Logospilgrim's Blog, page 10

Atheist Tiki Hour: it is written

Kind readers,

well, it’s been a busy month for me over here.

First of all, I finished writing Atheist Tiki Hour: Your Guide to a Secular Blast two days ago.

I’m going to start editing and proofreading it this weekend. In a couple of weeks or so, I’ll send the manuscript to the editor at Atheist Republic, and hopefully he’ll like it.

I’ve been adding more toys to my collection. Check out my Instagram! Here’s one set I got for my birthday with a gift card that a loved one sent me:

The accordion playing Pony is named Cheese Sandwich. This set is a whole other level of awesome.

And here’s a set I scored last week, the Grossery Gang Yucky Mart. This thing is beyond hilarious.

The Quietus venue is officially booked. Please visit the website for all the latest information.

In related news, I finally trimmed the lace off my flouncy lace front Snape wig and took this quick test shot of it:

Dramatic Half-Blood Prince is dramatic.

Today, the awesome Rubber Clown Car lads sent me a demo version of the original song they asked me to sing for them. It’s amazing. It’ll be on one of their upcoming albums; naturally, I’ll be keeping you up to date on this.

In the meantime, you should buy their fabulous latest album, “Let’s Go Bowling”. Click on the picture below to get your copy:

Here’s something else you should get immediately: The Atheist Pig’s biting and insightful cartoon collection Evolution.

Once I’ve finished editing Atheist Tiki Hour, I’ll start writing my next book. Not sure if it’ll be Severus Snape and the Art of Being Human or The Rollicking Adventures of an Unrepentant Tomboy. We’ll see.

It’s been beastly hot here. What with my book writing and the weather, I haven’t even bothered to put the lawn chairs and table out this year. I kind of don’t care.

Well, that’s all for now[image error]

Your devoted

Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Tagged: Atheist Republic, Atheist Tiki Hour, Quietus 2016, Rubber Clown Car, The Atheist Pig, toys

you can find me in the bar

Kind readers,

I’ve been quite busy, but I’m not rushed or feeling overwhelmed.

Which is good[image error]

I’m a lot smarter about not treating myself like garbage these days.

Atheist Tiki Hour will be finished at the start of July. I’m three quarters through the book.

In a couple of days, I’ll be giving the down payment for the Quietus 2016 event room. I’m very much looking forward to this intimate gathering of friends.

I’m tweeting a lot.

I just put a new website together, and I’ll be spending a lot of time blogging there:

New photos of my refurbished office here. Finally got around to doing that, though I used my smart phone.

I want to see The Conjuring 2 because it looks hilarious. They’re already saying that a spinoff featuring the “demonic nun” character will be made, and that sounds even more hilarious.

In conclusion:

In the very depths of my mind, I’m toying, ever so slightly, with the notion of doing an Apostate Island podcast in the distant future.

I probably need to get completely drunk so this notion is erased from my mind forever.

Your devoted

Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Tagged: Apostate Island, Atheist Tiki Hour, Soundcloud, writing

Levitical Prohibition & Jimmy crack corn

moving in perfect peace and harmony towards Elvisness

Kind readers,

after a few weeks of glorious warmth, we’re back to crap weather in my neck of the woods. My fingers are not quite like ice again, but it’s close. I’m using the sleeves of my sweater to cover my hands up to the first knuckles. It’s supposed to warm up again by the middle of next week…

Ah, well. I’ll be writing all the more this weekend.

Speaking of writing, I’m halfway through Atheist Tiki Hour. It’s going well—I think! Anyway, I’m happy writing it.

In other news, the terrific comic strip artist The Atheist Pig loves There’s a Hula Girl on my Dashboard. That made me smile from ear to ear. He’s sent me a copy of his book and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

I’ve found out that there’s a Tiki bar in Toronto, The Shameful Tiki Room (what a name!). I have got to get my ass over there.

