oh hi

HI remember me? i run this blog? well I'm not actually sure anyone reads this so oh well.  I really do hope to start posting again soon.  I'm going to a Anagama workshop and I really hope to get some posts and pics up.  Time will tell though wont it.

It's been awhile.

HI!
So if you are following me you know that I have been gone for um... well... awhile.  lets start with Barista news.  I'm still a Barista, I still deal with the coffee inept on a daily basis.
Reef news - Haven't gotten the new one up yet.  (Who's shocked?)  I have a stand and lights to purchase, a sump to finish, plumbing to plumb, water to make, rock to cycle.  In short I'm no where close and I need to have it filled and cycling by March 1st.  (for those keeping track.  I'm screwed)
Right now I know what I need I just need to get it and the means to get it.  I tell you what, I love my Reef but sometimes it drives me so fucking crazy I don't know what to do.
Anyway, that's really all I have at the moment so I will leave you with the rantings of a mad barista.  TA!

Rants of a Barista

Ok seriously people, if you go through the drive up DO NOT have your passenger order.  I can't here them.  When you order from the drive up you have to project over the hum and rumble of the engine, the blow of the A/C and make it through the speaker to a wireless head set.  Please enunciate and talk in a SLIGHTLY above normal talking level.  I don't need you yelling in my ear either.
In other Barista related news I had my tips swiped the other day by a 12 year old little bastard.  Kid comes in and orders a Coke, pays.  When I go to get it he grabs my tips and leaves.  I come back with his Coke and he is missing.  I didn't really think about it and put his coke back.  45 minutes later I realize my tips are gone.  Fucking kids.


On a more interesting note I am so close to getting my new saltwater set up.  all I need to do is get a counter top for the stand and wall off part of it.  I hope to finish it this month though that is beginning to seem unlikely.  oh well.  on the bright side I have two vivarium ideas I want to build.  one is for my crested geckos, and the other is kind of a swamp like feel for a Polyrrizha lindenii, cuz I've wanted one for half way since forever.  Anyway I should go and mull over my reef and vivarium plans some more.  talk to you all later.

New Reef (coming soon) and other fun new things

So I have begun work on a new Reef tank due to my ten gallon showing signs of things that will soon be out of my control.  :(  This new tank will be a 15 gallon all-in-one, I'm in the process of building the infrastructure and it is a PAIN IN MY @$$, but it's fun too.  There are two things about this tank that are really exciting.  first, I will be using pond foam and dry rock to create a background which will hide the filters, and the second exciting thing, a closed-loop system.  For those who don't know a closed-loop, is a system of pipes and pumps used specifically to move water in a reef tank.  By mixing this with the foam background my hope is that when viewing the display area you will not see any pumps, filters, heaters, or junk.  Just fish, coral, inverts and pretty.   My goal is to have it done by the end of August but I've hit a few snags so well shall see.  Pictures to come too I swear.

As to the second thing.  I'm not really going to say anything about it other then to give you the web address and you can check it out.  oshinycreativeservices  This is a pet project of a few of my friends and I'll admit I'm part of it too.  So if you are looking for information on publishing or looking for a more friendly not so clinical editor check it out.

Time Dyslexia, Stories, and random OMG's

Where does the time go?  I ask myself that a lot.  I have a very awkward sense of time.  I'm usually 20 minutes early to everything, but when I you ask me what happened last week I'll give you a blank stare.  It's not that I don't remember.  I have a pretty good memory.  I just have a warped sense of time.  So I affectionately call myself Time Dyslexic.  Last week is the same as last year is the same as last month.  it's all in a lump some where in my head and when I need to recall something I have to figure out what major events happened around it in order to pinpoint a direction in which to search my memory.  It can be a pain in the ass.  Mostly because without Time keeping things in order is a crap shoot.  The possibility of "forgetting" it is high.  I didn't forget it.  it's just not were it maybe should be.  Friends make fun of me all the time or get angry because I forget.  it's not that I forgot i just don't know what day it is.  I know that I need to be at work more often then not, that doesn't mean I can tell you the date.

Anyway now that I'm done blabbering about something I can't remember the point of.  (Shut up I said I have a good memory not perfect)  It's been a few weeks since I posted last and it seems you all like reading my stuff.  I have now put Collapse in a folder and hidden it away for a month or two.  I need to give it some time to breath you know.  let my subconscious mull it over for awhile.

