Just in case anyone was wondering, I am still alive. New years day, I looked at my computer and a sick feeling overcame me. I had been writing eight hours per day and warping my brain with plot ideas–I turned my computer off–I just couldn’t bear it another second . . . I needed a break. I’ve been using mind map programs to flesh out plot summaries; between that and just pure writing, I think my brain caught on fire and it took several days to put it out. I may write an upcoming post on how I use mind maps to develop stories and which ones I like best.
I want to thank my friend J.C. of Jasmin’s Heart for recommending an author to read, Paul Auster. I bought Auster’s book Moon Palace, and read it over the next five days. I was so affected by the book, I bought another by him entitled Man in the Dark, which I’m half way through. Moon Palace is such a fantastic work, I am still feeling the power–the reverberations of genius, Paul Auster is definitely an author for advanced readers, containing many potent thematic motifs and strangely absurd drama. His work has deeply affected the way I see writing. It’s the first picaresque novel I’ve read, though I did read some picaresque novels from Charles Dickens as a teen.
I will continue my blog soap opera, All My Hungarian Children this weekend and I hope you join me for some bizarre weirdness. Aside from that, I tried to find something to watch on TV. Ever since my favorite show The Shield ended, I haven’t found a show I actually like. I can barely watch the news these days without puking, so I only read the paper. They moved my other favorite show Dexter from basic cable to Showtime, but my cable & Internet bill is already over $120.00 per month. To get HBO and all that will cost me over $160.00–so I watch Dexter at a friends occasionally. I really watch very little TV, so I cannot justify spending the extra bucks for one show.
Basically, I really needed a break and couldn’t find anything to watch as I just needed some mindless entertainment to quell my insanity for a few days. I watched the season opener of Nip Tuck, and it was cool, though much more sexual now that it’s on the FX network. I can’t watch shows like Heroes, it is just silly to me. But I did find one very cool show called Damages–a new twisted series on FX with Glenn Close, Ted Danson and the lovely Rose Byrne–a decadently dark, fantastically written drama about revenge, greed and murder I really got into. I watched the entire first season and season opener. I am hopelessly hooked–definitely my kind of show. I’ve come to the conclusion that occasional spurts of mindless entertainment is great for a break and I offer no apologies for loving a TV show.
I’ve had my little blogging break, so I will be out and about visiting everyone. Catch up on blogging? Haha . . . that’s a fantasy–I cannot even attempt to try to catch up. I will get to it when I get there. I had to take a break to prevent myself from shooting my computer with a shotgun . . . and I’m not joking.
#1 by teeni at January 9th, 2009
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It’s okay. You can like your mindless show. And I forgive you for dissing mine. LOL. Actually, I really liked Heroes in the beginning but lately he story lines seem to repeat themselves and all the time travel confuses me. You must have ESP because I was just started to wonder where you are. But to be honest, this time I figured you were just busy because you had mentioned all the writing you were doing before.
Anyway, don’t feel bad for getting some mindless entertainment. We all need a little of that. And don’t go burning yourself out!
#2 by Revellian at January 9th, 2009
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Hi Teeni! Did I dis your show? Haha…it’s not that I think Heroes is poorly crafted, it’s the fact they have magical powers–too far fetched and could never actually happen. I sure felt burned out, but am fresh today. It’s great to see you!
#3 by Michelle Gartner at January 9th, 2009
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I glad to hear you are alive- I am alive too so I heard. Lately when I am not on the computer I have been reading as well and it is fabulous to be engrossed in a great book.
I haven’t watched television in 3 years or so years. It wasn’t a planned thing but I now love the amount of time I have from not watching television. Although the Glenn Close show you describe sounds really good- I will have to check that out on vacation- which is when I get in my television at families houses.
I was beginning to think that a band of rabid serial killers had kidnapped you and were going to post a video of them eating you on your blog…. or not.
#4 by Revellian at January 9th, 2009
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Hi Michelle! I heard you were still alive too…and that’s good! Three years without TV? If we were attacked by aliens, I guess you would hear about it eventually. I would love to post a video of me being eaten by cannibalistic serial killers…I just need one hand and one eye to do it, they can eat the rest LOL!
