...following three months of construction, the family basement is finally resembling the image of an entertainment area worth boasting of.
New flooring, new drywall, new plumbing in the bathroom, a fresh coat of paint, and a forest green sectional to wrap the room up nicely. It cradled two adults, two teens, and two 'tweeners with room to spare for last evening's Saturday night flick ;)
Not pictured is my future desk area, which is still in the works...but getting there. And yes, when complete, I'll most definitely share the goods.
I'll use the basement project as my excuse for not participating in this year's NaNo, but honestly that had nothing to do with it. I've written some fine fodder under far greater duress in my days.
Nope, the real reason for my NaNo NoShow was wrapped around November 6th, 7th, and the upcoming 12th. For those are, and will be our days in court for the custody battle over that little boy who first visited our home at four days old...and thus far, remains under our roof.
Regarding the first two days...testimony rolled on as expected, all witnesses arrived on time, cordially made their statements, and were duly thanked for their participation.
My wife and I took the stand on day 1, were asked questions that we were expecting, and were prepared to answer.
The highlight of the day, coming when my wife was on the stand... "can the little boy in question speak yet, at fourteen months old?"
"Yes, Ma'am, he's been talking for some time now."
"What are some of the words he can say?"
"Typical baby talk, mostly. Dadda, Momma, Sissy, Bubba, Doggie, he meow's for kitty, and can say my son's name, Dylan, as well as you and I."
"When he says, Momma, or Dadda, who is he referring to?"
"My husband and I."
"If you were to be sitting in a room with the baby's birth parents, and he was asked to go to his mommy and daddy, who would he go to?"
"My husband and I," spoken without hesitation.
"Just one more question, Mrs. Grace. If given the opportunity, is your family prepared to adopt the child in question?"
...deep breath, exhale. "Absolutely. We are all he knows, we'd be lost without each other..."
...the case will wrap up on Tuesday...I'll be in touch.
Thanks for reading ;)
El
...my apologies, dear friends, for my recent absence. No, I have not been taken hostage by my co-workers, in hopes of thwarting my latest writing project, (which of course means an overall lack of sleep, and a zombie-like appearance at the office ;) Nor have I been run over by an errant passer-by and left for dead like my tiger-striped feline from "South of Charm."
Nope, all's well. Just busy. Very busy. There's a basement renovation project currently in the works, which, when complete, will house my new writing spot, where, with a little luck, "Ollie" will be penned. Pics will be forthcoming...
There's also a court battle under way. Nothing illegal, but rather, justice residing over the possible permanent custody of a little boy who was placed in our care at four days old. A bouncing thirteen month toddler these days, whose fate rests in the hands of our precarious child welfare system. He calls her "Momma." When I arrive home from work, I'm known as "Dadda." For he knows no other. When he places his hand in mine, he never questions why his skin is darker then my own. He clings to us as if there would never be, and should never be, anyone else to reach for. We're always there for him, and will be, as long as we're deemed able...
What I'm currently reading...
Thus far, another masterful performance by Roland Yeomans, in the ongoing Legend of Victor Standish series. Well done, my friend. I'll be leaving a review when complete.
As for me...
Check out my latest review on "South of Charm," from Lu Ann Worley at Rockin' Book Reviews.
http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/2013/09/10/south-of-charm-by-elliot-grace-book-review-by-lawonder10/
Thanks so much Lu, for your time and honesty!
So that's what I've been up to. How about you?
Thanks for reading...
El ;)
...I always find it interesting how the ins and outs of life slow to a crawl during visits to those enchanting, southern beach towns, both along the Gulf Coast, and the Atlantic seaboard.
Those citizens who've managed to figure out a comfortable way of life along either coast, have also discovered the secret to an enjoyable life, even if it is a bit behind the times...which is not necessarily a bad thing.
One can still rent VHS tapes at the local movie store. Wifi is often accessible in the town coffee shop, or occasionally on the upper deck of one's rental, as the tide permits. But only then.
Volkswagon vans still troll along Highway 17, rust free since 1963.
