Celebrating the Holidays is bittersweet for me - I get to watch my kids run around like fiends, open presents and eat a lot of fatty, salty delicious foods. It’s a great time! My kids have such a joy de vivre for the holiday that I can’t help but get sucked out of my typical downward spiral of darkness.
However, I miss Murph. The vacuous gap he left doesn’t necessarily suck me down, but I just realize how big of a part he played in my life. Knowing how much he would have contributed to the life of my kids makes me melancholy and sad that he isn’t here to torture them - and I know he would have.
He would have tortured them by tickling, playing, drawing, painting and running around with them like a madman. I know that if he is looking down on me, he would be encouraging me to do the same, and so, I try to. To tickle, to tease, to torture. And I do, but it is Daddy, not Uncle Jon, and it is different. They have a rich life, but it would have been so much richer.
At the Holidays I always realize what I have. I have a home, a lovely wife and beautiful children. I have a great job, a purpose and a life. I value these things because I know what I don’t have. I don’t have my bruva, MonJonMayoJayoPelayoDelayo, the Baby Eraser, Zach, EraserMan, aka Murph, and I really miss him!
Spike
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Moving On!
I worked for a while at a place and I made connections, people I loved and cherished. Before that, I worked at another place, and before that, I worked at another place. Before all of that, I went to school with people I loved and cherished. Every time I was at a place, I thought “these people will always be my friends.”
When I moved, those people were my friends, for awhile. Then, things seemed different. Then they seemed strained, I couldn’t connect with them anymore. Then, we didn’t talk anymore. I missed them and I would call, but things were different. I either stopped calling, or they stopped taking my calls.
I have a few friends that have survived the moves. They are the people that I love and hold dear to me. They call, they talk, they come see me. My brother is one of them, but there are few others. A few of the others are friends of my brother who passed away. A few are friends from my salad days as a golf pro. Few are current or recent.
Losing friends like this makes me wonder – were they ever really friends? Further, I wondered, what is a friend? I think I have figured out what a friend is and it explains why I lose them.
A friend is someone who accepts you warts and all. A friend understands that you are a psychopath and teases you about it. A friend drinks beers with you, listens to your rants and loves you tomorrow. A friend is there for you.
That being said, it is important to examine the costs of being a friend. You have to listen to your asshole buddy rant and tell him he is right. You have to listen to your asshole buddy rant about his girlfriend being a bitch, even when she isn’t. You have to listen to your asshole buddy rant about his insane parents, even when they aren’t.
In short, you have to be a friend. Some of my acquaintances aren’t willing or able to do the friend thang. Does that make me think less of them? Yes. Do I understand it? Yes. Do I hold it against them? Yes.
Eventually, one has to recognize that one is alone at sea in this world of ours and that it is up to you to make things work. My friends are not my friends. No one is going to pay my mortgage, no one is going to tell my boss she is a bitch, even if she is. No one is going to say, “hey, that ain’t right.” Why? Because they all have a mortgage, they all have their own issues to protect and I am not one of those issues, so, you are on your own.
Deal with it!
Spike
When I moved, those people were my friends, for awhile. Then, things seemed different. Then they seemed strained, I couldn’t connect with them anymore. Then, we didn’t talk anymore. I missed them and I would call, but things were different. I either stopped calling, or they stopped taking my calls.
I have a few friends that have survived the moves. They are the people that I love and hold dear to me. They call, they talk, they come see me. My brother is one of them, but there are few others. A few of the others are friends of my brother who passed away. A few are friends from my salad days as a golf pro. Few are current or recent.
Losing friends like this makes me wonder – were they ever really friends? Further, I wondered, what is a friend? I think I have figured out what a friend is and it explains why I lose them.
A friend is someone who accepts you warts and all. A friend understands that you are a psychopath and teases you about it. A friend drinks beers with you, listens to your rants and loves you tomorrow. A friend is there for you.
That being said, it is important to examine the costs of being a friend. You have to listen to your asshole buddy rant and tell him he is right. You have to listen to your asshole buddy rant about his girlfriend being a bitch, even when she isn’t. You have to listen to your asshole buddy rant about his insane parents, even when they aren’t.
In short, you have to be a friend. Some of my acquaintances aren’t willing or able to do the friend thang. Does that make me think less of them? Yes. Do I understand it? Yes. Do I hold it against them? Yes.
Eventually, one has to recognize that one is alone at sea in this world of ours and that it is up to you to make things work. My friends are not my friends. No one is going to pay my mortgage, no one is going to tell my boss she is a bitch, even if she is. No one is going to say, “hey, that ain’t right.” Why? Because they all have a mortgage, they all have their own issues to protect and I am not one of those issues, so, you are on your own.
Deal with it!
Spike
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Eve of Monumental Change
I’m resigned to the fact that Obama will be the President Elect of The United States of America by the time I wake up tomorrow and that’s not such a bad thing. American taxpayers have been robbed for the last 100 years by the politicians in Washington, so is anything really going to change? So the Chief Executive has a different hue to his complexion, what’s the big deal?
I’m resigned to the fact that America will continue to hurtle headlong into a two class society. I’m resigned to the fact that we will continue to bail out big business, to enrich powerful people and interest groups, to be addicted to the teat of fossil fuels and to be personally impotent to do anything about it. While we are a great country, we will continue to be a dysfunctional socialist republic dressed up in our democratic façade.
Change is the only constant in life. Learning to accept change and find a way to thrive in a brave new world is a survival skill and those who believe in Darwinism should accept the challenge. Those who don’t should remove themselves from the gene pool.
I have a feeling that last statement will haunt me...maybe when I am homeless because my house is worthless and I chose to walk away, because my government has no money to bail me out because I am much further down the food chain than AIG and GM, maybe then I will rue that line.
Of course, I may just pursue the Native American resolution to worthless members of society...half a sandwich and a walk in the woods...?
Anyway, I’ll keep working, keep writing, keep paying taxes. Keep on keeping on!
Spike
I’m resigned to the fact that America will continue to hurtle headlong into a two class society. I’m resigned to the fact that we will continue to bail out big business, to enrich powerful people and interest groups, to be addicted to the teat of fossil fuels and to be personally impotent to do anything about it. While we are a great country, we will continue to be a dysfunctional socialist republic dressed up in our democratic façade.
