New Page: 2020 Road Trip

Take the opportunity to check out the new page on my web site, “2020 Road Trip.” This is a real-time adventure of an on the ground look along I-80 from Nevada to Illinois. This trip will provide the opportunity to see rural America as it treads its way through the pandemic, and exploration of possibilities for future articles. Hope you enjoy.

A 2020 View out the Office Window

ROLL MUSIC:  Shower the People by James Taylor

To say the least, the past couple of weeks have proved very trying. Three friends tested positive for COVID-19, and just this past week a family member also tested positive. And it just boggles the mind to see and hear some people just overflow with drama over something as simple as wear your mask. What is it going to take to put this pandemic behind us?

Crazy.

Read an interesting article from FastCompany.com this morning. “In the new age of remote work, people under 30 might kill email” by Ben Bajarin is a quick read that talks about how the current work-from-home mandate has allowed remote workers to relook their software tools for daily use and accomplishing team-centric projects. The loyalty towards one office software package (i.e., Microsoft Office vs. Google’s GSuite) is not as solid as it once was. There is a growing trend amongst workers to mix and match software from other companies based on what “works best for them and their team.”

The effectiveness of rethinking to a “diverse set of tools” put me thinking beyond the article’s target of intent. A couple of thoughts quickly came to mind. First, “That’s the way it’s always been done, because . . . And you fill in the rest. Too often our thinking comes in a nice, well branded package, so we stick with it. Why? Thank you for asking. Too many of us don’t like change—plan and simple. But, as in the article’s findings, sometimes turning to out-of-the-box thinking allows you to discover more convenient ways to do business, and achieve more productive results.

Second, the article serves as an excellent reminder, especially in these troubling times, how applying our diversity/differences to problems will likely ensure a higher level of success. We already have the “diverse set of tools”—its us. Isn’t it time we take the moral high-ground, reach across the aisle to use the strengths each of us has to begin to fix problems in our neighborhoods, our communities, our states, and our nation? What is being accomplished by pointing fingers? What is being accomplished when we call someone out over something petty? These mindless efforts are nothing more than distractions from much larger issues.

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”  Matthew 7:3

It’s time we stand up and begin to make a difference. Even if it’s something as simple as a smile and a “thank you.” Maybe it’s a simple conversation over a cup of coffee that begins with “Help me to understand . . .” 

Stay safe out there, and don’t forget to reach out to someone—it will likely make their day…as well as yours.

“Steady and strong they will not be afraid, but will calmly face their every foe until they all go down in defeat.”  Psalm 112:8

A Comstock Afternoon

ROLL MUSIC:  Healing Hand of God by Jeremy Camp

While across the nation states and communities open and close, the past couple of weeks have been productive here in the Comstock. “Salty Margaritas” is now complete—thanks to a new copy editor—and headed down range for publication. A pending project, “Ports of Call: Pyrix X,” has gone from the drawing board to an 18,000+ word outline. And the character profiles for “War’s End” are taking shape.

One of the drawbacks of the COVID-19 situation—and God knows there are many—is the lost sense of time. There are some days I wake up and have to check my phone to see what day it is. Ugh. That being said, I had to renew outreach efforts with friends and family. Email is the norm, but this time my wife and I decided to reach out in-person and drop off a dinner for a family six. It provided a reminder that people and families are still insolating themselves from this crazy world. And within 24 hours we learned two other friends are in quarantine for COVID-19 exposure. All of this really drove home the need to reach out to others during this time.

Stay safe out there, and don’t forget to reach out to someone—it will likely make their day…as well as yours.

“Life is good for the one who is generous and charitable, conducting affairs with honesty and truth.  Their circumstances will never shake them and others will never forget their example.  They will not live in fear or dread of what may come, for their hearts are firm, ever secure in their faith.  Steady and strong they will not be afraid, but will calmly face their every foe until they all go down in defeat.”  Psalm 112:5-8

Thoughts from a Tumultuous Time

ROLL MUSIC: “Embrace” by Jake Hamilton

From the midst of the chaos that defines 2020 we are seeing a new set of filters sifting through the old way of life to reveal the reality of life that awaits us.  This has been a point of discussion in previous blogs, but the past week and a half demonstrates what happens when you add unleashed pent-up anger and frustration to the equation.

Even near-by, sleepy Reno suffered in the wave of early violence.  We never expected the Comstock region to see riotous craziness, but downtown Reno saw an afternoon’s peaceful protest be replaced by clashes with police, destructive damage to city hall and surrounding buildings, looting and arson, rubber bullets and clouds of teargas, and general fear and mayhem.  The pains of the nation had descended upon Northern Nevada.

