D. Hunter Phillips's Blog, page 10

Swing dancing and forgiving your partner

Class was very productive this week. We reviewed the flying lindy, and I did not drop anyone this time. It wasn’t REALLY a review, since half the class that was there this week had missed the previous week. We did alright though and didn’t take up too much of class.

We went over some Charleston variations. Actually, we didn’t say the name of the one we practiced, but it involved both the lead and the follow turning and kicking and then turning back and kicking together. I enjoyed that and it wasn’t too difficult.

As the class started to wind down, we worked on the pop turn from six count. Mel and I ended up dancing together again for that one after Emily and I worked on that turn for a bit. Right before leaving class, I got the instructors to take a couple of pictures of myself dancing with Mel to show that she forgives and trusts me even after the silly fall she took last week while we were dancing.

All of these are shots from when we were practicing the Pop Turn. I definitely think sticking to video is better for the future.

Swing Dance – Intermediate

Swing Dance – Intermediate

Swing Dance – Intermediate

Swing Dance – Intermediate

Rumors Buried Deep Volume VII

Rumors Buried Deep

News from outside the towns

Road washed out

Flooding has gotten so severe west of Guddereicht that the road has been washed away. The swamps have overcome their normal borders and water now seeps through the ground and forms pools and ponds all the way to the southern hills. None in the town, even the oldest, have ever seen flooding quite this severe. Even some of Lord Kirchoff’s estate has seen flooding.

Augrock’s horde prepares

The horde has moved away from the road to Port Brot, leaving it to the diseased and The Purged mercenaries. The Purged are a powerful band that the barbarians might hope to entirely avoid. Lindhurst’s old keep seems to be their base of operations and the marshes north of the road to Greensedge, the camp for the army that will assault Guddereicht. The farmlands have been raided for all of their worths all the way to the border of Greensedge, after the withdrawal of that town’s bannermen.

Local News

Belatrix announces Lord von Fuerst’s death

Chief Soothsayer Belatrix has announced that the Fuerst line has ended with his and his crippled brother’s deaths. Lord Lindhurst now has three days to step forward and claim lordship of the city. With his estate, lands, and keep burned and controlled by Augrock Targon, many believe that Lord Lindhurst is already dead, which would pass the township on to Lord Kirchoff. Kirchoff has already stated his support for the ongoing defense of the town and pledged his royal coffers to any that bring the heads or prisoners of the barbarians.

Ser Bellsworth in command

Ser Bellsworth and his priests of Zupus have taken command of the forces in Guddereicht. Many of the peasants and older townsfolk have complained of the tyrannical way in which the knight has commanded them. They had no idea anyone could be more harsh than the old gang leaders, but some say they have found him. People seem to have grown confident that the town will hold. Roadblocks have been erected at many entrances to the town and several outer structures have been toppled to provide more materials and barriers to the barbarians.

Late Breaking News

Rumors on the street are that Lord Artur von Fuerst and all of his royal line have been murdered! A few citizens, wishing to remain anonymous, report that they saw the leaders of the Tidewall Militia snooping around Lord von Fuerst’s estate. Some discount that the heroic militia leaders could never do such a horrible thing. Still others wonder.

Plague Rumors

Vanusiil’s Brood has apparently run into serious troubles on the roads to their destination to help the diseased and refugees. Some of Augrock Targon’s horde is harrassing the group, apparently seeing them as a threat to their own barbaric, chaotic power in the area. A few refugees have even made it so far as Sir Lothar’s village to the west and to just south of Guddereicht, camping on the edge of town.

KMFDM goodness

Kill Mother Fucking Depeche Mode.  Hey, they said it, not me.

KMFDM sucks.  They said that too, actually I said that one too.  Actually I repeated the first one numerous times too.  (I actually really love Depeche Mode too, so don’t hate on me)

I was feeling sick, as per my current usual, and I almost didn’t go to this concert.  Then, I thought about it long and hard.  Every time KMFDM has come to this area for a concert, I have not been able to go for one reason or another.  At the very last minute, I said screw it, strapped on my goth attire and charged out the door.

I wish I had remembered to bring my camera to this concert.  I am always worried about my camera getting taken away at a concert, so thus the hesitation.  My phone doesn’t have the iphone quality of camera, and so the only pics I took were hazy and just didn’t do the concert justice.

