David G. Cookson's Blog, page 24
November 6, 2017
Your Generation Sucked when you were young, too.
This is part of my Nano Novel. No, really.
And by the way, while we’re at it…
Stop bitching about Millennials and the younger generation! It makes you sound like an old fuck. Every generation thinks the one that came after it sucks. The fact that we’re just starting to figure out we shouldn’t be thoughtlessly picking on people who can’t defend themselves has got to be a good thing. I don’t care if you think people are oversensitive these days. I don’t give a shit if you hate people that are politically correct. Stop calling people snowflakes. Stop telling people to wake up. Don’t tell me to wake up. You’re not my mother. You don’t set my bedtime. Stop being such an asshole about things.
You could read pain Center if you want to read something that is finished.
http://davecookson.tripod.com/PainCen...
And by the way, while we’re at it…
Stop bitching about Millennials and the younger generation! It makes you sound like an old fuck. Every generation thinks the one that came after it sucks. The fact that we’re just starting to figure out we shouldn’t be thoughtlessly picking on people who can’t defend themselves has got to be a good thing. I don’t care if you think people are oversensitive these days. I don’t give a shit if you hate people that are politically correct. Stop calling people snowflakes. Stop telling people to wake up. Don’t tell me to wake up. You’re not my mother. You don’t set my bedtime. Stop being such an asshole about things.
You could read pain Center if you want to read something that is finished.
http://davecookson.tripod.com/PainCen...
November 5, 2017
No Nap! So Cranky!
A NaNoWriMo Novel Excerpt.
My life turned quickly after this condition hit. Last year at this time, I had friends, a job, people who cared what happened to me.
Then the condition started. And I had to disappear.
I used to try to pass it off as my way of conserving energy when nothing was happening. But this is America, and not everyone buys into the mentality that not every moment counts.
It’s amazing how much it irritates people when you tell them you have to take a nap before you can do something. It’s hard for people to understand. They don’t get it. How many ways can I say it? That’s why I stopped trying to explain it. And my friends got sick of me anyway. Soon the invitations to go out drinking or parties just fell by the wayside, as I concentrated on getting my 45 minutes every 3 hours. 45 every 3.
Pain center was my last novel and is very much on sale now and can be found here: http://davecookson.tripod.com/PainCen...
My life turned quickly after this condition hit. Last year at this time, I had friends, a job, people who cared what happened to me.
Then the condition started. And I had to disappear.
I used to try to pass it off as my way of conserving energy when nothing was happening. But this is America, and not everyone buys into the mentality that not every moment counts.
It’s amazing how much it irritates people when you tell them you have to take a nap before you can do something. It’s hard for people to understand. They don’t get it. How many ways can I say it? That’s why I stopped trying to explain it. And my friends got sick of me anyway. Soon the invitations to go out drinking or parties just fell by the wayside, as I concentrated on getting my 45 minutes every 3 hours. 45 every 3.
Pain center was my last novel and is very much on sale now and can be found here: http://davecookson.tripod.com/PainCen...
November 4, 2017
The Foremost Leading Scientist
I am going to be putting up excerpts of my new National Novel Writing Month novel...
"I’ve always been fascinated with consciousness, the big questions, like Why AM I here? Am I here? And my other favorite: who the hell are you?
"People needed to make money so they signed up for my experiment. At first it was just supposed to be a test of human endurance, a way to make the workers more productive and less complain-y. But then, in typical American fashion we found a way to overdo it.
"There is an answer to your conundrum. But first I need your help…
#nanowrimo
#nanowrimo2017
Read Pain Center!!!! It was also a Nano book!!!
http://davecookson.tripod.com/PainCen...
"I’ve always been fascinated with consciousness, the big questions, like Why AM I here? Am I here? And my other favorite: who the hell are you?
"People needed to make money so they signed up for my experiment. At first it was just supposed to be a test of human endurance, a way to make the workers more productive and less complain-y. But then, in typical American fashion we found a way to overdo it.
"There is an answer to your conundrum. But first I need your help…
#nanowrimo
#nanowrimo2017
Read Pain Center!!!! It was also a Nano book!!!
http://davecookson.tripod.com/PainCen...
November 2, 2017
Nap Shaming is very real...
I am going to be putting up excerpts of my new National Novel Writing Month novel...
“Jesus, you nap a lot, what are you, eighty?”
White noise. Gentle music. Meditation. Don’t think about anything. Let yourself go….
Nap Shaming is real. I experience it on a daily basis. Total strangers look at you like you are some lower form of human once they realize you are one of them.
