My Picture Of The Day

It snowed last night. I got this picture of the tree in my front yard this morning. I kind of like how it turned out.

The Cat Carol

I may never be able to regain Rish's respect after admitting to this, but I like this Christmas song about a kind and gentle cat...

You just made that story up, there ain't no cat like that.

Want To Meet Rish And Big?

I know, I know. I wouldn't want to meet us either.

But let's just say that you had a mental disorder, and found Rish and Big's inane chatter charming and entertaining. Then you might want to meet them, and maybe hang out with them for a while.

Well, if you live in the Las Vegas area, or are attending the New Media Expo that will be held there, you finally have your chance.

A few weeks ago, Abbie Hilton contacted us, and invited us to be a part of a panel discussion that she was getting together for the NMX. If you don't know it, the New Media Expo (or NMX), is a conference for folks who create online content; bloggers, podcasters, video bloggers (is that what you call someone with a Youtube channel?), and the like. It's all about how to create, disseminate, and monetize that content.

And so, since we are content creators, they are having us on a panel discussion at their con. We're pretty excited to go, and we hope to be able to meet face to face with as many people that we've met online as possible.

The new media expo is from January 6-8, 2013. I believe that Rish and I will be involved in two panels on Tuesday the 8th.

Nothing's set for this yet, but I'd like there to be some sort of Dunesteef get-together at a local restaurant or something on Sunday or Monday . . . or maybe even Tuesday. We'll let you know about that when it gets closer, and we actually get plans firmed up.

A Podcastle Christmas

For those of you who look back wistfully at the days of late December 2010, when Rish Outfield read a Christmas story written by Tim Pratt and Heather Shaw for Podcastle, never fear. The Dunesteef will be reunited with Tim Pratt, Heather Shaw, and Podcastle again!

I just finished recording Tim and Heather's story for this year. While my performance won't likely stack up to Rish's lisping six-year-old that everyone loved so much, hopefully, I'll bring something new and interesting to a story that, since it was written by Tim Pratt and Heather Shaw, doesn't really need any help from me.

So, I guess, if listening to my reading is better than just plain reading it yourself, it'll be a Christmas miracle, right?

Luckily, it's a Podcastle original, so it's not available to read anywhere else yet. My reading will be all that you get.

Now, in an attempt to restore your holiday cheer, here's a picture of me dressed as Santa for my daughter's pre-school Christmas party in 2006

Just Messing Around

I was messing around with my camera last night, trying to get the best shot of my Christmas tree all lit up in the dark living room. Which shot do you like best?

Number 1:

Number 2:

or number 3:

I think my favorite is the last one. I know that filmmakers are always trying to shoot in the golden hour of sunset so that they can get that beautiful amber color to the light. But, for some reason, I prefer the lights when they're white. The last picture is more true to reality, so maybe that's why I like it. I don't know.

Sad thing is, I cycled through all the different modes for shooting night pictures that the camera had, and the picture I like the most was just taken with the auto mode.

Anyway, I'll stop wasting your time.

I Promised

I've been saying I would for months and months...

And now, finally, I'm working on edits of a story I wrote. A lot of work to be done. Too bad I'm not a better writer. Maybe I should write more. I've heard from various sources that that is how you get better, but I still don't believe. I think it's just that I lack a really good muse.

Isn't prolonged bouts of hard drinking the way you gain a good muse? That's what muses are drawn to, right?

There you go. I've finally found the solution.

I'm off...

Oh, wait, I've got to finish the edits first. Damn, looks like I'll never get better as a writer, because I don't even have time for heavy drinking.

At any rate, look forward to some stories about ugly people turning pretty, coming to a store...er, internet retailer near you!

Ugly Sweater 4

I said the other day that I was in the market for an ugly Christmas sweater. Then, by chance, I found what I thought to be a non-ugly sweater. I decided that I must have it.

But I'm cheap, and was hoping to get it for a lower price. I kept an eye on it, hoping that on Black Friday it would go cheap, but, despite every other sweater at the damned store going on sale that day, my preferred sweater did not.

I had given up hope, but just the other night, on a whim, I checked it out, and found that, lo and behold, it had gone on sale, for Cyber Monday!

Huzzah! Or at least you might think that's how I reacted. Until I looked closer. No. No huzzahs for me. The sweater was already sold out.

I guess I'll go back to wanting an ugly sweater instead. Ugly people like me wouldn't look good in such a nice sweater anyway.