Well, let's summarize.
I completed the seven-day roguelike
I did not even attempt the 24 hour comic
I did completed less than 1% of NaNoWriMo
I gave up training for the half marathon.
I have really good excuses for all that I did not do. But I don't want to be a man of excuses.
On the upside, I did do a 5K run today, to benefit the Arthritis Foundation, which has lately become near and dear to my heart. I had no team to run with, no friends to share the experience with, but I had my wife cheering me on.
We arrived at Reid Park at 10 minutes until 9:00 a.m. It was pouring rain. Registration began at 9. I slogged through the rain to register, got my bib, tried to decide, do I pin it on my T-shirt or my sweatshirt? Just how miserable is this run going to be? The run was scheduled to begin at 10.
It continued to rain, heavier and lighter, over the next hour. At about 5 minutes before 10, suddenly the clouds dispersed and there was blue sky and sunlight over all of Reid Park. Nina set up her chair near the start/finish line, and I pinned my number on my T-shirt.
The run was beautiful, clear sky, no rain, sunlight but not hot. My goal was just to run the whole course without stopping to walk (I was unable to do this on my first attempt at a 5K). I was one of the last to run across the finish line, my time somewhere around 35 minutes, but I did achieve my goal. I was cheered to the finish by my wife and by some new friends she had made while I was running.
I got my shirt for finishing the race, and we went to Crave to celebrate with a Latté. As our coffees arrived, the rain began to pour down once again.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Friday, November 2, 2007
NaNoWriMo
Well, we are two days into NaNoWriMo.
My wife is home from the hospital after a successful surgery.
My product is in open beta after a successful release.
There is zero chance that I will be writing 50,000 words in November. I should have over 3,000 already.
I have 295. Here they are:
“Rock stars aren’t supposed to be awake at 6:30 in the morning, unless they haven‘t gone to bed yet.”
It’s a misty morning in Nashville in late August of the year 2000, and Mitchy’s sounding bitchy. But really, if they’d just let her sleep in until eleven or so, she’d be looking forward to the tour. When Dave gets back from the Starbucks run, things will pick right up.
This is a Paradigm Stickshift 20 years past their prime as measured by what matters in the music biz -- 20 years after their biggest hit, and long past the days of playing stadiums. They are the original members, and they are not tired of the music, each other, or the road. They haven’t stopped writing songs, making albums or touring. Not a lot of people are aware of that. But there are enough to sustain them. Financially and emotionally.
Paradigm Stickshift is Darcy Lane Schultz - guitars, backing vocals, and rainbow vests; Dave Schultz - bass, roadie, emotional stability and driver of the Dodge Caravan; Bob Nordskog - drums, roadie, webmaster and babysitter; Ted Sanders - sound engineer, driver of the Winnebago and rememberer of the good old days; and Michelle “Mitchy” Marks Nordskog - keyboards, lead vocals, writer of the songs, keeper of the flame, and in dire need of a latté.
Oh, and Paradigm stick shift is also April and Dylan Schultz and Mickey and Donny Nordskog, ten, seven, seven and three years respectively. Homeschooled and in the way and along for the ride on a tour of the Midwest college towns that provide the most loyal of Stickshift’s fans. Four angelic faces fast asleep in the Winnebago; oblivious to the commotion going on around them as instruments and equipment are loaded in.
My wife is home from the hospital after a successful surgery.
My product is in open beta after a successful release.
There is zero chance that I will be writing 50,000 words in November. I should have over 3,000 already.
I have 295. Here they are:
“Rock stars aren’t supposed to be awake at 6:30 in the morning, unless they haven‘t gone to bed yet.”
It’s a misty morning in Nashville in late August of the year 2000, and Mitchy’s sounding bitchy. But really, if they’d just let her sleep in until eleven or so, she’d be looking forward to the tour. When Dave gets back from the Starbucks run, things will pick right up.