Change is the only constant in life. Learning to accept change and find a way to thrive in a brave new world is a survival skill and those who believe in Darwinism should accept the challenge. Those who don’t should remove themselves from the gene pool.
I have a feeling that last statement will haunt me...maybe when I am homeless because my house is worthless and I chose to walk away, because my government has no money to bail me out because I am much further down the food chain than AIG and GM, maybe then I will rue that line.
Of course, I may just pursue the Native American resolution to worthless members of society...half a sandwich and a walk in the woods...?
Anyway, I’ll keep working, keep writing, keep paying taxes. Keep on keeping on!
Spike
Friday, October 10, 2008
Election Rant
I just finished singing “Row row row your boat” to my son for about an hour, trying to get him to sleep. It worked, but it was a bit onerous - unless one considers their responsibilities to progeny, then it seems a small issue. I reflected on what I was doing before my son was born.
I recently reviewed a journal entry from four years ago. It’s amazing how much things change in four years -at least that is what I thought until I read an item in a rhetorical e-mail about McCain. It asked what you were doing on September 11th, 2002 and what you had done up until last week. That was how long McCain was a POW. The impetus was to get you to vote for McCain based on his strength of character for having survived that long as a Prisoner of War. While I have tremendous respect for McCain, I don’t think this is an election issue.
I think, hold on, this is earth shattering, that the economy might be a little bit important right now. I was never a big Clinton fan, and have no facts to back it up, but it seems like we were doing pretty well economically under Bill. Maybe we need to lay off being the world cop and tend to business at home. I know we are spending a tremendous amount of money to protect and develop democracies around the world, but don’t we need to TCB at home a little bit? You can bring a horse to water, but...
Many would argue that Mr. Clinton benefited from Senior’s policies, that there is a lag in the economy and that Bill reaped what Senior had sewed. Those pundits would further assert that W is now reaping the seeds that Bill sewed. Lewinsky jokes aside, this argument is fallacious due to Senior’s tenure only lasting four years. To extend the metaphor, W is reaping what W sewed based on eight years in office, just as Bill reaped what he sewed based on eight years in office.
One of the questions the voting public needs to ask itself is, “Is McCain that much different than W? Is Obama that much different than Bill?” Ultimately, I predict Obama will be our next president. I am not sure if that is good or bad. I think that only four years of his leadership will provide accurate insight. By then, we might all be congratulating ourselves on a great choice, or rallying behind the next great hope for democracy. Only time will tell.
Until then, I will keep investing in the market - after all, it’s got nowhere to go but up - and praying for an administration that makes the world better for my kids. Ultimately, that is everyone’s goal and we should recognize that we live in a country that allows us to pick our leaders. No matter how flawed the process may be - think hanging chads - it is the most democratic process in the world today.
Peace.
Spike
I recently reviewed a journal entry from four years ago. It’s amazing how much things change in four years -at least that is what I thought until I read an item in a rhetorical e-mail about McCain. It asked what you were doing on September 11th, 2002 and what you had done up until last week. That was how long McCain was a POW. The impetus was to get you to vote for McCain based on his strength of character for having survived that long as a Prisoner of War. While I have tremendous respect for McCain, I don’t think this is an election issue.
I think, hold on, this is earth shattering, that the economy might be a little bit important right now. I was never a big Clinton fan, and have no facts to back it up, but it seems like we were doing pretty well economically under Bill. Maybe we need to lay off being the world cop and tend to business at home. I know we are spending a tremendous amount of money to protect and develop democracies around the world, but don’t we need to TCB at home a little bit? You can bring a horse to water, but...
Many would argue that Mr. Clinton benefited from Senior’s policies, that there is a lag in the economy and that Bill reaped what Senior had sewed. Those pundits would further assert that W is now reaping the seeds that Bill sewed. Lewinsky jokes aside, this argument is fallacious due to Senior’s tenure only lasting four years. To extend the metaphor, W is reaping what W sewed based on eight years in office, just as Bill reaped what he sewed based on eight years in office.
One of the questions the voting public needs to ask itself is, “Is McCain that much different than W? Is Obama that much different than Bill?” Ultimately, I predict Obama will be our next president. I am not sure if that is good or bad. I think that only four years of his leadership will provide accurate insight. By then, we might all be congratulating ourselves on a great choice, or rallying behind the next great hope for democracy. Only time will tell.
Until then, I will keep investing in the market - after all, it’s got nowhere to go but up - and praying for an administration that makes the world better for my kids. Ultimately, that is everyone’s goal and we should recognize that we live in a country that allows us to pick our leaders. No matter how flawed the process may be - think hanging chads - it is the most democratic process in the world today.
Peace.
Spike
Monday, September 29, 2008
Raymour and Flanigan/Wells Fargo
I need to be careful here, it’s a slippery slope that I am treading, but I wanted to give everyone a heads up with just facts. We bought some furniture on a no interest situation from the above named purveyor. Raymour and Flanigan sells their loans to Wells Fargo, as I understand it. I only found this out because I have been a few days late paying on at least two occasions. The Wells Fargo collections department is abusive, harassing and unprofessional, in my opinion. Let me tell you why, and then you judge.
I made a payment on 9-26 that was overdue, but the payment was for two months. On Sunday at dinner time, I got the call. I told him I had made a payment, but he insisted I tell him how much and when. I explained I was dining with my kids, was on a long distance call, and that he would be paid. He again insisted I tell him how much I had paid. I honestly didn’t know since my wife pays the bills and we pay them online. Apparently this wasn’t satisfactory as I received another call on Monday at 8:15 PM while I was trying to put my daughter to bed.
This time it was Don. I explained to Don that I was singing a song to my daughter and that I hat explained to the previously caller that a payment had been made. Don did not care; he wanted to know how much had been paid. I asked Don to speak to a Supervisor and he told me none were available. I hung up, sang my daughter to sleep and called back.
