Thanks to the wonder and magic of prescheduling, it’s 2017 was you’re reading this but still 2016 as I’m writing.  Consider this my shot across the bow of general plans for the next year.

I’ve never been a huge proponent of New Year resolutions.  I’ve always thought that if something needed changing, you put a plan in place to make sure things change in the way you need them to, don’t wait a around unless you’ve got a really good reason.  And if you’re content with the way things are, why change them.  (This latter view is largely a reaction to hype about something changing your life, when really all that will happen is your bank balance changing if you buy the product.)

So here’s where I’m at and what I intend to change over the next year. Continue reading →

Yesterday I summed up what I did and did not accomplish over the summer.  This post outlines plans for the fall.  So why did I entitle it “Endless Summer”?  Continue reading →

Well, tonight is the last night of summer.  Yeah, I know that officially summer doesn’t end until the equinox, which is still a few weeks away.  And in the US, Labor Day, which is a week from tomorrow as I write this, is traditionally considered the end of summer.  But classes start in the morning, and my days of at least theoretical flexibility are pretty much gone for the next three and a half months.  In reality, I’ve been back at work and hitting it pretty much full steam since early July with only a few moments here and there to slip away.

Back at the beginning of the summer, I wrote this post, in which I outlined some changes I was implementing over the summer, along with some plans I had.  How did I do on accomplishing the plans? Continue reading →

Yes, I am alive, at least for certain definitions of life.  I’ve just been swamped with ending a term, preparing for one that’s off to a bit of a rockier start than usual, and getting a child ready to start high school in a school that has over 2,000 students.  Among other things.

Most days, I only have a few minutes of stillness and quiet (internal and external) to focus on reading/writing/blogging.  I’m hoping that will change by Labor Day, when everything should fall into a routine.

To the two people to whom I promised reviews, I finished the books over a week ago.  I will write them as soon as I can do a professional job that isn’t rushed.  I’m hoping that will be this weekend.

So here in the US, this weekend is a long holiday weekend.  Monday is Memorial Day.  It’s pretty much what it sounds like, a holiday to buy furniture on sale and get sunburned remember fallen military personnel.  It’s considered the unofficial start of summer, and usually involves buying furniture and other items on sale cookouts, memorial services at military cemeteries, and hanging out with family and friends, usually near a grill and a lake if there’s one in the area. Continue reading →

There are two and a half weeks of class left in the semester followed by a week of finals.  (Yes, finals week starts in the middle of one week and ends in another rather than starting on Monday like most places I’m familiar with.  Don’t ask me why.)  Later in the week I’ll be giving my last regular exams.  I’m in the middle of trying to finish a story by the end of the week as well.

So my point is things are probably going to be quiet around here.  I’ve got a couple of reviews for this blog, plus a science fiction novel I’m hoping to finish later this evening or tomorrow.  After that, you may not hear much from me before the middle of May.

Just lettin’ ya know.

Things have been rather hectic in the last couple of weeks, which is why I’ve not posted anything.  I’ve got several reviews to write, and I’ll problably finish another book or two before I get them all done.  Real life things have taken priority more than I have liked.

We’re out on Spring Break, or at least the students are.  I’ve had to go in a couple of times this week.  I did make a quick trip down to Austin to see some museum exhibits.  I should get at least five posts on Dispatches From the Lone Star Front out of the trip.  Plus I need to write up the visit to the Fazetta exhibit here.

Right now my top priority is to finish a story that’s due in a couple of weeks.  I’ve not made as much progress on it as I would like.  I’m hoping to finish it this afternoon after I run a couple of errands.  We’re leaving when my wife gets off work to go pick up my son from his gradnparents, so if I’m not done, I’ll have to finish next week. I won’t be able to get much writing done there.  I should be able to finish.  I’m writing the last scene now.

Hopefully there will be a string of posts the rest of the month to make up for the lack for the last few weeks.