I thought I might give a sneak peek at an upcoming story I am working on. It takes place in the "Wild Cards" universe. For those who may not know what that is, it is a "Shared universe" series, created and edited by George R.R. Martin. The idea of the series is that a virus comes to earth, turning people into either superheroes or monsters. I am just getting started, so its going to take a bit.

I've written about 9000 words in what was supposed to be a 5000-word 'final chapter', Obviously I've miscalculated seriously. :)

Anyway, I broke the story at what I think is a good point, so I can post SOMEthing, at least.

I'm thinking now I *might* be able to wrap it up in 15,000 words, so that leaves two more chapters before I can wind the the story up properly. Fortunately, it's moving along fairly well, and though I don't write quickly, the time I do spend has felt productive so far.

Don’t sweat the small stuff.

It's a piece of advice my drama teacher gave me when I was in High School, and for years I had trouble following it. What she literally meant is that little things aren’t worth being upset over, but a lot of little things can pile up if you let them.

I've been doing a lot of thinking recently though, and between the advice of my no-longer perspective therapist (more on that after the break :-)) and advice I’ve received from friends and concerned community members here, I’ve come to a conclusion.

Embrace the small stuff too!

Okay... be forewarned this is a touch rantish...

So, I am a bit confused and irritated by the fact that a lot of readers do not comment or vote on stories and not just mine in general. I know that I don't always comment, because sometimes I don't have anything to say, but I do know that Authors really like getting feedback. 300 Rains has generated some interesting comments about a number of issues that I have really enjoyed reading and that have given me ideas. Comments are like applause and are a great way to open a dialogue with the author.

If you are plnning a holiday (vacation) in the Italian seaside resort of Castellammare di Stabia, don't bother to pack any of your minisirts, because you might end up with a hefty fine–or even in jug?

I would like to be certain that our community knows When This Years Day of Remembrance Occurs.

This years Remembrance will occur in most places on November 29, 2010.

Make no mistake this violence has touched out little community. It was this time last year that T. D. Aldoennetti was murdered in her house.

Our community lost the following this year. I don't know of anyone other than Teddi who lost their lives to violence.

Just a general observation. It seems to me that blogs lately have mostly been leaning toward negative. It also seems like many comments are chippy and launched rather than offered. Someone commented on a story I wrote over a decade ago, telling me it's "sick". That's not "friendly". That's not constructive. In retrospect the story (Dick on Jane) was sick. I write it in anger after some idiot told me my stories were too hard to understand. So I write one even a moron could appreciate. It was sick in that it didn't give suicide proper care and handling.

My current story’s getting quite long. I had started out hoping it would be about 5000 words long and I’ve already written double that! I knew I should have written something concerning the clocks going back on the same day as Halloween this year, but I could only think of some quite dark plots involving that idea.

I'm baaack. Wait, you say you didn't know I was gone?

My wife and I have been together for 13 years now, she is very supportive and even manages not to laugh at me - something amazing considering how a 6'1" bearded pseudo-woman must look to an outsider. Oddly enough, she has seen me dressed innumerable times but this morning was the first time she has seen me getting dressed. Since I wake up far faster than she does, I am always completely dressed before she gets out of the shower.

My biggest problem with this life is that I have to deal with Mirrors.

Mirrors are purported to show the real you.

Unfortunately I have never been able to look into any mirror and see myself. I see some fictional Male that everyone tells me happens to be who I am. I however have always known that mirrors are terrible liers. My one wish is that before I die I could see my real self in a mirror just one time.

I really do not think that is asking for too much.

Do you?