I immediately asked for a Supervisor and I got Craig. He was wheezy, stuffy and obnoxious; explaining to me that I had control of the phone calls, all I needed to do was pay my bill. I again explained that I had paid my bill, and he insisted on knowing how much I had paid. He threatened me that the calls would continue until I was willing to share what I had paid. I asked him to analyze my account for the likelihood of default - $5000 borrowed, balance of $3200, regular payments. He told me that he saw I had two purchases of $500 on a particular date. I promptly offered to pay them off. Then he told me my payoff was over $3000. I asked him how this number differed from his statement of “two purchases of $500.” Was he lying or did he not have the information?
Craig became more aggressive at this point, talking over me and accusing me of not paying my bills. I think I might never pay them again. My credit is bulletproof; I own my home and pay cash for everything now. Let him come and get the couches.
Asshole!
Bottom line – don’t ever do business with either Raymour and Flanigan or Wells Fargo!
Spike
I made a payment on 9-26 that was overdue, but the payment was for two months. On Sunday at dinner time, I got the call. I told him I had made a payment, but he insisted I tell him how much and when. I explained I was dining with my kids, was on a long distance call, and that he would be paid. He again insisted I tell him how much I had paid. I honestly didn’t know since my wife pays the bills and we pay them online. Apparently this wasn’t satisfactory as I received another call on Monday at 8:15 PM while I was trying to put my daughter to bed.
This time it was Don. I explained to Don that I was singing a song to my daughter and that I hat explained to the previously caller that a payment had been made. Don did not care; he wanted to know how much had been paid. I asked Don to speak to a Supervisor and he told me none were available. I hung up, sang my daughter to sleep and called back.
I immediately asked for a Supervisor and I got Craig. He was wheezy, stuffy and obnoxious; explaining to me that I had control of the phone calls, all I needed to do was pay my bill. I again explained that I had paid my bill, and he insisted on knowing how much I had paid. He threatened me that the calls would continue until I was willing to share what I had paid. I asked him to analyze my account for the likelihood of default - $5000 borrowed, balance of $3200, regular payments. He told me that he saw I had two purchases of $500 on a particular date. I promptly offered to pay them off. Then he told me my payoff was over $3000. I asked him how this number differed from his statement of “two purchases of $500.” Was he lying or did he not have the information?
Craig became more aggressive at this point, talking over me and accusing me of not paying my bills. I think I might never pay them again. My credit is bulletproof; I own my home and pay cash for everything now. Let him come and get the couches.
Asshole!
Bottom line – don’t ever do business with either Raymour and Flanigan or Wells Fargo!
Spike
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Making a Living
As glamorous as writing is for some, the reality is that we are only as good as our last sentence is and we are always striving to improve that last sentence. The majority of writers do not have the luxury of agonizing over that sentence and turning it inside out two or three times - we need to make a living. Whether that living is writing, selling, teaching, healing or accounting, we all have to pay the bills. I am no different.
So, I have a day job, which is really an all day job, but it is cool because it is a cool job, one that lets me be a dad, lets me be a writer, and lets me be me. I realize that this is a blessing, that most do not have the gig that I have. This gig comes with sacrifices, but none are important enough to stress over, so I don’t.
Name the writers you admire, and then list the jobs they held before becoming successful at writing. Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Roth, Grisham and many others come to mind. They all had gigs before fame. If you want to write, realize it is a lonely pursuit.
I am reading a new book that I find fascinating. It is a book on craft and mythological structure. It is motivating me to go back and finish my YA novel that is lonely, disowned and weeping on my hard drive, begging me to pay attention. “Spike, please love me, please complete me, I am worthy.” And it is. I wrote it as part of my MA Thesis and it’s okay. It needs polishing and finishing, but I am in love with it, especially because I have interest from publishers and it is ripe for a prequel and a sequel, cha ching.
See, now I have bad karma because I mentioned money. I have been sentenced to two more years of obscurity. Whatever. I can deal.
So, that’s my deal Neal.
So, I have a day job, which is really an all day job, but it is cool because it is a cool job, one that lets me be a dad, lets me be a writer, and lets me be me. I realize that this is a blessing, that most do not have the gig that I have. This gig comes with sacrifices, but none are important enough to stress over, so I don’t.
Name the writers you admire, and then list the jobs they held before becoming successful at writing. Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Roth, Grisham and many others come to mind. They all had gigs before fame. If you want to write, realize it is a lonely pursuit.
I am reading a new book that I find fascinating. It is a book on craft and mythological structure. It is motivating me to go back and finish my YA novel that is lonely, disowned and weeping on my hard drive, begging me to pay attention. “Spike, please love me, please complete me, I am worthy.” And it is. I wrote it as part of my MA Thesis and it’s okay. It needs polishing and finishing, but I am in love with it, especially because I have interest from publishers and it is ripe for a prequel and a sequel, cha ching.
See, now I have bad karma because I mentioned money. I have been sentenced to two more years of obscurity. Whatever. I can deal.
So, that’s my deal Neal.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Shallow Thoughts
By the anti Jack Handy. I did watch the Republican National Convention and came away with the feeling that McCain actually as a sense of humor, albeit twisted. His choice of Palin as a running mate has forced us all to confront our xenophobic tendencies; a black President or a woman Vice President. How prejudiced are you?
I am admittedly Republican with respect to fiscal issues, but moderate in social issues. I have problems reconciling my fiscal conservativeness with my social desire to improve the quality of life of all. I am not sure who will get my vote, if I vote. I feel if I vote, that candidate has my mandate and that mandate precludes my criticism of their actions - is that naïve or just stoopid?
My writing has been limited to modeling for my students. I was a bit envious to find out my publisher is now going to print and my two shorts probably won’t be a part of the first printing due to their length. I’ve always dreamed of being in print, and it may happen yet, but not this time around.
On the upside, I have gotten into the flow at the new venue and am really loving it. Smart kids, supportive administration – it’s all good.
See ya soon!
Spike!
I am admittedly Republican with respect to fiscal issues, but moderate in social issues. I have problems reconciling my fiscal conservativeness with my social desire to improve the quality of life of all. I am not sure who will get my vote, if I vote. I feel if I vote, that candidate has my mandate and that mandate precludes my criticism of their actions - is that naïve or just stoopid?
