End of 2010 Update

So it's been nearly a year since I last posted my "ode to Lori" missive on this blog. We've been pretty busy this year. So much so that I haven't had much of an opportunity to update this blog. So here I go...

WRITING

This was the year of finally setting things straight. For many years, I've been looking forward to the re-release of my Fairlight novels. I had a contract with Blademaster Press to bring them back out (as well as some other books) but, unfortunately, that fell through. Nevertheless, thorugh other means, this year has so-far seen the re-release of Chance for the Future and Hope for Tomorrow and I'm hopeful that Faith in the Past will be available before the holidays. Also this year, the wide-release of One of the Girls with a slightly re-worked cover (cover art is still provided by the inestimable Kris Cartwright) and the first-ever release of my first non-fiction work, Zooming Thru Life. All of these books are available in trade paperback from both the publisher and/or Amazon.com as well as in a variety of digital eBook formats. More information can be found at paulcarhart.com.

I'm currently making the final edits on A Stranger On Bay Street (the first installment in the Worlds Collide series), which I hope will be released in 2011. And I'm also editing Plunge Into Eden, the first novel in the Planetfall trilogy, which I also hope will be released by the end of 2011.

After that, I hope to write the second and third Planetfall books and then we'll see where we'll go from there.

LAUNCH PAD

Our band had some ups and downs this year but I'm particularly excited about it right now because we have rehearsal in a few hours and a gig at the Long Beach East Village Farmers Market tomorrow morning (11:30 am). Earlier, I posted details of what we've been through as a band on the Launch Pad blog. We've also been getting some play on ThePrimeSpot show at KBEACH.org in support of our upcoming gig. And we hope to play more frequent gigs and continue recording as we go into 2011.

You can find out more about Launch Pad at our MySpace and Facebook pages.

MELODY

Melody is now six years old and in the first grade. She's in the accelerated class and is holding her own quite well. She's also taking violin and is rapidly improving. Lori continues to be her teacher at home, guiding her through academics, behavior and music while still helping to care for her mom. One thing I sorta miss is reading to Melody. Nowadays, she reads to ME!

WORK

Work has been steady this year and more secure than in 2009 (or at least it has felt that way). The company I work for seems to be making positive strides in stability and growth/expansion. So I'm hopeful that I can remain downtown, in close (walking distance) proximity to our home and Melody's school. It's nice to have Lori pick me up for lunch every once in awhile and I like being able to make it to Melody's school activities (and parent-teacher conferences... which is coming up! Yikes!).

SCI-FI

So I'm still walking to work. In April, it'll have been three years since I started that. I read the whole way both directions. Lori even got me a small reading lamp for when I'm coming home in the dark (when it gets dark earlier). Lately, I've been catching up on my Star Wars novels. Currently I'm reading the Republic Commando series that Karen Traviss penned. They're quite different than the standard Luke-saves-the-day variety of novels and I'm enjoying that difference.

I know I've outlined my thoughts on certain TV shows (mostly Sci-Fi themed) in the past. I'll try to quickly encapsulate where I'm at with TV right now. Maybe I'll follow up with a more detailed post later.

There are only three new shows I've started this year. They are The Event (NBC) on Mondays, No Ordinary Family (ABC) on Tuesdays and Undercovers (NBC) on Wednesdays. Surprisingly (based on my track record), two of the three have apparently warranted a full season order. Undercovers, apparently, has been whacked (despite J.J. Abrams' attachment). Oh, and both Lori and I liked Covert Affairs (USA) from this past summer. We both also like the BBC import Sherlock (a modern-day take on Sherlock Holmes) currently airing on PBS (there are three 90 minute episodes produced to-date... the third will air as part of Masterpiece Mystery this Sunday on most PBS stations and this Thursday on the Los Angeles-based KCET).

As for ongoing (not new) shows, I'm still watching Chuck (NBC) and Castle (ABC) on Mondays. Lori really digs Castle (and I suspect she has a bit of a crush on Mr. Fillion). I was following Caprica (SyFy) on Tuesdays until they pulled the plug on it (promising to air the final five episodes in 2011). Thursdays belong to Fringe. And on Fridays, I'm still holding on to my CW Smallville (supposedly the final season) and Supernatural block. Smallville, in particular, is getting quite good as they spiral toward Clark Kent inevitably becoming Superman. Also on Fridays, I follow Sanctuary (SyFy) and Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Cartoon Network) which has grown on me more with each season.

Other shows I watch: Psych and Burn Notice (both USA) are supposedly coming back this month with new episodes and Eureka and Warehouse 13 (both SyFy) are both supposed to have Holiday-themed episodes before returning in 2011.

So I guess that's it for now.

Still Ticking

It's been a long time since either Lori or I have posted anything here but I thought I might get back to it. Stay tuned for a rundown of what's up and what's coming.

In the meantime, I posted to our band's blog earlier today. That'll tell you at least what's been happening from a music and ministry perspective.

Teaching Photoshop Again

Just a quick note to say that I'm teaching a brief course on retouching and color-shifting in Photoshop today at The Designory in Long Beach.

It's a talented group of designers that I'll be talking to, so I'm sure it'll be fun.