About Me
Son. Brother. Student. Laborer. Husband. Father. Armed serviceman. Civilian. Cable grunt. Cable demi-god. Husband again. Manager. Vagabond. Manager again. Done with that. Student again. Caregiver. Retired. Still a caregiver. Laborer again too. On call. Right here.
Boomer. Curmudgeon. Blessed. Grateful. Happy.
A couple-three presidents ago, I self-published a first novel, "White Fist & Two Dogs: Breaking Hevn Book One". I remain alternately disappointed and astonished by what came out of that experience. Out of me.
The scope and arc of the story was vivid and complex. It still is, and it continues to challenge me to tell what I know of it. All of that was counter-balanced by the crushing weight of unnecessary set direction, dense descriptions rife with character development notes-to-self, and an avalanche of busy, super-helpful adjectives and fuckily fucking adverbs. Pardonay ma mon Français.
That first exercise is no longer available for purchase. If I have done my due diligence, no copies remain in circulation. No need to thank me. I was glad to do it.
The episodic restoration of that first story arc, here on this site, remains true to my original vision. I trust you will find it provocative.
The scope and arc of the story was vivid and complex. It still is, and it continues to challenge me to tell what I know of it. All of that was counter-balanced by the crushing weight of unnecessary set direction, dense descriptions rife with character development notes-to-self, and an avalanche of busy, super-helpful adjectives and fuckily fucking adverbs. Pardonay ma mon Français.
That first exercise is no longer available for purchase. If I have done my due diligence, no copies remain in circulation. No need to thank me. I was glad to do it.
The episodic restoration of that first story arc, here on this site, remains true to my original vision. I trust you will find it provocative.
Like most everyone on this side of the grass, it's been a winding trail through a life jam-packed with choice and consequence. My experiences have been generally positive, with less than fatal outcomes to numerous misadventures, and a wealth, nay, a fortune of good-hearted souls with whom to share this journey. I don't know why I've been favored so, and I don't believe it's a puzzle I have to solve.
Doubtless, I have been a mighty vexation to so very many individuals over the years. Some more and closer than others. I'm thankful for them all, grateful for their patience with me, and wish I'd learned those lessons sooner. I hold nothing against any of them.
Doubtless, I have been a mighty vexation to so very many individuals over the years. Some more and closer than others. I'm thankful for them all, grateful for their patience with me, and wish I'd learned those lessons sooner. I hold nothing against any of them.
The Maintenance Curmudgeon
I am the lone Maintenance Curmudgeon at The Little Flower Ranch, Waystation & Vortex. I have trained my entire life for this job and, now that I have it, it hurts more than I thought it would. I'm not bragging or complaining. I love it here. Second best job I've ever had.
My job here is adequately challenging. Park Beautification never sleeps, but I do, and there always seems to be more beautification and/or maintenance opportunities waiting to greet me when I awake.
"Job security," someone once said to me in an effort to be encouraging.
There is no such thing. If you didn't know that, now you do. But I digress.
I'm also in charge of Perimeter Patrol. Grace, no longer a puppy, has taken over that role and remains enthusiastic. Her grasp of the boundaries is good and she maintains them with diligence against any perceived threat of intrusion. Our neighbors, visitors, our neighbors' visitors, random passers-by, and all birds, cats, and rodents are on alert.
Grace - crappy phone pic taken at about six months old.
In order to maintain my position and status here, however, I have adopted guidelines to help me through a typical day with minimal disruption to Little Flower's progress through it. Or mine. These New Rules have proven to be practical in almost every application in which I find myself, and I suspect my life would be much more peaceful (as would be the lives of those precious ones around me) if I could just remember to employ them all of the time.
The New Rules
1 Just agree. No matter what.
2 Answer directly, speak up when necessary, and then shut up.
3 Do not extemporize, claim to know anything, discuss your resume, or offer your opinion. If anyone cares, they'll ask. If not, refer to rule #2.
4 You're not funny. Stop it.
5 Speak only in sweet, mild tones regardless what you see, hear, think, or feel.