That said, not like any picture would have actually done this concert justice anyway.

I have never been to State Theater in Falls Church before, and I am glad I got to see it.  There is a lot of seating for people that just want to relax and watch the show.  The bars are easy to access and there is an upper level balcony for people to watch from too.  (Not to mention an easy to access smoking area for those that choose to poison themselves

My biggest surprise of all was that there was a mosh pit the whole time.  Its not that I didn’t think the fans of KMFDM would form a mosh pit, it was more that so many places now put an immediate end to such things.  I didn’t get into the middle of it, but I love to hang around the edges and push the people back in.  It is a great spot to dance and not worry about bumping into anybody.  Any bump that I inadvertently give to people will be immeasurable compared to a crazy moshing person charging outside of the box.

I can now mark KMFDM concert off of my bucket list.  I’m so glad I got to see them.  They played a great range of their music and even the songs I don’t know were fun to dance to and watch.

My next novel

I started my current novel in progress for NanoWrimo in November.  I didn’t “win” this year with 50,000 words by the end of the month.  I did have about 35,000 words with a general outline of what I wanted to do.  I was feeling confident and excited.  Real life got in the way a lot and I have now been separated from the content for long enough that I have forgotten some of it.

The even harder part about this current position is that when I have described the book that I am working on to people, they get very excited and start asking me further questions about it.  That is a great sign.  A paranormal fantasy about Unicorns and cannibals instead of vampires and werewolves… oh yes please!  I need to make this book happen.  Its been a while since I have had such a money crunch as right now and I want to make sure the book has solid editing for grammar and content.

I have been contemplating releasing a chapter at a time on my blog in order to generate some interest from other people to give me inspiration to continue.  I have reservations for doing this as well.  If I write a full length novel this time, I want people to buy it, and releasing it all for free makes me feel a little nervous.  Also, if I release it on my blog, it will probably not have as much rigorous editing as if I published it in a book.  I don’t want people to think that what they see on the blog is what they’d get in the end.

This idea is still up in the air, and since I am now pushing my blog, I will write short stories to put on here instead of pieces of the novel.  This will further delay the novel and possibly even make the delay indefinite.  This is what I am worried about.

Share your thoughts with me.

Thoughts on TV shows, then and now

I’m going to try my best to make this spoiler resistant, but you never know what people could infer from a post.

I’d like to compare my emotional states and audience reactions to two different shows that aren’t both on tv, but that I watched with an audience back to back.

The Walking Dead episode last week was absolutely intense, and needless to say, the focus character of the episode may have become one of my top characters of the show.  Which is a little bit sad as well as awesome.

The other show I’m going to compare Walking Dead to has been off the air since the late 90′s.  Babylon 5.  I know I talked about both of these shows before, but they are really all that I am watching at the moment.

My roommate has never seen either show before and her reaction to Babylon 5 was much more positive than Walking Dead.  I found that interesting, as I have always seen B5 as a show you have to be fully spun up on to get into it.  But, compared to shows like The Walking Dead or Lost, B5 actually has self contained plots within individual episodes.  This definitely makes for easier tv watching, and B5 also succeeded at having an epic over arching story arc and character arcs that didn’t just follow the main story.

I also have another dilemma.  Do I watch Walking Dead finale or Game of Thrones season opener first on Sunday?  Why must they put these difficult choices before me?  Will I be betraying one by watching the other first?  My choice may be made for me as I plan on going to watching Walking Dead in a theater with friends in Vienna, VA.  I’d love to skip the commercials via dvr, but sometimes commercials are great for screaming and reflecting with fellow fans.

Drop her like she’s hot

This week I have some real treats for you.  I actually had my instructors record some videos of us doing the moves we were learning in class on Sunday.  Much to my chagrin, when they were recording myself with my partner, Melina, our hands slipped and she went landing smack on her bum!  She was okay, but man, what a time to be recording.  I think we looked pretty cool.

Then there is also the video of a couple of other studentkas trying out the moves.

Finally, one last student was the lucky winner of dancing with Kevin, one of the instructors.  Now you can see how the moves were supposed to look by someone that knows what they are doing.

