Blog time, blog time,
Hooray for blog time!
Today I went to Bible Study (no international secret missions involved), and then I had to take things a little easy the rest of the day since my shoulder was wrenched out *sigh* again.
Of course it happened just like it always happens, you know, going around, karate chopping a bunch of ninjas...
Okay that's a total lie. It usually just happens in my sleep. I don't know why. I just wake up sometimes and WHAMO!
On the other hand, maybe ninjas. You know, like if I was sleep-walking... and stumbled into a bad neighborhood... where these ninjas jumped out and... Hey! What's that look for? It happens!
It happens.
But on another note, tomorrow is a big library book sale!
I always love those things.
If you're not a "book lover", let help you out. Imagine a half-crazed alcoholic... attending Oktoberfest.
Or you could also call it a little like Christmas Morning. If your Christmas involves seeing a mob of nerds claw eachother's eyes out over the last copy of Where the Sidewalk Ends. (Which, ideally, it should.)
Any way you slice it, a good time had by all!
Live YOUR adventure!
-E.L. Fletcher
Friday, July 10, 2015
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
On sick leave.
Two days out of commission.
That stomach flu that the baby started us all out on... not fun. Then the mouth thing on top of it. Yuck.
I got a little bit done, but not much. Spent most of the day yesterday and a fair slice of today in bed. Kept the kids in bed with the help of movies. A special thanks to the Despicable Me and their invention of "Minions"! Also, the old Dudley Moore standby, Milo and Otis was a big hit.
But now I've got a second illustration done, so... only 28 more. :/
I did also wire up the blog feed to twitter, facebook, and linkedin, so if you're looking through one of those lenses, hopefully this comes through ok.
Just one bite at a time, I guess.
Live YOUR adventure!
-E.L. Fletcher
That stomach flu that the baby started us all out on... not fun. Then the mouth thing on top of it. Yuck.
I got a little bit done, but not much. Spent most of the day yesterday and a fair slice of today in bed. Kept the kids in bed with the help of movies. A special thanks to the Despicable Me and their invention of "Minions"! Also, the old Dudley Moore standby, Milo and Otis was a big hit.
But now I've got a second illustration done, so... only 28 more. :/
I did also wire up the blog feed to twitter, facebook, and linkedin, so if you're looking through one of those lenses, hopefully this comes through ok.
Just one bite at a time, I guess.
Live YOUR adventure!
-E.L. Fletcher
Monday, July 6, 2015
Kissing monkeys, televangelist impersonations, and a coupon for free cat food!
Ever have one of those days where everything you touch works out perfectly?
Now imagine the opposite.
That's me.
I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm not being negative or anything. And I did keep on driving after the wheels came off, which is totally unlike me.
Still, everybody's been at eachothers' throats for some reason. I've got some nasty, painful mouth thing going on. (Possibly a cross-between eBola and Mono. Knew I shouldn't have kissed that vervet monkey!) And then there's the little detail about an emergency complete ceiling rebuild in the mud room.
But I'm stayin' positive! That's me!
You want to know why? Cuz that dude with big hair on TV says, "Ya got t' name it and claim it!"
Also, "Yea-ya!"
(Just not the same without that last part.)
Not that I'm being facetious! Never. Nope. No way.
Well, maybe once I was facetious. In third grade. It's that same one still ongoing as of today, completely unbroken.
There you go. Kissing monkeys, televangelist impersonations, and a coupon for cat food all in one post! Where else can you get that? Keep coming back!
Live YOUR adventure!
-E.L. Fletcher
P.S. Turns out the cat food coupon was expired so I had to take it down. Please apologize to Mr Whiskers for me. Thanks.
P.P.S. My son is reading this over my shoulder. His exact words are, "Your blog is going nuts!"
Hmmm... Interesting feedback, but I don't see it.
Now imagine the opposite.
That's me.
I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm not being negative or anything. And I did keep on driving after the wheels came off, which is totally unlike me.
Still, everybody's been at eachothers' throats for some reason. I've got some nasty, painful mouth thing going on. (Possibly a cross-between eBola and Mono. Knew I shouldn't have kissed that vervet monkey!) And then there's the little detail about an emergency complete ceiling rebuild in the mud room.
But I'm stayin' positive! That's me!
You want to know why? Cuz that dude with big hair on TV says, "Ya got t' name it and claim it!"
Also, "Yea-ya!"
(Just not the same without that last part.)
Not that I'm being facetious! Never. Nope. No way.
