Fun Facts about the Common Joe

George Harrison is my favorite

I love all kinds of music.  Today, for instance, I have listened to or will listen to The Veronicas, Rihanna, Regina Spektor, Boston, the Beatles, Heart, Orianthi, Laura Marling, and Duane Allman.  One concert I would have loved to attend is/was Pink Floyd, but that likely will never happen.

For the last six months I have been working out at two separate gyms.  I am not losing weight really but I am turning my fat into muscle and I am getting rid of my flab.  I work out six days a week when I can.

I teach school, on the secondary and post-secondary level, and I have three years before I can retire from the high school.  If the government keeps their hands off things, that is.  I do intend to teach part time at a college, primarily to pay for health insurance.  When we retire, my wife and I might move to Cape Girardeau, or Springfield, MO.  I like both areas; I especially like Branson.

I write and have published fiction, nonfiction, and drama.  I want to sell a screenplay.  I still have yet to make my first million from my writing, but at least I have made some toward that goal.

I don't play sports as such because I am too old and hopelessly awkward.  I am, however, a rabid Cardinals and yes, Rams, fan.  I won't tell you how long I've been a Cardinal fan but it's likely longer than you have lived. I don't care for hockey; my apologies to all of you rabid Blues fans.  I think I just don't understand everything about it.

I like to read.  I would much rather read Young Adult fiction than adult fiction or the classics, even though I am an English major.  It seems like YA writers are not afraid to experiment.  Perhaps, that is because the YA books are not expected to make millions upon billions of dollars.  I do also like Dean Koontz, especially his Odd Thomas series.

I have this thing that I do online which started a few years ago as words of wisdom for my seniors who were getting ready to graduate from college.  Near the end of the school year, I would post one completely original, made up by myself quote of wisdom each day, and I would call them crossbytes.  I have since expanded my crossbyte venue to include Facebook and Twitter.  Feel free to use them for free, but do tell them where they came from.

I started using the Internet to make connections for my writing endeavors.  I have done some of that, but I am still looking for a literary agent. I need someone who will represent my fiction and my scripts, someone who will manage my career and nurse me along.  I would not be one of those greedy jerks who drop their agent as soon as they make it big.  I believe I would stick with the people that helped me get to where I was.  I do believe in fidelity.

B.S.U. (Boring status update)

Blogs are not supposed to be boring, but this one probably will be. I like to check in every once in a while, but that doesn't mean I have anything cool to say. Many things are going well, some not.  Typical life thing. A friend of mine, a fellow educator, and a wonderful human being died this morning. Kelly Burlison died this morning from heart problems, an issue that has dogged him for many years. Kelly is close to my age, maybe a couple years older. He's left a joke that can't be filled.

I haven't had any writing successes yet this summer, but I have been writing and sending out feelers. I am doing a screenplay about 30 percent finished, and I am on a final (for now) revision of a YA novel. The two are related, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the work. All else is on hold until I finish these, well, almost. I am doing some poetry. Long story there, but I want to do even more.

I am teaching two classes at the Fredericktown outreach center: they meet from 4 to 9:20 on Monday and Wednesday. Both are going well.

That is an abbreviated update. Enjoy.