This was one of those weekends where nothing happened like I wanted it too. Instead of finishing two programming projects and one short story, I accomplished nothing. Oh sure, I did make a little progress on all my projects, but ultimately this weekend turned into one big turd.
I always look on the bright side, however, so this weekend was not a waste at all. Since I spent all weekend indoors, I will be spending all week and next weekend outdoors. I have been on a hiatus from hiking for a bit too long, and next weekend will see me returning to a regular schedule at Oak Openings.
Actually, next weekend might be one for the record books. Along hiking, there will be a friend's graduation, my sister visiting, my dad's birthday, and hopefully some worthwhile biking to be done. I intend for next weekend to be everything this weekend was not: busy every minute.
So tonight I relax. As long as the weather holds out, I will be at Side Cut Metropark everyday this week in preparation for next weekend's hike. Weave in some solid writing and three web projects among the hiking and I have one awesome week ahead.
B3 out.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
A Draft of a Draft
As I have hinted at before, I am working on something big for this summer. Something incredibly, insanely important to me. Something awesome. I believe it is time to start dropping a few bits of my work here and there. Sometimes for feedback, sometimes just because.
Here is a little piece of writing I drafted tonight:
Not more than a dozen steps from the barn, Pat and Brent were hit with a strong odor. Something rotten. Something repulsive. The darkness in the barn's shadow came into focus as Brent and Pat adjusted to the sunlight. Brent saw something terrible.
In the shadow of the barn sat the carcass of a cow splayed across the ground. Entrails dangled every direction from a tear in its spotted side. Blood stained the ground - grass, dirt, and weeds all glimmered with a bright red sheen. Worse than the smell, worse than the sight: the cow moaned under what little strength it could muster. It was still alive.
B3 out.
Here is a little piece of writing I drafted tonight:
Not more than a dozen steps from the barn, Pat and Brent were hit with a strong odor. Something rotten. Something repulsive. The darkness in the barn's shadow came into focus as Brent and Pat adjusted to the sunlight. Brent saw something terrible.
In the shadow of the barn sat the carcass of a cow splayed across the ground. Entrails dangled every direction from a tear in its spotted side. Blood stained the ground - grass, dirt, and weeds all glimmered with a bright red sheen. Worse than the smell, worse than the sight: the cow moaned under what little strength it could muster. It was still alive.
B3 out.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
The Calm Before the Storm
Today was supposed to be my "day off," a day where I do everything I want to and nothing I have to. Did that happen? Of course not. I really, really, really wanted to do nothing today. Looks like I will have to defer that freedom until next weekend. While I have been super-busy with a variety of personal projects, learning, and new opportunities, the last three weeks are almost certainly going to pale in comparison to what is coming up.
So what is next?
My next major goal is to get my new web server up and running. This means I have to redevelop my "Recipe Library" application, which is no small feat. This is the only project holding up deployment of the web server, so it is priority one. At the same time, I am working on a relatively-unplanned web application called "T2" (or "Time Tracker"). This is a JavaScript-based time tracking tool that I use at work and hope to release as a proper application for anyone to use by June. Of all my projects right now, this is furthest along, so I spend at least an hour a day working on it to stay on target. I am ahead of schedule for a June 1st release. I am thrilled.
Thanks to recent professional developments, I am taking on a new project for 2012: self-marketing. When someone Googles "Perrysburg .NET developer" I want to see my name on the first page of results. As it is now, I am actually on the third or fourth page of Google, which means I am not far from my goal. This would be a huge boon to me as a professional, and over the next couple of months I will be refining my personal website so I am more attractive as a developer-for-hire. My website will eventually become a display piece for all my strengths: .NET and JavaScript programming, creative writing, consumer-level support, and creative/technical writing.
I will also be spending at least 2 to 3 hours extra at the office over the next two weeks in order to stay on task with a major project that is wrapping up.
Point in case: I am a busy, busy man. I am not simply staying busy for the sake of being busy, however. I do have an end-goal in mind, a finale to all this madness that will be far-too-long in the making. Until then, however, back to work.
B3 out.
So what is next?
My next major goal is to get my new web server up and running. This means I have to redevelop my "Recipe Library" application, which is no small feat. This is the only project holding up deployment of the web server, so it is priority one. At the same time, I am working on a relatively-unplanned web application called "T2" (or "Time Tracker"). This is a JavaScript-based time tracking tool that I use at work and hope to release as a proper application for anyone to use by June. Of all my projects right now, this is furthest along, so I spend at least an hour a day working on it to stay on target. I am ahead of schedule for a June 1st release. I am thrilled.
