Plans for the next year

I have plans for a number of books this coming year. First is completing Storm Over Nepal; a book about an airship captain taking on a risky job.

Then the following

• Power on the Rez - a sequel to After the Collapse set on the Navajo Reservation.
• A book set in the countryside of southern England where a military Major must stop an incursion of goblins into the real world with the help of local brownies and faieries.
• Mask of Vapours - an erotic thriller set in the Victorian era.

Am also hoping to get the pictures finished for my primer on the use of the sidesword.

Italy

It's been two weeks since I came back from Europe. May I go back please. The trip was so relaxing. My gout went away muscle and nerve issues started to subside. 

Italy was nice. We visited Rome. Stayed in the Hotel Panama in the suburbs. Beautiful old school hotel. The staff was wonderful. Although hot and humid we enjoyed  the downtown area. Saw Vatican City, the coliseum, the Roman forum and other sites. 

The highlight of the trip for me was Spain. Old Madrid and especially Sevilla impressed me. I've fallen in love with Sevilla and may use it and Càdiz in a book. The central city of Sevilla is to die for. Narrow streets amongst tall buildings make for a cool environment. The Moors really knew how to build cities in hot climates. My favourite bar was the Bar Campanaria. Excellent drinks and very tasty food. I highly recommend this bar on the Calle Mateos Gago near the cathedral. We stayed across the street at a hostel run by nuns. Beautiful place and the sisters were accommodating of Americans who spoke only a little Spanish. 

The beach at Càdiz, all white sand, was expansive. Topless beach. Many Americans would have been aghast. It was refreshing to see how easy going everyone was. The Atlantic there is very cold. Had lunch at a Cervesaria on the beach and dinner in the old city. 

The trains and metro in Spain are easy to navigate. The ride by train from Sevilla to Càdiz and back was relaxing. 

Progress on Storm Over Nepal.

The first draft of the book is off to test readers and to the editor. I'm hoping to fast track the book so it can come out in September. Then it's "get to work" on the sequel to After the Collapse.

Arte of Defence is now being carried by Amazon and other booksellers.

Changes

My younger son is at college orientation today. Even though he is going to the University I work and teach at, things are changing. Today for orientation he went off with friends leaving me in the dust. As a parent we have to let go but it is still hard. So come fall, my wife and I will be empty nesters as he is living on campus for his freshman year. After that we'll see what happens. He has the option to move back home till he graduates or to live off campus with friends.

Fencing

One of the reasons I am leaving the WMA Community is the general lack of following the teachings of the masters. It really isn't that hard these days to find translations and reasonable information. And there are a few good teachers out there. But there are a lot of bad ones as well. What I see year after year is poke and pray and thuggish behaviour. It's a shame.

Yep, end of an era

Tonight was my last night taking part in WMA as a participant or a teacher. After a meltdown teying to work past angina and continue on, I just can't do it anymore.

Updates

I saw a number of docs. My bone doc put me on allipurinol to help with the gout. Then saw my lipidologist who took me off niacin till the gout clears up and then I go back on slowly but only up to half what I used to take. And my interventional cardiologist wants me in for a stress test in May. oh what fun.

So I saw a post the other day that was given by John Dehlin, a Mormon supporter who has basically screwed a bunch of the ex-mormon community.

John Dehlin has posted the following: 

"To those who want to tear down religion....I say this.

My sense is that most humans want/need: 1) deep/rich social interaction and community, 2) a compelling sense of meaning/purpose, including a way to deal/cope with existential concerns and death, 3) some sort of moral "code" to live by, 4) some sort of spiritual nourishment, and 5) something (or someone) to inspire/uplift them, etc.

Consequently, I believe that the most ethical and productive efforts that we will see in the coming years will not come from those that seek to criticize, mock, or tear down religions, but instead will come from those that seek to build up (create) something that is inherently more valuable/compelling.

In short, you must strive to create/build/maintain something superior. Plain and simple.

If you can pull it off, God bless you. I (and likely God) will be your biggest fan(s). Until then, I feel like you are simply dogs barking at trains."


So here is my response:

I found JD disingenuous. 1) Deep and rich social action need not come through a church. I have done the same with social groups such as Scottish Societies or with my fencing students. One just need look. 2) My atheist friends cope just fine with death without the need for existential baggage. I am an agnostic. I believe when you die the light goes out and that is it. It makes me savour life the more. 3) Moral code does not just come from religion it comes from human nature. I prefer being ethical over moral. Religious morality allows for genocide, slavery, ill treatment of women, etc. 4) There are lots of forms of spiritual nourishment. How about reading good books? Or perhaps communing with nature. Religion does not have the monopoly on touching the "soul" of man. 5) You know what uplifts me? People like those that ran into the face of danger in Boston to help others. The man in the cowboy hat who had lost so much being there and helping the ones who were so devastatingly injured. People who go into communities and help to build up and fix up those communities. A single parent who raises a good child. A man who despite dying from cancer fights on for his family (personal experience with a friend who just died). That is what inspires me. Not a multi-million or billion dollar organization who's mission is simply to make money and not turn it over to the poor. 

Now if I call out that or those organizations, and point out how they are not living up to the simplest commandment of their saviour, that is, to sell all and give it to the poor and follow him while loving neighbour as self, then so be it, I am a dog barking at a train. a train that is leading their passengers away from their saviour's mission. Read the New Testament in Greek. It is very very clear. In my estimation, pointing out difficiencies and issues is not a dog barking. It is necessary to effect change.