Then there’s this:

Yesterday evening, I created a t-shirt with my face on it—why the fuck not—and added the words “Levitical Prohibition” beneath. Because that’s what I am. Tattooed, dressed in masculine clothes, non-binary, apostate, unbeliever, secular, and I really don’t give a shit about Bronze Age admonitions from volcano god worshipers.

The earth trembled and quaked,

and the foundations of the mountains shook;

they trembled because he was angry.

Smoke rose from his nostrils;

consuming fire came from his mouth,

burning coals blazed out of it.

Like I said, the volcano god.

Click on the photo if you want a shirt! I’ll be adding more fun t-shirts to my shop this week.

I have a meeting with the event organizer at the Ramada Ottawa in a couple of weeks. I’ll be booking the Quietus 2016 room, signing the papers, giving the down payment…

The moment I’ve finished writing Atheist Tiki Hour, I’ll start Severus Snape and the Art of Being Human. It would be fantastic if I had that book done in time for Quietus. I have a lot to say; there are many things I want to write about in Art of Being Human.

I’m feeling more and more detached from Livejournal. It makes me blue, especially on days when I’m tired… I have joyful times on Twitter, interact with people there, and increasingly on Instagram as well. I blog here. That’s good. Livejournal feels like it’s gone, and I find myself thinking, you know what, I’m done. I read other people’s entries—there aren’t that many these days—and I don’t know if I want to update mine anymore. I feel like the Dude; I’m lying on my rug and listening to bowling balls strike pins, and Jimmy crack corn and I don’t care.

The other day, I got “Sodas & Shakes” scented Crayola markers, because they’re just so darn happy.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was released thirty years ago today. Let my Cameron go.

All right! It’s writing time.

Your devoted

Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Tagged: self-care, The Atheist Pig, writing

Quietus 2016: registration is LIVE

Kind readers,

registration for Quietus 2016 has officially begun!

Go to the registration page and click on the cauldron to register. Print your Paypal payment receipt and bring it with you to Quietus: it’ll be your ticket[image error]

You’ll be able to make your room reservations soon; I’ll be letting everyone know, so stay tuned for more news. There will be a discount for attendees.

We’ll eat splendid meals, talk about Professor Snape, chat, dress up, play Candy Land, watch a funny movie, partake of fine beverages, relax, have a good time in a room that looks like it could be inside a castle…

I’m really looking forward to seeing loved ones at Quietus.

If you’re coming and have friends you believe might enjoy this gathering, do tell them about it!

My summer and autumn will be dedicated to writing, and this event.

Once I finish writing Atheist Tiki Hour, I’ll get started on Severus Snape and the Art of Being Human; I’d love to have copies of this book available in time for Quietus.

Your devoted

Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Tagged: Harry Potter conventions, Quietus 2016, registration

Quietus 2016: movie time!

Kind readers,

I’m a busy creative beaver.

Today, I designed a banner for Quietus:

I wanted to capture the quietude and coziness of this gathering.

The number of loved ones on the guest list is growing. This feels like a warm pat on the back❤

Also, I contacted the licensing people, and this is the movie that will be shown on Saturday night:

This film is an under-appreciated classic. An ode to weirdness! And outcasts.

Your devoted

Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Tagged: Ed Wood, Harry Potter conventions, Quietus 2016

Quietus 2016: it’s a go!

Kind readers,

we’re finally getting summer days here in my neck of the woods, and does it ever feel wonderful. For the first time in months, I’m not a walking icicle. Sunshine, open windows, mild, lilac-scented breezes…

I took a photo to celebrate the fact that I’ve been enjoying all of this, as well as summer wear, very much:

I got myself a super terrifically fun bag—one of the best ways to celebrate anything is to get a bag—and a hot dog key chain.

I’m writing, writing, writing.

In other happy news, registration for Quietus will take place this week or next! Allow me to share what I posted on the Quietus website yesterday.

Quietus 2016 is happening on the weekend of November 5 & 6 at the stunning and tranquil Ramada Ottawa On The Rideau.

