Should I or Shouldn't I?

I've had a couple of people tell me "you really shouldn't say this or that on your blog in that way" for different reasons. To that, I say...

I am who I am and I will not pander to anyone for anything. I like me, for the most part. I'm not hard to get along with, I'm not snide or rude. I'm sarcastic and firm in my opinions, but that doesn't mean I feel others should see only my side. I'm comfortable with the fact that some people will not agree with me.

One comment here on my blog, said by a friend with only my best interest at heart, said I shouldn't say something because it might make me seem hard to work with. Well, I'm not hard to work with if people are reasonable. And talking about a personal thing (not even with someone in the writing field as it were) that bothered me, and would bother anyone in that situation, shouldn't effect how an editor or publisher should see me. If that one, tiny bit out of everything else on here is a deal breaker, then so be it.

I am who I am.

Why must we pander to others to be considered easy going? I am a passionate person by nature and can't help my own sense of self from coming through if one gets to know me. I don't--and won't--revise myself to make others see me as what they want. My personality is set in stone. Sorry.

So here's the question. Do we, as people, feel so much that approval means success that we have become a lying bunch of pseudo-selves to gain what? Money? Who needs money, really? There's nothing in this world we can't do without, except food and water--and really, if we weren't such a big bunch of pussies, we could get those without the assistance of modern convenience. What are we so afraid of? That this one, or that one won't "approve"?

Fuh-uuh-uh-uuck that.

Does that make me hard to get along with? No.

Does it make me a better person? I'd like to think so. Especially when people think you have to be "this" way to make sure your ass doesn't end up in a sling.

But, but... Daddy! The sling is just so much fun!!!

Peace & Love, y'all
~E.

Music and why we love it (Part 1)

I haven't been posting regularly. Once every few weeks isn't as often as I'd like, but most times I haven't the time. Eventually, I'll get around to it.

Today, we're talking about music. I love music of all kinds... well, except gospel and new country. I can't get into any of the new country artists. It all sounds so cheap! No disrespect intended, but it does. And gospel is... well, gospel. My aunt is a gospel artist and has several albums out. I own none of them.

I love everything else. Old country-- like Marty Robbins and Ernie Ford, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams Sr., and of course, Johnny Horton. Rock--anything. I'll listen to it all.

My favorite artists are few and far between, though. I admire musicians with musical genius. I myself play guitar and sing, but I'm not a musician. I don't compose or write lyrics, I just enjoy the hobby of playing. I know music isn't where my true talent lies so I leave it to the ones who have that talent.

To me, musicians who make it an art form are rare. There are just so few that go beyond what sells albums and make it truly amazing. Today, I'm going to talk about those.

First and foremost--Elton John. I swear, I think that man was born to play a piano. His music ranges from polka to pop, and it's all stellar stuff. I could listen to him for hours and hours. He has a soothing voice, even in songs like "Saturday Night's All Right (for fighting)" or "Crocodile Rock". "Tiny Dancer" and "Levon" are my favorites from him. He's just wonderful.

Second, the Finnish band, HIM. I can't get enough of these guys. Ville Valo has the best vocals in the industry, period. I could stand a new album from them twice a year. Valo composes for the band, and his musical composition blows my mind. Soft melodies blend with that hard, rock my socks off guitar playing of super sexy guitarist, Linde. And Valo's vocals? They touch the soul, baby. How could people not listen to these guys? They are incredible. No bones about it--buy their albums.

I would be remiss if I didn't talk about Metallica, at least a little bit. You can't be 26 years old (yes, I told my age. So sue me) and not be a fan of Metallica. I grew up on Metallica and Nirvana (I'll talk about them in a minute). I've heard the dulcet tones of this band since I was a kid. The last album wasn't all I hoped, but every band has that one album, right? I love the rest of them, especially Master of Puppets. These guys will always be on my playlists. Always.

Nirvana... damn I wish there could have been more from them. It's a bit nostalgiac, yes, but I love their music too. I can sing just about any one of their songs at any given time, without Kurt Cobain backing my vocals (you know... singing along with the cd). Nirvana was another that fed me musically when I was a kid. I still love them, to this day. And still listen to them.

Nevermore; not such a mainstream band, but still genius. Warrel Dane is amazing. I can't even begin to describe their music, but progressive metal would be about as close as I could get. Dane's vocals aren't the greatest--he sounds a bit like an American Version of Boris Karloff-- but his voice is very dramatic and sets the right tone. The music behind his vocals is perfect and it just... works. You'll have to hear them to understand.

I'm stopping there, as I don't have the time to finish right now. I have some work to do, stories to edit and so on.

Oh! And before I forget, I have another two pieces coming out. In October, a short piece titled, "TEDDY" will be available from the Piker Press. In November, a piece titled "TERRIBLE BEAUTY" will be available from Emerald Tales. I have another piece coming out in November from Piker as well, so be sure to keep a check back. I'll link you up as soon as the pieces are out.

But for now, and as always...

Peace & Love, y'all
~E.

Incredibly incredible credibles and other nonsense

So, this is a fly by the seat of my pants post. I have no idea where it's going or what I'm going to say. You have been warned.

First, my poem "Addicted" is up at Short Story Library. Stop by, take a read.... subscribe to the journal. There's some good fiction and poetry on that site. You're missing out if you don't go take a look-see.

Second, my son will be celebrating his tenth birthday this month. Ten years, the boy has been alive. It doesn't seem like it at all. I can't believe that this tall, manly thing wandering around my house is the tiny baby I brought home. It's amazing, seeing your children grow up. Mine are growing too fast. I need a ton of bricks to put on their heads... slow 'em down a bit.

Maturity in children has gotten me thinking. When do we, as parents, need to stop and say 'You're still a kid'. My oldest boy is obsessed with girls and cooking (he likes to cook). My kids have been cooking for a long time. I'll not have sons who need a woman to do their cooking for them. Anyway, the point is, with all the forward movement in society, when is it time to stop and just let kids be kids? I'm always talking to them about how it's my responsibility to prepare them for the future, but it begs the question.

When is the right time to let the future take care of itself and just let the kids be? I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that.

Being a horror writer with children is so funny. My kids are always asking me to read them something I wrote. And most times, there's nothing I *can* read to them. I don't write your grandfather's horror story. My work is graphic--not blood and guts, but truly fear inspiring (Well, what's the point in being a writer if you can't admit what you are good at?). My kids being interested in what I do is wonderful, I just wish I could share more of it.

However, it pains me to see that when I do find something they can read, something that isn't mine but is age appropriate, they aren't interested. I love to read--I'd read anything you put in front of me, good, bad and ugly. My kids don't share this love of the written word, though and it bothers me. How can I get my kids to read? I've tried assigning them daily reading, which doesn't work. I've tried buying them books in subjects they show interest in. Still, nothing. In the age of images, words are just boring. This is sad. There are so many worlds to be explored. And a writer whose children don't like to read? Talk about a horror story...

Getting your child to read isn't as easy as it sounds. With movies and video games, not to mention texting and IM's, Myspace and all the rest, how are kids supposed to want to read books? Maybe if I sent it to them page by page as a text message...

Well, that's about it for now. I can't think of anything else, so for now....

Peace & Love, y'all
~E.