Ave Atque Vale: Fifteen Years is Long Enough, Isn't It?

And now, the end is near, and so I face...No, I won't make that obvious reference. You've been too good for that, Dear Reader.

When I started this blog in May 2004, I was bored at work. Seriously. So I started typing away on this platform about comics, Doctor Who, and all sorts of other things. In the then-emerging comics blogosphere, I was...hell, I was a minor player, if even that. But this blog took me through another long distance move (from St. Louis to Chicago), my mother's liver transplant (and later illness), and the passing of my father and way too many friends. But I was able to translate this blog into various other parts of my life: my initial foray into writing with Comic Related, acquiring jobs in social media and copywriting, and developing a strong sense of discipline...even if it meant that I couldn't blog every day or every other day.

You've probably noticed that I haven't been posting frequently on this blog for the past few years. Much of it has been due to various life situations, but mostly, it's because my pulp writing has been really taking off. (As much as I had relied on this blog for search optimization through Google Plus, that's no longer an issue since G Plus no longer exists) Between looking for work, caring for Mom, self-care, running Chicago Doctor Who Meetup and blogging for Chicago Now and I Hear of Sherlock, I have been....not stretched too thin, exactly, but I've had to let go of many activities. And it looks like this blog...is going to be one of them.

So this is my formal "goodbye' to the blog...but I'm not necessarily letting it go altogether.

My new "content creation" activities will be focused on building my author Patreon page - some content will be public; others will be gated. (Trying to develop those "alternate revenue streams" that I keep hearing about). My blogging efforts will be focused on Chicago Now's One Cause At a Time (and yes, I'm reading some materials for I Hear of Sherlock) - that will allow me to write on professional topics, plus I need that sweet, sweet SEO. You'll always be able to catch updates via my author Facebook page, Twitter, and you can contact me through my personal website.

But I'm not just going to abandon this site to the Unholy Internet Gods...there's plenty of evergreen content on the site that can be reused. It will mean changing graphics, broken links, and reposting through Patreon. (My "Where Stories Come From" writer's commentaries will be early access posts on that site). I've already updated my DIY Doctor Who DVD Guide and this Micro OneTouch razor review as proofs-of-concept, and this is going to happen when I get the odd moment. (Especially since I'm seeing a slight uptick in traffic, especially since I was cited in this Wikipedia entry on The Prisoner: Shattered Visage. I won't be giving up this blog completely but will try to keep things up-to-date and ensure that this blog doesn't completely disappear.

So for everyone I have met through this blog, and those of you who have read any or all of these posts...thank you. Thanks for keeping me writing, for sharing your stories, and for really making this worthwhile. Every writer's secret wish is to be read...and I'm glad you helped me start on the road towards a career in writing.

Thanks. And we'll meet again at some point. I promise

2017 in Review

It's a little something I do every year: review the blog, pull random posts, and insert quotes. It's a great way to build SEO, as well as have fun...and yes, I've done it for One Cause At A Time as well.

And now, here we go...

January - (Think of it as the 24 of the 1930s, only in written form and much less Kiefer Sutherland)

February - First, here's the deal - you don't own the franchise you love.

March - Because being a caregiver can be terribly isolating, and I just need to connect with another human being.

April - In the past month, I've packed up, rented a truck, and am moving my things into storage. I'm also going to move (temporarily) into my mom's apartment while she's ill 

May - It's more than just another great anthology...it's put together by some really good people

June - It would be strange if Doctor Who, for example, became a wacky sitcom about a chiropractor with short-term memory problems

July - Right now, I need to adjust a new lifestyle.

August - It's a combination of escapism and call to arms. And I've never felt prouder of being a pulp fan than right now.

September - Just because CBS is mishandling Star Trek: Discovery doesn't mean you should miss out

October - ...either my memory is failing or I drank too much tequila last night

November - Did I get it right? Probably not. But what matters is that I made the effort

December - Don't get me wrong - I'm still very "Bah, humbug" about Christmas. But this year, I'm feeling more grateful that melancholy.

