Didn't write at all yesterday, but we did have a short band practice. We practiced the four originals that we're going to record the bass, drums, and rhythm guitar for on the 25th, when we go back into the studio.
I have four new show recaps up: here, here, here, and here.
Today, I plan to write some more in A Night Borrowed. I am almost at 30,000 words for the month. :)
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Coccygodynious* People
So, a few weeks ago, I responded to a Craigslist posting for a band for a wedding. I sent them a complete set list and links to cover song demos. They replied that they wanted to come hear us play live. I replied that the bars weren't paying that well, so we have been doing weddings, but that I couldn't just invite them to someone else's wedding reception. So, I told them they could come hear us at a practice. A week or so goes by, and I don't hear back from them. I figure that they weren't interested in coming over or something and wrote it off.
Then, on July 3rd, the lady writes back asking when we're practicing so she can come hear us play. I tell her that the drummer is out of the area for one weekend and we're playing another wedding the next, so the 19th (today) is the next practice. She writes back later that day that they are coming.
Over the course of the last two weeks, I have tried to confirm this with her. No replies. Yesterday, I wrote again to confirm. Finally got a reply at 1 PM today that they've hired another band.
My question is: WHEN did she hire another band? Because, unless it was at 12:30 PM TODAY, she should have called or e-mailed THAT DAY, not waited until two hours before they were supposed to show up!!! I mean, the fact that they hired another band is not the deal here: it's the lack of consideration for my time, but not e-mailing or calling me and letting me know they've hired someone else and are not coming.
* means pain in the ass
Then, on July 3rd, the lady writes back asking when we're practicing so she can come hear us play. I tell her that the drummer is out of the area for one weekend and we're playing another wedding the next, so the 19th (today) is the next practice. She writes back later that day that they are coming.
Over the course of the last two weeks, I have tried to confirm this with her. No replies. Yesterday, I wrote again to confirm. Finally got a reply at 1 PM today that they've hired another band.
My question is: WHEN did she hire another band? Because, unless it was at 12:30 PM TODAY, she should have called or e-mailed THAT DAY, not waited until two hours before they were supposed to show up!!! I mean, the fact that they hired another band is not the deal here: it's the lack of consideration for my time, but not e-mailing or calling me and letting me know they've hired someone else and are not coming.
* means pain in the ass
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Words and Stuff
I am almost to the halfway mark for JulNoWriMo. Tomorrow, I should crack 25,000 words (plus some, I hope). I need to get at least 50,000 words this month, or I'll never get the book done this year.
Kenny may have gotten me another web design job for a local flooring company, so that would be good.
As for the band, we're practicing on Sunday, and there is supposed to be a potential client coming over to hear us play. I doubt they'll actually make it over. But, just in case, I am cleaning the floors tomorrow... vacuuming the livingroom carpet and mopping the linoleum in the dining room, kitchen, and bathroom. Also, clutter must be picked up. The house isn't in that bad of shape, considering... except for the kids' rooms. Arg.
Kenny may have gotten me another web design job for a local flooring company, so that would be good.
As for the band, we're practicing on Sunday, and there is supposed to be a potential client coming over to hear us play. I doubt they'll actually make it over. But, just in case, I am cleaning the floors tomorrow... vacuuming the livingroom carpet and mopping the linoleum in the dining room, kitchen, and bathroom. Also, clutter must be picked up. The house isn't in that bad of shape, considering... except for the kids' rooms. Arg.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
The Show Went Well
I got up at 11AM yesterday (because I had been up until 4AM making preparations for the gig), made coffee, and started getting ready. We packed up and drove to Dover and got to the venue. We dragged all of our equipment up the stairs to a renovated hayloft in a barn. The floor was uneven, and all of our equipment was tippy. Oh, well.
We set up. I had major issues with the power source for my little 66-key keyboard. I have started using the little keyboard for the organ parts on the Bon Jovi songs we do, and I went and bought a second tier for my keyboard stand for that very purpose, so it looks like I have some real keyboard talent, what with the two keyboards stacked atop each other, the 88-key big one below and the little 66-key one above. LOL. Anyway, so once we got the power issues situated, we soundchecked.Soundcheck was a mess. We couldn't seem to get the levels right. We got them close, though, when we stole the drummer's vocal microphone and stuffed it in his kick drum. Once the kick drum was audible through the PA, things seemed a bit better, soundwise. Not perfect, but better.
