Blogging Hiatus -Not!

Did ya miss me? I've been extremely busy trying to knock out all of the papers that I've been procrastinating on for several weeks. My life has been in crazy mode for a bit, too. I have one more paper and one more exam to go to finish this semester and then one more class to finish my degree. Woo hoo! Right now I'm trying to talk to some professors to see if they'll let me do some sort of creative writing project for the last class instead of having to go sit in a classroom. Wish me luck!

To My Beautiful Wife on our 9th Anniversary

From the first moment I saw you across the lobby of the Omni Netherland Hotel, we both knew we had something special together. Since then we've become friends, lovers, husband and wife, and mom and dad together. I'm glad I married you and I don't regret it for a moment. You're still my best friend and I look forward to many more years of love and friendship. Happy Anniversary Terri!

Schoolwork and Life Get in the Way

I haven't had much time over the last week to blog. I've been working on papers for school and then on Friday I found out my dad was in the hospital. I left work to go to the hospital, which is just up the hill from the college, and found my mother and brother there with my dad.

He wasn't in very good shape. I can only describe it as terrifying to see him like that. I've always known him to be big and strong, a solid presence in my life. Friday he was confused and weak and it scared the hell out of me.

After a couple days of rest and some strong antibiotics to deal with a serious infection, he seems much more like himself. I still feel somewhat shaken, though. I'm not ready to lose my parents. I don't think anyone is no matter how old he or she is.

I'm having a little trouble growing older myself right now, so maybe that's having an effect on my reaction to this situation. I can't stop to think about it much right now, but maybe acceptance of all the things in life, good and bad, just comes with time.

Diseases of the Spirit

This week I've been suffering from a bad cold, lack of sleep and senioritis. I have several papers to do for school and several pressing projects at work and I don't want to do any of them.

After five years of night school, I'm just done. With the press of all the responsibilities of life, I just want to take a break. I know there're only a few more weeks of this term to complete and then one more class to take (I think, but more on that later), but I have so much resistence built up inside that it's hard to get anything done.

I can understand completely why so many people get almost all the way to the end and then give it up. I've put so much time and effort into finishing college that I've excluded so many things of value. I find myself questioning why I ever attempted this, why I kept going, desperately clinging to the hope that having a degree will make things better, will miraculously pave the way to bigger and better things.

I'm going to finish, but after all this time, I can't help but wonder if it was worth it.

Saturday Morning Writing

Unfortunately, today I'm going to have to be writing papers for school instead of writing stories. I must have a hundred ideas, but they'll have to wait until I have more time for them. I do try to write them down when they come to me so I won't forget important details, though.

I realized last week that I'd come right up against the deadline for submitting the paperwork required for graduating. The deadline was yesterday, but I spoke to my program chair and he said he could probably get it submitted still if I get it to him by Monday or Tuesday.

I'm relieved, but I still have a couple of hoops to jump through before I can relax. I'm really looking forward to not having to worry about school anymore. There are way too many other things I have to turn my attention to.

More on Apple's Boot Camp Software

Wired News has an article explaining in more detail some of the aspects of virtualization versus a dual boot setup. The case for using some sort of virtualization, which allows the user to simultaneously run applications on both operating systems at the same time, is made by some vendors who sell virtualization software.

While not invalidating the information they present, the virtualization vendors do seem to be a little too dismissive of the dual boot approach. Personally, I can see uses for each method. One use that is pointed out in the linked article is for gaming.

It's long been a complaint of Mac users that gaming software is limited and the best games are for Windows. It seems like Apple's Boot Camp would be the ideal solution for these users.

Technorati Tags: Apple Boot Camp Mac

Another Story Submitted

I posted an excerpt from a story I'd been working on a while back. The story was then called "Hate," but I decided to change the title because it just didn't sound right to me anymore. Today I submitted it to Glimmer Train Stories as "Love in the Cool Dark." Wish me luck!

Technorati Tags: writing fiction

Another Birthday Picture

I know I'm goofy, but here's another picture of Benjamin. This was taken at his birthday party. His sister Sienna is hiding behind him.

Happy Birthday Benjamin!

Yesterday was the birthday of my youngest son, Benjamin. He was born on April 4th, 2005 and despite having to spend a few days at Cincinnati Children's Hospital due to fluid in his lungs, he's been a healthy and happy little guy.

I'm not the most religious person, but I thank God every day for Benjamin and his brother and sisters. He's a true blessing for me and my family. Here he is with his big sister Cora on Christmas day. I'll try to put up a picture from his birthday party later.

Apple's Boot Camp Public Beta

Apple announced today the availablity of a software patch that will allow the new Intel Macs to boot and natively run Windows XP. It's only in beta now, but it's going to be part of the next version of OS X, codenamed 'Leopard.'

This is something users have been clamoring for since the news broke of Apple's move to the Intel processor. It's going to be a big deal in that it will finally allow Apple owners to have their cake and eat it, too. Many Mac users, myself included, have some need to use Windows for some tasks that may not be done on a Mac. This will enable us to finally ditch the imperfect emulation solutions and go with one computer for most tasks. This is good news.

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Attracting More Readers To Your Blog

Writer and poet Rose DesRochers has a great post on Todays-Woman.net about attracting a larger readership to your blog. There a lot of great suggestions there that go further than what can be found in the blogger help. Check it out.

Technorati Tags: writing blogging

Healthacker.com

Be sure to check out the new site Toby Buckell's blogging for, Healthacker.com. Under the title it says, "Helping Geeks Get Healthy" and there are relevant articles and links to new health information geared primarily toward those of us immersed in the marvels of modern technology, that is, geeks. They're just getting started and have a lot to offer already.

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Story: All About Billy

Here's the beginning of a story I wrote a while ago. I just submitted it to Glimmer Train Stories. Feel free to comment.

He opened the door and she was standing there with her hand held up in mid-knock. She looked ridiculous in her big cut-off jeans and her dirty, faded tank top. The pink flip-flops completed the look. Maybe that had always been her look. Her eyes were tired. He realized he’d never seen her before without Billy.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi."

He stood out of the way and she shuffled into the apartment. It was sparsely furnished, but it had recently begun to take on some life, as he had himself. He had some furniture now, a couple of pictures on the white plaster walls and even a lava lamp on the countertop that sometimes reminded him of times with Billy.

He looked her over carefully as she plopped down on the sofa. She smelled like cigarettes and incense and everything about her seemed used and worn. Had she always looked like this? Funny how he struggled to remember after trying so hard to forget.

Technorati Tags: writing fiction