thunderbolt

Basement Songs- The Book

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:51:00 +0000

Sorry it's been so long. We're still hanging in there for anyone who is wondering. We still have a long road ahead of us. In looking back on my brother-in-law's accomplishments, I was inspired by Seann's drive to get his art out to the world for his friend, family and fans to listen to and appreciate. Seann recorded music and sold it independently through a digital music service. I sort of took his ambition for granted until it was too damn late to tell him how much I admired his drive.

Well, now I'm drawing from Seann's life to try and get my act together. For two years I've been talking about compiling some of my favorite Basement Songs columns and self-publishing them as a book. After seeing the success that my good friend, Will Harris, had when he published a book of his own Popdose columns, I'm finally going to do the same.

Ever since we returned from Ohio, I've been editing the Basement Songs columns that I consider some of my best and/or my favorites to put in the book.

"But Scott, can't we just read your columns on the Internet? What's going to make this book different from the web postings?"

Glad you asked. My plan all along was to make this collection read like some kind of story. Therefore, I've been going through my choices and editing out certain phrases that get used often in the Basements Songs columns. In other words, I'm doing my best to remove redundant information. Also, since I've decided to publish the columns in chronological order, not by publication date, I've decided to revise some of the older columns. I've become a better writer in the past couple of years and I feel that if I'm going to ask people to shell out 16-18 bucks, I should put my best foot forward.

Moreover, I want to give people buying the book something different than what's already been on the web. One analogy could be this: The original columns are like a concert performance of a new song- a little raw with most of the kinks worked out; the book is like a album of those same songs and I've had a chance to refine what's been worked out on the road. Oh, and there will be one unreleased Basement Songs column that is exclusive to the book.

When will it be done? Soon, I hope. I'm about half way through doing my pass, then I need the final stamp of approval, Julie. After that, I'll slap on a foreword by my good friend, Jeff Giles (aka jefito, aka the guy who came up with Popdose) and I'll place a nice looking cover (still in the works) by another Popdoser, Dw Dunphy (who also designed the Basement Songs banner) on the book.

I will keep you updated as the publication date arrives and how you can purchase a physical and digital copy.

Aloha

Home again

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 07:55:00 +0000

It is a new year and we've returned home from Ohio. December is a bad, not so distant blur. I can not believe that my brother-in-law, Seann, has been dead for nearly a month. I never imagined that our family would have to survive such a tragedy. Both Mr. and Mrs. Flynn are such strong, loving people and I have no idea how they are holding up. Only one word comes to mind: devastated.

As for me, as if that matters, the loss hits me at strange times. Yesterday, while Dad Flynn and I went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie as a two hour diversion, the trailer for the next Batman film played. I knew that Seann was a fan of composer Hans Zimmer, who scored the previous Batman movies, as well as Christopher Nolan's Inception (another one of SPF's favs). As the trailer ended and the Batman theme blared through the THX speakers, those blasting horns brought tears to my eyes. Seann will never see that movie; and he'll never get to hear any more of Zimmer's inspiring work.

Whenever a new year begins we look at it as an opportunity to begin anew and try to change the course of our lives. For now, I just want to get through the month of January and find a way to smile without it hurting.

Rainy 5K

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 14:06:00 +0000

This morning Jacob and I are running the Santa Clarita 5K race together. Right now, he's nervous about getting separated from me (which I'll never let happen) and not beging able o finish. I have complete faith in him. It's only 3.1 miles.

However, it is currently 45 degrees and drizzling outside. That's what I'm worried about. Going to be a cold one, my friends.

UPDATE- 3:42PM

To say that the run was miserable would be a understatement, but we labored through it and I'm so proud of Jake for completing the race. Sometimes it isn't about running the fastest or posting your personal record; sometimes it's just about getting across the finish line and saying "I did it." That's what today was all about and we have the medals to prove it.

In Dreams...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 14:59:00 +0000

Images and scenes of sick or dying children have invaded my dreams. I don't remember most of what goes on in my head when I'm sleeping, but the past couple of weeks have contained some sad, but uplifting moments that obviously tie to my fears for my son and his health.

This morning, my dream began with me losing control of my bladder and having to take refuge in a disgusting, two stall shopping mall bathroom to wait for someone to bring me a fresh pair of clothes. While I wait, the miracle of dreaming dries my shorts and shoes and I decide to leave. However, I run into Julie, carrying some jeans and a T-shirt, and she insists that I go back and change. I return to the crappy bathroom and now it's got a line nearly going out the door. Among the people waiting is a teenage boy, maybe 15, confined to a wheelchair. his leg is in a brace and his head appears to be the only normal sized portion of his body. The rest of him is withered and sickly, barely there.

