A Novel Idea!

I recently sold my first novel to the same company that printed my previous book. I must be insane, because I've already started another. My goal here is to write 50 pages a month and to actually be finished in 5 months as opposed to the years the last one took. "Redemption of the Sorcerer, The Crystalon Saga, Book One" is the recently finished book and is about a man who is hated by his people. He is powerful beyond imagining in his universe. A Universe based on magic, not science. Over the years he has lost sight of his goals and his rule, and has become a despot, though he has always meant well. His people over throw him and he is sent to a parallel universe. A universe that looks very much like our own. One where magic does not exist. At least it's not thought to exist. Once there he discovers a plot by an unknown foe to rule that world and its people by magical and demonic means. You have to read it to see how and if 'Crystalon' saves the world or gives in to his baser desires and failings once again. The just started work is entitled "Torahg the Warrior" and is a Sword and Sorcery piece set sometime in the dim and distant past. It follows a Prince whose fathers kingdowm is over thrown by the Kings older son, Torahgs brother. When we first meet the Prince he is young and bright, full of life and hope and wonder. There will be a lapse after the first few chapters of 12-15 years and we will see a VERY different Torahg at that point. This book will not be about redmption but instead about revenge. Now a question to my writer friends out there: Have you ever noticed that sometimes setting up a scene to get to the scene you want to write is far more difficult then actually writing what you intended in the first place? As always you can reply to me via email @ dominatr37@optonline.net Thanks all, Ralph

The week in review 2/12/12

The past seven days have been tumultuous here in NY. The world champion Superbowl Giants, The unknown sensation Jeremy Lin who has absolutely turned basketball (Not just in NY, but literaly world wide) on its ear leading the haphazard, injury plauged NY Knicks to a five game winning streak, and making basketball actually fun in NY again. And by the way Jeremy, don't listen to that moron 'Ron Artest', oops I'm sorry, 'Meta World Peace' who proclained in the back of the NY Daily News that you should start showing up at practices with your pants hanging low, wearing dark sunglasses, and smoking a cigar, and of course be very late. That idiot should realize that those are traits the regular guy who follows basketball HATES about certain players. You keep playing and being true to yoruself. You're the fresh face of basketball now that EVERYONE wants to see. You smile running up the court, you're having fun, you thank God, and you keep checking that film at halftime like you did friday night. Without realizing it, you have become an inspiration to everyone with your nose to the grindstone, never give up attitude. Also your thanking God after every game is a major plus as it continues to show how humble and more importantly genuine you really are. For the first time since Patrick Ewing left, basketball has become fun again, and for the first time since Mark Jackson was traded for Charles Smith, the Knicks have a real point guard. Whitney Houston. What a sad, sad day this is. Another performer who was blessed with a voice that was extraordinary, who let her personal demons catch up with her and end her life long before it should have been over. It's a sad day for her family and friends, as well as her fans. Her music was never my cup of tea, but she was incredibly talented, and will be missed, probably by no one more then her children. God Speed Whitney Houston. You should have been stronger and used more good sense.

