New project

Started the process yesterday to convert my books for Kindle. Not terribly difficult, but a bunch of little hoops to jump through to get them in an acceptable format. Several programs to download for use in such as well. I do them in Word.doc to begin with, which is a necessary part of the process. The saving them to filtered HTML was something of a surprise, though, unlike the PDF required for the paper versions.

I"m in no big hurry because most of them won't sell in that format either, but it's just another opportunity. And, the writer gets 70-percent of the revenue in that market, which is better than the conventional route.

I'll have five or six books in that format when I'm done, including two that are very near finished. One a book of short stories and the other poems written since Smoke & Thunder. Not sure I'll bother converting the new poetry book, probably be a waste of time. Maybe not, S&T is still selling a few copies along and it's 8 years old now. Freaking royalty is miniscule, however.

Chilly this morning, but it's supposed to get up in the lower 70s again by Sunday. West Tennessee weather is always a mystery, never know what it's going to do here. I saw some predictions where we may have a warmer/stormier winter than normal.

Hope that's true--the warmer part anyway, though I don't want any of those severe winter tornadoes to come tearing through town again. Can't recall exactly, but the last one we had was either in late February or early March. Very unsettling to see all that debris whirling around a couple hundred feet in the air two blocks from one's house.

Winter arrives just ahead of a visitor

Winter seems to be making a bit of an appearance here on the rolling plains of northwestern Tennessee. Not brutal, but when that thermometer dips below freezing my old ass begins to suffer in serious fashion. And, to complicate things, if I turn up enough heat to keep the bod warm, I can't breathe worth a damn. Catch 22 for damned certain, but what can you do.

Have a visitor coming to see me this weekend after four years of conversing on the Internet and by phone. Liz Kilgo, a singer/songwriter, is coming down from Nashville with her manager to meet up with me. Liz is a good singer/songwriter and a lovely person. I've also done some conversing with Ric, her manager, who's a hell of a nice guy and good musician...he's her guitar man as well. Should be a fun time.

A friend recently tipped me off to a good, but cheap, bourbon he discovered, "Benchmark." Being on SS, I no longer drink the Johnnie Black and more expensive shit I used to buy without thinking twice. Lately, I've been drinking Kentucky Tavern, which is OK but not quite as smooth as it could be.

I bought some Benchmark in Paris Friday and damned it was everything Mike said it was; I wound up drinking half a 1.75 bottle Friday night, all in shots with no mixer. Had a little bit of a head problem Saturday morning, but nothing an Advil couldn't kick. At $15 a big bottle, can't beat it.

HOPE & CHANGE!

Life goes on (barely)

Got the cleanup project done, or at least enough of it to suit my purposes. Threw away some things, but a little judicious rearranging also helped. Still some clutter, but the floor is basically clear. Soon I'll have to start filling up the cleared space with some "organized" clutter. Sorta self defeating, eh? Oh well.

Got my annual bill from NoMonthlyFees (HA!) for jc.net this morning, due by next February. Bastards have almost doubled the annual fee, so I'll probably drop the domain when it comes up for renewal. Same with TS, which is due in April. They started out as a good deal back a decade or so ago, but have tacked on all sorts of "maintenance fees" and bullshit until now it's a rip-off. All my shit on there is old and hasn't been updated in ages anyway. Just hate to lose my domain names, but what the hell, doesn't really matter in the long haul. I have the whole Thunder Sandwich archive on a disc anyway and I'll do the same with my personal site. TS still gets several hundred visits a day even if it hasn't been updated in about 5 years. Well over 8 million total from all over the world. It was a good run, but all things pass finally.

Haven't done any writing in some time. Keep thinking I'll finish one of these projects underway or start a new one. Then I think how little the effort amounts to in the long haul. Shit, of late I've done well to get enough oxygen to keep me going.

