I'm Back, Baby! I'm Back!

... well, sort of. I've been pretty much gone for the past month and a half. And while the past month was due mostly to not having much time for updates between work and NaNoWriMo, the last half was due to me getting a little lazy. Seriously, I had time for the page before, how could I not now, right? Right?

Okay, so it's going to take me a little time to get back into the swing of things. But don't worry. Before you know it, you'll be ready for me to go on hiatus again... er...

As Time Goes By...

Okay, color me stupid here.

I don't think that a month has gone by when I haven't actually thought to myself in idle passing, "What are you going to do for the one year anniversary of House Rules?" I was probably thinking about it after the first few weeks, the first few months... heck. Two months ago I was trying to figure out if I was going to make a compilation book of some sort.

So it comes as a shock to me as I pondered what I was going to post this month and how to squeeze it in between bouts of mad writing sessions, that I would stumble across fellow blogger Ivan celebrating his six year anniversary (and congrats to you again on making it this far... your site rocks). And as it reminded me of what I should do when I achieve my meager but still impressive goal of one year in, it also reminded me of yet another thing...

That happened two weeks ago.

October 19, 2008. The first post at Casa de House (albeit a repost of a previous post from another page. Still, it was the start of this whole thing, and even if it wasn't, the first post after that would still have been in October. So I missed my 1 year anniversary this year. I'm sorry, baby. Do you forgive me?

Anywho, I'd be a lot more formal about this (and maybe I will later), but the truth is I just don't have the time to spare on it right now. But thanks to the many people, here and there, near and far, gone and yet to come, that have made the creation of my little corner of cyberspace worth the effort by checking it out from time to time.

Random HouseKeeping

Jeez, even the HouseKeeping isn't on schedule. Anyways...

Just to let you know what's up, I've been busy, but not necessarily with things here. Okay, obviously I haven't been spending time here. Mea culpa and junk like that.

First, Planet Houston Podcast is still running strong. Yes, I've gotten a little... zanier, shall we say? But the fact remains that the show's still being produced. I at least have it worked down to the point where the show can be produced in around an hour. So it should stick around for the time being.

Also, I'm still sort of collecting essays and posts together for a compilation. No, I still don't have a timeline for that. No, I haven't worked on my other book like I was supposed to. I've been busy, and I hate to admit that confidence took a brief nosedive for a second or two. But talking someone else up managed to pick me back up, too, so back to work on that, also.

Also, as a testament to just how behind schedule I've been, this update on how far behind I've been has sat around as an unfinished draft for the better part of two weeks. That makes no sense, whatsoever.

But hang in there. We're still doing what we do, even if it takes us a little while to do it.

HouseKeeping: The Path of the Writer

So I mentioned a week or so ago that I would get around to publishing at least one item within the next year. I'm still not sure what exactly will come out, but I have had a few ideas for things that I think might work well.

The first idea would theoretically be the easiest, and that would be to just do a compilation of some of my better rants and essays here. In my head, that would be simpler than any of the editing and rewriting I'd have to do to get my previous work together, even though I would probably end up editing a lot of crap... er, gems of gold before I put them in book form. The con side would be that all (or most) of the material would be available for free on the site. But the pro side (and what I would probably aim for) is that I could include any of a number of items that I may have worked on but never gotten around to posting. A bit of a bonus incentive for all both of you that stop by regular enough to have read all of the stuff I've posted.

That's assuming that I really care about that as an action, anyway. Honestly, I'll probably buy a copy, and then that'll be the end of it. I've thought about doing something wacky like offering up the proceeds to charity. But then I'd have to find a charity, and then I'd have to pretend that someone would buy it. Still, stranger things have happened.

The other option is to throw one or more of my independent projects together and put it out there. That's a much bigger kettle of fish for me to fry, though. If nothing else, it puts me into the position of exposing some of my work to the public (even if the public, in this case, would be a limited capacity). That, and I'm not really in love with my first major effort. And I told myself I was saving my next major effort for my NaNoWriMo project this year. Still, I might just say screw it and put it out there, anyway. It's probably better than I think it is, and if nothing else, it sets up the lead characters for the other stuff I have planned for them.

So that's that. I'll figure out which of either path I'll be taking over the next month and change, and presumably something should be out there by the end of the year (or early next year... I make no huge promise on the timeline).

This Week's Housekeeping

... which shouldn't imply that this will become a weekly thing.

