Roland Denzel's Blog: The sound of one man clapping, page 20

15,000 words in only 10 years

In my spare time (I didn't know I had any) I've been writing a book. I've been writing this book since May of 2003, which is when my mother died. The book would be huge (and done) if I'd actually been writing all this time, but truth be told, I haven't written more than 500 words of it in the ten years between then and now.

The book is not really about my mother at all, but about relationships with parents that aren't 'there' for one reason or another. Some parents die, some parents leave, som...

There's that feeling again

Dear Roland in 1982,

How are you? I am fine.

I know you're there at that fantasy gaming convention at the Anaheim Sheraton 'having fun' right now, but I (Roland in 2013) want to give you some advice...

Right now, you're wandering around the great hall, almost playing games.

You're reading the schedule of speakers, and wondering what it would be like to ask that question you hope to have enough nerve to ask. Should you go in early and get a good seat or wait 'til it starts and slink in the back?

I know you know down deep that no one wants you to join them at their gaming table, right?

I know you know down deep that no author or artist wants to answer your question, right?

Well, I'm here from 2013 to tell you that you were wrong, and they did want you to play. They did want to answer your questions. It's going to take you 10 more years, but you're going to start putting up your hand and even sitting up front. You'll join people at their table, and they will be grateful of the company.

That's why they're there; to meet people, play games, and answer questions from people just like you.

I know all this now, but it's still hard. In fact, Goodreads actually inspired me to write this post. I've been poking around for weeks now, but I'm lost. Who am I to review that? Who am I to comment? Why would they want me in their group?

But this is why Goodreads is here, right?

I'll get past it, but it's a crazy feeling that's brought back 1982 like it was yesterday. I thought those feelings and doubts were gone, but they are right there under the surface.

I ask you, Roland '82, what's your advice to you Roland '13?

"Find an empty chair and just play D&D."

That's simple... Thanks.

Roland

Music to which I write (aka 'music to write to')

I don't always write to music, but when I do...

When I write non-fiction (or fitness books (see what I did there?)) I listen to the kind of stuff that's pretty cliché in the industry (metal, rock, etc.).

When I write fiction, it helps to fit the music to the theme, and it's been romance, lately. ...when I have time to write it, squoze in between my legit projects, of course.

Steal Like An Artist

The wife came back from San Fran yesterday, and brought be a cool little gift from an actual bookstore (we don't have them here anymore, it seems).

It was an independent bookstore, even!

With non-Starbucks coffee inside.

Steal Like an Artist

Steal Like an Artist, by Austin Kleon. (here's more about the author)

The book is 6x6" 'bathroom book' format, which is strangely perfect right now because I'm actually writing a bathroom book (It's simmering on the back burner for other projects, right now).

T...

Anyone out there?

I know, I told you to go away, then told you I was 'back' but different, then I proved I was the same guy NOT posting before I said I was back by once again NOT posting.

What a bag of mixed messages I am.

I can get worse yet please don't go away...

Here's the deal: My ramble on what's what with Roland
When I switched to writing about fitness, I thought that was all I needed, but I was wrong. I need to write to write, not just write to teach. I also need to write differently than I have been recen...

You are my sweetest downfall

The love of my life doesn't get the music I love.

I think she gets the music I like (Pink Floyd, Rush, ELO, etc) even if she doesn't agree with my choices. I also think that if she knew the depth of the music I listen to she would leave me or turn her own music waaaay up. Yes, I like Deep Purple. Yes, I like Blue Oyster Cult (that's right, I do!). Most of the Moody Blues, two songs by Jefferson Airplane, and one by Jefferson Starship.

Even though I'm sure she'd wrinkle her nose at much of the a...

Kids today!

Only this guy was in his 30s!

Walk, walk, walk, then walk some more...

I've been a bit fan of walking for years. Look! Fat Loss Mondays - loose [sic] the fat!

Back then, it was mostly about fat loss, although somehow I knew there was more to it. Health, of course, but that is a nebulous concept at best. I just knew movement was critical.

Today, I'm even more sold on the idea that walking is critical for health.

Traditional cardio is not critical.

Strength training, which I love, is not critical past a certain point. I mean how strong is strong enough? Do I need to l...

I don't understand how all this is connected...

I've had people joke that my left shoulder issue is being caused by my right big toe, which was always a possibility; that guy doesn't seem trustworthy...

Last night, though, a new culprit surfaces; a random spot on my right rib cage (this is how good at anatomy I am).

While testing my overhead reach on the left, I get a cramp on the right ribcage. Muscle to be named later. After two minutes of torturous poking into that spot, suddenly my left reach is better and I'm stronger on that side, too....

Why mobility first? For most, the question should be 'Why mobility?'

'My mobility first rule doesn't have anything to do with flexibility. It's got everything to do with a rich sensory environment. You can't have a lot of proprioception if you have a frozen shoulder.' – Gray Cook