Gifts, Goings-on and Gaining Control

The word of the week is numinous.

Dec 2 - Timeliness

This month is all about managing my time - giving to myself, in a way.

Between work and writing, there's not a lot of time left over for me in December. As it stands, I'm not going out much at all - save for the occasional trip to Moka House for a solitary tea - as my remaining time not spent sleeping, feeding myself or generally keeping the place livable has been spent in front of my computer putting words to the screen. Not to paper; my handwriting is lousy and I can barely read it myself… not to mention it's really, really slow going that way.

All that's fine; this time of year, people are extremely busy and stressed, so just letting everyone be about what they need to be and keeping my own hands busy seems to be working. Not being a social butterfly I once was, this doesn't really bother me and I actually feel better in that I'm devoting as much time as possible to writing, which is why I want to be doing anyway.

That thought really helps to keep me focused as the days grow shorter.

Dec 3 - L33tspeak in reality?

Today had a very surreal segment to it.

Working, as I do most days, I am exposed to the general public. Who, by and large, are normal and inhabit the same reality I do. Some are ruder about it, but in the main we all agree that the world we share is not the Matrix, or indeed inside a computer program ala TRON.

Well, little did I know that this isn't a 100% thing.

Approaching a young man looking at keyboards, I opened the dialogue in the usual way - and from there things got… strange.

He spoke in entirely in l33t.

I wish I could describe the exact phrases he used, but I was so stunned that he was communicating ONLY in online jargon that I missed a few mental steps during our thankfully brief conversation. I do recall that he didn't look me in the eye the entire time( as though I wasn't real? )and did his level best to project an air of total cool, overlaid with a slight disdain in the computer hardware being discussed. As though he was used to better and couldn't be bothered to really take an interest in anything around him.

It was really weird.

After he'd wandered off towards the front door, I gave myself a shake and poked a few shelves… just in case they distorted with a silicon flash. There was no sign of lurking Agents, so I just chalked it up to the guy spending way, WAY too much time online and went on with my day.

Still, I looked really hard at anyone wearing sunglasses for the rest of the week.

Dec 4 - Dark Crystal Director's Cut!

What a discovery I made today!

The wonderful Nerdist.com posted an article about a project that's been a labour of love for one man for over two years: creating a Director's Cut of The Dark Crystal - which he's just completed!

Better yet, it's available online now! Have a look:

I'll be watching it in the entire this week, to see how its vibe is different from that of the original film. To be honest, for my own writing project I had a more serious tone in mind, as light and fluffy doesn't really work for me overall. Not that I'll be going all dark n'such in my submission, but I always felt that the uneven feel of the original film was due to factors beyond my understanding; I know now that it was because Jim Henson's original vision had been adjusted by the studio to 'lighten up' a potentially darker film.

I'm quite grateful for the find today, as it will really help to inform my own work.

Dec 5 - Prospectus!

Money came up today, in a good way.

I know I've said it before, but today I felt for the first time in a long time that my financial future is on the upswing instead of circling the drain as it has been for what seems like forever.

Without getting into details, I can simply state that with my sister's recent job promotion and some discussion with my family have combined to make me worry less about dollar signs in 2014.

Which goes hand-in-hand with reducing stress, naturally.

Feeling like I'm gaining control of my life, however it's working out right now, is vitally important to my well-being and essential to freeing the creative process to flower without restriction. I liken it to having gained a sponsor, in a way, much as some artists dream of and have done many times in the past.

It's just the start of many more good things to come.

Dec 6 - Powerless!

The lights went out today.

While I was at work today in the evening, the power failed - not once, but three times - and was out for almost 2 hours in total.

There had been two other major power outages since I arrived here in Victoria, in 2008 and 2009, both during the holidays. Neither one was directly due to extreme cold weather or snow, just increased demand on a grid that couldn't supply enough juice to those who wanted it.

It was fun in some ways, but it also illustrated how unprepared most people are in general when the world we take for granted goes away for a while. I had several spare flashlights with me as well as warm clothing, but most people use their cell phones for light and don't carry spare batteries for those. So once they're gone, they're without a vital form of contact.

I know that I was wondering how I'd be able to heat my place once I got home if the power was still out. I have lots of spare batteries and some other supplies, but I don't have anything near three days of complete self-sufficiency that anyone needs to having case of a disaster. I've become a little lax in the last few years since moving my parents off into their own place and today I realized that I have to once again get back to being prepared for life's little hiccups, which don't really care whether or not I'm having a good day or dealing with various troubles.

A little money spent wisely the next few months will make for a vast improvement in dealing with those hiccups when they come around again - whenever that is.

Dec 7 - Kincade and Empire

Mashups are a favorite thing of mine, especially g33ky ones.