“You’re one of those people. You’re one of those people who like to take NAPS. You close your eyes and sleep like a bum while good, honest, decent people are working. You should be ashamed of yourself. What are you, eighty?”
Yeah. I’ve heard that one before.
I’m just through fighting. I got no sympathy from the unemployment office when they rejected my claim.
#nanowrimo
#nanowrimo2017
Read Pain Center!!!! It was also a Nano book!!!
http://davecookson.tripod.com/PainCen...
“Jesus, you nap a lot, what are you, eighty?”
White noise. Gentle music. Meditation. Don’t think about anything. Let yourself go….
Nap Shaming is real. I experience it on a daily basis. Total strangers look at you like you are some lower form of human once they realize you are one of them.
“You’re one of those people. You’re one of those people who like to take NAPS. You close your eyes and sleep like a bum while good, honest, decent people are working. You should be ashamed of yourself. What are you, eighty?”
Yeah. I’ve heard that one before.
I’m just through fighting. I got no sympathy from the unemployment office when they rejected my claim.
#nanowrimo
#nanowrimo2017
Read Pain Center!!!! It was also a Nano book!!!
http://davecookson.tripod.com/PainCen...
November 1, 2017
The Sleepist: an Excerpt.
I am going to be putting up excerpts of my new National Novel Writing Month novel..here is the first!
My condition is not covered by insurance, or recognized by any medical doctor. My condition was given to me by men who I turned to in order to better myself. I accept the consequences of that action as I try to piece my way through the inconvenience of this life. It’s not such a bad life. But it is really, really annoying.
My name is Ralph Byers. I’m 37 years old, unmarried, and I live by myself in a small apartment on the west side of this cold and uninviting town. I have a condition that I cannot manage, and I can only begin to guess why.
All day long I am trying to find someplace to hide to lay down for a 45 minute nap. On a day that I am not working, this is no problem. But since I need to work to afford the grand lifestyle that involves eating three meals a day and watching my favorite soap opera on my over the air TV (The Young and the Interesting.)
I have to take a nap every three hours.
It’s not a preference: it’s a requirement. It is non-negotiable. Bad things happen when I don’t. Such bad things, I hate to even think about it. I have to nap, in order to survive. I literally cannot live without my nap. And I really mean literally.
Because there is one fact of which I am absolutely certain: If I don’t take a 45 minute nap every three hours, I will die.
#nanowrimo
#nanowrimo2017
Read Pain Center!!!! It was also a Nano book!!!
http://davecookson.tripod.com/PainCen...
My condition is not covered by insurance, or recognized by any medical doctor. My condition was given to me by men who I turned to in order to better myself. I accept the consequences of that action as I try to piece my way through the inconvenience of this life. It’s not such a bad life. But it is really, really annoying.
My name is Ralph Byers. I’m 37 years old, unmarried, and I live by myself in a small apartment on the west side of this cold and uninviting town. I have a condition that I cannot manage, and I can only begin to guess why.
All day long I am trying to find someplace to hide to lay down for a 45 minute nap. On a day that I am not working, this is no problem. But since I need to work to afford the grand lifestyle that involves eating three meals a day and watching my favorite soap opera on my over the air TV (The Young and the Interesting.)
I have to take a nap every three hours.
It’s not a preference: it’s a requirement. It is non-negotiable. Bad things happen when I don’t. Such bad things, I hate to even think about it. I have to nap, in order to survive. I literally cannot live without my nap. And I really mean literally.
Because there is one fact of which I am absolutely certain: If I don’t take a 45 minute nap every three hours, I will die.
#nanowrimo
#nanowrimo2017
Read Pain Center!!!! It was also a Nano book!!!
http://davecookson.tripod.com/PainCen...
October 30, 2017
The Day after tomorrow....
The Fifty Thousand word novel..
For me...it's number 10.
It all starts the day after tomorrow.
Upgraded to Spotify premium.
Hope to clear off my desk.
Getting my final notes together.
Final shave before the "playoff beard" is born....
It's about to become very real....
Check back here for the excerpts!!!
#NaNoWriMo2017
#NaNoWriMo
Check out Pain Center: the Novel, my novel from last year, available here!!!
http://davecookson.tripod.com/PainCen...
For me...it's number 10.
It all starts the day after tomorrow.
Upgraded to Spotify premium.
Hope to clear off my desk.
Getting my final notes together.
Final shave before the "playoff beard" is born....
It's about to become very real....
Check back here for the excerpts!!!
#NaNoWriMo2017
#NaNoWriMo
Check out Pain Center: the Novel, my novel from last year, available here!!!
http://davecookson.tripod.com/PainCen...
