Less than one week to midterm elections!

It may come as a surprise to some of you out there, but on November 6th, Americans go to the polls. Scratch that. On November 6th, a small fraction of Americans go to the polls, but that doesn't mean the stakes are small.
Granted, no one will be voting for Presidential, Senatorial, or Congressional seats, but there's still plenty at stake. Voters will elect town councilors, School boards, selectmen, bonds, referendums - you name it. While midterm elections draw few crowds and rarely a blink of the eye from television crews or big investment dollars in advertisements, you'd be surprised at the billions of dollars that will be voted on nation-wide on everything from increased school funding to environmental protection.
For those that think their vote doesn't count, midterm elections may be proof that this is not the case. Percentage-wise, more is decided by fewer people on midterm election days. What does that mean to you? It means that that a single vote really does make a difference.
So go online... Okay, you're already here, so go to your state or local website and look at what's on your ballot. If you're unfamiliar with an issue, do a search on Ask.com, Dogpile.com, ChaCha.com, Yahoo.com, Livesearch.com or any other search engine you can find. You'll be inundated with information so you can make an informed decision come next Tuesday.

Gearing up with 5.11 Tactical

Whether you’re gearing up your local police force, getting ready to head out into the vast outdoors, or even getting ready for some paintball, 5.11 Tactical Outdoors has a vast array of products for your outdoor and tactical needs. The crew at 5.11 Tactical have everything from holsters, police jackets, a wide selection of pants and outerwear, and a nice assortment of durable backpacks.

Americans are Silver in Solden

High atop a glacier in Solden, Austria, the first alpine events of the World Cup season took place this past weekend and the Americans got off to a quick start. On Saturday, Julia Mancuso of Olympic Valley, California, stormed to second place in a race that didn't feature here teammate and all-around threat, Lindsey Kildow. Climbing all the way up from 12th in the first run, Mancuso could hold off Italian Denise Karbon, who was the woman's giant slalom winner, collecting her first victory since 2003.
On the men's side, it's a safe bet that many of Sunday's faithful fans had their eyes on Bode Miller has he was set to compete in his first race as an independent racer, having dropped his affiliation with the U.S. Ski Team. Miller, skiing for just the 6th day in the past month due to a lower back injury wasn't far back from the leaders finishing in a surprising 5th place when only days before, his coach John McBride questioned whether Bode would even complete. While Norwegian Aksel Lund Svindal, last year's overall champion and eight-time World Cup winner, won the gold, it was Park City native Ted Ligety, who was a mere 3/10 of a second behind.
While the Americans rarely capture top results in Solden, they will face a bigger test as the tour moves on to Levi, Finland before coming across the pond for several North American events where both the US men and woman are poised to rack up points.

See the best of Canada with DialAFlight

The United States may be the most popular destination for UK travelers, but our friendly neighbors to the north have plenty to offer regardless of the time of year. It’s never too early to book your flight from the UK to any number of Canadian destinations with dialaflight.com. Book a flight to Vancouver and you’ll be only 2 hours away from some of the best skiing in the world at Whistler/Blackcomb. DialAFlight offers worldwide destinations, tailor-made vacations, and you can book everything from your car to hotels with one easy call. So whether so you want a flight to Montreal to peruse the famous underground city or you’ve always wanted to book a trip to Quebec’s famous Winter Carnival, it all starts with dialaflight.com.

Sunday River to open for Halloween!

While daily and top-to-bottom skiing is still likely two weeks away, Sunday River ski resort in Bethel, Maine plans to fire up the Locke Mountain Triple for 5 hours on Wednesday marking the earliest skiing in 13 years. With temps at the higher elevations dropped this past weekend, Sunday River was able to utilize some of the new and improved snowmaking equipment brought in by Boyne USA to open for this one day event. Regular skiing and riding operations are slated to begin on November 9th, weather permitting.

A mortgage site for the skeptics!