The boy- a blond, cheerful looking kid- is with his younger brother. He never calls him his brother, but you can tell by the way they interact that there is a bond and an understanding between the two of them. While the rest of te men in the room are doing their best not to look at the sick boy in the wheelchair, the little one talks to him and plays with him as if there is nothing wrong with him. It's like my children getting along. Anyway, I try not to stare at the young man in his wheelchair. However, he is waiting for the bigger stall, so he keeps letting people go before him since he and his chair can't fit in the smaller of the two stalls. I wind up waiting directly behind him. I can't help but to make eye contact since his little sibling keeps running around me. At some point, he apologizes for his brother's behavior and we begin to talk.

Suddenly we're in a bank, waiting to see a teller. I ask simple questions so as to not be rude. In truth, I'm trying not to look at the boy's body, which is as skin and bones as a concentration camp survivor. Somehow we get on the subject of sports and he informs me that he used to play soccer and he used to play track. The sight of this kid makes me wonder how that's possible. Was he a special Olympics kid? The disabled teller window opens up and the boy leaves me. I can't help but feel that I've just met a brave young man. I get to my teller window and she has a pamphlet about the boy. It's fundraiser announcement to try and raise money for some rare disease that strikes 1 and a million kids. In the world there are only 3 people currently living with the disease, and the boy I just met is one of them. Thus, his odds of surviving in the next year or so are slim.

I glance one more time at the boy, laughing with the teller and making a deposit. "He's going to die," I think, "and he must know it."

I leave the bank., carrying the pamphlet, trying to think of some way I can make myself useful.

And then I woke up.

I got out of bed and checked in on Jacob, sleeping soundly under an electric blanket, wondering to myself how I can make myself useful today.

I am not a baseball player

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 07:51:00 +0000

Finally got a chance to see MONEYBALL tonight and it was an excellent film. Although it was not as emotionally compelling as I'd hoped, I still found the movie inspiring and Brad Pitt's work exceptional. I sometimes forget how good he can be. I guess when you have so many children to feed, you have to make some glossy Hollywood movies to pay the bills. This leaves room to make dream projects like MONEYBALL.

There was a moment in the film when the story flashed back to Beane, at that time a washed up major league ballplayer, making the decision to become a baseball scout. "I'm not a ballplayer," he says, much to the amazement of some off screen person (I assume his agent).

There are many times that I think about the move out here and the dreams I've pursued and where I now and I think, "I'm not a ball player." But, I did make a movie, which most people can not say, and I've been in the lives of my children since the day they were born instead of being on location on a film set. So, the trade off was worth it. Sure, it's stings sometimes, especially when I look at the credits on upcoming movie posters and the names of the directors are people I've never heard of before, but I'll take the situation I had tonight over any of the glamor that comes with a feature film.

Tonight, for the first time in as along as I can remember, Jake asked me to snuggle him. Me. He never asks for me. It's always his mom. The two of us have had some special bonding in the past couple months, but I never expected this.

I am a lucky man.

"Wendover" in NYC again

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 14:49:00 +0000

My writing partner, Jeff Marsick, is once again at the New York Comic Con and this year he has set up a wonderful looking display for our comic book, Wendover. As we continue work on completing issue #2, Jeff is selling copies of issue #1.

Here is a picture of the display. The artwork for it was taken from the comic by, drawn by Jonathan Burkhardt, and finessed by my close friend, Villamor Cruz. Vill has kind of been the 4th man in the Wendover project. He also directed and edited the Wendover motion comic for issue 1, which will be online by Christmas.

For those of you keeping track, Vill also photographed and edited King's Highway.

Anyone who's interested in purchasing a copy of issue 1 (if you don't happen to be in New York) can do so by going to our website or by contacting yours truly!

http://www.wendoverproject.com/

Now approaching 12,000 on the King's Highway

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:26:00 +0000

Thought I'd mention that the little movie I wrote and directed 10 years ago(!!) is close to 12,000 views on Netflix. Obviously not as many as many, many other films. But considering we've only had i up on Netflix since May and King's Highway is a microbudget movie, I'm pretty proud of the fact.

Once we reach 12,000, maybe I'll have a contest and giveaway some copies of the movie.

Thirty Minutes or Less: F'n social networking

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:21:00 +0000

Each time I stop by Facebook or happen to check in with my Link'd In (or however the hell it's spelled) page, I feel like the world is passing me by. Where do people get the time to continuously update their status and inform the world about their lives? I used to do that with thunderbolt and the time got away from me. I like the idea of Facebook and other social networks as a place for people to stay in touch. But damn, it's so much more than that and I constantly eel like I'm not doing enough.

And Twitter, too? Son of bitch! It's too much. If I could just figure out a way to link everything from this site, my life would be so simple.

30 Minutes of Less: Steve Jobs died today

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 06:42:00 +0000

Steve Jobs died today. The man was, perhaps, the greatest innovator of my generation. Although I'm writing on a PC at this very moment, I would give anything to be using a Macintosh, instead.

The first computer I ever wroekd on was a Mac. My college roommate, Dan, owned a Mac and he was the luckiest man we all knew. This was the early 90's, when everyone owning a personal computer was the stuff of science fiction writing. In the basement of the blue house, people would come over and type their research papers on Dan's Mac and then print out the documents on his dot matrix printer. It was the coolest fucking machine in the world.