Thanks to recent professional developments, I am taking on a new project for 2012: self-marketing. When someone Googles "Perrysburg .NET developer" I want to see my name on the first page of results. As it is now, I am actually on the third or fourth page of Google, which means I am not far from my goal. This would be a huge boon to me as a professional, and over the next couple of months I will be refining my personal website so I am more attractive as a developer-for-hire. My website will eventually become a display piece for all my strengths: .NET and JavaScript programming, creative writing, consumer-level support, and creative/technical writing.
I will also be spending at least 2 to 3 hours extra at the office over the next two weeks in order to stay on task with a major project that is wrapping up.
Point in case: I am a busy, busy man. I am not simply staying busy for the sake of being busy, however. I do have an end-goal in mind, a finale to all this madness that will be far-too-long in the making. Until then, however, back to work.
B3 out.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Book Review: The Hunger Games
Critically Correct is loaded with reviews of music, video games, and movies. Count the number of book reviews I have done over the years. Go ahead. You will only need two fingers. Maybe one. I cannot even remember. The message: I am not a big reader.
With all the hype over The Hunger Games, however, I felt compelled to give the novel a try. This past week I wrapped up my 13-day reading of the book. My (short) review follows.
I am unfamiliar with Suzanne Collins' works outside of The Hunger Games, but I can say this: her prose is not elegant. It is serviceable, however, and she does have a solid grasp of pacing. The opening pages of Hunger Games was a bit rough for me, sentence structures and word choices distracting me from the crucial opening scenes that establish the post-apocalyptic setting of Katniss Everdeen's world.
Outside of the rough prose, however, is a fantastic story of survival, instinct and cunning as displayed by the aforementioned Katniss. Characters are killed off far too easily and far too predictably, but luckily there is not a lot of character to care about before these deaths. The latter-half of the story focuses on a love triangle that is never finished in the first book nor entirely unpredictable.
The Hunger Games excels when it is in motion, when Katniss is on her toes for her very life. Slowing down to analyze her life, her family, and her friends feels like a deliberate injection of character is an otherwise action-oriented story. There is substance to The Hunger Games, but it is not entirely necessary in this case, as this could have been an all-action-all-the-time thriller all its own.
B3 out.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
The Full Story Behind O-Deer
In the summer of 2011, right as I moved to Perrysburg, I discovered a new, local ice cream joint called "O-Deer Diner" in Perrysburg. The location was convenient: close to my new job in scenic downtown. The prices were reasonable: a couple bucks for a specialty sundae. The lines were short: this was not the low-priced, high-volume strategy that the crazy-popular Mr. Freeze uses. It got even better: O-Deer was on my weekly bike route, so why not celebrate a solid bike ride with a little ice cream every so often? Add in my love of local business and everything lined up: O-Deer was a near-obsession for me in 2011.
By the end of summer I made a priority of visiting O-Deer every Tuesday and Thursday on a very rigid schedule. I turned these visits into something of a running gag on Facebook with frequent Check-Ins. I actually set a goal last year to own at least half of the total Check-Ins at O-Deer. I believe I have long-passed that goal.
There is one thing I have never done for O-Deer, however: praise it. There is a reason for that: it really is kind of "meh" as a restaurant.
I go to O-Deer religiously because I like the small-business atmosphere, the basic food, the cheap ice cream, and most importantly, the goddamn friendliest people I have ever met. Any summer evening is made better with a cheap chicken sandwich, an ice cream cone, and a genuine smile from some awesome people.
My love for O-Deer is basically over at that, however. The menu is small: hotdogs, a couple sandwiches, chips, soup, and pop make up 90% of the menu. I am also certain that all this food is from Gordon's Food Service, making it all the more bland. When I am in the mood for a basic shredded chicken sandwich and potato chips, O-Deer works. The ice cream is similarly bland sometimes, especially since I tend to get sundae toppings of inconsistent quality (I swear I eat a different peanut butter topping every week).
Truth be told, I really cannot recommend O-Deer on the quality or selection of their food, something that is kind of crucial to a restaurant. I believe a few more homemade dishes, creamier ice cream, and a $4 meal deal would make O-Deer a much bigger player in downtown Perrysburg.
Until then, however, I will be returning to O-Deer on a regular schedule - not for the food - but so I can say "hi" to my favorite people and relax on a great outdoor patio. All. Summer. Long.
B3 out.
By the end of summer I made a priority of visiting O-Deer every Tuesday and Thursday on a very rigid schedule. I turned these visits into something of a running gag on Facebook with frequent Check-Ins. I actually set a goal last year to own at least half of the total Check-Ins at O-Deer. I believe I have long-passed that goal.
There is one thing I have never done for O-Deer, however: praise it. There is a reason for that: it really is kind of "meh" as a restaurant.
