The End is in Sight (Sort Of...) (Summer - Day 20)

I'm getting very close to finishing the photoshop / editing portion of Duck Town. Completed most of Chapter Eleven. After that, there's only Chapter Twelve!

However, I also realize that when this is done, the book isn't finished yet. I'm going to read it over with my girls -- fix any (hopefully) little mistakes that they catch. Then I'll send it to my agent. And that's where the suspense begins. Will she like it the way it is? Or will she think that there needs to be any major changes.

I know they say "Writing is Rewriting." I get that. But at the same time, I've been on an adventure with these characters. What happened on the page happened in my imagination, and it's not easy or pleasant to take an eraser to all of that. It feels inauthentic.

At the same time, if she comes up with an idea that enhances the current plotlines and characters, I'd be on board.

I have my fingers crossed, though, that my agent will like the story enough so that nothing major needs to be altered.

So, what's happened around here besides me working on "Duck Town" all day? Cheri is growing her health coach business -- and looks more and more amazing each day, by the way. Mackenzie was hired by the theater to help a film crew with the lighting board (you know the one that's literally held together by a rubber band?). And Emily spent a lot of time on home work -- she's pushing to have several projects done by this Friday. But she does have good news on the academic front. She earned an "A" in her history course! She is two for two in her college courses!

Big Work Day (Summer - Day 19)

Very productive day today. Spent most of it on Photoshop. Put together chapters nine and ten. Only two more to go!

I've been listening to Stephen King's "The Shining." It's a little disconcerting to work obsessively on a creative project while listening to a novel about man obsessive writer who goes bonkers. Fortunately I am not staying at the Overlook Hotel!

Finished Chapter Eight (Summer - Day 18)

What did I do today? Why, I worked on "Duck Town," of course.

My year-long creative obsession continues. Cheri has been so accommodating as I try to make the final push to get this first draft into Photoshop. Chapter Eight is in the can.

What else has been going on? The girls had an assembly day at the karate studio. It was fun to see the little kids (new ninjas) breaking boards for the first time.

Cheri and Mackenzie are at Hello Dolly.

I have a cankersore under my tongue. (What else is new, right?)

Emily and I watched an episode of Friends. (She has decided to watch them all again from the beginning.)

I started listening to yet another Stephen King audiobook: The Shining.

Oh, and last night Cheri and I watched the first episode of Game of Thrones. So far, I like all of the characters, and I look forward to becoming attached to each of them throughout all seven seasons.

Slow and Steady... (Summer - Day 17)

Slow and Steady May Not Win the Race... But it seems to be the way I finish creating comics... Here's one of my favorite images from yesterday's production of "Duck Town."

Developing a New Play Idea... (Summer - Day 16)

As I write this, I am waiting for Randy and Chris to arrive. We are having another Big Sandwich meeting. I wrote a five-page scene for us to examine. It looks like we've zeroed in on a Radio Play storyline for our first show -- assuming there will be a "first show." Fingers crossed.

Most of my day involved editing/organizing Duck Town Chapter Six. It's a long one, almost twenty pages. I should be able to finish it when I get back tonight. 

Oh, I forgot to mention, I watched the film Ex Machina last night. Fascinating... But the mad genius was also a dumb-ass who invented female robots just so he could imprison them. Spoiler Alert: He gets his comeuppance! 

A Chapter a Day? (Summer - Day 15)

After two lovely days of Orange County fun, it's time to get back to work! Cheri can tell that these lapsed deadlines are making my ornery, so she has supported my latest endeavor.  I am going to edit/organize one chapter of Ducktown every day until this manuscript is complete! That means if all goes well, I should be done by June 8th.

I've got a few things on my plate in the boring department of Grown Up Stuff. I need to:

Smog Check the Kia
Register Kenzie at Moorpark
Decide on a birthday present
order books for Fall Semester

In addition to working on Duck Town most of the day (when I wasn't transporting children to and from karate), I listened to more Prince (the Love Symbol Album) and I finished listening to the audio book, Stephen King's 11/23/63. A very enjoyable novel -- I spent the whole time wondering how it would end, and I wasn't disappointed! 

So, Chapter Five of Duck Town is in the nest. Let's see how fast we can take care of the rest.

Darth at Disneyland (Summer - Day 14)

I think this photo journal will sum up our Disneyland experience...

Where is Vader going?

To Disneyland!

* * * 

Join me, and together we shall rule the Magic Kingdom.

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Mr. Toad's Wild Ride... to the Dark Side!

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Relaxing in Pixie Hollow

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That awkward moment at Disneyland when you see someone you know but don't like. (In this case it's Vader's obnoxious son-in-law.)

* * * 

The force is strong with this straw.

* * * 

Maybe Han's not so bad, after all. 

* * * 

Oh no! I lost my mask!

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I lost mine too!