I can’t believe that it’s not even five yet, and I’ve already had a very productive day. Aside from going to the gym and doing yard work, I also went to Tim Horton’s to get some writing done. Before writing a thousand or so words on a much longer project that I’m really not ready to much discuss yet*, I did one last edit on a story I wrote a couple-of-two months back. It’s a — what else — sci-fi story called “The Last Echo of Humanity.” I believe I posted the first paragrpah of it some time before.

As I said in that post, this is technically a “reimagining” of another story I wrote four years back that was called “Rebirth.” Except stylistically that story sucked, whereas though this one has same plot — albeit much expanded — it’s a lot better written. Before I send it off, I’d like to get the opinions of two of my readers, just in case Nate and I missed some gaping plot hole or otherwise important aspect of the story. But apparently they both hate me, which is the only reason I can come up with as to why they haven’t returned “LEOH” to me yet.

This makes five short stories I’ve written this year**, which is far more than I’ve ever done before. I’ve improved in leaps and bounds in just six months. Like I’ve evolved from Homo erectus to Homo floresiensis. One day I’ll reach Homo sapiens. Of course I must still be pretty stupid since I just opened myself to any number of “homo” jokes. Maybe I should delete this little metaphor all together. Fuck it; I’ll leave it.

So yeah. “The Last Echo of Humanity.” I’m proud of it. Maybe someone will actually buy this one.

JAB

* Primarily because if I do so publicly, then more people will be able to watch me (or read about me) fall flat on my face like I inevitably will.

** One of which is still awaiting editing, and another which I might abandon completely, because I think it sucks. So it goes.

I finished a story recently entitled “The Last Echo of Humanity.” It’s a much-improved redo of an older story of mine, one that was called “Rebirth.” Like writing articles for a newspaper, with short stories one has to come up with a strong opening paragraph to grab the reader’s interest, ’cause if that first paragraph is boring, the read will move onto something else. Admittedly, I’m guilty of this sometimes. I think I came up with a pretty nifty intro paragraph (ack — cue the unpleasant flashback to WSU’s basic English classes) for “Last Echo”:

The rum had long-since stopped burning his throat, he idly realized as he took another huge swallow from the bottle, right before he put his fist through the face of the Mona Lisa. The poplar wood shredded his knuckles. He only abstractly felt the throbbing in his hand, filtered as it was by his drunken haze. It only served to make him angrier. He wanted to feel something, anything to break him from the unyielding torpor that he’d been in for the past few millennia — even if that something was just pain.

What do you guys think?

JAB

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I used a new variety of toothpaste today, and it keeps leaving my mouth with a peculiar minty aftertaste, one that I can’t quite place. Maybe the forbidden lovechild of spearmint and … mango? Spearmango?

A short while ago, Sarah and I went to Arby’s. She was craving some cheese sticks, a roast beef sandwich didn’t sound disagreeable to me, and my mom had coupons, so it was on. The food was good, but now when I burp it tastes like roast beef and spearmango. I can’t say I enjoy it. Before Arby’s, Sarah and I talked on the phone for an hour or so while browsing Myspace simultaneously. We were browsing kids that went to Northmont the same years we did. It was really quite pathetic, but hey — what else is there to do on a Friday night? Nevermind, don’t answer that. It seems odd to me that most of the people I graduated with are married and/or have kids. Then I realize that they’re 23 or 24, and it doesn’t seem that strange. And still I slave away at Wal-Mart …

Actually, I’m feeling a little bit better about still being at Wal-Mart. My resume is out at several companies, none of which will probably call me, but at least it’s out there. I’m also planning on going back to WSU this fall to attend grad school, with seemingly everyone else I know. And on a more fulfilling note, I’ve got the feeling that this year might be the year my writing career goes somewhere. I’ve already written far more this year than I’ve written in years past (excluding 2002, the year of Destiny), and I think my mad skillz have improved a great deal. Most importantly, I’m finishing what I’m starting, an integral part of being a writer. If I can get a couple of stories of published, hone my self-confidence, I might actually start work on a novel I’ve been kicking around for a while. Many times, if you can produce three or so chapters and a detailed outline, a lot of agents and publishers will consider taking you on. Three chapters is something I could probably pull off. So we’ll see where I am by the end of the year. Already this one’s been a hell of a lot better than last year.

I didn’t intend for this post to be so introspective, but I guess that’s what happens. How apropos.

JAB

David Lynch’s Dune: the Extended Edition arrived from Netflix a few days ago, so I’m going to watch that in a few minutes. I saw Dune years ago as a child, and didn’t understand what the fuck was going on it. Now, older and wiser — and also having read the first two books — I anticipate that, even with the extra half-hour of added footage … I’m not going to understand what the fuck is going on.

I’ve gotten all sorts of shit done today. I worked out, helped Bill build his very own blog (visit http://www.randomcreepery.com, click on “Rants”), and went to Tim Horton’s and wrote a new story called “Corporate Responsibility.” It’s about a future where a Wal-Mart-esque company basically rules the country. It’s pretty different from the stuff I usually write. Most of my stories usually end on at least a slightly happy note. This one, while concluding satisfactorily for the protagonist, is kind of depressing when you consider how it ends and what is implied. I’m quite excited about it.

So that was my today. And now, the desert plains of Arrakis beckon me …

JAB

It’s been a busy last few days.

Hung out with some people from work on Thursday, eating at the exquisite Dewey’s pizza. Friday I hung out with Nate. We drove around, played some Need For Speed: Something Involving the Underground, and tormented Trevor. It was a lark. Yesterday, I worked till five. Afterwards, Jason, Bill and I went to O’Charley’s, which has sweet chicken tenders, and waited for Adam — who was in town for some family thing — to call. Around ten or so, we met him at Tim Horton’s and spent three hours there. Adam and I talked at length about web design, and I think we bored the shit out of Bill and Jason. I swear I saw the exact moment when Jason’s eyes glazed over.

