Once again its time to let my freak flag fly. Getting ready to head to the Exotic Halloween Ball!!!!  See who I see there, well maybe.. I might be hard to spot in a crowd :p 

Since my brain is busiest when I first awake and go to sleep and I spend those moments at the alpha and omega of my day sorting out thoughts trying to make sense of them so they stop yipping on me like a chihuahua on crystal meth, I picked this one to get out the pen so to speak. In my many storied and sordid years of dating, hooking up, etc, and then getting involved into the swing and kink lifestyles respectively, I've come to realize I've had an aversion to interacting with women who are part of committed relationships. This is especially so, in particularly of late with women who are in relationships that have be been closed / monogamous for years and recently have be come open. Now this is no real anathema to couples, I've made exceptions to this many times, but it has bothered me since I hate having reactions without having a cognitive awareness as to why I have them. Doing this, I mentally wrote these down on flash cards and put them in front of me in the table of my mind of the reasons I normally avoid talking with couples: the weird stigma they have towards single dudes, odd creepy possesiveness some have towards single people, hidden agenda of one of the partners (test of loyalty, trying to get pregnant, film porn without the other partner knowing), overt version of afforementioned hidden agendas that I won't agree to, male partner being a little too interested in being involved in my hooking up with his female partner more than she is, male partner being interested in me (for the record I'm straight, no interest in dudes at all). Going over these reasons, I remembered one that I had not considered, one that all those many, many, years ago that after my year of misogynistic isolation after my divorce -- yeah for one full calendar year didn't date, didn't even look at women, and even if one threw herself at me I pretty much hid from the world (other than work or school, those were dark times -- a realization that the male partners in newly open couples don't seem to realize until either A) their primary relationship falls apart due to jealousy or B) someone smacks some act right into them so that they course correct. This blog by the way is for the purpose of this. That being said I am no expert. Far from it. Hell, if someone told you I am, please by all means pimp slap them. And for that matter tell me who they are so I can give them two more for flinching. I am simply an observer with a bit too much time on his hands, mind you those that know me well would likely tell you 5 minutes of idle time is too much time on my hands :p Anyways onward - the realization that I had and newly embarked male partners in couples in polyamory, swinging, open relationships have - you've lost a step, and now pay attention fellas because a lot of you miss this, YOU WILL NEVER. EVER. EEEEEEEEEVER. have as much "game" as your female partner. The reason why this FACT is important, if it isn't obvious as fuck already can be broken down into four quantifications: First - You just spent an inordinate, by comparison to single men, time focusing on pleasing, interacting, and being near ONE woman for the majority of your waking and sleeping life. No the women at the office, the girl at Starbucks, the chick you passed that one time in the grocery store getting apples DOES. NOT. COUNT. (no matter how much your inner voice told you it did). While whatever dialouge and mannerisms you have which may tickle your primary partner and get her going it will have a high chance failing on single females due to coming off creepy as hell and overly familiar. Plus - your wife catches you acting the way you do with her, depending on how much presence of mind she has, SHE might be wondering what the fuck you're doing and if you are trying to leave the primary relationship. Second - Most likely you're out of practice and the dating environment is WAY different than what it was prior to you hanging up your single guy card. Women are either severely faster than you remembered or more frigid than Antarctica. You're forgetting how to maintain normal, casual conversation. You're likely forgetting how to press forward, and damn skippy you've forgotten how to dial back. These are things that come with practice. You may have had it prior to you being sequestered by your primary. Hell she may been one of those savants among female kind and locked your happy ass down before you got any real practice at all (some chicks are snipers like that). And lets face it, no matter how much she may tell you and her friends other wise, YOU GOT LUCKY WHEN YOU LANDED YOUR PRIMARY. Either way you slice it, whatever the way you thought the landscape was charted before, the geography has shifted. Third - Balancing your primary partnership and for that matter your vanilla life is NOT a skill that most people know from jump. Hell in my estimation, from watching most people and how they do it --- are so overtly concerned with keeping their dalliances and escapades a coveted secret, it makes for a shiny box. And you know the more elaborate the covering, some people want to pry and find out just what you are hiding. And in doing so you spend so much time obfuscating it will make difficult to actually have fun ENJOYING what you are hiding from people. This of course can be avoided by planning ahead of time, but keep in mind even the best of plans fall apart when taken upon the field of battle. Fourth and finally - Now this is one some people don't really think about, its the most hilarious, also the MOST dangerous, of these in my estimation because it probably is one of the reasons couples and single individuals (single guys more than single women in my opinion) have at times an almost adversarial interaction with each other. It won't come as a shocker to most people though. A lot of male partners tend to bank HEAVILY on their bisexual female partner's attractiveness. Yes, your wifey / girlfriend / slave / sub / Domme / Mistress IS a hottie. She walks in the room, likely a good portion of eyes will linger on her for more than a couple seconds. And likely she will lure prospective ancillary partners to your bed a lot easier than you. Fellas, dropping this knowledge heavy on you - RELYING STRICTLY ON THIS WILL FUCK YOU OVER BIG TIME for these reasons: A) Remember YOU are out of practice, women spend a good portion of their adult lives using that attraction and deflecting undesirable attentions so much its like BREATHING. B) YOUR taste may not equal HER taste - she might like skinny girls with no less chesty endowment, you might dig thick women with GLORIOUS hypnoboobs. Believe it or not a LOT of couples don't discuss this when they first enter the scene and looking for other partners. C) The women she attracts might NOT like you -- this kind of goes back to being out of practice, or it may be your personality doesn't agree with her as much as you get along with your primary partner. D) You might not LIKE the women your primary partner brings back, this can lead to either sex you don't want, or you covertly, possibly overtly twatblocking your primary partner - which should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. E) The women she brings back, might have a male partner of her own which you might not get along with at all. Nothing ruins the possibility, or spoils the enjoyment of hooking up with an epically hot lady, to find out she's saddles with, from your perspective, an incomprehensible douchebag. (p.s. this last one is another reason why I, and a lot of other single dudes tend to avoid couples in case you missed the blurb at the beginning of this blog) Signs you might be doing this last tripping point - couples profile that mostly has pictures of her few or none of you, meeting up with potential additional partners she dresses up you don't, and, of course - you're not even TRYING to talk to other women and you're letting your primary do the heavy lifting, so to speak. Well this ends my rant for now, hope this helps a few of you that needed this.

Came "THIS" close to being calm. Obviously my little vacation wasn't long enough. 

Simple rule - If you talk about me behind my back, I'll only forgive you if you apologize TO. MY. FACE. #cowardfreezone

So. much. anger. trying to find my happy thoughts...  A crimson cloud obscures...  and all I want to do is rend the world

T-Minus 27 days left ... and counting... WONDERCON 2012

Now at hotel room - currently eating and getting ready to head over to Naughty Gras

Riddle 2/2/2012

You build more of me each dayAnd every one of me you cherishBut with age I slip awayThe oldest are the first to perish.

.. dear random collarme hoochie  "I want a n****r to ass fuck me* while may charm some, puts me in a foul mood. please eat a bowl of hot dicks and die.  be blessed doing so. 

ITS THE WHOLE DAMN WORLD THAT I CLUTCH IN MY PAW!!!!

I can always be trusted to be me. Expecting anything else is just ice skating uphill.

its funny, I'm the opposite of Samson, the less hair I have the more powerful I feel. TIME TO DESCRUFFIFY!!

Lets see which will be more prevalent today, relentless belligerent optimism me, or likely to put boots to asses me...  been flip flopping a lot lately :-s 

As many of you who have read my profile (some say exhaustively long and ridiculously meticulous in pre-requisites to contact, others say amusingly  intricate, which side you fall on matters not to me currently as I am writing this sans coffee). That being said, one of the things I have in my profile, is that I have a small number of items I require prior to contact. Not going to be any more precise than that in a direct term.   Anyways someone had something similar in their profile on one of the many dating sites, and I think I may add it to my own for amusing assimilation purposes and that was a question: "In your first message, and thats only if I don't contact you first, I want you to tell me exactly what you think separates you from all others who have contacted me."  At first when I read this that minor grain of internal hypocritical inclination that everyone has before their "act right and act real" provisioning kicks in said outloud, "BITCH, what you talking this crazy jibba jabba for  wantin' a brutha to write a damn quiz before he sees if fries comes with that shake?!"  (apparently my inner voice prior to getting coffee in the morning speaks ebonically -circa 70s style jive.)  Mind you I then remembered that in my profile I have a measure of caveats that have helped determine if the persons contacting me actually want to get in contact with me, or are fake profiles / attention whores looking for more fans and not genuine interpersonal contact.    So i read her little impetus to an expansive statement over, and over, and over again till my grey matter could make an answer that would indeed facilitate a comprehensive response.  Which went as follows:
Good morning, 
In reading your profile I felt that  I actually had to respond as it did interest me in talking to you, so here it goes. Simply put, what separates me from, and this is in my opinion, the majority of men on (*and atleast the dating sites in question that I've been on) is that while you do appear to be a woman of great beauty and intellect, and I find you attractive to a great degree, I honestly don't have a huge impetus of sleeping with you until I actually have a measure of understanding you.  Sure I have the idle curiosity that all people have on these sort of sites prior to actual conversation that has a variable derivative of "I wonder what she's like in bed." But truthfully I enjoy making new friends, if I find I can talk or hang out with you without being bored, that's a win to me.  If the only thing you can offer me is sex and you have the conversative power of a parrot, then I'd probably give you a box of crackers and send you on your merry way. (and yes I mean that literally as I am sometimes prone to keeping a box of crackers in my car) . I am sure you are bombarded with a number of mails right now so get back to me when you can. Have a pleasant day.
-K
P.S.  Nice boobs.
(yes I had to add that because aside from one face pick the girl had I think 25 pics of just her chest and while she did have pretty eyes (and interesting two tone that I did make a comment on the one face pic she had up) )   

Hey world, I have awoken. Sorry but this is your only warning. Get right or get out of the way.

Friend asked me if I wanted to go with her to see the new Twilight. I reminded her of my chick flick rule. She immediately shut up. I win.

Currently - Not meeting anyone new. About to start NaNoWriMo (google it) and that will take up 90% of my free time. From Nov 1st to Nov 30th.

Earlier today (on )  I posted:       *"I always find it simultaneously amusing and irritating when I see an email from someone who previously said they had no interest in me sexually or they don't hook up with black guys.. And now they want some. Here's a protip: if your first answer was concurrent with the above I probably don't want anything outside of peripheral conversation to do with you."*

-Expanding on this:  
I am a firm believer in the power of first impressions and more importantly I ALWAYS remember when information is given to me  that gives me a clear path of avoidance.  Unlike most in the online dating world, when I am told or when I see something in someone's profile, that clearly expresses I am not the person's type I walk away. Plain and simple. Especially so if the topic of ethnicity is mentioned because, especially due to past experience, its rare that that particular discussion ever goes well in the way to improve my opinion of the person in question. So when I am told "you're not my type." or "I don't date / sleep with / play with / (insert appropriate term here) with black guys" I usually let the person go on their merry way without even a second thought and, based on how I am told relegate them to either Category B, or if they sounded like they were suffering from a head-a-rectal inversion (i.e. their choice for not being attracted to someone of my ethnicity is based off of preconceived notions and prejudices based off of stereotypes and conjecture and not on fact, usually I find those who have an ethnic embargo fall in to the latter category, but I digress), they are put firmly in Category C (you can even see the boot print on their port side butt cheek).   So  you can imagine my annoyance when I get approached by someone who told me no the first time or in their profile they have it stated clearly or in bold letters why I am not their type.  Even worse are the ones that act like they are talking to me for the first time as if we had never talked before.
In summary - I'm not stupid.I took what you said for action and stopped talking to you for a reason.  I don't particularly care about whatever touchy feely notion gave you the idea that you deserve a second chance, you made a choice.  Put your big girl pants on, suck it up buttercup and move on.  I'm sure you have a wonderful reason why I'm suddenly attractive, again, don't care. Tell. your. story. walking.

Anyone else (particularly of the Dom / Top / Master / Mistress / Highkinkymuckamuck variety) find it fairly irritating..

When they receive a bit of correspondence from another supposed "Dominants" propositioning you to be their sub / bottom / slave because they're "good at flipping" Dominants?

Every so often I get these emails (mostly on CollarMe.... occasionally on AFF... and rrrrrrrrarely on ) from individuals and couples... and it puzzles me, not just because of the apparent idiocy of the individuals in question, but their undeserved arrogance as well.

NEWSFLASH - I sincerely doubt your "oh I'm such a hot Dominant" "dommyness" was responsible for the a) weak willed or b) self- unaware individual(s) you flipped kneel before you in all your glory thus contributing to the idea you "Flip Dominants like hotcakes." Likely - you got lucky and found someone in transition or awakening to their complete understanding of their "role" in things.

In summary - pull your head from your ass, take a swig of act right, hell CHUG IT LIKE AN 80's MOVIE FRAT MOVIE EXTRA, and have some damn sense.

AR

FACT - You might get in my pants, you will NEVER get in my pockets

Riddle 9/30/2011

I washed my hands in water
That never rained nor un;
I dried them with a towel
That was never wove nor spun.

Riddle 9/29/2011

My mother went over to your mother's house
to borrow
A wim babble, a wam bobble, a hind body fore
body, whirl-a-kin nibble.

Riddle 9/28/2011

Thirteen times each year you see me,
Wearing ivory horn.
Thirteen times I'm fat and dreamy/
Thirteen times I'm born
Thireteen times my visage darkens,
Then I'm hard to spy.
Thirteen times the werewolf harkens.
Thirteen times I die.

Hypothesis: I can make rockin BLT tacos. Results: FACT - I make AWESOME BLT tacos!!!!!

Riddle 9/26/2011

White bird featherlessFlew out from ParadisePerched upon yon castle wallUp came Lord landless,Took it up handless. And rode away horseless. To the king's white hall.

Fact- i will not (or try not to)  hook up, fuck, play or whatever terminology for activities that satisfy or ignite lustful urges  unless I have at least 1st had a coffee date with the person.  

Riddle 9/25/2011

Mates unbalanced,Or so they seem;But paired in tandem,A deadly team.
She so gently rounded,Him so firm and straight,Yet when they are compounded,Woe to them they hate.

FACT - Falling in lust with me is only a good idea if you have patience and  a degree in polytolerance - Other wise you're just ice skating uphill....

Was back tracking through my email found this convo that had collected dust
Her - You're cute, its too bad I'm not into black guys.Me - Well Lordy Lordy, I'll be sure at the next black guy meeting to let ALL the brothas know that random chick who emailed me is not into our black guys. I am sure its a huge loss.   
-My point of contention - 
aside from the fact ethnicity was the focus of her first email (people who know me know I absofrackinglutely HATE that)   Why the fuck would anyone email someone first if they have no damn interest in the person? Seriously that's like going up into a stranger's kitchen smelling bacon and sayiing "OMG that swine does smell divine!! but i'm a vegetarian so uh makes me a salad!!" It makes NO sense to me what so ever.

An earlier discussion I had with a friend of mine on this topic a friend of mine said "maybe she wants you to convert her."  I think I should probably go on the record and say - I am  not the ambassador of Black Guys.  Do not think diplomatic coitus will occur because you are looking to sate your curiosity.  If that is your mission it will fail.  I'm sure a number of other brothas would be happy to accomodate you. Mind you they are likely less fun than me.  Reasons should be self-evident by the time you see the final punctuation of this sentence.  :p

Riddle - 9/12/2011

From five feet high,Up to the sky,It reaches, tho' 'tis round, If fancy hits,This Riddle you'll expound.

Fact - If you can't keep up or least be on the same lap (think track in a race) with me mentally, It is highly doubtful I will have anything to do you with you physically.

Fact - the difference between a pessimist & a realist: The former only focuses on the problem. The latter knows there is ALWAYS a solution.

Fact - the true difference between an intellectual and a pretentious douche? The intellectual shows. The douche constantly tells.

Thoughts and Treatise on Type

One of the few questions I get asked in opening conversation that I either wantonly dislike or have some measure of difficulty answering, for the same reason,  is "What is your type?" 
It's a question that its something that I've had a hard time in quantifying, especially at the time of askance.  I also dislike it because I can almost never tell if the person is asking to either A) disqualify themselves and bail out while the bailing is good or B) validating their choice in engaging conversation or C) perform a "Cosmo test" on me on the spot (which usually I make a conscious to fail because hell if you're going to "Cosmo test" me, I am likely not the guy you're looking for).   However, my answer, of late anyways, usually consists of two specifications  with understandable variations. The first being: my type consists of FUN people.  Two: In what capacity do you refer to in: type?   
The first is easy, the second - is a bit more, and transparently difficult.  The reason: because, in my opinion, we all have different types of people we interact with in different capacities.  The type of woman I'd hang with  watching tv, or playing board games with, isn't necessarily the same type of woman I'd have for a movie (and likely make out) buddy,  she may not even be the type of woman I'd  go to the gym,  nor is she as likely the type I'd consider fucking, or for that matter contemplate having kink laden activities with  (yes there is a line of progression, I noticed it as I typed it) .     
That all being said - I have, as is almost easier to decide, narrowed down what aren't deciding factors for me.  
One specifically - ethnicity.  I really can care less about this.  Seriously this has NEVER  been a deciding factor for me. I find it funny when I'm someone would assume this is (and a bit disturbing actually).
Though one factor I'm finding more and more a decisive one is if the woman in question is Polyamorous or at least Polytolerant.   Simply put, I have really no interest in being exclusive with anyone at this time.  Those who know me know the specific reasons for this - here's a hint it's not "typical guy bs."  Those who thought that - slap. yourself. NOW.  If you've paid attention to the writer and the writings, you should probably discerned if you have any modicum of deductive reasoning  Nocturne does not = Typical. 
Another is ... I am not one for sexless kink, so likely  I will not  have an interest outside of platonic activity non-kink activity (with occaisional scattered showers of groping ) with anyone  who has no lustful intent towards me.  Why bring the water to boil if you aren't going to cook with it.    
The last factor which is also becoming more prevailant is someone who is capable in finding the elegance of simplicity (yes I roll union of opposites style because I am so Kung-Fu like that) 
Anyways this is was me thinking out loud.  And this is me ending this blog. 
Later Dayz.

Dear Canada and Australia,

This is my declaration of theoretical intent. In case of the event I win the lottery, I've decided, I'm going to invade, covert style, both of your countries. To what purpose you ask? TO TAKES YOUR WOMEN. ALL OF THEM. You have too many hotties per square mile and dammit that isn't fair, AT ALL. So in the interest of fairness, and so that your respective countries don't implode with the hotness factor you guys have, I'm doing this FOR YOU. Oh it's going to happen. And the cool thing, there's not a DAMN thing you can do about it. Don't worry, I'll send you pictures from my grotto (Hugh Hefner has a hot chick grotto, so yes that's on my "lotto list") of all my escapades and sexy parties. You'll recognize me as being the devilishly handsome black guy in the evil monkey hoodie.