There are three interesting points I see birthing from this tumultuous time.  These observations come after a number of months—especially the past ten days—digesting a wealth of diverse media accounts from around the world, as well as exchanges with friends across the globe.  These do not reach for the heart of issues, but are based on a strategic overview of developing trends.

Change is in the air.  The underlying tensions of race have surfaced.  Yes, we have seen this before.  Some of us have experienced this before.  And until real change is taken seriously, we will see continue to surface again…and again…and…  What we see happening on our streets is an in-your-face reality that the problem still clinging to us, and it’s now fueled by the pent-up frustration from a long-term quarantine.  In addition, there is a new generation at play, and who has drawn a line in the sand.  And they are not going to take it anymore—“Hey Boomer, you had your chance—we got this now.”  Will this attitude be a part of the new normal?

A new season is in the works.  This is a time of unprecedented issues brought on by COVID-19—struggles with the economy, exploding unemployment, and divisions within the nation boiling over.  Each day I wake up wondering what else is going to drop onto the proverbial plate.  But from it all we are growing as a people who question authority and traditional institutions of power, who are more aware of social issues once swept under the rug, and who not stand silent in the quest for answers.  Will this call to action be a part of the new normal?

A revolution is growing within us.  Merriam-Webster defines revolution as a sudden, radical, or complete change.  The ground-swell movement currently underway pretty well meets the definition.  It is interesting to hear the issues of resistance some people stand their ground upon.  I get it, change is not for the faint at heart, but where is the dialogue?  Two-way communications should take place on the real issues, not the distractions.  Watch out, change is coming.  You can either work with it, work through it, or let it roll over you.  Will this burning heart and desire for revolutionary change be a part of the new normal?

We are only half the way through this crazy year, and 2020 appears destined to mark a historical turning point.  This time period and its role in change will become the new standard by which future generations will measure the impact of their own events, if not use as a benchmark to measure the progress of how their world turns.

In closing, after a night of violence. the sun came up the next morning in Reno.  As well, a ray of hope came alive as community members violated the curfew to gather and begin the cleanup process of the buildings and streets.  Similar grassroots instances continue to occur across this great nation of ours.  Although the issues at the heart of the past week and a half need to be fully addressed at all levels, the instances of communities coming together need to be celebrated…they spell HOPE.

Stay safe out there, and don’t forget to reach out to someone—it will likely make their day.

“Ready for Change”

ROLL MUSIC: “Rose Colored Glasses” by Transatlantic

We are somewhere around nine weeks into the quarantine.  As of today, only two states maintain full lockdown, and for the rest of us, we are testing the waters with different levels of lessened restrictions.

Is there a right way or a wrong way to the approaches taken?  I am not qualified to determine a “yes, this is the way” answer, but do strongly recommend a pragmatic thought-process to step forward.  I have listened to those with grave concerns, I have listened to those in conflict between wellness and economic crisis, and recently listened to those who think it is all a big joke.  Each is allowed to have their opinion, so I listened.  My conclusion: to get in the face of others and to shout down those of differing opinions does not make you right.

Yes, this has been a challenging week.

ROLL MUSIC: “What is Eternal” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra

For a couple of days this week I gave myself a break.  A break from the news (challenging for a news junkie), a break from writing, a break from other responsibilities—I just needed to step away from the current reality, take a deep breath, and regroup.

Fortunately, the perfect medium to help recharge came from reading “The Lost Fleet: Dauntless” by Jack Campbell (pen name for John Hemry).  This 2006 space opera is the first in the “Lost Fleet” series.  The protagonist is Jack Geary, a fleet officer who is awaken from a century long cryo-sleep only to find himself a legendary hero beyond the reality of his former life.  And to add to the excitement, the military is much changed from his day.  It’s a good read, and I strongly recommend it to fans of space opera and military Sci-Fi—you won’t be disappointed.

Actually, some work did get done this week.  In talking with military friends in Australia, I made a couple of changes to the “The Awakening” storyline that will give it the punch I was looking for.  A special thanks to the folks at the Australian Defense College for fearlessly looking into the future.

This week will see a crazy work spurt to get “Christmas in Monterey” ready for copy edit before I miss the Christmas edition suspense.

Stay safe out there, and don’t forget to reach out to someone—it will likely make their day.

A New Day, A New View from The Office

ROLL MUSIC: “Dancing on the Waves” by Bethel Music

Let me start off by apologizing for the tardiness of this blog.  Without going into the ugly details, let’s just say a new computer came out of the situation.

