Old Anniversaries and New Fiction

By lytspeed Posted in Family, Gaming, Music, Writing Leave a reply

Today is the 14th anniversary of my first wedding. It’s one of those dates that I just can’t forget, try as I might. Amy, if you’re reading this, happy former anniversary. I’m sorry things worked out as they did, but I’m glad we get along pretty well now, for Keith’s sake.

Tomorrow is the Tem writing group, in which I am supposed to accompany Melanie on guitar while we sing “Ode to Billie Joe.” I’m ready, I think. It’s a pretty easy song to play, but I have to wonder if the surviving recordings are at a different pitch then they were actually mastered. The TAB and chord files that I have found on the ‘Net indicate that the song should be played in F, but it sure sounds like D to me. I actually like playing it best in E, because I can get a funky little half-step slide in there to imply the song’s bass line.

I’ve mentioned that the homework for that session is to write something out of our comfort zone, but also (if we wish) follow the guidelines of including a tavern or bar. I sat down at the keyboard, knowing only that I was going to attempt either a romance or a horror story, and something calling itself “Chesterfield Gray” came out. By the end of the first 200 words, I had three characters interacting obliquely in a 1940’s era waterfront bar. It was a great start, but then stopped cold after about 550 words. I found I had questions to answer before continuing.

When the female character started directly addressing one of the male characters, he surprised me, because he is pretty much a jerk. Why is he like that? How is she going to react? Could anything develop between them after him being such an ass? Will she take his put-off manner as a challenge, or forget about him? How will the third character fit into all of this?

I don’t often outline exactly where I want a story to go when I start writing it. I usually have some vague idea of how I want it to end and a few events that I want to happen along the way. But sometimes the characters don’t want to go there. This story is a case where the characters themselves are directing the story, much as a well-run role-playing campaign should unfold. The intriguing thing to me is that I am learning about the characters as they are coming out, and I’m wondering what’s going to happen to them, as if I weren’t in control of their destinies. I suspect that this will make the piece strongly character driven, but it may be short on plot. I may have to shoehorn some of my own events in there to make it palatable.

I bought a ticket to go see Johnny A at the Gothic next Tuesday. I’m really looking forward to seeing him perform, and hopefully I will be able to get a fairly close seat.

Moving On — For Now

By lytspeed Posted in Computers, Reading Leave a reply

I tried a few configuration and component changes on the server today in an attempt to get it to recognize the new drive. I even manually specified the drive’s configuration in CMOS and reinstalled the operating system with the jumpers in a different position, hoping it would get the clue. Still the same 7.87 Gb limit. I did find one piece of information on the Western Digital website that says, in effect, “If your secondary drive is larger than 8 Gb and Windows 2000 is only recognizing 8 Gb of it, uninstall Windows 2000 Service Pack 1, reformat the drive, and install Service Pack 2.

This is kind of tough to do, since I installed Service Pack 3 from the beginning. I think a new motherboard is the way to go, so I’m going to stop worrying about this project and try to get back to writing.

I have been reading Word Work every chance I get over the last few days. I’m still enjoying the book. The level of personal experience that Rogers brings to the table is refreshing; he writes it as if the reader is his peer, rather than his pupil. It’s remarkably similar to having a conversation with Bruce. He anticipates where the reader’s mind is very well, and addresses many of the questions and concerns that pop up in my head as I’m reading. I should be done with the book in a few days, and I’ll be able to write a review. I’m excited to do so, actually.

Planned Obsolescence

By lytspeed Posted in Computers Leave a reply

My suspicions about the motherboard are correct. It doesn’t recognize the new drive unless I use the alternate jumper settings to fool the BIOS into thinking the drive is a different size than it really is. That’s not a big deal, but the drive documentation says not to use the alternate jumper setting with Windows NT or 2000, which I am running. Windows 2000 recognizes the drive as 7.87 Gb no matter what I do, probably because I’m using the alternate jumper setting. I could flash the BIOS of the motherboard, but the board is so old that no one supports it any more.