Hugs and Kisses,

Nocturne77

P.S. Japan, France, my mother's homeland of Jamaica, and Brazil - your asses are next. Operation Hotness Harem of Excellence - Launch T.B.A.

Fact - I always leave my tolerance for blatant stupidity in my other pair of pants.

Fact - There is a special place in hell for cockblockers and those who take too many swigs from the haterade jar.

soooooooooooooooo as the result of (looks at inbox) 9 emails 

Fact -  I probably know  (95% likely) that I am not your type before you do.  Profile reading has it's  merits. 

and people wonder why I call CM a kiddie pool sometimes.  sheesh.  

For those who also sojourn on  my name on there is Nocturne77 

Why am I posting this - because A) I truly believe there are VERY few women on CM that can garner a decent assessment of a person's nature on here (point of fact - I  come on CM  primarily for comedic  purposes)  and B)  you can likely get a better feel for me in terms of "should I or should I not" move forward in contacting him. 

Newly Formed Pet Peeve - 

FACT - In initial conversation - SMALL TALK IS ESSENTIAL!!  Seriously there is very few ways to truly gauge how a person thinks and a great deal of information can be gathered  by how a person answers "How are you?" What are you up to? and other on the surface mundane but still exploratory inquisition.  MORE to the point, I think its kind of rude and presumptuous when people approach me by trying to dive into the deep end from minute one.  I'm I the only one who finds it weird in some profiles (here, Collarme, aff, and other places that seem to orbit interests of both the carnal and kink variety)  some folks put "I want someone to get to know me" and in the next sentence or in one prior they put "I really hate small talk"  (or some similar statement) ?   Seriously that's like saying "I really like bacon"   and then saying "I'm a hardcore vegan"   WHAT THE FUCK PEOPLE?!?  Have some damn sense and stop overfuckingcomplicating every damn thing because some weird  rectal bur you got going is telling you you're not sophisticated enough and enjoy the elegance in simplicity.   

in summary.....  stop.  ice skating.  uphill. 

Riddle 8/23/2011

What is the beginning of eternityThe end of time and space The beginning of every endAnd the end of every race? 

Riddle 8/23/2011

Put it on a dish and suddenly it will have all kinds of flowers.
You can't guess this riddle in two hours.

(side note: I swear some of these riddles in this book make me want to pimp slap the creators for overestimated intelligence and a pretentious demeanor .)

Fact - if I've had conversations an correspondence with local women for extended periods of time have yet to hook up with, let alone meet them, I don't think I am going to focus on someone who lives more than a 2 hour drive and doesn't even have a face pic to share. Flipping out about it only makes your crazy flag all the more evident. I know that the last 4 - 50 jackasses sent you pics, indulged your need for conversation and subsequently cybersex, and cockshots for your spank bank. Understand

I
AM
NEITHER
STUPID
OR
DESPERATE
TO
FUCK

or for hypothetical attention from someone who obfuscates themselves beyond the electronic ether.

It does not say "SUCKER" on my forehead. And I assure you the most ill advised course of action that badly partitioned excuse of gray matter you call a brain can come up with, is making the assessment that the conversational excursion you just engaged in when you darkened my inbox's doorstep is that you had nothing to learn from it. The "too long: didn't read" version:
YOU
FAIL.

YOU
SUCK
AT
LIFE

Tap out now and let the ref carry out the cage while you still have the wherewithal to do so.

Riddle 8/22/2011

White as snow but snow it's not,
Green as grass but grass it's not,
Red as blood but blood it's not,
Black as ink but ink it's not
What is it?

Riddle 8/21/2011

Flesh at both ends.
Iron and wood in the middle.

its 0300 - and I'm awake.  or rather - I just woke up for no damn reason...

Riddle 8/20/2011

What's the biggest saw you ever saw in a saw or that anybody said they saw in a saw?

Riddle 8/18/2011

He accompanies you constantly and you pay him nothing.

Fact - I have a strong attention to detail, which aids me in reading and interpreting profiles. However you provide me with no details, why should I pay attention to you? 

Riddle 8/15/2011

I wrote, wrote, wrote,I wrote on five sticks.I kneaded my mercuryI wrapped my green silk.

Riddle 8/12/2011

Two bodies have I,Though both jointed in one.The stiller I stand,The faster I run.

Fact: I am a firm believer in reading the entire profile before contacting someone. Ancillary fact, I actually expect the same courtesy. Summary  - it saves time, prevents irritation, facilitates fun.

Fact - Assuming that my intentions are other than what I tell you they are is setting yourself up for failure. I don't obfuscate what I want, I won't tell you what you want to hear to get it. Dig?

Fact - ethnicity is not a factor on who I do and do not date. Your personality, integrity, and, in summary, content of character IS.

Insomnia sucks.....

Finally feelin sleepy....

final tally 15 min on heavybag, 50 pushups, 30 min on bike, 45 min assorted weights, 15 min swim. Hoorah PT. #califit

Heading to the gym. Clarity of thought through physical exertion and subsequent exhaustion, here I come. Hoorah PT.

Riddle 8/2/2011

Men will take pleasure in seeing their own work worn out and destroyed.

Fact - When I receive an immediate reply of just "not interested" and I subsequently block you, that's not me being a jerk. That's more of along the lines of me helping you stick with your decision.

Workout: done. Now: chillin. Taking advantage of Netflix... watching: Bitch Slap. Interim activity till I figure out my day...

Now starting day: currently: getting gear together for gym. First: onward to California Family Fitness. Next: TBD.

Fact - I like big words. I really like big words. If I had the energy to i'd speak in sentences where each word had a 3 syllable minimum.

On a whim, mirror check... last few months of gym time paying off, ETA to milestone: 3 months. ETA to goal: 5 months. Hoorah PT.

Fact - when it takes more than hour to get to you, its no longer a booty call, its a day trip.  Prepare accordingly, hydrate thoroughly.

Handicap match My Creative Process vs the tag team of heat & the feeling of being an overcoiled spring... Tenacity in my corner.. but damn.

Severely hard adjusting to how bored I am this weekend compared to how fun last weekend was. Forming a list of things to do.

Ok, awake. Shower, food, and then back to Comic Con. Its a beautiful morning in San Diego. #sdcc.

72 hours till my drive down the I-5 to San Diego for Comic Con begins. :)

Riddle 7 -11 - 2011

Nonsense sitting on a chair, with nonsense sitting at a table.
Nonsense talks nonsense.

If my mood took physical form... it would be a ginormous firebreathing building wrecking monster... grrrrrrrrrr

Riddle 7/5/2011

Four stunning feet I have  and a hands pair,Unlike myself, not one and one I fare,I ride and walk at once, for me two bodies bear.

Ok sooo the gym (CaliFit) is closed :( ugh. One more reason for me to invest in a bike.

making ready to make way - hitting the showers.

‎18 Days left till my Comic Con trip begins.... FINALLY - Kalu will be BACK in San Diegooooooo!!!

Boot up sequence in progress. Warning: status of primary mood circuits missing coffee based stabilizers, IMMEDIATE ACQUISITION RECOMMENDED.

Riddle 7/1/2011

Soon as I am made I'm sought with care;
For one week a year consulted;
The time elapsed, I'm thrown aside,
Neglected and insulted.

Riddle 6/30/2011

I ride, I ride, no tracks are left;I chop and chop; There are no chips left.He rides and rides;Turns aroundThere is no road left. 

Dear world, I'm awake now. My mood? Hmm... Step correct or get out of my way. Is that a good answer? The Kaijiu says: RAWR!! *stomp*

Boot up sequence in progress. Primary partition load of coffee version 2.0 pending Initiation of Motivation and Focus to follow.

Riddle 6/28/2011

My first is in blue, but not in glue;
My second in old but not in new;
My third in look but not in see
My last in ask but not in plea
My whole leaves has leaves but not a flower
'Twill help you pass an idle hour.

Riddle 6/27/2011

It was once lowBut now it's highIt was once wet But now it's dryIt was once blackBut now it's redI put it upstandingAnd it fell down dead.

Riddle 6/24/2011

My veiled face is my face itself; unveiled it is annulled.I am hidden and concealed yet if you discover me, I will disappear before your eyes forever.

Happy Hump Day!! GRAB SOMEBODY SEXY AND TELL THEM "HEY, GIVE ME EVERYTHING TONIGHT!!!!"

Note to those who oppose - stand before me and you shall fall before me. Victory is mine and that's a fact jack!! Recognize.

6 days till kinky prom :) 

WANT!!! http://www.shocknife.com/

SITREP for those that wanted to know: my eyes when I got home last night sweelled almost shut. Feeling much better now, look normal again.

Conversation review: I am not mean. I am just pure of purpose.

Conversation Review: what is agressive optimism? The assertive and beligerient belief that not only is there a silver lining, but woe be those who try to make you see otherwise because you WILL NOT BE STOPPED from seeing it or bringing it to fruition.

TO THE GYM!!!

Work out done, showered, fresh, clean..... and yeah a bit sore... but one more step forward.

Sleep mode engaged - reboot pending.

The next person who makes the mistake of teling me improper grammar + overuse of profanity = ethnic identity will truely regret it.

Conversation review: I wear size 15 shoes and walk faster than most, I'm bound to step on toes, why worry about it?

Conversation Review: I honestly don't give a fuck if me having a "chick flick rule" is a turn off. Deal with it or walk away.

Riddle 5/12/2011

Name me and you destroy me.

Riddle 5/10/2011

The land is whiteThe sea is black,It'll take a good scholarTo riddle me that.

Riddle 5/6/2011

Old Father Boris came to the door,He came with a dash and a rush and a roar.He whooped and he hollered,and he made a great din,And at last the old fellowpopped right in.

Riddle 5/5/2011

Brown I am and much admired;Many horses have I tired;Tire a horse and worry a man;Tell me this riddle if you can.

Alright - went home early from work due to a massive headache.  My level of irritatability is high so I'm going to crash for now.  

Riddle 5/3/2011

House full, yard full, Can't catch a spoonfull.

Riddle 5/2/2011

Within the skin is the hide, within the hide isthe bone, within the bone is the flesh, and within the flesh is the blood.

Riddle 5/1/2011

What is it that which goes up the hill,And down the hill,And of all standeth still? 

Now that its getting warmer... I'm going to have to acquire throwing knives... and a place to practice...

When I step up in the place you know I step correct, WOOHAH, I GOT YOU ALL CHECK!!!

Riddle 4/26/2011

What is it that fits against your belly  and is wet when it is in,  dry when it is not, and makes you sweat when you work it? 

Great night out - now to bed, and at 0500 me vs gym. I will not lose.

Riddle 4/23/2011

What is that that has three heads, three mouths, three noses, six eyes, six arms. six ears, and for legs?

Definitely time... to invest in a freestanding heavy bag....

STAND UP NEXT TO A MOUNTAIN!! I CHOP IT DOWN WITH THE EDGE OF MY HAND!!!!

Geeky unwind mode currently engaged - responses delayed /deferred.

Tonight is definitely a Hibachi steak night. 

Riddle 4/15/2011

Green but not a lizard,
white without being snow.
and bearded without being a man.

Catching up on anime for a couple hours... and then.. gaming. With very few exceptions, I will be unreachable. Geeky stealth mode: Engaged.

Riddle 2/4/2011

I pounce and I snarl,
Then come in with a roar.
I assemble and marshal
The troops off to war.
I form up the band
That parades down the street.
But at the end of my time,
I recede with a bleat.

Conversation Review: "Reason for no cock pick: You won't be meeting me crotch first."

Ok Cheesecake Factory, then Barnes and finally Asylum...  you know how to find / reach me.

NOW FUCKING HEAR THIS

First before I get started, unless you are the offending parties, which I sincerely hope you are self aware enough to know whether or not you set me off, we’re cool.  Normally I prefer to talk directly and let folks know if I have an issue in which though this last point proves you rrrrrrrrrrrreally don’t know me as well as you think you do),  I am by no means, way shape or form unapproachable.  Furthermore I am in no way elusive either. What I am getting at – IF YOU HAVE A DAMN ISSUE WITH SOMETHING I SAY OR DO, STEP THE FUCK UP AND TELL ME ABOUT IT.  If I offend you, TELL  ME ABOUT IT.   If I cross a boundary, TELL ME ABOUT IT.  If  you have a problem with something I said, post, and or did, TELL ME ABOUT IT. Preferably directly and in private.  In my personal life I live and breath by a “the table is round” philosophy. Meaning:  NOONE  is my handler, NOONE is my superior, and I treat all people equally.  Moreover, LETTING ME KNOW RIGHT THE FUCK AWAY ALLOWS ME TO CALLIBRATE, COURSE CORRECT, AND MOVE FORWARD.  Smaller words for you shortbussers: If you tell the nice black guy he offended you he will make sure it won’t happen again.  Mind you for a few of you that means you will wind up in Category Bravo –sub classification: peripheral, because to be honest, if I offend you, and my personality is kind of full throttle, its best   that aforementioned   box is where I  consider you at. 

I posted this recently as a declaration of intent but I feel here is a good place to elaborate “to consider everywhere within 40 feet of me to be under Spartan law.”  I am amending that statement now:  I govern all personal associations under Spartan law.   What that means for those who  didn’t see 300, King Leonidas made a very crucial statement that is the prime and poignantly pertinent applicative of my declaration of intent: “Under Spartan law, all people are held accountable for their words and actions, even the king.” I  am a man of honor, courage and commitment.  I believe firmly in the fair treatment of all.  I am by no means a disrespectful individual, I can give a fuck less if you think I lack sophistication because of my interests / proclivities,  and as I said, I would prefer that if I do somehow offend you, you tell me IMMEDIATELY instead of thinking, INCORRECTLY, that I have no concern for your emotions, feelings, or other reason you decide to fucking whisper behind my back about something.  I brook no impunity for fools or those who choose to insult my intelligence and my integrity.  Your perception of my being the “easy going guy who will let shit pass,” is an ill advised and woefully self destructive stand point.  Scoff if you fucking like, but I don’t do prolonged hostility.  Those of you who know me well enough should know I that I have absolutely no problem using ever observation I make of whomever is standing in front of me and then turning your words, actions, and intentions against you and verbally vivisecting you in a visceral and verifiably irrevocably psyche damaging way. I walk a fine line of being a nice guy and simply being a guy who’s good at being nice, you mother fuckers are pushing me to the latter.  Stop it or I assure you, the consequences of your choice of resultant interpersonal precipitation that befalls you will be your own fault.  Sorry for your damn luck if you thought other wise. 

WonderCon 2011 Ticket acquired. Next Phase Train Ticket and Hotel Reservation.

Declaration of intent: condsider within 40 feet of me the "Caution This Is Sparta!!!" sign in effect. Clarification given case by case.

Conversation review: you want a pretty boy, find a Ken doll, I'm GI Joe, fear my kung-fu grip....

Somethings in life the harder you look for them, the harder it will be to find them. Best for those things to find you. always move forward.

Riddle 1/6/2011

There was a donkey tied to a rope.
And the rope was only eight feet long
But a bunch of carrots was thirty yards away.
How did the donkey get the carrots?

In the intersest of amusement, if you had one question you want answered about me, email me and I will answer it truthfully.

A B C D E F G, ya'll should know better than to fuck with me...

I'm neither mean or nice, I'm just really good at being nice and being mean. Either way, I'm one word: effective.

Riddle 1/3/2011

Old Mother old.
She lives in the cold,
And every year she brings forth young,
And every one without a tongue.

2010 Review and Mission Statement 2011

Before I do my normal “welcome to my blog” introduction, I would prefer to first drop a bit of a disclaimer.  This will be a blog that will be for the most part a bit, to say the least, more assertive than my norm.  One would likely argue possibly belligerent in its “voice.”  Mind you this disclaimer is not in any way shape or form a preemptive apology as much as a forewarning.  Also taking a bit of grammatical license for purpose of conservative purposes, so if you are one of those prim and proper “you must speak exactly as what passes for MY paradigm for speaking" types, this is not the blog you’re looking for (and yes I just did the hand wave).

Annnnnd without further adieu,  to those familiar already with me, move ahead past this little part because you’ve already heard this before in several variables. For the rest WELCOME to the blog of one resident of Sacramento, CA. The abridged: gamer, geek of varied interests, IT professional,  U.S. Navy Veteran, single dad, sci-fi writer (when I get focused), and an all around “good” guy (some would even argue a devilishly handsome catch, but I let such endorsements be subjectively validated). I am a fighter and a lover. A firm believer in the concept of the table being round (though I prefer to sit in the fancier chair).  I have a unique, and semi-dichotomous personality that people either are cool with, or… well you know what if you don’t like it, sorry for your damn luck because its not for me to fix me for you. Your door to scamper off into the under brush is closing in  5

4

3

2

1

Alrighty then.. you’re going to have to read the rest of this.

2010 – Reviewing what went down

I have mixed feelings about what is of today, “last year.”  It was both a year that almost down the middle was one of triumph, trial, frustration, renewal, reaffirmation of things I knew, and, of course, learning of things I didn’t.    In truth.. I think that 2010 wasn’t a good year, it wasn’t a bad year.  At the  risk of de-personification (which I suppose is indeed returning a period of 365 days of spinning around the Sun to its actual state), the year simply was.  Mind you I did spend the first half of it, in the quieter moments when left alone to my thoughts spiraling a depression in varying degrees while pursuing employment.  A then July happened gainful employment regained and, well, those of you who have been following the variety of blogs, tweets, and other such posts know the rest.  I’ve had other things to deal with in life, personally, but really, I have decided, since this is “1-1” day of 2011, bygones will be bygones, and frankly I feel much better letting certain matters be squashed.   In truth all that can be said the majority can be said about. Furthermore, I think, in the interest of my primary “resolution” all that can be said about the past will be reflected on how I move forward.

Mission Statement 2011

Or rather, Declaration of Intent 2011.  As I write this I hear in my mind steam and cadence.  I’ve decided  to revolve my resolution and intentions for this year around one basic concept:

Aeternum Mutavi Protinus: latin for Always Move Forward.

.  There are a varying areas of focus that my new A.M.P. initiative will be most likely kickboxing though since I have the gear, I am thinking some weapons training is LONG over due).

Personal

There are a number of areas I think I can make improvement.   For the most part, I have been re-mind you I can be an unrepentant lech if I choose, the mood suits).  I am a LOT pickier than people think.  But my criteria has always been “Fun, Intelligent, Independent.” Physical appearance is great, but frankly if my brain isn’t engaged my mind goes into command prompt window mode with a perpetually running ping querie that reads:

Kbrain /inquiry – having fun yet?