Today I did family stuff, and set up my brand-new-fucking-awesome laser printer. It’s sooo cool. Currently as I write this I’m, yet again, at Tim Horton’s. I felt the beginnings of a headache forming, so I got the fuck outta Dodge while I could. Plus, I wanted to get some work down. After reviewing the edits and suggestions from Jason and Nate, I applied the finishing touches to “Yesterday’s Ghosts” (formerly “Another Door Opens”). Now that I have a handy-dandy laser printer, I’ll print it out tonight or tomorrow, instead of waiting till Thursday and using Habitat’s printer, as I’ve done in the past.

Speaking of…

I want to solicit y’alls help again. I’ve mentioned before how I didn’t like “Another Door Opens,” so consequently changed it to “Yesterday’s Ghosts,” but I’m not yet 100% satisfied with it. A few more possible titles have come to mind, so I thought I’d get your opinion(s). Here is the pool of Potentials:

“Yesterday’s Ghosts” (current title)

“Another Door Opens” (former title)

“Ghosts of Yesterday” (a derivation of the current title)

“Ghosts Past”

And the one I’m currently leaning towards…

“A Planet Behind” (corresponds to the final line in the story)

I’m also willing to entertain any other suggestions from the peanut gallery (in reference to this entry’s “headline”).

But seriously, thanks in advance.

JAB

My damn head hurts, all because of the evil couch in the family room. If I lie down on it for more than two hours, it gives me a headache like motherfucking clockwork. I know, I know — “Gee Josh why don’t you just lie down on a different couch or sit up LOL?”

The answer is because I hate you.

I was hoping to start the editing process on the story I finished two weeks ago (tentatively titled “Another Door Opens” even though I really don’t like that name), but I’ll forgo that for tonight since the head hurts. It’s been a productive week and weekend, though. With the help of Tim Horton’s and Reggie and the Full Effect, I finished another story yesterday called “Getting Shifted.” It’s a sort of pseudo-fantasy yarn (I hate that word) and contains a fair amount of humor. Once I get done editing “Another Door Opens,” I intend to start work on another story I’ve been thinking about the last few days. Once it’s finished, then I’ll go and edit “Getting Shifted.” This way I can alternate between writing and editing, and gain a little perspective on a finished story, which makes being dispassionate during the editing stage much easier. And I’m fairly certain that last sentence was way too convoluted, but I don’t care. ‘Cause right now, I’m gonna go lie down on my nice comfy bed and watch a great cinema classic: Escape from LA.

JAB

2006 has so far been a very good year for me, writing-wise. I mailed out “Into the Abyss” to F&SF, started the revisions to “Thirty Well Spent,” and last night I did something I’ve never done before. I wrote an entire story from start to finish in one sitting. It’s a bit shorter than the other two I mentioned, about 3000+ words, but for me that’s still quite an accomplishment. I’d like to be able to keep that momentum going for the rest of the year, but we’ll just have to see what happens. Otherwise, I haven’t been doing shit. I finally got over being sick, though I may have passed it on to my sister. Sucks for her, but the important thing is that I’m feeling better.

Also, I just finished reading tonight what I think is one of the best books period I’ve read in some time. It’s called Old Man’s War and it’s by John Scalzi. This novel has one of the more original plots I’ve seen in a long time and an engaging protagonist you quickly come to care for, while still easily providing the wit of a Peter David book. So if you like sci-fi books or Starship Troopers (as that is what the OMW has been compared to), I highly recommend Old Man’s War.

Okay, my book pimping is done. Time to get back to the writing.

JAB

According to the Sun, Michael J. Fox wants to do another Back to the Future installment:

The actor, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, admits he’s keen to make a final film in the series – but only if they make his character as old as he is in real life.

The former Spin City star wants to take over from Christopher Lloyd’s eccentric scientist character, Doc Brown, in the sequel.

He tells movie website Moviehole.net: “The only way it would work would be if I played Doc.

“I’m 44-years-old now and I’m not interested in running around on skateboards!

“I think after 1, 2 and 3 we all kind of felt we had done it.

“And I think if they did it again now they would do it with a younger cast and just do a different realization of it, which would be fun.”

Man, a new Back to the Future movie. That could be cool, but I’d have a few reservations about it. Even though I’d go see it in a heartbeat, it makes me wonder: is another one really necessary? I mean, the first three films perfectly captured the heart of the story. It had a beginning, middle and end, with everything resolving happily in BotF III. (I don’t count the Back to the Future ride at Universal Studios.) Adding another movie to the series might just, I dunno, be weird and throw off the dynamic of the original trilogy. I would hate, hate, for BotF IV to ruin the original trilogy for me the way the new Star Wars trilogy single-handedly annihilated my love for Star Wars and its original trilogy.

Also, having Michael J. Fox take over the Doc Brown character? I just can’t really see Marty “What the hell is a jigawatt?” McFly as any type of scientist. He wanted to be a rockstar for God’s sake! He wouldn’t go to college, let alone spend the time in school to get a doctorate. Marty as a political adviser to the President, or as a hip L.A. doctor, now that I could visualize. Besides, I liked Christopher Lloyd too much as Doc Brown. He was awesome. And can you imagine them trying to find another DeLorean? Inconceivable!

To illustrate my point, I’ll give you a snippet of what a Back to the Future IV might be like, sans Doc Brown:

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