Currently I have my short story completed for the end of this month. I have my story ready for the Action Pack (I’ll explain about that in a moment). Although it’s going up slowly, the yearly word count meter is creeping up. I’ve written over 15000 words so far this month. I’ll be writing a lot more. 2012 is shaping up to be great year. I’m so excited.
So the Action Pack. Last night Scott Roche, Mike Plested, and I all sat down to discuss the jokingly named Action Pack Podcast. The name was thrown out based on an 80s TV show. Our concept: 3 stories in one podcast. Each month will bring a piece of each story continuing on throughout the year and concluding a storyline at the end of the year. That would be one season and if all goes well, we’d do a second season.
We talked about artwork, music, content, the blog, the url. The Action Pack Podcast grew on us quickly and we’ll be getting a blog out there soon. It’s going to be a lot of fun and I hope you’ll join us. I’ll be posting more on this as time goes by leading up to the release of the first episode. Like I said, I’m pretty excited.
I need to go make use of that excitement.
Until Tomorrow!
WOO WOO!
Daily Update: First Day Back in the Office
It’s something I don’t think about much. I work from home four days a week so given time off, the holidays, and everything else, today is my first day in the office since December 13th. I don’t mind coming into the office. The commute normally takes thirty minutes so it’s not that bad either. Plus I get to talk to co workers face to face when I do come into the office.
Working from home has given me something more, though. It’s given me the ability to be a self-starter. When I work from home, I sleep in a little later. I usually wake up before my alarm goes off and get ready to start my day. I usually have my laptop already on so I can just sit down and go.
This has really helped me with my writing. I can just sit down and go. There are some days I need to do a little more, like get myself off the internet. There are even days when I just don’t feel in the mood to write or something is distracting me. These days will happen and I’m learning to work through them. Sure I can make up an excuse like, I only need to write 1000-1500 words a day to make my yearly goal and I can get caught up tomorrow. No, I won’t. If I slack off I won’t hit the goals I’ve set out for myself.
The same goes for my physical fitness goal for this year. I didn’t set a weight resolution or an exercise resolution. What I did was set a goal to reduce my body mass and get myself into better physical condition. I’m not gauging success of this goal on pounds lost or distance traveled during my walks. I’m basing this goal on the size of my stomach and the amount of fat I can feel on my body. Being in better physical condition is more important to me than the number of pounds I see on a scale.
Speaking of fitness, I walked again yesterday. I was able to do the circuit I’m walking in just over 40 minutes. This is a success. The pain in front of my legs is still a dull ache that comes and goes and I’m starting to get a weird, I guess I’d call it a weak feeling in my right knee. I was aware of the problem and my doctor had told me that I need to exercise to get the pain in my knees to go away. So I’m working through that.
Well, as I said, I’m in the office. there’s work to do.
Until tomorrow
WOO WOO!
J.R. Murdock 