My writing has been limited to modeling for my students. I was a bit envious to find out my publisher is now going to print and my two shorts probably won’t be a part of the first printing due to their length. I’ve always dreamed of being in print, and it may happen yet, but not this time around.
On the upside, I have gotten into the flow at the new venue and am really loving it. Smart kids, supportive administration – it’s all good.
See ya soon!
Spike!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Who You Gonna Vote For?
So I caught two minutes of the DNC tonight and just about puked – wait, wait, wait before the RNC, ‘cause I will have similar bilious responses.
I saw Hillary, is it Rodham or isn’t it, Clinton’s introduction narrated by Chelsea Clinton, a Stanford graduate – is that true? What happened to the ‘hood in Paly?
First of all, props to Christopher Titus who pimped me with the “wait, wait, wait” mantra, and I think it is brilliant, and I should take his advice...I’m a little disgusted and should “wait, wait, wait” before I write. But, I have never been one to take advice, and I write under a pseudonym, so, wtf?
First, what the f**k is her name? Is it Hillary Clinton or Hillary Rodham Clinton? It always changes. It was Rodham until it effected Bill’s election, then it wasn’t, then he was elected, and it was Rodham again, until he ran again, then it wasn’t, then it was, then it wasn’t. I guess it’s Rodham unless it’s electoral, then it isn’t.
Second, are we really that interested in someone who is willing to stand by a man who “never had sex with that woman.” I like his definition of sex, maybe it would be valuable in defining our relationships with Israel and Iraq?
But, to use your daughter, who clearly shuns the public, to announce that you have shattered the glass ceiling, by ignoring your husband’s clear infidelities, to further your power grubbing desires, is there no shame?
Well, I see the apocalypse coming. McCain will now use his prostitute to proclaim he is a good man, “he always tipped me well.” Biden will claim to have tipped his hooker better than McCain. McCain will then claim to have stood by his wife while she was double penetrated by Democratic insiders, to which Obama will claim to have watched his wife have sex with sheep.
Where does it stop? Pick a name, stick to it, leave your kids out of it. I know this is a ridiculous rant – it’s called satire. If you hate it, call Senator Clinton, but leave me out of it. Sorry, call Senator Rodham Clinton...or is it just Senator Rodham now? Well, call Chelsea’s mom, wtf?
But don’t call Stanford – and don’t send your kids there – they might end up condoning shtuff you don’t want them to, like Chelsea. Too much liberal thought does not make Chelsea a smart girl.
Tardy.
Spike
I saw Hillary, is it Rodham or isn’t it, Clinton’s introduction narrated by Chelsea Clinton, a Stanford graduate – is that true? What happened to the ‘hood in Paly?
First of all, props to Christopher Titus who pimped me with the “wait, wait, wait” mantra, and I think it is brilliant, and I should take his advice...I’m a little disgusted and should “wait, wait, wait” before I write. But, I have never been one to take advice, and I write under a pseudonym, so, wtf?
First, what the f**k is her name? Is it Hillary Clinton or Hillary Rodham Clinton? It always changes. It was Rodham until it effected Bill’s election, then it wasn’t, then he was elected, and it was Rodham again, until he ran again, then it wasn’t, then it was, then it wasn’t. I guess it’s Rodham unless it’s electoral, then it isn’t.
Second, are we really that interested in someone who is willing to stand by a man who “never had sex with that woman.” I like his definition of sex, maybe it would be valuable in defining our relationships with Israel and Iraq?
But, to use your daughter, who clearly shuns the public, to announce that you have shattered the glass ceiling, by ignoring your husband’s clear infidelities, to further your power grubbing desires, is there no shame?
Well, I see the apocalypse coming. McCain will now use his prostitute to proclaim he is a good man, “he always tipped me well.” Biden will claim to have tipped his hooker better than McCain. McCain will then claim to have stood by his wife while she was double penetrated by Democratic insiders, to which Obama will claim to have watched his wife have sex with sheep.
Where does it stop? Pick a name, stick to it, leave your kids out of it. I know this is a ridiculous rant – it’s called satire. If you hate it, call Senator Clinton, but leave me out of it. Sorry, call Senator Rodham Clinton...or is it just Senator Rodham now? Well, call Chelsea’s mom, wtf?
But don’t call Stanford – and don’t send your kids there – they might end up condoning shtuff you don’t want them to, like Chelsea. Too much liberal thought does not make Chelsea a smart girl.
Tardy.
Spike
Monday, July 21, 2008
Travels and Travails
I just got back from the Pocono’s (no I didn’t pick my nose) and am off to Cali for a few weeks. My family has a place in the mountains of Northern California that I have visited since I was born and it feels like home to me. I have a lot of friends that I met as a young child who return every summer, now with their own children, and I am looking forward to seeing them again. There is a small river that runs through the development and my kids will have a ball splashing in it, catching crawdads and building sandcastles.
They say you can never go home, but this place seems to be the exception. It never changes. My dad calls it a trailer park, but it really isn’t. Towering Redwoods, Douglas Firs, the dank and verdant smell of a river valley close by the Pacific Ocean; all contribute to a sensory experience that is overwhelmingly welcoming.
I will be a little silent, dial up is my only option, but don’t take it personally. I’ll return fresh, philosophical and less frenetic.
Peace!
Spike
They say you can never go home, but this place seems to be the exception. It never changes. My dad calls it a trailer park, but it really isn’t. Towering Redwoods, Douglas Firs, the dank and verdant smell of a river valley close by the Pacific Ocean; all contribute to a sensory experience that is overwhelmingly welcoming.
I will be a little silent, dial up is my only option, but don’t take it personally. I’ll return fresh, philosophical and less frenetic.
Peace!
Spike
Monday, July 14, 2008
Summer Update
Who doesn’t believe in karma? My son has ear tubes and his language has blossomed; my mother recovered fine, and I found employment in a better district for more money.
Unfortunately, I had to buy a new liner for my pool and my fridge and washer gave up the proverbial ghost. Of course, this happens after I have booked vacation travel arrangements. Needless to say, finances should be interesting this summer.
