End of Year ‘08
As I've previously noted here numerous times, Time does fly and the best laid plans of mice and men can get boofooed.
I'd hoped to be able to keep this bloggy thing updated, but... sometimes, as I say, “Life can oftentimes get in the way of Living.”
Forgive me.
Since, oh... Thanksgiving, we've been SO busy around here what with Xmas, family stuff (more on that later), and trying to get a clear idea of what's been happening this past year, where we're going this coming year, and how it is we plan to get there, we've sort of retreated from Life and locked ourselves away from human contact. To any friends reading this, I can only apologize for that and beg their indulgence. Please understand... it's just something we have to do in order to keep our collective sanities. As they say, “It's not you... it's us.”
But, setting that all aside...
Here's an update on the happenings of the Clan Carnell and what's been going on here at the Chunkblow Chateau... for my homies.
Work: The sleep gig rumbles along... sucking more cock than a bus station prostitute. For the most part, my department is run by miscreants and dishonorable nincompoops. There are some exceptions, but they are few and far between. Enough said about that, the better.
Writing: First, let's talk about Non-Fiction... I've just completed a lengthy - about 4 hours of recording time - interview with Clive Barker which I am currently transcribing. The article based on it is slated for inclusion in Fangoria's 30th anniversary issue for which I have the cover. Woo! There are also some other super-secret plans on the table of a CARPE NOCTEM variety which I'll announce once they firm up. Suffice it to say some aspect of that era may find its way - slithering up from the ooze and ashes - to see the Light once again. C (my wife) has what I call “that Rodger and Hammerstein look in her eye" (ooOOOoo, a WHITE CHRISTMAS reference!) and she has some big plans (online mag? comics? world domination? who knows! *cue the collective elation / apathy*). This past year, I've managed to lose some focus (due to writer's block or maybe just an “cranial / anal infusion") and to my horror discovered that I had become the one thing I loathe and swore I would never become - a writer who didn't write. The plan for the future is to correct that (see next section of this entry).
Fiction... After setting the zombie novel aside for almost a year, I think I've developed “new eyes" and can re-approach it for a final time. My Pitch List of ideas is growing again and I'm actually excited about spilling some ideas out of paper. In addition to fiction, I'm planning to learn the Rules of scriptwriting and will undoubtedly try my hand at that. We'll see... Some people of an “industry" persuasion have expressed interest in the tales which take place between my ears, so... I plan to spend more time in front of a keyboard in the near future.
Some projects that were looming and were planned seem to have fallen off the table as the parties involved are busy with other things... which is understandable. The projects may get put back on the table - which would be terrific - but, as of now, they seem content to take up residence in a pile on the floor marked “Maybe Someday.”
Still... I hope to make more of my scribblings available for anyone who gives two shits.
Reading: LOTS being done here. I'm currently slogging through Stephen King's latest short story collection which is proving itself to be a mixed bag. Some of the stories are vintage King. Others seem like half-formed ideas and are of note simply because they come from a Master's hand. Previously, I devoured Jann Wenner's bio of Hunter S Thompson, GONZO (which was good), Christa Faust's MONEY SHOT (which was also quite good and, as a side note, I love the way this lady writes), John Joseph Adams' THE LIVING DEAD anthology (which was... ok. Do yourself a favor and read Skipp & Spectors' BOOK OF THE DEAD 1 & 2 instead) and Sang H Kim's VITAL POINT STRIKES (which is an ESSENTIAL book for any one interested in martial arts). Next up... Black Belt Books has published BRUCE LEE'S FIGHTING METHOD in one hardcover volume and then I have Kalush & Sloman's bio, THE SECRET LIFE OF HOUDINI, and finally Carroll's THE PHILOSOPHY OF HORROR.
Movies: What can I say? I've given up on trying to defend my “junkie-like movie habit" of 2-3 films a day. That pace did slack off during December (due primarily to my new-found obsession with Valve's LEFT 4 DEAD game), but I'm back on track with it and things should be returning to normal on that front.
For those interested, go ahead and add me to your Netflix friends list. Remember that I send out Movie Notes on each and every movie I see.
http://www.netflix.com/BeMyFriend/PhKc2kyWDd6dd0fL6FiR
Be warned though... it means you'll get an email or three from me (sent from Netflix) daily.
Exercise & Training: Back in September, I went to the doctor for a checkup and to my utter horror I was told I was tipping the scales at 265! I KNOW!! WHAT A FAT FUCK AM I! So, I began a reassessment with my love affair with food and, while the affair continues, I've now become more rational about my intake. Let's just say that certain foods (sugar, chocolate, fried foods) and I have “agreed to see other people.” So, I've started writing down everything I eat and am assigning calorie counts to each item. The “diet" is now restricted to 1,500 calories a day which is becoming surprisingly doable. Also, I'm back at the gym 4-6 times a week for two hour a day clips. I've changed my regimen and took my max lifting weight for ten reps divided that amount in half but raised my rep count to twenty. As a result, I've dropped 40 lbs as of now. The work, as they say, continues.