This is a Paradigm Stickshift 20 years past their prime as measured by what matters in the music biz -- 20 years after their biggest hit, and long past the days of playing stadiums. They are the original members, and they are not tired of the music, each other, or the road. They haven’t stopped writing songs, making albums or touring. Not a lot of people are aware of that. But there are enough to sustain them. Financially and emotionally.
Paradigm Stickshift is Darcy Lane Schultz - guitars, backing vocals, and rainbow vests; Dave Schultz - bass, roadie, emotional stability and driver of the Dodge Caravan; Bob Nordskog - drums, roadie, webmaster and babysitter; Ted Sanders - sound engineer, driver of the Winnebago and rememberer of the good old days; and Michelle “Mitchy” Marks Nordskog - keyboards, lead vocals, writer of the songs, keeper of the flame, and in dire need of a latté.
Oh, and Paradigm stick shift is also April and Dylan Schultz and Mickey and Donny Nordskog, ten, seven, seven and three years respectively. Homeschooled and in the way and along for the ride on a tour of the Midwest college towns that provide the most loyal of Stickshift’s fans. Four angelic faces fast asleep in the Winnebago; oblivious to the commotion going on around them as instruments and equipment are loaded in.
Friday, October 19, 2007
24 - hour comic: not happening.
Well, this is a setback. I must adjust my plans down a bit -- at least remove the "within a calendar year" part from my goal. I need to look into whether I can do the comic "off-schedule", but I won't be able to do one on October 20th.
When I set myself upon this adventure, I was at a low point in my life, working at a job I hated, and not particularly happy. Now I'm in a job I really love, but it is a startup and we are in a big push to hit a major milestone. Also, my wife has another surgery coming up and there is much to do around the house to set it up for her recovery. Bottom line: even if I did the comic here at home, I could not spare the time.
I will do a 24 comic someday, inshalla.
Nanowrimo also seems pretty unlikely this year given my workload. I don't think I'll try to write 50K words in November, but maybe I'll start writing again.
I dunno whether there will be any reason to add to this blog, maybe there will be. But I'd like to thank my loyal reader :)
When I set myself upon this adventure, I was at a low point in my life, working at a job I hated, and not particularly happy. Now I'm in a job I really love, but it is a startup and we are in a big push to hit a major milestone. Also, my wife has another surgery coming up and there is much to do around the house to set it up for her recovery. Bottom line: even if I did the comic here at home, I could not spare the time.
I will do a 24 comic someday, inshalla.
Nanowrimo also seems pretty unlikely this year given my workload. I don't think I'll try to write 50K words in November, but maybe I'll start writing again.
I dunno whether there will be any reason to add to this blog, maybe there will be. But I'd like to thank my loyal reader :)
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Ooh! Ooh! A review!
The Seven Day Quest (the game, not the blog) was reviewed in the @Play column of GameSetWatch! This is a major online game magazine. I'm very pleased. Okay, the review wasn't all that positive (at least he didn't call the game somewhat damp...), but I'm pleased that the game got noticed at all.
I'm tempted to make excuses -- many of the other challengers started with existing game engines (handling movement, line of sight, map drawing, etc), and I started from scratch. I didn't take the week off from work, so that's a 40 hour penalty right there...
But, it is what it is. I'm pleased with what I accomplished.
I'm tempted to make excuses -- many of the other challengers started with existing game engines (handling movement, line of sight, map drawing, etc), and I started from scratch. I didn't take the week off from work, so that's a 40 hour penalty right there...
But, it is what it is. I'm pleased with what I accomplished.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Fun
So what got lost completely in yesterday's post is this: Doing the seven day roguelike was a blast. I enjoyed every minute of it. Yeah, I wish more people had seen the final result. But a great game takes more than 168 hours, so I can hardly blame anyone for wanting to spend their game-playing hours interacting with something better.
I expect that the 24 hour comic will also be a fun experience. Even the half-marathon will be fun. I expect NaNoWriMo will just be excruciating.