It is what it is.
Spike
Unfortunately, I had to buy a new liner for my pool and my fridge and washer gave up the proverbial ghost. Of course, this happens after I have booked vacation travel arrangements. Needless to say, finances should be interesting this summer.
It is what it is.
Spike
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Changes
Things just seem to be blowing up for me. My mom is in the early stages of pneumonia, my son needs surgery to insert ear tubes, I need to complete a video for my teaching certificate, I am in massive debt and shit just blew up for me in my job so I am looking for a new one.
Can’t a guy catch a break?
I did tonight. I went upstairs to check the temperature in my kids’ rooms and to shut windows as needed. My daughter was in her bed, hugging the ubiquitous pink bunny named Bunny, sleeping like an angel. I shut her window and kissed her forehead. As I did, I was overcome with emotion. She is a pistol, averaging four goals a game in soccer, kicking butt in karate and giving her pre-k teachers a run for their money by throwing some monumental temper tantrums, but to see her asleep is to see the face of God!
Next was my son’s room. He was in his new big boy bed, butt up in the air and breathing contentedly. He has had seven or eight ear infections since September and his speech ain’t right because of it, but he is a peach, one of the sweetest little boys you will ever find. I took him to the Pediatrician today and to the ENT tonight and he made many new friends. He has such a sweet disposition that he collects adults like I collect bad habits.
I just pray that my transgressions aren’t visited upon my kids, although in several ways that has already happened. I always thought that being a parent would make me a better person, but it doesn’t; it just makes you more compliant, which sometimes means compromising your morals and values. You become more compliant so that you can provide for your kids. I know from doing the opposite; I wasn’t compliant, I spoke my opinion and held strong to my beliefs and now I am out of a job. C’est la vie.
Don’t get me wrong, I made mistakes. However, my transgressions did not warrant the treatment I received. Luckily, as a teacher, I am employed through June and paid through August, so I have a few months to make a soft landing. I feel more blessed than persecuted and eventually, this was the right move for me – I just wish I had a little more control over the situation. The moral is, if you work with snakes, know you will get bitten and have a plan. My plan wasn’t in place before I reached into the snake pit and now I am scrambling.
So Pilgrims, keep writing, be true to what you believe, but always be prepared because luck is when preparation meets opportunity.
Peace!
Spike
Can’t a guy catch a break?
I did tonight. I went upstairs to check the temperature in my kids’ rooms and to shut windows as needed. My daughter was in her bed, hugging the ubiquitous pink bunny named Bunny, sleeping like an angel. I shut her window and kissed her forehead. As I did, I was overcome with emotion. She is a pistol, averaging four goals a game in soccer, kicking butt in karate and giving her pre-k teachers a run for their money by throwing some monumental temper tantrums, but to see her asleep is to see the face of God!
Next was my son’s room. He was in his new big boy bed, butt up in the air and breathing contentedly. He has had seven or eight ear infections since September and his speech ain’t right because of it, but he is a peach, one of the sweetest little boys you will ever find. I took him to the Pediatrician today and to the ENT tonight and he made many new friends. He has such a sweet disposition that he collects adults like I collect bad habits.
I just pray that my transgressions aren’t visited upon my kids, although in several ways that has already happened. I always thought that being a parent would make me a better person, but it doesn’t; it just makes you more compliant, which sometimes means compromising your morals and values. You become more compliant so that you can provide for your kids. I know from doing the opposite; I wasn’t compliant, I spoke my opinion and held strong to my beliefs and now I am out of a job. C’est la vie.
Don’t get me wrong, I made mistakes. However, my transgressions did not warrant the treatment I received. Luckily, as a teacher, I am employed through June and paid through August, so I have a few months to make a soft landing. I feel more blessed than persecuted and eventually, this was the right move for me – I just wish I had a little more control over the situation. The moral is, if you work with snakes, know you will get bitten and have a plan. My plan wasn’t in place before I reached into the snake pit and now I am scrambling.
So Pilgrims, keep writing, be true to what you believe, but always be prepared because luck is when preparation meets opportunity.
Peace!
Spike
Thursday, April 10, 2008
A Slice of Life
Well, I am thrilled that my second book is now out and available from Red Rose Publishing, www.RedRosePublishing.com. It should soon be available from all of the usual suspects, FictionWise, MobiPocket, Amazon, Crescent and Diesel. I just wish I had time to publicize and market it! I am so busy with the day job, the kids, the second job, that I just cannot find the time to promote it. So, do me a favor and help me out – tell your friends about it.
Hopefully it will get reviewed in the next six months, which is how long it took for “Pickup Lines From a Pickup Truck” to get reviewed, but hey, I am not on the top of the food chain...but if I was...well, I will leave that for another post.
For now, just know that I am inordinately busy with the daily detritus of demeaning demands of employment, parenting and paying the bills.
Spike
Hopefully it will get reviewed in the next six months, which is how long it took for “Pickup Lines From a Pickup Truck” to get reviewed, but hey, I am not on the top of the food chain...but if I was...well, I will leave that for another post.
For now, just know that I am inordinately busy with the daily detritus of demeaning demands of employment, parenting and paying the bills.
Spike
Friday, March 28, 2008
Ambiguity
It is a concept that defines and clarifies without being specific. One of my interests is New Criticism which is a critical analysis of literature based on its organic unity as demonstrated by the use of ambiguity and the intentional fallacy. It is interesting that Romanticism is also concerned with ambiguity, primarily the moral ambiguity of man and a focus on the beauty of nature as opposed to the imposed beauty of neo-classicism.
I guess beauty is where you find it. Beauty can be the perfectly constructed sentence and, it can be the appreciation of a perfectly formed Rose. These concepts have been exhaustively explored by philosophers much smarter than I and so I won’t be so presumptuous to attempt a philosophical enquiry, but I will give my take.
Beauty is selling a book, novel or short. Beauty is going through the process; submitting, editing and cover art. Beauty is seeing the process coalesce into a product for sale. For me, beauty is seeing my book for sale.