While there's a preponderance of bad art out there, I can't say that anything by Thomas Kincade is bad, really. Especially coming from someone like myself, the room drawing a straight line is a challenge even with the ruler.

Which is why I was so tickled to see the art pictured above; anything to do with putting Star Wars into juxtaposition with classic art has my full approval. Go take a look at more of the pictures and marvel at the ease with which the Empire invades the serene settings of Kincade.

Dec 8 - Christmas Party!

A busy day that didn't drag, with a party at the end!

Most of today was spent at work, starting a little earlier than usual as I took the bus for the first time in a long while - it was too icy to cycle, as I'm not a fan of skidding on pavement.

Work itself was busy but not crazy… still enough to keep me hopping all day, though most everyone was in a good mood so the hours flew by. Soon enough it was dinnertime and I was off to wait an hour for a ride - where to? Why, the company Christmas party, out in Langford at Bin4!

I have to say, it was quite a change from the parties of previous years at MMart, where everyone would make small talk and try to sneak glances at their watches to see if it was time to leave yet. This party was markedly different: everyone there was GLAD to be there and to chat up their friends all evening over some great food. I kept my puns in check, dishing them out judiciously to a mostly appreciative crew and really, really enjoyed myself, though I was finding myself very tired by the time most everyone left at the end.

The best part? Not the Subway gift card, or the cocoa/marshmellow/polka-dot mug kit, or even the tasty pack of mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups! No, the BEST part was the Christmas card I was given, signed by almost everyone with personal messages. All of them uplifting and grateful to have me working with them every day...

Which is the best gift I could have wished for!

I'm just rolling along this past week, looking forward to every minute I can spend writing this coming week. Sure, Christmas is coming, but then so is my Dark Crystal deadline… so back to it!

Moustaches, Media and Meh

The word of the week is ebullience.

Nov 25 - Improvement

Winter hibernation has definitely got its claws in me. 

Ever since the clocks were turned back, I've been getting quite tired earlier in the evening and by 10 PM, I am ready to hit the sack. For someone who normally turned in well past midnight even as of a year ago, that's quite a switch. I'm compensating by getting up earlier in the morning and getting things done, which I think is a fair trade.

My moods have definitely stabilized, due in no small part to reduce stress at work and financially. While I'm in no way anywhere near a black-ink bank balance, not having to sweat every single $1.95 Tim Horton's tea purchase of late has been wonderful. It's been all due to my sister, whose now-solid employment has meant that my own paycheque pittance hasn't been the prop for our household.

While the days of upgrading computer parts and purchasing the odd neat( and inexpensive ) gadget are gone, just not having to worry about every single dollar every single day has been fantastic.

That's good practice for when our finances flip and Fortune favors us once again.

Nov 26 - Why a Word Of The Week?

In case you ever wondered why I include one every week…

Apart from the obvious, I like words that carry a few layers of meaning in them and can be used for different things. I often sit and ponder different words, rolling them around in my head while I think about all their meanings in different contexts.

Also, each week's Word is related to how I'm doing that week. While there's been a few weeks where the match isn't exact, the words definitely describe at least a portion of my week - usually the most important one - and that's enough for me.

Words, after all, can be made into anything by writer.

Nov 27 - Nova in my pocket?

A simple bit of software made my day today.

For the last long while, my old ASUS tablet hasn't seen much use, as it's been simply too slow for me to tolerate using it much. I've looked into doing a few things to speed it up, but not had the time to really get into those solutions - not that I have great hopes for them to work all that well, my do.

This week, I downloaded an app called Nova Launcher. It's an android app that replaces the standard 'launcher' which runs any android device, launching applications and generally Getting Things Done.

It's amazing! It's like I have a brand-new tablet again; swiping from screen to screen is lightning-fast and there's almost no lag, which drove me bonkers a lot of the time.

I like the program so much, I installed it on my Samsung Galaxy SIII and wouldn't you know it also made my phone feel like new again. I'm very impressed, even after needing to spend a few hours reconfiguring all the icons and widgets, it's definitely worth it. I definitely recommend checking it out for yourself.

Nov 28 - Free TV?

If it's free, I like it.

Hopefully whatever it is, is also without a catch. For the most part, watching television over the Internet has been very hit and miss. Even in the last decade when broadband cable became commonplace, it's very difficult to find TV programming that's recent or of decent quality.

Someone at work suggested this site, which I had a look at today. I was thoroughly blown away by the sheer volume of programming available - for free - which doesn't involve any sort of Torrent downloads or watching poor-quality videos the size of postage stamps. A small caveat is that some of the videos have pop-up ads, but the site actually asks viewers for forgiveness, as their host where the videos are stored are the ones actually putting the ads up - they have no control over it.