Saw Dr. Holancin at the grocery the other day. I was telling him about my breathing problems. He said he was having knee replacement surgery, but for me to call in January and get an appointment. Said he might be able to give me something to help with the breathing. Told him I might do that, and I might. Shit, at some point I'll have to have oxygen and I'll need medical shit for that. I recall chatting with Ben Hiatt, who had COPD bad and was on oxygen. Don't think old Ben beat me out of the barn by much.

Truth is, it's all been fun. But you have to pay the piper at some point.

Sometimes, I feel like the payment is overdue.

The mess, the mess!

Some rain finally to wash away all this damned pollen collected over the past couple of months. Don't know how much we got yesterday and this morning, but surely more than an inch, inch and a half. And possible severe weather on tap for tomorrow as a cold front comes through. We didn't get any extreme weather with this first round, although there were tornadoes spotted some distance southeast of here. Screw those whirly winds, I can live without them.

Plan to start the back room cleaning project today. The operative word there is "plan," since it's 10 AM and I haven't started on it yet, although I've been up since about 6. Oh well, maybe I'll get a surge of energy after while and go after it. Or maybe not, depending. The problem with letting things get so cluttered and out of hand is that it seems futile to even tackle them. That's the case with the back room--which is actually a miniature third bedroom, but which I've been using as a book storage and "junk room" for years. Needless to say, I've collected much more junk than books, although the latter are numerous, too.

Some of the stuff I plan to throw away is not actually junk. There's my old portable typewriter, which I will never use again. There's one of those electronic typers with the thermal tape, almost new and seldom used since I bought it many years ago; the freaking tapes cost a small fortune and last a very short time. (Some years ago I threw away 3 electronic typers and an old word processor.) And, there is an antique home copy machine, one of those made years ago by 3M, which required all those chemicals and produced shitty copies on very thin, shiny pages. I never used it, just bought it at a yard sale about 15 years ago and stuck it on the metal rack that's bending under the weight of mucho bullshit.

Boxes and suitcases full of papers and correspondence. Old broken tape machines, answering machines, radios, all sorts of electrical switches and wiring. Early Nintendo game. Xmas wrapping paper, foam stuffing, collectible bottles. Fishing tackle boxes, window shades, hats. Cooler chests, hard and soft-side. 200' feet of 12-2 Romax w/ground. Assortment of electrical junctions, fixtures, etc. Motorcycle helmets (2), variety of tools (router, Skilsaw, drills, miter boxes w/saws, et al), CB radio w/whip antenna, numerous computer components along with an old early 90s Sun DOS computer, cigarette stuffing machines (old and worn), variety of cigarette tubes. Large metal wardrobe filled with clothes, sweaters, books. Two electric guitars. Card table. Folding buffet table. Folding wheelchair. Ironing board, mops, brooms. Christ, big string of homegrown peppers that have been hanging about 4 years.

This barely skims the surface, but of course I won't be throwing all these items away. Figuring out what to save is the big problem.

Not much happening

Haven't posted in some time. Not much going on and I've felt poorly of late. Same old same old, breathing problems foremost among them. I suspect part of that is caused by this drought and all the pollen that has collected on everything because of it. But some rain predicted for tomorrow and slated to extend into late next week might take care of that, if it happens. I wouldn't bet the farm on it. . . if I had a farm.

I'd planned to start on another book by now, but haven't. Just don't have the motivation at this point. Not sure when I will have. Or maybe IF I will have, I should add. I had also planned to have the back room cleaned out by now and that hasn't been done either. Again, no motivation. It's so much easier to just sit here on my ass and browse the Internet. Or watch TV. Haven't been reading either.

I gave splake the option to retrieve some of these publisher's copies of his books that I have--on his nickle, of course. He responded with enough to acquire 4 of those largest flat rate USPS boxes, so sometimes next week I'll load those up and get them in the mail. I'm sure that won't take them all and the rest will go into the trash bin, unless someone wants to pay postage for them. Course, I'm keeping a copy of each, since I edited/published them. But I don't need a ton of them and truth is, I have yet to sell the first copy of any one of them.

Must go to Camden this afternoon for Gwen's doctor appointment. Only good point about that is I'll pass right by the liquor store in Bruceton. Be surprised if that van doesn't make a turn there.