After soundcheck, we went and got some hamburgers for lunch and then Kenny and I grabbed the big keyboard, my acoustic guitar, one half of Kenny's amp, and my little Abilene amp and we went to the wedding site. Once there, we found that the concrete pad we were to play on was in the full-on afternoon sun. And, we had only two outlets and we needed three. So, Kenny jetted back to the barn to go get a power strip. Once we were set up, to keep me from burning my hands on the keyboard (which was HOT thanks to being in the full-on rays of the sun), Kenny stood between me and the sun, shading my hands. He was dripping with sweat, and my legs, which were still in the sun and covered in black tights, felt like they might catch fire.
We did really well at the wedding, though the sun prevented me from doing as well as I wanted to while people were sitting down. The bride wanted us to play an instrumental acoustic version of the chorus from Tom Petty's "Here Comes My Girl." We did manage to pull that off without a hitch, so, that was good. After the wedding ceremony, I played Pachabel's "Canon in D" for the bride and groom to march back down the aisle, and then we packed up our shit and went back to the barn for the reception.
We got back to the reception and had some ice water, and then re-set up our stuff for the gig. The heat inside kept people outside; it was about 105 degrees inside that barn, and muggy as hell, but we persevered. We played really well, all in all. There weren't any glaring errors, and the band sounded awesome, and everyone was having a great time and dancing (outside where we couldn't see them, but Dad told me about it), and the bride and her mom told us repeatedly that we rocked and that they really enjoyed it.
We broke everything down and loaded it into the vehicles. We went to bed - with my cousin staying over (and I am really glad he came; we really needed his help and he was a HUGE help) - at about 2 AM, and I didn't get up until 1:30 this afternoon. So far, I haven't really done anything except make dinner for everyone. It's in the oven now.
So, all in all, it went well.
We set up. I had major issues with the power source for my little 66-key keyboard. I have started using the little keyboard for the organ parts on the Bon Jovi songs we do, and I went and bought a second tier for my keyboard stand for that very purpose, so it looks like I have some real keyboard talent, what with the two keyboards stacked atop each other, the 88-key big one below and the little 66-key one above. LOL. Anyway, so once we got the power issues situated, we soundchecked.Soundcheck was a mess. We couldn't seem to get the levels right. We got them close, though, when we stole the drummer's vocal microphone and stuffed it in his kick drum. Once the kick drum was audible through the PA, things seemed a bit better, soundwise. Not perfect, but better.
After soundcheck, we went and got some hamburgers for lunch and then Kenny and I grabbed the big keyboard, my acoustic guitar, one half of Kenny's amp, and my little Abilene amp and we went to the wedding site. Once there, we found that the concrete pad we were to play on was in the full-on afternoon sun. And, we had only two outlets and we needed three. So, Kenny jetted back to the barn to go get a power strip. Once we were set up, to keep me from burning my hands on the keyboard (which was HOT thanks to being in the full-on rays of the sun), Kenny stood between me and the sun, shading my hands. He was dripping with sweat, and my legs, which were still in the sun and covered in black tights, felt like they might catch fire.
We did really well at the wedding, though the sun prevented me from doing as well as I wanted to while people were sitting down. The bride wanted us to play an instrumental acoustic version of the chorus from Tom Petty's "Here Comes My Girl." We did manage to pull that off without a hitch, so, that was good. After the wedding ceremony, I played Pachabel's "Canon in D" for the bride and groom to march back down the aisle, and then we packed up our shit and went back to the barn for the reception.
We got back to the reception and had some ice water, and then re-set up our stuff for the gig. The heat inside kept people outside; it was about 105 degrees inside that barn, and muggy as hell, but we persevered. We played really well, all in all. There weren't any glaring errors, and the band sounded awesome, and everyone was having a great time and dancing (outside where we couldn't see them, but Dad told me about it), and the bride and her mom told us repeatedly that we rocked and that they really enjoyed it.
We broke everything down and loaded it into the vehicles. We went to bed - with my cousin staying over (and I am really glad he came; we really needed his help and he was a HUGE help) - at about 2 AM, and I didn't get up until 1:30 this afternoon. So far, I haven't really done anything except make dinner for everyone. It's in the oven now.
So, all in all, it went well.