A quick perusal shows you that there are hundreds of shows hosted on the site, enough television from the past few decades to keep you watching for another few decades, at least.

For now, I'm going to pick and choose my favorites here and there. Free!

Nov 29 - Black Friday: Meh

Rarely have I been more disgusted at consumerism then today.

I used to think that the crazy materialism mindset that comes over the majority of North Americans during the holidays was moderated by the feelings of generosity and love that the season engenders in people.

However, this year saw the widespread adoption of the American 'Shopping Holiday' known as Black Friday in Canada. The day after Thanksgiving, at least in the United States, means massive crowds turning out for substantial discounts at almost every retailer - all of this a month before Christmas.

Personally, I think the crowds and the tension are disgusting and I was thankful that I was working today in the afternoon so that I missed all the morning madness. It was a steadily busy day but there was no sign of any tidal waves of people scrambling to grab a deal before someone else got it. Nothing material is worth standing in line well before the sun rises in order to get in before anyone else grabs the deal.

Next year, I'll be sleeping in.

Nov 30 - Movember's Last Day

My moustache has a fan club!

Admittedly, it's a small one, but still: I've received quite a few compliments on it these last few weeks. More than a few of them have compared my appearance - with longer and now-curly hair - to Tom Selleck, which I find flattering, even with a squeaky voice thrown in.

I'm quite liking the low-maintenance aspect of having just a mustache, compared to the fiddly work one has to do with a beard or goatee to keep everything in trim. I do enjoy being clean-shaven, as it gives me a more youthful look and most of the rest of my facial hair is now coming in salt-and-pepper grey. Seeing as I don't believe in coloring my hair, I'll just shave it off, which is easy enough.

Also, it keeps my lip warm when I cycle!

Dec 1 - New month, new ideas!

As I keep my nose to the writing grindstone with my Dark Drystal entry( due in a month! )my mind is already looking forward to more writing challenges in 2014: contests!

This coming year should see me flourish as a writer, at least in terms of productive output. If I can manage it, I'll be spending less energy on my day job and reserving the best parts of myself for throwing into my writing full-bore. 

Which means I have to enter more than a few contests, I believe. It's the only way I'll be able to prove that my writing can have meaning enough to other people that they'll pay for it, and not in terms of writing some kind of advertising copy. I want to know that the stories in my head, the fruits of my imagination if you will, are enticing enough to other people that I can share the views of my mind's eye and they'll want more.

Once I get rolling, there will be no stopping me. That thought makes me quite, quite happy.

Only a few weeks to go for completing my Dark Crystal contest entry. I'm excited and eagar to write every day this coming week - as it should be! The mild weather's been great, as I haven't had to walk or bus to work due to ice or white stuff...

Buzz, Bookstores and Being Better

The word of the week is confluence.

Nov 18 - Beneficence

Weight and energy are intricately linked for me now in my mind.

Right along with food, of course. The last two weeks I've been eating more, and more often, with some solid results. My weight has stayed rather steady and my energy levels have been a lot higher overall, along with some much better( and consistent ) nights of restful sleep. Having a tracking program on my phone that lets me know that precisely really helps as well.

This has also had a positive effect on my mood, which has become much more balanced and I've been able to step back from situations much more easily rather than lose myself in the moment. Which is very helpful when work or life pokes me in the eye, looking for an instant reaction, which I don't want.

What I do want seems to be finding me, albeit slowly and at strange times. As I've mentioned before, writing and working for all that I'm doing right now, which makes it much easier to focus. I am looking for another job, if only because my current one demands too much of my mental and physical energies every day that I KNOW I have to put towards my writing instead if I want to make that into something major.

For now, the winter months will be ones where I spend my free time in my head, working on things that will bring my dreams of writing for living much closer.

Those thoughts will keep me warm when it's cold outside.

Nov 19 - Buckling Down

The pace has been picking up for my Dark Crystal writing project.

This week, I've made great strides in getting the general outlines straightened out for my short piece. Getting the details right is critical for my writing process, as it sets the framework for my mental images to form properly and lets the themes of the story coalesce naturally as my brain gets everything sorted out.

I'm very close to getting to the writing itself, as I can feel the story forming, which is very exciting. Coming at things with the image of the blank page never works for me; I just have to get all the little puzzle pieces arranged in a pattern before I can start to assemble them into place. Sometimes that means I get separate little stories, all part of a whole, while other times a great story arc forms out of the pieces I've carefully laid out.

The next few weeks will be very exciting ones for me to discover!

Nov 20 - Bad Bugs Bourgeoning

Regular flu shots may be only the tip of the medical iceberg to come.