October 26, 2017
5 More Days
5 more Days….
NaNoWriMo….
Not long to go now.
30 Days.
50 thousand words.
My working title: “The Sleepist.”
My tagline: “If Ralph doesn’t take a nap every three hours, he will die.”
Just a few more days.
Look for excerpts and updates here!!!
Get your Christmas shopping done early! BUY PAIN CENTER NOW!!!!
http://davecookson.tripod.com/PainCen...
NaNoWriMo….
Not long to go now.
30 Days.
50 thousand words.
My working title: “The Sleepist.”
My tagline: “If Ralph doesn’t take a nap every three hours, he will die.”
Just a few more days.
Look for excerpts and updates here!!!
Get your Christmas shopping done early! BUY PAIN CENTER NOW!!!!
http://davecookson.tripod.com/PainCen...
October 16, 2017
Giving Your Cat her Meds in liquid form
Any of my friends out there with cats, I just wanted to share this.
My wife and I have 2 older cats, both with medical difficulties: Cliff (age 10) is a diabetic and requires an insulin shot twice a day, along with checking his blood sugar which is done with a poke to the ear with a little needle. He has been like this for a year, but otherwise he has been fine.
Stella (age 12) is dying.
She has cancer, was given about 30 days to live about 90 days ago. We have made peace with this and are just trying to make her final days as comfortable as possible. And to that end, we have been giving her Prednisone, a steroid, as prescribed by our vet. It has done wonders for her, almost to the point where we forget that she is sick. It has improved her appetite and her energy, and while on this she has even gained weight. We believe it has helped extend her life and made her much happier than when we first got the diagnosis.
But the reason I am writing this is the share something that we learned. While Stella is a very sweet kitty, she is terrible about taking pills. We were stymied by having to do battle with her twice a day for something that was supposed to make her feel better. On top of our other diabetic kitty, Stella’s obstinance was creating a real source of stress, especially at 3:45 in the morning when I am trying to get out the door.
So we asked our vet for help. And she gave us a solution: getting the medicine in a liquid form so we can more easily shoot it in her mouth. We were referred to something called a compounding pharmacy, which we’d never heard of before.
Her meds are now easy to give to her in the morning, as all I have to do is pick her up while my wife shoots the dropped into her mouth. If one of us is not there, it is possible to do it alone. Either way, it is so much easier and Stella continues to do well under the circumstances.
We hope to have a few more months of a healthy Stella. But I just wanted to pass long that information for anyone out there having trouble. Here is a link to the Veterinary Pharmacies of America site, which can help you find a compounding pharmacy in your area.
Hope this helps someone!
http://www.vparx.com
My wife and I have 2 older cats, both with medical difficulties: Cliff (age 10) is a diabetic and requires an insulin shot twice a day, along with checking his blood sugar which is done with a poke to the ear with a little needle. He has been like this for a year, but otherwise he has been fine.
Stella (age 12) is dying.
She has cancer, was given about 30 days to live about 90 days ago. We have made peace with this and are just trying to make her final days as comfortable as possible. And to that end, we have been giving her Prednisone, a steroid, as prescribed by our vet. It has done wonders for her, almost to the point where we forget that she is sick. It has improved her appetite and her energy, and while on this she has even gained weight. We believe it has helped extend her life and made her much happier than when we first got the diagnosis.
But the reason I am writing this is the share something that we learned. While Stella is a very sweet kitty, she is terrible about taking pills. We were stymied by having to do battle with her twice a day for something that was supposed to make her feel better. On top of our other diabetic kitty, Stella’s obstinance was creating a real source of stress, especially at 3:45 in the morning when I am trying to get out the door.
So we asked our vet for help. And she gave us a solution: getting the medicine in a liquid form so we can more easily shoot it in her mouth. We were referred to something called a compounding pharmacy, which we’d never heard of before.
Her meds are now easy to give to her in the morning, as all I have to do is pick her up while my wife shoots the dropped into her mouth. If one of us is not there, it is possible to do it alone. Either way, it is so much easier and Stella continues to do well under the circumstances.
We hope to have a few more months of a healthy Stella. But I just wanted to pass long that information for anyone out there having trouble. Here is a link to the Veterinary Pharmacies of America site, which can help you find a compounding pharmacy in your area.
Hope this helps someone!
http://www.vparx.com
October 13, 2017
National Novel Writing Month 2017? I got this!
It’s Friday the 13th of October and I think in the spirit of that date, I am going to curse myself with the following statement:
National Novel Writing Month 2017? I got this!
