by Jason Joyner | Jan 29, 2008 | Blog, books, fiction, miscellaneous, work
Wow! How often do we get snow days anymore? Growing up, it was always the best day when we had a snow out, keeping us from class. I grew up in a rural community, so there were always kids who would get snowed into a farm or ranch even if we had school. I, on the other hand, had no excuse.
I lived a block from school.
I thought about trying to call in saying I was stuck, but they’d probably say something like, “I’m looking out the window and I can see your driveway. Nice try.”
Today had a bit of a black cloud in the otherwise bonus day off: I have to travel an hour into the high mountain desert on a bus, catching it at 5:30 am. So first, they didn’t cancel right away, so I had to get up early and trudge (more like skate) to the bus stop. Then, they sent us home at 10 am, but we sat at the bus depot for an hour before heading out so they could be sure they got everyone. Ah well. I still got six hours at home I wouldn’t have had otherwise. Well spent paying bills and playing G.I. Joes with my 3 boys. Yo Joe!
This gave me plenty of time to dive into the latest book I chose for the CFBA blog tour: My Name is Russell Fink by Michael Snyder. So far it is an interesting read, and I’ll have more in a couple of weeks. However, I just had to share this quote from it today. The main character is a hypochondriac, and is getting a mole biopsied by his doctor. Of course, he is sure it is cancer, so he is a bit nervous doing the procedure:
I begin to speak but have to stop and clear my throat. “Please tell me you’ve done this before, Doc. That you’re not reading the instructions as you go.”
“Actually, I’m using this paint-by-numbers kit that came with my mail-order medical license.”
The wit of Mike Snyder, ladies and gentlemen.
by Jason Joyner | Dec 4, 2007 | Blog, goofiness, miscellaneous, super powers
I’ve decided that I have a super power. It is uncanny how this ability manifests time and time again in times of stress. I’ve always imagined being able to fly, having super strength, or having laser beams come from my eyes to zap the twit that just cut me off in traffic. I never thought something like this would happen to plain, ordinary me.
Now I wonder how I can harness my gift for the greater good. What can I do to serve people with this amazing power?
What is this awesome and terrible display of super-human ability, you ask?
I have the ability to make traffic lights turn red.
DO NOT LAUGH. It proves itself over and again. I will be hurrying to work, running to the store, or on a leisurely drive through town. It never fails. The crimson orb hanging in the intersection glows in my presence. Why I would be chosen for such a talent does vex me. Also, how can I use it effectively to fight crime and evil-doers? Perhaps I drive around with a police scanner, and start following any nefarious people and trap them at the light? I must ponder this…
Anyone else out there have some ability, something unique that you can’t explain, but you know it is meant to be wielded by you alone? What is this gift, and how do you use it?
by Jason Joyner | Dec 4, 2007 | Blog, goofiness, miscellaneous, super powers
I’ve decided that I have a super power. It is uncanny how this ability manifests time and time again in times of stress. I’ve always imagined being able to fly, having super strength, or having laser beams come from my eyes to zap the twit that just cut me off in traffic. I never thought something like this would happen to plain, ordinary me.
Now I wonder how I can harness my gift for the greater good. What can I do to serve people with this amazing power?
What is this awesome and terrible display of super-human ability, you ask?
I have the ability to make traffic lights turn red.
DO NOT LAUGH. It proves itself over and again. I will be hurrying to work, running to the store, or on a leisurely drive through town. It never fails. The crimson orb hanging in the intersection glows in my presence. Why I would be chosen for such a talent does vex me. Also, how can I use it effectively to fight crime and evil-doers? Perhaps I drive around with a police scanner, and start following any nefarious people and trap them at the light? I must ponder this…
Anyone else out there have some ability, something unique that you can’t explain, but you know it is meant to be wielded by you alone? What is this gift, and how do you use it?
by Jason Joyner | Nov 13, 2007 | Blog, fiction, miscellaneous, writing craft
Okay, so how dated does the title make me?