Just call me rev

Approval of Ordination

Thank you Reverend Jimmy Lee Chandler

Effective 09/24/2010

I, Douglas E. Hickman, Ordaining officer of the Universal Ministries, do Ordain, Anoint, Appoint, and Select you for placement into our Registry of Ministry as a minister, and member in good standing. This is an important date in your faith so keep this date with all important dates of your life. Even as you read these words now, I have already said them, and with your request accepted them in the Milford, Il., church in a physical, defacto service on your behalf. You, as with every member/minister of this church, were ordained in a ceremony this date with full rights of minister in the UM. Through your request to be ordained we have granted the legal authorities of the church in the world that faith grants you in spirit.

Brutus in de house

This is my new partner, Brutus. Or, I should say Gwen's, since I bought him for her birthday Wednesday. Had to drive to Henderson to get the little yorkie poo and he was a bit worn out by the time we got back home (AC not working on van). But he perked up yesterday and today he's been lively as all get-out.

I'm not the biggest dog lover in the world, but I suspect I'll get real attached to this funny little shit. He's just 10 weeks old and has been trained to use those "puppy pads," but I wanna get him to the point he can go outside to do his business. Had to leave him on a leash while we went to Camden this morning and he was ready to run wild by the time we returned. I think he can eat more than I can!

Little improvement

Gwen is somewhat better, but still far from being totally well. She has begun eating a bit, which is one hell of an improvement over days with no food at all. I didn't pick the best time to smoke a pork butt Saturday -- she's had one sandwich of it and it didn't agree with her -- but I'll eat most of it and freeze the rest. Matter of fact, will have some later and then freeze what's left; quite a bit, considering it was close to 5 pounds to begin with.

Weather has improved as well. Warm today, but not overly hot and the humidity is low. I sat on the porch drinking boilermakers all afternoon and evening yesterday, watching Titans kick Raiders ass. Dozed off at some point and woke up at 2 A.M. and came inside. Browsed around until 5 and then slept for a couple hours. Damn, forgot "Mad Men" was on last night and will have to watch the missed show at midnight tonight.

Apparently, the Vols are going to have a rough year if Saturday's game with the Ducks was any indication. Looked damned good until a couple minutes remaining in the first half, then they went complete shitsville. Matt Simms seems to be a decent QB, but getting the ball to the target doesn't help much if the target can't maintain a hold on it. I think their next game is with the Gators; I'd love to see them beat Florida, but if the past is any indication, that isn't likely to happen.

Onward, if not upward

Not much has changed on the personal front since my last entry. The woman is very ill; I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t end up in the hospital before it’s over. No appetite, losing weight rapidly. And there are some other ominous symptoms as well. She wasn’t feeling well for some time, but has really gone south in the past couple of days.

We’d planned to go to a big house party being thrown by a Facebook friend this coming Sunday but, unless there’s some dramatic improvement, that’s out the window. I was looking forward to that, too. But hell, way things stand now I’ll be lucky to get out and pay bills tomorrow.

Speaking of bills, the bathroom work was a help with the water bill. It’s down about 40-percent over the last one. The shower obviously requires a lot less water than did that old claw foot tub, and the leak he found and repaired added to the positive side. Not to mention this new commode with the 1.6 gallon siphon flush--it has dual flushes and the first one doesn’t require that much water. Anyway, a $59 bill beats hell out of a $99 one.

Supposed to cool down over the weekend. Highs in low 80s and low 50s at night. Low humidity. I’m ready for it. This summer has worn my old ass out.

On the other hand, a hot, miserable summer beats no summer at all.

UGH II

Things not good at this time. Personal shit that I don't intend to get into here, but suffice it to say some big changes may be in the wind.

Wish I could say the same for this weather. Freaking heat wave just goes on and on with no end in sight. Not only that, most of the storms that have blown up lately in the afternoon heat bypass us. No relief, not even a brief respite from this humid shit.

