Part-Time Warlord

“I make grave mistakes all the time. Everything seems to work out…”–Thor

What does the above color remind you of?  If you said Pepto Bismol, then you’re in agreement with me.

I wanted more time to write.  Well, I got it . . . at least for today.  My boss sent me home early because I am sick; I think it’s a stomach virus.  There is one going around here in my town and I think it decided to land on me.  Well, I’m still not feeling very well and am so sick that I can’t think straight enough to put two sentences together.

And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen.  A good old Catch 22.

For those of you who were wondering where I went, I’m still here.  I have been working a lot of hours at the institution (prison), but still writing when I have that most elusive of things:  spare time.

I realize some of you are wanting me to finish the two Warhammer 40,000 (WH40K) fan fiction stories I started a while back.  Well, I will probably do that, but just not right now.  You see, Tuesday morning of last week I woke up at 3:00 AM from a dream about my own original storyline I’m working on for my book.  I worked on and off throughout that morning until about 10:00 AM.  During that time I came to a not-so-easy-to-make decision.  That decision drastically altered the direction of the storyline.  I had been writing the story that I thought others would want to read.  Instead, I’m now going to write the story I would want to read, and hopefully, there will be others who will want to read it too.

I tell the truth that I will likely, at some point, finish the WH40K stories, but right now I need to write what I’m inspired to write, and for now, it’s my book.

A longtime friend and coworker has petitioned me to write some more Warhammer 40,000 (WH40K) fanfiction and post it here on my blog so he and his son can read it.  My favorite faction in WH40K is the Red Corsairs.  They’re essentially space pirates who operate out of a Warp rift known as the Maelstrom.  I plan on this being an ongoing miniseries that I plan on posting in at least three or four installments, perhaps more.

For those familiar with WH40K, and the forces of Chaos, in particular, these stories will be based on the game’s 3rd Edition rules, especially the Chaos Space Marines Codex known as 3.5 Edition.  The most fun I have ever had with WH40K was with 3rd Edition, so that’s one of the main reasons I chose it as a background era.

 

In one of my previous posts I mentioned that retirement may be in my near future plans. Unless something drastic happens to change it, I will be retired from the Federal Bureau of Prisons by the end of November.

I do not as of yet have concrete plans for a second career, but I have various options on the table. Whatever I do for a post-B.O.P. job, hopefully more writing time will be a part of the plan.

To use an old cliché, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now.

I had a doctor’s appointment today and when I stepped on the scale I realized I had joined the 300-pound club.  I have been kinda-sorta trying to lose weight, but now I really have to knuckle down and do this right.  My doctor wants me to try a modified Keto diet.  She said I can have the protein but not as much fat as would be consumed by following the true Keto diet.  I can have a small (and I really mean small) portion of carbs as dessert.  This is going to be tough because I like bread and pasta, but I have to do this so I can drop down to around 240 pounds again.  I hope this will help get my blood pressure under control too.

I may be close to being done with working in a prison.  I’ve been eligible to retire for a few months and I have very recently talked it over with my wife about retirement.  Before, when I would talk to her about it, her response was always “NO”. But now that she has spoken to some of my retired co-workers about how good and stress-free post-B.O.P. life is, she’s not saying yes, but she isn’t saying no anymore.

Earlier today I received a couple of calls from Washington State and messages were left on my voicemail stating that there was a warrant for my arrest from that jurisdiction.  I had to laugh.  I have never been to Washington State.  I am a Federal law enforcement officer, so if there really was an arrest warrant out there with my name on it, the powers that be at my job would know about it and take the appropriate action.  I would love to take a photo of my badge and send it to the caller via text message, but I’m sure the call was generated by a computer, so that would not be helpful for me.  Oh, well, I guess they’ll have to try that call on someone else.

Yesterday evening I put up a post about possibly giving up on my story.  Please disregard that post.  Between my sore muscles from having participated in CPR and Self Defense training at work and the crazy Texas barometric pressure messing with me, I think I just wasn’t feeling like myself.  Now that it has rained and the temperature has dropped almost 40 degrees, things are going back to normal.

 

I like to write, but sometimes on days like today, I wonder if I wouldn’t be better off just saying screw it and just give up on it.  I have all these ideas bouncing around in my head and I know what I want to write, but I just want to listen to my playlist and just veg out.

I remember my dad had days like this.  He would just want to be left alone with his recliner and newspaper.  I totally understand how he felt.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the barometric pressure has a lot to do with this feeling.  It’s supposed to rain late tonight.

I’m hoping that I’ll feel more like writing this weekend.