Don’t book your room yet! I need to give the down payment on the room rental. I’ll be doing so very soon.

There will be a maximum of 50 attendees. This year, at any rate. We’ll see how it goes in 2018.

Registration is set at 60.00. Remember, this is 60.00 Canadian, so right now, around 45.00 US dollars. To cover my ass, because I’m renting the room and organizing everything, there will be NO REFUNDS. It will be possible to transfer a registration until September 1.

I thought I’d collect funds via Indiegogo, but I’ve come to the conclusion that it would be much simpler to accept payments via Paypal. I’ll be setting this up this week. If you want to come, please email me at logospilgrim at gmail dot com, as I’ll be contacting the people on the guest list first!

Registration doesn’t include meals. It does include everything else, plus a selection of hors d’oeuvres at the cocktail party Sunday night.

Meals, i.e. lunch and dinner, must take place at the venue, in the Quietus room. The menu will feature a set number of choices: a soup and salad, and three different dishes, one of which will be vegetarian. And dessert, I imagine. I’ll be discussing this with the event organizer once I’ve made the down payment. The meals are around twenty dollars or less (the lunch selection will be cheaper).

Attendees must stay at the venue hotel. There will be a special room discount. The moment it’s possible to make room reservations, I’ll let you know; this will be very soon after I’ve given them the deposit for the room rental.

If there are more than 40 attendees, there will be more perks, such as food items (fancy cupcakes in the Quietus room and so on), neat gifts in the registration bags… Things like that.

Yet again, I’ve updated all the pages on the Quietus website with new information.

I had such a nice time discussing the convention details with the event organizer this afternoon. At first, I thought that the restaurant was still in their amazing room with the stone arches and medieval style chandeliers, but that room is now one of their three conference areas.

Obviously, there was only one possible choice! That’s the room I selected. All of Quietus will take place there. It’s going to be extraordinary.

I’m not going to lie, I’m feeling verklempt. This event is going to be my baby. It’s going to be an introvert Harry Potter fan’s dream come true.

If you’d like to come, please email me at logospilgrim at gmail dot com. Once I have the Paypal registration payment set up, I’ll contact the people on that list first. It’s going to happen this week or next.

I have to say that every time I’ve been to this hotel, it just gets more beautiful. It’s about ten minutes away from the airport by taxi (see the hotel page), though there’s also a shuttle.

So, there you have it!

The thought of being in this beautiful, intimate room with loved ones makes my heart swell. If everything goes well, and everyone has a great time, next time I do this, in 2018, I’d increase the number of attendees to maybe 80.

I’m thinking that after I finish writing Atheist Tiki Hour, I’ll plunge into Severus Snape and the Art of Being Human so I have copies in time for Quietus… We’ll see!

The informal activities that will take place Sunday afternoon will encourage happy times, friends interacting… I’m thinking games, coloring, things like that… For instance, I’ll bring my Candy Land game, among others! I’ve been dying to play Candy Land with loved ones, and isn’t that a perfect game to play at Hogwarts?

I’m putting my heart into Quietus. I so hope to see you there❤

Your devoted

Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Tagged: Harry Potter conventions, Quietus 2016

news news news

Kind readers,

I’m full steam ahead working on Atheist Tiki Hour. Here’s a small excerpt from chapter one:

As far as the weather goes, we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel over here. Summer-like weather next week… Oh please, oh please. I need it so bad.

“Writer at work on a cold day, being comforted by Rob Zombie.”

Speaking of next week, I’m meeting with the event organizer at the Quietus 2016 venue.

Yes, the wheels are officially in motion, and registration is imminent! I’ll be operating with a guest list registration system. If you’d like to come, email me and I’ll add your name to the list. Once registration goes live, you’ll be contacted first.

For all the latest information, please visit the Quietus website.

Based on the feedback I’ve been getting, it’s already safe to say that Quietus will take place on the weekend of November 5 and 6.

