RToD 25JAN2012 – Life Starts When? (Or, Pro-Lifer’s Petitions)

Random Thought of the Day – Life Starts When? (Or, Pro-Lifer’s Petitions)

Those of you who’ve known my blog for any length of time know that I’m not afraid of discussing politics. There’s been one time that I wrote a political piece that I censored it myself simply because the topic with grossly hot-button at the time. (Gun control when the Senator got shot in the head) Normally, though, I’m fine with accepting discussion about politics because I believe that more people should do so.

From the title of this, I’m certain that this is going to cause some serious confusion for those who see it, and I honestly have a feeling that people are going to read a little bit and not bother to read the whole bleeding thing before writing to me one way or another.

I got an e-mail today from the website townhall.com. This is a very conservative site, and I believe I got on their mailing list when I wrote their site before. Anyways, the e-mail was to get me to sign a petition demanding that congress pass a law that states that life starts “At Conception.” The idea is to bypass the Supreme Court’s Rowe vs. Wade ruling by taking advantage of the court’s own statement that they cannot and will not determine when life begins, and creating a set point in time that a fertilized egg is alive. Doing so would bypass RvW and outright make abortions legal. Yay for the “pro-lifers,” right?

Random Thought of the Day 27SEP2011 – Random Forums Sillyness

Today’s “Random Thought” isn’t so much a random thought…  I was reading the World of Warcraft forums and found an unusual thread.  That thread was labeled: Nerf my GF’s sex drive.   My thought:  Oh, I gotta check this out.  (After the jump, of course..).

Random Thought of the Day 08JUL2011: Writing Again, Yay!

It’s been a few days, hasn’t it?

What?

It’s been two months?  Nah, couldn’t have been.  Really?  It has been?  Hmm…  I guess it has…  Well, for those of you still around, hello again.  🙂  For those who stumbled across my blog on accident or not so by accident, welcome!

I noticed that I’ve had a few months without a writing addition.  Let’s be real, I’ve had a few months since I’ve had an urge to write.  I’m over 80k words into No Way Back and to be honest it started feeling like a chore.  I was writing because I HAD to get it done.  I could feel it.  I was losing the spark of wanting to write.  Writing was something I was doing like it was a job — a job I wasn’t getting paid for.  Chapter 26 was finished and then…  Nothing.  I wasn’t seeing anything anymore.  The quiet whisper of the words and the hidden sights of the actions just weren’t there.  Obviously when you’re writing that’s not a good thing.  I had become obsessed with getting things right that I started losing sight on getting things write.  (Written, but it made sense when I thought it.)  I tried sitting and forcing myself to write.  Write anything.  Write a poem.  Write my thoughts.  Write about being angry over something or another.  I just couldn’t seem to make the words gel.  I can’t describe how much I hated it.

About a week ago, I was talking with a player I know online on World of Warcraft.  They go by the name of Breiz.  We were just BS’ing and chatting when something brought up the topic of science fiction and writing.  I told them that I write, and was asked what I’ve written.  I offered a link, then another, then another, until finally The Princess and the Were was opened, which I know will make little sense because I never posted it here.  I’ll remedy that soon enough.  The comments I received made me start reading through some of the comments I’d received on my writing before.  I never stopped to think how many of the people who’ve read my work actually gave me some sort of praise.  Then something happened.  I wanted to write.  The visualization of events, the sounds of the characters, the strange languages and landscapes and histories all opened up.  I don’t know what the difference is, but in 24 hours, I’d tacked on another 1300 words for Chapter 27.  It felt right.  It seemed like I was supposed to be writing it.  I don’t know what really the change was, but somehow I felt like writing was right again.

I think the issue I was having was actually rather simple: I’d lost sight of my own goals and lost the interest.  It became a grind, not something I was doing because I had fun with it.  But, the comments I’d received in various forms, the feel of the world materializing around me as I wrote just made it worth doing.  So, for those of you who are looking for Chapter 27, thank you for your patience during my hiatus.  Hopefully things will change a bit here.  I can’t say that I’ll be popping out chapters per week, but chapters in general would be great!

As long as this returned happiness with writing stays, that shouldn’t be a problem.

Random Thought of the Day 20MAY2011: Snake? Sna-a-a-a-a-ake!!

So, I had a visitor of the slithery-kind show up about a week back or so in my back yard.  At first I thought, hey, it’ll be alright.  It’s just passing through.  We’ve never seen snakes in our back yard before, and this one just seemed to have been startled by my mowing the lawn.  I scared it into the crevice beneath the shed and didn’t see it again, so I didn’t think anything of it.  I thought it was cool, posted a little status-thing on FB, and called it a night.

