C.A. Sanders's Blog, page 17
August 30, 2017
Summer of Heck
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You may or may not have noticed that I haven’t been posting much. I haven’t had the time or ability. This has not been a good summer. August was the worst of it.
On August 10th, Katie and I were hit by an 18 wheeler, who sped up and cut us off while he was merging, then drove off. Classic hit and run. The NJ state trooper called it a “no fault.” The car suffered body damage, and I suffered a back injury. The police have yet to give us the accident report, now three weeks later. Insurance ne...
August 9, 2017
Wisdom From Cookie Monster
Every now and then I like to do a funny post with memes. Why? Because I think they’re neat-o
July 25, 2017
Officially Butthurt
You heard me, folks. I am officially butthurt…
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Last week I was stripping my bed, and I tripped over a pillow. I lost my balance, but I knew that there was a wooden chair right behind me. No big deal. There were papers on the chair, and they would cushion my fall. Rather than reach and scramble, potentially twisting or spraining something, I went with the fall.
I landed on the chair, but on the edge. Somehow I missed all of those cushiony papers. All I hit was hard wood (phrasing!)
Now I have...
July 23, 2017
Stop Being an Asshole
I just saw a meme that said “never change who you are because other people have a problem with it.”
I’d like to amend that: Unless you’re an asshole. Stop being an asshole.
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July 19, 2017
Damn You, Gordon Lightfoot!
I have had Gordon Lightfoot’s “Sundown” stuck in my head since last night. Not the whole song, just the chorus.
Damn you and your magnificent voice, Lightfoot!
He’s playing in the area in a couple of weeks. Now I might have to go just to get this ear worm out of my head.
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July 17, 2017
New NY History article?
I’ve been meaning for a while to write an article about the Battle of Stony Point, which took place July 15-16, 1779. I live about 5 miles from the battlefield site and I am there all the time (lots of pokestops and two gyms). i was hoping to get it up before the anniversary, but that ship has sailed.
Fine, whatever. It gives me time to go deeper detail.
Yes, I know that it’s not NYC history (Stony Point is in what’s now the city suburbs, as am I) but it’s nearby, a cool story, and I saw that...
July 11, 2017
For Your Viewing Pleasure
July 7, 2017
False Expertise, Ignorance, and Arrogance
My friend posted the following on facebook the other day, and I think that it’s something that everyone should be aware of:
Thing I wish everyone magically understood from birth #9082904832: Every task has a potential depth of expertise, regardless of how simple it might seem. This means that: 1) someone who repeatedly does the task for any length of time will have gained at least some of that expertise, 2) they usually become increasingly efficient and skilled at carrying out that task over...
June 27, 2017
NYC Pride Parade
On Sunday I went to the Pride parade in NYC, what has become a yearly tradition for me. It runs right down 5th avenue, so you can imagine what it does to traffic. Then again, that’s what parades do.
I went with a bunch of friends, and we always set up in the same spot, right in front of Madison Square Park (no, it’s not by the stadium. Madison Square Garden used to be by the park, but they moved a few times. It’s now above Penn Station). We got there early so that we could be in the front row...
June 23, 2017
Don’t Use Real Names in Your Writing!
I know that it’s very tempting to use real people in your books, and if it’s veiled well enough, there’s no problem with it. But when you include real names of friends, family, or fans that you want to reward…don’t…just don’t
Most of the time it’s not veiled, and this is where the problem is.
Recently a fellow writer used my name without permission. They did not ask, I did not consent. They just went ahead and did it. I’m very uncomfortable with this. Your name is your first face to the wor...