#5 by J.C. at January 9th, 2009
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Hi Bobby I am glad you liked the novel. Auster’s older works are really amazing. Hope you are getting better.
Cheers!
#6 by Revellian at January 9th, 2009
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Hi J.C., yes Moon Palace is truly great. Somewhere in Auster’s life, he must have suffered because he seems to know failure and pain so well. I’m doing well, I just needed a break. I’ll be by soon!
#7 by meleah rebeccah at January 9th, 2009
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Welcome back! We all need to take breaks from time to time. I totally understand.
#8 by Revellian at January 9th, 2009
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Thanks Meleah! I almost feel like a stranger in my own blog; time to refamiliarize myself with who I think I’m supposed to be.
#9 by Jane Doe at January 10th, 2009
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Welcome back! I’m glad you enjoyed your break. Engrossing tv is always a good way to recharge.
#10 by Lulu at January 10th, 2009
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I was wondering where you were; but it is nice to be off for sometime. Glad to have you back here! welcome back!
#11 by Mariuca at January 10th, 2009
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Hola Bobby, glad u are back and even happier to hear u went on a break! It’s always good to have some RnR yes? I’m sure u are feeling refreshed and totally ready for some blogging now.
#12 by Mariuca at January 10th, 2009
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All My Hungarian Children cracks me up though I’m glad u didn’t pick my B&B for ur soap session here he he!
#13 by Madhur Kapoor at January 10th, 2009
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Welcome back Buddy. Its a good idea to take a break from time to time in blogging. Things can get a bit monotonous sometimes. I have been thinking about watching Dexter , heard it is a great show
#14 by Miss Moneypenny at January 10th, 2009
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Did Borsala Meszaros
Extinguish your brain fire
With her manly desire?
#15 by meleah rebeccah at January 10th, 2009
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You will be back in the swing of things in No Time!
#16 by Revellian at January 10th, 2009
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@Jane: Thanks! When blogging becomes a chore, I lose interest, so I just blog when I feel like it!
@Lulu: Thanks Lulu! I’m still not feeling all warm & fuzzy about it but I am trying!
@Marzie: Haha…I almost called it The Bold & The Horrible but the bizarre Hungarian seemed to hold more possibilities. Thanks Marzie!
@Madhur: Thanks! I wish I could write for the show Dexter and make it 1000 times more horrific…hahaha!
@Debbie: Yeah right! The new episode maybe so offensive you may become ill. It will be very weird and violent!
@Meleah: A swing sounds nice, but a unbolted roller coaster cart sounds even better! Help!
#17 by emila yusof at January 11th, 2009
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HI Bobby! Happy New YEar! Did you received my card?
Anyway, I can’t wait to see Dexter, it’ll be showing here next week! I love The Shield too! Damages sounds nice! Will try to find the DVD!
Oh, don’t shoot the computer; afraid it’ll break the mug that I gave you, hehe
#18 by Revellian at January 11th, 2009
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Happy new year Emila! No, I haven’t received it yet…you are so sweet THANK YOU!!! I’ll let you know when I do. I actually like Damages the most, it’s my favorite show.
No worries, I won’t ever fire a gun inside my house–I’d be locked up in jail if I did…hahaha!
#19 by dcr at January 12th, 2009
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Catch up on blogging? That always seems to be near impossible. I have two memes I need to do, just from this year. I think I still have older ones bookmarked that I still need to do too.
I like Heroes. The time travel stuff doesn’t bother me at all. I write that kind of stuff, so I don’t have a problem following it. It can be a challenge to write it, though, because you have to know who’s when and what they’re doing and all that.
I mostly watch SciFi and comedies. And NCIS. And Boston Legal, but that’s done now.
The nice thing about there not being much good on TV is that you can spend more time doing other things.
#20 by Revellian at January 12th, 2009
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Hi Dan! I’ve forgotten about so many memes it would be impossible to even attempt to catch up. What I mean by catch up is reading everyone I knows articles and giving all of them feedback.
