Month: June 2025

well, that was exhausting

Posted on by admin

But, congratulations to my youngest niece, now a high school grad and on her way to the big time.

Honestly, we couldn’t be any more proud of her and her sister.

We’ve watched them grow up, had them over weekly, as much as possible, since they were wee, and to have had that bond with them has been so incredible. It’s been really nice that they still wanted to, right up until they’re off for college.

We genuinely assumed that like most teenagers, by the time they hit high school, at least, they’d be too cool for us. But my wife and my younger niece have forged a wonderful bond, and even though we don’t talk as much as we used to, the elder one and I have always had similar interests (heavy readers, obscure music, etc).

Sometimes, change kinda sucks.

But I know it’s going to be exciting for them in their futures, and I hope to god, it’s not turned into a living nightmare by someone who doesn’t give a fuck.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 1213 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: Agent To The Stars, John Scalzi
Comics: Black Science 7-8, Low 1-2
Music: Everybody In The Place, The Prodigy

nieces and grads and granddaughters, oh my

Posted on by admin

It’s going to be a long day, dealing with the usurper of babies and my niece’s graduation party and pool time with the granddaughter.

All this is true.

All this is fun.

Fuck it.

So tired, but still worth it.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 835 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: Agent To The Stars, John Scalzi
Comics: Black Science 6, Deadly Class 4-6
Music: Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge, Mudhoney

girding myself

Posted on by admin

Man, I love this kid, but I know, I KNOW, I’m going to be sore after she’s gone.

My kids were teenagers when I came into their life, so I skipped that whole chasing after toddlers phase, which is fun, but man, running around behind one kid is hard enough.

I don’t know how my mother did four.

Younger, I guess. If I’d done it, I would have been ten to twenty years younger, which would make a big difference, I’m sure.

But now, I’m pushing fifty and well, much as I love the shenanigans and craziness and horseplay, it’s a lot.

So, Advil, be at the ready.

This is going to hurt.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 916 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Infinity Concerto, Greg Bear (I wanted to like it, because so many authors I like have such respect for Greg Bear, but man... no characterization, disjointed plotline that didn't delve quite far enough into the mechanics of the thing... I'm sure he was trying to say something somewhere, but it was almost... art is bad? I must have missed the point)
Comics: Black Science 4-5, Deadly Class 2-3
Music: Every Breath You Take: The Classics, The Police

cleaning

Posted on by admin

The grandbaby comes tomorrow!

This house is disgusting!

Good god, why!

Whose going to deal with this!

FUCK!

Target: 1200 words
Written:  1087 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Infinity Concerto, Greg Bear
Comics: Black Science 1-3, Deadly Class 1
Music: Everly Brothers Essentials, The Everly Brothers

home again

Posted on by admin

For the next two days, and then, and then!

The once-a-year trip our granddaughter gets to make to our place (versus the six-to-ten the other way)!

Exciting.

I can’t wait to take the kid swimming.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 712 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Infinity Concerto, Greg Bear
Comics: Fear Agent 29-32
Music: Everlong, Foo Fights (like, three separate singles - I'm mildly obsessed)

it is startling

Posted on by admin

How three days can feel like five.

Even knowing you still technically have two to go.

At least, they’ll be from home.

Ugh.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 1383 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Infinity Concerto, Greg Bear (I want to like it, but it's so... dull)
Comics: Fear Agent 25-28
Music: Evergleam, Everclear

day two – back in office

Posted on by admin

I still don’t like it, and there’s even more people here today.

Zero out of ten, do not recommend.

Work from home, kids, in any way you can.

Hell is other people, as a smart man once said, but it’s also the self.

Basically, we live in hell, the darkest timeline, whatever, the world actually ended in 2012, and we’re just lost in a collective nightmare where things only get worse, no one can stop it and we’re all doomed to live out our days watching things turn to shit.

This is why you don’t put the boy back at work; he’s less likely to spiral.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 1121 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Infinity Concerto, Greg Bear
Comics: Fear Agent 21-24
Music: Even Flow, Pearl Jam (ahh... palate cleanser - Dirty Frank)

day two

Posted on by admin

Yeah, it’s even busier at work today.

The schedule shows quieter days on Thursday and Friday, especially.

Maybe I can switch it up?

Target: 1200 words
Written: 694 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Infinity Concerto, Greg Bear
Comics: Fear Agent 17-20
Music: An Evening With Neil Gaiman & Amanda Palmer, Neil Gaiman & Amanda Palmer (I know, I know, furthering my assertion that there is absolutely no correlation between skill and the relative moral quality of a particular human being - see Spacey, Kevin)

back to office

Posted on by admin

It’s every bit as bad as I thought.

At least, I’m in a side room, not the main floor, but my boss is right in the room with me (though she’s cool – a cousin of my wife, though neither of knew the other existed prior to me starting there – she looks like a younger version of my wife).

It’s weird though, so quiet. I feel like I’m breathing too heavy, like everyone is watching me.

It’s creepy, keeping my back up.

Hopefully, I get used to it, because otherwise, the background stress of being there is going to kill me.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 702 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Infinity Concerto, Greg Bear
Comics: Fear Agent 13-16
Music: Even If And Especially When, Screaming Trees

on the verge

Posted on by admin

Tomorrow, we start this back to week program. It’s only three days a week, but I’m not sure how that’s going to affect my writing schedule.

Weeks were I’m in now tend to be struggles to find time, because of the extra prep and travel time involved, but I had two weeks to catch up if things went off.

Now… every week, possibly three days where I’m having to get up earlier or stay up later or drop other things I need to do in order to keep up?

Or worse, postponing everything to try and shove them in Thursday or Friday, or that other time that we’re supposed to have time but don’t, a weekend?

I am fretting.

Yes. Fretting.

Okay, freaking out.

I want this life, and I’m tired of fighting myself for it; I certainly don’t need the rest of the world piling on.

The Mungk left me hopeless, fatalist.

Bad Neighbours only feeds my anger.

I don’t need any more anger.

I have always had more than enough.

Fuck.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 611 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: Almayer's Folly, Joseph Conrad
Comics: Fear Agent 9-12
Music: Euphoria Mourning, Chris Cornell (god, I miss that voice)