It’s also very likely that Quietus will have a limit of thirty or forty attendees. I’ll make my decision once I’ve had my meeting with the event organizer. I’m keeping things simple so I don’t wind up stressing myself out when this is meant to be a pleasant, intimate gathering.

The venue will be the idyllic Ramada Ottawa On The Rideau. Note: they’re not taking reservations yet! I’ll be letting everyone know when it’s possible to make hotel reservations.

I recently participated in a hilarious podcast episode of Share a Slice with Sean that featured half of the inimitable absurdist Super Pee Pee Time podcast comedy team, Jeff Mac. There was much merriment.

In conclusion, I close my eyes and I drift away.

Your devoted

Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Tagged: Atheist Tiki Hour, Quietus 2016, Share a Slice with Sean Podcast, Soundcloud, Super Pee Pee Time

Coconut Atheist trilogy

Kind readers,

I’ve been hard at work on Atheist Tiki Hour. Finally.

To fight my anxiety, impostor syndrome, and procrastination, I devised a note card and writer’s planner reward system that has been working most effectively. The plane hasn’t quite left the runway yet, but takeoff is imminent.

There’s nothing like filling out cards, and nicely organized planners, to make me forget about my worries. “Am I writing crap?” “Someone’s going to read this, I can’t even.” What if this, what if that. The note cards distract me from these crippling thoughts fairly well.

I also had another idea. There’s a Hula Girl on my Dashboard: How I Left Faith Behind and Embraced Life and Atheist Tiki Hour: Your Guide to a Secular Blast are going to be part of a trilogy. The third book will be called Heathen’s Hideaway: Living God Free.

Naturally, I designed a spiffy cover for it.

All three of these books will illustrate my particular brand of atheism, which I’ve termed Coconut Atheism. I write about my joyful atheist life. I’m writing from the point of view of an ex-Christian and an apostate. I don’t go into great detail about why religion doesn’t work, why the so-called holy texts are flawed and nonsensical and contradictory, or about why evolution (for instance) is a fact; there are already many excellent books written on these topics.

My books will be about how my new life as an atheist is simply filled with joy. I write about my deliverance. I write about intellectual and personal freedom, in the sense that my life isn’t dominated by ancient myths, regressive and debilitating and downright cruel “divine” commands, or absurd, thought-stifling woo.

I write about having a finite existence, and how I’m content with that. Much more than that, I’m grateful and at peace and fully alive.

It’s a funny thing, being a primate with a large “oh how it fucks with you” brain. It’s funny and fun. I write about silliness. I write whatever comes to my mind.

I write about sadness, too. I write that it’s okay to be sad. Believers are sad too, and I speak from experience. Atheists don’t need to put up with being told that if only they believed, they’d be happy. Because obviously, atheists are miserable unhappy fucks, right? They “deny” the one true whatever. This is why I write about atheist joy, about the glorious moment of life that we have.

In other news, my new suit is on its way, and there will be asexy photos at some point once it’s arrived.

I recorded a test song with my beautiful Blue Nessie microphone.

I believe I’ll be recording a Roy Orbison song next.

Your devoted

Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Tagged: atheism, Coconut Atheism, Soundcloud, writing

free living

Kind readers,

the weather is finally going to warm up this week! Twenty degrees Celsius by Friday! I could cry with joy.

Or skip and dance!

Yesterday, I designed a new business card.

I’d like to thank everyone who’s been buying and reading copies of There’s a Hula Girl on my Dashboard: How I Left Faith Behind and Embraced Life and Outlaw in the Land of Perfection lately. I wish I could hand out a free Martini with each purchase[image error]

As I’ve mentioned before, the main character in Outlaw, apostate Kristopher Silverheart, is a vague theist in the first book, but by the third, she’ll be a secular humanist. The Outlaw series is about liberation, the struggle for free thinking and free living.

On that note, I’ll continue working on Atheist Tiki Hour today. With the window open!

