Zel-kun’s Words

Ahh, a blizzard in April, that’s what Chicago is all about.

I’m not sure if its a blizzard per se, but I can’t see a thing out my window, its been like that all day, and it took me two and a half hours to get into work.  So, that seems like a blizzard to me.

I didn’t write anything last night, didn’t really have time.  Dinner was late, and I had a scheduled run on WoW, and by the time I escaped, it was already past eleven o’clock.  Many people would say, “You could have stayed up another two or three hours!”  And they would be right.  But I found out that my week is MUCH less miserable if I get a full night’s sleep every day.

I’m going to schedule my WoW time from 7:00 to 10:00, that way, I still have an hour before 11:00, so I can plop myself down and write.  That’s the big thing, making writing a habit again.  And I will be sure to follow Dave’s advice and stick to the schedule, it should make things easier.

As a man who is on the road to publishing his own novel, I trust his word on the matter.

And, people, if you haven’t been to Perrero yet.  What are you waiting for?  Perrero is a nifty little site to hear the random ramblings of Dave and Julie.  Its updated usually multiple times daily, and commented on many more times to.  So go leave a comment, someone else besides the OJ Conspiracy guy has to.

Zel-kun out.

For those that don’t know, I used to be a writer.  I say ‘used to’ because a man who routinely goes MONTHS without even picking up a pen may not keep that title.

Anyhow, I’m finally dedicating myself to sitting in front of the computer for at least an hour a night and churning something out.  I decided to do this for a number of reasons:

1. I enjoy writing, it is a catharsis for me.  Seriously, I’ve slept pretty well these last couple of days since I began writing again.

2. I have a number of people (that number being 2) who enjoy reading my writing.

3. I looked at my life, at where it was going, and asked myself if I was satisfied.  For the most part, the answer was yes.  I have a job I like, a wonderful girl, and enough money to get by.  I could likely settle for this in my lot in life.  But what about the dreams I once had?

I used to think I would publish my grand novel, which would instantly become a best-seller, and I would become a world-renowned author, taking my place in history alongside people like Stephen King, J.R.R. Tolkein, and Charles Dickens.

In my wiser years, I know the unlikelihood of this chain of events, but I don’t think I could forgive myself if I never tried.  Even if I only get so far as holding a copy of my own book in my hands, and not a single copy sold, that would be enough for me.

Zel-kun out.

Now, I don’t often peruse the SomethingAwful forums, but once in a great while something else I’m reading links there.  Such is the case of this morning, and let me say, it does not make me happy.

Story here

Basically, its the story of a web cartoonist who had his work stolen.  Not only that, this guy seems to be making quite a bit of money on work that is not his.  I look at the comparisons, and its not even the same idea, or a character that looks somewhat the same.  Its a carbon copy.

Its things like this that prevent me from putting up excerpts of my work up here.  More than once have I said, “You know, maybe I should update with a short story,” but I always wonder what would happen if someone chose to steal it.

Would I have any recourse? 

The story of the cartoonist will likely have a happy ending because his plagarized work has been known by millions of people.  There’s proof upon proof that his work has been stolen.  He likely has lawyers just WAITING to sue the pants off someone.

Well, that’s all for now.

Zel-kun out.

Yeah… updating Zelkun… guess I should get around to that.

Wish I could say its been really busy and I haven’t had the chance, but the truth is, just haven’t had much to talk about. I could run through my WoW exploits, but I don’t want this turning into ‘Zel’s Fantastic WoW Blog.’ I don’t think anyone wants that.

I could tell you what I had for lunch, or how many iced teas I’ve drank, but this isn’t ‘Zel’s Super Happy Fun Time Lunch Blog’ either.

This is one of those weeks who’s sole purpose is to fill the gap between last weekend and next weekend. My life is in a period of change, and those changes are going to happen on weekends. Picking out a place… making parents meet each other…

Plotting the death of a certain very rude boy, Zai’s brother.

Anyhow, just wanted to let my many imaginary readers know that I’m still alive. I’ll work on a post that doesn’t suck and have it up soon.

Zel-kun out.

Well, I did it.  I proposed to Zai.  We were planning on moving out, and I figured the time was ripe.  I’ve been wanting to do it for a bit, and her uber-traditional family will have a much easier time with her moving out with her fiance than her boyfriend.

And now… story time!I had decided that I would get her an emerald ring, being as she has a thing for emeralds.  I went to the Jared jewelry store (he went to Jared…), and I must say I was very impressed by the service I received.

I am not a rich man, I understand that I probably could not afford most of the items there.  I have been to stores (high-end clothing stores, mainly), where after I told the salesman, who up to that point had been waiting on me hand and foot, how much money I had to spend (usually a few hundred), and he promptly abandoned me.  This was not the case with Jared.

I will say that from start to finish that I was treated royally, the salesman made sure I knew that they would happily re-size it for free, and ordered the ring in white-gold in case she liked that better.  I was also offered a cup of cappucino.  You’d think I was spending thousands of dollars.

I applied for the Jared credit card.  Mainly because he asked nicely, the voice of a man trying desperately to meet a quota of credit apps.  So he went back and ran the credit check.  I knew I’d be cleared for the price of the ring (which, for the curious, was more than I make in a week, but a little less than I make in a month), but when he came back and said I was cleared for $6500, I was floored.  I remember a time when Best Buy would only give me $601.  Not sure why such an odd amount.

“Sure you don’t want to look around a bit more?”   He asked, hopeful for maybe a little more commission.

“Nah, I like the ring I have.”

“No problem,” he said.  But for a brief, very brief moment, I could see the look on his face that said ‘you cheap bastard.’  I don’t really blame him.  I guess its customary to dive deep in debt when you buy an engagement ring.

So…

The Proposal…

I knocked on Zai’s door, my hand nervously feeling the little box in my pocket.  I had a whole speech in my head, which was promptly forgotten as she opened the door.  I put my arm around her and said, “I got something for you, dearest.”  I pulled the box out and opened it.

I had, in my jangled and nervous state, thought that the message got across, as she looked at it breathlessly.  She took it from me and walked to the kitchen, “Look mom, Jon got me a little present!”

Wait… what?

I saw the train derail, the entire morning’s plans of taken an odd turn.  As Zai and her mother talked about the upcoming day, where we would look at a place, her mother continued to poke at Zai that she wasn’t married yet.

“Well, there’s a ring…” I add feebly, a statement which didn’t seem to be acknowledged.  I brienfly thought I’d have to buy another ring and retry.  Like a World of Warcraft quest gone horribly wrong (I didn’t make the analogy there, I made it here.  I was far away from thinking of video games at this point).

And they go off talking a bit, to which I finally stop them both and say, “Listen!  You two don’t understand!  I’m asking Zai to marry me!”

The two looked at me, utterly shocked.

So, yeah, I probably couldn’t have botched that any worse than I did.  But she said yes, so the end result was good.  She told her dad, who’s reply was, “Okay.”

One word.

So, there you have it, the story of a man who stumbled through his proposal, to a woman who despite all that, agreed to marry him.

Zel-kun out.