The Beer of the Night: Ninkasi Tricerahops

Three of my favorite things are happening right now:

1. Ninkasi
2. My Powell’s pint glass (books)
3. Movies (tonight is Marathon Man)

Hey Matt…Where’ve you been?

I have been really lame the last few weeks, not updating you on anything, not writing an opinion, not reviewing books or movies and worst of all, not updating the weight battle. Well, there are good reasons for all of this: I am really freaking busy.

We had some organizational shifts at work a few weeks back. “Organizational shifts” are a nice way of saying layoffs. It was tough, because several of the people that were let go were friends of mine. In fact, three of the five members of my team were laid off. So that pretty much sucked. I miss all of you. I hope that things are going well.

But with the people leaving came new work, new responsibilities and new project loads, leaving me little time to write anything other than the big stuff (see next paragraph). When I get home I want to zone out, watch TV, and during my lunch break I just want to play stupid games or watch funny movies.

The big stuff: I have been trying to write the book I have been talking about, as well as the script for my Faust adaptation.  They are going REALLY well, so if you are interested in reading any snippets please let me know – I always want feedback. The working title of the book is: “The Power of Suggestion;” potentially a science fiction rag. No, there are no aliens or lasers. It is about someone who is trying to find characters for his book. While doing that he begins to make up stories for people he sees – and through a series of events, he learns that what he is thinking of is coming true and that he has the ability to “make” people do things. It will potentially end up having him in an underground prison with no contact with humans, until his friend becomes president (which the main character thought up), turns into a dictator and lets him out. I am sort of playing with the idea of making it a “series” meaning that the first book ends with him in prison. It’s all grey right now, but that is where I am going.

Hmmm...writing is difficult.

I have also taken up biking. I have been training to do a few big rides over the next several months, recently picked up a bicycle of my own and have enjoyed several 10+mile rides. Well, mostly – still getting used to the major pain in my crotchal region. The weight hasn’t been coming off so easily, but I am hoping that the bike commuting 2 days a week will help me shed some of that excess baggage.

My last training ride

You can visit this site to donate to the Tour de Cure. It is a 100 mile ride I am doing with friends in May to help kick diabetes in the face. I think that’s the tag line. If it’s not…then it really should be. http://main.diabetes.org/goto/mattandhisbike

I will also do some training blogging as Jeremy and I get ready for the Seattle to Portland in July. Holy moley…this is gonna get nuts.

Book Genre Poll Now Closed

Thank you to all that took the poll: “If you could only read one book genre for the rest of your life, what would that be?”

I know it was a tough question, but it was meant to be. See there are times when you just need to flip a coin — and then watch how you react to the winner. Only then will you know what you truly want: take it away from yourself.

Anyway, on to the winner!

As I said before, I want to write a book, but it is boring to me to just do all of the thought work myself. That’s where ya’ll come in. You passed the first test (almost 30 votes!!), the next will be soon.

The top-5 vote getters:
7 votes – Fiction
5 votes – Mystery & Thrillers
4 votes – Science Fiction
3 votes – Biographies and Memoirs
3 votes – Nonfiction

I am so happy to see the three that were on top, because I really dont think you would have liked to read my 28-year old memoir, nor would you appreciate my nonfiction research skills.

Anyway. My next thought is on what your next decision will have to be. I have a few thoughts for plot, possible story, maybe some characters.

Any thoughts on what to have polled by the readers? I don’t want to get into the minutia…what do you think?

Leave your ideas in the comments.

Thanks again!!