Author: Todd

It’s been a hectic couple of days but we’re now successfully moved to the new servers.


Gearworx has doubled our space, will hopefully be faster and if and when problems occur it seems clear that their support sites are faster. So far I’m very pleased with the move.
Much thanks goes out to the Devin. He came over yesterday and touched my computers in a way that made them feel comfortable. There are still a few small things to do. Some of the smileys are missing from the forum as well as the gallery of avatars — thus some of you may need to re-point, re-upload or choose another but we’ll fill the gallery with a whole new batch soon enough.
On the health front, Mr. Atkins has trimmed me down 6 pounds and I’m currently hating cheddar wrapped ham and would kill a small puppy in exchange for a loaf of bread, but if we don’t have our health…
On the work front, I’m a 3rd of the way through a book for adaptation. I’m still playing with Magnus but no word on any of the other work fronts. But this is not uncommon.
On the personal side, Mel’s father is moving out West.

Durango Colorado will be his new home. This is a great thing. Puts him much closer to us and I know Mel misses daddy. And now I can really pressure him to make me that shirt/jacket I’ve wanted for years. I’m gonna ride him hard as soon as he’s settled in.
So, let’s talk Mel’s Party Pics Part II. Of the three cameras, two without flash, we got 12 pics back and only portions of those are usable. Shame on me for forgetting my camera. But those that turned out, turned out well.

Devin, Victoria and Olga.

Mark and Patrick although Mark is shrouded in shadow. Not much I could do to fix it at my present Paint Shop Pro standing. But I consider it symbolic. Mark, draped in shadow and mystery somehow works.

Chris and Noel.

The unhappy ones comforted by Christine.

Noel copping a feel.

From left to right: Patrick, Noel, Jarrell, Elizabeth, Dean, David and Erica.

Mel blowing.
And that brings us to the end of the usable disposable camera pics.
Tonight Mel and I are going to head to the movies to check out “Ray” and tomorrow I’m hooking up with Patrick to see the romantic comedy “Saw”. He’s also going to slip me another copy of our Mass Destruction trailer as we’re going to look into the world of Graphic Novels.
I believe Sunday is Ghosts and Goblins with the Loreys.
It’s good to be back up and running. Be safe.

Obviously the message boards are down. Not that they are a hive of activity but down none the less. It’s an easy fix but it seems my host’s service site is down as well so I can’t report the problem. I’m currently looking into alternative solutions.

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Nothing makes you feel better than starting your day by helping to stick it to Microsoft. So join the fun.

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Click on one of the links above to check it out. It tastes better than pizza and it will last longer.

Say “Hello” to Vader, formerly known as BugsyLove. Vader is a P4 1.6 with 512 memory and a 40 gig harddrive. He’s sporting a GForce3 and a SBLive. He’s recently been written with zeros and reinstalled with Windows XP. Service Pack 2 has been downloaded and upgraded. Internet Explorer replaced with FireFox. Aim replaced with Gaim. Norton replaced with Avast. ZoneAlarm is happily running security. And Thanks to Devin, Vader has some Microsoft Office goodies waiting for usage. All in all it was a very smooth process.
The only problem was trying to originally reinstall Windows Millennium. That was a nightmare. What was I thinking? Installing Windows XP was flawless in comparison.
Bugsylove sat on the floor behind Melanie’s desk for 8 months. Which is a shame. Some might call me a procrastinator but I just didn’t feel comfortable trying to reformat and reinstall everything. However, after having to go through the process multiple times with Mel’s computer and having Devin badger me into installing Linux on Smeagol…well I felt I could bring BugsyLove back as Vader with few mistakes.
Tomorrow he ships to Kentucky where he will find a new home with my lil brother and his bride.

HalfLife 2 in November. I’m curious to see how it runs on the Alienware. I haven’t been able to bog Snape down with FarCry or Doom3 but it sounds like HalfLife 2 is a monster of a new breed. We’ll see.
As for Doom 3…

I just wasn’t impressed. I was at first but the design is just too dark. I love a good, dark, creepy level from time to time but if every level is dark then it all blurs together and seems like the same thing over and over. I kept thinking it would be different once I got to hell. But it wasn’t.

Still the same dark environment except this time you don’t even have your flashlight. Sigh. Of course, I should have known. McGee left ID a long time ago and what’s-his-name, the guy who did Castle Wolfenstein, he left after the Stein was a hit. I should have known. I trust HalfLife 2 will refresh my faith in the Video Game.

Our cats are crazy. Bugsy here adores his mother, but will not hesitate to poofah on the floor if you get behind on litter box maintenance. Pumpkin has a similar rule. If you leave a garment on the floor she’s gonna tinky all over it. And Spooky? She’s just freaking freaky. She follows me around and stares at me with strange animal longing. But she’s getting old. I can’t kick her near as much as I used to cuz I might break something.
Mel’s Party Pics part 2 should be shoved onto a CD by the end of the week so that’s coming.
On the work front I’m reading a horror novel and may attempt an adaptation if all goes well. Mel’s reading it as well to assist with the process.
I’m still trying to finalize an outline for “Magnus”…I keep changing my mind.
And I’m toying with the idea of turning one of my older projects into a graphic novel…maybe a few of them, a couple of which Patrick and I worked on together.
Shuman over at Blue Star/Revolution emailed about “Scarecrow”. Said all was well and he seemed extremely excited.
Dauchy at Revolution said they were looking for a Director on “The Fog”, not a writer, so that’s dead.
Tiger Hill passed on “Mass Destruction”. I’m still waiting to hear what my next step is for “Demonik”. And still no word from Terence concerning “Psychopath” although Brad says he expects it to be right up the CEO’s alley.
The option is up on “Riddle Me This” over at Constantin at the end of the month. Not unexpected, Constantin wants an extension. Hensleigh is still working on his draft and will not be finished before the option is up. Thus agents and lawyers are now involved.
No word from “Thunder” or “Last Vamp”. Dean and I will most likely shelve “Thunder” and come back to it later. As for “Last Vamp”, I’ll give Michael a call this week.
Whitley says Anne is recovering amazingly well from her stroke. He’s evidently been bombarded with emails and letters offering prayers. In an email he wrote that he’d been on a 34 year honeymoon with her and they still had a lot of traveling to do. Good man, that Whitley.
So, that brings us more or less current.