Watching yourself dancing on video is really helpful, as long as the class stays smaller, I hope we will do more recording of our moves.  I need to stop letting my arm get straight on swing outs!  Holy crap.  When Mel and I started really focusing on weight sharing and not letting our arms get straight, it was amazing how much momentum we could get going.

Also, for all those swing dancers out there that I have been dancing with the last two weeks, I am not contagious!  I went to the doctor today and it turns out I have some really bad allergies and possibly a sinus infection from them being really awful.  I am on meds now and I hope to be in tip top shape by the weekend.  I blame my fatigue from sickness on my hand slipping and also on my crappy dancing at Carlyle Club after class.

Rumors Buried Deep Volume VI

Rumors Buried Deep

News from Boggsville

Western Light Convergence

Chief soothsayer Belatrix now has grown concerned for the scholars and their convoy that went west.  The western lights have aligned over the Crossed Swords Crossing.  No attempt to communicate with the Lord of Boggsville has turned up success.  A darkness now blots out the sky at twilight in the direction of Boggsville.

Augrock’s horde swells

Like the waters to the west, the horde of cannibals now splits and spreads through out the farm lands.  Raiding parties are burning farmsteads,  and killing raping and recruiting from the farmers and their families.  Finally, the lands loyal to Greensedge have also been affected by the brutal force.  If Greensedge recalls its bannermen, there will be no fighting men to stop the horde from having free reign on the chief lands that supply food to all towns and villages in the area.

Local News

Lord von Fuerst Speaks

After too long in silence, Lord Artur von Fuerst finally came forward to and spoke publicly to the town of Guddereicht.  The Tidewall Militia provided security and support to the house guards.  After the speech, the many gangs of the town have signed on to defend it against the horde and the other oncoming threats.  The town begins to build up defenses in the roads and the better organized gangs have now formed into militias, ready to battle the threats that get ever closer to the outskirts of town.

The Bannermen Arrive

Lord von Fuerst called forth his bannermen and the rural population of his lands to Guddereicht.  Sir Bellsworth and his priest of the warlike god Zupus have arrived with all preparations for battle.  Meanwhile, rumors are that the other three bannermen are on their way with their people and food supplies that they could carry off of their lands before the cannibal barbarians struck.

Late Breaking News

Screams and shouts have been heard coming from the direction of Lord von Fuerst’s estate.  The Backstreet Butcher’s leader, Bob, has gathered some of his militia and prepares to investigate.  No word has arrived from the estate and no one has been spotted leaving the premises.

Plague Rumors

It seems that the Purged Mercenary Band, the hordes of refugees, and Vanusiil’s brood are on a collision course, with the hordes caught in the farmlands between.  If nothing diverts or slows the path of any of these groups, it looks as though the clash of them will center on the poor town of Guddereicht.

Rumors Buried Deep Volume V

Rumors Buried Deep

News from the North Road

Western Lights

Soothsayers and stargazers point to odd lights in the western sky as a sign of the impending doom that is coming to the region.  The chief soothsayer, Beltarix believes that a turning point or convergence point will soon fall upon Guddereicht or Boggsville and that it must be properly dealt with.

Sargov Estate Sacked

Many refugees made it back to Guddereicht alive with an escort of the Tidewall Militia.  Anything wooden has been burned to the ground and the partially stone keep now stands in ruin.  Scouts report that what is left of the keep is occupied by Augrock’s horde.  Some of the horde’s commanders, including the mighty orc, Grogack, have been slain and a large portion of the horde’s supplies have been destroyed in the long siege.  Unfortunately, this may only push the horde south into the farmsteads even faster in a desperate search for supplies and loot.

Local News

Food Supply dwindling

Even now, before the horde has swept into the farms in the south, the food at the taverns and in the market is getting short.  Many vendors in the market aren’t even showing up, because they have no product to sell.  With the arrival of a few dozen more refugees from the Sargov Estate and more pouring in from the North, people have started to dive in the sewers seeking fish and plants in the water there for sustenance.

