News

Hey, gang.

I know I hardly ever post, but the squirrels handed me a note. It seems I’ve got four short stories coming out in Pulphouse Magazine and Fiction River. I’ll announce the publication dates as soon as I know what they are!

I haven’t posted for a while, and I feel like a terrible person.

What’s new…let’s see…

Kari and I have been in a publishing frenzy. Kari’s got several new books out, all of which you can see over at Spiral Publishing’s site. I’ve published a warm novelette called Mick of Malvern: Seeker for Hire. I also have a story in the upcoming anthology Sci-Fi Stories – Starships. I’m very excited to be in a publication with such cool people!

There is more to come from me and Spiral Publishing. Feel free to sign up for upcoming releases!

So back in October, I started having quite a bit of leg pain. Mainly muscle cramps like you wouldn’t believe, but also a bit of the ol’ shooting bolts down both legs. I also noticed my ankles had pretty much quit working. I violated Adams Man tradition by going to the doctor, who immediately referred me to a neurologist, who immediately said, “We gonna slice open yer back and scoop out some of yer spine. Gotta make some room for them nerves.”

That was two weeks ago this coming Tuesday. Bad news is, it’s going to take some time and a few visits to the lovely and kind physical therapists, and a bit of work to get back to 100%.

Good news is, I felt worlds better as soon as I woke up. I can now go up and down stairs in an upright position, and I don’t feel like someone’s been at my quads with a baseball bat.

Weird news is, for such a momentous event (my first surgery), I remember next to nothing about operation day. I vaguely remember changing into that sexy hospital gown. I vaguely remember being wheeled into the OR. I kinda remember people talking to me. I don’t remember getting dressed again, nor do I remember the drive home.

But I’m on the mend, and I look quite dashing with a cane, if iI do say so myself. The bruising around the incision site is quite spectacular, but no one needs to see close-ups of my lower lumbar region, so forget it.

During all this, I managed to write a couple of short stories, keep up with homework for three classes, and work (mostly) regular hours. Thank goodness for VPN and remote access.

All in all, the stenosis vacation plan isn’t one I recommend, but things could certainly have been worse. I can’t thank Kari or Jean enough for all the help while I’m on lifting restrictions, and I can’t thank enough the various doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists, and other staff at Abingdon Internal Medicine and Bristol Neurological for the fantastic care I was given.

Onward into the new year!

It’s been a while, so I figure I better let y’all know what I’m up to.

Kari and I had a great time at Cooks & Books, and ran into one of our best friends from college. Haven’t seen Opie in 23 years or so. She’s running Mountain Rose Vineyards now. Proud of her!

We recently bought a Zojirushi bread machine, and have been flouting the low-carb lifestyle ever since. If I do say so myself, I make a pretty mean loaf of sour rye.

I’m still sending short stories out to the pro-paying magazines. I get very nice letters from them, very politely telling me how much they liked the story and the characters, but are going to pass. Ah, well. That’s part of the writerly life.

I finally sat down and got started on the sequel to Agonist. My goal date for publication is December 1, but that is SO not set in stone.

That’s it for now. Y’all be good until next time, y’hear?

Twenty-five years ago today, my best friend and I decided neither of us were going anywhere, so we tied the proverbial knot. The wedding was quite the gossip-fodder at the time, since Kari wore a red velvet hoop skirt and

had a bridesman, her cousin (coincidentally, also named Jason A., with a dad named Frank like mine. Things get confusing), and I had a groomswoman. No idea where the old-fashioned analog pics are, still in a box somewhere, but I’ll post ’em someday.

We didn’t want a traditional wedding, so we had it outdoors in a field. Friends and family collected wildflowers. We had a friend ordained and wrote our own vows. The whole theme was “Today I marry my friend,” and through all the ups and downs over the years, Kari is still by far my best friend. The best traveling companion I could ask for. The one I can go to with all my worries and woes, all my weird schemes and plans, and all the cool things I can’t wait to show someone.

I hope all of you either have or will find someone who completes you, fills in all your nooks and crannies, as well as my beautiful bride does for me.

Love you, Kari. Here’s looking forward to the next twenty-five years of new things and old things.

So today I’m at the grocery store and realize that Quisp has made a comeback. Interesting. I mean, I used to love this stuff, which is basically flat sugary disks that taste like Cap’n Crunch. Still, it took me back to my great-granny’s house. There was always a box in her kitchen, which you had to get to through a dark room in which a life-size little girl doll sat in a rocking chair in the corner. Staring at you the whole time.

This has an effect on a four year old.

While memories of goosebumps past roll through my mind, I snap a quick picture of the box with my phone. A phone not hard-wired to the wall, beside a little table with a dedicated gossip stool. A phone which is also a camera. And a few other things.

Yes, I’ve become one of those people who realize just how much things have changed in my lifetime. One of those people who wonder what the four year olds of today will be nostalgic about in forty-four years and how they’ll document it.

No deep thoughts here, just observations of the worlds inside and outside my head.

Off to eat homemade lasagna. FAR better than Quisp