-no response from server

-no response from server

-no response from server

-no response from server

-no response from server

-no response from server

-no response from server

-no response from server

-no response from server

-no response from server

-no response from server

-no response from server

16 packets sent 0 packets received – 100% packet loss. 

However, I’ve found I’ve been less proactive in seeking women who either fit this criteria, either reluctance due to lack in confidence (not that I think I am lacking as much as that confidence I can find someone who is within the criteria of what I like, and won’t get super attached to me).  That pretty much ends now.  Also, since I once adhered to a belief that I truly had no type (seriously if you look at every woman I’ve dated / hooked up with there is few actual patterns  or similarities) I think some narrowing down may be in order… Not something immediate as much as  getting a better blue print.  And, at the risk of sounding reactionary, since a lot of the women I’ve talked to have used the “not my type” answer with me, I feel I should finally being able to see what ISN’T my type.  One thing I feel I should make a very definitive statement of: if you met me between Nov 2009 – July 2010 – you did not meet the real me.  In all truth, during that point of time you met  a pale, shadowy, depressed whisper of me.  That being said if you made any decision about me during that period of time that bore any bearing of finality, good, I am happy you can make an informed decision on half  complete info.

Friendships

If you are still on my list you have either truly earned the title of friend and shown yourself true,  or I haven’t gotten around to getting rid of you yet. Only slightly kidding.  Over the last year both during the point of time where I was besieged with self loathing despite the positive façade, and when my motivation kicked up to 10, I learned who has my back, who I need around, and who I need gone.  This year, I plan on getting reacquainted heavily with those I know, point of fact that brings me to part of my next point.

Free-Time In General

I am planning on making a lot more and better use of my free time. Since I do plan on going back to school, I need to make sure that every second I’m not taking care of family, professional, educational life – I am having FUN. Unmitigated, unadulterated, pure FUN. Whether this is going to Dave and Busters, playing mini-golf, going bowling, Friday mornings at the movies, multi-hour gaming sessions, chilling in my geek cave reading through my stacks of sci-fi , comics and manga, going to Asylum nights, lap dances,  watching marathons of movies of my liking at home – if its my off hours I’m partaking in what amuses me.  Finding me sitting still will be a rarity. I also plan on upping my game in the writing department –FINALLY – has my energy is almost back to what it was.  It doesn’t mean I’ll be in a perpetual state of “busy” it just means if you want me you will have to catch me before I vanish.

Speaking of catching me – I also intend to do a bit of travelling, specifically: WonderCon –San Francisco, CA on April 1st, Comic Con in San Diego, CA  around the end of July, and I WILL finally be making my trip out to Las Vegas, NV.  I might make a trip out San Diego before Comic Con, but that all depends on my homework load how I am feeling about it.

 Personal Part 2

I have come to the decision I have let a lot of things pass that in truth, I shouldn’t have. In particular, me being misinterpreted.   I  am not an easy person to know,  I understand that, especially when “Hyde is out the box” and  I am an un unrepentantly lecherous ranting lunatic who’s volume control switch is broken.  However that’s a facet of my personality.  I am well aware, and those who have known me, no knowing OF me doesn’t count, that I am a myriad of simplicities that makes one interesting complexity.  However it appears that some have taken umbrage to this.  Well here’s your notice – if you have an issue with me, say so. Tell me directly, talking behind my back, I’ll hear about.  Here’s the rundown – I hear about it once: forgive and forget.  I hear about it twice: forgive.  I hear about it three times: FUCK IT I’M PLOTTING YOUR DOWN FALL. Sorry but as of 25 DEC 2010  I turned 33.  I am the parent of a pre-teen who as of this year will be a teen.  The high school bullshit was old for me  back when I was in high school. Its currently antiquated to dust and detritus now.    If you call yourself my friend – you should know the chart by now and have a heading- I don’t do drama- if you have an issue, we solve it and move the fuck on. My sincere apologies for the perdition-esque misfortune that has befallen you if you don’t like. (translation for those that was was too long for: sorry for your damn luck) .

There are a number of other things I am currently working on but the core concept will be revolving around the main  concept:  Aeternum Mutavi Protinus

Boldy if I can.

Without regrets always.

Last time I felt this energetic I drove from base to Oceanside at 2 am... just to watch the sunrise before start of day...  memories...

Freshly shaved and ready to roll, Asylum, you have incoming!!

Dreamland YOU HAVE INCOMING!! You better have jetpacks, hotties, and dinosaurs and other such Burroughs-esque faire.  Oh and kung-fu too!!

Bewarned RUM is in my system. I cannot be trusted for anything rational at this time. Don't worry already decided not to drive. Home4tonight

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE EVERYONE!!!!!!

Riddle 12/30/2010

Mother lives in the grass, father clings to the wall, son wanders about in the world.

Conversation Review:  you are among the reasons I have NO tolerence for princesses, the table is round,  FUCK OFF!!!

Price of Principals

Disclaimer.. this is just me getting rid of some mental clutter, not an open cattle call or a pity party invitation. More a speaking out loud to remove an unneeded file.  

Anyways, upon estimated 16 or so) since the last time I got laid.  Now while that is the part that is not the full parcel of this posting.  No the full point is that while the  Month + 4 and 16/24ths dry spell is not my intent, or for that matter a focus of choice the reasoning or circumstance that propogated it is.

See, by choice I am polyamorus (or non-monogamous depending on your definition which quite frankly I care not for specificity in this regard since paradigms others use  while are good to know for purposes of philosophical cartography, are not always universally applicable despite what they would think).  And  while that in its self is not a limiting factor, it is the one thing I can control that is a point of mitigation.  Other factors, that I've grown used to  being a stopping point from acquisition of carnal enjoyment here in the Sacramento have either been beyond  my control but I don't hold it against folks who's "type" is limited by ethnicity, age, and / or current  socio-economic standing.

However my choice in dating outlook being the one thing I can control which makes it interesting that I have either heard, or surmised the "one reason why I'm avoided (or someone uses the "not my type" cop out - trust me I know when you are doing it)"  is that I am not inclined towards monogamy.  I pretty much know who amongst the woman I have talked to, or who have viewed me from a peripheral or distant observation stand point have pretty much thought this (I'd hazard a hypothesis of 80% of those I haven't made any move or effort of pursuit, the remaining 20%  I just haven't figured you out yet).  Further in that choice I could, as I have seen many a Y chromosone possessed invidual in this listyles since I have since  some consider Swing and BDSM  separate, only reason I am using the singular instead of the plural is because I prefer to be concise in my long winded meanderings), lie just for the purposes of  some sick and twisted high of further embittering some genuinely great women after getting their rocks off.  At the risk of sounding a tad arrogant, if I was so inclined, it would be frighteningly easy for me to walk that path. Arguably I'm handsome, charming, and according to some a great lay. Unarguably I'm intelligent, cunning, and mentally outpace most if focused on whatever lays before me.  But  being principaled and unerringly honorable individual  I don't. 

I think what is my major frustration is watching how some who are so inclined towards a monogamous relationship get taken advantage of by those who feign similar intentions. Especially when aforementioned women, after they've been had are left on the shelf to collect dust at the whims of such deceivers.  And further irksome as, if I didn't respect the sanctity of some relationships, I could very easily, relieve other same such frustrations.

argh.

Riddle 12/27/2010

My first is in dress, but not in robe.
My second in map, but not in globe.
My third in mirth but not in glee
My fourth in plant, but not intree.
My fifth in smart but not in brain
My last in mask but not in feign.
The whole of me sometimes you'll find
On tables that are most refined.

Should have woke up earlier, time in the gym and a decent sweat would be PERFECT to start out the day today.

Conversation Review: No three years later your best friend isn't off limits, complaining 2 yrs after I slept with her is kinda stupid.

Riddle 12/24/2010

A kind and giving matron,
Set twixt love and war.
Generous with her bounty
Sharing with her store.
Mother inescapable,
As all her children learn;
Regardless of their wandering,
To her they all return.

Conversational Review - Text Snippet

Her - So are you ever going to settle down?

Me - eventually, right now I have priorities and obligations that preclude such interests.

Her - So you're gonna keep being a playa then.

Me - I'm not a "playa."

Her - well you're not monogamos, so what does that make you?

Me - Lecherous maybe, technically I suppose polyamorous would be the appropo term. But I am not a playa.

Her - How do you figure?

Me - A "playa" will tell you what you want to hear to get what he (or she) wants.  I tell you what I want, and usually you enjoy giving it to me.

Her - So what does the woman get out of it?

Me - Wrecked.  :)

_____________________________________

Riddle 12/21/2010

A dish that is full of flowers.
You can't guess this riddles within two hours.

Riddle Dec 17, 2010

One puts it in white, One takes it out Red

Riddle 12/4/2010

A little thing that dresses in white calico.
When it enters water,
it does not even get wet.

Declaration of intent, Making December a month to Remember

A disclaimer before I begin, since I truly believe in forewarning to mitigate possible offense, injury, or necessary planting of my size 15s  on your port and / or starboard jaw.  For those among you who have earned the title of friend, and are not just wearing the name tag,  you probably understand where I am coming from with the rest of this blog.  The rest, well you’re going to be in for a bit of a shock, or not, either way, don’t care. 

Now some of you have seen in various capacities me posting a  number or just the words counting down for the last couple of days.  We are now at 21.  21 days left till my 33rd birthday. The significance of this, you ask dear reader?   First slap yourself to clear the dirt from your eyes so you can read better, because I said IN  21 DAYS I TURN 33!!!   The last couple years, actually precisely 3, my birthday, or rather my attempt to celebrate it, has been met with EPIC FAIL.  And you know what, I am fucking tired of that.  I should be having unmitigated, unrelenting, incomparable FUN!!! Instead I had to either dial things down, be concerned about outside factors,  and other things that quite frankly, no I’m done with that.  To use a bit of alliteration (if that is indeed the appropriate term) or take certain liberties, Jekyll has been at the reigns  3 yrs running when Hyde should be at the helm.  THAT ENDS NOW.

Point of fact it not only ends now, but till 0700 26-DEC-2010  consider the box fucking open, and Hyde coming and going as  that aspect of my personality pleases.   From this day forward, my free time will be focused on things I enjoy.  In other words,  after whatever necessary daily obligations that constitutes my “9-5”  has been taken,   my mind will be geared towards  Debaucher, Merriment, and / or Geekery.  Hell if I can combine those things ALL THE BETTER.  

For those who want a clarification statement of this:  comics, gaming, lap dances, exploring the greater part of Sacramento, mini-golf, movie marathons, working out, sushi, writing, reading,  pool, bowling, darts, people watching, getting a hotel room marathon fucking with wild abandon, any and all of my interests will be explored and rocked till the damn wheels fall off.  Further clarification: ANYONE, and I  DO MEAN ANYONE, who makes the mistake of impeding in this are forewarned now: my patience, while great, is currently existing on a different and currently inaccessible partition.  Meaning: stand between me and my grins and I will kick you in the shins.  This also means ALL ADVICE DURING MY OFF HOURS IS NOW SECURED. 

Also, in the interest of preventative measures, I pretty much have decided that only FUN people are welcome around these parts until the end of this period of amusement eruption.  ALSOOOO  in the interest of having some semblance of an actual party 18-Dec-2010  Sushi and Lap-dances  will be on the agenda,  details to follow, no I won’t pay for you slap yourself for thinking that..    Like I said, this month, Hyde is out the box, step correct or get out of my way.

Riddle 12/3/2010

A body met a body
In a bag of beans,
Said a body to a body,
"Can a body tell a body
What a body means?"

Riddle 12/2/2010

The chubby fellow, swinging slow,
Not on a jungle vine.
Taken from his leafy home,
But not for jam or wine.
Has lost its weight while soaking rays,
Then joining you to dine.

Riddle 11/29/2010

Resting tall, beside the wall,
He tells the same old tales.
Armless stands, but see his hands,
No fingers and no nails.
Trapped in time, a deathless mime,
Until his innards fail.

If you were to ask me one question, what would it be? Respond in pvt please. :)

Riddle 11/24/2010

In marble walls as white as milk,
Lined with skin as soft as silk,
Within a foutain crystal clear,
A golden apple doth appear,
No doors the are to this stronghold,
Yet thieves break in and steal the gold.

Riddle 11/23/2010

White as the snow,
Black as the coal,
She walks and she has no feet,
She speaks and has no mouth.

Just Write 11-22-2010

So it is the 20th day  of November,  and NaNoWriMo has been well underway.  And for some reason I really can’t get my mind moving.  Mostly due to frustrations in other areas of my life, but then that is the nature of having a mind that’s geared towards I must be since no one ever listens to what the fuck I tell them but that’s a different beast to cage all together).

Anyways aside from the the epic leviathan case of busy brain from non-relevant issues I have, I have a maelstrom of ideas flowing relevant to my current project.  Mind you I knew from day one of NaNoWriMo I wouldn’t meet the goal of finishing a full novel, rather I am using it as an impetus to get writing on my ongoing project which is more suited to a serialization of prose fiction than a self contained novel.  Partly because I want to pretty much go free-form, and also because I really don’t dig the manuscript > approval > publishing process. I don’t write for money (though I’m told I could if I put my mind to it.)  So in the interest of getting things and ideas moving, I am posting this blog to  get a few of my ideas more “solid”  so I can move on from the sizzle and get to the steak.  

The following is just my basic notes of a work in progress, these are all my ideas and thus my intellectual property.

Genre, or Genres as it were

Science Fiction – in particular a mix of Superheroic adventure and Space Opera (which some could argue).  So if I were to say where I am drawing inspiration for overall –  this would be a Justice League / Star Wars kind of story.

The secondary Genre – is Action Adventure, which  could be said is part as part of both Space Opera and Superheroic Adventure though now that I am typing this,  is not so much a secondary genre I’m working on as much as the focal point of both genres.  Since I am going for more High Adventure than High Concept, it only makes sense.

The combination of both these allow me to create a setting with larger than life heroes, galaxy spanning quests, beings who can level cities with just a wave of their hands,monsters so gargantuan  their very roars shake the heavens,  plots so dire they put the very freedom of every sentient being in the universe at risk.

-Sticking point – I’m reaching here is what I want to include, designing the appropriate monsters, and of course building the planets that the protagonists can journey to save. 

Characters -

Right now I have a current core group of protagonists (one of which is the Point of View / narrator for the story).  The characters are part of a an Investigations, Security,  & Recovery firm (or rather an Investigations, Security, & Recovery LLC) that’s  a subsidiary to a larger PMC (Private Military Contractor)  in the 24th century.  They usually get contracted out on missions that require surgical precision with a low body count if any and more fact finding / surveillance than property damage.  Of course with beings possessing super powers, a little  breakage occurs.  

My main character is a reformed assassin who, remembers near nothing of his past prior to  waking up in a drop pod during the last galactic war in which be became a hero (it’s a convoluted origin story that I am hammering out). He specializes in covert operations / surveillance.  Since the end of the galactic war he worked as a freelance investigator, and up until recently has “walked the galaxy”  using his skills  and psionic powers to assist clients  in matters where a little covert intervention would bring a concise solution.  The story starts just after his company’s contract has been picked up by the PMC.  Or rather the  CFO lost the contract in a rather odd poker game. He’s kind of bitter of about having another boss, but it keeps food on the table, fuel in the engines,  and a purpose so abides by it for now.

Supporting my main character is his three war buddies, a former drop trooper who found him on the field of battle shortly after the main character awoke. He’s basically the best friend character.  His main abilities are super strength and invulnerability (basically, as comic book’s archetypes go he’s a brick). He’s also a skilled munitions expert.  His other buddy also encountered him though a little later in the war. He’s the teams technical specialist and is a skilled hacker, he possesses the ability to speak with machines.  And last but not least is his third buddy from the war their ship’s pilot, who is an genetically enhanced human. I have more added to  the crew but these are the core four. 

Opposing the main character and his colleagues, well  I could be succinct and say all hell breaks loose but in the interest of providing a minute antagonistic synopsis: An ancient and secret society who wish to conquer the universe  with the use of a self-aware bioweapon created by a precursor race that allows for them to take over and or destroy star systems with relative impunity.  Due to certain diplomatic reasons (still hammering the world building details) and infiltration of the government, the fleets of the government cannot be rallied to quell the threat, so a covert solution in the form of the protagonists is needed.  The enemy has many weapons ranging from mad scientists, body double androids, a 4 stage zombification virus, and a plethora of giant monsters.

I am currently putting in a lot research into certain background facts for the characters. Currently I have a fairly decent library of books covering subjects of hand to hand combat (ninjitsu, krav maga, caeporera,kung-fu, sanshou, and  muay thai) sword and knife fighting, SWAT tactics, SAS survival handbooks, bounty hunting, private investigation, body guarding, espionage, police procedural, forensics, mythology, cryptozoology for starters.  I still need to acquire a book on robotics, an astronaut training manual (or at least general information on  EVA and shuttle ops), conceptual book on space travel, and a new book on dinosaurs. 

There are number of other characters I’d like to cover but I think in getting this all out, I have have chipped away at some of my writer’s block Hopefully pouring over some notes and listening to the Star Wars soundtrack will take down the rest.

Getting rid of some mental clutter -

My mind keeps orbitting around this fact, and I feel if I don't type this out it might drive me mad.  People often misinterpret  the fact that I say that I'm good at reading peope equates to the fact I am judging them in some way that would unfathomably place me in the category of being snobish and or aloof.   Albeit I have said on many occaisions while  I do not judge, from the minute you enter my field of vision (figuratively or litterally) you are being weighed and measured. 

     Now a few of you, who have either minds inquisitive and explorative may wonder "what the blue hell is this man mean by that?"  Well to be honest its  rather simple,  I need to know exactly how to deal with you.  I don't mean from a cursory standpoint of that previous statement , I mean I have a near OCD level of impetus to place people in transient collumns so that I know "if I am offending" "if I should pursue" "should I ignore"  etc so that all feasible options are at my mind 10 minutes ago. Even at my most spontaneous, I probably thought about the idea to do whatever it is I am doing prior so that if a contingiency is needed its there.

Moreover, it also lets me to figure out before I get too mentally involved if being interested in which ever lucky or ill-fated woman (perspective and perception being the key) is in front of me is mutual or one-side. Notably I prefer the former and dislike the latter,  as if its onesided with me digging the other more than they dig me  -my interest at a 10 and theirs at  5 or lower- I feel my time is wasted regardless of the learning experience. If the position is reversed I feel I either failed at being observant or, and I trully hate this, I am being misinterpreted.   For those wondering "well its not as if you can tell" true it is hard to guage intrest over the internet. However,  I am a firm believer that impossible is a word that falls prey to experimentation and is slain often by discovery.  Moreover,  I am very good at reading body language(and arguably determing off of tone of voice)  If given enough time to observe, I can tell exactly a person's level in interest in me is. For the record 45 seconds is ample time for me to figure most out. Former  occupational necessity,  side note: as part of other research, and sharpening my considerable skills, I am doing I plan on acquiring a book or two on reading body language, mostly  to cut my "cold read time" down to 20 seconds. 