Speaking of Subconscious.  Mine? It hates me and I mean it HATES me right now.  No idea why, but it has been filling my dreams and mind with all sorts of fun and not so fun fucked up shit.  Take last nights dream.  In truth all I really remember was that I was running from killer alien dolphin clowns.  the problem was my legs kept transforming into other things.  chair legs, horse legs, a snake, wings, it was all very odd.  What's great is that isn't even the worst of them.

Anyway, I think I should stop rambling now.  I'd love to hear topic ideas for my next posts.  Feel free to comment with them

So what do you think?

Hi kids! I've hit the 50,000 words mark on "Collapse" and am freaking excited, so I thought I would share an unedited blurb and a wonderful picture down by a friend of mine, she can do wonderful things with Photoshop.

Collapse - Liam S. Boyd
No one expected it.  Not like this, not with such violence.  Everyone had gone to bed on the 28th like they always do.  Dreaming about work or school or the next week when they had a date.  But everything changed at noon on the 29th.  The entire world stopped.  It had started with the phones.  Mine had been off, lucky me.  I had been at work slinging espresso to the oppressed office sheep.  I had at least believed it could return.  I had at least imagined it happening.  I was dead wrong in my imaginings.

“Excuse me but can I barrow your phone?” a lady in a crisp charcoal business dress asked me.  I looked up from the pitcher of milk I was steaming and smiled my best smile.
“One minute ma’am.  I need to finish this mocha.”  I answered.  I listened to the hiss of the steam wand and the wonderful smells of the espresso being pulled from the ground beans filled my nostrils.  It was heaven.  I was alone today, but it was a wednesday so it wasn’t bad.  That and everyone here knew me and my coffee.  It was worth the wait.  I loved what I did and it showed in my drinks and pastries.  I expertly whipped the drink and handed it off.
“Thanks Doug.  I’ll see ya tomorrow.” I said. “Sorry ma’am what can I get for you now?”
The woman looked up from her phone and asked if I had a phone she could borrow.
“Sure let me go grab it.” I said.  I moved with ease through the drink station and pushed my hand through the swinging door.  I grabbed the handset and came back out.  As I handed the phone to her I noticed several other people looking at their phones their faces twisted in confusion.
“Sir, I think your phone is broken.” The business woman said handing me back the cordless phone.  I stared at it pushing the talk button.  There was no sound.
“Huh?”
I went to the back and looked at the base station checking the line connection and the power.  Everything looked fine.
“Thats odd.”  I went back out.
“Can I get you a drink?” I asked.  She was still standing at the counter.  As I closed the distance I saw that she was looking a little green.
“Ma’am can I get you some water.  You look like you’re going to be sick.” I spun and grabbed a cup for water.  As I turned to hand her the cup she screamed and disintegrated in front of my very eyes.  I dropped the glass it shattered having missed the mat.  I watched in stunned silence as four others disappeared.  I didn’t know what to do.  I went into the back my stomach starting to revolt.  The stainless steel shelves and appliances beginning to spin.  I was losing my grip on both my stomach and my focus.
 

Story time

So I've told you earlier that I am a writer, and if I didn't I'm telling you know.  :P  At the moment my WIPs (works in progress) include "Collapse" "What I've done" and "The Many Adventures of Aiden Rex".  All are very interesting stories and I'm fairly proud of them.  (as the author I am bias)

"Collapse" I am becoming convinced will actually kill me.  It's about a guy named Jeremy.  He lived in Omaha when some really bad things happen.  He and this Alex, a guy he meets, journey to Des Moines for two reasons first Omaha is wiped off the map, and second because Jeremy knows a guy there that may be able to help them.  I'm almost finish with the first draft and it's nerve wrecking mostly because I don't really want to finish.  If I finish it will be edited, and I will learn whether or not it is worth continuing or not.  I will also have to edit it.  Editing scares the shit out of me, I'm daunted by the process and scared that I will have to change to much or it wont be worth the edits or I have to rewrite so much that it will make me crazy.  It's just really really scary, at least to me.

"What I've Done" is the working title for a short I'm working on about a rather unconventional serial killer.  It promises to be interesting to say the least.  Lots of blood, gore, and anger I think.  Devon is kinda a fucked up guy in many ways.

"The Many Adventures of Aiden Rex" is going to be a collection of shorts about a man, Aiden Rex, who is what ever he wants to be.  Be it a whore, slut, prostitute, slave, master, god knows what.  These will most likely end up as an anthology of pure guy on guy (and sometimes on guy) erotica.  I get bored so I write smut, so sue me, I'm a red blooded gay male American it's my duty.  Right?
Anyway I shall end this post with pictures of my other addictions.  Enjoy