Author Archives: Joe Hinojosa

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About Joe Hinojosa

Official account of a writer in potentia. Blogger, student, bibliophile and novice book reviewer.

Camp Nano – 2 days until it begins

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I didn’t mean to do it, but I signed up for Camp NaNoWriMo. Great plan! I don’t have a computer yet, so let’s sign up to write something. Brilliant! Fantastic! What the hell am I thinking!!!!!

Okay, it’s not really that bad. My goal is a very modest 10K words, a short story that has been brewing in my mind for several months. I want to write it down and get it out of my head. Really, it’s a simple exercise to get my brain focused on writing again. I’ve let my dream fall to the wayside this year. Shame on me.

I need a writing goal to motivate me again, something before the main event in November. I haven’t mentioned it in a long time, but I would like to be back in the DFW area by the time November hits. That’s been my goal every year since I came back to my hometown almost 2 years ago. I’ve accomplished a life goal in earing my degree, and I’m about done on my most recent personal goal. I think it’s time to look towards the future and make plans to get on with my life.

Which is a scary thing, if you ask me. Things in my life aren’t great, but they are stable. I desire a stable life, but not like this. I want more out of my life, and the only way to earn it is to upset my stability for the hope of something better. It’ll be a calculated risk, but one we all have to do on occasion to grow and to progress in life.

My truck is almost done. It’s insured now, and I lack a few minor repairs before I take it to get inspected. I should start working on my resume and begin to actively look for jobs again. I had considered going back to school to get my teaching certificate, but the longer I thought about it, the more I became convinced teaching  would be a mistake, at least for me.

So I’m a man with a degree and not much else, trying to find his way through life. Looking at my successes and my failures, the business world is not a good fit for me, but I have to ask, what is? Is writing my future? I’m not convinced I really have a talent for writing.

Nevertheless, my short-term goal is to write a short story next month, and to polish my resume. By the end of the year, I want to have a real job, my own place where I can live, and write, in peace. I don’t know what will happen, but I think it’s time to get my life back on track.

I guess only time will tell…

Coming soon, another book review

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I’m going to move away from my truck project, which is coming together nicely, and I’m going to talk a little about something else. A few months ago, I volunteered to beta-read a book which I began, but I unfortunately had my notes on my computer which died on me. The best I could do was give him a general critique about his book.

Now I’m back to reading the finished book, and so far I’m digging it. I’m planning on posting a review of the book, The Ship by Allan Krummenacker early next month, probably the first Monday, which  would be July 7th, and my first book review since my March 17th review of The Trinity by Daelynn Quinn.

The fact that I’m doing another review isn’t all that unexpected. My plan was not to abandon reviewing altogether, but rather I wanted to devote my energies elsewhere for a while. So I’m back for a one-off review, except I have another review in the pipeline, set for the middle of next month as well. That book is the sequel to March Island by Oliver Chase, which I reviewed late last year, and which I believe is the last book to the Hirebomber Series. More on this as I find out.

It feels good to be back reading again. I still have a few book I want to read for myself, but my project has been taking up all my time, though I’m now reaching the end. It may be time for a new project. I’m not sure if I’m going to actually start reviewing again on a consistent basis again, or if this is just an anomaly.

I’m saying this because I’m curious whether it’s worth doing again. I feel that I didn’t get enough of a bump in readership as I would have liked, and I’m not sure it was appreciated by the authors I reviewed. So I’m putting it to a vote, What should I do?

Almost done

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My project is nearing completion, and I’m ready to be done. What I lack is to buy the interior carpet padding, then the interior can go in. I took the truck to have the windshield installed last Tuesday and I’ll admit that took a little bit of time to get used to.

My plan is to order what I need, get the truck insured so I can have it inspected as soon as it’s ready, then I’ll have a legal vehicle. Woot woot! I’ve come across a few other things that need to be replaced, such as the motor mounts, which are not that expensive, and the side mirrors which are a little bit on the pricey side, but that can wait later.

Now, I think I can focus a little more time on my blog. I hope to start writing on a more frequent basis. I plan to post twice a week, on Monday and Thursday. I’ll be back to my oddly bloggy self, writing on everything and anything that I feel inspired to write about, as it should be.