At the risk of sounding more , I suppose the appropriate word is callous (or predatory), than I want to come off,  I usualy place women into one of 3 categories. Usually my mind them either in A)some one  I'd really enjoy  hooking up with.  B) someone I  could hang with on a purely platonic basis  C) you don't exist / haven't met you yet.   The sticking point I run into a lot is a good number of those who I would enjoy being in collumn A but in all honesty really belong in B.  Moreover, once they are moved from  A to B it is severely difficult for me to see them in  a collumn A capacity, not cause of any "emotional complications" or other psuedo-rationalizations as much as I would prefer whatever mental file cabinet the person's dossier is dropped into not have to be re-organized.    Mind you that A  has the two ancilliary categories of some I'd hookup with, and someone I wouldn't be happy untill they are an immobile sore moaning sweaty post orgasmic heap after I'm  done with them how many hours that may take (that's what I mean when I say "yeah, I'd wreck that.")

 For those who wonder "what about C" well C is tricky. Well not as much tricky as its difficult to fully quantify a C. In the interest of cliff noting it - if I have yet to have a conversation with you, you're a C (with the option to move to an A or B).  If I met you in person fleetingly but didn't talk directly to you, you're a C (with the option to move to an A or B).  If I met you in person and something in your body language gives off an unfriendly vibe in my direction when I'm not talking to you, you're C, and aside's from casual observation and my being severely polite, I have absolutely no interest in you aside from my  normal "tactical asset / opposition/ liability" line of thinking (or modeling a throw-away character in my novel / serialization after you).  And last but not least, any mixed signal givers, in the interest of expediency  -  category C since sincerity of intent is a big thing for me. (I like my signals loud and clear.)

Phew , glad to get that out of my head since I've been mulling over that for the last, hell I think a week, intermittently.  One more piece of mental clutter down.

is feeling an odd combination of ravenous lecherousness and geeky creativity with a chaser of restlessness...

Thousands of ideas, and tens of cohesive ones... grrr my head is aswim with creatvity yet it paddles in circles.  Reading through notes...

Ill advised: doing anything to irritate me over the next 24 hrs. Patience is in severely short supply right now.

Making ready for  tommorow. Friday will be a full day. Expect slow to no replies.

Riddle 11/17/2010

Why are spiders like tops?

Happy Hump Day!!! Celebrate appropriately!!!

Riddle 11/15/2010

A zookeeper has lost the ability to distinguish between emus and elephants. However, he is able to count eyes and feet. He counts fifty-eight eyes and eighty-four feet. How Many elephants and how many emus are there?

Riddle 11/12/2010

What kind of man can jump higher than a house?

Riddle 11/11/2010

On the way to a water hole a zebra met 6 giraffes. Each giraffe had 3 monkeys hanging from its neck. Each monkey had 2 birds on its tail. How many animals were going to the water hole?

Riddle 11/10/2010

What is shaped like a box, has no feet and runs up and down?

Those who've known you longest are not always the ones who know you the best. Lesson learned, moving forward.

Riddle 11/9/2010

If you cross a telephone and a pair of scissors, what do you get?

Happy Birthday USMC!!! SEMPER FI!!!

Riddle 11/6/2010

How much dirt is there in a hole exactly one foot deep, and one foot across?

Writers block, oh how I detest you so, especially when you visit during NaNoWriMo

Riddle 11/5/2010
A man was driving a black truck on a heavely forested road beneath a large mountain. His lights were not on. The moon was not out.  A lady was crossing the street.  How did the man see her so he could stop in time?

 feeling lecherously ravenous... or ravenously lecherous...  either way Less Jekyl and a Lot more Hyde.

Love being reminded why I seek my hook ups online intead of bothering picking up on women at clubs, bars, or other venues... Word to the wise, we comms techs like our signals LOUD AND CLEAR!

Riddle 11/4/2010
What is easy to get into but hard to get out of?

11/3/2010

What has 6 legs but only walks with 4?

Riddle 11/2/2010

What is as round as the moon, as black as coal, and has a hole in the middle?

Candy gone, lights off, freak flag on the rise. Shower, costume Asylum Halloween Party - arrival imminent.

Yup before heading to the Erotic Halloween Ball, but after picking up comics at A-1 Comics Halloween Sale... Taro's For sushi... yum

Riddle 10/29/2010

What kind of song is, "Soap, Soap, Soap, Soap, Soap?"

Headin out, first to storage unit, and then something to eat.

Mistaking my kindness for weakness is an error one gets the privledge of impunity once, after that consequences will be dire.

Catching up Oct 27, 2010

Hello  One and all ,  It’s the near the end of October and we are embedded in Fall. For those new to the dance this is your chance to get acquainted with me  within this semi conversative thread.   For all those who already know the score, feel free to skip ahead.

You’ve entered the blog of a the unique, one would accuse (and likely rightly so) super freak geek, that arguably makes the ladies knees weak.  Its not matter of arrogance, its simply thoroughly proven confidence.  While you will find things here running from the ridiculous to the wisdom of a sage,  I say to kindly welcome to blog page  

So now that the intros are out the way  WOOOOT!!! Man I  am feeling good right now.  Job DIGGING things,  again every day, an awesome challenge, and, if you follow my tweets any,  handing out solutions hot and fresh DAILY!! Seriously  if there is ONE thing that  outside the obvious, for those that know me, that keeps me sane (a term that’s relative to perception as I have been told) is the fact that  Sat – Wed everyday from 0800 – 1700  I am helping folks with their tech issues.  Seriously even if you don’t see me physically doing it, I am dancing a damn jig in my head…. Well maybe not a jig, maybe a very funkdafied Macarena  with  a bull dance thrown in to the tone of Sugar Hill Gang’s Apache done with a drum-line instrumental.  But since its all in my head  I suppose that is just unnecessary data unless you need to visualize.  Which considering the majority of you who have the privilege of calling me “friend”  haven’t seen me dance, sober, or at all, I am sure you are either chuckling to falling out your chair with your beverage running through your nose with that visual.  Glad I can contribute to your does of comedy.  Anyways moving forward,  my professional life is progressing nicely.

One thing though I do need to get moving as part of my “Forward Momentum” initiative is the return to school.  Yeah, I’ve kind of slacked in this regard, and while there were outside factors I had to deal with, ultimately the responsibility of getting my boots moving down the path to attaining my CISN-Degree is mine.  Soooo before you start yelling “then Why ain’t you in school K’!?”  its pending.  Nov 4th or 5th I fully intend to find out A) what's needed for my continuance of my education along my chosen degree path.  B) Find out what's available for Spring 2011. C) if possible, register little by little for the classes that I can put to my schedule.  Hopefully I can fill up Thursday and Friday with my classes  or get decently scheduled evening ones.  Another incentive for me to go back to school is one that everyone knows is near and dear to me – CHEAP SOFTWARE.  In particular a new rig and  copy of  Lightwave, Poser, and Vue.  And maybe some green screen software to boot.  No one said I couldn’t take advantage of the awesome of a student discount when there is some AWESOME programs that can let my creativity build worlds… LITERALLY.

As far as my planned – getting back to my old shape, plan, I am not sure its so much a lack of motivation as a re-organization of time and energy that is causing the impediment of gym return.  Due to personal obligations, those of which many of you know, it is nigh impossible for me to get over to the gym after hours, and before hours its SEVERLY hard to get my brain booted up enough to grab my gear  and head over to California Family Fitness to get on the weights and cardio.  Going to start maximizing the  management of my Free time to get more work out time in.  Also as part of my scheduled purchases in the interest of sweat based pugilistic-ly reinforced stress relief, getting me a free-standing heavy bag and speed bag   I’ve pretty much have an “A” plan as to where I will keep it, and a decent “B” plan as well.  Another one of my scheduled purchases, well two purchases actually, Bicycle and a trunk rack for my car.   There are a number of places that look good in Sacramento for a “Friday” ride but I would prefer to drive to them first.

As part of the “upping my amusement ante” initiative, I’ve decided  to take up archery (not the most practical skill to learn, but it looks fun.)  The other, still in the pursuit of  “upping my amusement ante” is finally getting into the fun weekend –warrior activity of Paintball.  On Amazon there are these WONDERFUL markers (apparently a name for Paintball guns) by Tipmann…  seriously some slick looking hardware. Side Note but relevant note: Sacramento needs an indoor paintball arena.. something with a HUGE indoor maze, with various sniping points as well.  Sort of like laser tag, with some “OUCH” thrown in. Side Note 2: December, Las Vegas, a plan is forming.

Now in more geekier news A.P.E. ROCKED!!! OMG you know I dig discovering more of the grit of the Indie side of the medium I love so much.  Mind you I am still a main line superhero geek through and through it was still kind of cool learning about a bit more of the “unknowns” (at least from my perspective), and I  also scored some awesome deals including 3 Elephantmen thick paperback GNs (apparently the first parts of the saga) for 30 bucks and a free puzzle and 4 free comics.  The GNs freshly signed by the creator of Elephantmen himself so it was  even more awesome.   I’ll be uploading pics of my trip to A.P.E. later to Facebook.  One thing though I have learned, when I go to San Francisco next time (sooner or later I will be back in the Bay, just a matter of timing and resources.) , I am DEFINITELY planning ahead a lot better.  I do have one friend to thank for helping me out a fugged up situation with my accommodation issues (you know who you are )   That and when I got lost,  4 times, yeah it was something I need to work on.   In other geeky news,  Phase 2 of my “get my storage unit organized plan”  kicks off tomorrow 10/28/2010 either before or after I go to the gym.  As far as my return to gaming, hmm well aside for a certain Beta I am looking forward to (DCUO), I plan on checking out a ton of games that have reduced in price and I plan on picking up ASAP and of course I plan on getting lost in track building in Mod Nation Racers. 

In regards to dating – Separate blog post of my current adjusted philosophy in this regard, I’ve had some odd revelations in this regard. You know what screw it, I’m just going to say it here since a separate blog post would just take up processing power for something that’s so simplistic a concept of how I plan on proceeding for the interim until the paradigm has shifted favorably in my direction.  In the fun world of dating / hooking up/ whatever, I’ve decided to consider the over all world a barren landscape,  a desert if you will.  You have your Arid planes, which lingering too long will surely lead to one’s downfall despite their stark beauty. your  Cacti, while pretty to some and provide some sustenance in a pinch, they still are a bit prickly and sometimes taste funny.  Your Verdant Fields in which you settle down and build in  and hopefully get to plow often.   And lastly your Oases  in which you stop by for relief temporarily for their resources to sustain you are not plentiful and are only meant as a way stop on your journey, and while repeat visits are welcome, prolonged stay is ill advised.  I think I fall into this last category since I honestly, don’t have any patience or focus for anything  outside of my current commitments.  Every so once in a while I have to re-affirm this not just to whomever should make the interesting choice of stopping within my reach, but to myself since of late, I realize whenever I think of acting otherwise, even for a nanosecond, I start making mistakes and then start having doubts.  The minute I start having any, and do mean anything shake the tree of my confidence the fun person that the person probably was attracted to becomes less obvious.  So in the interest  of the pursuit of mutually assured enjoyment and nonchalantly continuing on my journey till I’m good and ready to explore a Verdant Field all my own,  I remain an Oasis, and a happy one at that. 

Noooow for the news on writing,  NaNoWriMo is less than 5 days away and damn am I excited.  So for the purpose of informing you dear reader – My entry is still in the R&D stage but dammit I plan on at least cracking out to the halfway point.  However I can give up the following info – Genre: Sci-Fi  (basically making a superhero / space opera style story – pulp adventure style)  Narrative: 1st person (I dig the challenge of it), Setting – you’ll see .   I plan on elaborating in my upcoming Blogs that I plan on doing every Friday in November entitled “Just Write”

Last but not least is my news on upcoming events, this weekend is Halloween, and dammit I truly intend to, beyond a shadow of any doubt, letting my “freak flag fly.”  For purposes of clarification once again Cal Expo here in Sac is hosting an awesome party now called the Exotic Halloween Ball.  Tickets purchased, Costume Acquired, Hotel Room (for purposes of my brief “pass out for a brief nap before I head to work” nap) reserved.  Annd on Halloween Night, after I give out candy after my shift at work, yeah, definitely heading to the Halloween party over at Asylum.  Its rare, RARE that I have an opportunity to cut loose like this.  And damn I deserve it, anyone who argues contrary to that point probably hasn’t been within visible range of me in a long time.  Day by day my personal life has been usually a exercise in restraint and frankly  I think I think its time I had a bit of uninhibited fun.  So BREAK OUT THE RUM AND WENCHES, this sailor’s  commin’ ashore.  Another side note, in theory I was invited to another party this coming Friday, but since I have yet to hear word I am under the assumption that my invite got “lost” or the party was cancelled.

Well that’s all I have for the time being.  More blogging to come later.  maybe sooner than you think.  Till then, shed no tears, always move forward.

Riddle 10/27/2010

No legs have I to dance,
No lungs have I to breathe,
No life have I to live or die
And yet I do all three.
Who am I?

Live writer software updated, blogs incoming.

Riddle 10/26/2010

When you are full, you still want to eat it. Even if it is completely dark you still can see it with your naked eyes. If you happen to fall on a heap of cotton, you will suffer from it. And, even if you are completely broke, you still have it. What is this strange thing?

Riddle 10/25/2010

In a dark closet there are five hats.
Two are red, and three are white.
The hats are of a design that when worn they are not visible in anyway by the wearer.
All at once three men step into the dark closet and close teh door.
Each picks a random hat by feel and puts it on.
Then when ready all three exit the closet together.
Upon exiting the first man looks at the other two, sees what color hats they are wearing and states, "I do not know what color hat I am wearing."
The second man, hears the first and looks at the other two and states, "I do not know the color of my hat either."
The third man is BLIND! Yet after hearing the first two speak, he smiles and says, "I know what color hat I am wearing. And it is ________ ."
The third man was right.

1) What color hat was the third (blind) man wearing?
2) How did he know

Riddle 10/23/2010

If I go forward, I will be heavy. But if I go backward, I am not. What am I?

If you were planning on going to the Exotic Erotic Ball in San Francisco - regret to inform you its been cancelled - http://www.exoticeroticball.com/

Riddle 10/22/2010

A boy was at a carnival and went to a booth where a man said to the boy, "If I write your exact weight on this piece of paper then you have to give me $50, but if I cannot, I will pay you $50." The boy looked around and saw no scale so he agrees, thinking no matter what the carny writes he'll just say he weighs more or less. In the end the boy ended up paying the man $50. How did the man win the bet?

So when I was depressed I was "timid," annnd now that I am my normal confident self... I'm arrogant.. Riiiiiiight.  FAIL.

Free movie pass for the win!!!!!

Costume, check, hotel room, check, tickets, check. -all conditions for Exotic Halloween Ball have been cleared. Oct 30th, its on. Giggity.

New Riddle 10/21/2010
You are standing in front of a room with one lightbulb inside it. You cannot see if it is on or off. Outside the room there are 3 switches in the off positions. You may turn the switches any way you want to. You stop turning the switches, enter the room and know which switch controls the light bulb. How?

Riddle 10/20/2010

What stays where it is even after it goes off?

Fear not when the lion roars. You should be very afraid when you are in his territory, and all you hear is nothing.

I truly dislike when peoplw who don't respect my opinion make the mistake of insisting on me agreeing with theirs.

10/19/2010 Riddle

You are killed in a plane crash and find yourself at 2 doors : one leads to heaven and the other to hell. There is a troll at each door and the trolls are identical in every way. You find instructions posted on the wall behind you: you can ask one question and one question only, and you can only direct it to one of the trolls. One troll will always lie to you regardless of your question, and the other will always tell you the truth. Only the trolls themselves know which will lie and which will be truthful, and that is all you are told. What one question should you ask?

10/18/2010 Riddle

Pronounced as one letter,
But written with three,
Two letters there are,
And only two in me.
I'm double, I'm single,
I'm black, blue, and gray,
I'm read from both ends,
And the same either way.
What am I?

F'ing Raiders :(

San Francisco, CA - you have incoming.

Additional Riddle  10/14/2010

One night, a man and his wife were driving to a certain place. All of a sudden the car stopped. The man realized that he would need to pour some cold water into the carburetor. He asked his wife to sit inside the car and lock the doors, while he goes searching for the water. After sometime, when the man returns, he finds this wife dead in a pool of blood. Besides her, there lay a stranger with no clothes on his body. Who was the stranger and how did his wife die?

Hello friends, fam, loved ones, those new to the party and those who just happened to stumble by, and welcome to this blog.  Before I start in my usual manner of introducing / re-introducing myself. There is something I must say.

To those who have had my back, helped me during my time of need, offerred a sympathetic ear and an open shoulder in these past few stressful months, THANK YOU!!! It has been a long road back on to get back on the path of forward momentum,  and those of you who were by my side despite my number of known idiosyncrasies (yes I know I am difficult) are in my gratitude.  so once again, THANK YOU!!!  So hopefully this blog is read while you are in similarly good tidings. If not, then feel free to write at anytime and I will be more than happy to atleast offer the an empathetic ear.

Soooo without further adieu for those new to this blog, you?ve reached the blog of one gamer, geek, arguably devilishly handsome individual who, wait, wait, wait.  Just read the previous entries of this blog and you?ll get the gist.

Anyways, this is just a brief catching up on current events.

So in the spirit of being succinct -

Work ? awesome.  Have a great position with a great company in the field of expertise that I chose as a career path.

Gaming ? taken a bit of a break but I will soon be back at it soon enough.

Comics ? STILL have a back log of comics despite my growing collection.

Dating ? some new developments and some stagnation.

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaait   I just realize, I don?t do succinct in my blogs

Second verse longer than the first.

Of my 9-5

AWESOME,  extremely AWESOME.  Every day presents not only new challenges but also a LOT of knowledge in my field. Seriously, even in my sorest waking I LOVE getting up every day.  The 8 hours at my cubicle are a joy. My schedule rocks, and plus I am MILES away from what I was at.  I am alert, I am motivated, and every day I am AMPED to be moving and moving FORWARD.