Family: We'll take this one by one...
Catia: Again, my wife continues to amaze me with her wits, her smarts, and her compassion. I consider myself lucky to be married to a woman who puts up with me and my nonsense and has done so unflinchingly for over 20 years.
My daughter, Connor, continues to grow into a fine, smart, willful woman. Sure, she has her days, but, for the most part, her beauty and strength causes my heart to weep with joy. It is my hope that as the years continue to go by we can remain above all else friends... as well as daughter and Daddoo.
My son grows into a stout, funny, caring man. He is one of the few people who can effortlessly make me laugh... and that means a lot in my book. He is currently living in Seattle (which is an hour or so away) and so I find myself seeing him less and missing him more and more. But, as is the Way of Things, he will, I know, continue to become his own man and lead his own life. Still... as I look back, I still think of those long evenings of bong-hits and Halo with reverence and delight. We do talk more now that we're both signed up to Xbox Live. Who knew that would be the thing to bring us closer. I should do a commercial for them. “Xbox Live... we bring families... and slathering fanboys... closer!”
My mom... well, that's another story. Mom's slow, inexorable slide into mental oblivion continues. I have a trip scheduled to visit her and to broach some REALLY unpleasant things (even to me “assisted living" feels like a distasteful euphemism as does “thanatological waiting room"). Still, when she's “on," the bits of her that remain shine through brilliantly. She's a tough lady and, even now, she stands an example of what all women should be. Oddly, during my interview with Clive, the subject of Alzheimer's came up and he asked if we could talk about it as research for an upcoming book of his. I know this sounds weird to say, but... I was honored and am more than willing to talk to him about it. If I am to talk about this with anyone, talking about it with someone who I respect and consider a friend may help me make it make some sense.
So... that's about it.
You may feel free, dear reader, to insert some feeble promise of me trying to keep this more updated here. At best, I'll commit to trying to try to be true to that.
So... be well, dear friends.
Be safe.
Tell those you love that you love them.
Call your mom!
And remember... “Clock's ticking.”
I'd hoped to be able to keep this bloggy thing updated, but... sometimes, as I say, “Life can oftentimes get in the way of Living.”
Forgive me.
Since, oh... Thanksgiving, we've been SO busy around here what with Xmas, family stuff (more on that later), and trying to get a clear idea of what's been happening this past year, where we're going this coming year, and how it is we plan to get there, we've sort of retreated from Life and locked ourselves away from human contact. To any friends reading this, I can only apologize for that and beg their indulgence. Please understand... it's just something we have to do in order to keep our collective sanities. As they say, “It's not you... it's us.”
But, setting that all aside...
Here's an update on the happenings of the Clan Carnell and what's been going on here at the Chunkblow Chateau... for my homies.
Work: The sleep gig rumbles along... sucking more cock than a bus station prostitute. For the most part, my department is run by miscreants and dishonorable nincompoops. There are some exceptions, but they are few and far between. Enough said about that, the better.
Writing: First, let's talk about Non-Fiction... I've just completed a lengthy - about 4 hours of recording time - interview with Clive Barker which I am currently transcribing. The article based on it is slated for inclusion in Fangoria's 30th anniversary issue for which I have the cover. Woo! There are also some other super-secret plans on the table of a CARPE NOCTEM variety which I'll announce once they firm up. Suffice it to say some aspect of that era may find its way - slithering up from the ooze and ashes - to see the Light once again. C (my wife) has what I call “that Rodger and Hammerstein look in her eye" (ooOOOoo, a WHITE CHRISTMAS reference!) and she has some big plans (online mag? comics? world domination? who knows! *cue the collective elation / apathy*). This past year, I've managed to lose some focus (due to writer's block or maybe just an “cranial / anal infusion") and to my horror discovered that I had become the one thing I loathe and swore I would never become - a writer who didn't write. The plan for the future is to correct that (see next section of this entry).
Fiction... After setting the zombie novel aside for almost a year, I think I've developed “new eyes" and can re-approach it for a final time. My Pitch List of ideas is growing again and I'm actually excited about spilling some ideas out of paper. In addition to fiction, I'm planning to learn the Rules of scriptwriting and will undoubtedly try my hand at that. We'll see... Some people of an “industry" persuasion have expressed interest in the tales which take place between my ears, so... I plan to spend more time in front of a keyboard in the near future.