I suppose I'll forget this misery when winter is upon the land and it's colder than a well-digger's ass in Montana, but maybe not this year. At least in the winter, you can put on enough clothing to stay at least semi-warm. Can't take off enough in the summer to do the same.

Weird problem yesterday on this old desktop. I installed Microsoft's batch of usual bullshit updates as always and then restarted to put some of them into action. Got a blue screen checking files and folders, which seemed to freeze up at one point about 4 percent into one of the actions. Had to kill the machine with the off/on button and try again.

Went through that process about 10 times with same results. Tried to start in safe mode but it ran the directories and then froze. Finally, went back to the blue screen and just let it run without doing anything. After many long minutes, the 4-percent finally went up to 5 and then on to a conclusion. Several other processes then took place over a matter of several minutes and the fugger finally rebooted to the login screen. Put in the password and it's worked fine since. Apparently, according to text on the screen at one point, I had a corrupted folder in the boot sector, which was repaired. Don't know what the hell caused that.

Anyway, I normally back things up but have been a bit negligent lately. That will be corrected today, because I got a taste of losing some stuff I intend to keep and the regret that came with that possibility. Not funny.

UGH

Freaking heat just goes on and on with no break or rain. Indices in the 110-115 range the past few days and that's expected to continue through the weekend. Possibility of a cool down next week, but nothing drastic, just back to the lower 90s. Screw summer, I'm ready for fall. Haven't been fishing one time this summer simply because it's way too hot.

Got the camera but haven't been able to really give it a workout. Seems to take decent pictures, judging by the few I've taken here in the house. Has lots of modes, from fully automatic to manual settings, so I'll have to play around with it some when I'm able to get outside and find something to photograph.

I wish it shot video in AVI instead of that MOV shit, but then I think I can convert it in Sony Vegas--a power-robbing, clunky ass POS if ever there was one. I might install it on the new laptop, which has enough power to deal with its demands, although I'm not sure it will work properly with Windows 7. Find 0ut, I guess.

For that matter, Windows 7 has no native mode to transfer video to the computer. There is no Movie Maker as comes with XP and ME (though the ME version is real shitty). I've checked around and some folks have apparently taken the old Movie Maker and converted it to where it's supposed to work on 7, so maybe I'll download one of those and give it a try. But hell, I've got several video editing programs on disc and surely some of them will install and work, at least enough to siphon content into the computer. (I just recalled that the laptop has a card reader, so I can probably get it in that way, though that wouldn't allow for editing options. Editing is available in the camera, but that would be very limited.)

Well along with the project to publish a collection of short stories -- my thanks to Carter Monroe for his close reading and spot-on editorial suggestions. Christ, I've got tons of stories bound up in rough copy that I've never transcribed to the computer. Others piled and stacked in old footlockers, suitcases and boxes. Probably never will transcribe most of them, and many are likely not good enough to bother with anyway. And that doesn't count three huge garbage bags of manuscripts I tossed when I left St. Louis in 1985. I've regretted that a time or two, but it's a done deal.

So is this batch of BS.

What can I say

This fucking heat wave continues from last week. It was a heat index of 120 today after 117 yesterday. No real end in sight, though it's suppose to drop down a bit Saturday for one day.

I hate this shit. Bring on winter. I have warm clothes. 50 below, I don't give a rat's ass. At least I can breathe cold air. I can't breathe this hot shit. Or not very well, that is.

This damned heat wave seems endless and, according to weather forecasts, will only get worse next week. Actual air temps will be around 100, so that will drive the heat index way the hell up. But what the hell, all we can do is run the air constantly, stay in for the most part and say hell with it.

Had the family gathering last Sunday, all went well. At too much, but then I'm prone to doing that anytime. Good barbecue (bought) -- way too damned hot for me to fire up a smoker. Haven't done any smoking in some time, but looking forward to doing some when this evil ass weather breaks.

Made run to Camden Monday, stopped and got new auto registration on way home. With the county additional fee to fund the new 1000-acre lake, ran the fare up to $79. Probably not a lot to some folks living in other states and urban areas, but significant increase over the past around here.