What to say, what to say... there is so much going on these days. First of all, Planet Houston Podcast is still going strong and will continue to do so for the near future. There will probably be a few more Tuesday evening broadcasts before it's all over, but the desire remains to keep doing it. Thanks to everyone who has and continues to offer support.

Also, I have to announce that I am now on Twitter. Yes, I gave into the darkness within, but it does seem to have its uses. If nothing else, it could provide more access for some of the other things I am working on.

And speaking of that, you may have noticed that I posted several excerpts from a former writing project of mine (items that all one of you commented on... grumble, grumble...). Well, I've been bouncing around the idea, and looking at this Lulu.com thing that a few people I know seem to be utilizing, and I've decided... why not? So sometime in the not so near future (probably early next year at the rate of progress I seem to move at), I will publish... something. Whether it's going to be a previous project, some new project, or some compilation of old items, I can't say. But at some point, I will need some support... the moral kind if not the financial kind.

So that's what I'm up to. Unfortunately, it means a somewhat major commitment for me, but the end result should be a pretty good thing. I hope. At least I can always say that I did it.

Some Minor HouseKeeping

Minus all that soup stuff that my bud Ivan talks about. Mainly because he took the only can of soup that I'd use...

So the blog has gone a bit... absent the past week or so. I've been working on stuff, for reals. Granted, I've mostly been working, but I've done some writing, too. In fact, I'm working on a series of short works/observations that I'm tentatively calling "Words of Impact".

It's a closer look at a few words that we may tend to overlook or take for granted at times. I guess my "Perspective" essay could be considered the opening volley of that exchange. I have a handful more that I'm working on, but I still need more time to refine them, lest they all end up sounding like they're just me babbling about same thing over and over again. And nobody wants to be Bill Cathcart.

Oh, snap! WTO-see you later, dawg! handle that burn.

Anyways, expect to see those in some way shape or form starting this weekend. I hope. One can never tell for certain.

HouseTV: Webhead Advisory

I just thought that I'd drop a friendly reminder for anyone that might have forgotten that the new season of Spectacular Spider-Man is premiering tonight on DisneyXD. Two episodes will air starting at 7PM. Make sure to catch the new season, since A) it is awesome and B) a positive viewer response might just get a new season into production. Make sure to check it out.

HouseTV: Overseas Advisory

Everyone and their grandmother should know this by now, but tonight is the first night of a full week of Stephen Colbert doing his show from Iraq. If you've never bothered to see the show before, this might just be the week to check it out. I'm sure that some rampant insanity is bound to happen (in fact, I think they've already reported it happening or about to happen).

Updated HouseKeeping

If I do this for one more week, it'll almost be like I have an actual schedule or something. Anywho, the week starts out on a bit of a down note in RL, as my delicious vacation week comes to a close. But hey, at least I am still employed... at least I hope so.

As for the site, things should go pretty smoothly for the week. I have a few major articles I'm working on that should be out before the week is over. And of course, I'll find some more stuff to ramble about before then. And oddly enough, I'm currently debating whether or not I'm going to attempt that podcast thing that all the hip kids are doing. It can't be that hard... right?

Screnzy: Day 17 Update

Okay, so I surged ahead to 50 pages, but then I stalled out a little. So I'm still sitting at just around 50 pages, which is a little off pace but I'm fine with it. Normal pace means you write a little over 3 pages a day, and I generally write more than that on a good day. So if need be, I can just push extra hard to finish things off.

The tricky part is working on two projects at once. Most of my page count is from Frak. Sorry, but I just find scripting a show easier than scripting a comic. That, and a comic script requires detail, something I can skimp on a little when doing a TV script (although I know I'll need to get back to it at some point). Someone at the Script Frenzy site suggested that people create a script for a commercial or trailer for their work, and I might do something like that if I get a chance. Now back to work with me.

HouseTV: XTreme Advisory

For anyone that might not have noticed this weekend, the channel that was Toon Disney has now offically become Disney XD. XD, yo!

... Okay, so it's pretty much the same channel, but there are a few exceptions and additions to the line-up. Of things I've seen or seen scheduled, here are a few that might be interesting to those of my ilk:

Aaron Stone: A new series lauded as being about a boy who trains to be the superhero/crimefighter like one that's in his favorite video game. Or something like that. I haven't bothered to see it, but I know I'll eventually get around to it.