Heroic Entourage Missing

Since Khyrin and his excitable bunch of men traveled to the Gudde Cemetery and entered the crypts, none have seen or heard of them.  Not many even knew why they went to the crypts, but rumors of hordes of monstrous beings travel quick on the lips of the citizens of town.  All of the nobles, including Lord Artur von Fuerst have refused to comment on anything that they might know about the situation.  Lord von Fuerst has offered food, a spear, and leather armor to any commoner that will join the Tidewall militia.  Though the offer is enticing, many of the commoners that we spoke to are to scared even for this offer.

Plague Rumors

Vanusiil’s Brood, the newly formed entourage from the Elyf Wood has formulated their plans and their banners for travel to Greensedge.  Most importantly, their scholars work on plans and rituals to find a solution to the fleeing refugees and the plague that so many of them carry.  The Purged have reportedly piled up bodies of those they have slain, burning them in pits and filling the air with black soot from the burnt flesh.  With the extreme winds in the area of late, this soot has traveled great distances throughout the land.

Crypto’s Story

The usual daily routine for the past year of my life: awaken when the artificial sun rises, prowl my glass encased prison for several lonely hours, watch food fall from the heavens, devour it, and then be pulled from my prison by the giants and allowed to roam until sunset.

The artificial sun rises upon this domain of mine.  Although I am enclosed in this place, it has all the comforts of home.  Not only that, but the giants actually study my behaviors and seek out the pleasure of seeing to my needs.  If I act as though I am missing something that I need for my happiness, even if it has no functionality, they will do their best to determine this and acquire it.  For instance, when I wished to climb up higher to overlook my enclosure, they gladly provided me with the necessary structures so that I could do so in safety.

They do also enjoy watching me hunt.  As they toss in my prey, I gladly track them down and kill them and eat them.  They watch me curiously as I do so and, most of the time; I put on a show for them.  I do need to continue to show them who is boss though. If they stare too much or get too close to my enclosure, I will cease to give them enjoyment until they back off to a distance that I wish.

As I settle in each night, I check my encounter suit readings and set it up for another self replication/self repair cycle.  I often laugh as I do this.  I think about all the times the giants “pet” me and adore my beautiful skin, but little do they understand, that this “skin” is actually just my encounter suit.  I laugh as they stare at my head, knowing full well myself that it is just a helmet.  If only they knew what I looked like.  This suit with a pattern of camouflage, sensors, claws for climbing and fighting, and spikes that adorn it to show my rank and to offer me protection from predators looks nothing like a creature!  My, how perceptions can really make a difference.  Why, if I saw a creature at such a small size that was obviously alien to my environment, the first thing I would think is how it’s “skin” was not skin at all, except in the artificial sense.

Outside observers might see my position and situation as that of a prisoner, but this is far from the truth.  My position is more that of a king.  I mean, think about it, kings never have true freedom.  They are held to the responsibilities of their office and the confines of their domain as they are ripe targets for discontents and assassins.  I also have a domain, which I am confined to, and I am responsible for maintaining it and hunting all the live meals that are thrown my way.  I am allowed out of my domain or prison to roam my lands, but only under the supervision of those who watch out for me.  So in this case, I am most happy to remain “imprisoned” so that I can maintain my “kingship.”

My day goes just about how it always does, I awaken as the sun rises, and its heat provides me with the essence I need to survive.  I roam my lands, sculpting them and patrolling them to set the land itself to my heart’s desire.  After my patrols are complete, I forage for an afternoon snack, and if the giants are watching, a bath in the swimming pool they have provided me.  Such funny giants they are, thinking that I need to bathe; I am wearing a suit the whole time!  And this suit is one that watches out for my hygienic needs.  No reason not to put on a show for them and confuse them of my true purpose.  After my bath, I rest out in the warm sun and carve the land to suit my comfort.  After several hours of enjoying this ultimate of creature comforts, I watch as the giants return to within my line of sight.  They are distant on the horizon, but with their great walking gait, they easily make up the distance between us.  I watch as one of them, a sleek and slender looking one with unblemished skin, holds up a small cage, perhaps the size of myself.  There is excitement in this giant’s eyes as the cage is held up above my domain.  As it is tipped over, I see several of my prey fall from inside and down onto my land.  I look up at them and smile, but quickly my gaze turns to about a dozen monsters that come from my home world.  On any normal day on my home world, these things would be more dangerous, but here, with my encounter suit, I am impervious to their attacks and I can kill them with a simple bite.  With my suits internal pressure cooker, I don’t even need to prepare the kills manually.  The suit does the job for me, and in a few minutes from the time I bite and kill the little monsters, a cube of delicious tasting nutrients pops up inside the suit.