I had intended to vote while at the county complex Monday. But of course, I switched to a new wallet recently and left my voter registration card in the old one. So maybe tomorrow I'll head over to Huntingdon before my normal Friday outing and cast a vote on the last day of early voting. Don't even wanna think of standing in those long lines August 5.

Expecting a new digital camera in the mail in the next day or two. I didn't need one -- have two good video cams and three still digital cams, but Amazon had a deal on one of those Kodak 10 mp, 10x zoom camera too good to pass, at $99 for a bundle. Camera, case, rechargeable batteries, charger. Another $11 for a 4-gb card. I checked the reviews and most folks raved about the thing. We'll see.

Heat wave & more

Got that freaking painting finished up yesterday afternoon. Only problem was the stooping/sitting required; actually, the getting back in an upright position after that was the problem, since the old joints and bones don't work like they used to. But things look much better with a fresh coat of paint. Maybe when cool weather comes I'll do more general painting around the house.

Hot as hell again -- we're under another heat warning and it's expected to continue through the weekend and probably most of next week. As luck would have it, Gwen has a doctor's appointment in Camden at 2:15 this afternoon, so I'll get to enjoy the warmth. My sister and her daughter and family will be in sometime this afternoon about that time. [Change in plan. Gwen called and canceled appointment today, reset for 10:30 Monday.]

We're having a big get-together out at brother Jerry's Sunday, sort of a combined birthday celebration for me and him. Sunday will be his BD, 62nd I think. We're all getting old -- which is what happens if you live long enough. (Inane babble, that.) Way my breathing has deteriorated the last few weeks, figure I'll be damned lucky to see 70.

Life goes on

Just back from town. Had to pick up a gallon of trim paint, gonna do all the bathroom trim and doors today. Ah, the joys of home ownership!

Fairly uneventful 69th birthday passed the 19th. Got about half lit. No. Got completely lit, if truth be told. Hell, 30 years ago I would have given long odds that I would not be alive today. So, no complaints. I've dreamed many times that I live to be 77. Don't know what the hell the basis for that is, those particular numbers, but if I do that would be cool, too. If not, well what the hell can you do about it?

Hot as hell. The heat index was 106 yesterday and may surpass that today. Humidity so dense you can almost swim through it. Not the optimum weather for a guy with breathing difficulties. Christ, I came in from the store yesterday afternoon to find my brother Edd mowing my tall-ass grass. I don't see how he did it, but he mowed the whole freaking yard and weed-ate (huh?) as well. Course, won't take a penny for it either. I'll take him and his wife back to Carmack's Fish Barn again before long as a repayment of sorts. I took them for the first time a couple or three weeks ago and they were impressed by the food and the ambiance.

I see Mike Boyle has shut down Bohobait. I hate that, I dropped by there frequently and always enjoyed Mike's posts. Certainly, this sort of "blogging" I'm doing is a waste of time for the most part, something that would fall under the "who gives a fuck?" column. I don't know why I bother to do it; truth is, I had a blog back in '98 on one of my domains, long before blogging became "the thing" to do. And I did the "Blogmouth" thing on jc.net for about five years before giving that up.

I'll no doubt quit this shit one of these days. But until I do, I'll keep posting such mundane BS. Such is life.

Not much happening

Haven't posted lately, been sort of under the weather with allergies and what is apparently a chest cold. Woman has been sick too, so it's been the blind leading the blind around here. Morning heavy rain has ended and the sun is shining at the moment--all working toward tomorrow's heat warning. That sun will soak all this rain out of the earth and the humidity will be beyond awful.

Expecting another delivery of books tomorrow. Sales have been decent -- one elderly woman from Yuma showed up and bought 12 the other day, 11 of those orders from her friends and neighbors. I need to find an outlet out in the county, one of those rural stores that would stock them. Also need to explore the possibility of setting up a sales booth at the new merchant's mall they have here now. Might give it a try one weekend and see what happens, could offer both novels and the murder book in combination for a good deal. That outfit collects and pays the state sales tax, so that would solve a big problem.