Don’t confuse my enamoration with seeing my book for sale with the joy and pleasure I get from seeing my child score a goal or seeing my child smile and laugh. It’s a narrow application of the concept of the sublime. My book for sale at www.RedRosePublishing.com is sublime. Watching my child smile or laugh is sublime.
Webster’s describes sublime as “supreme or outstanding.” I think all of the above qualifies, as does having you read my blog. Therefore, since I have a second book being published, I have kids scoring goals and you are reading my blog, I am living the sublime life.
Peace.
I guess beauty is where you find it. Beauty can be the perfectly constructed sentence and, it can be the appreciation of a perfectly formed Rose. These concepts have been exhaustively explored by philosophers much smarter than I and so I won’t be so presumptuous to attempt a philosophical enquiry, but I will give my take.
Beauty is selling a book, novel or short. Beauty is going through the process; submitting, editing and cover art. Beauty is seeing the process coalesce into a product for sale. For me, beauty is seeing my book for sale.
Don’t confuse my enamoration with seeing my book for sale with the joy and pleasure I get from seeing my child score a goal or seeing my child smile and laugh. It’s a narrow application of the concept of the sublime. My book for sale at www.RedRosePublishing.com is sublime. Watching my child smile or laugh is sublime.
Webster’s describes sublime as “supreme or outstanding.” I think all of the above qualifies, as does having you read my blog. Therefore, since I have a second book being published, I have kids scoring goals and you are reading my blog, I am living the sublime life.
Peace.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Reflections of a Green Monday
St. Paddy’s day has always fascinated me. I have memories of quaffing pints of green beer and gluttonous consumption of corned beef and cabbage. My heritage is Saxon, but on St. Paddy’s, everyone is Irish. I worked on Monday so I wasn’t able to engage in the festivities. My brother in law goes into the city every year for the parade and I am jealous. I have only lived in New York for a few years and I have yet to make the pilgrimage for drunken debauchery – my bad.
I have had a bit of an epiphany of late. I don’t want to jinx it by speaking about it yet, but I am more motivated, more inspired, more energetic and more committed than I have been in years. I feel as if a dark cloud has been lifted and the jovial visage of jocund day is smiling at me. The timing is fortuitous – I have a new book coming out soon, March 27th to be exact – and things at work are reaching critical mass requiring an inordinate amount of my time and energy. C’est la vie.
Not much else is going on right now.
Peace!
Spike
I have had a bit of an epiphany of late. I don’t want to jinx it by speaking about it yet, but I am more motivated, more inspired, more energetic and more committed than I have been in years. I feel as if a dark cloud has been lifted and the jovial visage of jocund day is smiling at me. The timing is fortuitous – I have a new book coming out soon, March 27th to be exact – and things at work are reaching critical mass requiring an inordinate amount of my time and energy. C’est la vie.
Not much else is going on right now.
Peace!
Spike
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Writer’s Remorse
The new book will be released on the 27th. It’s called “A Slice of Life.” It’s a tightly written mystery, about 36 pages, in the vein of Mike Shane mystery mags.
I like this book very much. I think it is tight. I liked my editor and I think we did a good job. I penciled a drawing for the cover and Shirley Burnett brought it to life, made it sing!
So, if you liked “Pickup Lines From A Pickup Truck,” or you like my blog, you should buy “A Slice of Life.”
It’s available at www.RedRosePublishing.com in pdf and msn reader, will be available soon at Crescent, MobiPocket, Amazon in Kindle, Diesel, etc…
I am working on the next but am a little hamstrung. It will happen.
Spike
I like this book very much. I think it is tight. I liked my editor and I think we did a good job. I penciled a drawing for the cover and Shirley Burnett brought it to life, made it sing!
So, if you liked “Pickup Lines From A Pickup Truck,” or you like my blog, you should buy “A Slice of Life.”
It’s available at www.RedRosePublishing.com in pdf and msn reader, will be available soon at Crescent, MobiPocket, Amazon in Kindle, Diesel, etc…
I am working on the next but am a little hamstrung. It will happen.
Spike
Monday, March 3, 2008
One for My Homey
My brother Jon had a birthday on Saturday. Unfortunately he wasn’t here to enjoy it. He checked out on me in 2001 at the ripe old age of 39.
Murph, I miss you terribly!
Spike
Murph, I miss you terribly!
Spike
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Internet Approbation
Finally someone has recognized my brilliance publicly (Cara Preston too). A romance website reviewed “Pickup Lines From a Pickup Truck” written by Cara Preston and me. The reviewer gave it four hearts. I am told that it is a reputable site and four hearts is indeed an accomplishment. She wrote, “This reviewer would definitely recommend this for a very quick yet satisfying read with humor, wit and romance!”
I’m thrilled. The review can be found at http://www.loveromancesandmore.com/reviews/0208/pickuplines_mandie.htm
In other news, a cover is forthcoming for “A Slice of Life,” my second release with Red Rose Publishing. I’ve spoken to the cover artist with a few ideas and she is working on it now. Hopefully I’ll have something back in a week or so and then it will get in the queue to be published.
All for now.
Spike
I’m thrilled. The review can be found at http://www.loveromancesandmore.com/reviews/0208/pickuplines_mandie.htm
In other news, a cover is forthcoming for “A Slice of Life,” my second release with Red Rose Publishing. I’ve spoken to the cover artist with a few ideas and she is working on it now. Hopefully I’ll have something back in a week or so and then it will get in the queue to be published.
All for now.
Spike
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Rat Reflections
I flew to Florida on Saturday and boy, are my arms tired. Actually, I am tired. We rocked at the Tragic Kingdom on Sunday and Hollywood Studios on Monday during the day, then went back to Tragic Kingdom in the afternoon. We killed my kids, they were totally worn out. It has been an adventure.
Saturday morning we took a cab to the airport. The driver was suffering from the DT’s and kept having seizures that affected gas and brake and I think he was suffering from the cold as he cranked hot air for the trip while rambling on about his experiences as a PGA caddie. I guess all the jerking and hot air got to my 20 month old because as we pulled up to the airport, my son did a great Linda Blair impersonation and vomited in a projectile manner - sour milk and Mandarin oranges all over himself, his clothes, car seat and cab.