Even Stevens: I don't recall really liking this show, but I'm sure someone had to since it was on for so long. I guess it was that sibling rivalry thing. And tweener girls might like it because they can "... see what Shia was like when he was my age. Squeeeeee...!"

Phil of the Future: A kid and his family go on vacation in the past (our present) and get stuck here. It's stupid beyond stupid at times, but every now and then amidst the insanity they would drop a really good plot or two in there. And the theme song is catchy as all get out.

Famous Jett Jackson: I nearly boggled when I saw they were showing episodes of this in the here and now. Yet another show where I can't figure out just what I liked so much about it, but it was so cool. Jett's just your average kid who just happens to be a TV superstar. Still, he chooses to move back to his hometown and finds centering from his family nd friends. Think Hannah Montana without the dual identity bit. Hey, the formula works, don't it?

Static Shock: Speaking of boggling... I never thought this show would make it to air again simply because I didn't think anyone up there loved me enough. But the tale of Milestone Comics character Static (no Shock... just Static) has a progressive storyline and several very interesting plot points to cover before it's over with. Although admittedly, the best stuff comes before the last season which was DC guest shot city.

(It should be noted that Static has appeared recently in DC's Terror Titans miniseries and is all but confirmed to be joing the Teen Titans later this year. So they're probably trying to get him some more face time in other venues.)

That's that. There should be more shows popping up here and there (I didn't do an exhaustive search), so take a look at the channel and see what's new and/or improved.

HouseKeeping: Going for Broke

Okay, this week is when I make new friends and acquire new enemies. The schedule is set for chaos and/or bedlam with a side of the loony.

First up is the first of two articles on Marvel and DC's most recently finished big events and my opinions of both. As has been hinted, this will not win me friends at either editorial department.

Also on the agenda for the week, more of the insanity that was my NaNoWriMo project. Seriously, this time. I've actually done some rereading and editing and everything. And when I get extra fed up with it, I'll just post some random parts that I haven't even looked at since I typed them. Oh, but that's dangerous for me.

And I'm sure I'll find other stuff to go on about, too. That's fairly obvious.

Housekeeping the HouseKeeping

I've decided to forgo the 'Best Of...' lists this year. For one, there's only a small handful of things I've actually see/read/etc. the past year. I'm not sure, but I think I can literally count the number of films I saw in a theater on one hand. If anything, I'll compile a year end message for later on today/tonight, and maybe get around to some personal bests at the first of the year.

Or... I could just wait until I have a year's worth of stuff under my belt and put it off indefinitely. That certainly sounds more like me, doesn't it? Ah, consistency.

End of the Year HouseKeeping

So, the year's on the close, and since everyone else is doing their own highlight reels I might as well fake mine, too.

Of course, I have three days and not as much material to work with, so mine will be terribly shortsighted and zany. Which I'm sure will be terribly surprising for anyone who stops here.

At any rate, look for my "2008: Best Of..." series. Coming soon, as it has no choice but to do so. Also, I'm sure I'll do one big wrap-up post somewhere around the end of the year (or possibly the first of next year; no need to tie my hands too much, here...).

Morning Observations

Things not to do on a Friday morning:

• Spend an hour waiting on your jaw to start aching before taking your pain medication.
• Only have one piece of pie from the previous day's festivities (really, it's good pie).
• Stumble across the Mork & Mindy marathon that you swore that you were going to avoid (this one hurts more than the jaw thing).

Hump Day Means Scheduling..

Okay, so while I'm still pretending I have enough looking at this to care about what I plan to do with the rest of the week, I'll also use this as a note to myself in case I get lost before the end of the week.

So, things I plan to have up here by the end of the week:

• The last of my political musings for the week (and possibly for a while, so long as no one goes too nuts the next few weeks... What are the odds?).
• A "return to normalcy" if you will, which only sounds odd because you don't know what normal is yet. A little more of me talking about comics and TV and other goofy things that I like.
• Specifically, some handy, dandy comic reviews, an op/ed maybe, and the start of a semi-regular discussion of what I like to watch.
• An update on my NaNoWriMo project, which depending on the next few days may be the most epic recovery of all times or the most epic fail (ooh, drama!).
• I will fight a dragon. Okay, that probably won't happen, but let's see where the rest of the week takes us.

We'll see what's up, and see you in a bit. Hang loose (or tight, depending on your needs).