New day, new experiences

There've been a lot of new things happening here in New York the past few days. Of course the biggest news is the Giants win and bringing back a SuperBowl crown to New York. We're a blessed city with , of course, The Yankees, the greatest sports franchise in history anywhere in the world, and also the now four time Superbowl world champion Giants. It's been only 2 1/2 years since the Yanks had their most recent parade down the boulevard of heroes, yet seeing another today is just as exciting as the last one was. New York has another champion this year. For the next twelve months we've given New England more reason to hate us. Good. But The Giants news is NOT all that's going on in this city sports-wise. Has anyone besides myself been watching the Knicks since saturday? There's a little known point guard , a totally unassuming kid named Jeremy Lin who's sat on the bench warming the end of it the past month +. He's had a few moments of play in that time , but it's usually in garbage time when the Knicks are being blown out. He was sent down to the D-League (Developmental league) a few weeks back for a few games, then returned to the Garden and resumed his place on the benches end. That was until saturday night. The Knicks coach put in Lin, almost as a "What else can I do?" kind of expression. The Knicks had last 12 of their last 14 at the time, and the season was quickly becoming one that had all the fans groaning with every games end. But then Lin stepped onto the floor saturday night, and did the one thing this team desperately needed. He drove to the basket. He controlled the floor. He passed the ball for 7 assists saturday and added 25 points of his own. He repeatedly split the defense. And along teh way thsi skinny kid grabbed 5 rebounds. He had a career night. Those are superstar numbers for a point guard. Now as his coach said saturday night "It's one game." Okay, so what does he do for an encore then? Well the beleagured (And rightfully so)coach places the kid in the starting lineup last night, and the kid gets 28 points , and 8 Assists, leading the Knicks to a victory over a quality team, and more importantly without thier two superstars (Amare Stoudamire lost his 35 year old brother in a car accident monday morning, our prayers are with you and your family, Amare, and Carmello Anthony was injured five minutes into the game.) So again , it's two games, not a season. That's okay, lets see what happens from here. But what gets me is how the Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni (Who I am NOT a fan of.) can outright say "I didn't know he could play like that." You didn't know he could play like that? It's your job to know. There's no excuse for having this guy sit on the bench since Christmas day when he could have been at least coming off the bench and providing a spark by breaking down the defense. Instead we've been stuck with poor Toney Douglas who is really a two guard, not a point guard, and then after him rookie Iman Shumpert, who is likewise a natural two and has been playing out of position all season long. It's crazy the way this team has been playing. Before this weekend they've been standing outsiude and lobbing three's conmstantly, and missing so badly, it's been horrible. The one bright spot before this was really Landry Fields who can drive, when plays are run for him, but very few were. Mostly it's been pound the ball into Carmello. They've ignored Amare' all season long as well, with very few plays being headed his way. But in the past two games you have had an even offense as Lin has done the two things the Knicks have missed desperately, he drives to the basket and he passes the ball to the right guy, like he did last night, to another guy who has warmed the bench all season, Steve Novak, who the great coach, Jeff Van Gundy called "The best pure shooter in the league." Another little used player who scores 19 points in limited time, and add that to Jarod Jefferies working man effort with 13 points and 8 rebounds along with taking 5 offensive fouls (using his body as a roadblock and taking a hit for it.) Add to that an assist and 2 steals, and you have a group effort. And guess what? They played defense last night. Something they haven't done till saturday as well. This all may be the start of something good, or it could be an abberation. I'm going to think positively and say that the Knicks have found a point guard.

What an in-between season...

Usually, I look forward to winter , with the changing of the seasons and all that, but also because I'm a really avid skier, it's one of my three non-romantic loves in life. The other two being guitar playing and of course motorcycling. But this year I've been suffering with a bad back since July, an ailment called Stenosis of the spine as well as a few bulging discs. I haven't worked since early August and doubt I ever will be able to go back to the very physical work I did all those years. Even crouching down, or doing a squat is extremely painful at this point. And this is six months into physical therapy.
But enough about that. What I want to discuss is the not quite winter we are having. I don't mind the lack of snowfall here, and the day where it topped 60 degrees this week was awesome. But it's just not winter. One day it's 60 and sunny, two days later it's high 30's. Too far of a stretch for me. I'm not happy with this season of in-between. On the one hand it's good for me so I don't lament not being able to ski with my constantly pain wracked back, but on the other I feel like we're stuck in a shadowland of almost one thing or another.
Tonight is the annual running of the Crotona midnight run. It's an all night motorcycle run in the dead of winter night that occurs once a year. Not my kinda thing, but good luck and God Speed to all who intend to run it tonight, but the point of bringing this little gem up is the fact that it's going to be relatively warm tonight. Most years this is run when temps are in the teens. Tonight here on the island we're supposed to have a low of 29 . Practically balmy for this event. Some former participants are already complaining about the lack of cold. Hey more power to 'em. I'll be home with the heat turned up wondering when we're going to get some snow up north.
Have fun and be safe Crotoans.

