So ... this morning in Ventura it is a little blah looking outside. It's sprinkling a little bit, threatening to rain. And to most Californians it would be considered an ugly day. I, however, love this sort of weather.
My routine on days like this is simple: brew a pot of coffee, get set up at my desk, and work on my writing. In a couple of hours I need to go in to work at the post office, so I am getting as much done on my book as I can before then. So far this morning I have edited, corrected and printed one chapter, and I will be done with another before I have to change and be on my way. Definitely a great way to start off the day. Before I leave the house I already have a feeling of accomplishment.
There would be one slight difference to this routine if it were actually raining. If it were actually raining I would set myself up next to a window with a piping hot cup of coffee, crack open whatever book I am currently reading, and relax and read until either it stopped raining or I had to head off to work. You see ... in California there aren't many opportunities to read while listening to the rain pitter-pattering on the roof and window pane. So when the opportunity presents itself, I try my best to take advantage of it. Really, is there anything more relaxing than that? And if you're reading a particularly good book, then all the better.
All right, back to work for me. One more chapter to edit, correct, and print before I head out.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The Felt Pen is mightier than the ... Leatherman?
So ... this isn't exactly related to writing, but it's something that I still find quite interesting and, perhaps, just a bit disturbing. Yesterday I went with my son's high school music department--as a chaperone--to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia. A fun day was had by all. However, there was something interesting about the outing.
When we arrived and were all approaching the entrance, we had to go though the security check. First, we had to pass through a metal detector, then we had to have our bags searched by security personnel. Since I was going to be on chaperone duty, and knew that I would be spending part of the day sitting alone by the front gate area, I brought my backpack, which is filled with what I am reading and writing, as well as pens, pencils, paper, etc. The tools of the trade for a writer.
Now, let me back up just a bit.
For Christmas a couple of years back, my son gave me a Mini Leatherman tool, which I sometimes remember to carry in my pocket. It has the basic tools: screwdriver, file, bottle opener ... and ... a knife. This time I forgot to take it OUT of my pocket and leave it at home, knowing that weapons (of any kind) are not allowed in the park. I thought, Damn! I'm either going to have to take it back to the bus or lose it. I wasn't sure what I was going to do when I set off the buzzer. They sent me back to go through it again, and, surprisingly (or maybe not so), it didn't go off this time. Of course, since I knew I wasn't going to use it as a weapon, I did not volunteer that I had the Leatherman in my pocket.
Now ... here's the funny part. While searching my bag the guy found ... a Sharpie. I have it in my backpack to label folders or address large envelopes, things like that. Imagine my surprise when the guy told me I couldn't take the felt pen into the park. I looked at him dumbfounded and asked, "What?"
"We don't allow felt pens in the park," he said.
At this point I WANTED to tell him that I had a knife in my pocket. But reason won out and I kept my mouth shut. I am not stupid, I understand that the taggers out there who have never been taught that it is not acceptable to deface the property of others have made certain things tough for the rest of us. Felt pens aren't allowed because idiots mark up the park. Of course, we've all seen it. We can't go into a single public restroom without seeing the work of taggers. So ...
I'm not certain what the point of this post is, but what I am certain of is that the events of yesterday morning only solidify my belief that much of the so called security measures in place in our country are ineffectual and worthless, and only serve to waste time. They give the illusion of security, but never truly protect us from potential danger. Thankfully, this wasn't a big deal this time. I was going to an amusement park to have a fun day. And most of the people in attendance, I'm sure, were only there to do the same.
But what if I intended to do someone harm? I could have. The blade on this Leatherman is large enough and sharp enough that, if used effectively, could certainly be a deadly weapon. So ... had I intended to cause harm to someone, I could have ... easily. Only I wouldn't have been able to Tag the area to announce to the cops that I had been the one to do it.
When we arrived and were all approaching the entrance, we had to go though the security check. First, we had to pass through a metal detector, then we had to have our bags searched by security personnel. Since I was going to be on chaperone duty, and knew that I would be spending part of the day sitting alone by the front gate area, I brought my backpack, which is filled with what I am reading and writing, as well as pens, pencils, paper, etc. The tools of the trade for a writer.
Now, let me back up just a bit.
For Christmas a couple of years back, my son gave me a Mini Leatherman tool, which I sometimes remember to carry in my pocket. It has the basic tools: screwdriver, file, bottle opener ... and ... a knife. This time I forgot to take it OUT of my pocket and leave it at home, knowing that weapons (of any kind) are not allowed in the park. I thought, Damn! I'm either going to have to take it back to the bus or lose it. I wasn't sure what I was going to do when I set off the buzzer. They sent me back to go through it again, and, surprisingly (or maybe not so), it didn't go off this time. Of course, since I knew I wasn't going to use it as a weapon, I did not volunteer that I had the Leatherman in my pocket.
Now ... here's the funny part. While searching my bag the guy found ... a Sharpie. I have it in my backpack to label folders or address large envelopes, things like that. Imagine my surprise when the guy told me I couldn't take the felt pen into the park. I looked at him dumbfounded and asked, "What?"
"We don't allow felt pens in the park," he said.