You’d be hard-pressed to find many people out there who are more skeptical of mortgage brokers than I am. I know quite a few, who reputable and others that, quite frankly, make me shy away form the possibility of borrowing through a broker. All that said, I always keep my options open and certainly like to see companies out there promoting themselves as different from then norm, and going the extra length to prove it.
One site I have been very impressed with is Money Magic Mortgages. Based in the UK, this company has a very professional site with all the tools a skeptic like me is looking for. Their 3-step mortgage quote process starts with you filling out a form without having to disclose any personal information. This is followed up by a call from one of their independent financial advisors, not a Mortgage Broker. Finally, you are given a quote. They will search all the mortgage possibilities and you won’t even have to have your credit checked. Sounds like a good deal to me!

Do you have some old favorite TV shows you'd like to see again?

I sure do, but despite the seemingly far reach of Netflix, Blockbuster, and Amazon.com., there are just some shows that will never make it to DVD. If you're lucky, you may find a pirated version on eBay, but you'll pay dearly for it. Take for example the show High Mountain Rangers from 1987. High Mountain Who? You ask! Okay, so Robert Conrad may not have made a ton of hits outside the western genre, but at least he got his whole family involved. I paid about $10 for 3 episodes, which is a lot, but you can't get it anywhere and it was a favorite from my younger days.
The point is that there are a ton of shows that for one reason or another, we loved. Some of them live happily in syndication. Others are easily found on eBay or by renting online. Sadly, others will lie dormant. In such spirit, I have decided to do a review of sorts (of course in my opinion) of cancelled or old shows. Some may have been cult favorites and others were shows that never made it past the initial few episodes. Remember, not every show draws multi-millions in ratings and ends to big parties and contests. By-in-large, a majority of shows fail by network standards. I should think that our standards are far-different. So if you have a show you would like have reviewed or featured, send me a note or leave a comment, and pass the word!

Sifting through the bad credit offers

Millions of Americans suffer from poor credit. Some take advantage of opportunities, which just look too good to be true, and then months down the road, it turns out that they were. There are also those who are constantly trying to repair damage done to their credit from years past. It can be overwhelming to sift through all the offers and companies promising to help you get back on your financial feet, but so very important in determining what bad credit loans might be best for you.

BOSTON RED SOX - 2007 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!

Congratulations to the 2007 Boston Red Sox on concluding a sweep of the Colorado Rockies and winning the World Series. The Rockies are a tough team, but Boston played so well. A decade ago, we couldn't have imagined winning a second series in a four year period 'cause we couldn't fathom winning any World Series. This team is tough and a bunch of hard-working young men, who will makes New England, and indeed "Red Sox Nation," proud for a long time to come. Colorado has nothing to be ashamed of, they are a great team and a wonderful bunch of athletes!

THANK YOU FOR A GREAT SEASON!!!!

As a fan of the game...

I've admired every minute of watching the World Series at Coors Field in Denver. Granted, the Sox having been doing well, but the atmosphere looks electric, despite the seemingly bleak outlook for the home team. In last night's game the Rockies were down 6-0 and while in other parks, fans would be making their way for the exits, the 50,000 plus Rockies fans were still roaring and cheering their team on. As a fan of the game and sportsmanship in general, this is what we love to see. And while the 3-run homer by Matt Halliday wasn't enough to put the Rockies over the hump, they hung in the game like they'd been there before, and that my friends, bodes well for baseball in Denver for a long time to come, not matter the outcome of this series.

Secured home loans made easy

With all the recent talk of foreclosures and housing slumps, it’s easy to overlook that there are some great advantages for current homeowners looking for additional cash to consolidate other loans, do much needed home repairs, purchase a new car, or whatever your financial need may be. Magic Loans Secured Home Loans is a new company in the UK offering established homeowners the ability to borrow up to ₤250,000 with a variety of flexible terms, rates, and payback periods – all subject to credit worthiness. Their site is informative and user-friendly. It has an easy FAQ section and quick calculator for easy estimates. Whether you’re looking for home improvement funding or consolidation, if you live in the UK, you should definitely check out Magic Loans.

National Novel Writing Month - What are you writing about?

