Blog 11: Zelda Update

 

Well ... I keep plodding along here, working to promote Zelda Rising, but not being very successful so far.  Like I mentioned in Blog 10, I feel a sense of reluctance from people to praise or damn my writing, but that's not so different from my other stuff.  People I thought would offer encouragement have turned out to be hesitant or muted, whatever.

I am doing pretty well at open mics, though, and I wonder if the book just comes across better when I read it aloud in my Chicago guy voice, much like the novels of William Burroughs, whose readings I always considered better than going through his books: that sly, sardonic voice of his.  Nice to hear immediate praise at the open mics too, like "nice imagery". 

But ultimately, as English literary critic and writer Cyril Connolly put it:

 

“Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.”

 

And I am myself, that's for sure.  Hey, near to the same last name as musician Chris Connelly, who I'm going to see at the Museum of Post Punk & Industrial Music this coming Saturday. Did some fine work with Wax Trax, back in the day.  Must mean something or other.  

 

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Really enjoying this Ortofon Bronze cartridge I bought for big bucks other day.  My rig just needed an upgrade.  Got into a Thick as a Brick by Jethro Tull mood last night: I have the original mock newspaper cover from a Reprise records version and a better-sounding green Chrysalis version.  Also listen to lots of classical as well as a Best of from the prog group Kayak and Survival by Grand Funk Railroad, massive bass on that one. Instead of my high-class Grado headphones, I listened to music through my Sennheiser phones, which sounded pretty good, though you have to turn the volume way up on those.  

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The Cubs were on late last night playing the San Francisco Giants.  I'm usually kind of laid back when watching baseball, but I found myself yelling at the TV due to their incompetence in hitting along with the shabby bullpen.  They are now 10 games out of first place following last night's debacle: hoping for cheap stadium tickets soon.  White Sox still awful, though they drew a good crowd last night, mostly Dodgers fans, to see the best player in baseball, a Japanese guy named Shohei Ohtani, even though he only plays Designated Hitter these days.  Yeah, he's got a mighty swing, but best baseball player in the league without having to play defense?  Meh. 

 

Looking forward to watching the Trinidad Triggers minor league team in Colorado next month.  Nine bucks a ticket, people.