At this point I WANTED to tell him that I had a knife in my pocket. But reason won out and I kept my mouth shut. I am not stupid, I understand that the taggers out there who have never been taught that it is not acceptable to deface the property of others have made certain things tough for the rest of us. Felt pens aren't allowed because idiots mark up the park. Of course, we've all seen it. We can't go into a single public restroom without seeing the work of taggers. So ...
I'm not certain what the point of this post is, but what I am certain of is that the events of yesterday morning only solidify my belief that much of the so called security measures in place in our country are ineffectual and worthless, and only serve to waste time. They give the illusion of security, but never truly protect us from potential danger. Thankfully, this wasn't a big deal this time. I was going to an amusement park to have a fun day. And most of the people in attendance, I'm sure, were only there to do the same.
But what if I intended to do someone harm? I could have. The blade on this Leatherman is large enough and sharp enough that, if used effectively, could certainly be a deadly weapon. So ... had I intended to cause harm to someone, I could have ... easily. Only I wouldn't have been able to Tag the area to announce to the cops that I had been the one to do it.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Favorite Books
As writers, we all read a lot. It comes with the territory, right? And being constant readers, I am sure we each have favorite authors and favorite books. I am often asked who my favorite author is, or what my favorite book is. No one ever asks why though. Have you ever asked yourself why your favorite is your favorite? I decided to do that tonight for the first post of my blog.
Like many of you out there, I definitely can't narrow it to a single favorite anything. So ...
One of my favorite writers is John Irving. And one of my all time favorite books (which happens to have been written by him) is The World According to Garp. I spoke of Garp in another blog a short time back when I was writing about character names. Garp is an amazing book. While I was reading it I was excited by the variety of emotions that it drew from me. I think any good book should have you either laughing or crying or, at the very least, caring in some way about the characters. With Garp, not only did I run through several emotions, I also found myself relating with Garp, the character. The things he did and thought about and felt reminded me very much of myself. And when I realized that for the first time, I thought: That's why I love this book. Garp is an emotional writer. I, too, am an emotional writer.
The World According to Garp is one of the few books that I have read more than once, and which I will certainly read again. It is one of the books that I recommend and give as a gift.
Why do I read Irving? I read Irving because he teaches us how to create great characters that come alive on the page, characters that we can't help but care for and fall in love with.
Another of my favorite authors is Stephen King. While people tag King as a writer of horror, that isn't very accurate. He writes much much more than horror. In fact, he writes very little horror. I would classify a large chunk of his body of work as suspense, rather than horror. Example: The Shining. This is a book of suspense. Are there horrific moments in it? Sure. But this book is a work of suspense. What makes it more horrific and frightening is the change in Jack Torrance's character from beginning to end. That is what leaves me thinking about the book long after I have finished reading it.
Now, another great King book is Bag of Bones. Bag of Bones is a ghost story. I find ghost stories entertaining and fun to read. Not as scary as something like the shining because I believe living breathing human beings are more frightening and dangerous than ghosts. So when I read Bag of Bones I looked at it more as a fun read. That said, it was the first book I ever read that made me leave the light on when I went to sleep. It was a fun, yet creepy book.
So there are some of my favorites: Stephen King, John Irving, The Shining, Bag of Bones, and The World According to Garp.
There are a lot more than this, you understand? This is just a very small taste of...well...my tastes.
Who are some of your favorite authors and why? And what are some of your favorite books and why?
Like many of you out there, I definitely can't narrow it to a single favorite anything. So ...
One of my favorite writers is John Irving. And one of my all time favorite books (which happens to have been written by him) is The World According to Garp. I spoke of Garp in another blog a short time back when I was writing about character names. Garp is an amazing book. While I was reading it I was excited by the variety of emotions that it drew from me. I think any good book should have you either laughing or crying or, at the very least, caring in some way about the characters. With Garp, not only did I run through several emotions, I also found myself relating with Garp, the character. The things he did and thought about and felt reminded me very much of myself. And when I realized that for the first time, I thought: That's why I love this book. Garp is an emotional writer. I, too, am an emotional writer.
The World According to Garp is one of the few books that I have read more than once, and which I will certainly read again. It is one of the books that I recommend and give as a gift.
Why do I read Irving? I read Irving because he teaches us how to create great characters that come alive on the page, characters that we can't help but care for and fall in love with.
Another of my favorite authors is Stephen King. While people tag King as a writer of horror, that isn't very accurate. He writes much much more than horror. In fact, he writes very little horror. I would classify a large chunk of his body of work as suspense, rather than horror. Example: The Shining. This is a book of suspense. Are there horrific moments in it? Sure. But this book is a work of suspense. What makes it more horrific and frightening is the change in Jack Torrance's character from beginning to end. That is what leaves me thinking about the book long after I have finished reading it.
Now, another great King book is Bag of Bones. Bag of Bones is a ghost story. I find ghost stories entertaining and fun to read. Not as scary as something like the shining because I believe living breathing human beings are more frightening and dangerous than ghosts. So when I read Bag of Bones I looked at it more as a fun read. That said, it was the first book I ever read that made me leave the light on when I went to sleep. It was a fun, yet creepy book.
So there are some of my favorites: Stephen King, John Irving, The Shining, Bag of Bones, and The World According to Garp.
There are a lot more than this, you understand? This is just a very small taste of...well...my tastes.
Who are some of your favorite authors and why? And what are some of your favorite books and why?
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