It's not that I feel like I haven't accomplished anything worthwhile in my life, either. I know I've made my share of worthwhile contributions.
And I know, I know, I know that it is not what I do that gives me value -- it's who I am. I know that even when I don't behave like I know that.
I expect that the 24 hour comic will also be a fun experience. Even the half-marathon will be fun. I expect NaNoWriMo will just be excruciating.
It's not that I feel like I haven't accomplished anything worthwhile in my life, either. I know I've made my share of worthwhile contributions.
And I know, I know, I know that it is not what I do that gives me value -- it's who I am. I know that even when I don't behave like I know that.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
As October Looms
I thought I had given up on this quest.
I realized that what I am up to is not nearly as cool as I thought it was.
I am trying to do something impressive.
I don't know how impressive a 24 hour comic is, and I don't know how impressive NaNoWriMo is. I have discovered that a seven day roguelike is not considered to be any big deal.
Fewer than 50 people are aware I created one. Fewer than 5 have played it. There will not be an article about it in Newsweek.
I am aware that it's pretty immature of me to be going about this for the glory. But there it is.
Anyway, I think now that there's not going to be any glory. So I wasn't going to bother with the rest of it. Except now maybe I am.
For some other reason.
But I don't know what it is. But maybe it's a better reason.
I've done a little writing. It's something that could end up being the preface of my NaNoWriMo. You can read it here. As usual, I crave feedback.
Also I've chosen a prospective venue for my 24 hour comic. This could change. There are no events in Arizona. There are a half a dozen in California, and the one that appeals most to me is the one in Manhattan Beach. Just because I've been to Manhattan Beach before and I liked it. I know nothing about the comic shop.
Oh look, I said it could change, and it already has. Reading more closely, I have discovered that they hosted 24 hour comic last year. No indication they will again this year. So, now I'm thinking of taking my pen and paper to True Believers comics in Santa Fe, NM instead.
I haven't done any drawing. I desperately need to get my skills back up.
Oh, also, I'm planning to run a half-marathon in December. Not sure why I bring that up. Now, if I were running a whole marathon, that would be impressive.
I realized that what I am up to is not nearly as cool as I thought it was.
I am trying to do something impressive.
I don't know how impressive a 24 hour comic is, and I don't know how impressive NaNoWriMo is. I have discovered that a seven day roguelike is not considered to be any big deal.
Fewer than 50 people are aware I created one. Fewer than 5 have played it. There will not be an article about it in Newsweek.
I am aware that it's pretty immature of me to be going about this for the glory. But there it is.
Anyway, I think now that there's not going to be any glory. So I wasn't going to bother with the rest of it. Except now maybe I am.
For some other reason.
But I don't know what it is. But maybe it's a better reason.
I've done a little writing. It's something that could end up being the preface of my NaNoWriMo. You can read it here. As usual, I crave feedback.
Also I've chosen a prospective venue for my 24 hour comic. This could change. There are no events in Arizona. There are a half a dozen in California, and the one that appeals most to me is the one in Manhattan Beach. Just because I've been to Manhattan Beach before and I liked it. I know nothing about the comic shop.
Oh look, I said it could change, and it already has. Reading more closely, I have discovered that they hosted 24 hour comic last year. No indication they will again this year. So, now I'm thinking of taking my pen and paper to True Believers comics in Santa Fe, NM instead.
I haven't done any drawing. I desperately need to get my skills back up.
Oh, also, I'm planning to run a half-marathon in December. Not sure why I bring that up. Now, if I were running a whole marathon, that would be impressive.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Meanwhile, in my other blog...
For those of you who've wondered what's become of me, I've been focusing on my other blog the last month or so. It does relate to this blog, in that it is writing. I know I need to be getting back to my drawing table, but it is just sitting there. I've been spending all my time either trying to deal with my topsy-turvy career turns or dreaming about my big summer road trip (probably my biggest yet!). Have a look, and make some comments, at myhomeistheroad.blogspot.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