A Different Kind of Independence Day

Right now, I'm sitting on my mom's couch. After four months of rehab and hospitalization, she came home this past Friday. I'm sitting at my laptop, about to work on a longer-form writing project and freelance copywriting, and I have come to a decision...

...Blog THIS, Pal! is going on a short hiatus.

Much of it is simply due to time: after the events of the past few months, I need an emotional break. A major move, job issues, and family health issues are tough enough on their own: as one of my best friends pointed out, I had the Stress Trifecta. Emotionally, it's been challenging to maintain an even keel, especially in the spite of how Internet culture chooses to behave...

(...and yes, I'm taking a short break from Facebook as well. When a conversation about cultural appropriation in literature turns into "you're a segregationalist" arguments....it's time to go).

But honestly, as much as I'm grateful for the support I've received, I'm finding myself behaving in a very Kardashian-like manner. Wanting attention not because I've done something that warrants attention, but merely because I'm bored. And my friends - and blog readers - deserve better.

(Yes, I appreciate the irony of making that statement on this blog).

Much of it, though, is that I need to heal, to focus on more important matters. People may tell you that caring for an older parent is a joy and not a burden. They can say that because they're never done it. It's tiring, exhausting, and in this current funding climate...trying to find other caregivers to help will be close to impossible. (Not that we're not willing to try, and for those who suggest that I get trained as a caregiver "just in case"...I've investigated. It's not an option).

With my other projects, I also want to reestablish something of a personal life. It's not like I haven't been seen in public or have acted entirely like a hermit, but much of this process feels very isolating. It's hard to open up to people without feeling like I'll overreact or take it to the extreme. (Let's say that I wanted to ask a casual friend out for coffee...normally, if someone says no, I could accept it and move on. However, my current mood suggests that I would be motivated to research this person's address, show up in front of that person's place of residence and reenact that scene with John Cusack and the boombox from Say Anything. Only rather than Peter Gabriel, this song would be playing:


And yes, that is rather creepy, why do you ask?

Right now, I need to adjust a new lifestyle. I have a novel to write, several pieces to write (including some long-due posts for I Hear of Sherlock), and regain some sense of emotional equilibrium. So for now, I'm taking a break from the blog (and after some work for the Chicago Doctor Who Meetup, a much shorter break from Facebook)

Obviously, I'm not giving up on the blog - I have over twelve years' work invested in this. But for right now, I need to focus on other things, and I'm hoping that at some point, it will feel less like I was missed and more like, "Why the heck are you back?"

And I'm always available by e-mail. Talk to you later.

Blog THIS, Pal: 2016 in Review

It's that time again - every January 1st, I post a series of random links to blog posts per month. It's a great way to look at what I've written about....but more importantly, to provide a great overview and hopefully drive traffic.

One theme that I'm noticing this year was that I not only didn't update the blog frequently, but I also would talk about having a "rough month". Like many others, 2016 was a really tough year personally. Here's looking forward to 2017 - it will be a bit tougher, but it will be better. At least, I hope so.

And now, a not-so-loving look back at 2016....

January - I'll be honest....I have a love/hate relationship with writing on a daily basis.

February - And what's our reward? Royalties. Your illegal download prevents us from earning money

March - (Trust me - a stray joke about watching They Live after the recent Trump-in-Chicago fiasco led to some snarky comments. Of course, some these people have no real jobs and too much time on their hands. Kind of like me back in 2013).

April - Won't go into too many details - let's just say that when you're dealing with an organization in transition, personal and professional time need to be allocated in different ways.

May - It all started twelve years ago...because I was bored at work.

June - In a strange way, I miss him - even though we didn't get along most of the time, the things we did connect around were special: Sherlock Holmes, books, and a strange fascination with office supplies.

