Oct 30 - Word count - 0 
          Six days since my last journal entry and I haven't written a word.  This new work schedule is really beating the life out of me.  All I do is sleep and work, or don't sleep and work.  Either way my mind is fuzzy half the time. 
          But enough about me.  What am I saying?  This journal is all about me.  Me me me me me!  And sometimes about my family, and my fellow Sock Monkeys.  So it's about me me me me me, and them them them them them.  I guess you could say it's about us.  How's that for fuzzy logic?  Prozac anyone? 

Oct 24 - Word count - 650 
          I can't remember who first said it, but they're absolutely right--television is the opiate of the masses.  In the old opium houses people would smoke or inject the drug, lie down,  and dream their lives away like true lotus eaters.  How would an outside observer view someone watching TV.   If they had no concept of television, basically they would see a person,  or groups of people, sitting around staring at a box for hours on end.  At least with opium, your own mind fuelled the fantasy.  Television does even that for you.  Worse yet, most opium users didn't have a sudden a urge to snack on pork rinds or pizza while fantasizing. 
           It occurs to me that books aren't much better.  The same observer would see someone staring incessantly at a small, rectangular object.  Technology has given us more free time--time we don't have to spend just trying to survive, or find something to eat--than at any point in history.  And how do we spend it?  Daydreaming, and at someone else's fantasies at that.  
          Is that to be the ultimate in achievement for the human race?  That one day perhaps we can spend all of our time in a dream state?  Isn't it incredible the way I can take even the most mundane of pleasures and turn it into something insidious?  I love being a writer. 

Oct 21 - Word count - 0 
          Another day, another...um...day.  Sorry folks, but that's about as exited as I can get at the moment.  I work from noon until midnight, sleep until nine, shower, grab a bite to eat, and go back to work.  Oh well, one more day and then it's four days off.  As far as novel dares, I'm afraid this one's a bust.  It's amazing how monotony can suck the creativity right out of you. 

Oct 19 - Word count - 0 
          One of the women at work today was skimming through the local paper and came across the requisite photo of a bikini clad woman.  "I don't see what's so special about her, " she said.  "Woman like that are a dime a dozen."  Yeah, right.  You try buying one of those women for 1.2 cents.  Heck, it cost $4.99 a minute just to talk to one of them. 

Oct 18 - Word count - 250 
          If you go to the Sock Monkey Home page and scroll down to my name, you'll se a one word description:  Superman.  I 'd just like to set the record straight.  I am not Superman.  Okay, I do where a blue uniform (and sometimes the red cape...but that's just when Pen and I are alone, and...never mind) but that's where the similarities end.  First off, I've had sex.  Secondly, kryptonite doesn't bother me in the least--well, not unless you throw it really hard.  Thirdly, Superman was a real do-gooder.  I'm in it for the fame and fortune; especially the fortune.  I fully intend to be rich and famous someday.  And when the fans get to be too annoying, I'll just put on a cheap pair of glasses and walk the streets in total anonymity.  (Fans can be so gullible.) 

Oct 17 - Word count - 0 
          Some of my fellow Sock Monkeys have forgone posting their journals, feeling that it's not...I don't know...proffesional, I guess.  Oh yeah?  Well bite me.  So far this journal seems to be the only thing of mine that anyone is bothering to read.  Besides, something is professional when professionals do it.  As soon as I'm a published author, then this will be a professional journal.  And there's no use trying to talk me out of it either.  With the kind of logic I just used to justify this journal, you should know it's hopeless anyway. 

Oct 16 - Word count - 600 
          Well, I didn't manage to solve world hunger, or get published, but I did build a faster than light drive.  It's just a tad faster than light, but loads faster than heavy.  What?  Oh... that light.  Nuts.  Back to the drawing board. 
          By the way, recent discussion with my fellow Sock Monkeys has made me curious as to just who exactly might be reading these inane words of wisdom.  So, if any of you non-Sock Monkeys read this, would you mind clicking on the url at the bottom of the page and sending me an email?  I promise not divulge your identities to telemarketers, insurance companies, or Amway salesmen.  Oh, and all youse guys in the witness protection program is exempt too.  Youse know who youse are. 

Oct 15 - Word count ? 
          I just came off of four days of midnight shift.  I know I wrote something during that time, I just can't remember what, or how much.  Now I'm on four days off.  I plan on doing a lot of writing during that time.  Of course, I planned on winning the lottery yesterday and that didn't pan out either.  I think that's the secret to living a happy life--set your goals ridiculously high.  That way when you fail it's not really much of a disappointment.  That said, tomorrow I think I'll create a faster than light drive and solve world hunger.  Oh yeah, and I might even get something published. 

Oct 12 - Word count (over the last 8 days) 800 
           I was away for a while.  Did anyone notice? 
          Writers must be the most masochist people on the planet.  Who else would take something as emotionally satisfying and effortless as daydreaming and turn it into hard work and constant rejection?  It's a good thing I'm not still seeing my psychologist--I can just imagine what she'd say (especially if she'd ever read this journal).  "All right, that's it for you.  Back on the couch and we'll talk about your mother some more."  Yeah, like that's going to inspire me.  My mom reads Danielle Steele. 

Oct 4 - Word count 250 
          I know it doesn't sound like much, but I only had about 45 minutes to write this morning before I had to get ready for work.  This isn't nearly the daily output I was hoping for, but all things considered, the fact that I can write at all is cause for celebration.  (Wohoo!  Break out the party hats and noise makers.)  Hmm.  Bad choice of words.   How about "something a little short of amazing."  (Hey, Martha.  Come quick!  This young feller here just strung two words together.) Missed again.  What about "something to be proud of?"  (Hey dear, get the video camera quick!  Our little boy is writing again.)  Nope.  That didn't work either.  Suddenly I get the feeling we writers have an over inflated sense of self importance. 

Oct 3 - Word Count: 500 
          I forgot that this month was the start of the new novel dare.  This word count was actually for yesterday.  I started the new job today, and it's going to take me a bit to get into the rhythm of things.  (Translation:  I didn't have time to write today.)  Three days into the dare and I'm already behind.  Oh well, hopefully I'll get a lot of writing done on my four days off.  (Translation:  If I can drag my butt out of bed, away from the TV, or out of the kitchen, I may scribble down a few words or two.) 
          Darkside ll is coming along well, as is Jinae, and a short story that I'm working on.  I also have ideas for a couple of other short stories, one of them humorous.  (Reality check:  I am so hopelessly deluding myself, but if I just keep up this facade no one will catch on.) 

Oops. Oct 2
          I had a great time at Context in Columbus, but that had more to do with the people than the convention itself.  I can't say as I really learned anything new there, but just meeting Charlie again was worth the drive.  Between the two of us we managed to make sure neither of us walked around with his fly down or with toilet paper dragging from the heel of our shoes, so I think we made a fairly descent impression.  Certainly nothing to shame our fellow Sock Monkeys.
          On the way home, I just missed being in a major car accident by one car.  A few minutes after turning off onto I-90, traffic stopped because of construction.  I came to a halt behind the car in front of me when all of a sudden I heard a crash, and what was left of the front end of a Ford Explorer spun to a halt in the left lane just beside my car.  Apparently he hadn't noticed the traffic stop and ran into the rear end of the Cadillac that was just slowing to stop behind me.  The entire rear end of the Caddy was shoved into the back seat.  Anyway, I got out of my car and made sure that no one was hurt.  Both drivers were in their sixties, and were miraculously uninjured.  Several people called for help on their cell phones.  The rest of the ride home was all down hill from there.