Friday, July 10, 2009
More Words
I managed to write just over 1,000 words yesterday, bringing my total for JulNoWriMo to 14,973. It seems so slow going, but once I made a change in Chapter One, the rest seems to be going smoother. I was going to skip a bunch of stuff that was supposed to happen in the book and just summarize those events, but, I realized that much of the characterization happens during those seemingly boring parts to write, so I am writing them. Not that I really want to. I'd rather get on with what happens.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
I'm Procrastinating Again
I have been doing everything BUT writing in A Night Borrowed. I don't like how it is turning out, and I fear that I will have to start over. It needs desperate re-working.
Today is really my last day to write until Sunday, so I should get to it. Tomorrow, I have to practice with Kenny and then break down all the equipment and get it ready to move to the venue. Saturday, we have to leave here by 1PM to get to the venue for set-up by 2PM. Also, since Kenny and I are playing guitar and piano AT the wedding itself, we have to set up part of the stuff at a different place and then move it to the venue when the reception starts. And then there's breaking down again and re-loading it up in the vehicles... and did I mention that the reception is taking place on the second floor, which means hauling everything up a flight of stairs?
Today is really my last day to write until Sunday, so I should get to it. Tomorrow, I have to practice with Kenny and then break down all the equipment and get it ready to move to the venue. Saturday, we have to leave here by 1PM to get to the venue for set-up by 2PM. Also, since Kenny and I are playing guitar and piano AT the wedding itself, we have to set up part of the stuff at a different place and then move it to the venue when the reception starts. And then there's breaking down again and re-loading it up in the vehicles... and did I mention that the reception is taking place on the second floor, which means hauling everything up a flight of stairs?
Monday, July 6, 2009
JulNoWriMo Word Count
So far, I have 7,218 words for JulNoWriMo. Once the synopsis was complete, things started to make more sense and writing was easier. I am going to have to go back and make some textual changes when I am finished with the first draft, but things should be good for A Night Borrowed to come out October 1st.
Other news: There is no one at the landscape yard today... except for customers, who seem to think that I - a mere neighbor of the place - know something about the operation of the landscape yard and equipment thereon. Case in point: a guy delivering slate to the yard today thought that I somehow knew how to operate the crane truck and/or get into the office so he could get the keys to run it. Wut?
Other news: There is no one at the landscape yard today... except for customers, who seem to think that I - a mere neighbor of the place - know something about the operation of the landscape yard and equipment thereon. Case in point: a guy delivering slate to the yard today thought that I somehow knew how to operate the crane truck and/or get into the office so he could get the keys to run it. Wut?
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Busy Day Ahead
Today, I have to go into Spokane to meet with a client. That meeting is at 3PM, and I hope to be done by 4PM so that I can go over to Uncle Rick's and look at my car.
Finally, I made an appointment with the studio to pick up preliminary mixes of the drums, bass, and rhythm guitar tracks we did last week. That's at 6 or 6:30.
Not sure what's going on tonight, but I have almost finished the synopsis for A Night Borrowed, so I should be good to go on that and be able to write the darned book this month and next. Last year, when I did JulNoWriMo, I wrote the 50,000 words in the 31 days. The thing is, when I wrote Night Cries, it ended up being just over 135,000 words. I do hope that this book is shorter. With any luck, the book will end somewhere between 85,000 and 90,000 words.
Anyway, I need to get ready to go. More later.
Finally, I made an appointment with the studio to pick up preliminary mixes of the drums, bass, and rhythm guitar tracks we did last week. That's at 6 or 6:30.
Not sure what's going on tonight, but I have almost finished the synopsis for A Night Borrowed, so I should be good to go on that and be able to write the darned book this month and next. Last year, when I did JulNoWriMo, I wrote the 50,000 words in the 31 days. The thing is, when I wrote Night Cries, it ended up being just over 135,000 words. I do hope that this book is shorter. With any luck, the book will end somewhere between 85,000 and 90,000 words.
Anyway, I need to get ready to go. More later.
Monday, June 29, 2009
New Show Reviews
I have four show reviews posted, here, here, here, and here.
So, today, I want to finish the articles for a client's site and send them to him. I need to do two more show reviews and send them. I need to go get involved in JulNoWriMo, and I need to practice the piano. But, as you can tell, I am not doing any of those things. I am procrastinating.
So, today, I want to finish the articles for a client's site and send them to him. I need to do two more show reviews and send them. I need to go get involved in JulNoWriMo, and I need to practice the piano. But, as you can tell, I am not doing any of those things. I am procrastinating.