Okay, so I'm being a little nosey, but despite the fact I have taken part in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in the past, I've never asked others about it. What I mean is that I've heard that it's just a good way for writers to let loose and free-write without the worry of editing of drafting, but it seems that things have changed in the past couple of years. Now don't get me wrong, change is a good thing, but it is sometimes weird. For instance, I haven't a clue as to what I will write about other than I know it will be fiction and at least 50,000 words. Others have topics and outlines. That piqued my interest as perhaps if I put some more thought into into it, I could come away with a viable first draft. Hmmm. Or maybe I would just get stuck trying to make things work out just the way I want them to. It's an interesting dilemma, but I will go with my original approach. I respect those who have planned out what they will write and write about and wish them success, but me, I'm just gonna wing it.

Saturday nights in St. Augustine

I had first visit to St. Augustine, Florida when I was just 8-years old. I had heard the legend that city, said to be the oldest settlement in the America, was home to the Fountain of Youth. Whereas I’m clearly no longer 8-years old, I would be remiss to say that the fountain doesn’t house unique power. People still flock to the city from all ever the world. And yes the Fountain of Youth is just one of the attractions people come to St. Augustine for. Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is home to the Mission of Nombre de Dios, which is believed to be the first permanent mission settlement in the United States. Settled and established by the Spanish, the Mission of Nombre de Dios is also home to Our Lady of La Leche.
So perhaps you’re not very interested in religion and visiting a historical landmark isn’t exactly your idea of a good time on a Saturday night; well not too worry, St. Augustine shopping is also world renowned, especially on the last Saturday night of every month, when boutiques, galleries, and antique stores in the Uptown San Marco Shopping District, stay open with live music, refreshments, and free parking. With November 24th and December 29th still remaining on the 2007 calendar, don’t miss this unique opportunity to celebrate the culture, explore the historic city, and browse the fine shops of St. Augustine.

I'm not a traitor, really!

I should preface by saying that I wouldn't blog so much about the Sox if it were not for the fact that they have a chance to win their second World Series in two years. My blog - being topically random - should and will have more variety, but again, the World Series is pretty special.
Anyway, to the point of my title, I am saying that I am not a traitor because I admittedly want the Red Sox to only win one game in Colorado. I know, I know; you can't have your cake and eat it too, thus I would be Happy for them to win the Series at all, but ideally, it would be sooooo much better for them to win the Series at Fenway, especially since it's been over eight decades since it has happened. Two losses, or even three in Colorado is very possible. Hell, The Rockies have the heart and talent to take this Series, I just think they - like the Indians - are a year or two away from being a team like Boston. All of that said, The Rockies could win the Series and I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it 'cause they're not the Yankees or Mets, but yes, I would be upset. I don't take the Sox for granted, but they are a good team, who could sweep this series, so all I am saying is that it would be cool to see a World Series end in Fenway. Aside from the Sox throwing games like the "Black Sox," I don't see that happening this year.
It's actually a little strange being a fan of the Red Sox when they are expected to win. None of us grew up with such an aura surrounding the team. Regardless, I want the Sox to win and ultimately it doesn't matter if it's in Denver or Boston, the banner will look exactly the same, I hope.

Red Sox hope to keep momentum going into game two

Red Sox players probably learned a lesson or two from the seven game series with the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS. First, they learned that the Indians have one tough team that will be a thorn in the collective American League's side for years to come. More importantly, they learned that a switch in momentum can happen with one play or one inning. You let up a second against a team like the Indians or yes, The Colorado Rockies, and you'll pay. Granted, the Sox looked very strong in their 13-1 victory Wednesday night, but the Sox looked very strong in game one of the ALCS. As Clevelnad bounced back to trounce the Sox in extra innings in game two and go on to win three in a row, the Sox may have overcome a some adversity that makes them a better team in this World Series. While the arm of Curt Schilling will be tested tonight, it will be the bats of the Sox lineup that will be under the microscope. The bats stay hot, the Sox win. The bats go cold, well, let's just say that coming back from a 3-1 series deficit made for exciting baseball.