(For those of you who don’t know, the National Novel Writing Month is an event that takes place in November where aspiring novelists attempt to write a 50 thousand word novel in 30 days. I have done this 9 times so far.)
Well…maybe I do, maybe I don’t. What I have got is an idea, some story notes, and I’ve got 9 years of experience behind me. I no longer fear the failure of not hitting 50 thousand words. I’ve done it plenty of times, I know tricks to use (using long names and repetition and chapter heading quotes have served me well in the past) and I can rely on my will and desire to carry me if all else fails. But what I do fear is what happens when that story I wanted so badly to work on turns out to not be so much fun…
Pain Center was my ninth NaNo novel, and I got lucky that it came out pretty much as I intended. What I learned about my process is that I have gotten to the point where while I am writing my month-long novel, I am thinking ahead to the editing of that novel. I am mindful of sections that are just going in there to fill space on days where I can’t progress the story (I highlight these sections in red so I can find and delete them easily). I try to write in order, although sometimes this isn’t always possible. And sometimes (a lot of times) I launch into a digression that consumes 500 to 1000 words. Sometimes those can be fun and lead me to a story thread.
My next idea is quite loosely related to the subject of sleep. I have been holding on to it for a while now, and hoping that it will turn out the way I have it in my head. November is coming, and I am very excited.
Until I say something stupid like: I got this.
David G. Cookson is the author of Pain Center: the Novel! Available here:
http://davecookson.tripod.com/PainCen...
National Novel Writing Month 2017? I got this!
(For those of you who don’t know, the National Novel Writing Month is an event that takes place in November where aspiring novelists attempt to write a 50 thousand word novel in 30 days. I have done this 9 times so far.)
Well…maybe I do, maybe I don’t. What I have got is an idea, some story notes, and I’ve got 9 years of experience behind me. I no longer fear the failure of not hitting 50 thousand words. I’ve done it plenty of times, I know tricks to use (using long names and repetition and chapter heading quotes have served me well in the past) and I can rely on my will and desire to carry me if all else fails. But what I do fear is what happens when that story I wanted so badly to work on turns out to not be so much fun…
Pain Center was my ninth NaNo novel, and I got lucky that it came out pretty much as I intended. What I learned about my process is that I have gotten to the point where while I am writing my month-long novel, I am thinking ahead to the editing of that novel. I am mindful of sections that are just going in there to fill space on days where I can’t progress the story (I highlight these sections in red so I can find and delete them easily). I try to write in order, although sometimes this isn’t always possible. And sometimes (a lot of times) I launch into a digression that consumes 500 to 1000 words. Sometimes those can be fun and lead me to a story thread.
My next idea is quite loosely related to the subject of sleep. I have been holding on to it for a while now, and hoping that it will turn out the way I have it in my head. November is coming, and I am very excited.
Until I say something stupid like: I got this.
David G. Cookson is the author of Pain Center: the Novel! Available here:
http://davecookson.tripod.com/PainCen...
October 11, 2017
Unbelievable
Unbelievable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History by Katy TurMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Way back in 2015, NBC News reporter Katy Tur was assigned the job of covering Donald’s Trump’s nascent campaign, thinking (as many of people did) that he wouldn’t be in it for very long. 510 or so days later, Donald Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States. Tur’s access gave her the unique view on this remarkable campaign. And on the way she was abused by Trump supporters and by Trump himself, living out of a suitcase and trying to navigate her way thru a series of live shots on the evening news.
And she caught many of the moments that came to define Trump’s campaign.
And she reported. And Trump took issue with what she reported even though it was accurate. Tur says she does not attempt to explain what happened and how a political neophyte--who stepped on his own feet too many times to count, saying disparaging things about women, Muslims, immigrants, John McCain—triumphed in the fall of 2016. But she reports what she saw.
Unbelievable reads like a horror story or a reverse detective story, one where you already know the outcome, yet it continues to shock as you read on. I found myself feeling many of the same things I felt during that long campaign, especially the recaps of election night as the electoral map turned red.
Tur’s book feels a little slim for the amount of time that went into living this experience, but it is never dull. The chapter on her family background is surprising and revealing, and in my mind it establishes just how deep her commitment to journalism goes. It is true that journalism has taken a mighty hit in recent years and continues to be disparaged by the current Commander in Chief. That is why getting to understand where Tur is coming from is so appreciated.
I don’t claim to be non-partisan. The Man in the White House disgusts me. Katy Tur’s reporting will undoubtedly confirm what many believe about him, and will likely not sway his supporters one bit. That is the political climate in 2017. I expect to be called names by random strangers on the internet. So be it. #ImWithTur
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