Shots Across The Bow

Just Some Stuff

You know, I've been writing about almost nothing but politics over the last few weeks, and it's getting a little old. I mean, sure, this is election season, and it is a very important election, one that could decide the "fate of the free world" {cue ominous music}, but really, how much longer can I take this stuff seriously? John Kerry couldn't be doing any worse if he were trying to lose the election. I haven't seen a campaign run this ineptly since Bob Dole in 1996.

Anyway, I always write about what interests me, and recent appearances to the contrary, I do have more interests than politics. So here's what I've been doing when not following politics.

Books

Looking at my nightstand, I've got three books going right now. Neal Stephenson's System of the World, The Year's Best Fatasy and Horror, and L.E Modessit's Darknesses. On deck are Stephen King's The Dark Tower, Legends 2, General Patton, A Soldier's Life, and The Singular Mark Twain.

Stephenson's Baroque cycle has been a good read, although I'm a little confused about why it's been classed a science fiction. It reminds me a bit of Herman Wouk's WWII works, not because they are in any way similar, but because they engendered a similar reaction in me. I want to know more now about the events Stephenson chronicles, so I expect I'll be seeking out some good European history books. Any recommendation would be welcomed. Incidently, I recently finished Jack Whyte's Camulod Chronicles, so I'm also interested in early British history, starting with the Celts and moving through the Roman occupation and on to modern times.

King's Dark Tower Cycle has been the only worthwhile thing he's written in the last decade or so, except for Everything's Eventual, his latest collection of shorter fiction. I'm not sure what happened to King's writing recently, although his substance abuse problems may have played a role. But more importantly, I think he's just gotten bored with the horror framework. I also suspect that, in a reversal of his Richard Bachmen dodge, he allowed Tabitha to write some of his later works, to see if anyone would notice. I first suspected this with The Tommyknockers, his first book without a single likeable character. Whether Tabitha has been writing them or not, they certainly haven't lived up to his best work.

However, despite the fall off in quality in his mainstream work, the saga of Roland Deschain and his ka-tet reminds me of Stephen King at his finest. King's greatest strength has always been his deft touch in creating characters we not only care about, but recognize, which is why his preposterous scenarios (A rabid St. Bernard and a possessed car? Please!) still manage to work. That touch is evident throughout all the Dark Tower books, which are really the only recent King I would recommend, along with Everything's Eventual.

Music

Aside from my purchase of an XM Radio (ahhh, sweet freedom from tacky radio playlists...worth every penny of the monthly subscription fee, I've been listening to Ray Charles: Genius and Soul
What a box set!

Movies

Obviously, like the Uber-nerd I am, I rushed right out and got the Widescreen DVD of Star Wars, and instantly devoured the extras disc. Watching the original movies has been a refreshing treat, given the leaden nature of the last two. The occasional wince at cheesy dialogue is more than outweighed by the sheer energy and vision of the movies, qualities lacking in the successors.

However, even more pleasing has been my belated discovery of Babylon 5, through the good services of Kazaa and Netflix. I downloaded a couple of episodes to see what the fuss was about, and have worked my way through 4 seasons over the last four weeks. This is what TV could be and should be, but never seems to be. Instead, we get Fear Factor, and Let's Trade Wives.

Which could be why I hardly watch television anymore.

Football

Little League and Middle School football is in full swing, and on Thursday and Saturday nights, you can find me out at the football fields of Sevier County, either announcing the games or taking pictures for the Northview Cougars. Othertimes, I might be out building bleachers, installing an irrigation system, building a concession stand, or about a zillion other tasks it takes to get a field ready for play. Heck, I'll probably be singing the National Anthem Saturday night to start the games.

You've been warned...

Hobbies

I just took over caring for my daughter's cichlid aquarium, and I'm starting a small 12 gallon nano reef for myself. I got qualified to scuba dive back when I was working on Johnston Atoll, and I want to recreate a little piece of it here in my home. Not having the time. money or energy to keep a large aquarium, the NanoCube is a blessing. You can look forward to pictures as the tank matures, and I begin to add livestock. I plan on going with mainly invertabrates with a gobie or a small clown. 12 gallons isn't much.

I'm still working to improve my marksmanship with the XD 40 and P22, as well as a new purchase, a Ruger 10/22 rifle with scope. Sighting it in should be an interesting experience since I've never done it before.

Woodworking has slowed, but I just took on redoing kitchen cabinets for a house our family rental company is refurbishing.

Work

I'm about to release the second book for PHD Publishers, LLC. Written by Andrew Ian Dodge, it's called The Gathering Dark and is set in the world of the Cthulu mythos.

Oh, and I'm still raising 6 kids, although the oldest has flown the coup, setting up house in Nashville as he prepares to go back to school this spring.

Hmmm. Looking back over this list, I'm not surprised I haven't been getting enough sleep...

Posted by Rich at September 27, 2004 6:39 PM | TrackBack