Friday, June 26, 2009
My Schedule.... Whoa.
Today, I plan to finish up the 8 remaining articles I owe a client (these are all personal injury articles). I finished the four show reviews I had due yesterday, but I already have another one pending.
Saturday, I will be in the studio. We're planning on completely finishing three or four songs at a time, so we're working on the songs we're recording without a metronome, first. Those are Moonshine Valentine, Honor Among Thieves, and If The Stars Align. If time permits, we're going to try to work on Rumors, too. We're only trying to capture drums and bass, and, hopefully, my rhythm guitar parts. Hopefully, we'll get all that done, and then I will go back in over the weekend of July 18th to do the lead vocal tracks, the piano parts, acoustic guitar parts, and any string/horn parts that need done for whatever songs we got finished. The following weekend, then, Kenny will go in and do his lead guitar parts. After that, I'll go in and do any backing vocals, and then we'll mix it down. So, we'll get about a third of the album done by the end of July, and then work on another three or four songs... probably Strings, The Night Let Me Down, and You're The Reason. Then repeat the above process, to have those songs finished by the second week of August. Then, we'll go in and do Dear Jane (the drummer's song), Even If It's Wrong, The Cover, and Relax (all easy songs). Repeat process again, to have those done by the end of August/early September. If time permits, I have two other songs we might do. One is with the whole band; the other is just me and a piano and MAYBE some backing vocals. Then, once it's all mixed and I have copies, I'll get it mastered, replicated, and packaged. This means that I have to nail down the packaging sometime within the next two months, including deciding on jewel cases or jackets and getting pictures and formatting those for the packaging specifications.
So, that's Saturday. Sunday, I have band practice for the wedding. This practice is important, because the wedding is July 11th, and my drummer will be gone the weekend of the 4th, so we will only have this one practice left. I want to start early and hit everything on the setlist.
In July, I intend to participate JulNoWriMo (July Novel Writing Month) again. Last year, I wrote more than 50,000 words in Devil's Handiwork. This year, I want to work on A Night Borrowed, and, hopefully, get it mostly finished before school starts in late August. A Night Borrowed I plan to self-publish, to get it out to those who want it right away. I am going to query Devil's Handiwork to agents and editors over the winter and see what happens.
Saturday, I will be in the studio. We're planning on completely finishing three or four songs at a time, so we're working on the songs we're recording without a metronome, first. Those are Moonshine Valentine, Honor Among Thieves, and If The Stars Align. If time permits, we're going to try to work on Rumors, too. We're only trying to capture drums and bass, and, hopefully, my rhythm guitar parts. Hopefully, we'll get all that done, and then I will go back in over the weekend of July 18th to do the lead vocal tracks, the piano parts, acoustic guitar parts, and any string/horn parts that need done for whatever songs we got finished. The following weekend, then, Kenny will go in and do his lead guitar parts. After that, I'll go in and do any backing vocals, and then we'll mix it down. So, we'll get about a third of the album done by the end of July, and then work on another three or four songs... probably Strings, The Night Let Me Down, and You're The Reason. Then repeat the above process, to have those songs finished by the second week of August. Then, we'll go in and do Dear Jane (the drummer's song), Even If It's Wrong, The Cover, and Relax (all easy songs). Repeat process again, to have those done by the end of August/early September. If time permits, I have two other songs we might do. One is with the whole band; the other is just me and a piano and MAYBE some backing vocals. Then, once it's all mixed and I have copies, I'll get it mastered, replicated, and packaged. This means that I have to nail down the packaging sometime within the next two months, including deciding on jewel cases or jackets and getting pictures and formatting those for the packaging specifications.
So, that's Saturday. Sunday, I have band practice for the wedding. This practice is important, because the wedding is July 11th, and my drummer will be gone the weekend of the 4th, so we will only have this one practice left. I want to start early and hit everything on the setlist.
In July, I intend to participate JulNoWriMo (July Novel Writing Month) again. Last year, I wrote more than 50,000 words in Devil's Handiwork. This year, I want to work on A Night Borrowed, and, hopefully, get it mostly finished before school starts in late August. A Night Borrowed I plan to self-publish, to get it out to those who want it right away. I am going to query Devil's Handiwork to agents and editors over the winter and see what happens.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Gaelic Tattoos
So, in checking my web stat trends for Gaelic Shadows, I noticed that about 20 people per day, for the last 6 months or so, are coming to my site searching for Gaelic-inspired tattoo art. So... I guess I will do up some celtic/Gaelic tattoo art, and post it here soon. Looks like something people are interested in.
