How Much Longer Is Winter Going To Last?

Hey, Guys,

Wow, this is my third post today! It's like I'm making up for all the lost time, ha! Well, if you live in the northeastern U.S., like me, then you too have noticed that winter STILL has not gone away.

Spring should have sprang upon us about a week and a half ago, but no, winter is still hanging around and keeping us in our scarfs and heavy coats. What is so strange about this whole ordeal is the fact that just a few weeks ago, we had 70 degree weather and then it dropped to 30!

Then, just yesterday, the sun was out and the temperature was fairly warm that I thought spring had arrived. I walked through the city with my jacket unzipped and enjoyed the pleasant change. I knew that a new storm system was approaching and bringing with it rain and SNOW! AHHHH!!

It's not supposed to be a lot here in NYC, but up north, I read that accumulations would be worse. We're all fed up with the cold, freezing weather, and we want warmer conditions to hit us already. We're being hopeful, and counting down the days when warmer weather will finally hit! Even tracking bird migration patterns have been used to predict when spring will arrive. (Only one person to thank for those updates! You know who you are! *wink*) ha!

On the way home today, I stopped by a park close to where I live and took some shots of trees and scenery that overlooks the Hudson River and New Jersey.

 













No snow had fallen yet, but it did rain so the ground was wet and the wind was freezing! Dead leaves are piled up along the path to my favorite spot.

That's the George Washington Bridge in the distance!

I was surprised to see a Circle Line boat making its round.

This is my fav spot, and the Cloister Museum is further up! 

All I can say is that this area needs some green! During the summer this area looks very beautiful. You can see the Hudson River and New Jersey in the distance.

Seriously, man, how much longer is this cold wintry weather going to stick around? I need warmth already. So, hopefully once this storm system goes through, warmer weather will be right around the corner. Come on, please, please, pretty please. Ha!

I can only imagine what will happen once summer does get here!

Until some other time!

New Resident Evil Game Announced by Capcom!

Hey, All!

Most of you know that I'm a huge zombie fan, and that I have been a huge follower of the Resident Evil game franchise. So, when I heard the Capcom will be releasing a new game for PS3, 360 and PC, my reaction was YES! When I found out it will take place in my favorite secluded urban setting of Raccoon City, I giggled with joy at the idea of revisiting that ill-fated city.

The name of this addition to the RE franchise is: Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City.

Capcom released a press note that revealed certain details about this new game. It will be third person perspective, you operate has either part of an Umbrella sanitation unity or U.S. military unit and the time line places the game during RE 2 and RE 3.

Ahh, why tell you about, I'll just post a link below to their website:

Capcom Reveals New Resident Evil Game!

I'm very excited to play a new RE game that takes place in good old Raccoon City. At this point, more information is still yet to be released but it should be interesting to see what game modes and objectives will be added to the newest entry.

I read also that game will be centered around coop interaction and game play that is similar to Left 4 Dead. There's even a teaser trailer that was released that gives us a view at what we might expect from this zombie infested piece of goodness!

Trailer below.

http://capcom.gamespress.com/link.asp?i=245&r=132&r2=928

When more information is revealed, I'll make sure to be all over it!

Until next time!

Something I Noticed Recently!

Hey, Guys!

For the past week, I have noticed a very significant spike in page view activity on my blog. At first, I was surprised by the increase and I little excited because people were visiting. However, now, I'm a little curious, mystified, concerned by the spike because it's still happening.

There are certain statistics that just don't add up, and I am fearful that somehow my blog my have been the victim of some kind of prank!

I hope this isn't the case because I really appreciate all the visitors who have visited or wandered onto my blog and read up on my posts. Thank You!

I hope I am not sounding harsh or too concerned about this, but this sudden and continuing rise is a little overwhelming, and I would like to know what is causing it? Maybe my posts have hit a popular trend or audience that identify with it. I don't know! Ha!

I guess what I'm saying is if this rise in views is for real then don't be afraid to drop me a line, post a comment, let me know who you are, where you're from or what you like about my blog! And, hey, become a follower and show your support for what I've been doing here! It's all about having fun and meeting new people, even if its only online.

Again, for those who have been with me since the beginning... Thank You! To those new to my blog... Welcome!

Stay safe, and until then!

For A Sunny Friday!

Today the sun came out and gave us a great start to the weekend. I came across this song by a favorite Japanese band called L'Arc~en~ciel.

The title is "My Heart Draws A Dream" and I feel it best describes the mood of this day. It has English subtitles below, so enjoy!



Enjoy!

And Draw Your Dreams!

Until next time

Still Here!

Hey Guys!

Sorry it's been so long since my last post. Just going through life and all its drama. I'm sure most of you out there know what it's like to have drama in your life. It can come in any form, some of it is good and others can also be bad and not the way you expected it to be.