On School

Well for those that wondered ?Hey weren?t you supposed to be starting back at school?? Well due to events unforeseen, and one mitigating factor that those who have ever spoken with me at length know well about, the hiatus sadly marches on.  But good news true believers,  I will, be back in the glorious halls of ARC in Spring session 2011.  Since I got my Art requirement out of the way, all I have to do for the completion of this major (CISN for those keeping score) is a Natural science and my core requirements.  For my natural science I plan on taking Intro to Astronomy namely because, yeah that kid that waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in the day dreamed of being amongst the stars in an EVA suit still lives within this adult.  Not sure which core class I plan on taking likely something more network focused than OS focused.  If the classes are half semester then I plan on getting as much as possible accomplished.  So sometime in the next couple of weeks I am going to find out what will be available at the councilor's office, hopefully I get someone motivated. Furthermore if  there are any Winter session classes that fit into my major.  On a side note I am considering taking an Archery class. Is it a needed skill? Not necessarily, but the fact I would be adding one more tool to the marksmanship tool box, yeah, definitely dig that.

On Life and Health

For the most part, I am in a much better place physically and mentally than I was back in the beginning of July.  To be honest, I was FASTLY approaching a level of depression. Heck it could be argued I was waist deep in depression.  Now I am in a much better place mentally and physically as I have been back to the gym fairly regularly. Mind you I did slack off for the last couple of weeks due to a shift in schedule. I plan on getting back to my 5 day a week schedule. So far I was doing the  Cardio and Weights  fairly steadily,  Now I am strongly considering making a few adjustments to my work out repertoire including the addition of at least one swim. The California Family Fitness near me  here in Natomas thankfully has just about all the facilities I need, thankfully.  Now I just have to wake up early enough consistently to wake up and  do the damn thing.   Also strongly considering acquiring a free standing heavy and speed bag just to get that pugilistic kinetic therapy back into my routine.   In other life news ? in around 8 to 15 months I plan on starting down a new road hopefully away from a current source of irritation and stress.  Plus its coming close to time to move onward and hopefully upward.  More details on this as they become available.

On Amusement  - Upcoming fun.

October.. oh hell yeah.  This month will probably be one of the most eventful for me in a while.  First, while I won?t be able to attend in person I am STOKED for New York Comic Con which I pretty much will be following as much as a I can online.   In about a week I will be in the bay area for the Alternative Press Expo, or A.P.E.  for short, on Oct 16th through Oct 17th.  Unsure still if I am driving or taking the train back.  And on Oct 30th going to The Exotic Halloween Ball.  Hopefully this year they get their act together with the security detail actually paying attention. Either way almost have my costume ready, and get my hotel room reserved at my usual crash point for this event.  (yes that IS necessary for me lol)  Among other things in this regard, I?ve been shopping around for paintball gear and trying to make a determination as to what gear I?d like to have in my own personal weekend warrior arsenal. Oh and dodgeball, definitely dodgeball.

On another note ? December. 33rd Birthday. To make a long story short, in the interest of getting doing the damn thing and having my birthday be ?about me,?  since noone else has time to during that period of time, I plan on finally heading out to Las Vegas.  More details to come.

Geekery and Gaming

Well right now I am getting ready for phase 3 of a 3 part transfer of my comics, action figure, and book collection to a larger storage location.  Now I just have to de-clutter the space and add some battery operated lights to facilitate my ability to FULLY organize it (bag, boarded and boxed) .  Once organized I plan on actually catching up the mountainous backlog.  It will be a long way from getting it 100% fully done but it will be WELL worth it. In terms of gaming, I took a bit of a break from playing games as much as I have been following them.  Right now I have been following a few MMOs namely  DC Universe Online (which I proudly have pre-ordered) and TERA, though I am patiently awaiting info on Blade & Soul.  There are quite a few single player games I plan on getting for the PS3 (top of my head Vanquish, Batman Arkham City, and Mod Nation Racers). 

On Writing

I have, to say while the general malaise  that has been causing my writers block, has dissipated, the regaining of my focus really hasn?t kicked up yet.  However with NaNoWriMo coming up VERY soon, I am getting more and more geared towards assembling my ideas and making ready to get  a LOT of  research done and notes organized, because come Nov 1st, in my free time my mind will be a swim with Starships, exotic worlds,  interstellar bounty hunters, space pirates, bizarre creatures, giant robots, zombies, godlike beings, ninja, cyborgs, shapeshifters, and a plethora of awesome  of the High Adventure variety of Sci-Fi.

On Dating

Now you are probably asking yourself ?why was this section last? Are things that uneventful in this department that you buried it beneath aspects of your life I won?t find as interesting??  Well first there is something I have to do in this section. And I want you, dear reader, to pay very close attention to how I phrase everything here.

To every woman who met me fir the first time for a first date between oh April and Mid-July, I?m sorry.   You didn?t get the best impression of me and that was my fault. The reason for this is simple, I was depressed. Plain and simply I was not my usual charming, slightly arrogant, and beyond the shadow of a doubt AWESOME self. While I was in the job market my brain could not get past my mission to get back to the promised land of being gainfully employed within my field of expertise that to be honest, half the time, even if I was way from the job boards I spent hours in front of, my mind was on the search  24/7 and it wrecked my normally nonchalant and copacetic demeanor.  It was to say the least unfair to you to see me like that because I  really was at a low point.  Not making excuses. Not asking for second chances. Just making a point.  To which I must make this follow-up, to those who met me during this particularly trying time in my life  and had the good fortune of seeking shine beneath the murk and still are around for all the fun I am pretty much ready to be in my perpetual wheels up and onward self, THANKYOU.

That being said, this particular aspect of my life is getting back into a state of cool, or hot depending on your outlook, slowly but surely.  Mind you I am in no shape, inclination or form looking for a ?girlfriend,? as I know thats something I am beyond not ready for from a mental (which I had the PAINFUL lesson of why I?m built better for logic than for feeling), emotionally, or economically ready for anything monogamous. Steady maybe, but monogamous ? NO.  I will happily elaborate on this but for the most part I can make a very definitive statement ? I am not a player, the next individual who makes the mistake this will be educated. Thoroughly.   In short I have met a few interesting women, and frankly all of which I actually find interesting in a good, see them again way. Well one marked exception that I am uncertain if there is an issue there or if I just need to see them from a different angle.  Giggity  I have to say I am still ?coming down from the mountain of social hermitage? slowly but surely, and hopefully won?t get an inspiration to scamper back up the slope.

Well folks its 2 AM and I am WIPED. I will try to blog more often. In the mean time, time to crash.

Today's Riddle 9/29/2010

Mr Archibald went for a walk in the forest. It began to rain suddenly and he didn't have anything to protect his head. But not even a few hairs got wet. How is this possible?

TippMan Paintball Pistol $218.99

Ammo in one of my Favorite Colors $19.99

Extreme Rage ProtectorGoggle Paintball helmet $39.99

Wetsuit $56.99

Tarp 15.99

The look on her face when you tell her to put the wetsuit and helmet on and stand facing the tarp affixed to the wall spread eagled in bent slightly as you punctuate your instructions with sliding the first ammo clip in. >:) priceless.

as a measure of assuring I am not distracted by those who have nice pics but are lacking in the profile department, I've become a little pro-active in using the "hide user" function.  Translation, if you are wondering why I haven't written you after viewing your profile, 50/50 chance thats why.

Hmmm maybe I should speak in riddles from this point forward... Would make for ease of sorting through those who can keep up vs those who are merely eye candy.

Absolutely love when someone says "I like your profile"  in their message to you, but you can tell RIGHT AWAY they didn't read it since something in your profile explicitly states why further correspondence would be a waste of time.   LMAO.

Catching Up Spring 2010

First a bit of a disclaimer: Since  I plan for the most part to catching everyone up with  a huge portion of things going on  with me from the beginning of the month up till now. So this will be a LONG blog posting (not that I have ever been merciful in my postings but yeah, this one for sure will be long).  Second, and most important I would like to say thank you, to friends and acquaintances old and new.  I may not express it enough, probably because being sappy is not my cup of tea, but I do thank you for the positive energy you have been sending my way.  

So for those brand spanking new to the party, a brief intro, you?ve reached the blog of a one 30 something yr old, gamer, geek, proud Navy Veteran, prouder father,  6?1? 250lbs African-American, who resides in the grand city of Sacramento, CA. By nature I am patient, until I?m tested to the point past my patience and the results (i.e. painful consequences) may vary depending on if, or if you are truly misfortunate ? when, I decide if its worth my time to educate you on your erroneous decision to become the focus of my discontent.  Other than that the general consensus of my disposition, depending on who you ask ranges from gentle giant to lovable jerk. Taking my kindness for weakness will lead to a rather uncomfortable situation for you.  Take note now that I have little tolerance for fools, prudes, gold-diggers, holier-than-thou douche bags,  bigots, and impolite, head-a-rectally inverted,  jackasses who have the home training of a tree frog.  And even less patience for those who, in terms of matters pertaining in a PERSONAL capacity (as paradigms in a professional capacity  should be parallel and partitioned separately as anyone with any modicum of common sense would be wise to perceive in such a manner) who think I should be in the category of their choosing when, in truth, NOBODY puts me in a box.  Clarification on this irritant to follow a bit further down in this blog if you wish to know more proceed, and with caution, because you?ve reached the edge of the map.

Ok its been a bit since I?ve done a full on, WHAT?S GOING ON, blog entry so as per usual I am going to segment this into parts concurrent to events hopefully in relatively chronological order.

Wonder Con 4/3/2010

OMG did I have fun there.  Though I really, REALLY wish I had more time to go.  Next year, 3 day pass, 3 day stay, CLOSER hotel, EARLIER start. AND OH HELL YEAH I?M GONNA COSPLAY. LOL  For those who wish to see my pics on the event, I have albums on my myspace (add kingsilverback to the end of the url) and facebook  (add shonuff77 to the end of the url) accounts  (which you probably have seen if you are reading this).  Highlights ? catching up on the upcoming events in all things geek, free swag, hot girls in cosplay.  Downside ? getting lost between Moscone Center and my hotel.   Turned a 4 mile walk to a 6 mile walk.. uphill.

The Job Search Marches On

As many of you know I have been seeking employment for a few months now.  I have had some progress,  a few leads, a couple interviews come and gone. I?ve also attended a few job fairs as well.  Mind you the leads I?ve acquired on job boards, at least to me have felt more fruitful than ones I?ve acquired at job fairs, which feel more like the companies there are trying to sell you on their product (considering how many sales jobs are at these functions, not surprising). I am doing my best to stay positive and not sink into a state of de-motivation induced melancholy, but that fells mostly like an uphill battle, more than I?d care to answer to on an individual basis but enough so that I am sure its fairly noticeable.  The search continues on though, but I?ve reached a point that the number of jobs of which I meet or exceed the qualifications of  are quite visibly less than the ones I am marginally under qualified for or have absolutely no interest in (i.e. sales, food service.).   Keeping hope alive though. On the same note, I think I should take this opportunity to once again point out how absolutely backwards California EDD (the unemployment office) is. Seriously, paper mail bi-weekly processing instead of green friendly automation, call queues that hang up on you instead of taking a message, largest potential applicant pool of perm / temp-to-hire workers, and weekend personnel that aren?t authorized to answer questions when EDD fucks up royally?!?!?!?  In plain language with out the use of my more weighty vocabulary I will summarize: CA EDD NEEDS A REFORM IN EFFICIENCY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE NOW!!!! 

My Car

I think the most amusing and ironic thing to happen is that within 36 hours of my starting and paying the initial down payment of my Stop Repair Bills  Coverage, my car decides to have a major coolant leak.  What sucks, and what the commercials for Stop Repair Bills DON?T tell you till the end of the call, the coverage doesn?t take place for the first 90 days. I suppose its considered a fair practice to prevent from being scammed but seriously I wanted to THROW something  when my car decided to have this issue in such close proximity.

Health and Fitness

Right now I now I have been  ok in this regard, asides from stress mitigating me anywhere above what I would consider 90% of  what  I would consider a good day.  I?ve slack off from going to the gym a lot in the last month or so, and I haven?t been stretching as much either.  However I?ve decided to hit the ground running after I get my car up and running proper again. I even have a work out schedule that will require the acquisition of a free-standing heavy bag, but can be generally started now without the pugilistic portion.

• Monday:  10 min of stretches, 45 min on the Exercise Bike; 25 reps on each of the weight machines focusing on upper body
• Tuesday:  10 min of stretches 6 laps in the pool, 4 min jump rope, 15 reps on machines focusing on lower body,  45/35/15 pushups (regular, wide-armed, diamond), alternating crunches.
• Wednesday:  10 min of Stretches, 30 min on the elliptical (depending on if the machines cause me the ?knee knocker? issue, in which case bike) 30 reps on upper body,
• Thursday: 10 min of stretches 6 laps in the pool, 4 min jump rope, 15 reps on machines focusing on lower body,  45/35/15 pushups (regular, wide-armed, diamond), alternating crunches.
• Friday: 10 min of stretches, 45 min on the Exercise Bike; 25 reps on each of the weight machines focusing on upper body
• Saturday: 2 ? 3 mile  light paced jog or 3 mile weighted walk.  (hesitant due to knee issues, but a light walk I should be able to handle well enough)

As you can see I thought this out for the most part in terms of a heavy, full speed ahead contemplation with the mindset of goal accomplishment. I hope to expand on  this routine after I acquire a bicycle, a free standing heavy bag, a free standing speed bag. I also plan on picking up Forza The Samurai Sword Workout by Ilaria Montagnani and Practice Drills for Japanese Swordsmanship by Nicklaus Suino considering I do have a kendo shinai I haven?t really practiced with in years so using it to enhance my work out feels just right.  Finding a place I can swing around a bamboo practice sword with relative impunity though might be a bit tricky  I also contemplated rollerblading, however gravity and the fact I rock size 15 feet which makes rollerblading a significantly more expensive prospect.

Amusement

Now I?m not sure if this is because of all the stress I?ve had to deal with of late, the fact I can?t really get any quality ?me? time or other fun mitigating factors, but  I haven?t had much along the lines of recreational reading, gaming, or my other hobbies and pursuits.  In concurrence to this revelation I  am also going to start factoring in a few things to basically keep my ?Me? time occurring on a fairly regular basis with nothing keeping me from these enjoyments outside of my choosing. So whether its fighting numbers of monsters, piloting giant robots, fighting crime in Paragon city, questing in Stormreach, battling on the continent of Arad, and other gaming pursuits, catching up with my ridiculous back log of comics and manga, or other things geeky and fun for me, if my ?busy flag? is up contacting me to do what ever with minor marked exceptions, those who know me well enough will pretty much know what quantifies as an exception, or emergencies (i.e. designated driver or stranded downtown cause your ride ditched you and you don?t have cab faire,  all other ?emergencies?  are subject to critical usually happens in the quarter bin to me some times, LOL ).

On a further note I have decided to, in the interests of preserving my pursuits and interests, I decided to dedicate one weekend a month (from Friday night to Sunday evening to be precise) for  the purposes of what  I call Cinematic Immersion. Basically a marathon of movies revolving around a theme.  Examples of this would be  Ninja movies, superhero movies,  zombie movies, space opera movies (i.e. Star Wars, Star Trek, flicks along these lines), and so on and so forth.    I feel that being able to sit back and just watch things I dig en masse would be on some level beneficially placating.  Further more I am planning on adding similarly to my current library books of an anthological nature for purposes of  reading sprees and written word intermissions between flicks on C.I. days.   I also plan on visiting the newly opened Dave & Busters in Roseville (LOVED the one down in San Diego, a lot. Though in my opinion they should have opened it here in Natomas area, better market / traffic / commerce opportunities)

Dating

Well due to obvious mitigating logistic factors I haven?t done much ?new? along these lines. Aside from the usual frustrations of my chosen venues of acquisition, I am finding a not so new source of vexation in the terms of misinterpretation of intent.  By far and away I would have never thought that being ?nice? (or arguably having an amicable demeanor depending on who you ask)  would actually lead to more complications than less.  Mind you due to a recent proclivity towards social hermitage I have not run into this as much as I have in days past, but I realize what drove me to being more aloof than my norm is that  for some reason a lot of the women  I previously dated  when perceive a guy they are casually dating / hooking up with as being nice they start acting under the assumption that nice = push towards commitment even though I make it a habit to state that's not what I am in the market for.  And at the risk of sounding a bit cavalier in my social life, cumulatively speaking I?m dating sporadically the perfect woman.  (Clarification upon request and my discretion, for those who I deem worthy of enlightening further).   However due to recent vehicular inhibitions at this time, this aspect of my social life is even more dialed down than the norm, so the point is mute for the time being. I just find it weird that being a nice guy inadvertently makes things difficult. I have had some fun in this regard just not as much as I would like due to having to re- which I might do post launch just for the heck of it ).  Things have changed though, in terms of the general idea of the world my characters inhabit, and the tone, as you may have surmised will be closer to super heroic while maintaining a space opera theme. Mind you I still plan on blending in aspects of Sword and Sorcery fantasy, horror,  and  maybe a slice of more clothes optional genre into this but its PRIMARY focus is a science-fiction (or science fantasy depending on which geek you ask )  My goal is by the end of June to crack out  a decent chapter 1  for everyone to see. 

Travel

It occurs to me that one of the key points of irritation I think that has been miring me down in a seemingly endless fugue of malcontent is the fact that I feel trapped. Not just by my current living situation, employment situation, or vehicular issues, but by Sacramento itself.  So in reflection of this dilemma  and in the interest of remedying it, would be to, at least on a quarterly basis make a rapid egress to other  spots on the map.   After contemplating this over and over I figured the best future itinerary is the following

• Late June / Early July ? Reno, Nevada
• Late July or Early Aug ? San Diego, CA
• Possible Aug trip to Vegas to Sony Online Entertainment Fan Faire
• October ? San Francisco, CA for A.P.E.
• December  Around my Birthday (Dec 25th for those keeping score) Las Vegas, NV
• Strongly considering outside of the above loose schedule of meandering, I am strongly considering visiting San Francisco and possibly LA (those who know me well might be a bit shocked by the latter)

I haven?t really solidified dates yet but the above is my primary guideline of places I wish to travel but I will update as time allows

School

Last but not least this concern has been weighing rather heavily on my mind mostly because of the fact that, to be honest, I am tired of being on the bubble of being over qualified for most occupational positions that are available (whether if they are within my interests or not), while simultaneously under qualified for positions that are within my field of expertise and preference (technical / IT for those scratching their heads). Furthermore, I am tired of potential employers getting me for cheap and staying at the the current plateau that I am at now.  So in interest of getting past this source of anger and discontent,  I will be, hopefully, starting back into school this June. That being said,  I only will be taking classes that contribute to my job expertise and major (CISN Network Management), so if none are available, and nothing for my gen-ed requirements are available, my recommencement of studies will be delayed till Aug. 

That?s all the news I have for now folks. I will be blogging more often and hopefully briefer compared to this beast of a blog.  Right now, due to my continuous bought with stress, insomnia and boredom I?ve been awake far longer than I should have been so I am going to crash. (Not like any of the offices I send resumes to are even open today during the holiday, ugh?  Later days!!

