Posting.

It seems that betweent school, the nfl season and work I’ve managed to quite lose track of a lot of things.  Time, which is everything, is not something I have.  I do homework and I keep on top of my fantasy sports, and in what little freetime I get, I like to sit back and enjoy the show.  Alas, writing isn’t something that I’ve managed to do.  Hopefully soon I will be able to get back to work…

 

NFL Projections Part 2: AFC West

Is the AFC West really a one-trick pony this year? With turmoil in Denver, shuffling in Kansas City and Al Davis still running the show in Oakland that’s bound to be the question on everybody’s mind. In Denver the departure of Pro Bowl QB Jay Cutler leaves a gaping whole in the offense that without Mike Shanahan’s plug and chug running scheme probably won’t be able to make up for it with the run. Add in an injury plagued backfield and an uncertain receiving corps and their set-up for a long season. In Kansas City the addition of Matt Cassell was supposed to be a huge boost to a team that lost Tony Gonzales in the offseason and signed… wait.. they lost their biggest receiving threat and think Matt Cassell is going to fix it? Good luck. In Oakland JaMarcus Russel and Darren McFadden make up an all SEC dual threat and have another year under their belts. But Al Davis’ sporadic tendencies make the team hard to predict.

1. San Diego Chargers 10-6; While good, the Chargers aren’t quite the powerhouse team of a few years ago. A big part of this is the slow decline in L.T.’s performance. The workhorse back is aging and there’s only so much Darren Sproles can do to replace him. The pass game is good, but lacks a true number one receiver and the defense seems to remain just outside the great range.

2. Oakland Raiders 7-9; Admittedly, Al Davis’ decision making ability is just terrible, and they may begin the season with the services of star CB Nnamdi Asomugha but the Raiders aren’t nearly as bad as advertised. If Davis can resist firing another head coach they might just win a few games yet.

3. Denver Broncos 6-10; New coach, new quarterback, new running back… a lot of new parts in Denver. There’s going to be a transition phase before those parts all fit together smoothly. Give them a few years.

4. Kansas City Chiefs 4-12; The Chiefs are bad. Downright bad. Dwayne Bowe came into camp out of shape and now faces the task of taking on double coverage all season without Gonzales in the middle. The backfield is questionable and the quarterbacks are even more so. Cassell was good in New England with talent around him in a system he was comfortable with. Don’t look for the same in Kansas City.

 

NFL Projections Part 1: AFC East

Calling this division, especially the top, is something that a lot of people would consider pretty easy to do. However, there is a lot more to consider here than most people realize. We know Tom Brady’s back, but just how healthy is that knee, and how about this sore shoulder? And how’s his timing with his receivers? What does the addition of TO mean in Buffalo? And how will Marshawn Lynch’s suspension affect them? How will Mark Sanchez do as a rookie in New York, and what about their first year coach as well. And finally, does Miami really have the personnel to do it again?

Here’s the breakdown of what to expect.

1. New England 13-3; Yes Brady’s back, yes he’s healthy, and yes, his timing is fine. BUT, that defense isn’t quite as good as it used to be and this division is much better. Expect the Patriots to have a much harder time running over opponents than they did in that incredible 2007 campaign but to still be the cream of the crop out east.
2. Miami 9-7; Obviously this team over-performed last year, the introduction of the Wildcat and some great play by under-rated veterans made them a big time surprise. With Parcells in his second year managing personnel and with a now second year coach the dolphins will have a much greater hold on the system in place and should remain a play-off bubble team.
3. New York Jets 8-8; Sanchez might be good in the future, but for now he is what he is. An inexperienced rookie. Remember, Sanchez only has one season under his belt at the collegiate level and once lost a quarterback competition to John David Booty. I’ll give that a second to sink in shall I?
4. Buffalo Bills 7-9; Dear Buffalo; T.O.? Are you kidding me? I know Edwards hasn’t really shown a lot, but the guy is young and very intelligent. If nothing else he’s a game manager that you can build around.  Expect TO to draw a lot of double teams, leaving Lee Evans to shine on the other side. I expect problems with this to develop by the time Lynch gets back for week 5.

 

Starting School.