Well, maybe once I was facetious. In third grade. It's that same one still ongoing as of today, completely unbroken.
There you go. Kissing monkeys, televangelist impersonations, and a coupon for cat food all in one post! Where else can you get that? Keep coming back!
Live YOUR adventure!
-E.L. Fletcher
P.S. Turns out the cat food coupon was expired so I had to take it down. Please apologize to Mr Whiskers for me. Thanks.
P.P.S. My son is reading this over my shoulder. His exact words are, "Your blog is going nuts!"
Hmmm... Interesting feedback, but I don't see it.
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Finally got some good free time to get things done!
I spent the day writing and illustrating on a project I had tabled some time ago.
Otherwise, I fear I'll get book 2 ready for editorial review before responses for book 1 are even in. I'm going to have one book rear-end another book and cause a big pile-up on the interstate. Film at 11. ;)
Even so, sitting around like a lump is no good option. Particularly with certain people in this house and their stubborn insistence on having food to eat. Wimps.
This alternative will help, I think. Set two different plates a-spinning all at once!
This other book is a childrens' story. But it is an adventure, so I think it does still fit with the whole "E.L. Fletcher" brand identity.
The big whammy with the plan is... I'm definitely going to have to get faster at illustrations. Taking all afternoon for one is going to get old mighty fast. (Though ~30 pages worth of drawings... that's only one a day for a month, I suppose. If I wanted to kill myself.)
But once I get a better feel for the digital painting software, I think it'll get significantly better.
Now, you may be thinking, reading this, "Mr Fletcher, did you just say 'illustrate'? You mean to tell me, you write, you draw, you code... are you just awesome at everything, or what?"
Yes. Yes I am.
KIDDING! There are plenty of things that I just can't get the hang of. Calculus. People skills. Sports. Music.
Seriously, I've taken guitar lessons TWICE. Both times, same result. And I practiced! I really did! But every time my brain says, "Time to play a G. Okay, I know what that looks like. And... NEYRNK", my fingers turn into a Pretzelmaker reject instead. I mean, come on guys! A little teamwork here! Please?
So there you go. If you play guitar, you're awesommer than me. I make no excuses.
Live YOUR adventure!
-E.L. Fletcher
P.S. Yes I did just say "awesommer". Flagrantly!
I spent the day writing and illustrating on a project I had tabled some time ago.
Otherwise, I fear I'll get book 2 ready for editorial review before responses for book 1 are even in. I'm going to have one book rear-end another book and cause a big pile-up on the interstate. Film at 11. ;)
Even so, sitting around like a lump is no good option. Particularly with certain people in this house and their stubborn insistence on having food to eat. Wimps.
This alternative will help, I think. Set two different plates a-spinning all at once!
This other book is a childrens' story. But it is an adventure, so I think it does still fit with the whole "E.L. Fletcher" brand identity.
The big whammy with the plan is... I'm definitely going to have to get faster at illustrations. Taking all afternoon for one is going to get old mighty fast. (Though ~30 pages worth of drawings... that's only one a day for a month, I suppose. If I wanted to kill myself.)
But once I get a better feel for the digital painting software, I think it'll get significantly better.
Now, you may be thinking, reading this, "Mr Fletcher, did you just say 'illustrate'? You mean to tell me, you write, you draw, you code... are you just awesome at everything, or what?"
Yes. Yes I am.
KIDDING! There are plenty of things that I just can't get the hang of. Calculus. People skills. Sports. Music.
Seriously, I've taken guitar lessons TWICE. Both times, same result. And I practiced! I really did! But every time my brain says, "Time to play a G. Okay, I know what that looks like. And... NEYRNK", my fingers turn into a Pretzelmaker reject instead. I mean, come on guys! A little teamwork here! Please?
So there you go. If you play guitar, you're awesommer than me. I make no excuses.
Live YOUR adventure!
-E.L. Fletcher
P.S. Yes I did just say "awesommer". Flagrantly!
Friday, July 3, 2015
Fourth of July re-enactment.
Yesterday the plan layed out for today was to spend the day writing.
This did not work out.
Instead, we realized that today was the colonial re-enactment fair, (only) 90 miles away.
Starting out with a long drive and a van full of youngsters, that idea could easily have turned out to be a fiasco.
Thankfully, the fair was great! There were plenty of great tradesmen explaining and showing their traditional craft. That alone would have made the trip worth it!
Also, there were the required soldiers, muskets, booming cannons, all that. Finally, there were re-enactments / slash / plays retelling important historical events surrounding the Revolution.