So Ten Hours Left and I will be in San Francisco, CA  


Going to be in town for WonderCon so I'll be there surfing panels taking pictures and geeking out big time from time of arrival to till around 7pm or so. CAN'T WAIT. Though my one issue I have is that I will have nothing to do after 7pm. Any suggestions? Or for that matter any offers?

Welcome back my friends..

to that song that never ends..

Sure glad you could attend

come inside come inside :p

Don?t know why but I felt to kick this of with a rhyme, simply because I have the time. For those new to this tea party welcome to my blog (if you have read this part already in the number of other sites you may likely have seen me on and arrived to the conclusion so sad, that I am indeed quite mad, well you may skip ahead  to the next part, and for the rest of you here in lies the start) In here you will find the mental meanderings, recollections, and predilections of one comic geek, gamer, writer, proud veteran, insomniac, social networking addict, single parent, and, arguably depending on who you ask, one handsome guy. :-p  Foreboding to some, friendly to many, a jerk to few (yet for some reason they find it amusing), patient beyond the comprehension of most, and did I mention I really like toast?  Mind you my current use of rhymes  is about to come to an end, so welcome to my world now friend. :-)

Ok done now with all that mess of an intro?  I think that was a slightly belated reaction to watching Alice in Wonderland, or I?ve finally short circuited  and my brain decided it would be funny to type that out before I could stop myself?. Eh oh well it shall stay as is, damn the consequences. Anyhow welcome to / or back to my blog. Lets see where shall we start?. hmm

Life in general.

Well for those wondering, how goes the ?coming down from the social mountain? and ending my quasi-hermitage, its progressing. Mind you due to current logistics issues, I can?t go out as much as I am normally inclined, but recently I?ve been going out a bit more, and mired in self-induced isolationistic boredom less.  Though I am still dealing with the side-affect of all this free time on my hands, i.e. superbly aggressive bouts of insomnia, I feel things are pretty well adjusted. Could do with a winning lotto ticket that way I can get a masseuse on my pay roll :p Especially after last Friday, had a rather interesting slip and fall that hurt like hell last week.  Other than that, need to work-out more which I?ll start to once the throbbing stabbing pain my shoulder gets manageable.  Side note, love life / dating / etc, I?ve determined anyone who says that someone?s propensity for being verbose is a turn off, well I am best not talking to them since quite frankly they will have problems keeping up with me mentally, and considering I only have two mental speeds (Mach 5 and caffeine deprived dragging to a stop) and the majority of times I even talk to people I am usually orbiting the former, and try to end conversation before crashing to a halt of the latter.  And since slow minded people more often than not bore me, yeah, so in the interest of saving time, if my habit for using a plethora of words that have multiple syllables is not to your liking, my sincere apologies for the perilous misfortune you find yourself in. In layman's, sorry for your damn luck.  

The Job Hunt

While this aspect is going rather slowly, I am making some progress comparatively to last month and the month before that.  Just had an interview that  I felt went rather well.  Which if not a beginning of gainful employment is a sign of fortuitous things to come. Just hoping things on this vein will start progressing positively soon considering the fact I am actually getting rather tired of waking up at Noon. What is sort of amusing is how many companies reply to my job board posting and offer me positions waaaaaaay outside of my area.

The Return to School

Now there is a sub-topic I haven?t touched on in a while, mostly because I was a bit unsure on how I should progress on this facet. If I started at the beginning of the semester, and didn?t leave myself open for potential new employers, I?d end up missing out on jobs or mitigate optimal choices of classes / work schedules.  I?ve decided it would probably be good to find classes in my major at ARC during the evening or weekend that will push things forward to me getting my degree and making my resume even more shiny. Of course since only half of the spring semester and the summer semester ahead, there is not much I can do at this point in time so the point itself might be mute.  But it is on my goals of note, and something I did make a point of saying in my 2010 mission statement.

The Novel / web-serialization

One of the disadvantages of having a mind that works like mine, is that while there are a plethora of ideas rattling around, it takes a bit to make sense of them and get them assembled into a coherent and well done story. I?ve made a fair amount of progress in going over old ideas I had, taking out what I like, keeping or making a note of what  I might want to keep. The general assemblage of ideas essentially come down to this list:

1. A primary Genre ?science fiction with a focus of space opera and super-heroic adventure. Think along the vein of Legion of Superheroes, Green Lantern Corps,  Silver Surfer, Space Ghost (old cartoon and subsequent AWESOME comic adaption done a few years back), Silver Hawks,  Starjammers, and Guardians of the Galaxy. (odds are I lost a few of you with that list, its ok you can google it.) I am definitely going for a ?high-adventure? feel instead of a ?high-concept? one (which some may argue it may place this as science-fantasy, but  I?m not one to argue, so detractors can just suck it and be on their merry way.)
2. A setting that fits within the genre ? A far future universe in which man has not only moved on to the stars, but have gained the secrets of FTL travel as well as started evolving into Transhumanism (i.e. genetic manipulation, cybernetics, etc.). Still working on getting the time-line fully established, however the key points: a) story begins after the entirety of humanity recovering from a large scale war and with an alien empire (yeah its a cliche but its one that can be amusingly used ?off camera? for the majority of this story).  b) society has a bit of a frontier-esque bend (think the old west in terms of lawlessness)
3. A cast of characters ? my story currently has 5 protagonists (the main character and his team), a decent supporting cast (few ideas here and there nothing solid yet), and an AWESOME concept for a villain group to oppose the heroes at every turn.
4. A general idea of the overall plot for the main bulk of the story and subplots for a few of the characters.
5. And finally a loose storyline of how this will all fit. -  As well as alternate paths incase one idea needs to be moved to the back or to the front.

As you can see I know the heading I wish to be on, just need some wind in my sails to push me forward. I definitely intend to spend a lot of the days ahead trying to work towards this goal (especially since firing off resumes doesn?t require much along the lines of focus.). Other things of note, space pirates, a monster planet, giant robots, and  kaijiu.

Well that?s all of note I have for now.  Its now 230 am and my mental battery is now at that last dot.  Till next blogging!!!

WEEKLY RECAP FEB 12, 2010

Hey all out there on the triple ?W.?  Hope all as you sit down in front of your keyboard, beverage of choice near by and reading this that all is well in your world. :)  Ugh that felt kind of saccharine, and uncharacteristically so.  Oh well being off sides and sweet is typical for all during this time of year when a thrice accursed winged baby armed with a bow and arrows wreaks havoc among a generally rational, despite illogical proclivities, populace.  Yes I am referring to Valentines Day, a day, or rather the week leading up to it, I particularly despise and, in trademark self styled dichotomy, am rather amused by.   Well in an effort to be informative to all the workings in my world I am going to try blogging on a Weekly basis in order to keep those that have the leaning to follow the activities and what not that go in my world a chance to know what goes on with me. As many of you know I suck at keeping people updated (asides from tweets and page updates).  So in keeping with my normal blogging tradition, for those new to the party (the rest can skip a few lines ahead),  welcome to my blog.  The cliff notes: I?m a gamer, sci-fi fan, comic geek, with a generally alpha male personality and  while tolerant of most things taking my kindness for weakness would likely be something that anyone who?s knows me on more than a peripheral level would likely advise you would be an err in judgment  and definitely question your survival instincts.  So welcome to my corner of the triple ?W,? feel free to stick around, there might be pie afterwards. 

So to apprise those who have stuck around this far, or those who just hopped in let me catch you up on current events.

JOB HUNT

As many of you know, I returned to the fun of the  job market back in November, for a while  I almost imploded.  I?m doing much better mentally compared to how I was in November.  Currently, prospect wise it has been, odd. Either I get contacted by companies that request my relocation (which for a number of reasons, that if you know enough about me  I shouldn?t even have to state). Or  I get leads on positions that require a foreign language (example, this WONDERFUL tech position had a requirement for fluent linguistic and literacy in Korean, which if you need the info I will happily forward to you). One front runner that was perfect the position was cancelled.  Hopefully the irons in the fire I acquired in the last week (3 via job fair, 2 elsewhere) will produce some results. Speaking of job fairs, really they need to have some sort of reform for these events because it gets REALLY irritating driving to one of these functions and the jobs advertised that MIGHT fit your interests doesn?t even show up.  Plus with such a huge unemployment rate that California has, you?d think they?d pick bigger facilities considering how many of us are out there seeking to get back in the workforce.  Anyways, in a week or so I will sending my resume in for a professional  remix.  And subsequently following that I will be pushing it forward for  distribution via Resume Rabbit and an upgrade on CB.  Theoretically speaking this should put me in the hands of people who actually would benefit from my skill set and experience with great expediency. Of course I am a little irked that it requires  a monetary investment in order to get things rolling into higher gear on the hunt for a job, it would appear its a necessary evil.   I am confident now that the holiday season and subsequent HR hangover has passed, I?ll start getting some calls and getting some interviews.    Also I should be soon returning to school, point in fact I will likely be going to the campus to get some more information for classes relevant to my field (information technology for those keeping score.)

WORKING OUT

Suffice to say I have slacked off in this regard, mostly due to a lack of motivation but also concurrent with this was the less than favorable weather we?ve been having.  Otherwise my goal of starting up a habit for cycling would have begun weeks ago considering I found a bike shop near me. Just have to find out if they have bikes that fit me in both form and function. And if they deliver since  I don?t wish to road test the bike back to my house from their location.   While it would be a good working, the route in which I would have to take is wwwwaaaaaaaaaaaay too hazardous to ride (I don?t trust Sacramento drivers at all. :-p  On another and relevant note, I am strong considering getting a Century Wavemaster for a heavy bag, and I found that Sports Authority caries a freestanding speed bag.  Since there is something therapeutic in the staccato cadence of slamming my gloved fists over and over again, it would probably benefit me to purchase these items sooner than later. Only problem is the only place I have to set these items up is my back yard so  again this is weather dependent.   I really wish my gym had these items but Cal/Fit  lacks these items. Basketball court? cool, swimming pool, awesome, wide assortment of free weights, machines, and cardio items, OUTSTANDING, even a frigging rock climbing wall, would it kill them to get a free-stander or just ONE heavy bag / speed bag set? I know that those items are usually the province of MMA schools and dojos, but sheesh it would be cool to have at least one punching bag or two.  Oh well, I can?t wait for the weather to get warmer.

HOBBIES 

Well in terms of my Hobbies nothing new has cropped up quite yet save for the usual not as frequent as I used to but still often acquisition of my comic stack.  Hopefully, I will get the time to organize and subsequently READ my back log of comics, TPBs, and manga that is currently occupying my storage unit.  In the meantime I am definitely going to have to re-box my collection since I some how managed to have an unruly and possibly hazardous mountain in there.  Probably will be the activity I will undertake on Sunday if the weather permits.  The same can be said for my sudden urge to start my dabbling in photography. Seriously I can?t wait for spring.  However due to my ?rainy day, job hunting, stuck in the house so I can?t go out blues?  has inspired a number of creative contemplations outside the norm.  For some reason my mind has been coming up with an arts and craft project to build a minature version of an AWESOME mad scientists monster lab.  I don?t know why this has been my mind, really, but I was looking at my collection of mini dinosaurs while watching the Venture Bros on the adult swim website and thought to my self, well damn, it would  be cool to build the lab of a mad scientist obsessed with ressurecting dinosaurs. Speaking of adult swim, woohoo Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood starts on Saturday :) (yes I?m an anime geek, don?t give a damn what you think)   That idea grew to a, it would be cool to build the entire Volcano island base of such an awesome madman.  So now among my current daily meanderings I am very likely to get some ?blueprints? of this whole shebang together.   When I am ever able to build the thing is a different question entirely :p  (one more thing for the ?lotto list?  I suppose though accomplishable if I ever get a house).  For some reason that defies comprehension,  I am also contemplating taking up the harmonica (not sure why but it sounded like something to do, lol.  In other news, I am REALLY loving crunchyroll, hulu, and funimation?s websites as far as ?things to keep me occupied while surfing through job boards endlessly.? Though this weekend, I think rewarding myself with a mid-day viewing of the remake of  The Wolfman.  Not only does it look awesome, it has my favorite species of monster (remember kiddies, the equation is Werewolves > Vampires).

GAMING

Nothing new really to report here, though I am enjoying Dungeon Fighter Online SEVERELY  though this week I?m on a bit of a break. I am strongly considering getting back into City of Heroes and for that matter Exteel, but I still need a few upgrades just to make things spin better. For some reason, I haven?t felt the need to log back in to Perfect World International, or Dungeons and Dragons Online, and I haven?t been on PSN in a while.  You ever have that much free time that while you have the capacity to pick up a game pad and save the world while blowing up small pieces of it, that you are overwhelmed by the possibilities?  Yeah, that's where I?m at. Hopefully that cloud will pass.

WRITING

Now one would think  now that i have a relative ton of time on my hands I?d be  able to do some world building, some decent brainstorming and be all full steam ahead.  Yeah, well the primary boiler in the U.S.S. Imagination has blown out and the crew is on vacation :p  Seriously though with the fun of job hunting, I rarely am able to concentrate as I normally would with this down time.  However as been my habit of late I have been writing down every single idea that could be plausibly strung into a decent story. For those who want the long and short of it, my web-serialization is in the genres of sci-fi, action, and horror with some elements of Sword and Sorcery with a huge dose of super heroic adventure.  Come to think about it, that?s why I thought about building a diorama of a mad-scientist?s lab. lol Anyways, I have my main characters, for the most part conceptualized, just need to flesh them out a bit more. One very helpful book I acquired recently ?What Would Your Character Do?" written by Eric Maisel, Ph.D. and Ann Maisel.  Its a book full of interview questions you as the writer can ask your cast of characters.  So over the weekend, , along with world building I am going to also take some time to ?interview? most of my main cast.  I have a decent idea on various characters I am going to introduce via the '?lens? of the main character?s narrative.  I spend a lot of time jotting down a LOT of what I call quick notes, as well as contemplating the ?look? of a lot of my characters.  I actually spend a decent amount of time thinking which actors would play my characters if it was ever made into a movie. I am also going to get cracking on each character?s dossier so I have a reference as to what each of the main characters are about.   Plus I have to come up with a few ideas for the primary antagonist?s minions. So far the current concept I have in mind is a combination between  classic zombies, Romero zombies, and the Xenomorphs from Alien(s).

DATING

To be honest this part of my life is pretty much on hold, which, at this time of year is the most sucktastic state to be in. Mind you I don?t really care to be in a relationship, mostly because in my opinion, and from previous experience it is too much work to really be in one, and frankly, what ever ?give-a-damn? circuitry I ever had is strongly mitigated by the fact I just don?t have the patience for the hoop jumping normal relationships take.  That  and by an in depth comparison (yes I even made a flow chart) I have more fun as a free agent.  A few of my friends might argue to the contrary as I?ve come to realize, you are you?re own best navigator on this crazy journey called life. And usually people who are pro-monogamous / normal relationships are the ones that have had better luck then those of us who tend to be social drifters, lol.   Not that I am hating on those it works for, I just know what my capacity is and I know what I am better off not pursuing.

And in other news?

This weekend, Saturday Feb 13th to be precise, is in an event in Sacramento, CA called Naughty Gras thrown by the radio station 102.5 KSFM.  For all intents and purposes it looks like a fun event like the Exotic Zone Ball back in October though slightly tamer.  Considering its been a while since I?ve unwound and frankly I  do need to come on down from the mountain. So after spending a day over my notes, checking out the Wolfman, a night of forgetting my troubles and getting somewhere in the vacinity of crunk sounds like a good idea.  Only problem I have is truly relaxing since, I often spend a lot of time people watching in large crowds and strangers tend to irk me in huge capacities.   I?ll know for sure whether or not I?m going by about noon Saturday.  Likely though you?ll see me rocking the evil monkey sweatshirt as per my usual ;) 

Anyways it looks like I am actually tired BEFORE 2 am so I think I?m going to crash.  So time for me to sign off for now, you may return to your normally scheduled browsing.

Message to all.

I

don't

do

cybersex.


have a nice day.

First to all my friends, compatriots, co-conspirators, and folks who just happen to be walking by this spot of the ?triple ?w??  HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! (be it Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, Solstice, and / or national cynical capitalist day, what ever the reason it fits :p ) And equally important, for those who have already wished me a Happy 32nd Birthday (to which I am thankful to have made it safe and marginally sane to) THANK YOU!!   Now without further adieu, a brief intro for those that are new to the party and wondered if they made the wrong turn at Albuquerque (10,000 cool points for those that get the reference), those who already know skip to the end of this paragraph. You have tuned into the blog of KingSilverback, what is a Kingsilverback you ask?  Well the concurrent definition cumulatively compiled depending on who you ask would likely be a 6?2, 245, remarkably handsome, former United States Navy sailor who?s interests are,  both varied (action flicks, photography [novice], working out, and martial arts) of a geeky lean (comics, gaming, sci-fi, anime, and technology ,), decently tempered, with a propensity for using his extensive vernacular even when not needed just for the amusement of seeing who can keep up with his vocal acrobatics long enough to make them relatively interesting (hmm that sounded almost pretentious  and arrogant, didn?t it? Its my birthday, I?m allowed). In more concise terms: smart, fun, relatively entertaining, and not one to be trifled with (while smiling in the face of stupidity I might still backhand offending parties into next week, or in a more Machiavellian (and very befitting of me) method, silently plot your downfall in such a manner should you irk me that whatever Deific being you believe in may consider it fitting penance for the entirety of the sins you?ve committed on this mortal coil). However despite the aforementioned propensity, I am actually a pretty down to earth guy. So please feel more than free to continue reading. Those who feel the need to scamper off into the underbrush, be on your merry way with good tidings. :)

So in current events, well for those who are DYING to know how my recent foray into the job market is going, hmm I do believe the perfect descriptor for this would be predictably slow. As it is the neck deep in the holidays, no-one, at least in my field of still growing expertise (information technology and communications for those keeping score) is currently hiring. Only one of the companies I submitted an application to actually sent me a reply (negative response) and the rest, I can surmise with a degree of accuracy, are probably still compiling he mountainous amount of applications submitted on a minute by minute basis by a number of likely equally qualified applicants which by virtue of it being the holidays probably won?t be looked at until the wonderful folks in the many respective HR departments groggily wake up January 4th, 2010, hopefully not too hung over so that they are fair and accurate in their sorting. I did go to a Job Fair on Dec 15th, for those that haven?t gone to one  allow me to illuminate. Job Fairs are indeed good places to go to get face time with some HR reps for actual companies and some branches of government service (including, ironically, EDD which you?d think since they insist that you sign up on their website with your resume they?d have the common sense to recruit qualified individuals using probably the highest potential applicant pool in this state).  HOWEVER in my experience, I have found despite their advertisements to bring multiple copies of your resume` to the event, you will likely only need at most 4 or 5 copies since most of the companies that show up only do their hiring online. The rest of the companies that show up are either schools that only do limited hiring and are mostly their to recruit you as a student or outside sales positions which require a lot more start up cash and early maintenance capital than most job hunters have the credit to afford (i.e. set up for failure). Note: military recruiters also show up at these events, and if you do have the drive and ability  to serve this fine country with honor courage and commitment, then by all means, sign up (if you do so half heartedly without furtively researching it first, sorry for your damn luck  if it doesn?t work out for you.). If anything, job fairs do make for information to add to the EDD form, just wish they provided free coffee too.  Sadly none of the jobs at the job fair are hiring for positions I am eligible for currently (either by a necessity for further schooling, my qualifications / experience are not a match, or requirements for positions that require relocation). So the hunt goes on.