Anyway, I’m sure most of my writing buddies out there know about NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month. The goal of writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days must seem like self-flagellation to some people. I don’t think I could ever do it.
However, I did, for some strange reason unknown to me now, sign up for it two years ago. Because of that I am still listed as a NaNo participant for Idaho. So before November 1st, I got an email discussing a write-in being held in Idaho Falls. I considered going, and when I mentioned it to my wife that I was thinking about it, she announced, “Great! I can go shopping while you’re doing that.”
Not quite the response I was anticipating.
I ended up going to the write-in the first Saturday in November at a little coffeeshop called The Villa. Nice place with good atmosphere. When I first arrived there were a couple of ladies in line for coffee with obvious notebook bags. Holding my trusty writing folder, I found that they were there to NaNo. We ordered and adjourned to a separate room to don our quills and write away.
I was the only guy initially, but soon a couple of other brave masculine souls showed up. We had nice introductions. “Hi, I’m Jason, and I write action/suspense. Who are you, and what do you write?” I was the lone computer-less person, although another gal had problems with her connection and had to switch to old-fashioned paper.
We had a good time connecting with other crazy writer-type people. We decided to meet again the following Saturday. There was a little attrition, which should be expected. Gained another guy (yeah guys!) and got some more writing done. I’m not going to vouch for the quality of writing, but there is official ink on paper documented.
I’m not officially trying to do the whole NaNo 50,000 word thing. It has just been nice for a little accountability to sit down and write with like-minded folks. Also, shutting off the internal editor and just doing it is another benefit. I know there’s a lot of crap in what I wrote, but it also is helping me plot and see how the scenes should go.
Anyway, that’s my writing life the last few weeks. I’m grateful for the camaraderie and accountability. So if any of you haven’t been writing lately, close the web browser now, and open up your file and WRITE!
by Jason Joyner | Nov 13, 2007 | Blog, fiction, miscellaneous, writing craft
Okay, so how dated does the title make me?
Anyway, I’m sure most of my writing buddies out there know about NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month. The goal of writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days must seem like self-flagellation to some people. I don’t think I could ever do it.
However, I did, for some strange reason unknown to me now, sign up for it two years ago. Because of that I am still listed as a NaNo participant for Idaho. So before November 1st, I got an email discussing a write-in being held in Idaho Falls. I considered going, and when I mentioned it to my wife that I was thinking about it, she announced, “Great! I can go shopping while you’re doing that.”
Not quite the response I was anticipating.
I ended up going to the write-in the first Saturday in November at a little coffeeshop called The Villa. Nice place with good atmosphere. When I first arrived there were a couple of ladies in line for coffee with obvious notebook bags. Holding my trusty writing folder, I found that they were there to NaNo. We ordered and adjourned to a separate room to don our quills and write away.
I was the only guy initially, but soon a couple of other brave masculine souls showed up. We had nice introductions. “Hi, I’m Jason, and I write action/suspense. Who are you, and what do you write?” I was the lone computer-less person, although another gal had problems with her connection and had to switch to old-fashioned paper.
We had a good time connecting with other crazy writer-type people. We decided to meet again the following Saturday. There was a little attrition, which should be expected. Gained another guy (yeah guys!) and got some more writing done. I’m not going to vouch for the quality of writing, but there is official ink on paper documented.
I’m not officially trying to do the whole NaNo 50,000 word thing. It has just been nice for a little accountability to sit down and write with like-minded folks. Also, shutting off the internal editor and just doing it is another benefit. I know there’s a lot of crap in what I wrote, but it also is helping me plot and see how the scenes should go.
Anyway, that’s my writing life the last few weeks. I’m grateful for the camaraderie and accountability. So if any of you haven’t been writing lately, close the web browser now, and open up your file and WRITE!
by Jason Joyner | Oct 23, 2007 | Blog, miscellaneous, praise
Whoo-hoo. I passed my major recertification test with flying colors.
Thanks for praying gang!