Finally, one of the giants reaches into my domain with a giant hand and scoops me up.  I am only a slight bit larger than one of their hands is.  The giant lifts me up and sets me on my usual perch, a ridgeline that the giants use to lean against and relax.

I explore the soft ridgeline which must be topped with some sort of moss.  At this point in my captivity, the giants trust me.  They are more worried about me hurting myself than escaping or causing any kind of trouble.  So on this day, as in recent days passed, they leave my field of vision, trusting that I will follow my usual routines.  And I do, but it is not me that they really need to worry about.  One of their other “pets” has shown an interest in me as of late.  She is the real concern.  I call her “she” out of some hope that she is a nurture type over a predator, but I’m not really sure.  And today it seems that she is on the prowl.

Also, on this day, I happen to spot something I haven’t spotted before while outside of my domain.  It happens to be something required for my mission here.  My suit must acquire a sample to analyze soon!  I am currently casually hanging on the soft ridgeline, clutched on with my suit’s claws.  It is time to go into action though and the sample of my interest is located on the top of the ridgeline on the far end.  I rear back slightly like a spring loading itself for maximum force and launch myself into the air.  The top of the ridgeline is upon me in a split second.  As I land, my claws grasp for traction and my helmet partially opens to quickly deploy what looks like a tendril, but what is actually a sensor.  Getting the environmental readings takes only a split second, and all the environment is nominal except, ah shit, that is her that I am reading.  “She” is near.  I kick the gears into full speed, but this terrain is not ideal to me.  My progress is not as swift as I would like.  And of course, one of my eyeball sensors detects her fast approaching my target.  “She” seems to want it as well.  “She” moves nimbly even being five times my size.  I stop moving forward for a moment to load up like a spring and launch myself into the air.  My eyeball sensor blares as it detects that “she” has launched.  We collide just before landing at the feet of the target.  Her massive size sends me tumbling down to the bottom of the ridgeline.  The force of the tumbling wrenches the links in my helmet apart.   My helmet thump thump thumps a dozen paces away from me.  My exposed head is filled with what sounds like music as the thump thump thump echoes and I hear a screeching sound from the top of the ridgeline that reminds me of the music the giants enjoy.

I start to panic.  I cough.  I wheeze.  I am choking.  Then I am struck with a memory of my father as he prepared me for this mission.

“Remember, my child, although your suit has a self contained environment, most of the planet is actually breathable to us.  The real problem is that you might find that the air there really stinks.”

I remember his firm hand on my shoulder giving me a reassuring squeeze and giving him a nod of my head that I understood.  All this just before I boarded my ship for this planet.

I breathe in deep now and I am sure my face is many colors it is not supposed to be.  I can breathe!  I cough again, but wow does it taste bad.  I stick my tongue out and spit.

I open my eyes… just in time to see her diving down towards me with a look of curiosity.  No, that’s not it.  It’s the look a child gets when they’ve caught another child with their hand in the cookie jar.

“She” begins speaking in phrases totally alien to me.  I can’t let the giants see me this way.  My cover will be blown.  Her elegant stride brings her upon me in moments, before I am to my feet.  A clawed paw descends upon my chest with a stomp.  The paw doesn’t remain for long as it recoils reflexively with a screech coming from her.  Now is a good time to remember, the suit I wear is covered in spikes!  As she is reeling from the pain, I roll over and hop to my feet.  It is now that I see my objective fall from her mouth.  For a split second, I contemplate my helmet or the objective.

I hear loud clump clump clumps and a deep echoing rumble that is forming language.  The giants approach!  My cover is more important, so I dash for my helmet and arrive there with a short leap.

I grab up my helmet and latch it into place.  I reassume the posture they are used to seeing me in.  “She” runs for it as a giant comes into view and swats at her.  The giant picks me up.  My heart is racing.  Then, to my surprise, the giant leans over again and picks up my objective.  Some words are shared between two giants, and my objective is held up to my helmet.  I give my helmet a command and it quickly devours the object.  The giant returns me to my domain.  I see her staring at me from the ridgeline.  I am safe now.