Looking for a way out.

A few days pass and nothing.

Yesterday, I got to see Mr. Snake again.  It was more or less resting under one of our gates.  I tried to catch it because I don’t want to see the little guy hurt, but it shot into the tall grass that I was trying to mow.  I argued with the grass for about ten minutes before I said “Screw it, it’s not in there,” and proceeded to cut that grass anyway, hoping for the best.  I wound up not finishing the lawn because of a mild scratch to my son’s face.  Yeah, that’s a whole other story…

Emotionally Strong? Scary!

I’ve come to the understanding that I’m emotionally strong.  I doubt that’s the right terminology for it, but that’s what I’m gonna run with.  I throw myself behind my opinions, convictions, and personal preferences very heavily.  When I’m upset, I don’t always hide it well.  When I’m angry, I apparently become red-furred and go off.  Alright, so I knew about the last part, but still.  What I didn’t realize is that I apparently become a bit scary.  That’s not what I want in any way, shape, or form, so I think that’s something I need to work on.  Maybe find a way to focus it into my writing and get that kick-started again!

Emotions run strong in my family, and that’s not untrue of myself.  I don’t often realize when I’m letting my emotional state get the best of me, and sometimes I look far more emotional than I’m actually feeling.  When I DO realize it, I’m usually quick to clamp down on it because I hate seeming like some out-of-control lunatic, and I know that sometimes my rants give that impression.

What’s the point of this?  Simple.  I just want to apologize to those who I’ve managed to startled, confuse, or scare with my sometimes illogical outbursts.  It’s something that I am aware of and I am working to fix.

Cadillac. Want. So very, very want.

I drove home and this is what I passed:

http://www.cadillac.com/ctsVCoupe/2011/

I cargasmed.

I have nothing else to add.

RToD: Sensitive Subjects are Sensitive

I spent about an hour or two writing up another Random Thought today.  It’s pretty well written, touching on a subject that’s a serious one to me: Gun Control.  More specifically, how I truly believe that all the gun control legislation really isn’t hampering crime and, in some ways, actually helps criminals while being based on the flawed logic of “Guns Kill People.”  The thought hit me shortly after the Arizona Representative was shot.  While I felt bad for her, all I could think about is, “Great.  Now all the gun control nuts are going to froth at the mouth about how guns should be taken away from citizens.”  I finally got the urge to write it out and, after having completed it, I think I’m just going to shelve the article.

Why shelve an opinion piece?  Isn’t that self-stifling?  Potentially, yes.  That said, I don’t want to be thrown into the mix of angry speech that comes from it.  My opinion is simple: Gun Control Laws Don’t Work.  Writing more will be just as effective.  Meaning, it won’t.  But, the piece touches on something that I don’t wish on anyone.  (At least not anyone I’ll admit to)  I play first-person shooters.  One of my World of Warcraft characters runs around using a rifle only because I haven’t managed to run across a bow I want to give him.  I’ve also got first-hand training on weapon usage being from the US Navy.  I understand the reality of weapon ownership, as well as the arguments against it.  But, right now, none of that really matters to me.  What DOES matter to me is, I don’t want my blog to be a platform to grandstand for one political idea or another, especially on a topic that’s more sensitive at this very second.  Guns are used all over the world for both good and bad, and the bad people shouldn’t be able to get them, but I don’t want to be the one using tragedy for my own opinion-benefit. 

Far from Down with the Sickness

As a few of you might know, I’ve been feeling…  Well, let’s just say sick.  My lovely wife suggested that I go to the doctor and see if what I have is actually the flu.  Suggested is putting it a little mildly, but she has good reason to be concerned.  My son hasn’t been given the flu vaccine and I won’t get it myself because the one time I got it, I wound up with the flu!  In regard to the flu vaccine, I’m of the mindset of, “Why introduce the virus into my system just to ‘protect’ me from it?”  Sure, there’s really more to it, it’s weakened, etc., etc., but that’s just how I feel. 

