Below are the 10 most recent journal entries recorded in ds_flunkie's LiveJournal:

Saturday, March 1st, 2008
8:30 am	Where does the time go??  It has been far too long since I've posted, so here, at least, is something new. Tonight is the last performance of the 2008 Senior Class Play, The Prophecy of the Shoe, at Chillicothe High School. Last night's opening was a smash success. The audience laughed so hard their jaws hurt. Literally! I am hopefull we'll have a sell out for tonight's final show. The seniors deserve it. They've been so much fun to work with. If you're reading this, in the Chillicothe area, and would like a really good laugh tonight, please join us at 7:30 P.M. at the Chillicothe High School Auditorium. (Comment on this)
Friday, August 3rd, 2007
7:44 pm	Moving On! The curtain has come down on "Fiddler on the Roof." We couldn't be happier with the way it turned out. The turn out for all of the performances was good; we even had a surprise visit from the Dayton area - you know who you are! Thank you to everyone who supported us. Now the push toward the new school year begins. Our daughter heads off to college on the 17th of August. I will already be at GenCon so it's up to the wife to get her settled in. Right after my "vacation" at GenCon I have to get moved into the new facility and get ready to teach. I'm excited about it but there's a lot of work to do. It's amazing how much stuff you accumulate in just a few short years. My new phrase is - moving is a bitch! Anyway, I'm looking forward to GenCon. The camaraderie is always great but the powers that be have really screwed Dragon Storm over this year. Because GenCon keeps expanding, they've completely run out of space for gaming. In recent years we've had some trouble with space; one year we even had a different room every day. This year it's worse. The Dragon Storm games aren't even at the convention center; they've been moved into nearby hotels, some at the Omni and others at the Crown Plaza. Hopefully, it's not as big a nightmare as it sounds like its going to be. But, I will continue to think good thoughts. Please join with me. Current Mood: chipper (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, July 23rd, 2007
4:59 pm	1 down . . . 1 to go! Well, the first weekend of "Fiddler on the Roof" is done. It has been a huge success so far. We've had really good crowds and everyone has commented that they've really enjoyed the show. Right now, I'm exhausted. It is good to get a few days to recuperate and re-energize. If anyone out there would like to come as see it, we'll be back in perfromance this coming weekend, July 27th at 8:00 PM, July 28th at 8:00 PM and July 29th at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and senior citizens. The show runs 3 hours including a 20 minute intermission. Current Mood: tired (Comment on this)
Tuesday, July 10th, 2007
1:30 pm	Back from Origins Well, Origins was a success on many levels. Several new players were brought into the DS fold. The new cards were greeted well, especially the Lifelines. Buttons, Character Keepers and Battle Trackers have started to move. Thanks to everyone who visited the booth and supported Dragon Storm. And a very special thanks to Lee and Ann Gray who stepped in as new booth bunnies. They did an outstanding job. Normally, I am the relief for Mark to get away from time to time. It was unusual and very welcomed to be able to get away myself for a while. Mark and I were able to spend some quality time looking to the future of Dragon Storm because of their sacrifice of time away from gaming. Lee and Ann are tops in my book. Huzzah! Now that I'm home, I have to spend the next 3 weeks concentrating mainly on Fiddler on the Roof. The performance dates are July 20-22 and July 27-29. The Friday and Saturday shows start at 8 PM and the Sunday matinees start at 2 PM. Then I'll have about 2 weeks to get ready for GenCon. I'm going to be spending a couple hours a day writing and refining the GM book so that I can have it available at GenCon. I'll be updating the Book Notes section of my website every couple of days to keep everyone apprised of my progress. I also have started an online shop for my DS Products. Now you can order online and pay through PayPal directly from my website. Well, that's about it for now. Got to get ready for rehearsal tonight. See ya. Current Mood: busy (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Saturday, June 23rd, 2007
5:32 pm	Getting back to normal Life is slowly getting back to some semblance of normal, whatever that is. With the sadness at our backs we boldly charge forward into the future. We live by the following words: "Yesterday is dead and gone . . . sorry about that! Tomorrow hasn't yet arrived . . . sorry about that! The only thing we have is now, and if we do not use it we'll be REAL Sorry about That!!!" I have jumped right back into Fiddler on the Roof. Having missed a week of practice already, we really have to kick it into gear if we're going to meet our opening night deadline of July 20th. The cast has pulled together very well so far and I'm very proud that they are willing to go the extra mile to catch up for us. I am also very busy now preparing for Origins. With less than 2 weeks to go, I have lots to do. I am certain now that the Gamemastering book will not make it for Origins. Hopefully, I'll be able to get it out for GenCon. Sue is doing some sketches for it and I know she's been extremely busy with other commissions. If she has time to do the sketches before my GenCon deadline, I should be able to have it for release there. I am spending as much time as possible polishing the writing and adding a few last minute details. It is 90% complete. I'll wind everything up this coming week so I may be able to have Mark and Sue peruse it at Origins. I am still hopeful that the World of Grandilar: Book 2 - An Examination of the Races will be released at PentaCon in November. I will be spending every minute possible after Origins to complete it. I am resolved to get the work done. I hate delaying things even when there's a pretty good reason. Well, that's about it for now. I hope to see you all at Origins! If not, I'll see you when I see you. Take care and be well. Tim Current Mood: determined (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Monday, June 18th, 2007
