My records, let me show you them!

Well, maybe not show you them, but talk about some of my favorite finds. This was sorta inspired by a post on Facebook a friend of mine started up.

• At a local, respected independent record store, I found the original pressing of Brian Eno and David Byrne's My Life in the Bush of Ghosts for only ten bucks. So yeah, I can finally listen to "Qu'ran".

• At a flea market in town, I found a guy who had several Nanci Griffith records. He sold all four for twenty bucks. The copy of Lone Star State of Mind ended up being autographed! The seller told me that I got lucky that he didn't notice it and charge me more for it.

• I already told this one, but I found several Talking Heads records (including the semi-rare pressing of Speaking in Tongues) and Brian Eno's Before and After Science at a flea market out in the Hill Country.

• I found decent-looking copies of the first two King Crimson albums at Half-Price Books. I also found Paul Simon's Graceland there too.

• At Waterloo Records, I found Tom Tom Club's debut album and The Legendary Christine Perfect Album.

If you are a vinyl lover, beginner collector, or just a music lover; share your stories and best finds!

One day, I hope to set up my father's old system and listen to all these gems. Until then, I have to deal with a dinky old record player with a mono speaker.

I have decided to disappear, apparently...

I hate it when that happens. It would be just an ordinary day, me sitting in my room and reading a book (in this case, Party of One: The Loners' Manifesto) or listening to new music (in this case, King Crimson's debut album) when all of the sudden, I just don't give a damn about going on the Internet and posting on my blog. And so... here we are, over a week later. And nothing from me, until now.

I guess where I'm going with this is just a note to say hello to the few that read my blog.

I have been making great use of my local library. Borrowing books I've been meaning to read and enjoying them. Also, it helps me from buying books that I encounter at the bookstore. Hopefully, this will help me save money in the long run.

Nothing much else here. Until next time...

Soooo...

I went to a reading and Q&A with Audrey Niffenegger earlier this evening. I have yet to read her books (but I did get Her Fearful Symmetry), but was fascinated by her as a person. If you Wiki her (which I'm gonna bet you have at this point of reading my entry), you learn that she's a visual artist. Most of her works are graphic novels. The art is beautiful, especially in The Adventuress (which was being sold at the reading I went to). The stories sound awesome too, like The Night Bookmobile.

She read a chapter from Her Fearful Symmetry and already, I know she's a gripping storyteller.

But, that's not why I wrote this entry. It is what she said when asked about being a writer. She mentioned about not having many writer friends. J.G. Ballard was much like that too (he talks about this in his memoir). Not that I don't cherish the writer friends I have too, but when I stop and consider, I don't have many writer friends either. I do have friends with a wide variety of interests: jewelry-making, cooking, cartooning, reading, and so forth. Niffenegger talks about friends she has, quite a few being artists like herself. Still, even with her fame, she still doesn't have many writer friends. And I'm thinking, she seems to be doing fine. If she can roll with all this, then I can too. Having not as many writing friends doesn't make one less a writer anyway, which is what Niffenegger has helped me realize. I'm just glad to have the friends that I do have.

To them, I guess, I can be that writer friend. And the one who never shuts up about Talking Heads and Silent Hill.

And yes... I did get her autograph. What kind of writer/reader would I be if I didn't?

Novel update via Internet bar thingy...

59109 / 120000 words. 49% done!

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You can do it too, click here!
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Thank you for your time...

*didn't want to post this immediately after the Brian Jacques entry, so here it is a day later...*

Brian Jacques: 1939-2011

What else hasn't been said about this wonderful, imaginative writer? Over twenty years' worth of stuff, for starters. Redwall was a hit out of the ballpark from the word "go". The TV series was my first exposure to his work. After that, it was as they say "history".

He had written books that captured the imaginations of children, those born in the eighties, most of them now adults with jobs and bigger responsibilities. But, knowing how the world can be, there are those adults that still read the series and recommend it to friends. Or those like myself that will ensure his memory by recommending them to children that pass by the kids' section of the local bookstore.

Though he is mortally gone, I assure those young and old alike that he is still very much with us. Turn to the shelves in your favorite bookstore and library. See those titles: Redwall, Mossflower, The Sable Queen, Martin the Warrior. Print guarantees immortality. His words still ring with adventure and excitement, just like when they first were printed in 1986.

R.I.P., Mr. Jacques. You have done so much and the gratefulness for your contributions remains infinite. May your soul be at rest and may your loved ones be comforted through this unfortunate time.

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Go here for the story. I have yet to find an obituary, one by an official newspaper, but I hope that this entry (among the others written by fans and readers at this moment) will collectively serve as one.

I have no post....

...so here are three songs to enjoy.

Currently listening to (JSYK, the first song):


Currently obsessed with (yep, still...):


Currently thinking about:


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And don't ask about my writing. I already have yelled at myself enough.

Freezing like boxed dinners here...

Well, here's a surprise: Texas with freezing temperatures. Apparently, in my major big-major city, there are rolling blackouts to meet the demands (and also, half of a power plant has been shut down for service, or so my father tells me). I do work tonight at the bookstore, so I'm sure things will be interesting.

The below-freezing temperatures are expected to be here for at least two more days and then, right back to the average of at least 55 degrees. Weather here is very interesting, to say the least. 

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As for the novel, yeah, I'm stuck again. I was rolling into Part 2 like a boss (as usual) when I started thinking about how poorly constructed and written Part 1 (and some of the Prologue) was. We're talking about missing scenes, lack of description and development. So after pondering about it (i.e., freaking out), I lost courage and haven't done a thing in about a week now.

I do have tentative plans to go back through the Prologue and Parts 1-2 once I complete Part 2. But should I just soldier on and finish the damn thing? You see, normally novels get shorter when going through drafts and editing. I feel that Invisible is going to get bigger. Seems like a random complaint. But y'all, it's hard, alright?! /sarcasm

I just need to rediscover the courage, or just jump into the cold water. In this case, it would probably be ice-cold.

Brrrrr.

Well, since I rely on action, better put on a swimsuit!