A chance to make us all better drivers

Have you noticed that more and more car insurance companies are offering premium discounts for safe driving? It would be hard to miss the commercials on television, but that doesn’t mean that many drivers fit the bill. Sure, there are plenty of drivers with great driving records and no accidents, but that clearly doesn’t mean that they are truly driving safely. It isn’t something we necessarily think about until something happens to bring it to the forefront of our minds.
Interestingly, there is a new company from California that has developed an in-car diagnostic system – linked to an online server – that provides instant feedback while you drive. Brake too hard, a monitor will tell you. Accelerate too quickly and the system will let you know. The point behind the GreenRoad Safety center is to help drivers improve on the little things that can add up to big problems. While it may take a while to catch on, as people see their car insurance premium rates climb, they may take a closer look at just how safely they are driving.

What does your back yard look like?

Well, mine doesn't look like this, but with snow covering the top third of Sugarloaf/usa, just a couple hours away, it means that ski season is right around the corner and I can't wait. It's so nice to leave corporate America behind and glide over the snow. I've even thought about creating a second blog that would only be about skiing, but before I get ahead of myself, I'll just start by sharing this beautiful picture a friend snapped last weekend. Jules and I were at a ski resort about 40 miles southwest and snow wasn't even a possibility, but all good things come in time...

Does turkey make us shop early?

I think I may have a lead on why so many people are able to get up at dreadful hours of the morning to wait in line at the mall for the 5:00 am openings of stores on Black Friday. It makes perfect sense ‘cause we Americans stuff ourselves with so much turkey that we fall asleep much earlier on Thanksgiving that any other day of the year. And because of this, we naturally wake up earlier. Whereas that means an early trip to the mountains for me to ski, it means shopping to others. Now don’t get me wrong, I shop as much as the next holiday shopper, but all the tricks, ploys, and free early morning outdoor concerts aren’t getting me near a shopping mall at five in the morning. If you feel the same way, but still want to get the deals that the people waiting in line get; perhaps you should check the offers at www.black-friday.net. Not only do they have a wide selection of exactly the same stores you’d be stopping into at your local mall, but the sale prices are the same. What’s even better is that you can enter you email and get sale and deal updates write to your inbox. So whether you’re looking for BestBuy deals or perhaps the latest Old Navy specials, this site has what you’re looking for.

Go Sox!

Trying to get lost in autumn in Maine

Each year, thousands of people pack their cars and head north to the rolling foothills and mountains of New England to witness the change of seasons.
After the first frost, the leaves on our towering maple and birch trees, turn from a hearty forest green color to a kaleidoscope of red, yellow, and orange. As the leave life cycle comes to an end for the year, people are mesmerized by the array of colors and and the crisp bite in the air.
And yet here we are nearing the end of the third week of October and the leaves have just hit their peek. A late foliage season by Maine standards.
Jules and I were fortunate to be at Sunday River this weekend to view some of the astonishing views afforded by such a pristine site. After a wind-swept game of tennis on Saturday, we packed into the car and headed northwest. We drove past the resort's farthest reaches and into a part of the area neither of us had driven. Passing the last known landmark in that of the Outward Bound camp, the road leading out of Newry merged with the River for which the ski resort is named.
Jules asked where we were going and yet I had no answer. My eyes focused forward, the drooping trees formed a colorful canape over the narrowing road, which had turned from paved to graded gravel to pine needle-covered dirt.
I looked past her and over the side of the road at each chance I got. I could hear the rush of the water getting louder and louder until the trees back away from the road a little and somewhat of a shoulder appeared. Parking the car, each of us grabbed out cameras. The crashing waterfalls and eddies of the upper river were unknown to me in my years of hiking the area. I'd seen pictures and heard stories, but my journeys always took me to sites on topo maps and AT guides. For the two of us that day, we just drove without purpose - allowing ourselves to get lost. Or were we?

Go Sox!

Yesterday:
Despite being 2 hours away from the "city" and amongst the tall firs and birch trees of the western Maine mountains, Jules and I were still back to the condo to watch the Sox last night. J.D. Drew's grand slam in the first inning finally popped me up from my semi-slumber and I got to enjoy the home team rally back to tie the series behind an impressive and gutsy performance from Curt Schilling...

...Now:
It's top of the 6th inning and 3-2 Red Sox. J. D. Drew just hauled one in for the second out of the inning, but the nerves are still there. And why? What stake do I have in this? In the grand scheme of things - nothing I suppose, but it's October and the Sox are playing baseball. It doesn't get old!