Its funny though the things you find yourself doing when job hunting.  I find myself trying to find things to do while  submitting resumes, filling out applications and reviewing the number of job boards I?m on and when I do find something to do, I end up getting shiny object syndrome and end up loosing track of time to the point that before I know it I am either done sending out my 3 or 4 apps a day (depending on availability of jobs I could find) or I end up enraptured by a number of websites on my favorites list (Hulu and Crunchyroll have been particularly entertaining for purposes on catching up on shows I watch or anime I have or might find interesting, as well as a number of gaming sites so see what?s the latest and greatest monster slaying time sink  out there.)  I even find myself building home-networks in my head and designing a ?Smart-Home? (something I plan on setting up when I get the logistic capability to do so). And more often than not I end up entertained by one or two of the apps on Facebook (tetris I find remarkably amusing). Passing the time though in a way that doesn?t distract me too much from the monotony of necessity.

Catching up on items in terms of my social life as well as my once daily resolve for working out, due to present circumstances I?ve become more hermit like than normal, albeit quasi intentionally. Mostly because of economic necessity, also because it really is hard to get motivated to get out in the world when I have to get my self gainfully employed. Hopefully the fire will be lit again and I will be able to come down from the mountain more often than I?ve been able / had the inclination. Still not sure what the hell I?m going to do for New Years though.  In reference to working out I still do occasional calisthenics so I don?t be come too sedentary, however my eating habits don?t match my level of physical activity so I feel all kinds of disconcerted (considering I am a diabetic that isn?t good). I still have my gym membership at Cali Fit and,  hopefully if  I wake up on time in the morning, I will be making full use of it at around 0600 or 0700 (likely the latter knowing my current sleeping habits and proclivity towards insomnia)  at least 3 times a week.

In Vegas Trip news, for those who haven?t kept up with my updates on that, is still postponed till the middle of next year depending on time, resources, occupational schedule . The reason is actually quite simple, its been a while since I?ve visited San Diego, CA and hopefully I can get things together for a visit to the 619 for Comic-Con. Equally hopefully the individual days aren?t sold out, If this works out according to plan I can see the exhibits at SDCC on Friday, and spend Saturday and Sunday in Las Vegas.

In other news mostly in the scope of my writing, I found one of the original digital copies of my web-serialization (actually from the first attempt at NaNoWriMo when I planned for it to be a self contained novel)  so I am stoked  I have something to work with as a jump-on point instead of trying to re-construct my words from scratch.  However since the only thing I really wanted to keep from the recently recovered file is the intro, doesn?t mean this will be a walk in the park.   Still though I  have a good portion of the ?ground work? ready to go.  Characters are almost fleshed out, plotline still needs some revising (both overall plot and sub-plots  since I changed  a few character?s appearances in the story line?s chronology), and a lot more ?world building? has to be done.  I haven?t really focused enough on this project to really say the head of steam I had before is the same now, so I think in the weekend ahead (and maybe after the gym) I might just plunk down with my notes, a  few cups of coffee, my mp3 player and just get cracking.

And lastly I know what all what you are all thinking, what will Kalu be doing for his birthday? Well considering the fact that I do have one of the most disadvantageously scheduled days of all time to have a b-day on (many of you have heard my ?my Christmas is a hard day to celebrate a birthday speech? so I?m not going to   repeat that) it is a bit of a quandary.   Especially  since my resources have been limited by recent events, however if any time of the year  I can say I am due to treat myself, this is it. So today, me and my son are going to the movies to catch one that released today, Sherlock Holmes (looks to be a decent flick so I am definitely excited to see it).  Tomorrow though  I plan on utilizing something a friend of mine gave me actually a few months ago and have a bit of a mini-stay-cation at a local hotel (she won a free hotel stay and gave me the pass so I am going to make use of it this Saturday). (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE THANK YOU!!!!)  Not sure what I am going to do while I?m there save probably watch some movies and brainstorm. I do know I will probably stop at Taro?s (a subsidiary of Mikuni?s) for lunch.

So in closing dear friends and readers I will now wish you the best this Holiday season can bring you, and that you are all safe in the coming New Year!!  Later Days!!

Trying to think Positive:

That is something that I?ve been trying to do for the last two weeks, to be honest it has been an uphill battle. As many of you know I have been, for the most part, 6?1 245 lbs of overstressed on legs. Day by day I have felt the knot in the back of my neck get all the more wound up to the point that it has been really hard to get motivated  to move towards the domain of  positive thinking.  But like all things I take things day by day.  For those who are just catching up, two weeks ago I lost my job and returned to the job market, this marks the second time during the Holidays that I returned back to the ?adventure? (note the sarcasm) of job hunting.  Two days after that my grandma fell and broke her hip requiring extensive hospitalizations. One of those odd twists of fate, something I will be thankful for this coming Thursday, that I was home to help her out, which probably would have been more stressful if that wasn?t the case.  

In current news nothing really new is going on with me. The job search is going, as could be expected in the current market, rather slowly.  Considering my field of work (Information Technology / Helpdesk for those keeping score) that?s not surprising. There aren?t many open positions at this time. However I am sure fortune will favor me soon enough. However  until that time,  I am at least trying to get my resume out there as much as possible, and, as soon as it becomes resource ? viable, I plan on using a few ?resume editing? and ?distribution? services. Speaking of job seeking / unemployment, and those in California I am sure feel my pain, why is it the EDD is STILL not digital in Cali?!  Seriously, paper mail?! If there is one thing that just absolutely irks me is a woeful lack of contemplative efficiency in a management structure. Mind you my expertise is in the field of IT and not management so I may not know since I come from the stand point of common sense. 

In other news, or I should say in related news, my progress in my pursuit or work towards my novel for my NaNoWriMo (national novel writing month) has been significantly delayed. My normal case of procrastination was aggravated by the recent overload of stress with a  chaser of melancholy. Otherwise my synapses would be firing on all cylinders instead of idling like  a wounded walrus uphill on a gravel road. Mind you I do have some ideas built up which I may just reintegrate back into my web-serialization which took a back seat to the novel even though they are both set in the same universe. My creative process, to say the least is directly relative to my mood, to say the least, I haven?t been able to really get my mind out of neutral.  For the most part I have the same basic premise, its a sci-fi story, set in the far future.  However it will have a decent dash of fantasy in it as well (possibly spoonful of erotica, horror, and a pint action ? so for sure this will be a high-adventure piece  so for those who like ?high concept?  yeah you?ll be disappointed) .  My cast of characters are for the most part ready ? I have an idea on how the Narrative prose will flow,  a few basic subplots to run below the surface of the main plot. Without giving up too much info: My main character is an interstellar bounty hunter who has his own investigations firm that is a subsidiary of a PMC. They take on the parent company?s more sensitive missions (read: covert action required).  Mostly the specialize in Search and Rescue, Surveillance, Investigation,  Infiltration and Reconnaissance operations. I already have a TON of research material gathered so I can thoroughly say I can write it out efficiently from methodology, equipment, and other aspects all that's left is to get my head right and put it all together, which having read what I just typed, LOOKS really simple. However theory and practice tend to be two different domains. I think over the weekend I might try to get some work done on the weekend for it.

Another, and rather distracting contributor to my stress and mitigation to my creativity is the fact that its nearly TWO MONTHS since I've last gotten to have fun of the hot wet and buck nekkid kind. This is just un-damn-satisfactory, sadly its one of those things that is impeded by the miasma that other stressors have contributed to, but also due to scheduling and current resources that have prevented me from hooking up with new folks. (That and I run into flakes, and idiots that boggle the mind - for example last week I was told by a 30 yr old I was too young and a 40 yr old I was too old... then again, I suppose I'm lucky I don't fit into Sugar Daddy or  Gigolo status though) This is something I need to really take care of soon as possible. Its close to driving me crazy.

Aside from that I have nothing else to report, I plan on going back to the gym a LOT more than I have been in recent history,  that should, in theory, help me get back on track in terms of stress mitigation.  That?s All I have for now folks :) See you next blogging!!

Ok normally I don't combine two posts in one but I felt it would be the advisable course of action considering I am going to be particularly busy over the next 48 hrs.  As I posted  before  Halloween is the night of the Exotic Zone Ball, so after some necessary errands an hour or so of candy to the trick or treaters hanging out I will be getting my party on something fierce. 

As for Sunday 11/1/2009 it is the  first day of nanowrimo.  Now I know what you are thinking,  what the blue hell is nanowrimo? Well if you just googled it you will find  that it is Nation Novel Writing Month. Meaning this will be possibly the kick in the ass I need to get me writing something fierce. Not sure how far I am going to get since the last time I tried this I actually had more time in my hands and that was when I was still active duty. But I do plan on using my off days and a lot of my after hours time for this purpose (and probably some of my breaks) to get this up and running. Those  who want to follow along my progress, if you know me by my first name, track me  by either the *book or the *space which will be updated with tweets soon enough.   Anyways Thats your 230 - something am  update.  Later dayz :) 

New rule in contacting me, don't make the assumption because of my ethnicity you can come at me with stupidity or that I am putting on airs due to my extensive vocabulary and the fact I am educated.  If you wish for the stereotypical  guy who doesn't speak proper english for whatever arbitrary reason that society  has placed on him, he's down the hall.  He's probably even dumb enough to like you  if you're lucky.  Pardon if that came off irrate, injuries I sustained while in the Navy are flaring up and the soma hasn't kicked in.

As many of you who have heard me speak I tend to use this phrase a lot, usually when something needs to be repeated or when I need to backtrack over something just to figure out if I head it correctly.  This of course, and quite sadly is part and parcel to the formal instead of the latter.  For the most part I  actually hate repeating myself.. Mind you I don?t mind so much reintroducing myself, case in point, welcome, welcome, WELCOME, those new to my little corner of the triple ?W.?  (the rest of you can take a break and grab a beverage and / or snack while I get this out the way)   My name is Kalu, feel free to search me out out on other social networking sites if you wish to find out more than the following cliff notes. I?m a 30-something tech support professional, currently on tail end of my  hiatus from my educational pursuit of my  CISN-Network Management Certification and subsequent degree (for those lacking the linguistic savvy, basically I?m taking an extended break occupationally necessitated from my studies which  as soon as the 8th month of this year approaches will come to an end) .  My interests include comics, science fiction (reading, watching, and writing, current favorite genres super-heroic adventure ), gaming (pen and paper, video games, MMOs (feel free to ask which games / servers, and collectible games ?. oh and I plan on learning and mastering 4-way chess at some point), martial arts (movies, watching MMA (just started to really enjoy this actually) , and I was training for a bit and will get back into it as soon as I have more time), working out, billiards, bowling, pro-wrestling, cartoons, anime, action movies, and  occasional creature features (horror movies with a focus on ghosts and monsters, can?t stand slasher flicks to be quite honest).   Yes for all sakes and purposes YES, I am a geek, if you don?t like that well sucks to be you cause that?s the incumbent landscape you tread when you entered the door.  I tend to see myself, aside from my geeky proclivities and inclinations, as imperious, honest,  down to earth, and for the most part a pretty cool guy. Considering the majority of those I associate with (and actually pay attention) have generally the same assessment, I?m pretty sure that  I am being accurate in the previous sentence?s self descriptive sound bites.  A couple other things I probably should add in the interest in saving time, polyamory inclined, single parent, dichotomously optimistic cynic, and fairly uncompromising to things, people, and situations that may mitigate my ability to function in a way befitting my peace of mind as I perceive it. 

Now that we have gotten introductions out the way, we can cut to the chase so the speak. As many of you among my friends have noticed, I?ve been for the most part quasi-reclusive.  Maybe a bit stand-offish, a tad combative, and just generally ?un-me.? Well to say the least its a combination of things, occupational, personal, home and in the world that has, for the most part ?set the kettle? a whistling. For the most part these things that have been setting me off have been piling on top of each other and mutually grinding together like gears in the rack, stretching me in a variety of directions.  I won?t go into full details  as to what is setting me ablaze as most of you who are the privileged few to join my inner circle know mostly of what has been irritating me.   Though one thing I will state since one person in particular has taken it upon herself to make statements of things that aren?t true. For the most part no further report of her idiocy has been heard since I made the statement, with the appropriate visual aid. That being said,  I have to say, and for this is for everyone past present and future to ruminate over. if you associate with a person, you have to have a fundamental understanding of the person.  The closer you are, or say you are to a person, that understanding should be at the core of that relationship.  It should in essence be the main guide post of your dealings and frankly, it should be what you reflect upon before you open your mouth and start spreading lies.  In NOT understanding these natures  friendships more often than not become difficult. And in trying to change these natures for your own reasons, no matter the intentions, you run the risk of them coming to an end.  For unequivocally , and indubitably  personal  reference, I make it a habit  to inform every woman I?ve met up  with know from minute one my intentions and the general landscape on which they now embark on. Moreover currently I have pretty much stated I am in NO head space  for a relationship of  the monogamous variety.  I have also been on the record for stating that generally I am not the boyfriend type, I am not the ?emotional touchy feely type? and neither of those I have neither intention nor urgency in changing.   So in reflection,  I now am adding this statement.   When one takes it upon themselves to try and change a mountain, the mountain endures and laughs at their folly because in the end, essentially it is the fool who tries to change the mountain that ends up either changed or broken in end.    Meaning for those that up to this point who have tried to change my mind, made efforts to change my intentions, who lack such utter faith in my convictions that they would try to subvert, manipulate, or coerce my means covert or blatant,  Notice given, declaration of intent stated.  I am done.   I have too much damn stress, and more pressing concerns right now  than I let on and frankly this minute surfacing into blog-land is a necessitated letting off of steam.

Now that that bit of business has been handled I can catch those who are not scampering into the underbrush way from the beasties that stomp boldly in this jungle. Let me  catch you up on current events.  First, I?d like to talk about work. So far it has been interesting, hopefully it will continue to be so. My cubicle neighbors rock, and I dig the challenges of the job.  I get to flex my geeky mental muscles on a daily basis.  Mind you with all silver lining there are some clouds, and  I will just say there are some and leave it at that.

The home front has taught me one thing. I do not like communal living.  Operation My Own Damn Spot sadly has been put on hold due to certain outside concerns, which has been a major point of stress to me. As well as most of you know, my word is my bond, and I sincerely HATE making promises I can?t keep. Especially promises to myself.  When I returned to Sacramento, I had a 4 step plan.  Step 1 ? move back home temporarily   Step 2 find decent employment in my field of expertise (for those not keeping score: tech support / networking / communications)  Step 3- go back to school to further my education and expertise (in pursuit of my CISN degree) Step 4 ? move back out into my own apartment.  Sadly the case has been Step 1 has been extended longer than I would have liked.  Step 2 I?ve had to repeat twice so far. Step 3 has been on hiatus due to concerns with step 1 and step 2.  And step 4? well thus is  the continued point of aggravation.   I suppose it can be said that I have had my share of derailments along the way, personal and occupational.   However come this August, Step 3 resumes, which will eat a huge chunk of my free time.

Now to catch up on another thing that has been delayed, my web serialization project. First, I know what you are asking,  what in the blue hell is a web serialization? A serialization is publication in serial form. Well my project is basically that, but published on the web.  Or rather will be once I purchase domain name and build the site, and of course get hot on the writing. Basically due to the ambient interpersonal and occupational distractions I?ve been having I?ve reached a bit, scratch that, a mountainous block. I have the genre in mind (Sci-Fi, sub-genres of Space Opera and Superheroic adventure with a splash of Sword and Sorcery style fantasy). I  have a general idea of characters in mind (the agents of StCroix Investigations LLC). And a general idea of the ?world building? aspects I need to put into place. Its just that when I get a good start on things, well to say the least I end up side tracked and the,  things become muddled.  However, I have accumulated more notes in a few bits of free writing so I am close to starting.    I am trying to integrate periods of writing in with my daily schedule, basically putting in general notes  on plot points, characters, dialogue pieces and ideas for action scenes, etc.   I actually I?m getting a journal just for this purpose (i had one and then it met with an unfortunate accident) .

Another thing I am working on getting back into is  back into the habit of going to the gym regularly.  I?ve again started to slack off which isn?t all that conducive for my good health.  I?ve actually considered taking up bicycling since Natomas is pretty much built for some nice riding.  Just have to find a good bike and for that matter a good bike shop, especially considering the last time I bought a bike and wasn?t careful about it, well the experienced SUCKED royally (most have you have seen the scar). 

Well thats all the rant I have in me for now so until next time blog fans.

Just a very swift warning. If I find out anyone I know, past or present, is making a fake profile to "check up on" me, test me or other such b.s. to clandestinely acquire information.  I  will make this eminently clear, if you can't simply ask me for info, or feel you need to be sneaky about it, I recommend choosing the furthest point geographically you can get from me.  It would be in your best interest.

Ladies and Gentleman, Men and women, boys and girls,  prudes and debaucherers  (yes I know that?s  not a word, but the context feels right)  2008 WE HAVE SURVIVED AND INTO 2009 WE HAVE ARRIVED. Holy hell what a new year, a New President is in power unlike any we?ve had before and the man is cleaning house from what periphery news I find time to read. And while that is all well and cool??

THIS IS ALL ABOUT ME!!!!  

