Unpacking Cafeteria Crossing

I have to say, this segment of Welcome to the Valleys was quite unexpected. When I sat down to write I hadn’t intended for the Shadow to play such a prominent role in the conversation. Instead, Walter was supposed to speak with Ama about how she was interpreting the anger in the cafeteria 1. The…

Fiction Tuesday – Cafeteria Crossing

After passing though the checkpoint the companions stopped for a brief lunch in the small settlement which surrounded the entrance to the tunnel. It was a cheerless place, filled with people wearing annoyed expressions and mediocre food. After the sumptuous meals of Shelter, the lukewarm platters in the building marked “Hospitality Cafeteria” were quite disappointing….

Season’s End

Last night we had some neighbors over for a cookout. It was fantastic time, which included some amazing burgers topped with melted hot-pepper blue cheese and buffalo sauce 1. The kids played, the adults told stories, and a good time was had by all. Then the party broke up, and it felt like time had…

Comcast continues to play the data cap game

Comcast’s business model is being slowly strangled. The phenomena of cord cutting has be steadily increasing and, as younger generations come of age, only will only accelerate in the future. Additionally, the era of the “home phone” is rapidly evaporating, taking with it yet one of the “growth markets” Comcast had been counting on in…

Blogging with Scrivener, one month in

The end of August marked my first full month of using Scrivener as my full-time blogging tool. While I continue to miss features like in-line markdown preview, I don’t see myself leaving it’s friendly confines any time soon 1. I have fallen in love with composition mode. This distraction-free environment is made all the more…

The Shepherd’s Crown – A final trip into Discworld

This Tuesday I received a package on my doorstep for which I was filled with both anticipation and trepidation. Inside were the last words from Terry Pratchett I would ever read. I’ve been a fan of Pratchett since I first heard of the Discworld novels the year I graduated from college. I’ve watched as the…