Hours later, my suit finishes its analysis.  The artificial sun is long gone and the giants have headed to their chambers for sleep.  I key several controls in my suit and wait.

“Crypto 3-2, what is your status, over?” I hear in my internal speakers.

“I have a data packet drop off needing pick up.  Awaiting agent to enter transmission range.”  I reply.

“Agent will arrive in the allotted window, be prepared to send message before sun up.”

“Aye aye.”

I am waiting for several hours and I find myself settling in for sleep as I usually do.  Finally, several lights in my suit flash and I know there is an agent within range.  I stand up on two legs, which the humans would find impossible.  I key my communications device and stick out my “tongue” which is used to send such signals.  I peer out and just barely see the agent lurking in the window of this human residence.  The signals are sent in just a couple of seconds and I settle back down into my glass aquarium.  If only the humans knew that they harbored an alien agent in their very home.

“Data received Crypto 3-2, any further comments?”

“Tell my brood mates I love them.  Oh and by the way, the food sample which I tried, there is almost no actually food in it.  It’s mostly just chemicals and preservatives.  How they grow so big, I’ll just never know.”

“Copy that Crypto 3-2.  It sure doesn’t help their smarts or matters of perception though!”  The agent says smugly.”

As the agent disappears from my view, I notice the cat lurking on the top of the couch across from my aquarium.  “She” is almost pointing at me in a human fashion with the strangest look on her face.  Oh yes, she is on to me now, but she’ll never convince the humans.  And the more she tries, the more they will think she is out to kill me.  Then I win, but what the hell, I suppose I already have.

I smile my toothless bony-ridged smile as I settle in to sleep until the aquarium light turns on again.  My suit set back into a cycle to shed my scales and continue its growth.

Rumors Buried Deep Volume IV

Rumors Buried Deep

News from the North Road

Erratic Weather Continues: Curse from the Gods?

The scholarly caravan has traveled far west enough now that contact has been lost.  The few farmers that work fields west of Guddereicht are reporting severe winds that threaten to combine with the torrential rains to destroy their fields and prevent crops from being successful this season.  Winds such as these have never been experienced in such power and so constantly.

Estates Burning

Scouts have reported that Lord Sargov’s estates north of the east-west road corridor are on fire, sending plumes of smoke high into the sky.  With such massive fires burning, even locals to Guddereicht grow concerned that the only structure that might still stand is the small keep there.  With the fall of these estates, even local crop sources are in grave danger.  The ninety six degrees of death and the synchronized killers have started to discuss alliances and forming up the gangs.

Local News

Tidewall Militia Patrols

The soldiers of the Tidewall Militia have begun daily patrols of all the major thoroughfares of Guddereicht.  Even with their leadership out of town to fight the barbarian horde, the stalwart former farmers and a few former criminals of the gangs have brought a new comfort to the citizens.  More people have been seen outside their homes than in some time.  The Filthy Petticoat has started new renovations and added an outdoor seating area to handle more guests.

Heroic Entourage Missing

Since Khyrin and his excitable bunch of men traveled to the Gudde Cemetery and entered the crypts, none have seen or heard of them.  Not many even knew why they went to the crypts, but rumors of hordes of monstrous beings travel quick on the lips of the citizens of town.  All of the nobles, including Lord Artur von Fuerst have refused to comment on anything that they might know about the situation.  Lord von Fuerst has offered food, a spear, and leather armor to any commoner that will join the Tidewall militia.  Though the offer is enticing, many of the commoners that we spoke to are to scared even for this offer.

Plague Rumors

While The Purged actively prevent the spread of the disease, even going so far as to kill innocent, fleeing people, still other mercenary bands start to coordinate with nobles and councils to determine a course of action.  Orc Hold Dwarves indeed are gathering in more force in encampments on their own side of the river, but with such flooding they may not be able to get involved.  The elves in Elyf Wood gather under the banner of Vanusiil.  The eldest god and god of portals, Vanusiil’s power and his worshipers might find a new place for the refugees to flee to.