Here’s the energy I hope to bring to this next chapter of my life: a little bit of youth, a little bit of the old school, and balls-to-the-wall horns!
Category: Born on the 3rd of July
Chapter XLVII
Here’s to the moment
Here’s to this night
Here’s to this fantasy
Here’s to this life
Here’s to the future
Here’s to the past
–Chicago, “Free at Last”
The lyrics might be a little cheeseball but I recommend you stick it out until 3:39 in.
Chapter XLVI
This new chapter of my life starts with a soundtrack — where I’ve been, where I’m headed, and with whom.
Chapter XLV
In the last chapter, our man was at the beginning of 12 months of chaotic change, coincidentally book-ended by the 4th Street Fantasy conventions of 2017 and a couple of weeks ago. I need to write about that, soon. Anyway, it was a year with ups and whole lot of downs, and very little writing progress. Hopefully, that ends now, once I get my feet back under me again.
In the meantime, as hip and cool as I am for 45, I hope to age more gracefully than this guy There, but for the grace…
So, what’s ahead for the next year, I wonder?
Chapter XLIV
This chapter, I dedicate to my Mom. And not just for obvious reasons. I’m spending my birthday this year in the 216 because she’s been in the hospital for the past week and some change. It’s been a long, tough week–mostly for her. And thankfully, there is a road ahead. It’ll just be bumpy. In any case, considering there wouldn’t have even been a Chapter I of my life without her, I’m glad to be here for her. THANKS, MOM!
That aside, what a year! I went through Viable Paradise and lived to tell the tale! I went to cons and survived their controversies. I renewed some friendships, made some new friends, and now I’m looking at some dayjob changes that might actually benefit me (as well as adding more responsibilities of course).
What’s to come? Your guess is as good as mine, but I feel the answer is wrapped up in a Luis Buñuel tribute, inside the lyrics of a New Pornographers song…
Vade ultra!
Chapter XLIII
Sorry I’m getting to this a day late, but it’s been a hectic couple of weeks. Chapter XLIII of my life began yesterday, and I’m hoping for some big things. I ended Chapter XLII with two major accomplishments: a promotion at the dayjob to a managerial position which not only gives me an office with a door I can close, but also the funds to attend the 2016 Viable Paradise writing workshop. That’s VP20, everyone! Or, is it VPXX? I’m partial to the latter myself, because it reminds me of a Chicago album.
Speaking of which, the song below is from Chicago XXXVI. With things to look forward to, I’ve been wondering if a new year requires a new attitude…
I think it’s time for you to lose that cynical suit, now.
You’ve worn it out and man, the jacket don’t fit you no more.
–Chicago, “Something’s Coming, I Know”
Let’s give it a shot…
Chapter XVII
“The graceful life is just a matter of the path you choose.”
That, my friends, is the goal for this chapter of my life. And, yes, maybe I’ll throw in a 3/4 movement and then a heavy guitar/horn breakdown while I do it, too.
Chapter LXI
New year. New chapter. New manifesto, courtesy of Harvey Pekar…
Yeah.
Chapter LX
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| From Heavy Metal |
We’re still 18 years away from 2031 when, if I’m still around, I’ll be 58 but still look the way I do now depending on what sort of genetic and/or cybernetic modifications I’ll be able to afford. But that doesn’t stop me from feeling like an ancient relic now.
But believe it or not, I’m in a better space than I was this time last year. Just.
Let’s just say that I’ve now lived long enough to get to the point where I can completely relate to what the late, great fellow-Clevelander Harvey Pekar says…
Don’t fret. Our man isn’t that hopeless. Granted, I’ve never been one of those people who fully appreciated the whole “adversity makes you tougher” idea. But I’ll tell you this–adversity has sure made me shrewder. It’s made me smarter. It’s made me hungry for the things I want in life. And it’s damn sure taken my patience away from the things that would stand in my way.
So, I take the ups and downs. Because as Robert Lamm sings…
We’ve all had our highs
The lows we can’t command
Sleeping through insomnia
It is more than you can stand
Boy, is that right.
I have a day off tomorrow. But not the day after. In the meantime, I’ll not be taking comments from the peanut gallery just now. In fact, I’m likely fast asleep. I love time-shifting this stuff.
See what I mean? Shrewder!
Chapter XXXIX
It’s my hope that by the time I hit Chapter XL, I’ll be able to look back on the time between now and then, and have at least as many good things to say as there was about the year 2261 in the Babylon 5 universe…
And because it’s a holiday weekend as well as my birthday, the peanut gallery is closed. 🙂