Mystery Mission-Completion

So after all the riding and the fancy dinners and lunches were done , it was time to leave. Friday morning I packed my gear up loaded the bike, and began the long ride home. But not before I watched consumers who were hand picked allowed to test ride the self same motorcycle, albeit on a much shorter route then I had the day before. Back on my FJR I wove through the mountain access rode, finally deposting myself onto the main rode outside the ski resort and began heading south, thoughts of this new motorcycle on my head. Dark skies and cold temps prevailed until I was out of the mountains and onto the highway heading south. I rolled onto 91 and continued for three hours straight, finally stopping after about 180 miles off of 84 . I stopped at a Chili's I know of and had a quick lunch then headed back out quickly, within a half hour of arriving, removing layers and changing gloves before I returned to the highway as I rocketed along 84, until I hit 8 then descended further until I came upon the end of 8 and the bridgeport ferry. The plan was if there was going to be an hour and half wait between boats I was just going to take my chances and ride around, as luck would have it, there was a boat just now disembarking. Within minutes I was aboard and settling in.

Mystery Mission II

Today started at 35 degrees and mostly cloudy as we threw a leg over our perspective rides. Breakfast was served not to far from our secreet mountain hideaway, and by the time we straddled the motorcycles it had warmed up to the mid 40's. I had all my cold weather gear on, and at our first gas stop I removed gloves and a sweatshirt, leaving only jacket liners and middleweight gloves.
But you don't want to hear weather reports and gear reviews.
You want to hear about the two supersecret motorcycles I rode today. All I can say right here is that one of them had an automatic transmission. Yes you read that correctly automatic, fully shift free motorcycle. It even had a parking brake. GOing into this I assumed I would not like this bike at all. The word 'Gimmick' Springs to mind easily. Guess what? If I was to buy one of these mazchines it would definitely be with the automatic. Now get this, it is not perfect, in the twisty stuff I found myself going back to the manual mode (You can switch between fully auto or manual on the fly) In corners you want to be manually shifting this motorcycle, but on the highway or in anything that is not technical, the 'S' mode is perfect. There is another mode called 'D' for drive, that to me is useless, it shifts far too early, but the 'S' mode was spot on. Was this a fun bike to ride? Very muich so. I think sometimes we lose the fun factor in our motorcycles, what with looking for hard luggage, more power, and longer range. I know riding this reminded me of my YZF600R as far as fun factor goes. It handled great, the ergoes were pretty good, though I think the knee bend was a little tight by a hair. The frame is super stiff, which is a major plus. It is very hard to make a mistake on this bike, at least in the few hours I rode it. To be honest I wasn't caring how much the fuel guage went down or what was going on around me.All I wanted to do was keep riding. This was a fun motorcycle to ride, and highly technologically advcancxed. Could I own this motorcycle? Definitely, if not for one thing...The price. at the moment the retail price of this motorcycle is just too steep. But that being said this bike is put together very nicely and is great to ride.

Mystery Mission

I've been given an assignment to test ride a brand new from the ground up motorcycle that will remain nameless here, suffice to say riding up to the spot where the test ride will take place was seamless as was expected. Of course I arrived ten minutes AFTER the press intro began, but ran in as they were phoning me, my jacket still on my back, and my FJR still sitting at the curb in front of the ultra luxurious hotel this is all being held at. After a very nice technical overview I was taklen out to dinner at a very fancy restaurant, quite possibly the fanciest meal I've ever eaten. Wine was served, as was fliet mingon, and finally a homemade vanilla ice cream over homemade apple pie.

So far I'm over whelmed. More tomorrow...
Because Tomorrow, we ride!!!