When we were staying in Abilene we ate at Oscar's Restaurant and Lounge. I would link you to their website but they don't have one! They are small and special and they serve some of the best Mexican cuisine I have ever eaten in my life. In. My. Life. Forget about your Tex-Mex or bland …
Unknown Legend
I want to ride a motorcycle in the desert at night. I want to be on a dark road that points toward the setting moon that hangs in the sky like an orange lantern. Then I want to open up the throttle and see if I can't reach it before it disappears below the horizon, …
The Writing Window
Writing is like a window onto another world. What we see there has to be brought to the reader through words. It's not always easy, but that's what we do as writers.
Ikiru: Making Death Relevant by Kurosawa
This film examines a fundamentally human question we all wrestle with from time to time. Is the universe a dark and cold place, or do our actions have lasting, and permanent, consequences? Kurosawa doesn't answer the question because it's fundamentally unanswerable. As most human questions are. But his characters speak and react as if they …
Huh. So this is what relaxation is like? I like it.
Last night I played a little bit of LOTRO. I haven't played any computer games for months and months. I have had no time. I've spent so much of my energy lately into writing (and all the facets that go into that) I have had no time for anything else. It's hurt me, I think. …
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Another Conversation with Story: When the bloom fades from the rose
Me: This is pure drudgery. Story: I love you, too. Me: Hey, it's no bed of roses here, either, smart guy. Story: Where's the love? The love. That's all I ask. I look around and I don't see it. Me: I was in love with you when we first started. Now I'm ready to get …
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Is Anyone Going to San Antone? (layered imagery by Charley Pride)
One of my favorite western songs. Great imagery in this song, and Charley Pride's clear, strong voice lends a heartbroken resonance to the well-crafted lyrics. http://youtu.be/uPuoKqtLCfQ
ELEKTRA: Expressionist Opera by Strauss
Elektra is a modern expressionistic opera full of angst and anger and remorse and revenge. I'm not a huge fan of expressionism (though I love Edvard Munch's The Scream and the silent film version of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari), the art form which distorts reality to engender emotion. But, boy, does this opera in …
Lambshead and Daws Crossing on the Clear Fork Comanche Reservation (1855-1859)
This is Lambshead, one of the oldest ranches in the area. It was first built by J.A. Matthews. It lies south of the old Butterfield Stage Route. You could get from St. Louis, MO to San Francisco, CA in 25 days using this route. This is Daws Crossing where Robert E. Lee signed a peace …
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Yay! Updated Word Press with Random Banners
Okay, I've updated my Word Press and included a random assortment of banners other than the empty header I had before. These are all pictures I have taken on my research travels for westerns and other stuff. The banner will change as you go from page to page. Eventually I may pare these down, and …
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Fort Griffin Photographs
More photographs from my research trip. Everything I saw was beneficial. I doubt I will use all this information in the novel, but it's always better to have it and not need it, right? (the bodies were moved when the fort closed down, but this is the original site)
New Word Press Theme. Like, or not? Theme hate, or theme love?
As you guys can see I have changed the theme to my blog from Kubrick to Comet. I like them both but I like the fact Comet is easier to find things in the sidebar than Kubrick, I think.Don't you think? I think. So what do you think of the overall theme? Do my older …
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Doorway to the Past: The Bush Knob Massacre and the Larn Wall
While I was visiting Fort Griffin I heard a story about a man called John Larn. He worked for Bill Hayes. In 1872 Hayes went to New Mexico with a herd of cattle expecting Larn to watch his stock at Fort Griffin. Larn rebranded the cattle as his own. When Hayes got back he discovered …
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Fort Griffin Ruins: Sutler’s Store, Sergeant’s Quarters, Armory & Weapons
Fort Griffin: the bakery
Here is the old bakery at Fort Griffin. But first, the main hill where the fort is located and the parade ground:
More Conversation with Story: Does this genre make me look pretty?
Story: I'm back. Me: You were gone a while. Story: The editor had a lot to say about me. Maybe you should read his comments. Me: Wow. These are a lot of changes. Nothing too spectacular, though. I think I can do this all right. Story: Did you see his last suggestion? Me: Uh oh. …
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Fort Richardson: First stop on the research trip
I didn't expect to stop at Fort Richardson. I meant to visit later in the year or early next year, but imagine my surprise when we were driving and I came upon it. So I thought, why not stop? While nothing in the new novel happens at Fort Richardson I knew it would be helpful …
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Gunsmoke: “I will not tolerate a disturbance. You know me.”
Forget everything you know, or think you know, about Matt Dillon and Kitty and Doc. This radio series which ran for nine years was meant to be an adult-oriented western that broke the mold and challenged the archetypal Western hero. The creators, Norman MacDonnell and John Meston wanted to shatter all Western stereotypes. They were …
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Fort Griffin: Research Trip for New Haxan Novel
Here are some preliminary pictures from the trip to Fort Griffin and Fort Richardson. It was exactly what I was looking for as far as the novel goes. I will post a lot more pictures throughout the week.
Whistling Past the Graveyard: A Writer’s Perspective
Sometimes writing is like whistling past the graveyard. We will ignore reality and pretend everything is all right.
Hoover's Corner 