...Thank you, Dustin! Two-run home run. We beleive!

...And J.D., and Youk, and Pap, and Okie, and WORLD SERIES here we come - One Nation under Fenway!

Welcome to the mortgage crunch

I’m sure many of you have noticed that the Dow Jones Industrial Average has been doing pretty well as of late, but yet it took a bit of a tumble last week. It seems that news out of the Fed that mortgages and the housing market may still drag down the economy. As homeowners with sub-prime and even prime mortgage rates are going through foreclosure, the process for getting new loans of re-financing is becoming more and more difficult and lenders are raising the bar when it comes to what is perceived as an acceptable credit score.
With all this in mind, we are hearing more and more advertising for bad credit mortgages on the radio and television. So yes, there are lenders who are willing to give the money out, but at what rate? Furthermore, will there be a negative impact on the economy? There are many people, such as myself, who think so, but at the same time, I think that it would be hard to overlook the back that the housing market is crumbling. We need buyers to help offset the sellers. Granted, I do feel that there is room for correction in the marketplace, but I think that 2008 will be the year to buy a new home for anyone thinking about it. For those who have had trouble getting loans, but are working their way back to financial stability, do your research before agreeing to any loan and get the one that’s right for you now, and in the future.

Beckett tosses one-run five-hitter to carry Boston home!

It was do or die in Cleveland last night for the Boston Red Sox. The team, which looked like it may dominate the series during game one, was trying to avoid elimination in game five of the ALCS. With the game one starters back on the mound, the dreams of Red Sox Nation and at least 24 or their 25 players, rested squarely on the shoulders of Josh Beckett.
Beckett, dominant in game one, showed that he would be out-dueled by C.C. Sabathia and went eight strong as the Sox scored seven runs to send the series back to Boston. The Sox will still face elimination, but the Fenway Faithful will be the ones cheering now and hopefully, the momentum has turned!

Do you have insurance coverage that best suits you?

After a darkness-shortened match of tennis the other night, Jules and I were sitting court side and discussing how her employer had just switched insurance carriers. I asked her what she had for coverage and she listed off a number of products her company provides in their benefit package.
This type of conversation is increasingly important today. On television we are constantly bombarded by car insurance commercials, but this isn’t a bad thing, it means that there is a good level of competition and therefore we can all have the opportunity to get the best rates by choosing our coverage and carrier. Unfortunately, some people don’t even think about two of the least expensive types of insurance coverage – disability insurance and life insurance. Like anything else in life, we cannot predict the future and the cost of these two products is normally very low, if not even covered at a base level by your employer.
Lastly, I was watching the news last week and there was a story about a house that had burned down due to a child playing with a lighter. Fortunately, no one was injured, but at the end of the piece, the reporter closed with explained how the owner of the single-family home didn’t have coverage for home insurance.
With the end of the year rolling around, your employer will most likely be sending notices around for open enrollment for your yearly benefits. Do yourself a favor and educate yourself on the product available to you and your family.

Congrats to Joe Torre

Hold on! Did I just say that? But alas, I'm a Red Sox fan. How could I make such a comment about the former Yankees skipper. The reason is because I am a fan of the game and I respect people who give there all to anything or any type fo work.
Does it mean I have to like the Yankees? Nope, but I sure as hell respect the history the organization has and some of the fantastic players who've worn the pinstripes. Whereas I can't stand The Boss and feel that his announcement buring the playoffs that Torre had to win or would be done, was class-less; I respect Joe Torre and even like the guy. I'm glad he stood up and said no when the Yankees spit in his face today with their $5 million offer for one year. The man should have done this a long time ago and I hope he goes somewhere where he can come back to defeat The Boss, but the fact is, he already did so today.

Taking this whole Chuck Norris thing a bit too far!