I've already have mine this year, but as I learned last year, influenza can come in both a bacterial and viral form. In the case of a bacterial influenza, antibiotics are the way to go, but a worrying trend in the last decade has seen completely antibiotic-resistant bugs develop and start to spread alarmingly across the world.

An article this week in Wired magazine explores just how widespread the effects of these new bugs would be on our lives, well beyond just making people sick. If antibiotics become ineffective due to their overuse( as Alannis Morrisette famously croons about ) then we will see a whole range of routine medical procedures become dangerous undertakings, among many other things.

It's very worrying and I wonder how we'll manage this looming health threat.

Nov 21 - Bouncing Brains

Work this week has been wonderfully different, for the most part.

When I've not been pulled from the Tech Office onto the floor to help( for various reasons ), it's been rather nice, as I'm getting a feel for the job. Setting up computers, diagnosing problems and transferring data from old systems to new ones are things that I feel very comfortable with. Learning the procedures that are in place is a vital part of the job, as I have to ensure that standards are always maintained. Nothing unusual there.

The fun part of the job is working with people on a daily basis, where sales are only part of the job, instead of the all-consuming primary focus. It's also rather nice not to have to heft heavy objects with my still-fussy wrists day-to-day on top of dealing with the frustration of finding products for customers while doing five different things at once... because there are too often too few people to deal with the variable business volume.

If I could do this five days a week( once I'm properly trained - again; this is the 4th dept in 9 months ) then I think I'd be content doing the job( for now )for what I'm being paid. I've noticed that I'm smiling a lot more and that's transmitting to the people I work with, keeping their stress levels down as well. Which means I can focus on writing.

Definitely a good thing.

Nov 22 - Bountiful Blessings 

Two great pieces of news arrived today!

The first was that my sister has been offered ( and accepted! )a permanent position at her government job today. This means that instead of being on contract, she is now a full-time employee and thus her income as part of our little shared household is secure.

Which means a LOT less worry for me in terms of my own job not providing nearly as much income or security. With her income stream firmly in place, we can plan more easily for the near future and worry less about how each week will fall out financially. It's fantastic news and we're both very happy about it!

On the same note, I received an unexpected cheque in the mail today for a decent sum. As it turns out, my benefits have finally gone through at my workplace after months of paper shuffling and delays. Which has meant that my MSP premiums that I have been paying since the beginning of the year have been adjusted to reflect my employment status, with the result that half of each premium I paid every month was returned to me - huzzah! While it's not an incredible sum of money, it's definitely welcome and goes to show that good things do happen at the unlikeliest times and places.

The next surprise I'm hoping for? Getting a letter in the mail for one of my stories!

Nov 23 - Bye-Bye, Biggest Bookstore

A sad note today for booklovers everywhere.

The World's Biggest Bookstore, located in Toronto, is closing its doors in February 2014.

As a child, I loved the occasional visits we made to this vast space full of books whenever my family made the trip to Toronto for the weekend. Usually it was a stroll through the Eaton Centre, with a diversion to the newer Atrium Place at the north end of the block… and just on the other side of that was the World's Biggest Bookstore, where I could always find something new and interesting to entertain my mind.

 

All things change and that in itself is generally a good thing. I haven't been to the Biggest Bookstore in decades and its unlikely that I'll get there before it stores are closed forever. I will have my memories though, seen from the eyes of a young boy for whom the stacks of books towered well over his head whenever he ran eagerly through the doors. Stretching almost as far as a boy could see, the rows of bookshelves promised treasures hidden in plain sight, waiting to be discovered. It was a wonderful, magical place.

That's a feeling I hope I'll never outgrow.

Nov 24 - Beautiful Blade Runner

If there's ever been an iconic vision of future, then Stanley Kubrick's work is it.

The masterpiece that is Blade Runner came out back in the summer of 1982 and has continued to influence generations of artists, writers, filmmakers and many others when it comes to envisioning the future. I happen to own four different versions of the movie, watching some of them from time to time and marveling in the incredible cinematic experience that happens every time it's on the screen.

 

Artist Anders Ramsell has animated Blade Runner by painting 12,597 different water color paintings and stringing them together into beautifully fluid sequences. It's incredible, you feel like you're watching Blade Runner, you get to hear Harrison Ford and follow the story but you're seeing it like never before—in moving art.

It's been an interesting week, one of the more relaxing and good-news-filled ones I can recall for quite some time. I'm eating better, sleeping better and enjoying work FAR more while worrying LESS on a daily basis. Which are ALL good things when it comes to being in the proper frame of mind to be creative and WRITE. I'm looking forward to the next six weeks of solid creativity as I complete my entry into the Dark Crystal AuthorQuest contest… and try to get a handle on where my day job will end up taking me.