Looks like I need a new board. Convenient for the computer industry, eh? Oh well, it will be a while before I get the server running the way I want it to, I guess.

Nerding Out

By lytspeed Posted in Computers Leave a reply

Today was a relaxing day. I engaged in one of my favorite hobbies: building computers. Using the spare parts I have hanging around the house, I decided to rebuild my home network server. Basically, it acts as a file repository and print server, and since I’ve rebuilt the network to allow all our machines to have access to my broadband connection, there’s no reason not to have a server on it.

Except maybe one. The parts I have won’t allow me to build a very powerful server. Most of the components are very outdated, and I suspect this will cause me problems when I try to upgrade the hard drive to hold the MP3 files I’ve ripped from my CD collection. My wife likes the variety of being able to set Winamp to shuffle mode while she’s playing on the computer, and with network access to our MP3 files, she could go all day without hearing a repeated song. One way or another, though, I should be able to make the BIOS recognize the hard drive, even if the size is larger than the BIOS will allow.

 

I have a few words to say about CompUSA. For the last few years, I have boycotted the store. I was even boycotting them due to a lousy corporate business policy before they were taken over by one of their major shareholders. Over the years, it seems they lost interest in supporting the computer hobbyist; they stopped selling motherboards and components and started hiring warm bodies at bargain basement prices to police the sales floor. Sure, I’m exaggerating, but not by much.

Oh, how times change. Today, I went into a CompUSA with a full wall of components, including cool aluminum cases with see-through sides and sound-activated neon lights inside. They had plenty of case fans and power supplies for me to choose from, as well as motherboards. I had to restrain myself to keep from spending money I really don’t have one a new motherboard for the server. The salespeople on the floor seemed to have some genuine knowledge, and the whole attitude of the store is different. I applaud the makeover.

Speaking of makeovers, I tried out the keyboard on the new Handspring Treo 300. (Well, I tried the keyboard on a 270, but it’s the same keyboard.) I was surprised to see how quickly I could type on it; I certainly couldn’t match my regular typing speed, but I could easily match my Graffiti speed. I might just have to get one if I can come up with the extra money. (6/9/2004 Note: Got one. Love it, except for the flip cover, which has a tendency to break off. Now I’m jonesing for the Treo 600.)

Tonight I heard from my friend Jim, a guitar player I used to get together with regularly. He’s had a hectic schedule, and we haven’t been able to play together for about two years. It looks like that will probably change in a couple of weeks, because we’re going to get together and jam at my house. I look forward to that very much.

Distraction or Procrastination?

By lytspeed Posted in Writing Leave a reply

I’m spending the day supervising my son as he works off a significant monetary debt that he owes to his mother. The plan was that I would set him to work, be available for questions, and get some writing done.

So far, he’s done a decent amount of work and I’ve been very distracted. However, considering what Bruce Holland Rogers says in Word Work, I wonder if my son is actually the source of my distraction or if I’m distracting myself. I doubt if I would be getting much worthwhile fiction or poetry writing done right now, with him saying “Hey Dad, you know what?” every few minutes, but I could at least be working on revisions or outlining a story.

In Word Work, Rogers outlines several different types and aspects of procrastination, and that’s exactly what I’m doing right now. However, I’m also kind of fooling myself into working around it, because I’m writing something — and that something is acknowledging the procrastination. No, it’s not a good justification for not doing the real writing, but it is making me examine and be aware of the procrastination, and that’s part of the purpose of this creativity journal.

I got e-mail from Melanie Tem today, asking if I would bring my guitar to our next writing class. She wants to examine the storytelling aspects of “Ode to Billy Joe” by Bobbie Gentry. I’ve got the music and the lyrics for that, so it should be fun. I’ve often thought that song was similar to Hemingway’s “The Hills Like White Elephants” in that it hints at serious topics without ever directly addressing them.

It’s about lunch time, so I’m going to go pick something up for Keith and me. He’s doing a pretty good job, but this will only go part of the way to paying back his Mom.