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Shelter in Place Day 115
“Prophecy is a poor guide to the future. You only understand it when the event’s already upon you.” — Delenn, Babylon 5

We finished watching the last episode of Babylon 5 last night. I’d say the final four episodes leading up to the finale were emotional. Sending people off to new positions and unknown lives, and the show delivered everything I ever imagined it would. 

I’d remembered when it first came out, I was excited about everything. But then I never found the time to watch it or other shows had my attention. I just thought of it as another Star Trek or Deep Space Nine, and I missed much of it. 

My one connection to the show. I sold Michael Garibaldi and Talia Winters a bed when I worked at Eddie Bauer Home in the Beverly Center. It was this exceptionally carved wood and wrought iron bed. I knew who they were, but I didn’t let on that I was a sorta fanboy. In fact, I wasn’t really a fan of the Talia character at the beginning of the show. 

I suppose it was because I didn’t give it much time. Fast forward to 2020 and we’d just finished our Marvel Universe binge watch and our Star Wars Machete order watch and we were looking for something else to watch. The Husbear inherited a ton of DVD’s from his dad and I saw Babylon 5. I also remember suggesting Battlestar Galactica, but he said, oh I’ve never watched Bab5 all the way through. 

I admitted that I didn’t give it a chance after the first season and that I’d only caught it on reruns occasionally. I mentioned on Facebook that we would delve into it. And tons of people told me what an amazing show it was. 

Guys! It’s such an amazing show. You’ve got to give it a chance, sure the special effects in season one aren’t amazing, but as the show progresses they only get better and the stories will blow you away. The character development is jaw-dropping, and I learned a lot about writing from this show. 

Like the noodle. Where the characters tell a story that doesn’t really explain the story and not everyone is in on the joke, but they are getting such pleasure out of remembering the time when and do you remember when he did this. 

Or leaving things untied, like something that would take place sixteen years from the moment they got something. And there’s only one episode left. Or dropping something in the first season that pays off in the fifth season. 

The most frightening thing about watching the show was seeing exactly how close the stories tied into what’s happening in our world today. From the politics to the pandemic. Like they prophesied it for our future. Like what Delenn said above, “You only understand it when the event’s already upon you.” And we were watching it, knowing how things might turn out. 

We’ve got three of the six movies made, and we’re thinking of watching them before we tackle our next marathon television show. Stargate. We’ve got 9 of the ten seasons of Stargate SG-1 and 3 of five seasons of Stargate Atlantis. So, this will probably last us to the end of the year. 

But first The Husbear wants to catch up on The Crown because it’s a pleasant change of pace. 

Have you been binge-watching any old television shows?

Shelter in Place Day 114

Some days I get up in the morning and I know exactly what I’m going to write. Today was not one of those days. I got a call from my mom today making sure I was okay because she hadn’t seen a post from me today. And I’ll admit I was feeling strange, thinking I’d forgotten to do something, and that something was this. 

It’s become a habit for me to write something every day. In fact, there are days, where I’ll write two of them because I’ve got that much to say. Last week I was taking care of my dad and I came home on Friday. I’d managed to write something about my parents during that time, it wasn’t like I had a lot on my plate. I think I did watch every episode of Building Off The Grid, but it was nice with my dad. 

Since we’ve changed the way we eat, we’ve discovered we don’t have to go shopping every week. So, I went out and got all the food. I’d gotten the majority at Trader Joe’s this afternoon. It was so much that I decided to bring it home, sterilize it, and put it away. I had a small snack of cottage cheese and went back out. 

On my way home from the last place, I was trying to merge onto the freeway, but this car just kept speeding up and wouldn’t let me merge on, I finally had to slip behind him and then he got off the freeway to exit and when I turned to look at him, he flipped me off. FLIPPED ME OFF! He was the one not letting me get on the freeway. So, was it a Fuck you mother fucker for you needing to get on the freeway when I needed to get off? 

I was so angry, I flipped the passenger seat since he wasn’t looking at me. That’s how my zen day ended. But, I’d remembered the roast chicken beside me and rushed to get home and have lunch with the Husbear and I promptly fell asleep on the couch. 

Apparently, during my sleep, mom called to make sure I was all right. She and the Husbear had a nice talk and I called and left a voicemail when I woke up. I’m getting ready to head into the kitchen to get a small something to eat and then we’ll watch the second to the last episode of Babylon 5. 

What a wild ride this pandemic has been. People are getting angrier, the freeways are less crowded and I can only assume my margin at 58 wasn’t fast enough for him so he needed to be in the front. I hope whatever he was rushing to do, he enjoyed it. I’m not going to sit here and be angry over something as stupid as a driver needing to flip me off when I can enjoy a nice night with the Husbear watching one of the last episodes of a show that has entertained us for quite a while. 

How has humpday treated you?