I go to O-Deer religiously because I like the small-business atmosphere, the basic food, the cheap ice cream, and most importantly, the goddamn friendliest people I have ever met. Any summer evening is made better with a cheap chicken sandwich, an ice cream cone, and a genuine smile from some awesome people.
My love for O-Deer is basically over at that, however. The menu is small: hotdogs, a couple sandwiches, chips, soup, and pop make up 90% of the menu. I am also certain that all this food is from Gordon's Food Service, making it all the more bland. When I am in the mood for a basic shredded chicken sandwich and potato chips, O-Deer works. The ice cream is similarly bland sometimes, especially since I tend to get sundae toppings of inconsistent quality (I swear I eat a different peanut butter topping every week).
Truth be told, I really cannot recommend O-Deer on the quality or selection of their food, something that is kind of crucial to a restaurant. I believe a few more homemade dishes, creamier ice cream, and a $4 meal deal would make O-Deer a much bigger player in downtown Perrysburg.
Until then, however, I will be returning to O-Deer on a regular schedule - not for the food - but so I can say "hi" to my favorite people and relax on a great outdoor patio. All. Summer. Long.
B3 out.
Sunday, April 08, 2012
The Sunday Update: A Kind of Change
Now that I have gotten into the routine of publishing every Sunday, I am dropping "The Sunday Update" from the title of each post. This week's update is a review of American Reunion.
B3 out.
Stifler's Revenge: American Reunion Review
American Reunion is a film for a very specific set of people: those who not only fell in love with American Pie 1, 2, and 3 as teenagers, but are now going on thirty with grown-up jobs and new young families. The series is the Millennial Generation's Animal House, and if it can ever get past its hormonal roots, the Pie series could become a legitimate commentary on an entire generation. Four movies in, however, that looks unlikely. At its best, Reunion is a predictable but heartwarming story of love and trust. At its worst, Reunion is stuck in 1999.
Reunion stays loyal to the franchise's roots and no scene would feel out of place in American Pie 1 or 2. Jim still bumbles in awkward social situations, Kevin struggles to balance his responsibilities with his emotional past, Oz still wrestles with the definition of true love, and Finch remains stuck somewhere between a legitimate love and his fascination with Stifler's Mom. Stifler is still the same asshole he has always been, but his character is handled much better here than in American Wedding, where his dialog, actions, and story arc felt entirely forced. Seeing him cause general chaos, swear like a sailor, and act-before-thinking is a return to the Stifler that made him so entertaining in the first two Pie films.
Unlike the Jim-centric American Wedding, Reunion brings everyone back to East Great Falls and jumps between a half-dozen character arcs over its two-hour run time. Most films would be sloppy with so many stories running at once, and alas, Reunion trades originality for predictability in order to keep everyone in check. Each character's story works best having seen Pie 1 and 2. Those new to the franchise can catch up pretty easily, but at this point each story is extremely bland. Not that the original films had deep, inspired character stories, but they had stories, so we can come into this film with a certain level of nostalgia that makes us root for everyone on screen (yes, even Stifler).
Having revitalized the gross-out genre in 1999, Pie 1 was something of a unique film, but Reunion does not account for any other comedies in the past ten years, especially the Apatow-genre (yes, I just said that). This is 1999's humor without a hint of originality (although one scene of male nudity at least acknowledges the changing times). Again, fans of the franchise know exactly what to expect and when to laugh. Jim's Dad, the excellent Eugene Levy, easily steals the scene and humor as much as possible, with some legit laugh-out-loud moments that elevate the film a few notches. Even better: the film does acknowledge its own ridiculousness sometimes, and does not always take itself so seriously (I point to Exhibit A: "The Caterpillars").
For fans of Pie, seeing everyone back on screen is fantastic. How has everyone been in the last ten years? Who has succeeded and who has struggled? Are these characters any more matured since that fateful prom night in 1999? Reunion addresses all these and then asks a few question for those of us going on thirty. Is marriage all it is cracked up to be? Where do we stand on cheating in relationships? What lies ahead in the next ten years of our lives?
With enough mirrors pointed at our own generation (Stifler still lives at home, for example, unable to get a solid job), Reunion attempts to balance the nostalgia of Pie 1 and 2 with a few social commentaries for all those new mom and dads to think about. Just how has the last ten years treated us? For American Reunion, it is as though the last ten years never even happened.
B3 out.
Reunion stays loyal to the franchise's roots and no scene would feel out of place in American Pie 1 or 2. Jim still bumbles in awkward social situations, Kevin struggles to balance his responsibilities with his emotional past, Oz still wrestles with the definition of true love, and Finch remains stuck somewhere between a legitimate love and his fascination with Stifler's Mom. Stifler is still the same asshole he has always been, but his character is handled much better here than in American Wedding, where his dialog, actions, and story arc felt entirely forced. Seeing him cause general chaos, swear like a sailor, and act-before-thinking is a return to the Stifler that made him so entertaining in the first two Pie films.