July - (They're also notable for both featuring Patrick McGoohan, but I'm not sure that's coincidental)

August - Yes, it was difficult, but Jake wasn't my dog. (Well, he was my dog but he wasn't my dog)

September - In fact, it manages to do in twenty-some pages what the Watchmen movie took four hours to do. And made it much more pleasant

October - And for those who believe there is no such thing as a "work/life balance", or that people who don't "hustle" aren't entrepreneurs, please remember....there's a thin line between hustling and hiding.

November - Because again, somebody has to.

December - Because like Legends of New Pulp, it's a benefit book...but more importantly, it could save someone's life.

It's Post 2500 - Time for Hamilton!

Yes, this blog has reached 2500 posts....and in that spirit, via YouTube, it's a song from Hamilton. Enjoy!

Support the Blog via Amazon Prime Day

Well, you're probably wondering if there's a way you can help support the blog, other than Patreon (which, as of this post, doesn't exist).

There actually is - today is Amazon Prime Day, where you can sign up for free and get huge deals. Plus, if you click the graphic below and sign up/purchase stuff....I get a small percentage. (That's right - I'm an Amazon Affiliate)

More blogging goodness is coming your way!

Blog THIS, Pal: 2015 In Review

It's become a yearly tradition for Blog THIS, Pal! - I wish I could remember who started it. (I think pal Roger, but I could be sorely mistaken).

But it's a great way for me to generate some content and help build my SEO (especially after a pesky cybersquatter stole the domain I had bought...and the less-than-ethical domain registrar never gave me a chance to pay my bill).

Simply put: I choose one random blog post per month, and link to it via a clever quote. It allows me to not only see how far I've come, but it also provides an opportunity to highlight stuff. (Plus, it strengthens my search engine presence).

Without further adieu, here's my year in review

January - In our current age, he would have put-upon bloggers (like me) berating him for any failures. In short, "You're failing because you're not doing what I think you should be doing...."

...and he didn't

February -  We've seen a city move from enthusiasm over an Olympic bid that would "improve the community"....to apathy and a reluctance to actually get their hands dirty doing it.

March - Good documentaries do more than just describe a situation - they create a context and a narrative that reaffirms human truths.

April - Today, I'll be serving as election judge in the Chicago Mayoral election, so I won't be posting anything today. (It's against the rules, you know).

May -  (Yes, you read that correctly - a heroin addict turned cartoon bear)

June - I'm proud to have been part of the Comic Related family. I'm also not ashamed to say that publicly.

July - Make no mistake - I'm not being cynical or snarky when I tell you that this is the most heartwarming movie about Batman that you will ever watch.

August -  Throughout the history of comics, there have been characters who...well, may not have been well-developed. Who may have been created in a flash of inspiration, but further follow up....well, just didn't happen.

September - Shenanigans ensue, and the cliffhanger is the Doctor seeming to say, "Why of course I would!"

October - I could simply cut and paste the essay from the original Word document and post it here, but that would be 1) lazy and 2) detrimental to sales.

November -  Think of it as Sapphire & Steel meets Fight Club

December - I'm going to say this once: Robert Conrad should be receiving the kind of ironic respect that is showered on William Shatner.

Some Closing Thoughts on 2015

If there's one thing I can say about 2015 with full confidence, it's this:

2015 was the year when light started breaking through the darkness in my life.

I've written before about how a friend's untimely death began shifting my attitudes towards life. Much of 2013 to that point was about finding gainful employment (and pursuing further schooling towards certification at DePaul); much of 2014 was intermittent work and building a fledgling writing career.

But 2015 - much of that paid off. Semi-consistent work over the past twelve months. (Much of it freelance, admittedly). Publication for several companies and invitations to participate in select anthologies. (So much so that I acquired a fringe benefit that I didn't expect - an Amazon Author Central page). Realizing that freelance and consulting might be a better, more realistic work option, I formed my own marketing consultancy. (And you can also find it on Facebook and LinkedIn). It means a little bit more hustle and creativity, but it also means that I have more time when things happen...like health issues with Mom.

(She's fine. Spent the holiday with her. And she's moving forward on her health).