Picture this: Mom changing a 20 month old on the curb in front of SkyCap counter in 20 degress, he’s shivering with blue lips, there’s three large bags, two car seats, two strollers and a diaper bag strewn on the curb and dad trying to check in. I use diaper wipes as best I can to clean the car seat, bag and check it. We head for the gate. I notice we are not seated together, so I head for the gate agent, who is busy seating his boyfriend. I am standing at the counter with my rank smelling son while my wife takes my daughter to the bathroom. He ignores me and leaves. He comes back and without acknowledging me, gets on the phone, then the radio, then leaves again. When he returns on other business, I ask him if he is going to help me. He tells me to wait, in spite of the fact that I have been waiting for 20 minutes.
I explain that we are two adults traveling with two young children, one ticketed, one not, and that it would be best if we were seated together. He informs me that the flight is oversold and there are no available seats. I asked if the flight was oversold six months ago when I bought the tickets and he asked if we reserved seats together. I said I thought we did and he told me that they charge extra for that.
Are you kidding me? Charge extra to sit together? Welcome to AirTran Airlines.
We get to Orlando, get our luggage and realize, based on the stench, that we will not be able to ever use that car seat again - trash it and rent one with our car for $80 for the week, almost twice the price of a booster seat, but, what are we going to do.
Check in, all is cool, then a day at the park - my son has diarrhea, a lot of it, it spills out of his diaper and on me as he is sitting on me. Are you kidding me? I just spent almost $300 to get us into the park and now I have to take a bus back to the hotel while schlepping a stroller and my kid because we reek.
So:
Vomit - Free
Three nights at Disney - $650
Park Admission - $225
Two Tacos - $9.95
Souvenirs - $100
Ice cold beer - Priceless
Now I am in New Smyrna hanging with friends. I might play golf tomorrow, pretty sure we haven’t filed bankruptcy yet. The weather is here, I wish I was beautiful.
Saturday morning we took a cab to the airport. The driver was suffering from the DT’s and kept having seizures that affected gas and brake and I think he was suffering from the cold as he cranked hot air for the trip while rambling on about his experiences as a PGA caddie. I guess all the jerking and hot air got to my 20 month old because as we pulled up to the airport, my son did a great Linda Blair impersonation and vomited in a projectile manner - sour milk and Mandarin oranges all over himself, his clothes, car seat and cab.
Picture this: Mom changing a 20 month old on the curb in front of SkyCap counter in 20 degress, he’s shivering with blue lips, there’s three large bags, two car seats, two strollers and a diaper bag strewn on the curb and dad trying to check in. I use diaper wipes as best I can to clean the car seat, bag and check it. We head for the gate. I notice we are not seated together, so I head for the gate agent, who is busy seating his boyfriend. I am standing at the counter with my rank smelling son while my wife takes my daughter to the bathroom. He ignores me and leaves. He comes back and without acknowledging me, gets on the phone, then the radio, then leaves again. When he returns on other business, I ask him if he is going to help me. He tells me to wait, in spite of the fact that I have been waiting for 20 minutes.
I explain that we are two adults traveling with two young children, one ticketed, one not, and that it would be best if we were seated together. He informs me that the flight is oversold and there are no available seats. I asked if the flight was oversold six months ago when I bought the tickets and he asked if we reserved seats together. I said I thought we did and he told me that they charge extra for that.
Are you kidding me? Charge extra to sit together? Welcome to AirTran Airlines.
We get to Orlando, get our luggage and realize, based on the stench, that we will not be able to ever use that car seat again - trash it and rent one with our car for $80 for the week, almost twice the price of a booster seat, but, what are we going to do.
Check in, all is cool, then a day at the park - my son has diarrhea, a lot of it, it spills out of his diaper and on me as he is sitting on me. Are you kidding me? I just spent almost $300 to get us into the park and now I have to take a bus back to the hotel while schlepping a stroller and my kid because we reek.
So:
Vomit - Free
Three nights at Disney - $650
Park Admission - $225
Two Tacos - $9.95
Souvenirs - $100
Ice cold beer - Priceless
Now I am in New Smyrna hanging with friends. I might play golf tomorrow, pretty sure we haven’t filed bankruptcy yet. The weather is here, I wish I was beautiful.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Now What?
Now What?
It’s an interesting question that needs to be addressed on several fronts for me, “Now What?”
Yes..now what?
Book two is forthcoming, I know I have been saying that for months and both of you are anxiously waiting, but really, now what? My writing career isn’t exactly rocketing into the stratosphere, so now what.
Well, I really expected both of you to tell two friends, who would tell two friends, who would tell two friends, but, it didn’t happen, so you let me down.
Truthfully, I never expected any of that to happen. I expected to sell five copies and to blog to make myself happy and that is what has happened. Some people read it, some comment, some buy my book. It is what it is.
So I continue to teach, I continue to not write, because after all, what does a writer do but rebel and not write, and I continue to believe that I can write, although I never write. I think about writing all the time, but, I never write. I think that makes me a writer, no?
So, if you are a fan of me not writing, let me know. If you are a fan of me writing, tell me to write so that I feel good about not writing. I will continue to not write so that I can make my fans of my not writing happy, because after all, it is all about not writing, right?
Spike
It’s an interesting question that needs to be addressed on several fronts for me, “Now What?”
Yes..now what?
Book two is forthcoming, I know I have been saying that for months and both of you are anxiously waiting, but really, now what? My writing career isn’t exactly rocketing into the stratosphere, so now what.
Well, I really expected both of you to tell two friends, who would tell two friends, who would tell two friends, but, it didn’t happen, so you let me down.
Truthfully, I never expected any of that to happen. I expected to sell five copies and to blog to make myself happy and that is what has happened. Some people read it, some comment, some buy my book. It is what it is.
So I continue to teach, I continue to not write, because after all, what does a writer do but rebel and not write, and I continue to believe that I can write, although I never write. I think about writing all the time, but, I never write. I think that makes me a writer, no?
So, if you are a fan of me not writing, let me know. If you are a fan of me writing, tell me to write so that I feel good about not writing. I will continue to not write so that I can make my fans of my not writing happy, because after all, it is all about not writing, right?