One event that the kids loved was the arrest and bringing of Isiah Thomas before the Grand Jury on charges of printing sedition against the Crown. The actor portraying the British Magistrate did a stellar job. He even came up with believable improv responses to the audience's obviously pro-American jeers.
What was especially interesting was that after the show was over, he laid his costume aside. Though the events in question were about establishing the freedom of the press, and those in favor of it were accused of inciting riot, in comparison modern news is becoming more and more politically beholden AND has strongly contributed to several riots of late.
An interesting premise.
I guess the takehome is that those old guys in strange triangular headgear really knew their stuff when they tried to keep the government from asserting control over the media.
Live YOUR adventure!
-E.L. Fletcher
This did not work out.
Instead, we realized that today was the colonial re-enactment fair, (only) 90 miles away.
Starting out with a long drive and a van full of youngsters, that idea could easily have turned out to be a fiasco.
Thankfully, the fair was great! There were plenty of great tradesmen explaining and showing their traditional craft. That alone would have made the trip worth it!
Also, there were the required soldiers, muskets, booming cannons, all that. Finally, there were re-enactments / slash / plays retelling important historical events surrounding the Revolution.
One event that the kids loved was the arrest and bringing of Isiah Thomas before the Grand Jury on charges of printing sedition against the Crown. The actor portraying the British Magistrate did a stellar job. He even came up with believable improv responses to the audience's obviously pro-American jeers.
What was especially interesting was that after the show was over, he laid his costume aside. Though the events in question were about establishing the freedom of the press, and those in favor of it were accused of inciting riot, in comparison modern news is becoming more and more politically beholden AND has strongly contributed to several riots of late.
An interesting premise.
I guess the takehome is that those old guys in strange triangular headgear really knew their stuff when they tried to keep the government from asserting control over the media.
Live YOUR adventure!
-E.L. Fletcher
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Is it worthwhile for a kid to run a business?
Today was the fist day of the kids' store. Can't say the parent's weren't involved though.
I mean, it's not like we spent most of the week busting our rears or anything like that, right?
Yeah...
That's okay though. I negotiated for tomorrow being an all-writing marathon day. That should be good.
But the big question is, "Is this all worth it?"
I mean, Steve Maxwell describes kids' extracurricular activities as, "time robbers". Is that what we're talking about? Becoming the artificially-busy soccer mom, running frantic all over town being the kid taxi between one activity to the next?
I don't think so. Though there was a certain amount of franticality involved, there is a method to the madness. (As opposed to, you know, my regular madness.)
I've decided that Reading, Writing, Arithmetic are all spiffy, but the single most important subject for success in life is Entrepreneurship. This is, of course, not taught in schools whose goal is to train laborers, not leaders. (But that's another rant for another day.)
To understand the difference, let's have a look at both plans. The driving philosophy behind the timeclock system is, "I need to make enough money so that I can one day afford to retire and do what I want". In comparison, the question behind Entrepreneurship is, "What do I want to do? And how can I turn that into a profitable business?"
Choose whichever one you want, but personally, I prefer the second way.
Caveat: I wasn't raised for the second way. I'm not skilled in the second way. But I prefer the second way.
That's why the kids are out late, talking to strangers tonight.** They're out there learning sales skills, negotiation, counting change, dealing with difficult people, etc.
It doesn't really matter what enterprise they choose -- from keep on making quilts to start their own charter helicopter service -- anything! Whatever it is though, these critical non-classroom skills are exactly what will enable them to make a living at it.
Put it another way: I wouldn't neglect geography, but if you forget the capitol of Alabama... look it up! I won't neglect spelling, but download OpenOffice and it'll correct that for you. Conversely, there's no spell-checker for street smarts. There's no way of googling whether people will like your product or not.
Real-life experience. On-the-job training. Experience out in trenches. Name your cliche, but I believe that this is a strong second for the most important part of their entire education!
And so, I'll continue to help sand little thingamajigs, glue hats on little gnomes, and construct little booths. I'm paying it forward in dividends that should last their little lifetime.
Live YOUR adventure!
-E.L. Fletcher
** That sounded creepy. With parental supervision, of course!
I mean, it's not like we spent most of the week busting our rears or anything like that, right?
Yeah...
That's okay though. I negotiated for tomorrow being an all-writing marathon day. That should be good.
But the big question is, "Is this all worth it?"