Much of my new free time has been the result of letting go of volunteer activities. Realizing that I was driving myself into the ground, I made the decision that every year, I would get rid of one or two of my volunteer commitments. (Not out of frustration, but with the realization that I can have anything I want, I just can't have everything I want). Some of those endings were out of my hands (like Comic Related closing its doors), but it provided me with not only more time....but also more opportunities to use that time wisely.

(And part of using that time wisely....may consist of assembling an e-book of all of my reviews for the site. I think they're that good)

But part of that time has also been spent going out with friends....and with dates. Yes, I actually spent a lot of time dating. Even went out with someone for a few months...it didn't work out, and ended very amicably.

All of that was tempered with a renewed optimism - it's not the overly sunny, think-no-evil approach that's prevalent in our culture (which I've written about long ago and far away), but it's a more realistic appraisal about the outcome. It's not that things will work out for the worst (although I am reading a book with precisely that premise), but I understand that things will work out the way they will work out.

I don't have to like the outcome, or approve the outcome, I just need to accept it.

But I'm in much better spirits than I have been in the past two years. Things are still as unsure and uncertain as they were before....but I think I'm approaching the New Year with renewed clarity and insight.

And that's all I can expect.

Happy New Year, everyone.

You Are Leaving NaBloPoMo

Yes, friends, thank you for indulging me in this year's NaBloPoMo.

Admittedly, posts were light in content - couldn't help it. However, this has provided me with a chance to regain some traffic, as well as maintain my dominance over that cybersquatter with my old domain.

Thanks for reading!

Welcome to NaBloPoMo 2015: Blog THIS, Pal! Style!

Yes, this year, like year's past, I'm taking up the NaBloPoMo challenge.

For those who may be unaware, the word is short for "National Blog Posting Month", where bloggers are challenged to write 30 posts in 30 days....

...and this year, it will be a bit trickier, but I can make a few promises.

First, I'm going to try to keep to Sunday reviews of new Doctor Who. (This week's the obvious exception - my review's going to be up on Tuesday).

Starting next week, every Monday's going to be a new entry in the Mondays With Columbo series.

Plus, we have several holidays - including Thanksgiving - which can provide filler, as well as Chicago TARDIS.

(Also, I will post links on days when I write new Chicago Now: One Cause At A Time posts - those should count for something)

So get ready for NaBloPoMo Fever!

Guess What's Happening on the Blog on November 1st?

That's right - in November, I'm going to attempt NaBloPoMo. Again.

Can you sense the excitement?

Ask THIS, Pal: Ask Gordon Anything. Seriously.

You know, maintaining a blog can be work....and I just realized that for many new-ish readers, they may be wondering just who the heck I am.

Plus, I have so much going on....I'm sure there's a great deal of curiosity. So in an effort to drive some traffic (as well as see just how people are aware of the blog), it's time for you to Ask This, Pal!

Stealing a page from pal Roger, I'm holding an open call for questions. That's right - I'm encouraging you, the reader, to ask me any question about anything.

Ask my opinion about the Zone 4 podcast. Ask me about my newly-found writing career. Ask me about my personal life. Trust me, I'll provide you an honest answer and/or a witty bon mot.

So just a few things as we proceed:

• You can ask either via the comments section below, or tweet them @gordondym with the hashtag #askTHISpal
• E-mail it to me at gordon@gordondymowski.com with the subject line Ask THIS, Pal!
• If we're connected on Facebook, post on my wall and/or private message me
• I will be exercising some discretion in answering, meaning I'm not going to betray a personal trust nor violate any non-disclosure agreements (as per my professional efforts); and
• If it looks like trollbait, I will follow up for clarification. If it is troll bait, I will ignore it. Deal?

Otherwise, you have until August 24th to get your questions in....and looking forward to providing the answers!

Blog THIS, Pal! 2014 in Review

Here's a little something that happens every year on the blog - in order to get us off to a new start, I go through the blog archives, randomly select an entry, and link to it via a quote.

(It's not only quite clever, but helps with the old search optimization).