Spike
Sunday, February 3, 2008
I am a Bad Man/Writer
I have ignored any opportunity to promote my writing, and there are many. There are loops and talks and other options, and I have ignored them. I have ignored them not because I am evil, but because I have other issues.
So...so...does that make me bad? I think not. I would love to connect, to have contact, but, hitting the loop, checking the loop, it is all too much for me with a day job and two kids, so, my sales suffer.
But...but, it is more important to me to hang with my kids than to sell books. I guess I screwed up when I thought I could just write and readers would come – shame on me.
So, my apologies for not supporting my books.
Spike
So...so...does that make me bad? I think not. I would love to connect, to have contact, but, hitting the loop, checking the loop, it is all too much for me with a day job and two kids, so, my sales suffer.
But...but, it is more important to me to hang with my kids than to sell books. I guess I screwed up when I thought I could just write and readers would come – shame on me.
So, my apologies for not supporting my books.
Spike
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Nothing Written, Nothing Gained
Truer words were never spoken. So, what have I been doing with my own bad self? Not much. I have been focused on planning for my classes and deciding what to do with my life – after all, there is nothing like a shiftless middle aged English Teacher to repulse and repel fans, right?
My friend has been acting, see www.Tonkin.com to watch his commercial – he’s the dude with the loose tie. Just scroll down until his mug appears and then click on it. We went to college together.
You can also see him at www.youtube.com, type in No Red Ribbons.
My new one is coming out, but I have lost the love. I think it will be out at www.RedRosePublishing.com on February 27th, but I am not sure. I like this book, but promoting books is like ...is like...is like...insert simile here. It’s a Roman adventure, sometimes you lose and need to die like a Roman.
Other times, you win. When you win, you get to die like Caesar. Great choices, huh?
I heard a report today that claimed depression is at it’s most dire when men hit 44. Life satisfaction can be charted as a U. Youth rates high satisfaction, as does old age, but at the bottom of the U, the depth of depression, it bottoms out at 44.
Nice to know. Now what?
So, I am melancholy at best. Cheer me up. SpikeFremont@aol.com
My friend has been acting, see www.Tonkin.com to watch his commercial – he’s the dude with the loose tie. Just scroll down until his mug appears and then click on it. We went to college together.
You can also see him at www.youtube.com, type in No Red Ribbons.
My new one is coming out, but I have lost the love. I think it will be out at www.RedRosePublishing.com on February 27th, but I am not sure. I like this book, but promoting books is like ...is like...is like...insert simile here. It’s a Roman adventure, sometimes you lose and need to die like a Roman.
Other times, you win. When you win, you get to die like Caesar. Great choices, huh?
I heard a report today that claimed depression is at it’s most dire when men hit 44. Life satisfaction can be charted as a U. Youth rates high satisfaction, as does old age, but at the bottom of the U, the depth of depression, it bottoms out at 44.
Nice to know. Now what?
So, I am melancholy at best. Cheer me up. SpikeFremont@aol.com
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Holiday Hangover
I have been subjected to a nasty hangover of holiday spirit and a more malicious malady; a not so infectious disease, known to afflict part time writers in particular; lack of commitment. I prefer to think of it as other responsibilities, but the truth is that it is a failure on the sufferer’s part to make time to write – anything – blogs, journal entries, notes, letters, e-mails; the affliction isn’t very discriminatory and exercises a scorched earth policy when it is allowed to fester, as mine has.
The afflicted is naturally more critical of the lack of performance – writers tend to be more introspective than others, and therefore hypercritical, especially when applying criticism reflexively. It doesn’t help to go on a voyeuristic literary binge, that is, a reading jag, like I have. I’ve been motivated by others, by vocation, and by a selfish desire precipitated by excessive idle time, also known as the devil’s tools.
With all of the aforementioned conspiring to create the perfect storm, I took a break and read. What did I read? Well, I’ll tell you. It started with Almost Moon by Alice Sebold, then it was Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Out of Sight by Elmore Leonard, Atonement by Ian McEwan, a rare foray into nonfiction with The School of Great Expectations by Dan Brown, no, not that Dan Brown, and culminating with my current crutch, Julius Winsome by Gerard Donovan, given to me by a friend who might become a former friend based on the path of the novel – I like it, but it is twisted. So, that is how I spent the last two weeks.
The result is a conflicted writer not willing to call himself a writer based on the overwhelming talent he has recently exposed himself to. I live to write about myself in the third person, I sound so...stoopid.
“Pickup Lines From a Pickup Truck” is doing well, it was on the Bestseller list for RedRosePublishing.com in November and is still available. “A Slice of Life” is coming soon, but no firm release date yet – there may be some issues with cover art, but the editing is done. And I continue on my merry way, reading and not writing. I think I may need to change that.
Do you agree?
The afflicted is naturally more critical of the lack of performance – writers tend to be more introspective than others, and therefore hypercritical, especially when applying criticism reflexively. It doesn’t help to go on a voyeuristic literary binge, that is, a reading jag, like I have. I’ve been motivated by others, by vocation, and by a selfish desire precipitated by excessive idle time, also known as the devil’s tools.
With all of the aforementioned conspiring to create the perfect storm, I took a break and read. What did I read? Well, I’ll tell you. It started with Almost Moon by Alice Sebold, then it was Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Out of Sight by Elmore Leonard, Atonement by Ian McEwan, a rare foray into nonfiction with The School of Great Expectations by Dan Brown, no, not that Dan Brown, and culminating with my current crutch, Julius Winsome by Gerard Donovan, given to me by a friend who might become a former friend based on the path of the novel – I like it, but it is twisted. So, that is how I spent the last two weeks.
The result is a conflicted writer not willing to call himself a writer based on the overwhelming talent he has recently exposed himself to. I live to write about myself in the third person, I sound so...stoopid.
“Pickup Lines From a Pickup Truck” is doing well, it was on the Bestseller list for RedRosePublishing.com in November and is still available. “A Slice of Life” is coming soon, but no firm release date yet – there may be some issues with cover art, but the editing is done. And I continue on my merry way, reading and not writing. I think I may need to change that.
Do you agree?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)