When it rains on the coast, it really does pour, fearfully so. And within minutes, the clouds move on, the sun returns, and all's well once again ;)
Something I'm curious about...the demand for local reading material along either side of the coast remains high, and not so much of the electronic variety. Book stores in southern Florida and the Carolinas are a hot spot, their shelves stocked with actual books, some used, others hot off the press, smelling of ink, and bindings that creak when opened for the first time. Lord, how I've missed that sound.
Local writers are held in high regard, showing up at indie book stores for an afternoon signing and a cocktail, or three.
Everything slows to an idle pace, where tourists are not only welcomed, but anticipated. Smiles are addictive, which lead to glorious relaxation, forgetting those irritable to-do lists left miles behind, but waiting.
I realized how fun it is to shark fish in the Gulf...no worries, it was catch and release ;)
In spending a week with the kids, I learned during one rainy afternoon that Robin is no longer Bat Man's trusty sidekick, but is now a relatively tough dude on Teen Titans, having left the Dark Knight in the dust...(at least on Nickelodeon.)
My wife and I realized that our youngest member of the family, the little boy we hope to soon adopt, not only loves the water, but is fearless of those choppy waves. Swimming lessons are on the docket.
And while relaxing, I had time to think. To dream. To create.
An idea took shape, one that tickled my fancy during last year's vacation to the Carolina coast, and returned with a vengeance. Something brewing over the past months that I considered an interesting thought to remember, has now moved to the top of my list of projects, a story that demands attention.
I call him "Ollie." Last year he was just an interesting character. He's now become a very special boy. A foster child buried in the system, struggling for peace, when he discovers a gift that he's been granted. Perhaps born with. One that will change everything. Everything...
I adore those coastal waters and the many gifts they offer. Those of peace, and those of opportunity.
Thanks for reading ;)
El
...sneaking off the grid for a bit, traveling South with the family for a little R & R in The Gulf.
And perhaps if I can work a little "Charm," there may be a southern-style book signing in the near future...
I'll be back in a few weeks!
Happy Summer everyone ;)
El
...this past Wednesday, July 3rd, James David Myers, a convicted rapist serving a life sentence at the Mansfield Correctional Institute, (once the home of Andy DuFraine in The Shawshank Redemption,) celebrated his birthday by escaping from the prison and vanishing into the stormy evening.
An all-points bulletin hit the airwaves shortly after.
Because my home sits less than 30 minutes east of the prison, we took notice.
A twenty-four hour manhunt for the escapee turned up no clues as to the whereabouts of Myers. Many figured him to have departed the area, gaining as much distance from Ohio as possible.
Only one day later, while many of us were celebrating our Independence Day with family & friends, James David Myers entered the Olivesburg General Store, a small locally owned market, eight miles north of the prison, and less than ten minutes from my home.
He steps up to the counter, places a hand over his very own mugshot, taped to the glass only hours earlier, and asks the clerk to use the phone.
Recognizing the escapee, the trembling store attendant hands Myers a cordless receiver.
At about the same time, Mark Cooper, his wife and son, enter the store and order ice-cream cones from the nearby freezer. Mark notices a man talking on the phone a few feet away, considers his appearance, thinking that he's seen him somewhere before, then makes eye-contact with the attendant behind the counter.
Realization dawns...
Remaining calm, Cooper ushers his family outside, dials 911 on his cell, then instructs his wife and son to stay outside. He fears that Myers may get away before the authorities can arrive. He thinks, what if that were my wife or daughter behind that counter?
Mark Cooper reenters the store, notices that Myers is no longer using the telephone, but remains at the counter, eyeing down the candy bars and packs of chewing gum. Cooper, standing over six feet tall, tipping the scales at three hundred pounds, and wearing a shirt donned in our country's stars & stripes, walks past Myers, hesitates, then grabs the escapee from behind, locks his arms into a full nelson, and pins him to the floor.
There they wait until the police arrive, guns drawn.
In the time it took them to get there, really no more than five minutes give or take, their job had already been done for them.
They found James David Myers tied up in banding wire, and held down under the weight of Mark Cooper, left with no choice but to stare at a United States flag until being escorted back to his cell in Mansfield.