So this year, much like John Oliver on Last Week Tonight, we're going to take a slightly less-than-respectful look at the year in Blog THIS, Pal!. Enjoy!

January - This book doesn't just deserve your attention - it demands it.

February - it was originally slated for William Hartnell before....well, you know...

March - It's a companion piece to my other series, Adventures of a Wannabe Writer and Creative Procrastination

April - the ten to fifteen minutes spent feeding her and giving her attention in the morning is now spent....waking up

May - Just thank God I couldn't find my long-lost Doctor Who pitch from high school, which involved the Fifth Doctor, Ice Warriors, and crystallized uranium

June - (It was the dark days of Chicago cable, and my mom and dad were concerned with more important matters like sending me to college and making sure I had a roof over my head. Sue me.)

July - Crime Master focuses on Gordon Manning's conflict with super-criminal The Griffin. (And no, you may not make a Family Guy joke).

August - ...he's the kind of guy who believes Chekhov's gun refers to the fact that, if you show a gun in Act 1, you use it to shoot Ensign Chekhov

September - ....and it all started during the polar vortex with a dog taking a dump in front of my building.

October - Although I'm still unsure how I feel about Mathieson's Mummy on the Orient Express ...

November - a total, incoherent mess that wouldn't know "subtlety" if it had a name tag announcing "Hello, My Name is Subtlety" on its lapel.

December - Most of my time was spent drinking tea, eating chicken soup with a shot of garlic, and not talking

My Final Post of 2014....

Yes, it's my last post of 2014....and this year has been very eventful.

Freelance work! Being professionally published! Raising money! Dating! Adventures & wackiness!

Given the change from where I was a year ago - handling a friend's suicide and a loss of a pet - it's definitely well-earned. I have a slightly greater peace of mind than I did before....

....it hasn't come without lessons. The coming year will mean further follow-up on certain matters which were unresolved in 2014 (and which I won't make public comment).

But all in all, a definite change in fortune...and my plans for tonight don't change, here's how I plan to celebrate the new year:

Blog THIS, Pal - 2013 In Review

It's become a regular yearly tradition on the blog - I don't know who I "borrowed" this from, but it's a great thing to do. Simply put, I review the blog month-by-month, randomly select a quote, and post it as a way to drive traffic (especially away from that nasty cybersquatter....but more on him later) and have some fun.

(Yes, I admit there was a drought due to personal matters, so I may have a smaller sample to choose from, but I think there's plenty available for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

January - One of the qualities many great bands have is that talking about them is like sharing a secret

February -  I'm especially proud of the job I've done in interviewing him (and yes, I did take the lead, having thoroughly read the book from cover to cover).

March - Without him, it's safe to say,much contemporary popular culture would have a much different nature and character.

April - Unlike 20 years ago, Andy won't be there (he's living in Vegas, and is more than likely on the road as I write this), and I'll actually be funny.


May - Ok, so all of you long-standing readers have probably been wondering...where the heck hasGordon been

Via Zone 4

June - Doctor Who as pulp fiction?

July - It's all Barry Reese's fault.

August - As a side note - can we all agree to lose the term "nerd blackface"?

September - Somewhere in this story is a great book - a Barbarians At the Gate or The Smartest Guys In the Room - about DC Entertainment. I just refuse to be one of the people who helps write it.

October - Compassion seems to be a dirty word these days. Hopefully, my recent loss can help me change that.

November - ....mostly, it gives a pretty good reason to get out of bed in the morning. Even if it's 3:00 am and spent clicking away at a keyboard.

December -  Mark my words - Capaldi's eyebrows will be Series 8's "Bad Wolf"

And so here's hoping to a healthy and prosperous 2014!

The Return of the Amazon Store!

Once upon a time, Amazon.com had decided to leave Illinois over (gasp) a law encouraging them to pay sales tax.

Needless to say, this had the effect of Amazon basically dumping their affiliates, and moving on.

Now that Amazon is starting to see the light, they've reinvited their affiliates (including me) to return and create stores....