Shelter in Place Day 113
“It is well to be up before daybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth, and wisdom.” — Aristotle

I woke up at four am today because I had to move my car from Wardlow to Elm. They tend to ticket Wardlow right around five am, the earliest of the sign. They don’t usually get to Elm until around six forty-five. So I parked in the only available space at that time and walked back to my apartment.

I had two choices, go back to bed and wake up at six, to sit in my car until the sweeper came along or remain awake until six when I could go to my car, get a better space and wait. I chose the latter today.

I came back upstairs, where I did a few things in the kitchen. Lately, I’ve been drinking a large glass of water to start my day. I cut up a couple of oranges and placed in a huge pitcher of water for the day and made myself a cup of coffee. I sat in front of my computer at four forty-five and started reading Take Off Your Pants!: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libby Hawker. Low and behold when six am rolled around, I had a complete outline of the book that’s been giving me grief.

I got to my car and waited for forty-five minutes. Now there are two trains of thought in the street sweeper game. 1) Move out of the way of the sweeper and 2) drive around the corner and come up behind to a new space. I tend toward number two because I feel like all the trucks and vans take up the other space around the sweeper and the ticket Prius’s. Today I drove around the block and lost my first good space, to end up with a spot just past my building.

I got back to the apartment, took off the mask and the Husbear was “awake” asking if everything was ok. I said, “Just moved my car, washing my hands. I’ll take a nap later because I’m super wired.” He said, “Ok” and went back to sleep.

I got another cup of coffee and am back at the computer to finish the book and get the pacing down. I’ll wake him at eight for his meds and again at nine to get ready for the day. I’ll make breakfast and jump in the shower before taking a long nap. [which means probably about an hour.]

Do you find getting up earlier in the morning a motivator?

Shelter in Place Day 112
“Every time I think I can’t do it, I look at galley proofs and realize that I’m a published author.” — Joe Petty

I’m stuck at 40k in the third book in a series I’m working on. The first book is at the editor, the second book is fine the way it is and the third book is giving me grief and aggravation. Not to mention the fact that the only thing I’ve been able to write for the past 112 days is meanderings in my mind.

I think I finally found the spark to go back into my third draft of this third book and tackle it again. The character has been giving me grief, and I think it stems from my fear to write the character’s story. He’s a Latinx man, retired from the police force, and finally living the life he has always wanted.

For those of you who haven’t read my books, I write May/December romances, younger men and older men seem to be my specialty. I just find the trope interesting and fun to explore. I also explore their money and class differences. Hugo Marquez has been screwing with me, but I think tonight was the first time where I think I figured out some of the bumps in the road.

I’m learning how to write the best character I can, without him being a stereotype. Without writing like I think I know everything, and when I’m finished I’ve got a sensitivity reader lined up. I probably wouldn’t have batted an eye at this character three years ago when the story popped in my head, but now it’s been giving me grief.

And I’ve lost the joy of writing, at least until tonight. Until I picked up a craft book and really read what she was saying. Until I sat down and figured out really who Hugo was. I haven’t been this excited about getting back to work in months. I had hoped to have finished both books in this furlough time. But, all I accomplished in May was one short story submitted to a publisher.

That quote flashed up on my Facebook page as a memory. I first wrote that in 2015. I’ve got more galleys and self-published books. I’ve been at readings and signings and I’ve still got that everyday job [EDJ] because I’m not there yet. I’ve got my entire future ahead of me. I’m taking care of my health and writing is finally fun again.

Thank you Joe of 2015 for reminding me I’m a published author.

Have you had to remind yourself of something you’ve accomplished?

Shelter in Place Day 111

The day after and we’ve only heard one loud firecracker tonight so far. Today has been a play all the games kind of day, which is why I’m only getting this out right now.

How are you and your pets doing this day after?

Shelter in Place Day 110

The Fourth of July is my least favorite holiday on the face of the earth. It’s part of the reason I would always work it at Disneyland. I hate fireworks. I don’t mind the ones that Disneyland shoots off, because they are done by professionals.

I hate the boxed sets that people by and shoot off. The people who party in the streets, get drunk and then shoot off box after box of ground spinners or Roman candles or firecrackers.

I owe it to the time I delivered pizzas for Pizza Hut in my thirties. I’d drive along the street with the pizza and people would toss spinners at my truck or one time under my truck as I got in to drive away.

I’d always volunteer to work the closing shift on the fourth. Usually Fantasmic or another nighttime show I’d be working. So, at least I wouldn’t have to drive home when the things would explode around me. At least during these sheltering in place days, I’m not out driving.

But the sounds are killing me, it just brings back the fear of those Roman candles burning, shooting out of control. It’s illegal for fireworks in Long Beach, but not in Signal Hill or Lakewood. So, my little area of California Heights/Bixby Knolls is surrounded by people shooting off what sounds like bombs.

It’s only getting worse because of today, but people have been shooting off these gigantic firecrackers for weeks now, they started way back in June and it’s giving me a nervous breakdown because the sound echos around my apartment lined street.

Is there really any reason to celebrate today?