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard a few of people's favorite "Chuck Norris Facts." While Chuck has been mostly relegated to cable syndication and late night infomercials, he has amassed quite a cult following for his 80's movies and his long run with the television show, Walker, Texas Ranger.
I indeed have a few favorites when it comes to "Chuck Norris Facts." Hell, I even made up a couple and shared them with Jules and her friends, but I'm going to keep this post a PC as possible. Whether you take it all in jest or you're truly a fan of the man, I think we can agree that some people take some things a little too far. I admittedly almost wet myself when I saw this picture. This is the number one reason to NOT try to emulate the master himself... and no this isn't me, but thanks for asking!

Manage your job candidate searches more efficiently

I can imagine being a human resource coordinator can be, at time, very overwhelming. The task of filling job vacancies alone can be daunting with all the job sites, postings, and candidates on the market.
Imagine posting a job opening on several sites and then having to sift through the candidates? With Trovix Recruit, employers can manage everything from the initial job posting, selecting the most qualified candidates, scheduling interviews, and extending offers; all through the Trovix applicant tracking system. Now employers can spend more time managing employees and less time and energy looking for them.

My girlfriend was in Paris and got me a heck of a lot more than a shirt!

Ironically, I would probably wear one of those t-shirts that say "so and so was in Paris and all they got me was this shirt." Why? because sometimes it can be pretty cool to be a tourist. You spend money and help others' economies. I like to do that. Don't get me wrong, you won't find me snapping 25,000 pictures of a building, but I've been known to snap a photo or two.
So what's the point of this post? Just to say that for the past year I've been donning a watch given to me while I was at a business conference at Disney. While I like my Mickey watch, but it's been on the fritz for a few weeks now. So while Jules and her family were in Europe last week, she snagged me a new watch and I love it. I love it 'cause it's from her and quite frankly, the thought of going somewhere to shop for a watch was depressing. So while you might think that a t-shirt is the best gift to get someone while your on your next vacation; think practical. I can now say that my watch is from Paris!

...and just for the hell of it - GO SOX!!!

Get all the information you need before you incorporate

I heard an interesting piece on the news the other day that got me thinking quite a bit. It was about a man, who owns a small business and was being fined a fair chunk of change by the State of Maine for not properly conducting his business as a corporation. When asked by the reporter what he did wrong; the gentleman said that he had not submitted meeting minutes from his annual corporation meeting. A little chuckle as he continued to explain that his corporation is he and his wife and that he had no idea that he needed to go through such a process.
It’s easy to understand that this gentleman wasn’t trying to scam anyone, nor was he trying to break the law, but the fact of the matter is that he just didn’t understand or have all the information necessary to legally operate a corporation in our state; so he got fined.
IncParadise.com can help any small business with all its’ incorporating needs. Weather you have just filed your papers of incorporation and simply need the proper forms to register your business’s tax ID number or you just need some free LLC forms, IncParadise.com has business solutions to help you whether you’re in Nevada, Maine, or any other state. Don’t get fined by being uninformed. If you’re going to take the time to start your own business, take the time to get all your affairs in order before audit time comes around.

Sports Talk Radio

Admittedly, I am somewhat fascinated by sports talk radio. Why, you ask? Well, that's a good question and as a sports fan, I'd never thought about it prior to this afternoon as I was driving home from work. And then after about five calls in a row - all about the exact same topic, I got to wondering why some people can't just leave well enough alone. Seriously, it's like a for or against debate that goes on for hours at a time and I'm totally captivated by it. I guess it's sort of like a daytime television talk show without actually seeing the people who have garnered your attention. How into it am I? Alas, I'm just a listener when I'm in the car or shaving et cetera, but don't be fooled; many of the listeners are a religious about their favorite sports talk shows as anything else in their lives. Some call daily and are known by name by the host or hosts. Others even have on-air names like "Carolina Guy" or "Boston Lou." and yet while I sit here and contemplate how odd the whole concept seems to me - because I truly do listen for scores and news more than anything - there are thousands of people who listen to these shows who think exactly the same about people who express themselves or connect with others through blogs. Go figure...