It’s not that I think Heroes is a bad show–it’s well crafted and inventive–it’s that the whole idea is unrealistic to me. Most horror is like that for me too, meaning if there’s a monster, ghost, demon, possession or other such unbelievable plot idiom, I cannot get into or really enjoy it. I like reality based drama especially if it deals with murder or extremely dark humor. I like NCIS and some SciFi. I really liked the new BattleStar Galactica…it actually had strong acting and plots. I quit watching most news except the main reports.
#21 by Jennifer at January 13th, 2009
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And here I am, trying to catch up on blogging myself. A few computer-free days sounds like a wonderful idea. Wish I could tear myself away from it, stop dropping cards and checking Facebook, could even leave the writing alone. The writing is necessary, though, to my sanity.
It’s been some time since I read Paul Auster. I’ll have to put him on my reading list. Reading seems to be picking back up for me again, thank goodness.
Off to catch up on the rest of your blog …
#22 by Revellian at January 13th, 2009
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Hi Jennifer, I’m just a free spirit with blogging. I tend to stick to a few regular sites, yours has become one of them. My post Tacit Attraction was indirectly inspired by you. I read one of your posts and mine was born. Dropping cards? I drop when I visit but don’t go out of my way…I prefer to just write.
I love Paul Auster, he definitely deserved to be published. There are so many authors that really don’t–but I’m just a beginner writer (for a few decades or so)
#23 by dcr at January 13th, 2009
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Ha! You better be careful reading my stories, then, because you’ll never know when something you find unrealistic might slip in.
#24 by Revellian at January 13th, 2009
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Haha…I’m not overly critical of un-realism. Being there are eleven parallel dimensions according to string theory and eleven “Dans” all connected by an astral cord and sharing one overall master soul (they left that out of the Bible)–I suppose nothing is unrealistic
#25 by Anastasia at January 20th, 2009
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Hey Bobby, I’ve got to catch up on your fiction posts…I’ve saved some to my drive to read tonight, as I don’t have wireless internet yet for my laptop…but it’s the thing during the Christmas break, up to New Year…Blogging can be a big ask when you put hours into writing each day.
In December, I wasn’t sure if I was going to pack it all up and say sayonara because it felt like a lot, plus, I wanted to do some different things this year, to go to the gym, to write outside my blog, send stories out, and feel active (I’d let my body down with the smokes for so long, and the crap food or starvation phases at my last job).
Our free to air networks have ruined the timeslots for Nip/Tuck…I’d watch that for the entertainment value, the sex in it was a bit, I don’t know, trussed up for me (too glam? I don’t know)…besides, I just find looking at McMahon to be strange. I can’t move beyond his waxed eyebrows. Damages was shown here in trickles, whenever the network could afford to show it.
Do you like watching Dexter? I think it’s on Showtime in the US? I wait for the DVD sets to come to my DVD store and I rent them out.
#26 by Revellian at January 20th, 2009
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Hi Ana! Whatever you do, don’t pack it in. Writing an entire novel has almost ruined my life, but over the past few years, I’ve become faster and accepting of those things which have become my own clichés–but they are who I am. I post few blog posts because of writing other projects. I workout, eat well and all that, but I cannot quit blogging–maybe temporarily at times.
Yes Australia has some problems with TV and Internet–I’ve read about that. Yeah, Nip Tuck is a bit glam, but at least attempting to be edgy. I say to hell with “leaving it to the imagination”–show me everything! I wanna see it all. Damages is smoldering and potent. The great acting and dark twists are cool, and for basic cable TV it’s a Godsend.
Yes I like Dexter, it’s strongly influenced by Bret Easton Ellis and his Patrick Bateman. Ellis is one of my favorite writers–I love all of the “brat pack” writers and Chuck Palahniuk (author of Fight Club)–all transgressional fiction. To me, the greatest horror writer is Lovecraft and then Clive Barker. I’m not much into Stephen King, though I loved the Bachman books and The Shining. I say shit on every known precept of what is “good” or “quality” and to hell with taboo. I want to make people vomit, cry and laugh
#27 by Ev Nucci at January 20th, 2009
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Hi Bobby!
This post made me smile. I’m hoping you got your inspiration back my friend! Warmest wishes, Ev
#28 by Revellian at January 21st, 2009
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Hi Ev! It’s great to see you:)
I always feel inspired, but sometimes become disgruntled by the world and accidentally allow it to affect my mood!