And daily life continues outside of the Comstock.

The quarantine remains, but its grip on our communities is loosening.  Whether this as a good thing or a bad thing, that is for others to debate.  Unfortunately, those who continue to gather in front of the state capital also continue to help provide recent spikes in new cases.  Hello?  We must precede forward cautiously.  Victory over this pandemic is not going to be a light switch moment.

The question we should be asking ourselves: Will life truly reset to what we left behind or must we evolve to a new way of thinking?

I have given it some thought—alright, a lot of thought—but the mental brainstorming sessions only bear more questions than answers.

Ugh!

ROLL MUSIC: “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence

The only thing I could really come up with—we need to be cautious in the rush to return what we left behind.  Life may eventually return to something resembling what we once had, but don’t expect an exact replica.  Consequently, here are a few questions I am still pondering:

Where is the priority of family wellness verses all other things?  When you throw financial survival into the mix that makes it a hard one to find answers for.

Is the rush to move forward based on the right thing to do or does it align me with someone’s else ambitions?

My point here was to share my thought process for life beyond the target.  How we ultimately reset our lives has to be a personal decision that incorporates personal choices.

Current Writing

ROLL MUSIC: “Black Night” by Deep Purple

On a happier note, “Awakening,” the closing short story to “Battle Born,” is a finished first draft and simmering on the back burner.  This past weekend saw an outline get kicked out for a novella from the Cying-Gon Republic perspective of the battle, which will end up as either the number one story or number two in the “Battle Born” line up.  Not only does it examine the battle from the opposing force view point, but also goes into issues of civil verses military roles in a battle that crosses authority lines.  Russel Honoré, this one will make you smile.

Actually, “Christmas in Monterey” is the next short story in the hopper, but this has not been a week of focused endeavors.  Ugh!  Fortunately, in a spurt of inspiration it did get fleshed out to a first draft level and a new ending added.

Oh yes, sent an article off to Drum Corps World for their June edition.  This is another one in the “A Look Back” series. The “Look Back” provides background information to a 1999 article titled, “The Clash of the Titans”—a humorous look at what happened at a drum corps show when the stadium lights when out for approximately six minutes.

Until next time…

I Can See Clearly Now

ROLL MUSIC:  “I Can See Clearly Now” by Hothouse Flowers

Today’s blog comes from the new view out my home office window. Yesterday the front yard trees were removed, which opens up an expanded view of distractions from the work that sits on the desk.

Speaking of distractions, I took a break this weekend from the scheduled stuff to rework a storyline due later this summer.  Reviewing the weekend’s accomplishment I saw what maybe an influence by the COVID-19 situation.

The new storyline doesn’t end well for the protagonist. When all is said and done he mentions going back home to “reset” his life.  But he will quickly discover what we already know, habits are hard to break.  And the harder we try to change, the more tenacious they are to hold on to us (think: drinking, smoking, picking on the kid sister, etc.).

So how does this overlay with the world’s current situation?

Over the past couple of months we faced a common goal–mitigate the impact or get rid of COVID-19 and get our lives back on track.

To many of us, the goal is self-evident, and we pull together daily to help ensure everyone makes it across the finish line together.  To achieve this we focus on cooperation, helping others, and an endless flow of selfless service.

This mindset could be the foundation for the “new normal”…if we let it.

Unfortunately, the old reality remains in the social bloodline. The name calling, the spiteful dialogue, and self-centered attitudes are beginning to creep back into attitudes and online dialogue.  To quote from the weekend’s revived storyline:  “But then the old habits began to return…one puffed up sore at a time.”

And we came so close to something better.

Current Writing

ROLL MUSIC: “Surrounded” by Bethel Music

The goal–yes, THE real goal–is to wrap up “Salty Margaritas” this week and get it out the door.  Also sitting next to the computer are drafts of “The Gold Nugget” and the half completed “Christmas in Monterey.”  Both of these are on the work schedule.  This is especially true for “Christmas in Monterey,” because this is the time of year when major publications begin reviewing material for their holiday editions.

Writing Ahead

“A Creature of Habit” is waiting in the wings along with a couple of other projects.  Also, the web site is going through a redesign to provide more than the weekly blogs and a links page.  Am hoping to include a page with teasers of near completed projects.  Stay tuned for more.

As always, please remember to reach out to someone this week. Your voice or your text may provide the spark that will brighten their day.

 

“This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other. In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning.”  Hebrews 10:25