But, that's another story and not worth going into.

Well, first off, I want to say that I am fine and going about my things and responsibilities as always. I finished the first draft of this semester's MFA project and I'm proud of it. Now begins the revision process on that project, and working on some fiction for the upcoming residency.

My hands will be full for the next couple of weeks as I try to get all that in fine form, but I know I will get it done!

On another note, I'm sure all of you out there must be aware of what happened in Japan. The devastation in Fukushima is terrible, but from what I heard things seem to be holding. Still, the catastrophe due to the earthquake and subsequent Tsunami have left many there homeless and in need of provisions.

It saddened me to see such a thing happen, but, like life, it is unpredictable. All we can do is show support and give them as much relief as necessary to cope with the disaster. If you can help then please do by making donation to your nearest red cross, or affiliates that are taking donations!

Well, that's it for now. I promise to be back soon, so look forward to my next entry!

Until then!

It Finally Came!

Wow, two posts in one day!

This shouldn't be that long though. A few months ago, I put up a post stating that a short story I wrote would appear in an upcoming zombie anthology.

Well, the wait is over, and I can officially say that I am now a published author. Ahh, it is indeed a good day!

My story "Snow Days" appears in volume two of the anthology First Time Dead. I remember how excited I became when I got first received the news, and now that I have the actual book in my hands, it still feels like a dream.

A bigger unexpected surprise were the character illustrations that accompanied each story in the anthology. So my characters are even more real as opposed to just images in my head. That was indeed quite a nice surprise, and I was elated by how close those illustrations were to the actual characters I visualized when I first wrote it.

I'd like to thank May December Publications and editor TW Brown for including my story among the many other talented authors that make up both volumes of First Time Dead. I would also like to thank my family, and my friends both here in NYC and in Maine who helped me with their critiques! This is for you guys!!

This is a milestone for me, and hopefully not the last!

Until then!

The cover's not bad either!

My First Taste At Acting!

Hey Guys!

So, I just returned home after quite an eventful morning and mid-afternoon. Well, now that I think about it, it wasn't that eventful, but rather interesting and fun!

I am still keeping the precise details behind what happened today very hush, hush. It's a secret project that once completed will be released onto the Internet world, and allowed to walk on its own legs!

So, what am I talking about anyway? Haven't you been reading! I can't say, ha! Anyway, it was a small film project that involved a small group of us from NYHG. And, I got to do a bit of acting for it. I didn't have any lines, but my facial reactions were one of the many useful and required pieces to this project.

Below are several pictures I took throughout the course of our afternoon.

Kelly, Rose and Jane our NYHG film gurus, going over the storyboard!

Pic from outside the location.

Sorry this one came out a little dark. I was taking pics with my Iphone.

So, we all met in Chinatown, and discussed the final breakdown of the scenes during breakfast at a coffee shop nearby. We all had a laugh at how ingenious this thing was! To be honest, this little project was the collaborative brain child of myself and my Sifu.

We talked about it on a few occasions, and thought how cool and funny it would be to actually make this! Finally, he went ahead and said let's do it. Yeah, enough talking about it, let's just film it already! Once Kelly and Jane, our film and media artists, came on board, it was a go. My Sifu had already spoken to a good friend of his who owns a shop in Chinatown, so a location was already set.

Sifu Yui and Ben, prop suppliers and actors!

Rose and Jane making sure the equipment is ready to go.

And we're rolling, or was this a test shot? I can't remember!

I don't appear in any of these pictures, but I will in the final product! We only shot outside the store and inside, and it took about a couple of hours before we were done. It went by really fast. Even my portions were quick and only needed to be shot a couple of times. Again, facial reactions can be a little tricky, ha! But, I made the most of it. I have to say, it was fun, but I'll be too embarrassed to look at the finished product once it's done!

I think now we're filming!

Shop owner, Victor, and Sifu Yui, preparing for a scene.

Smiles all around at a great job so far!

Interior shots!

More preparations before go!

Like I said before, it was a fun afternoon to be with friends, do a little filming, a little acting and have some laughs! I want to thank Kelly, Rose and Jane for being the professionals that they are in their craft. You guys and gals rock! Thanks to Ben for coming out and playing a part in this project; you're our boom guy, Ben! To Sifu Yui for putting this on wheels and saying let's have fun with it!

And, a special thanks to Victor for allowing us to use his store, and for being a part of it!

Well, folks, there are still a few things that need to be done before this can hit post-production, but rest assured that when it comes out, I'll let you know. We'll unleash this onto the Internet world, and let start walking on its own. So look forward to it; although, I'll probably be hiding under my bed covers, ha!

Until next time!