Unlike the Jim-centric American Wedding, Reunion brings everyone back to East Great Falls and jumps between a half-dozen character arcs over its two-hour run time. Most films would be sloppy with so many stories running at once, and alas, Reunion trades originality for predictability in order to keep everyone in check. Each character's story works best having seen Pie 1 and 2. Those new to the franchise can catch up pretty easily, but at this point each story is extremely bland. Not that the original films had deep, inspired character stories, but they had stories, so we can come into this film with a certain level of nostalgia that makes us root for everyone on screen (yes, even Stifler).
Having revitalized the gross-out genre in 1999, Pie 1 was something of a unique film, but Reunion does not account for any other comedies in the past ten years, especially the Apatow-genre (yes, I just said that). This is 1999's humor without a hint of originality (although one scene of male nudity at least acknowledges the changing times). Again, fans of the franchise know exactly what to expect and when to laugh. Jim's Dad, the excellent Eugene Levy, easily steals the scene and humor as much as possible, with some legit laugh-out-loud moments that elevate the film a few notches. Even better: the film does acknowledge its own ridiculousness sometimes, and does not always take itself so seriously (I point to Exhibit A: "The Caterpillars").
For fans of Pie, seeing everyone back on screen is fantastic. How has everyone been in the last ten years? Who has succeeded and who has struggled? Are these characters any more matured since that fateful prom night in 1999? Reunion addresses all these and then asks a few question for those of us going on thirty. Is marriage all it is cracked up to be? Where do we stand on cheating in relationships? What lies ahead in the next ten years of our lives?
With enough mirrors pointed at our own generation (Stifler still lives at home, for example, unable to get a solid job), Reunion attempts to balance the nostalgia of Pie 1 and 2 with a few social commentaries for all those new mom and dads to think about. Just how has the last ten years treated us? For American Reunion, it is as though the last ten years never even happened.
B3 out.
Sunday, April 01, 2012
The Sunday Update: The Not-So-Funny Edition
Earlier today I went ahead with my usual April Fools post, so check it out. Two posts in one day. Whoa.
Anyway, I will be brief: I am two weeks into a major ass-kicking. I am busy non-stop with personal projects, and the pressure is on throughout April to get a major project to completion at work. New to April: I will be starting a video project for a friend, doing some traveling to visit family and friends, cranking up some writing and reading (thanks to Colleen's Kindle), and charging head-first into a major exercise program that will eat at least an hour out of my already-jammed days.
Thanks to the incredible stack of stuff I have lined up, I am now busy six days a week. Occasional mental health breaks, scheduled time with friends, and one day of rest per week is now the norm for me through at least the end of May.
And yes, I did this to myself. Work alone could keep me this busy, but I am opting to get most of my 2012 projects completed by the end of summer so I can spend this fall on a major multi-month vacation - as well as launch one of my cool new projects. But until I see the light at the end of the tunnel, I will be a little wonky. Or a lot wonky. We will see.
B3 out.
Anyway, I will be brief: I am two weeks into a major ass-kicking. I am busy non-stop with personal projects, and the pressure is on throughout April to get a major project to completion at work. New to April: I will be starting a video project for a friend, doing some traveling to visit family and friends, cranking up some writing and reading (thanks to Colleen's Kindle), and charging head-first into a major exercise program that will eat at least an hour out of my already-jammed days.
Thanks to the incredible stack of stuff I have lined up, I am now busy six days a week. Occasional mental health breaks, scheduled time with friends, and one day of rest per week is now the norm for me through at least the end of May.
And yes, I did this to myself. Work alone could keep me this busy, but I am opting to get most of my 2012 projects completed by the end of summer so I can spend this fall on a major multi-month vacation - as well as launch one of my cool new projects. But until I see the light at the end of the tunnel, I will be a little wonky. Or a lot wonky. We will see.
B3 out.
The Meltdown Is Here
In 1998 I began writing a series of short stories titled "Meltdown," a post-apocalyptic adventure set in our near future. Since then I have struggled to finish any major cohesive piece of the story, but today I can close this chapter of my life, as Meltdown is finished! You may catch the story below.
Meltdown: A Survivor's Story
The world goes to hell. A few people survive. Some of these people die. Zombies. Guns. The end.
This is a huge burden of my back. Whew.
B3 out.
Meltdown: A Survivor's Story
The world goes to hell. A few people survive. Some of these people die. Zombies. Guns. The end.
This is a huge burden of my back. Whew.
B3 out.
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