So, Wednesday is the first day of the new semester.  And to be honest, I’m not sure if I should be excited or just wish for it to go by quickly and painlessly.  From the sounds of things two of the classes should require a whole lot of homework and studying.  But I will see when it gets here I suppose.

Otherwise, what have I been doing?  Working and taking care of all kinds of other things.  Playing soccer and relaxing as much as possible before the school year.  So, nothing of interest to report I’m afraid.

 

Writing the genders.

Somewhere towards the end of May I was discussing rp characters with a friend of mine over at the fifthwind writers forums and we got onto the topic of opposite gender characters and how to write them.

So, you’re a guy/girl writing about a girl/guy.  If you’re anything like me, you’re probably not too sure on how well you’re going to be doing when you do.  So naturally, the best thing is to ask someone of the opposite sex right?  All guys and gals think just like all other guys and gals so its bound to work, right?

WRONG.

Here’s the basic facts folks.  While it is true that there are traits more common to males or females, most traits are FAR from gender unique and in fact your can’t really classify any one trait as either feminine or masculine!  The truth of the matter is that a person’s personality traits and general behavior has much more to do with the upbringing and social standing than with their gender.

For example, a child brought up by a single father that enjoys the outdoors is much more likely to be outdoorsy than a child brought up in a family that hates camping.  A child from a rich and open wallet family is more likely to spend lots of money than a child brought up learning how to conserve money.

There is no true and proper way to write a character of the opposite sex, but as long as you remember that they are more than just their gender, you should do fine.

 

A week without an update is a week not worth having.

Hello old friend, it’s been awhile.  And what a while.  Oh my, oh my.  Well, where to begin.  I think, with what I’ve been doing for the gap in between posts.

Well mostly I’ve been working and hanging out with friends.  Met some new people, attended the historic Brewers game on Monday night where for only the 13th time in major league history the same player hit two grand slams in one game!  (Go Josh Willingham!)  And other than that.  Life is life hey?

Writing.. yes.  Uh.. no.  Unfortunately, I’ve been slacking on that front.  But I’ve still got that short idea floating around and time is coming to get it into motion so expect a sneak peek soon, and this time I’m not just saying that.

Until we meet again…

-Andrew

 

Goings on.

Well, I took a week off of life and was in Minneapolis as an Adult Leader for our youth group’s mission trip.  I spent some time doing volunteer work and helping out wherever our assistance was needed.  I met some wonderful people, and had a great time.

On a sidenote, the to be renamed WIP short story is once again at a completed stage and has promptly been thrown to a back burner for simmering while something else is worked on.  After all, no sense in going through and re-writing it now, need to wait and draw myself away from it first.

Anything else of note?  Not really.  Enjoy your days…

-Andrew

 

WIP

The to be renamed “A Twisted Myth” is now almost finished.  It is also late.  Very late.  I wanted it finished by last Sunday, so why isn’t it?  This is something that I feel I should explain but can’t.  I am ashamed of myself for my lack of effort.  I think I must need someone behind me yelling at me to get to work and do something constructive.

I kind of feel like I need to just go do something.  We’ll see.

 

Addition.

This is an addition.

Hi Amber

Enjoy.

<3

 

Life, Love and Time

Isn’t it odd how one person in a given situation will wish so badly to be in another?  It is almost part of the human psyche that we must not be happy with what we have.  When we are in a good situation, we can only look at the negatives.

Currently I do not have a job.  This of course means that I have a lot of time to enjoy the finer things in life.  However, given my nature of wanting to be challenged I can’t.  I have all the time I could want to write and plot, to do things with my friends and girlfriend, to do anything I can think of.  But unfortunately, I do still live in a world where money IS an obstacle that must be overcome.  Therefore I am constantly beset by a need to get a job.  So I fill out applications, and hand them in, knowing that in our current economy my offering is nie on useless.

Beyond this, my ultimate wants and desires are becoming things that aren’t possible, or shouldn’t be desired.  And try as I might I cannot change myself.  So I’m lost in my maze and it just keeps getting bigger and bigger with no thought to my ability to handle it.  But yet, this is life.  Learning how to adapt to the maze is just one of its challenges.  So, I must keep going, and hope that somehow, my mixed up desires and current life situation will somehow become more manageable, more possible.

Alas, God, I pray it may be so.

-Andrew