Now that's what I call, being a Patriot on Independence Day ;)
Thanks for reading,
El
...this past weekend my oldest son and I attended a local musical competition known as The Battle of the Bands. As the title proclaims, musicians from around the area, some from across the state, others peddling in from down the block, meet up at the fair grounds for a winner take all concert.
The concept...play four or five of your very best songs, offering musical sustenance to an impatient audience baking under clear skies, for a chance at winning some free recording time, their best tune played on the local radio station, and an hour long concert during the yearly Octoberfest.
For an unknown artist of the lyrical tune, this is playoff time.
My son and I sat toward the back of the grandstand, enjoying a taste of local flavor, occasionally offering support, at times yearning for the chorus to end.
Nearing the conclusion of the show, our true reason for being there ambled onto the stage.
I leaned toward my son, who'd never heard them play. "You're in for a treat."
Musical group Reddy Freddy, three brothers and their enthusiastic drummer, all born and bred less than a mile from the stage they now stood upon, eased into their first song.
I'm a fan of Reddy Freddy, have mentioned them in previous posts, and spend my days in a cubicle, (when not on the road), sharing thoughts and ideas with their base player.
The crowd, restless after endearing twenty minutes of bad karaoke, grew still, thinking perhaps they were listening to Dave Matthews, or Jack Johnson, as opposed to a group of fellas from across town.
Each song garnered wild applause. When they finished up their time in the spotlight with their best hit, "DNA," every last soul in attendance was on their feet.
Playing only their own work, Reddy Freddy swept the competition and took first place. Perhaps I'm biased, but in the end it really wasn't even close.
When I introduced my son to the band members, including the talented base player who, during normal business hours, shares an office with yours truly, the first question out of my boy's mouth proved a bit forward, but nonetheless worthy of discussion.
"Why are you guys still playing for pennies around here, and not on tour with The Lumineers?"
The answer was really quite simple. "Because that ONE person hasn't heard us just yet." He then leaned forward, as if about to offer my son the secret to tuning a guitar in less time than it takes to slap together a ham 'n cheese on rye, and said, "But I'm pretty sure he will...some day."
That conversation between my son, and my musical pal from the neighboring cubicle, has stuck with me since.
When it's all said and done, musicians and writers are very much alike. Starving artists from opposing branches, yet stemming from the same thick trunk. So much talent, all those dreams, each of us waiting around for that ONE person that'll change everything.
And from there, an idea struck.
What if, say...Stephen King were to somehow get a copy of my novel, South of Charm? And what if he were to be so cool as to read a passage of Charm on YouTube, perhaps even the first few pages of chapter 36, my personal favorite?
And what if that simple download, just a guy reading a story, were to earn a hundred thousand hits during its infancy?
What then?
All it would take is one person to change everything.
Just one.
Pass it on...
You can listen to Reddy Freddy's "DNA" on the link below...
http://reddyfreddy.bandcamp.com/track/dna
And in case you're interested in reading Chapter 36 from South of Charm...
http://www.amazon.com/South-Charm-Novel-Elliot-Grace/dp/1590983637/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372298367&sr=8-1&keywords=south+of+charm+by+elliot+grace
Thanks for reading ;)
El
...while sorting through dusty boxes and the long forgotten relics left behind from my wife's recently passed mother, I pulled from the corner of the attic, a treasured classic.
"...A sky of almost oriental crystal, a lovely clear, luminous sky, blue as a Nichapore turquoise, hung over the houses and gardens of the still sleeping city. In the dawn and its silence, one caught only the call of the swallows pursuing each other across the roofs and the acacia branches, the luscious cooing of a dove on the tree-top, and far away, the harsh creak of the axles of a country cart approaching main street and the most fashionable of the town..."
Upon my first encounter with Ariane, I found myself enchanted with Anet's prose, a slower pace of poetic beauty. Almost mystical penmanship, shared with the world during a time of most proper technique.
I vowed to improve upon my writing, yearning to one day pen such admirable prose.
...still working on it, but someday perhaps ;)
An Amazon search estimates the book's value at $49.95, this copy in particular, from the early 1920's.
I figure we'll be hanging onto this gem a bit longer.
Thanks for reading,
El
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