Dylan Charles's Blog, page 20

Back in the Habit: Entry I

I read something recently that said that in order to get into the habit of doing something, you have to do it for about 70 days. After that point, it’ll become a habit, solidly entrenched into your daily routine.

It occurred to me that, very shortly, I’ll be writing in this blog everyday for a month. That’s 30 straight days of writing. I’ll be halfway to forming a new habit.

I should take advantage of it. I need to take advantage of it. Instead of writing being this thing I sometimes do, it’ll...

I Want to Live in a Haunted House

For the first time, I think I can truly understand why people say that their house is haunted. I don’t believe in ghosts. I don’t believe in the supernatural. I don’t believe in anything that can’t be proven with the logical, brute force of Science.

But….

Late last night, I was in bed reading when I thought I heard the back door open and then close. A minute or so later, I heard footsteps walking passed the dining room door. I called out to Emily.

No answer.

I got out of bed and walked out into t...

Hallowed Days

In ye days of old, I did something terrific and scary and awesome to celebrate Halloween all month: I would write a short story every single day and post it on my old blog. I called it Thirty-One Days of Horror and the last time I did it, I raised the roof and brought down the houseat the same time. Nowadays, I’m too old to do that and too worried about my stories wandering off of my site and onto other sites.

But I want to try something like that again. I want to do something epic. I want to...

Spoooky Beer Review: Wychwood Brewery’s Scarecrow Golden Pale Ale

I’m taking it upon myself to review as many Octoberfests and Pumpkin Ales as I possibly can during the Pre-Halloween Season. All while listening to “Thriller”.

Next up: Wychwood Brewery’s Scarecrow Golden Pale Ale

As I mentioned in this earlier review, I don’t think Wychwood Brewery is selling seasonal brews; I think this is what they sell year-round. Which is great. There’s nothing better than going to your local liquor store and seeing a Hobgoblin or a Scarecrow on the shelf amidst all the IP...

Spoooky Beer Review: Magic Hat’s “Hex”

I’m taking it upon myself to review as many Octoberfests and Pumpkin Ales as I possibly can during the Pre-Halloween Season. All while listening to “Thriller”.

Next up: Magic Hat’s “Hex”

After all these pumpkin ales, I needed a break. There’s only so much cinnamon and pumpkin you can drink before you start sneezing holiday cheer. So I went and picked up Magic Hat’s Hex, a Halloween theme beer that promises no kind of pumpkin and delivers on that promise.

When a brewery decides to eschew more tra...

Spoooky Beer Review: Shipyard Brewing Co.’s Smashed Pumpkin

I’m taking it upon myself to review as many Octoberfests and Pumpkin Ales as I possibly can during the Pre-Halloween Season. All while listening to “Thriller”.

Next up: Shipyard Brewing Co.’s Smashed Pumpkin

Remember yesterday when I was talking about beers that call themselves pumpkin ales, but don’t really deliver in that department? This is one of them.

Oh, it has that same gorgeous orange color as the others and it smells great, but it smells like cinnamon. It smells so strongly of cinnamon...

Spoooky Beer Review: Southern Tier Brewing Company’s “Imperial “Pumking”

I’m taking it upon myself to review as many Octoberfests and Pumpkin Ales as I possibly can during the Pre-Halloween Season. All while listening to “Thriller”.

Next up: Southern Tier Brewing Company’s Imperial Pumking

The first thing you’re going to notice with any pumpkin ale is that they tend to have an orange cast to them, and Pumking is no different. Look at that orange luster. If you forget, even for a second, that you’re drinking a pumpkin beer, that color will always remind you.

Around th...

Spoooky Beer Review: Wychwood Brewery “Hobgoblin”

Now, I know it’s too soon to celebrate Halloween, no matter what the candy section at your local grocery store is telling you. But I am, truly, unable to contain myself. I struggled with the best way to let off some of my Halloween steam early and then the thought struck me: While most people are probably not in the mood for horror movies and gruesome make-up tips, they’re always in the mood for my beer reviews.

And, luckily, those same grocery stores are also shoving every fall and Halloween...

Moving

I’ve moved a couple of times and each time there’s always the strong disconnect. Even if it’s only a matter of a few miles, you have to learn the rooms, the steps, the neighborhood. It’s the simple feeling of ripping out everything and having to completely plant in a new location.

We’ve been in our new place for a week now and I’m starting to feel more settled. We’re plugged back into the internet. I’m back to writing things on the internet, though now I’m staring at floral print wallpaper ins...

The Space

If you do anything creative regularly, it is always recommended that you have a dedicated space for it. The creative space gives you privacy and room to breathe.

Stephen King states that you need to write with the door shut; no audience, no distractions, no one to see you pensively sitting over your laptop in a coffee shop thinking deep thoughts.

You must sequester yourself from the world during the actual process. Writing is a personal thing and it should be done in a space that is likewise p...