Balls and Walnuts
more than you ever wanted to know
What’s up
Anyone still reading? I seem to have become another one of those infrequently updated blogs. Anyway, here’s what’s up:
1. Writing proceeds apace. I passed the 50K word mark a little while ago. Currently hung up on one damned exchange that bugs me because it’s too Hollywood, too trite. I need to go back and cut the thing and think up something fresh.
2. My dad’s been dealing with some health issues, so I’ve been back and forth twice to Vegas in the last month or so. He’s looking at a bypass and has decided he’ll go through with it. Whether he can find a surgeon who wants to take the case is another story. It’s taking an amazingly long time for the surgeon to get back to him — honestly, how many records do you need to see to make this decision?
3. Currently dealing with lower back pain issues that are resolving verrry sloooowly. It’s from exercising, so for a change I can’t seem to exercise my way out of it. But I’m still exercising (just not doing weights, which is what I think caused the trouble in the first place) and doing lots of steam room and hot tub and stretching. But I need a massage.
4. Re-reading Mieville’s The City & The City. Yeah, I like it that much.
5. And I’m currently braising a beef tongue, which I won’t be able to eat.
Ow.
D.
Doug, I missed you!!! So glad you are back!
Bon courage to your dad and the same to you for your back.
Have you gotten sucked into the Hunger Games mania? I liked the books, and then liked the movie. Nothing really new, but nicely done, so the ideas are still powerful. Went to see the movie by myself – is that pathetic or just practical? My usual movie partner was too squeamish.
Hi Kira. Yup, I read all of the books last year, but I haven’t yet seen the movie. Jake may want to come too, so I’ve been waiting for an opportune time. I’ve heard the movie is very PG-13 as regards the violence, so why the squeamishness, I wonder? Anyway, I’m a sucker for strong females opposing authority. I’m willing to overlook a lot of plot holes and general silliness for a story like that.
BTW, if you have any time to kill, would you like to be a reader? I’m only about half way through, so the other option would be to wait until I’m done. Your background and experiences would provide me with some good critiquing, I suspect.
Still popping in to see what you’re up to every once in a while. Good to find you’re still around.
It would be an honor to be a reader!
Like Edwin, I pop in every so often to see what’s up. Lower back pain, oy.
Since I still have an audience, I ought to write something.
Maybe a post on beef tongue. I think I did that ages ago, though, so I’ll have to search the archives.
Kira, will do — once I finish the present chapter.
Still here Doug. Still following you. Congrats on the writing. Wish I could say the same. I think you’ve mentioned that Mieville book before. I picked it up a while ago and added it to my towering stack of “books to read” (I think that was on your recommendation). Just finished Neal Stephenson’s Reamde and am looking for the next book to try. I think I’ll give that one a go. Btw, I did finally read John Dies in the End, and tried to go back and add a comment to your original post when you recommended that one, but you had closed it for comments. So I’ll tell you here: I liked it.
I’m still here, too! Not writing anything at all.
I hope all goes well for your dad.
IL — well, it only took me five years. Seriously, I think the writer’s block lasted that long this time.
Chris, thanks. I have a feeling he’ll do fine.