Clarity of Night

Just wanted to let everyone know I have a brief (250 word) short story up at www.clarityofnight.blogspot.com. It's an online contest, basically, and it ends August 1 (my birthday). I generally don't write to spec, but I got a wild hair up my arse and wrote "The Final Cut." I think it goes well with the picture you're supposed to write a story around. Let me know what you think of the story.

Two ships that pass in the night

Good evening. I hope everyone is home from work, kicking back and taking it easy. It's been a long week and you deserve a break. Take your shoes off. Have a drink. Watch some idiot box. The kids are watching SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS in the next room as I write this. It's been a long week. I'm glad the kids are here. My son Darrien practically cried when I picked him up from daycare yesterday. It was the first time he'd seen me in seven days (ain't divorce wonderful) and, as he ran to me with an expression of sheer joy on his face, I have to admit it - I was almost in tears myself. I dropped to one knee and opened my arms and he ran into them saying "I'm missed you, Daddy." Then, when our embrace was over, he ran to his cubbyhole (where his coat and things are kept) and produced two "boats". I use the word loosely because they were basically cereal boxes covered in paper and decorated, but they were done my my five-year-old and, as he handed them proudly to me, he said: "I made you some boats, Daddy." I gave him a big hug again and told him they were beautiful. It was a touching moment and one that'll stick in my head for a long, long time. Sometimes, I think the kids are the only thing that keep me going. They are certainly a panacea on a bad day. I love them both immensely and wish with all my heart that they were home with me fulltime inside of part-time. Sadly, the fucked-up legal system we have makes it too easy for people to leave each other. I still love my wife but there's nothing I can do about things; she's found someone else and jettisoned me like a booster rocket (which is, sadly, what I was). May she know shame the rest of her days for not meeting me halfway.

Great Googley-Moogley

Man, time has flown for your humble writer these couple of weeks since my last post. In that time, I've had to install a new water heater. It was leaking like crazy and then the pilot light went out repeated. I went shopping and....Lord help me!....I just about had a heart attack at the price of those things. Aluminum and copper prices have gone through the roof, and that affected water heater prices. It cost me roughly $500 to purchase and install a new water heater. Then, I had some issues with water pressure that took me a few days to figure out. But, now I'm bathing in warm water again. so it's all been worth it. I can move on to the next small miracle.

Speaking of that, I'll be sending out PDF proofs of HELL IN THE HEARTLAND to all the authors I've accepted this weekend. It's the one goal I have for the weekend, besides watch kids.

Anyway, figured a new post was in order. Come back soon. Roger

4th of July

Good morning and happy 4th of July to everyone. The world (and my personal life) have gone to Hell in a handbasket in recent times, but the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. Not nearly as depression as Christmas or New Year's, the brilliant lights from fireworks were always pleasing to me as a child. It was like someone was throwing a party just for me. I hope each and every one of you has a pleasant memory wrapped around the July 4th holiday, and that you make new ones as the day progresses today. Me? I'm going to the fireworks tonights and "ohhhh" and "ahhh" -ing with everyone else.

Best
Roger

Love should be so kind

Good evening, my fellow bloggers. It's been two weeks, roughly, since I last posted. In that time, my DSL line got interrupted by a snafu at the phone company (don't ask) and I managed to destroy my cellphone by washing it (doubly a "don't ask"). My hot water heater is leaking (has been for about two years, I reckon) but now the pilot light isn't staying lit, so tomorrow night will find your humble author with a monkey wrench disconnecting the old hot water heater and installing a new one. I knew it was coming eventually. As for the cellphone, thankfully I had my old one and reactivated it, so I can stay in touch with the bitter thing my wife has become. Speaking of that, July 16th will be the last day of our marriage, apparently. I'm tired of the fighting; tired of looking into the eyes of a woman I once loved and seeing nothing. I simply want to move on. If she's reasonable, that'll happen July 16th. If not...well, I reckon our respective lawyers can get richer via our differences. With any luck, my 1971 BSA will be road-worthy by then, and I plan on taking a spiritually journey over the week of my birthday (August 1) in an effort to wipe some of the angst and heartache of the past away. On the plus side, I think romance is right around the corner for me. It's been a long while. She's a good woman and I hope she can remedy the damage done to your humble author's heart. Time will tell.

Till later,
Roger