Before you head outdoors, make sure you save at NCnatural.com

The response is in and it is increasingly clear that you, my online readers prefer to do your shopping online, rather than throwing elbows with mall crowds. And I couldn’t agree more, which is precisely why I’ve got some more online Coupon Savings from NCnatural.com.
Not only is NCnatural.com your online guide to North Carolina nature, entertainment & culture, but they’ve got some great Coupons for you, too. Check out these Cabelas coupons for your outdoor needs. Or perhaps you’re looking for some special Jewelry. Forget about the mall jewelry chain stores because you can’t go wrong with coupons from Blue Nile.
Folks from North Carolina have been saving money with NCnatural.com, but you don’t need to be a native to get in on these great deals.

What has blogging done for me?

Curiously, it seems as though almost everyone I know now has a blog of some sort. Some simply have little rants on their myspace pages, while others have their own domains and write daily about passions, current events, sports, and paying endeavours.

While I've only had my own site here on blogger for a few months, I found myself writing more and more. Consequently, I soon found myself getting back to what it is that even gave me the notion to write in the first place - fiction.

While I started my first serious attempt at writing a novel in 2003, I swayed from the path, so to speak, a little over a year ago. It wasn't that the desire and determination had gone, but I was tired. I was tired of writing draft after draft and getting rejection after rejection. Whereas my skills were improving, I, like many who aspire to publish traditionally, am in a tough spot where being an unknown first time novelist makes it hard to break through, if you will. That said; my paying career was taking up more and more time and I decided to take a break. I never quit; I'm far too stubborn for that, but I knew I need to re-energize. All the while, I found myself trying to come up with new ideas for plots and also trying to force myself to sit down and finish the last draft of my most polished novel. The 22nd draft, to be exact. And yet I realized that for too long, I was trying to force it. While constantly reading and writing are keys to success, my opinion is that forcing your craft will only lead to poor results, thus my time off.

Now some time has passed and with blogging, I began to want to work on my drafts. I started to want to write down those new ideas and even start character sketches. A breakthrough? Perhaps, but what I know for sure is that writing is addictive and this forum has brought back a fuel I could have easily let run dry in search of something else. I realize now that whereas I may have needed time off from that project, I didn't need time off from writing. Blogging made me realize this. For those out there who aspire to publication or even those who just want to finish a piece you started long ago; never stop writing because no matter what form it comes in, it will undoubtedly be helpful in the long run.

Out-pitched, out-hit, and out-managed...

Things looked so promising in the 5th inning when Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell hit back-to-back homers. Little did Red Sox Nation know, that Cleveland Indians manager, Eric Wedge knows a thing or two about managing a baseball game. My choice for Manager of The Year in the AL, Wedge used his tail end of the bullpen more effectively than Terry Francona, thus in the top of the 10th, Boston was forced to go to the always scary, Eric Gagne. The former Cy Young winner gave up a hit and walked a man and left to the dismay and shock of the Fenway faithful. Javiar Lopez, normally effective, but mostly used in partial innings, left his pitches up and Cleveland teed off. And the player of the game was none other than the Dirtdog himself, former longtime Red Sox right fielder, Trot Nixon. Nixon, who was pursued by the Red Sox in the off season when he was a free agent, signed with Cleveland and while probably not the vengeful type, he again left his mark on Boston. Final score: A lot to about half... Series tied at one game a piece.

Why wait in all the lines when the deals are online?

While I often find myself immersed in the fiery red and yellow colors of Maine’s autumn leaves, it can often cause as a pressing reminder that the holiday season – or shopping season, if you will – is fast approaching. Sure, I’ve selected a vast selection of colorful socks for all my cousins, especially those that misspell my name on the Christmas cards, but for those that perhaps warrant more thoughtful gifts, I had been sort of lost. While a friend of mine suggested I visit couponchief.com, I was hesitant and first tried more traditional means, so to speak.
Being a guy, I’m not exactly a fan of shopping. So imagine how I felt while making my way out to the mall the other day to pick out a few items only to find a line of cars stretching back onto the highway exit lane. Needless to say, I skipped that exit and jumped back on my laptop. Being pleased at the amount of money I saved using gap.com coupons for some clothes for the nieces and nephew, I made a few more clicks and thought about perhaps getting myself a present. It’s almost too hard to resist with the deals at couponchief.com, especially some of the Dell deals I came across. So skip the mall and click on the Chief!