If I give the tattoo art away for free, will people buy my book and/or CD? Who knows?
If I give the tattoo art away for free, will people buy my book and/or CD? Who knows?
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Cajun Is Home!
Thought I would update you and let you know that a white Jeep stopped out front at the end of my driveway this afternoon and let Cajun out, so he is home. I don't know why someone took him, and I know even less about why they brought him back, but I am really happy that they did. I missed him really bad.
Stuff happened today, but I will write later when I am not so wiped out.
Stuff happened today, but I will write later when I am not so wiped out.
My Kitty Is Missing
Friday night, I came home from singing karaoke at Stateline, and Cajun was in the house, sleeping on the couch. Before I went to bed, he wanted out, so I let him out. He is usually back in the morning. The kids says that they saw Cajun sleeping on the sidewalk out front Saturday morning, too. I never saw him. We went to my cousin's wedding and we were gone all afternoon and part of the evening before returning home to change clothes. Cajun was nowhere to be seen.
We went out to my aunt's house for a while Saturday night. We got home around 1 in the morning, and Cajun was nowhere to be seen. This morning, Cajun is still not around, and now, I am really concerned and upset. I keep thinking about all the horrible things that could happen to him, like those vicious dogs next door that the neighbors can't seem to keep penned up. Or the highway. Or the cars zooming in and out of the driveway. Maybe someone took him thinking he was a friendly stray. In any case, I miss my cat and I want him home.
We went out to my aunt's house for a while Saturday night. We got home around 1 in the morning, and Cajun was nowhere to be seen. This morning, Cajun is still not around, and now, I am really concerned and upset. I keep thinking about all the horrible things that could happen to him, like those vicious dogs next door that the neighbors can't seem to keep penned up. Or the highway. Or the cars zooming in and out of the driveway. Maybe someone took him thinking he was a friendly stray. In any case, I miss my cat and I want him home.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
More Show Recaps
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
More Planet Stuff (Not That You're Interested)
I have gone from 1423 to 2112 looking at the Western sky as seen from Hudson Valley, New York. I found that the alignment appears to happen WAAAAY more often than the article I read would have people believe.
I'm going to post more pictures. Remember, you can click on these to make them bigger.
For these, I told the program to make the moon to scale, so we can see when it is a crescent moon and when it isn't. I cannot decide which ones of these to count and which to dismiss as another kind of alignment. So, look these over and let me know which you would count. For my purposes, the alignment of August 8, 1423 is what I consider the benchmark. Here is that alignment, with the moon to scale:
Though it is interesting, in this picture, how Mars and Mercury and Saturn are also in apparent alignment, what I am most interested in is how Venus, Jupiter, and the crescent moon interact. So, that's what I am comparing everything else to.
Now, here's another, similar alignment, a scant 59 years later on August 15, 1482:
I am not sure this is a match.
Next up is another alignment, this one from September 23, 1626:
Things are a little off, but they are pretty close, and, to the naked eye with Jupiter and Venus at the correct size (they aren't to scale in these), it would be pretty hard to tell, I think. Opinions?
Okay, next is October 15, 1757:
This looked pretty close.
Next is November 25, 1794:
It looks very close to me. Thoughts?
Next is September 6, 1815:
The moon looks completely off kilter, to me, in this one, though, while moving through the sky (which the program only kinda-sorta replicates), it might look closer to the benchmark at one point or another throughout the night in question.
Next is November 1, 1864:
Looks like a match.
Next is September 28, 1946.
Jupiter seems way out of alignment, but it is close. Still, I crossed it off my list after tonight's session of looking at them. I just don't think it is. Close, but no cigar.
Next is November 21, 1960:
Venus and Jupiter appear closer together in this, and the crescent of the moon appears like more of a frown than in the benchmark. Still, I think it might be close enough. Thoughts?
Next is September 1, 1981:
I think this might be a match.
Next is December 1, 2008:
While it's sort of cute and funny that the sky made a frowny emoticon, I don't think this is an alignment.
I'm going to post more pictures. Remember, you can click on these to make them bigger.