Some projects that were looming and were planned seem to have fallen off the table as the parties involved are busy with other things... which is understandable. The projects may get put back on the table - which would be terrific - but, as of now, they seem content to take up residence in a pile on the floor marked “Maybe Someday.”
Still... I hope to make more of my scribblings available for anyone who gives two shits.
Reading: LOTS being done here. I'm currently slogging through Stephen King's latest short story collection which is proving itself to be a mixed bag. Some of the stories are vintage King. Others seem like half-formed ideas and are of note simply because they come from a Master's hand. Previously, I devoured Jann Wenner's bio of Hunter S Thompson, GONZO (which was good), Christa Faust's MONEY SHOT (which was also quite good and, as a side note, I love the way this lady writes), John Joseph Adams' THE LIVING DEAD anthology (which was... ok. Do yourself a favor and read Skipp & Spectors' BOOK OF THE DEAD 1 & 2 instead) and Sang H Kim's VITAL POINT STRIKES (which is an ESSENTIAL book for any one interested in martial arts). Next up... Black Belt Books has published BRUCE LEE'S FIGHTING METHOD in one hardcover volume and then I have Kalush & Sloman's bio, THE SECRET LIFE OF HOUDINI, and finally Carroll's THE PHILOSOPHY OF HORROR.
Movies: What can I say? I've given up on trying to defend my “junkie-like movie habit" of 2-3 films a day. That pace did slack off during December (due primarily to my new-found obsession with Valve's LEFT 4 DEAD game), but I'm back on track with it and things should be returning to normal on that front.
For those interested, go ahead and add me to your Netflix friends list. Remember that I send out Movie Notes on each and every movie I see.
http://www.netflix.com/BeMyFriend/PhKc2kyWDd6dd0fL6FiR
Be warned though... it means you'll get an email or three from me (sent from Netflix) daily.
Exercise & Training: Back in September, I went to the doctor for a checkup and to my utter horror I was told I was tipping the scales at 265! I KNOW!! WHAT A FAT FUCK AM I! So, I began a reassessment with my love affair with food and, while the affair continues, I've now become more rational about my intake. Let's just say that certain foods (sugar, chocolate, fried foods) and I have “agreed to see other people.” So, I've started writing down everything I eat and am assigning calorie counts to each item. The “diet" is now restricted to 1,500 calories a day which is becoming surprisingly doable. Also, I'm back at the gym 4-6 times a week for two hour a day clips. I've changed my regimen and took my max lifting weight for ten reps divided that amount in half but raised my rep count to twenty. As a result, I've dropped 40 lbs as of now. The work, as they say, continues.
Family: We'll take this one by one...
Catia: Again, my wife continues to amaze me with her wits, her smarts, and her compassion. I consider myself lucky to be married to a woman who puts up with me and my nonsense and has done so unflinchingly for over 20 years.
My daughter, Connor, continues to grow into a fine, smart, willful woman. Sure, she has her days, but, for the most part, her beauty and strength causes my heart to weep with joy. It is my hope that as the years continue to go by we can remain above all else friends... as well as daughter and Daddoo.
My son grows into a stout, funny, caring man. He is one of the few people who can effortlessly make me laugh... and that means a lot in my book. He is currently living in Seattle (which is an hour or so away) and so I find myself seeing him less and missing him more and more. But, as is the Way of Things, he will, I know, continue to become his own man and lead his own life. Still... as I look back, I still think of those long evenings of bong-hits and Halo with reverence and delight. We do talk more now that we're both signed up to Xbox Live. Who knew that would be the thing to bring us closer. I should do a commercial for them. “Xbox Live... we bring families... and slathering fanboys... closer!”
My mom... well, that's another story. Mom's slow, inexorable slide into mental oblivion continues. I have a trip scheduled to visit her and to broach some REALLY unpleasant things (even to me “assisted living" feels like a distasteful euphemism as does “thanatological waiting room"). Still, when she's “on," the bits of her that remain shine through brilliantly. She's a tough lady and, even now, she stands an example of what all women should be. Oddly, during my interview with Clive, the subject of Alzheimer's came up and he asked if we could talk about it as research for an upcoming book of his. I know this sounds weird to say, but... I was honored and am more than willing to talk to him about it. If I am to talk about this with anyone, talking about it with someone who I respect and consider a friend may help me make it make some sense.
So... that's about it.
You may feel free, dear reader, to insert some feeble promise of me trying to keep this more updated here. At best, I'll commit to trying to try to be true to that.
So... be well, dear friends.
Be safe.
Tell those you love that you love them.
Call your mom!
And remember... “Clock's ticking.”