Engine Tune Up

 MUSIC: Creedance Clearwater Revival

There is probably nothing more ominous than that dreaded Service Engine Light. It really tells you nothing more than “you may have a problem soon”. It has not been a fun week for me when it comes to needing the service technicians. The phone company that moved the phone line on Monday and forgot to reconnect my service. I cannot wait for the future when placing a call to call center is done as video conference. I want to be able to put a face with the “dumb ass” responses I get to my problem. Plus, I print a screen capture of the service representative (Which is an oxymoron. Heavy on the moron.) so then I have something new for the dartboard. And on Thursday, I went to have my oil change only to find the hood latch was broken and on top of it my service engine light came on. (Broken oxygen sensor)

If things come in “threes” then I am afraid to get out of bed. And touch anything important.

Gas prices are like a reverse emotional stock market. As the prices rise my hope sinks. I was told as child is was important to be informed and aware of current events. Little did I know that message was underwritten by the alcohol industry. Every day the media seems to be reporting that this is it. It has reached a point of the worse. It cannot sink any lower today. But wait until tomorrow. There is trouble coming your way. Here is a special report. Beware! The President needs to declare a special day called “Take a deep breath and calm down America”. But in a Presidential election year everyone from the candidates to the media has to keep relaying the message that “America is screwed.” So the bad news is we have at least 6-8 months more of this shit. Sorry. Beer? Anyone?

We live in a media world that needs to make money. And nothing makes people want more media than having the shit scared out of them. It is all about ratings. The real “truth” is becoming a very distant second.

Another “engine” I have been working at is my writing. I am working on those pain in the ass little details. I have been working on a short screenplay for a contest entry at MoviePoet.com. The thing is you cannot use dialogue or narration to tell the story. Film is a story using visuals. I had to remember the basics. The following may seem a bit “geeky”. I read a few comic books. X-Men to be exact. Comic books are good thing for people who are interested in film. You get to see how words and images come together. It is just another way to storyboard a story. I also have been reviewing and relearning scriptwriting from Syd Field who has written many books on the subject. I also loaded a podcast for the MP3 player. It is a good way to keep at the lessons while I have to be at work. Multitasking on a whole other level.

I also have begun to realize there are a few things in the writing that need work. I am not good at coming up with character names. I also need to be able to work faster. I agonize a lot over my work. It has probably lead to “paralysis by analysis”. But with limited if any feedback it makes me “second guess” myself. I go back trying to find that detail that prevented what I wrote from coming across. I know I have to start by writing for myself. But I need to make the next step from there. I also need to declutter my apartment and make a better writing space. I need a maid. Sadly I do.

The other thing is I rather be at the “grindstone” aka my computer typing out ideas. I rather be here than somewhere talking about it. And I know that this comes off as being “antisocial”. But it is what it is.