New Hobby

There is something very interesting that I’ve come across in my readings.

(That makes it sound like I’m a research scientist that commonly reads peer reviewed articles all the time. Or it makes me sound like I could be a wizard that reads old tomes for new spells in my arsenal. Or maybe I’m just a nerd for pointing this out.)

In some of the comics I’ve been reading lately the writer has decided to do something very interesting with changing the perspective of the story between two characters.

The comic is called The Unwritten. (It’s fantastic by the way and you should be reading it) Somewhere around issue 30 the author decided to speed up the story by releasing a new issue every two weeks. For comics, every two weeks is insane. Once a month is the standard throughout the industry (and still even popular titles get delayed from meeting this goal from time to time.) So what’s happening here is insane on some level involving logistics and timing.

But the story-driven purpose behind this move is to see the story through two different characters’ eyes. These two characters are the protagonist, a reluctant hero thrown into a situation not of his own doing, and the main antagonist, a very evil man that is immortal and relentless in reaching his goal. On issues with a whole number we learn what happens next to our hero. On issues that have a “.5” after the issue number we get to see more of the baddie’s story.

I don’t think I’ve ever read something like that before that also managed to flow quite so nicely.

While I won’t be able to do exactly the same thing I think I would like to give something like this a shot for my NaNoWriMo novel. I think I’ll incorporate the antagonists story as well. Could be a lot of fun. (I also recognize it could be a massive headache.)

With that said, I think I already have laid the foundation for a story that could potentially work out on this. My short story The Man in Blue could be fun to try and expand upon. I think there’s a whole lot to be said for our poor hero. I think there’s even more to said for our mysterious antagonist.

This is not an official statement on “this is the story”, but it’s a thought that I think could work. I’m also leaning toward my story about that one guy waking up in his underwear and traveling to another dimension. Or I could just totally come up with another idea that will haunt me forever.

Alrighty…that’s all for now.

Sleepy time she comes,

D.A.

 

 

A Note of Change

For the past half hour I have sat here trying to type out a post about my dislike of taking naps.

I know that you’re disappointed to read this, but I’m not going to publish it.

Yeah, it was going to be pretty bad. I’m doing you a favor.

I’m pointing this out because I have started many different posts but never really saw them through because, quite honestly they were terrible. (Or just plain boring). But you don’t come here to have crap thrown at you like you’re seeing the gorilla exhibit at the zoo.

This is a a no poop-flinging area.

So you get this in it’s place.

That is all…

D.A.

 

Not Sure…

As a teacher I get a small opportunity to peer into the lives of my students. I get to see those qualities that make them special. I’m sure there are some kids out there that I get to see the angelic side of. I’ve probably seen a few acts of kindness in the classroom that could make a patron saint give a tear of joy. 

I’ve also had the opportunity to see the…other side…of some students. It’s just a fact of the profession. Some kids are tough to get along with. Okay, that’s an understatement. Some kids make me want to rip out my eyebrows and move into some cave in Nevada while following a new religion that consists of knocking myself unconscious with a claw hammer and drinking pickle juice to survive. 

One of my mistakes I make while I’m teaching is that I sometimes feel like I’m the only one experiencing these problems. I’m the only teacher on campus that these kids don’t work well with. I wonder if these misbehaving students means I’m a bad teacher. I start to question the small amount of confidence I have in the classroom. 

Today I was reminded that I’m not alone. Other teachers get frustrated with the same kids. They get referrals from other teachers, so I shouldn’t feel bad if I have to write one from time to time. Sometimes it’s not my fault that a kid decides to make those decisions that make us have to punish them. 

I also realize that I sometimes kids that make bad decisions consistently will continue to make those decisions whether they’re in my class or not. 

That’s why we sometimes have to have to police show up to school to remind students that those decisions have “real world” consequences. 

It’s a shame that’s what it comes to sometimes. 

Don’t worry, I didn’t send a kid to jail today. I was just simply reminded that things like that happen. 

Also, I learned that I forget about clothes in the dryer too often. 

Food for thought I suppose. 

D.A.

 

Stacks on Stacks (of things to do)

Currently I have about (roughly estimating) 500 assignments to grade.

I also have bills to pay.

I have laundry to put in the dryer.

I have lessons to create.

Plans to set.

And forms to return.

Yet here I am.

I’m…back.

So, hugs all around. High fives here and there. Tips of the hat to one another.

Let’s just dust off our hands on our pant legs and get right back down to business.

The purpose of me doing this whole thing was to write a book. This past summer (let’s refer to this dark period as the “transitional period”) I made a decision. I’m going to try my hand at NaNoWriMo this November.

This means a lot of things. It means I’m going to have make the habit of typing out thoughts again. It means I’m going to have to be creative outside of work again. It means I’m going to have to plan out a story that will last the required 50,000 words. It means I’m going to have to write a book.

Oh, and there are still marbles to be sent. Lamps to be made. Pictures to take. Opinions to share. Quips to … quip.

Now…let’s just see if I can actually pick this up tomorrow and not create another dead end in terms of my online presence.

And yes, yes… I missed you too.

D.A.