...and now, if you would like to purchase any of the fine products on this site, simply head to http://astore.amazon.com/btp094-20 - there, you will see an ever-increasing array of items which have been (or will be) featured in this very blog.

(Don't worry - I'll be including a widget into the sidebar at some point).

But why not check out the widget below to give us a try!

Regaining My Blogging Mojo

Admittedly, for a good chunk of April and May, this blog was relatively inactive: I can - and will - blame writer's block.

That, and some situational matters, some existential (dealing with Dax's passing in the midst of job seeking) and some practical (having to revise some honest-to-gosh-hopefully-publicated-in-books fiction). So for awhile, I've felt honestly drained. But life has me bouncing back (as well as a pretender to the throne), and so I've been revisiting and regaining my writing mojo....

...not just in the sense of this blog, but all around. Here's a quick little summary:

• For the Chicago Nerd Social Club (I'm on their board), I've done write-ups on Doctor Who DVDs (thanks, BBC Home Entertainment) and Superman-related documentaries; 
• For my monthly column on Comic Related, you can catch my review of the recent BBC America hit Orphan Black, and speaking of which;
• Please like Zone 4 on Facebook, if only because you can avoid hearing a particular co-host chewing the scenery very loudly (and yes, I'm going to burn for that comment); 
• You can get a preview of my activities next week via Chicago Now; and
• I discuss reviving the Net Tuesday/Net2Chi/Netsquared group in a post with a familiar theme for current readers.

And I've also started a new endeavor, which I'll probably write about....early next week.

I'm back.

Please feel free to distribute this post via social media because not only could I use the traffic....but more importantly, the motivation to write.

A Different Kind of "Fireworks" On the 4th of July

As many of you long-term readers may know, things...have kept me a bit busy for the past few months. Thankfully, life is beginning to settle into a more comfortable form of uncertainty.

On the job front - have been progressing slowly, with one really brief assignment and a ton of interviews. Here's hoping that I can break through and actually do some actual long-term work. Thankfully, my powers as a blogger have enabled me to keep current on some new releases (those Doctor Who DVDs aren't going to watch themselves, you know), and keeping a semi-structured day floating between wi-fi hotspots keeps me going.

But all in all, some good things - the Zone 4 podcast is going great guns, I'm starting to get back into the swing of blogging for Chicago Now, I'm coming back into my own on Twitter and Facebook and yes, I know about that other blog at the old domain. Trust me, I'm on it like a bonnet, but until you hear from me otherwise, please point your browsers to http://blogthispal.blogspot.com.

(That's the new hip phrase that I want the teenagers to use - on it like a bonnet. I'm sure pal Roger will write a blog post with that very title)

So today, I'll be heading over to Mom's and hanging out with her and Chucky, the cat. Part of my time is going to also be spent catching up on writing (I have WonderMan issue 4 to write - issue 2 is drawn, and I sent the script for issue 3 a few months ago) and doing some blog and other writing (including Comic Related and Chicago Nerd Social Club, as well as some long-overdue tweaking on this blog).

Until tomorrow, friends - have a happy and safe 4th of July, no matter where you live.

Losing A Domain But Returning to Form

Because I've been without work, and haven't had the resources to do so, I missed renewing my old domain, resulting in

• someone else taking over blogthispal.com; and
• posting content that is, well, spammy.

Now, I'm going to have to fight to regain that domain (or get another one), and with an increase in employment opportunities, that means that for the time being, my blogging will return to http://blogthispal.blogspot.com for the foreseeable future.

(RSS feed is http://blogthispal.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss)

For my old domain host - although yes, I am at fault for not paying, you've just given me a good excuse to switch. You've had quite a bad reputation for awhile, so I have no problem going with another person.

With the person using blogthispal.com - seriously, come up with your own idea and do that. It may take awhile, and will cost, but quite honestly - this is scummy, and I share the responsibility.

For you, dear reader, things will be a bit awkward (you may get a lot of 404 notices when clicking on internal links), but quite honestly - this has been neglected for too long.

So an apology, and a promise to try harder.