For these, I told the program to make the moon to scale, so we can see when it is a crescent moon and when it isn't. I cannot decide which ones of these to count and which to dismiss as another kind of alignment. So, look these over and let me know which you would count. For my purposes, the alignment of August 8, 1423 is what I consider the benchmark. Here is that alignment, with the moon to scale:
Though it is interesting, in this picture, how Mars and Mercury and Saturn are also in apparent alignment, what I am most interested in is how Venus, Jupiter, and the crescent moon interact. So, that's what I am comparing everything else to.
Now, here's another, similar alignment, a scant 59 years later on August 15, 1482:
I am not sure this is a match.
Next up is another alignment, this one from September 23, 1626:
Things are a little off, but they are pretty close, and, to the naked eye with Jupiter and Venus at the correct size (they aren't to scale in these), it would be pretty hard to tell, I think. Opinions?
Okay, next is October 15, 1757:
This looked pretty close.
Next is November 25, 1794:
It looks very close to me. Thoughts?
Next is September 6, 1815:
The moon looks completely off kilter, to me, in this one, though, while moving through the sky (which the program only kinda-sorta replicates), it might look closer to the benchmark at one point or another throughout the night in question.
Next is November 1, 1864:
Looks like a match.
Next is September 28, 1946.
Jupiter seems way out of alignment, but it is close. Still, I crossed it off my list after tonight's session of looking at them. I just don't think it is. Close, but no cigar.
Next is November 21, 1960:
Venus and Jupiter appear closer together in this, and the crescent of the moon appears like more of a frown than in the benchmark. Still, I think it might be close enough. Thoughts?
Next is September 1, 1981:
I think this might be a match.
Next is December 1, 2008:
While it's sort of cute and funny that the sky made a frowny emoticon, I don't think this is an alignment.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Projects!
I have a new web site content/SEO commission to work on. Thirty articles by the end of June about California bankruptcy, civil litigation, and personal injury. Away we go....
I wrote two more show recaps this morning. They aren't up on the site, yet, butI will post links as soon as they are available. In the meantime, I've been meaning to get to work on the synopsis for A Night Borrowed, because it is so much easier for me to write if I have a roadmap... even if I tend to ignore it once I do it. A lot of the thematic elements that I'll use to put the book together will come out during the synopsis-writing process. So I need to get to work on that. I also need to spend a couple of days sweeping and mopping. I think I have put it off long enough. The whole house is starting to gross me right the hell out.
I wrote two more show recaps this morning. They aren't up on the site, yet, butI will post links as soon as they are available. In the meantime, I've been meaning to get to work on the synopsis for A Night Borrowed, because it is so much easier for me to write if I have a roadmap... even if I tend to ignore it once I do it. A lot of the thematic elements that I'll use to put the book together will come out during the synopsis-writing process. So I need to get to work on that. I also need to spend a couple of days sweeping and mopping. I think I have put it off long enough. The whole house is starting to gross me right the hell out.
Friday, May 29, 2009
For The Last Couple of Days...
I have spent the vast majority of the last couple of days working with a program called Stellarium. It shows you star and planet positions throughout the ages, including into the future. Space movement is all math, so I assume that this is fairly accurate. You might ask why I am using an astronomy program to look at star and planet positioning. Good question. It's actually about the sequel to Night Cries.
Of course, there is nothing saying that it couldn't be BOTH dates, meaning that if the alignment happened in 1626, and then in 1757, and then again in 1837, the time between the last two I found is only 80 years.
Now, I am pretty sure that no one who reads A Night Borrowed is going to be as anal as I have been in figuring this shit out, but I want it to be as accurate as possible; however, for the purposes of the story, I am thinking that saying it happens about every 200 years would be logical. What do you think?
Today, I am going to see about making karaoke CDs for the karaoke people at the Stateline; they said they'll pay me $1 per song. And I am going to see when other planetary alignments took place. I am actually enjoying that. :)
You see, part of A Night Borrowed takes place in present day in upstate New York, among other locales, and the reason that part of it is set in New York has to do with an article I read in a FATE Magazine compilation of articles called Out of Time and Place: Amazing accounts that challenge our view of human history. I bought the book on a whim at Barnes&Noble during one of my forays there. It was on clearance.