First off, the party had something of a rocky start. When we arrived shortly before Seven we were told that since we weren’t there at Six our space had been given to another group. This was their screw up. Ms. Melanie had spoken with the management on several occasions and 7:30 was the time. But the bozos running the joint were clueless and it was at this point that Ms. Melanie began to morph into a large breasted T-Rex. Eventually the staff said they would set up the tent for us, which ended up being great because we didn’t have to share the live band area with everyone else out on the patio. As I ran off in search of matches to light the Halloween candles I ran into Dean who commented on my obvious stress. I told him the situation and he set out to find Mel.
Although Ms Elizabeth hadn’t eaten all day long she and Dean blew off their plans at the bar to come help set up. And in no time Ms. Melanie began to morph back into a large breasted woman again.
All was well.
Of course, I’d forgotten my camera. I’m fairly certain I said a string of dirty words when I realized it. Melanie told me to quit being a baby and swing into the nearest gas station where she bought some disposable cameras. Good girl.
However, my screw up leaves us with a two part journal entry.

Part I is brought to you by the Photography of Mr. Jeremy…self-portrait above. His digital camera was going nuts from the moment they arrived.

Dean and Elizabeth threw on their Pirate gear after assisting with the setup and they went relatively unchallenged until Captain Morgan showed up later and challenged Dean to a duel…but we’ll get to that.

Of course, I showed up. I was a big hit with the drunken ladies of the bar and the children there with their families. If that sounds creepy…well it probably should.
For some odd reason the parents dinning with their kids seemed to think I was part of the hired entertainment. One lady got particuarly miffed when I didn’t spend more time with her six-year-old. Later she apologized when she realized this was simply how I dress when I go out on the town.
And much later in the evening a massively drunk woman entered our private party and asked if she and her friends could get a picture with me. Sure, I replied in an impressively heroic voice. Next thing I know I’m surrounded by half a dozen drunk women. And I kid you not when I say that little Farmer was grabbed, fondled and poked at least a dozen times. And one lady literally bit one of my foamy boobs. I felt so used. Having returned to the room John Jarrell was there in a flash and asked, “Dude, were those girls molesting you?” Poor little Farmer.

Good party though. I think everyone had fun. It was a gathering of new and old. I hadn’t seen the Handmans in over a year and that was just big Dave at a gas station and he’s not nearly as sexy as his wife. I hope there’s a picture of them somewhere in the disposable cameras.

Devin brought Victoria and I think they enjoyed watching the inebriated adults stumbling around.

I hadn’t seen Mark and Christine in several years…well since Dean Riesner’s funeral I guess. Unfortunately I don’t have a Christine pic at the moment. Hopefully Part II.

They brought their youngest poohbah who I gotta say was a little angel all night long. And cute too.

Ms. Sarah and the Sexy Olga were the last to arrive in full garb, Ms. Sarah as a Raven and the Sexy Olga as a…I’m not sure what she was but I know she was wearing sticks in her hair from the tree that had recently fallen on Ms. Sarah’s Montero.

Before the end of the night, Devin was so filled with love that he broke into song. Singing much of Les Misérables as well as all of the White Album and assorted devotional songs.

Ms. Breanne showed up with Ben and if memory serves they were the first to arrive behind the Loreys. Mel and Breanne go way back. They served in Nam together and share a bond you can’t understand unless you’ve killed and bled together.

This is probably the moment Dean spotted Captain Morgan. Notice how the hatred has already started brewing. In the background, Patrick and Handman are most likely hoping for fireworks.

Dean, of course, challenged Captain Morgan to a fight but Morgy wanted no part of Captain Dean. Instead they opted for a photo.

Sarah got poop-faced and we were all forced to tolerate her sick games.

Mel and I made the rounds flirting with anyone who’d spend time with us. My flirting, of course, stands out because I was wearing blue spandex.

Noel and Ms. Chris Torres met at the bar then found their way into the party. It’s always good to see the Noel and I’m fairly certain I molested Ms. Torres on several occasions but that’s not really something out of the ordinary.

Ms. Melanie blew out the candles and the cakes were a big hit. Half the staff kept sneaking in and scooting out with slices.

One by one folks made their way to the exit and the night would soon come to and end but not before Ms. Sarah and the Sexy Olga took the dance floor by storm.

Overall, I’d say the evening was a success. And I think it’s safe to say Ms. Melanie had a blast. It was good to bring old friends and new together and it’s a shame we don’t do it more often.
Coming Soon — Mel’s Party Pictures Part II — Attack of the Disposables.