Hello there!
Welcome to the new folks who have joined in the past month!
There was no Honey update last month, and I apologize. To be honest, nothing much happened on the Honey front in July. She sniffed a foot or two while we sat at the dinner table, ran into the backyard once or twice and then went back inside. August, however, was different story.
At night, Bowie and Dusty sleep with us, and Honey has been sleeping the in living room. Our door is open, so she would occasionally saunter down the hall, her nails clicking on the hardwood, and check in on us after the lights went out. This past month, she started jumping up on the small bench we have at the end of the bed checking us out, and leaving. Then coming back and doing it again. And again. Eventually, she stopped leaving, and would take a few steps on the bed.
Mind you, my wife and I are completely aware of this, thanks to the clicky-clack of her nails up and down the hall. So we’d lie there, trying not to move so we didn’t scare her. Once Honey determined the bed was safe, she started staying all night, finding a spot leaning up against one of our legs with a blanket in between.
And that’s not all.
As you can see, Honey is fully integrated with the other two, so we now have a pack. They run around together, and although Honey is leary to get too close to our big boy Bowie, she’ll often be hanging out with Dusty.
The other news is that after her most recent hair cut, she’s now sporting a pink mohawk. While she might look bewildered in this photo, that just appears to be normal look. After her baths, my wife will rap her in a towel and sit on the couch with Honey in her lap. Honey could take off, but she stays wrapped in there. We’ve figured out she doesn’t mind be held/pet if there is a blanket inbetween, but direct contact is still a no go unless she’s initiating it, which is usually just a lick or boop when we avoid direct eye contact.
Like writing, slow progress is still progress!
Speaking of writing, I’ve slowly chipping away at old ones. Here’s where I’m at:
#1. JANET! THE LAST EARTH - the quirky tale about three strangers who meet in a diner and uncover the greatest conspiracy in human history. It involves multiple dimensions, talking penguins, and celebrity appearances. Have about 17,500 words written towards the goal of 80,000.
#2. OMERTA SOL - this is my “Goodfellas” on Mars sci-fi/mafia mash-up. I have a few thousand words written, plus scenes and arcs outlined.
#3. THE WHITE SKY (Book 3 of the Perseverantia Trilogy) - very broad strokes, nothing written yet.
I also have some short stories in various stages, some complete, some I’m still hacking away at.
RECENT READS
Gangsters and Organized Crime in Buffalo: History, Hits and Headquarters by Michael F. Rizzo
Very interesting read about the history of the mafia in Western New York. Buffalo being my hometown, seeing the names of streets and locations I'm familiar with was probably more engaging for me than someone unfamiliar with area. My only criticism - it would have been nice if more first person accounts were included. I understand that many of the people mentioned have passed away, but that's was the missing element that would have pushed it from a four star book to five stars.
RECENT TV/MOVIES
GREATEST GEEK YEAR EVER: 1982 (Hulu) - Four-part docuseries about the insane amount of great sci-fi, horror, action, comedy, and other movies that came out in 1982.
BARBIE (2023) - This movie was more than kenough.
RECENT MUSIC
Aphex Twin - Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / in a room7 F760 EP (2023)
Pale Saints - Slow Buildings (1994)
T-Ride - T-Ride (1992)
Girlschool - WTFortyfive? (2023)
Milk - Tantrum (1991)
Sisters - Leecheater (2023)
downset. - downset. (1994)
A few reminders before you go:
Help spread the word - leave a book review at Amazon or GoodReads!
All previous newsletters are archived. Lots of stuff to check out including a link to the original 2011 screenplay of THE BLACK SKY, hints and helps to get started on the real work easter egg hunt teased at the back of the book, and more
Spotify Playlists! I made them for when I was writing THE BLACK SKY, THE RED SKY, and there is also a special one for “The Dank” bar that is in THE BLACK SKY.
If you like instrumental electronic music, I have soundtracks for THE BLACK SKY and THE RED SKY available at most streaming services, along with several other releases.
Stay Safe!
Tim
Listen to my 90s music podcast: Dig Me Out
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