Anyway, in this book is an article about Druids in New York. The whole of that article is basically re-published here, but the following was the part that made me go, "Hmmm....":
In Fahnstock Park located bear Putnam Valley, New York are two chambers very close together. One chamber, the smaller one is oval and because there is a slab of rock near the back wall large enough to place a human body we named it the tomb. Out side this chamber is a large flat rock placed in the earth with carvings that clearly show an astronomical conjunction involving the crescent moon, and the planets Jupiter and Venus. It is possible that someone tried to make a record on when the chamber was built or perhaps the time it was used to place the body of a very important person. Using a planetarium program at the observatory in which I was a staff member at the time, I went back in time to find out when this particular alignment of the two planets and the moon took place. The dates I got were 1423 A.D, 1500 B.C and 2772 B.C.
But, actually, the guy was wrong about the alignments. Even after searching the whole of the year 1500BC, I wasn't able to find it, but I did find it happening on August 8, 1423. I took a screenshot of the event, which was more than just Venus, Jupiter, and the moon:
You can see where Mars was right there, too, as was Mercury, and even Saturn was in the Western sky at dusk that night. In fact (though I couldn't get a good screenshot of it), Uranus, which isn't visble with the naked eye, was lined up. After finding this, I went and looked all over around the year 1500BC, and didn't find anything, and I was starting to think, after three hours of doing this, that the 1423 alignment was a "one-off" phenomenon. But, out of curiousity and sense of thoroughness, I went and checked 2772BC. It didn't take me long to find this:
It would have happened below the horizon from a vantage in upstate New York, and about 4 in the morning. It would have been visible from South America. Anyways, in that shot, you can see that it is exactly the same alignment, just not visible from the ground. It's EXACTLY like the one I found in 1423.
So, I went back to 1500BC, looked some more, and came up empty. I decided - since the whole point of this was to see what the alignment looked like - since I couldn't find a picture of the inscription on the stone - and to find when (for my book's purposes) the alignment happened again. I started at 1423, and started going through the years, month-by-month. I found something similar in 1482:
... but it is not EXACTLY the same. I kept looking. I found another alignment that is exactly the same in 1626:
I don't remember where Mars was in that shot, but I think it was there, like in the 1423 one, just way far away, so it is exactly the same. Well, based on this information - that there was 203 years between the 1423 alignment and the 1626 alignment - I skipped 203 years ahead from 1626 to 1829. Nothing. Looked all around there. Nothing. Finally, I went back to the month-by-month examination, and, three hours later, found the alignment again - more to the south, this time, though - in 1837:
I don't remember where Mars was in that shot, but I think it was there, like in the 1423 one, just way far away, so it is exactly the same. Well, based on this information - that there was 203 years between the 1423 alignment and the 1626 alignment - I skipped 203 years ahead from 1626 to 1829. Nothing. Looked all around there. Nothing. Finally, I went back to the month-by-month examination, and, three hours later, found the alignment again - more to the south, this time, though - in 1837:
But the moon isn't quite right. It's in waxing crescent phase, but it is not aligned to make a triangle with Venus and Jupiter. It's close, though.
So, I went back 1626, and started going month-by-month again. I found another similar alignment - two hours later - in 1757:
The alignment of the moon is much closer to what I saw in the 1423 alignment the author of the article described, so I am torn as to which date is the correct one. I know that it happened on August 8, 1423, and again on September 23, 1626. The time between those two occurences is 203 years. If the 1757 alignment is the correct one, then the time between alignments is 131 years. If the 1837 alignment is the correct one, then the time elapsed is 211 years, which seems closer to me than the other.
Of course, there is nothing saying that it couldn't be BOTH dates, meaning that if the alignment happened in 1626, and then in 1757, and then again in 1837, the time between the last two I found is only 80 years.
Now, I am pretty sure that no one who reads A Night Borrowed is going to be as anal as I have been in figuring this shit out, but I want it to be as accurate as possible; however, for the purposes of the story, I am thinking that saying it happens about every 200 years would be logical. What do you think?
Today, I am going to see about making karaoke CDs for the karaoke people at the Stateline; they said they'll pay me $1 per song. And I am going to see when other planetary alignments took place. I am actually enjoying that. :)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Memorial Day & Stuff
Yesterday morning, I wrote a recap of the show "The Tudors" for a new web site (you can read it here), and I wrote a parody song for the band's message board. I cleaned up the bathroom today, too. I suppose I should go practice the piano or write something, but so far, I don't feel like it.
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