It would be easier had I a new computer, but I’ll find a way until such a time as I can have my own laptop replaced. I can’t allow myself to use having no computer as an excuse to get out of writing. So I’m back, if even on a limited basis.

That’s all I have for now. I hope you all have a great Monday and an even better week.

 

Water from the heavens

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And I thought we were in the middle of a severe drought. It’s been crazy wicked seeing the amount of rain that has fallen in recent weeks. The dry playa lake behind the house is filling up, creating a water hazard that will likely swallow up many golf balls once the backyard dries up enough to walk on. As I write this, I can hear the quite rumbling of thunder approaching, and with it more glorious rain.

A couple of weeks ago, the entire panhandle of Texas was a parched wasteland, giving credence to the name of Amarillo, which is Spanish for yellow. We had fire warnings everyday, with strong winds, abysmally low humidity levels, and endless tracks of dry tinder waiting for a spark to go up in flames.

Today everything is green and life has returned to the plains of Texas. I hope area lakes are recharging, and I know the area farmers are pleased with the rain. The Ogallala Aquifer is getting a temporary reprieve, though I wish there were a way for it to recharge as well.

The round of storms have been a bit treacherous. On Friday, as I drove home from work, I passed a horrible accident on I-27, which closed the northbound lane. An 18-wheeler was on its side, taking up the whole lane closing up the northbound lane and reducing the southbound side down to one lane. I’m not sure if straight-line winds got it, or if the sleek roads caused the driver to lose control, but all I know is that I’ve never seen so many first responders on the interstate so close to home.

Saturday night, I didn’t even make it home. I ended up staying the night at a friends house. I had to buy an emergency supply of toiletries and a new shirt so I could make it to work looking somewhat put together. As soon as I got home, my jeans came off and a clean pair of shorts went on. My jeans went straight into the washer.

But I’m not complaining. I’m enjoying the sound of rain. Beats the sound of wind, and the dust pelting everything in sight. I don’t know if you’ve ever been in the middle of a dirt devil, but the dirt actually hurts. It’s very much like being in a sandblaster in the middle of the yard.

All we have to worry about is the flash flooding, hail, lightning, and the possibility of tornados. Oh, also with all the rain, we are suffering the dreaded return of the mosquito. Death by a million vampiric pests.

But really, I’m not complaining. I’m enjoying the sound of the rain as it beats relentlessly against the windows even as I write this. The thunder is booming, but at least the power is on. The radar shows an awesome storm overhead, but there are no severe storm warnings, at least not yet.

All I’m hoping for is that it dries up a bit on Tuesday. I have an appointment scheduled with the auto glass company, and I’m taking my truck in to have a windshield installed. Once it’s in, I don’t care if it starts up again. Just a few hours, please!

For now, I think I will get off and enjoy the light show through the windows. I’m getting back in bed and drift off to the symphony of music mother nature is gifting us right now. I just hope it doesn’t gift me a tree limb though the window, then I really will start to complain.

In the meantime…

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I hate having ideas with no way to do anything about them. I miss having a computer where I can type until I’ve run out of things to say, to create on a page a world that exist solely in the depths of my mind. Plus, keeping up my blog has been difficult.

I have no timetable as to when I will be able buy myself a new laptop, but I fear it will be quite a long time. I’m nearing the completion of my project, cleaning up a 93 Chevy pickup. When I’m done, I should have the money to begin saving up to buy my new toy, but one thing at a time.

In the meantime, I’ve resorted to using pen and paper to get my ideas downs. It’s not as quick, and many times more illegible than using a keyboard. As bad as it is, it’s better than nothing. At least it affords me the luxury of moving ideas out of my head and onto a more permanent format. It’s just so freaking slow!

I’m also glad that I have access to the important files of my now deceased computation machine. Thank you DropBox! All my works in progress are safe, ready for me to get busy on them all over again. I’m raring to go.

Patience is required of me. I will get things lined up all over again, and I will get back on track, though I’ve bitching about if for three years and it hasn’t happened yet. Just smile and it’ll get better.

Or maybe people have been lying to me about that…