4:35 pm	Finally . . . Peace My wife's grandmother passed away this morning at about 2:30 AM. I am relieved that she did not suffer long and that she went during her sleep. Now the healing of the family can begin. Current Mood: relieved (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, June 15th, 2007
3:51 pm	Life goes on . . . and on . . . in some cases . . . My wife's grandmother is out of the hospital and into nursing home care. Her condition continues to deteriorate even though she has had some improvements. For example, her kidneys finally started to work a bit but now there is fluid accumulating in her lungs. I can't stand to see her suffer; I pray the end comes soon, whether it be a miracle recovery or her final rest. The one bright spot of late has been that the school year ended about a week ago. At least that has removed some of the pressure. Now that I don't have that to deal with, I've begun to write again, as evidenced by this entry. I don't think the GM book will make it for Origins but I'm hopeful that I'll have it for GenCon. I'm definitely taking my time, especially with the proofreading. I can't accept the level of errors that appeared in my first book. This one is going to be right! The Races book is definitely waiting until at least PentaCon. I've had a wonderful collaborator on the Races book in the bright and wild persona of Mike Copeland. Unfortunately, I haven't been the easiest person to work with, being so preoccupied with personal matters lately. I find that the only thing harder for me than writing is trying to do it with someone else. I may have to finish the book on my own. Perhaps I will split it into two projects and have Mike write one of them on his own. We'll see how things go. Once the GM book is put to bed, I'll be in a better place to make that kind of decision. Origins is just 3 weeks away and I'm starting to get into the mood for it. Lots of work lies ahead so I'd better get to it. I look forward to seeing the gang. They're such a diverse and unusual group of people. I just love them! Until later, take care and be well. Current Mood: contemplative (Comment on this)
Thursday, May 31st, 2007
9:15 pm	5 is such a lovely number! Just 5 days left in this school year! Hooray! That's why 5 is an awesome number. The only numbers that are better are . . . of course . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . and Zero! Woo-hoo!!! Can you tell that my mood is better? Now, on to more writing. Finally, time to get back to the creative process and finish my next book. Ta-Ta! Current Mood: bouncy (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, May 17th, 2007
8:37 pm	One down, one to go! "Cinderella" was a huge success. As usual, my students performed admirably and we had a wonderful time. Now that I've finished with that, I have but one more production to deal with this year. I will be directing and starring in "Fiddler on the Roof" for Chillicothe Civic Theatre this summer. I have the added joy of playing opposite my own wife, Mala, and my daughter, Stacey. This will be the first production we've done together. All I need to do now is find the energy to get through it. MarCon is coming, thank Elethay. I need it badly. Just to be around friends who share a passion for a game that I've loved for 11 years is a welcome respite in my world right now. I just need to get my adventures together and do my product preparations before next weekend. The diversion is welcomed. See you there! Current Mood: optimistic (Comment on this)
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007
4:57 pm	Overcommitment is bad! For those of you who know me, I'm starting to sound like a stuck record. Well, for those of you who are old enough to remember what an actual record album is, that is! I absolutely positively without reservation or equivocation vow that I'll never do this again. I'm beside myself and between the two of us we still can't get everything done. Sheesh! Never, never ever again! I've gotten myself into a place that I've really never known before. All my life I've prided myself on being laid back, unaffected by stress and able to cope with just about anything. I always enjoyed getting up in the morning and greeting the new day eagerly expecting something wonderful to happen, or at least something interesting. These days, I dread getting up because I'm so overcommitted. I get one thing done and two more are overdue. Frustration doesn't begin to cover the emotion. Right now, I just have to focus on getting to May 14th (the end of the school musical, "Cinderella") and the to the end of the school year (June 7th). After that I'll be able to breath a bit easier. I won't be truly done with my overcommitments until July 29th (the end of my last show this year and one which I star in and direct, "Fiddler on the Roof). Must keep my eye on the peace and tranquility that is ahead in small packages at MarCon, Origins and GenCon. My oases in the hot, sweltering desert full of sandy overcommitment. Peace. Current Mood: exhausted (Comment on this)