Lame Gator and Lick Creek General Store

Got a call from Nick Rion last night. He told me that his partner on the (Breaking Bread, 11 a.m. every Saturday on WGGH, AM1150) radio show, Tommy Tucker, is in the process of buying Lick Creek General Store. That's great news. Lick Creek had its heyday in the 90's. It was a lot of fun and I actually met my ex-wife there (but I won't hold that against them!). They served fine cajun and exotic foods and the place was always hopping with some sort of excitement. Sadly, things went south in the new millenia, but I can't think of a better person to buy the place and restore it to its old glory than Chef Tommy Tucker. Makes me have hope in the future.

Check out all the information on Lick Creek and other region events at their website, www.lamegatorfoodproductions.com

It's been a while

Well, where to begin? It's been almost a month since I last posted to this blog. In that time, several things have happened. I went back to being a printer. While I loved working with people in the SIU community as the Assistant Superintendent of Printing, there were aspects of my job that I simply couldn't tolerate any longer. Sometimes, you just have to say "enough already" and walk away. Or, as William S. Burroughs put it, "Don't humor the mentally ill...tell them firmly...I'm not here to listen to this drivel." I supposed that's what I've done....but it cost me financially. I've been back in the pressroom almost a week now and, trust me, gentle readers, it's the smartest thing I've done in three years. Part of me says it's BS that that I had to make that decision, but that's the way life goes. With luck, karma will prevail.

I've been writing an online novel for three months now. Go check out DEVLIN'S DESCENT over at www.annihilationpress.com. I'm very happy with the way the book is turning out. I wanted to experiment around a lot and this book gives me the opportunity to do so. With concepts like nano-sperm and aborted fetuses being brought back to life by the miracle of technology, it's an interesting tale. I just entered the realm of the novel, too, with approximately 43,000 words so far.

Still looking for the woman of my dreams (and not my screams). Time will take care of that, too, I hope.

My best to all of you. Roger

Darrien is 7 today

My son, Darrien, turns 7 today. It seems like yesterday I saw my favorite little man pop into the world. Now, I don't know how I lived without him. Sure, I wish he'd sleep in on the weekends, but there's something quite special about that cheerful disposition in the morning. So, if you see my wee man today, tell him "Happy Birthday...and that his Daddy loves him."

Battlestar Galactica and parting ways with something you love

I watched the final episode of the "re-imagined" BATTLESTAR GALACTICA tonight. It aired last night, but I had kids and was otherwise pre-occupied. So, I waited for them to go to bed tonight and sat down to watch the show. Now, know this.....I've been a sci-fi geek since I read my first Isaac Asimov book back in the mid-70's. I probably read 50 Asimov books before the 70's were over, along with everything (or everything I could get my hands on) by Bradbury, Ellison, Arthur C. Clarke....etc. Suffice it to say, I was a sci-fi nerd. I enjoyed the original BATTLESTAR GALACTICA series as a teenager - GUN ON ICE PLANET ZERO being a personal fav - and when they advertised a new series, I was like a teenager again. Don't get me wrong, though. The 00 series is waaaayyyy different than the 70's series. Lots of mirrored political intrigue occurred on the new series. Lots of hard questions were asked in a sci-fi context, and that really jazzed me. I'd grown as a human being since the original series and the new one was tailor-made for me as an adult. I loved it from the moment I watched the pilot episode. Sure, over the course of the ensuing four years I would have written things differently, but last night's finale was icing on a very tasty cake, indeed. The show did not end with a whimper (as another favorite series, THE X-FILES, did). It went out with style and grace. Questions were answered correctly, and the spirituality of the series was held dear. When Kara Thrace departed the series for good, it sent a shiver through me. I doubt I'm the only regular view that happened to. I had suspected they might throw in some half-assed curve ball about her resurrection, but they didn't. The resolution they gave was dead-on perfect for what she had done.

All in all, if you missed the last 4 years of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, you missed some of the finest television you'll ever see.

Thank God it's all out there on DVD.

later,
Roger

Illinois Weather

It's been a while since I posted, so I figured I'd catch people up on what's been going on. Since my last post, I've had strep throat, a sinus infection and, now, a cold that simply won't go away. It always happens to me when the weather shifts so drastically. It was below 30 degrees two mornings ago. It's probably close to 60 out right now. That plays havoc on my middle-aged body. I came home from work yesterday at 10, slept till 3, ate, went back to bed, slept till 5, got up and watched some tv, went to bed at 8 and woke up this morning at 7. Still tired as heck. I'll survive, I guess, but I wish the weather wouldn't change so much so quickly. Guess I need to move to the Florida keys or something. Then, all I have to worry about is hurricanes.

Anyway, DEVLIN'S DESCENT is well under way. Chapter 6 will be posted on Sunday over at www.annihilationpress.com website. Trying to give the place a little traffic. I know several people are following the book right now. I haven't advertised it much because I wanted to get a few chapters up first. I actually started printing MURDER AT PK'S, too. About a third of the way done with the printing, I guess. It's overdue, but that's the way I roll, I guess. Better late than never.

Hope everyone is well. My head hurts.

Roger

Be my Valentine

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy Valentine's Day.

Not enough time in the day

There doesn't seem to be enough time in the day, these days. I started an online novel, DEVLIN'S DESCENT, with the intention of finishing a chapter a week. Two weeks into it. So far, so go. Go read it at www.annihilationpress.com Just follow the link to the story. I think it's a pretty interesting tale. I hope you agree. If that's not enough, I'm writing a stage play for a group called Babes with Blades. They, of course, are sword-wielding lasses. The play is due by the end of February. I have 20 pages of a 75 or more page script done. I work on it sporadically, whenever the mood hits. Of course, I'll probably do a crash writing course the last week of Feb to finish it, but I always work well under pressure, so I'll get 'er done. I just got an assignment to write 3 articles on Global Resources. Those articles are due at the end of March, so I'll be writing those and DEVLIN'S DESCENT exclusive in March. Beyond that, I haven't the foggiest idea what I'll write. I have intentions of writing 26 installments of DEVLIN'S DESCENT, so that'll take me to the beginning of July. Considering the first two installments give me in excess of 6000 words, DEVLIN'S DESCENT will be somewhere in the neighborhood of 90,000 words. Not a bad length for a book.

Anyway, I haven't posted in a while. Just wanted y'all to know what I was up to.

later,
Roger