I mean, Steve Maxwell describes kids' extracurricular activities as, "time robbers". Is that what we're talking about? Becoming the artificially-busy soccer mom, running frantic all over town being the kid taxi between one activity to the next?
I don't think so. Though there was a certain amount of franticality involved, there is a method to the madness. (As opposed to, you know, my regular madness.)
I've decided that Reading, Writing, Arithmetic are all spiffy, but the single most important subject for success in life is Entrepreneurship. This is, of course, not taught in schools whose goal is to train laborers, not leaders. (But that's another rant for another day.)
To understand the difference, let's have a look at both plans. The driving philosophy behind the timeclock system is, "I need to make enough money so that I can one day afford to retire and do what I want". In comparison, the question behind Entrepreneurship is, "What do I want to do? And how can I turn that into a profitable business?"
Choose whichever one you want, but personally, I prefer the second way.
Caveat: I wasn't raised for the second way. I'm not skilled in the second way. But I prefer the second way.
That's why the kids are out late, talking to strangers tonight.** They're out there learning sales skills, negotiation, counting change, dealing with difficult people, etc.
It doesn't really matter what enterprise they choose -- from keep on making quilts to start their own charter helicopter service -- anything! Whatever it is though, these critical non-classroom skills are exactly what will enable them to make a living at it.
Put it another way: I wouldn't neglect geography, but if you forget the capitol of Alabama... look it up! I won't neglect spelling, but download OpenOffice and it'll correct that for you. Conversely, there's no spell-checker for street smarts. There's no way of googling whether people will like your product or not.
Real-life experience. On-the-job training. Experience out in trenches. Name your cliche, but I believe that this is a strong second for the most important part of their entire education!
And so, I'll continue to help sand little thingamajigs, glue hats on little gnomes, and construct little booths. I'm paying it forward in dividends that should last their little lifetime.
Live YOUR adventure!
-E.L. Fletcher
** That sounded creepy. With parental supervision, of course!
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
MOKF is over. So... now what?
Kind of a follow-on to yesterday, but it has been exactly one month since I walked away from it all to start a new life. I haven't found it yet, of course, and I'm doing more burning money than making it.
I'm still hopeful that there's a way to scratch out a living without abandoning home and family to the wolves. "How", remains to be seen.
The Month of Kung Fu goal was singular: To keep the schedule.
But now what?
I guess the next goal is to come up with a plan, then isn't it?
How 'bout this one?
1) Release the book.
2) You guys buy the book.
3) Buy tamales for one more day.
I guess it could be a worse plan.
Like last night the DW and I watched, Rodgers and Hammerstein's, "The King and I" for the first time. Possibly the most tacked-on ending ever in the history of anything. Yeah, he just randomly up and dies. The end.
Wha--!??
Not to mention you've got the whole subplot with the Burmese harem slave -- which was actually interesting, until it turns completely moot. "Oh no! Can she escape to be with her true love?". Meh. Why bother? Wait 45 seconds and your master croaks anyway.
Come on R&H! You've got a Burmese harem slave going on and this is the best you can do with it?
Now, for example, give me a Burmese harem slave to work with, and...
(Wait. Is this one of those things I should be asking my wife about first? I never know.)
Okay, enough horsing around. I need to get to bed. Getting a weeeee bit rummy now.
Live YOUR adventure!
-E.L. Fletcher
I'm still hopeful that there's a way to scratch out a living without abandoning home and family to the wolves. "How", remains to be seen.
The Month of Kung Fu goal was singular: To keep the schedule.
But now what?
I guess the next goal is to come up with a plan, then isn't it?
How 'bout this one?
1) Release the book.
2) You guys buy the book.
3) Buy tamales for one more day.
I guess it could be a worse plan.
Like last night the DW and I watched, Rodgers and Hammerstein's, "The King and I" for the first time. Possibly the most tacked-on ending ever in the history of anything. Yeah, he just randomly up and dies. The end.
Wha--!??
Not to mention you've got the whole subplot with the Burmese harem slave -- which was actually interesting, until it turns completely moot. "Oh no! Can she escape to be with her true love?". Meh. Why bother? Wait 45 seconds and your master croaks anyway.
Come on R&H! You've got a Burmese harem slave going on and this is the best you can do with it?
Now, for example, give me a Burmese harem slave to work with, and...
(Wait. Is this one of those things I should be asking my wife about first? I never know.)
Okay, enough horsing around. I need to get to bed. Getting a weeeee bit rummy now.
Live YOUR adventure!
-E.L. Fletcher
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