So, the doctor’s student aide came in and looked me over, then talked to the wonderful doctor that we use.  (We’ll call him Dr. H)  Dr. H came in and talked to me, saying that he doesn’t believe I have the flu because the fever seems non-present (which is odd, considering) and not all my symptoms match up specifically for the flu.  He did, however, state that he is certain that my body is fighting something off from a combination of the symptoms as well as my dizziness, disorientation, and occasional bouts of  incoherence.  I think his exact words were, “Dude, you look pretty rough,” but I could easily be wrong.  I really think I heard him say, “Damn, you look f***ed up,” yet somehow I doubt it.  What can I say, he’s great!  Personable, attentive, and not one to pull punches, thank G~d!  I hate doctors that dance around things and don’t tell you anything. 

Anywho, now I’m at home on my self-imposed bed-rest.  Maybe the better word for it is “Quarantine.”  I’m laying in bed, keeping myself away from my son and wife, and I hate myself for it.  I want to be with them.  I need them around me.  This house just doesn’t feel like home without Kikat’s ever-shifting moods and my Kippy’s trying to get into everything.  Add to that, there’s laundry I WANT to get done but I’m sore and it actually hurts to walk.  There are dishes that I need to get washed, but the same reason prevents me from getting up easily.  I’m freezing, but I don’t want to add more blankets because as soon as I do, I’ll be burning up.  I want to get some sleep in, rest and let my body heal because I feel exhausted from just walking up to the office, but I hear myself in the back of my head telling me that it’s nothing, that I can work through this, that I’m stronger than this, and that I’m being a p**** by not getting up and doing what I know needs done.  I can deal with this, I hear a voice screaming at me, There’s no reason for me to be pretending I’m some friggin’ invalid!  Another voice yells at me that I’m pathetic because I’m being irresponsible for wanting to take care of my son while I’m sick.  I’m irresponsible because I want to take the responsibility of caring for my son.  I can’t tell you how much THAT one’s f***ing me up. 

So, if I’m feeling so miserable, if I’m hurting so much, if I feel so pathetic, then why am I writing this?  Because I don’t know if I’ll be able to admit it later.  I’ll tell people that I’m fine, that nothing really bothered me.  The truth is, I’m not fine.  I feel weak, pathetic, almost helpless, yet I don’t want people to know this.  I’m Wulf, I’m tough.  I can handle everything to the max, at 110%, even when I’m bent over with the plague.  Nothing can stop me, right?  If I tell myself that often enough, maybe it’ll become true.

Holiday’s Lack of Posts

As I’m sure some of you have noticed, there’s been an unusual lack of anything at all for the past week or so.  Between feeling sick, work, my son, and generally not feeling well, I haven’t had much to post. 

I know it’s a week (or more, depending) late, but I hope everyone is having happy holidays.  Mine are going generally well.  It turns out that my son can not only stand on his own but has become an accomplished climber.  The day after Christmas my wife and I found him on top of the dog food bin.  We pulled him down and he climbed right back onto it!  That wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for the fact that we were using that bin to keep him out of the kitchen after our dog tore up the divider we’d made.  Back to the drawing board, I suppose. 

I’ll be honest: All of my writing has been on a stand-still.  Part of that has been my self-inflicted exhaustion.  Being up all hours of the night on World of Warcraft have left me with no battery in reserve.  Although I was planning on being in bed early last night, my Kikat told me that if I didn’t go to bed (at 9:30), she was going to take away all of my game consoles!  All because I was trying to download a -censored as per confidentiality agreement-, and I wanted to make sure it finished!  I’ve also been lacking in motivation recently.  I have a suspicion that that’s part of being tired, though, so we’ll see how much that’s affected by my new attempts at resting. 

Anywho, here’s hoping that I can pick up slack again soon!  I really like doing my writings and can’t wait to get that drive back.

Request Completed! TDS: Dreaming of their Nightmares

There have been a few of you who have asked me for even MORE Dream-Stalkers.  At first, all I could think of was, “Well, Damn, and I thought I was the crazy one!”  However, you seem to be chomping at the bit for more Dream-Stalkers, so I’ve decided to oblige you. 

At first, though, I honestly was terrified of the idea.  The whole writing was based off of a nightmare!  How could people want to read it?  A discussion with another would-be author helped make sense of it.  She told me that people love to read drama and see strong emotions in the writing.  Drama?  Check!  Emotion?  Check!  Hmmm…  Luckily, some “inspiration” helped get it started after the, oh, tenth or fifteenth request.  Hope you like it!  Oh, and if you’re looking for “No Way Back,” don’t worry, it’s coming.  =^_^=

It is posted here, but I’m giving some warnings.  First there are a few mentions of nudity, but nothing descript.  There is, however, a fair amount of descriptive pain and some blood/gore.  You Have Been Warned.