It’s taken me longer than I thought it would to write that book. I’ve been stalling. Winter was hard and extremely stressful this year; I hadn’t been that stressed out in a while. Also, the thought that this book may result in more exposure freaks me out completely, I think *laughs* It’s not a fear of more people knowing that I’m an atheist or anything like that; it has more with my usual fear of, I don’t know… Success? The whole, “How can people like what I do, am I a hack” thing? Anyway, the fear is fading. I’m, uh, feeling more confident, or less worried. I’ve been a lot more relaxed these past few weeks as well.

So, onward and upward.

Oh, and here’s another relevant thing.

For years, I referred to my partner as “my better half.” This was due to a religiously influenced desire to diminish myself at every opportunity, to make everything and everyone more important than I was, a desire to be “the last.” Note: this is nothing that my partner wanted or believed! My personal history made me a prime candidate for a religious mysticism that approved of self-abasement or “humility” in the name of universal, “transcendent” love. In addition, the judgmental type of Evangelical Christianity that had caused me such pain when I was younger precisely typified the attitude I wished to turn my back on completely, and thus notions of bowing before the divine in all was extremely appealing to me; I believed that this was the only way to love, truly love others.

Nowadays, I believe this isn’t such a good approach. I don’t think it’s feasible or healthy or desirable. To respect or love others doesn’t mean I have to treat myself like shit or view myself as the lowest of the low.

Part of this effort to treat myself with self-respect has been to pay attention my less than healthy practices, and so I began referring to my spouse as my boo bear (one of my favorite nicknames for him) or my significant other. I’ve been shedding, one after the other, damaging habits that pertained to my old beliefs. I’ve embraced new life. My human life. My beautiful, “transcendent-free” earthly life. My humanity.

This will be the essence of Atheist Tiki Hour. Cocktails for everybody!

Your devoted

Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Tagged: free living, freethinking, writing

round peg, square hole

Kind readers,

it’s cool and rainy here today… It feels like spring will never come. But the prospect of adding this to my collection of fun in a few months does cheer me up:

It’s Tiki Hour Joker!

I also got a new suit. Jacket, vest, pants—the whole shebang. Based on my experiences with Topman garments, I’m confident this suit will fit my small frame.

Obviously, there will be photos. With any luck, I’ll be able to get some help this time and maybe even do the shoot in a bar or a motel or something. We’ll see. It can be difficult to schedule photo shoots and accomplish anything, the logistics often get in the way, so I wind up doing it all myself because it’s easier. Like I said, we’ll see…

In other news, one of the reasons I’ve been thinking of updating this blog more regularly is that I find Livejournal depressing; this has been the case for some time, increasingly so. I don’t know what it is. Perhaps it’s simply that most people who used to be on Livejournal are now on Facebook (which I loathe). I don’t know. Livejournal feels like a second thought these days. I’d rather blog here more often.

I love Twitter: it’s like a dive bar filled with creative types and eccentrics, at least in the part of town where I hang out.

To me, Facebook is like a government office/high school cafeteria/family reunion, and you gotta wear a tag with your “real” name on it to get in. Frequently you hear, “I’ll say this here [place other than Facebook] because I can’t share it on Facebook.” Christ, you know? Wasn’t getting away from all that shit the whole point of coming online, back in the day? The internet was the domain of outcasts and oddballs. Now you “have” to play by the rules of people like those who made fun of your clothes when you were younger, or like the principal in The Breakfast Club.

Fuck no.

I remember reading about this artist who got booted from Facebook, even though he gave them the required ID, because his name was “too odd.” Too odd—it’s enough to give them the vapors!

Is it any wonder that we live in a time when, at least in some parts of the world, you’d better have the proper hoo hoo or ding dong to use the bathroom?

Anyway. That’s all I’m going to say about that.

I need to eat something and get back to work on Atheist Tiki Hour.

Your devoted

Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Tagged: internet, tomboy