My short story, “White,” is now live at a new web magazine called Lobster Cult. They’re just getting started, but there’s also a short called “Signs” by Brandon Tietz, author of Out of Touch. Enjoy!

Also also, I’ll be entering Angel Falls in this year’s Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards Competition. So, soon you’ll all be pestered by me for votes and hits and etc. We can make this happen!

Man it’s raining a lot here. A LOT. Nigh biblical, it is! The lagoon across the street form our apartment is typically shallow or empty most mornings, but it is approaching street level slowly but surely. I’m not too worried just yet. The beach is being eroded and eaten away as well. This is a shot from my morning bike ride to Santa Monica, somewhere near Shutters on the Beach. Typically, the ocean is about 30-40 yards from the bike path. And now…it IS the bike path.

I’ll get some pics from the home beach at Playa del Rey later today (if the rain lets up) because there’s some awesome devastation happening to our shorelines too.

EDIT: Returned to the beach for a few night shots. Mostly because a boat washed up here months ago and they still haven’t cleared it out, so I wanted to see if any new boats had come along to keep it company…

A fantastic collection of short stories from up-and-coming author Caleb J Ross. He’s been all over the place lately (even HERE with a guest blog! Is he man or is he machine?)

The table of contents is presented as a faceted gem, which is highly fitting, for each story presents a different facet of human nature. The stories are at times uplifting and insightful, but more often haunting and heartbreaking. A fantastic collection that’s over far too quickly. It’s difficult to describe the level of melancholy and depth of noble sorrow Caleb imbues in his characters. Most of them aren’t people you’d have in your circle of friends, but he gives them quiet dignity on a level that makes you NEED to know them for the all-too-brief duration of each story. These flawed characters aren’t trying to overcome their imperfections, but rather coming to accept them and shape their lives around them. The non-fiction piece “A Chinese Gemini” was my favorite, particularly because of the way it blends so neatly into the collection. The honesty of the tale merely strengthens Caleb’s voice in the surrounding story collection.

Worth the read! Be sure to check out the links on Caleb’s blog post and buy the book!

I think I’m going to try to post a music video here every Monday. Something I’m listening to as I write, or just something that catches my attention, but hopefully nothing you’ve heard before. Jason Webley is a bit like a young Tom Waits with an accordion (in this song at least). He’s got range, he’s always willing to try new things with different artists. He’s even one half of a Siamese twin sister act, Evelyn Evelyn.

This song has two of my favorite ingredients: heavy melancholy and accordion. The lyrics are quite moving, and the fact that he’s up there, alone and raw, makes this performance all the better. Enjoy!

I had to meet with a potential client in Thousand Oaks this morning. I live by LAX, so this was a 55 mile commute on the motorcycle in what should have been no traffic (north of the 10). Instead, there were three accidents on the 101, and none of these jerks knew how to properly stay in the middle of their lanes so that I could split lanes. Still made it on time.

I met a bird, a parakeet of some sort, and then sorted through a box of assorted animal bones, and then I held a cured and dried bull’s penis. A bundle of them, actually. It was one of THOSE mornings.

Then I had to stop at Borders to pay a bill via WiFi because I almost forgot it was due today.

This is me in my safety orange gear, because I am a Power Ranger.

So much happening this weekend. Anybody that knows me knows I’ve been a Cincinnati Bengals fan since waaaaaay back in ’88. I jokingly made a post in week 3 of this season that their 2-1 record meant they’d be playoff bound, and well…wow. Who knew?

I’m nervous, because they played so magnificently in the early part of the season, and in the stretch run have shown that they’re heading back to typical “Bungles” form. I think they have a strong chance of getting past round 1, but I don’t think they match up with either the Chargers or the Colts very well. But man, one playoff win would feel so good. It’s been too long.

In other sports news, Urijah Faber returns to the WEC cage this weekend to face Raphael Assuncao. After barely losing to Mike Thomas Brown (going the distance with TWO broken hands, mind), Faber is hoping to tune up here to earn a shot at new champion Jose Aldo. Aldo’s a beast (if such a term can be used in the featherweight division), but Faber’s resilient and relentless, so that matchup would be non-stop entertainment. In the main event, I expect Ben Henderson to beat Jamie Varner to unify the lightweight title in what could be a classic showdown.

I leave you with highlights of the Lord of MMA, Fedor Emilianenko. Whether you’re two feet taller than him, twice his weight, or twice as ripped, he will find a way into your mind, and smash you.

Take a gander around the sight! Things are streamlined. Old things have been discarded. STORIES are now linked directly on the website, so you can read my stuff. I’m taking greater advantage of the tags in Blogger as well. On every page except the blog, you can see a direct Twitter/Facebook feed. And within the next day, the homepage should be renovated so you can see each new blog post.

AND by month’s end, I’ll have author Caleb J. Ross coming in for a guest blog post! Loits of big stuff in store for the year, I hope, so stay tuned!