Today is my routine "afternoon out." Banking, mailing, coffee shop chat, bit of shopping. Damn, what an exciting life I lead!

Stormin'...

Sitting on the porch for hours earlier, watching the lightning flash and the rain roll. Electricity went off numerous time as lightning hit this transformer and that one. Damn, it was exciting and we needed the rain more than I can say. We had a mini flood.

Okay, now things are cool. Lightning has moved to south, so has rain. Just another humid night in Dixie.

Nice review

A decent review of Smoke and Thunder can be found here.

Porch is lookin' good, thanks to my woman

Gwen has been sprucing up my sitting area on the front porch. Also I've added blinds and gotten rid of the old plastic tarp I've had hanging as a sun shield. This is a great place to stay when the weather is nice, reading, writing or browsing, watching TV or a DVD. Too damned hot now to do much out there, however, but I'm looking forward to a lot of Saturday and Sunday football view come fall.

Getting close....

Getting down to the nitty gritty now. Just a bit of trim work, shelving and paint tomorrow and it will be wound up. He figures he'll be done around noon or shortly thereafter. Sounds good to me.

Work progressing

Have the new floor in and level and the rolled goods down. Gerald is now working on the shower enclosure--which has proven to be a big pain in the ass because the surround panels didn't fit right. Or, I should say, the cap part around the top wouldn't fit as is. Of course, a little creative Afro engineering can take care of a problem like that and has at this point. Now he has to set the enclosure to the drain and build walls on each side. He'd hoped to be done by tomorrow afternoon but with the holdup and aggravation today, that may not be the case. Whatever, just have to take it as it comes.

Minor change of plan

Woman decided to wait and leave this morning instead of yesterday evening, and drove herself. So, she left about a half hour ago and it's about 20 minutes until workmen are scheduled to arrive. I've done everything but shut off the water meter, which I'll do when they get here.

I made a futile attempt to remove the gas heater, but only had one pipe wrench small enough for the job and couldn't break the union loose without turning one of the pipes. I suppose they will have something to do the job with. In fact, the heater is un-vented and illegal and hasn't been used in years, not since it almost asphyxiated me. Last time dude from the gas company came and lit pilots and checked things years ago, he noted that he was supposed to shut and lock the meter after observing that stove. He didn't, on the condition of our promise not to use it. Also have a 220-volt wall heater, but it burned out years ago, so I just use a space heater in the winter.

Freaking hot again, under a heat warning. Some places nearby got rain and a bit of cooling off yesterday, as will happen again today most likely. But we didn't, and probably won't.

Ah well, gotta have something to bitch about, eh?

Ah, hell

Been busting ass today getting the bathroom cleaned out best as I can. Carpenters coming Monday morning to tear the floor out and remodel the thing somewhat. Gonna lose the old claw-foot tub and put a shower in and also replace the commode, among other things. Also, gonna insulate those plumbing lines real good while there is easy access to them. Job is supposed to take a week, so the lady friend is going home until it's finished. I'll take her tomorrow afternoon.

Book is still selling some copies. In fact, Banner called Friday and they need more, so I'll take a batch Monday morning. Haven't done much writing lately because I've been occupied with other things.

Damned hot. Heat indices in the 105-110 range through Wednesday, according to the weatherman. Not very pleasant and hell, it's not even summer yet.

Checking in

Things progressing along. Woman got out of hospital some weeks ago and has been here since. Doing okay, though has number of medical appointments I must take her to on continuing basis. But no problem. That's part of life.

Brooks murder book is selling briskly, if not with the "bestseller" rush I had hoped for. Certainly doing better than anything else I've ever written and getting accolades for the way I told the story--from local people who know firsthand of the story. Course, the vampire book is not doing as well but that is to be expected; the same could be said of the book of short stories and the book of poetry I'm preparing. Few will read them, but that's okay, too. Who in hell can afford to buy books in this economy?

I'll keep writing them anyway, simply because I don't have anything else to do.