Author Archives: lytspeed

Tem Writing Group

By lytspeed Posted in Writing Leave a reply

The traffic gods took their revenge on me today. Whereas it only took me 30 minutes to get from Boulder to Aurora last night, it took me an hour and a half to get half that distance tonight. I was 45 minutes late to Melanie’s writing group, but I did have my critiques done and managed to give the writers some quick verbal feedback in addition to the written comments on the manuscripts themselves.

The homework assignment for next time is to write something that’s outside our comfort zone. I still don’t feel entirely comfortable writing SF or fantasy, despite the fact that those are my primary reading choices. However, the spirit of the assignment would suggest that I should write something with which I’m very uncomfortable, like romance or mystery. I don’t know which direction I want to go yet.

Writer’s Circle Writing Group

By lytspeed Posted in Writing Leave a reply

The traffic gods smiled on me today. Even after staying at work late to do some last minute critiquing for the group, I still managed to make it to the meeting on time.

Dante Spumante at Cricket on the Hill

By lytspeed Posted in Music Leave a reply

I played with Dante Spumante again tonight, this time at Cricket on the Hill. This gig went much better than the last one; I had a lot more confidence and felt more comfortable with the original songs. We also threw in a few covers: “Dreams,” “Rockin’ in the Free World,” “Brown-Eyed Girl,” and “All Along the Watchtower.”

The crowd seemed to like what they heard, and in general, we were much tighter than at the Herman’s Hideaway gig. Hopefully this will lead to more gigs at Cricket for Dante Spumante, and in turn, maybe more gigs for me with the band.

Thanks to everyone who showed up for this show. It helps a lot to know that there are friends out in the crowd.

Dante Spumante at Cricket on the Hill, 8/13/02. I’m the one in blue, with the Fender Stratocaster®. Brad the Drummer is hiding behind a cymbal.

Cutting Class

By lytspeed Posted in Music, Writing Leave a reply

I decided to skip the Old Possum’s meeting this month. I don’t like doing that, since I’m one of the founding members and sort of the group’s secretary, but I really need the practice for this gig. Hopefully I can get together with other band members tonight and make this performance a little more polished than the last one.

I sent a note out to the Old Possum’s group, outlining my shameful choice for the evening. I knew something like this was bound to happen if I started getting my foot in the music door, and I chose to do it anyway. I guess I have to live with the consequences of my actions.

I also queried Wormhole Books about the flash fiction story, “To Be Human,” that I submitted for their product catalog. I got a good response back; it’s neither been accepted nor rejected. The editors are still “mulling it over.” That’s good news! That’s still one step removed from a rejection.

Painting and prepping

By lytspeed Posted in General, Music, Writing Leave a reply

Okay, almost the whole upstairs is now painted. I ran out of paint and had to rush to Lowe’s before they closed, but we got enough to finish the bedroom upstairs and got all the furniture back in so we would have something to sleep on. All that’s left upstairs is touch-up work, which my wife says she will finish this week.

I’m glad she said that, because I will be very busy this week. John from Dante Spumante did call, and I told him I would play with them on Tuesday. He wanted to know when we could rehearse, but I told him we might not have a chance due to my tight schedule. Today, I painted. Monday, I’m supposed to attend the monthly Old Possum’s writing workshop. Tuesday is gig day, and I have to work both Monday and Tuesday during the day. That doesn’t leave much time unless I forego the Old Possum’s workshop. I don’t want to do that, but it looks like I might have to.

Wednesday, I have the Writer’s Circle writing workshop, and Thursday is the day for Melanie Tem’s writing workshop. It only happens occasionally that I have three workshops in one week, but when it does, the whole week feels swamped. Friday is relatively clear, except for a potluck and BBQ at work, but that means I will need to make something Thursday night after the workshop. Oy. Saturday, my nephew is getting married, and then we are driving to Colorado Springs to see Dot Com open for Jack Russell, the former lead singer for Great White.

Sunday, we get to start painting the downstairs. Joy.