Or at least a convenient summary for those new to the party and don?t wish to read through my previously written, comedically structured,  ridiculously verbose, and quite possibly long winded, but then I live, breath, and fully exemplify the phrase ?Go Big or Go Home,? even though I prefer to operate with a Machiavellian subtlety in a lot of the multitude of Modus Operandi that governs  the myriad of complexities that is man my friends love (or  amicably tolerate, we are still in debate about this :p), my detractors are perplexed by, and those who don?t know me but hear me talk in the scintillatingly high number of segues, side comments, and conversational meanderings that not only leave the vicinity of what I was talking about originally have a sort of pretzel logic / string theory connection to the primary topic of relevance but decidedly needed to be in the forefront since that?s what the voices in my head decided in committee (except for number 42 because he believes he has the answer contrary to what the others think).  Sooooooooooooooooooooooooo for the hundreds of people who are new to the party (the rest of you can hop the velvet rope and head to the ballroom since you for the most part know the DJ and likely the playlist).   I?m, at the time of writing this, 31 yr old single black male from Sacramento, CA (by way of Lincoln, Nebraska; Raleigh, North Carolina; and sojourns in differing lengths of 2 months ? 5 years to various regions in and beyond CONUS) formerly an Information Systems Technician in the  United States Navy (reentry into civilian life was Aug 22^nd, 2007 for those who have a strong desire for facts and figures, 5 years  in, Proud to be there, Proud to serve).  I am a single dad, tech support professional and a self admitted & proud geek.  Currently tipping the scales at 240 lbs and standing at 6?1, handsomely descending from Jamaican and Nigerian stock, I am not hard to spot in a crowd if I wish to be spotted. My hobbies are varied (though usually orbiting around gaming (tabletop, MMO, console and PC), collecting comics /anime / manga, watching action movies,  reading / watching / writing sci-fi, martial arts (films / not currently training but once I find time I will start training again), working out once I find time again, and as soon a I can get a new camera and afford a computer that can handle it photography and CGI animation) Currently I reside with family for both purposes of financial viability, and mutual convenience (child care for me, assisting with my grandma and some bills for them). Currently I am finishing up an occupationally necessitated hiatus from school but soon I will be continuing in pursuit of a degree in Computer Information Sciences ? Network Management (so I can be a high paid geek ;) ) . I  have archaic tendencies,  I play hard, I work hard, and lean to epitomize kindness or cruelty if given the right inspiration (meaning set me off and you?ll wake up dazed  and confused with the tell tale hand print up side your jaw, and that?s if I?m in a good mood, other wise refer to the aforementioned  inclination towards subtlety). I despise gold diggers, have nothing but contempt for flakes, sincerely loathe being misinterpreted (so if there is anything you need clarification of, feel more than free to ask, and you will receive). Last but never lease..  I have a plethora of dichotomies that will confuse and befuddle even the shrewdest of observers. Oh and by the way, I love purposely misspelling words just to see who?s paying attention and  And that is the cliff notes summation for those of you with a short attention span.  So now that we?ve concluded introductions, nice to meet you, welcome to the party, the creaking sound you hear behind you is the 400 ton titanium girded door closing so if you wish to leave feel free to scamper off into the underbrush?.

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?.

?.

Ok now that the timid ones have made off for safer pastures and those whose curiosity is engaged to a decent, and quite possibly unsafe level, and those who have read a similar preamblative  rant and skipped to this point..

Wait.. one of them is still here?

..

?

Gone yet?

Hello?

Bueler?

OK NOW without further adieu?.

2008 gone, and now 2009 is here and what a DAMN year 2008 was? The challenges I had to face  seemed to come in multitudes, to be uncharacteristically abbreviate and in order of chronological occurrence: Stalker chick, Diabetic, conflicts of interest with family, pending unemployment, imminent unemployment, unemployment, finding employment, gaining employment, with intermittent smatterings of financial destitution, competitive douche baggery, and backstabbing from those I considered to be friends but obviously found to be wrong but have mercifully keep their sanity as the concept of forgiveness is divine (mind you should I take over the world or gain some other measure of  severely gratuitous resource endowment, I strongly suggest you keep me from the rum as that tends to be the door to me contemplative vengeful activity that isn?t often personified in me)  With that being said a couple apologies are due: for those who were contacted by a chick who will remain nameless for talking to ?her man?  let me make one thing eminently clear, I haven?t been in a serious monogamous relationship for about 8 years (both purposely and for lack of opportunity, currently more the former than the latter) , sooo ANYONE claiming  that another female is infringing on her ?steady? is not only INCOMPREHENSIBLY WRONG, but is highly likely to meet the fate of the last (i.e. permanent and irredeemable expulsion from my life, and relegation to a bygone memory of ?that crazy chick? with a speed dial button designated to call the courthouse for a restraining order if needed)  Over all I have over come most of the challenges though the ongoing one for stability and equilibrium seems to be a herculean task.  Right now with my current and most awesome employers it seems things have started to proceed in the fortuitous direction of my goal (for those keeping track ? Moving out of my family?s house, getting my own spot, and taking occasional sojourns to warm locales that may facilitate a few letters to penthouse moments). 

On another note, and I figured it would be good to point this out here, just to shake up the conversational rhythmn of this post, I find it kind of amusing that it was once said to me, by a person who?s real name escapes me but since it was such a laughable comment it does deem repeating, that it is perceived that I ?rub peoples noses in my intelligence.? Now I do know I have an extensive and well travelled vocabulary, which I use often and fairly accurately (arguably 85 ? 95% of the time)  because I do so enjoy multi-syllabic statements, as well as being descriptive and non-repetative (however I do  use certain words and phrasing over and over again if it is new, fresh and tastes oh so nice ;) )  But I felt I should touch on this since, well hell I found it funny and relevant.  So to address you, missy, I don?t lord my intellect (real or imagined) over anyone, point in fact, I don?t consider myself to be an intellectual being (for some reason, the conceptual image in my head of those who profess to be intellectual come from a position of some head-a-rectally inverted  douche bag).   So in short, I?m not smarter than everyone.  Though possibly, I might be wiser than you.

Anyways where was I

?making witty comments..

*shuffling papers*

? avoiding monosyllabic words like the plague?.

*shuffling papers*

AH yes relating the year 2008 and other such things..  cool meander over, back on the path.

DATING

Well folks entering the year 2009 and with some near scurrying off the trail I have chosen in 2008  I am still single, proactively lecherous, and decidedly (at least in philosophy but not aggressively in practice) polyamorous. Meaning of which, as stated before  I belong to noone and noone belongs to me. What's kind of funny in previous years I chose to avoid labeling my own  orbit of Dating, Sex, Relationships, etc, etc ad nausea, but I figured, hell  why bullshit.  NOW for those women who just thought to themselves ?oh it just means he?s a player.? Sorry for your damn luck but you are WRONG. A player will tell what you want to hear just to get what he wants (and likely if you think I?m one, the douche bag probably succeeded). Me, well I and I  am of the philosophy that I will tell you what I want, the core truth of the matter, and if so inclined am I to be charming enough to be disarming of whatever battlements and portcullis you have to prevent me from absconding with your oh so treasured virtue, you will most definitively enjoy it.  Oh and as a further disclaimer, and pardon my waxing out of the sophomoric norm, IT DOESN?T MEAN I?M FUCKING EVERY WOMAN THAT MOVES. It means I choose to date, hook up, and maintain a semblance if in the actual of friendship with the women I encounter on this precious planet of ours.  That being said, even though this particular course can be perceived as ?easy? it really isn?t.  Mostly because it is very rare to find women who are also inclined away from the norm of monogamous relationships, or say that they are not but are ready to pole vault that broom if a guy shows them a modicum kindness, a dash of chivalry  and sincerity  99.99% of the time. More over there the normal deterrents and amusement mitigations that occur within dating (especially in the venue of online dating which I pretty much use  exclusively since other modes of date acquisition tend to be propagated with more facade and drama than I have the tenacity to  deal with) . Of which:

-Fakes (profiles or people who are not who they say they are): often personified by women who are married who say they are single, chicks who say they are freaks in the bed but are severely prudish, and other variations (in particular, in regards to online dating: people who have profiles in one gender  but aren?t really of that gender (and I don?t give a damn what your therapist or your surgeon say you are)

            -A sub category of this are women who flirt with you first, engage in some pretty hot and heavy conversation but pull a ?not into you due to your gender, ethnicity, and / or sexual orientation.?  (funny thing is, I?ve only encountered this since I?ve been back in Northern California, so it must be region specific.)

-Flakes: People who can?t make a date to save their life (more along the lines of folks who pull a no show  / no call, through frequent cancellers can fall into this category)

-Trap-a-man?s: women who try to trap a guy who isn?t inclined to have a relationship, in a relationship, this can vary from methods subtle (i.e. monopolizing a guys free time) to blatant (pretending to be pregnant and then conveniently miscarrying after a serious relationship is established but not telling that the pregnancy is lost)  (the latter of these I have never encountered, thankfully,  unfortunately the former keep forgetting I notice EVERYTHING, but no less easy to tell them I know what they are up to)

Anyways, to say the least my dating life to this point (as some could tell in other blogs I?ve written) is chaotic. It fluxes between weeks when it seems all the single women in my vicinity are allergic to me and then explodes to me somehow falling into dates on a daily basis.  What?s funny is for a while it seemed only (or at least in great majority) women who lived an hour or further really had any interest in me (especially them DAMN hot Canadians and Aussies, grrr how dare they tempt me to look at Expedia  every once in a while :p ) . Which not so amusingly enough had me say on many occasions why I firmly believe exclusivity requires proximity.  However, I am finding more mutually interesting locals, so the monotony that once plagued my dating life has apparently ended (or taken a hiatus till I blink and then all women I?m talking to decide to find husbands which occurs fairly often).

In other news?

In regards to work, well as many as you know, I received a figurative kick to the junk in terms of employment, a set back which pushed a LOT of my plans (both personal and professionally) for last and this current year to a level so far behind that it may actually take me most of this year to catch up with what I wanted to do this year. Now if it wasn?t for the fact I really don?t want to put on blast how I really feel about how that all went down, the next 2 pages would be filled with a detailed tirade of expletives. But instead, I?d rather say I moved onward and upward. Not only is my new job a bit more appreciative and rewarding, it also contributes to me learning more about my chosen profession.  Hopefully things will progress towards an appreciable degree of stability.

Sadly due to the aforementioned setback occupationally there were things I promised myself I?d take care of that unfortunately been set back that I am currently working on, namely apartment hunting and working on my webnovel. 

In regards to apartment hunting, as I mentioned before and as many of you know I currently stay with family, and while it has been convenient for me, it is, to say the least (and not in anyway to sound unappreciative) fairly stifling, frustrating, and frankly not conducive to my being less stressd. But now that I am gainfully employed, once things stabilize it will be time will be coming for my departure for a place to call my own.  In all likely-hood I will be staying in the same area (Natomas for those keeping track) since it is in some areas very affordable and not too ghetto. Though hopefully I won?t get told the next time I apply I ?make too much money? (yes I?m STILL pissed off about that).

On the topic of my webnovel, the main reason it has been delayed in production, other than my usual distractions, its mostly due the fact that when one major thing in my life is disrupted, EVERYTHING in my life is disrupted. As many of you know my brain has been in FULL tilt since my last day at my previous employer (in varying degrees of job searching, then interviewing,  then learning my current job, and now acclimation to my current schedule) And since focusing during a cognitive  hurricane is not my strong suit, my project has been stuck in the developmental stage.  Hopefully soon I can move forward with this as well. (currently though I do have most of my main cast and the setting I want in mind, just the overall plot and storyboard I am having a few issues with) . I may be using a lot of my off / free time to catch up on notes / research / etc.

In regards to others matters of minor import and  a brief preview of the year ahead:

-In about a couple weeks I will be renewing my membership at the local gym I was frequenting and working out daily. In few months, after I?ve gotten back to a level of fitness I?m comfortable with (at least to the point my cardio-vascular health counter acts the pain meds I take as a necessity) I will likely find a dojo or kickboxing (actual, not that cardio junk) school to train at locally. However I may just self train for a while since I think liability speaking, not many schools will let me train. I?m also looking to map out a bike route around my area, oh and I am definitely buying a bike.

         -In related health news I will soon be adjusting my diet, not necessarily giving up foods that are frowned upon due to my medical condition, but eating more foods that I should be consuming. Mind you I won?t contemplate cooking since I don?t have control of the kitchen L.  

-As I mentioned before I will be adding photography to my hobbies very soon, mostly because it incorporates my amusement at people watching, and plus if you know where to look, there are some cool things to see here in Sacramento.

-In geekier news, I am currently playing City of Heroes, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Perfect World, Maple Story, Exteel, and Phantasy Star Universe. Hopefully soon I will have beta access to The Agency and DC Universe Online. Mind you  I usually game when I?m comfortable or rather not deal with 98% of the planet outside of those I quest / run missions with.  If you want server / character info (or PSN or in a couple week?s time my Live info, let me know actually in two weeks,  rearranging my gaming setup very soon)

            -And in more geekier news, even though I still have been picking up a lot of my new comics adding to my sizable collection, I haven?t had time to catch up since ooooooh about Feb 2007.  (I have skimmed a few things to keep up with story lines) The same could be said of my sci-fi / fantasy novel collection. So please, don?t be surprised when I vanish from the face of the earth for about a week and emerge looking deprived of sunlight and quite possibly smelling like coffee.  

             -And in further geeky news, it is HIGHLY likely I will be attending Wonder-Con in San Francisco towards the end of February :D I can hardly wait, last year was VERY damn fun. This year hopefully the same.

Well folks that?s it for this posting, I might be more elaborative in some sections of this entry in later posts if time, and memory allows. 

Oh.. and FYI, THIS WAS THE SHORT VERSION.

Ok, for those short busser's out there, simple concept. If I ask you a question, like "what part of california are you in?"  either DON'T reply to my email or JUST answer the question. Please don't come back with a stupid  ill conceived reply.

To reiiterate a few points I made a while back:
1) If you are NOT IN CALIFORNIA, and furthermore if you are MORE THAN AN HOUR'S DRIVE AWAY, please don't waste my time unless you are actively planning a visit to the "916."
2) My sexual orientation is STRAIGHT. Say it with me now STRAIGHT.  Now spell it  S - T - R - A - I -G -H -T. Which means: a) I like natural born, two X chromosone, biologically made that way, non-medically altered women. b) I have no interest in the male half of couples.  Obviously if you can type you're litterate, if you're litterate you can read a profile, if you can read a profile you're probably reading this too so those who are not of the criteria I seek, just walk away.
3) If you don't have a filled out profile AND a pic, yes mutha fuckas I said AND, I am not going to take you seriously. Point in fact I probably will get annoyed at the nuisance you're proving to be. No you're not special, I don't  care how much you think you are. Obviously by not paying attention this far, I'm going to have to start calling you "short bus."

Good luck in your future pursuits, get off my lawn.

Its been a while since I?ve written a general ?catching up? blog so I figured its about time that I just blast out a recap since the last one. For those that are new, hi, how are you doing? I?m good, had Jamba Juice with an energy boost plus some green caffeine added in so you KNOW I?m feeling keyed.  My interests are mostly geek, comics, gaming, anime, sci-fi, & fantasy, however I am planning on taking up photography. Currently taking a hiatus from school but my focus of study is currently Information Technology with a focus on networking.  I?m a friend to many, acquaintance to more, and enemy, as far as I know, to none. The three words that would describe me: Fun, Intelligent, and Observant.  My vocabulary is extensive, and I actually use the words in context when I have the inclination to do so (meaning I sometimes misuse words on purpose just to keep you guessing, welcome to my chessboard.) I have little tolerance for fools, even less for ignorance, and NONE for injustice. I am a single-parent, a proud veteran of the U.S. armed forces (Navy for those keeping score).  There is much more to me to know than this (read my other blogs and you should catch up nicely) but this intro should suffice for those who only want to see one facet instead  (usually those that do are mostly  so shallow I could stand in a puddle of you and not get my feet wet :P)  Anyways if you are a prude, gold digger, and / or fool, just walk away now, save me the time of berating you into a coma.  Seriously,  I?m good at berating, its actually quite fun. Lets me use big words, and curse words AT THE SAME TIME.  And plus with the base I have in my voice its all imposing and stuff. :D

Now that we?ve all been formally introduced (first names relevant to website :p, yes I am multi-posting this). Lets get to the recap.

As of today I am now one year and nearly two months into my new life as Civilian (though still an inactive reservist for the Navy) and so far, I feel I am adjusting well. For some reason I can?t remove certain words / phrases / speech patterns) from my vernacular (apparently I still say ?roger that,? alot, and I come off to some as to be authorative which translates to being combative to some)  so I suppose I am still institutionalized a tad. I am a lot less stressed than I was though.

Sad to say as with all good things, my contract with my last employer came to an end as of Saturday. L It was good while it lasted, and I LOVED that job, every aspect of it. It engaged my mind, the coworkers were awesome, my boss was awesome, EVERY part of it down till the last day was awesome. Hopefully I will get the chance to go back (6 month rotation on temp assignments) but until then I will pursue other avenues of employment. So very likely until I get gainfully employed again you will see me online very often. (Not that you don?t see me online that much  as it is). If anyone has any leads as to possible employment in the field of tech-support in the area of Sacramento, feel more than free to get me an FYI.  So if you were to ask me how I was doing in terms of work, I?d say ?in aggressive progress.?

Family life, to say the least, a learning experience. And I will leave it at that since while things are good, they?re adjusting to me being back as much as I  am to being back. I suppose its more grating since I am not much of a communal living person. And due to recent occupational setbacks I suppose I have to maintain adaptability for the time being.  Hopefully when the ball gets rolling again, I won?t get told by an apartment manager of a place that?s affordable I make too much money.  (dumbest concept I ever fucking heard of)  And hopefully the apartment market will be a bit friendlier as well.

The dating life? hmm.. well I could go into elaborate details into all the fun I?m  having with women who get I am not looking to be prince charming and won?t try to change me into it. And I could further expand upon that statement by saying that I?ve even had some moments worthy of ?Letters to Penthouse.? Or I could just be vauge and say its going good. ?

?.

Its going good ;)

As for my writing, currently I am back at the R&D stage. Mostly because a lot of the ideas I was working on were not meshing well with each other, mostly along the lines of characters and plot.  And setting too, for that matter, I WANT really WANT to do a Space Opera setting which requires a far future time period if I want to do it with the free-wheeling use of the general setting without having to look up historical data. Not that would if I was going for a ?close future?  setting , since the story I?m working on is more along the ?over the top action? kind of feel.  For those wanting a more definitive ?progress report?:  currently going for a sort of kung-fu / space opera kind of feel, definitely high action in nature. My main characters in terms of protagonists: A reformed assassin / spy turned bounty hunter (who is the narrator by the way) , an ex-space marine, a computer hacker, a daredevil pilot, a paramedic, and an escaped test subject. In terms of the antagonists: A mad scientist, a secret cult, mutated dinosaurs, space pirates, and a monster planet.  I am right now doing a bit of a reworking of the plot and how the characters fit.  If you are looking for a comparison of story: Crouching Tiger + Star Wars + the classic Godzilla movies + Resident Evil= my project.  Since I now have a LOT of free time on my hands, I have more than enough time to give my reworking a decent amount of attention.  (I will expand upon the rest of this later in another blog)

Well that?s it for now, I don?t think I?ve missed any topic of importance but I am sure some of you will remind me if I do :P