True story: I once put off writing a paper for an English/film class until the very last minute and couldn't find the energy or will power to spew out my amateurish opinions. I never completed it! The next morning, when it was due, I approached the professor and explained to her that I'd been writing my paper on my roommate's computer and we lost power. Everything was lost! Since this was the age before anyone really understood what a computer could do, the prof bought my load of crap. She even gave me a week extension. That was one of just two times in college when I skimped out of my work and was a lousy student (the other time had to do with The Last of the Mohicans--- another story for another time).

I loved that computer of Dan's. It was compact, did the job and worked like a champ.

After Jules and I moved to Los Angeles, our first computer was a hand-me-down Mac that the Gardners gave me. The machine had been collecting dust in the loft of the old Alterian shop and I inquired about what they were going to do with it. I asked to borrow it and Cindy flat out gave it to me. I wrote the first version of Finding the Way on that computer, as well every early version of The Mind's Eye. I really loved that computer. When we finally bought our own tower (a PC), I gave that Mac to one of Vill's friends who worked at Alterian as a P.A. I wonder if he still has it.

I resisted the idea of an iPod for years. I didn't want some high priced music player when I could get a tiny little mp3 player that store, you know, 75 of my songs. I was an idiot. When I bought my 8 gig Nano, it changed my life. So much music at my fingertips. It was like the 90's all over again when I carried around a CD case in the car and listened to whatever I wanted while driving. Then, Julie and the kids got me the silver bullet for my 40th. 160 gigs! I placed every CD I own, plus whatever else I could get my hands on into that iPod classic. Suddenly, I was in college again, uploading albums I'd never heard but wanting them in my collection in the off chance that I might listen to them someday. I was discovering new music, rediscovering old stuff, and reliving my youth with some of the crap I enjoyed in my teens. I was a fool to resist the iPod. It may be the greatest invention of the early part of the 21st Century.

Steve Jobs died today after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. They say that pancreatic cancer is one of the toughest to beat. The man held on for a very long time. Jobs really did change the world and make it a better place. If he'd just been the man who helped shepherd Pixar, he would have been a great man, but he was so much more.

Happy Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 05:17:00 +0000

Easter weekend and it still isn't getting any easier with our issues of breather anxiety. There has been so much resistance and anger recently. Julie takes the brunt of it, which I'm sure accounts for the tension she's feeling in her neck and shoulders. I've tried reasoning and keeping my anger in check. I hate when she gets yelled at. But what is J to do? He's nine. He's acting out and voicing his feelings in the only way he knows how to. Afterward he feels so guilty and there are so many tears.

Lost a of tears, lately.

I feel the tension, too. Last night I felt like I'd been hit by a f'n truck and was ready for bed by 10:30. Maybe I'm just getting old. Still, it's been a long time since I've gone to bed before 12:00 on a Saturday night when I didn't have a run the next morning.

We went to church this morning and I felt a sense of relief during the service. I can't say that I'm a religious man, but I am spiritual and this morning I was feeling the spirit.

Mind Freeze

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 18:12:00 +0000

I've had a difficult time writing these past few weeks. It seems that every time I click on Facebook or check out one of hte posts my colleagues have written for Popdose I find myself sinking. So much of what I read sounds so much more interesting that what I have to say. All of these friends of mine on Facebook. I check in on their little blurbs of life and feel like I have nothing to contribute.

It doesn't help that my body is fighting me and I can't get up and run in the morning. Without that extra jolt of adrenaline in the a.m., I feel thinks slipping away into a haze.

I'm working on it, thought. I just have to push through this malaise. I've been in this situation before and it became a very dark time in my life. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.

BBC and vampires

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 06:44:00 +0000

So far its been a pretty good week in Malchusville. First of, an interview I did with the BBC has gone live on their website for a week. The link is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008mj7p
Last winter, after I wrote a Basement Songs column for Popdose about Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring, (the link: http://popdose.com/basement-songs-aaron-copland-appalachian-spring/) I was contacted by Rosie Burton, a producer for BBC Radio, who was doing a piece on the tune, "Simple Gifts." Having read my column, she asked for my participation in her project and in January I was interviewed. I don't know how I wound up on a program featuring Woody Guthrie's daughter reflecting on how her parents met, but it was quite an honor. I hope people check it out. I listened to it this afternoon and I thought I sounded awkward and stilted. You be the judge.

Other news down the pipeline is that Wendover, the comic I co-wrote with Jeff Marsick (the link: http://www.wendoverproject.com/) has been selling well in the Manhattan comic shop that Jeff solicited. In fact, they want more issues! How f''n cool is that? Considering that this has been purely a passion project for the two of us (I can't leave out our artist, Jonathan Burkhardt), I'd say we've done okay, wouldn't you?

All in all, the week has started off pretty damn good. Now, if I could just shed a couple of pounds.

Best Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 07:06:00 +0000

It wasn't my intention to watch the last two Best Pictures within a span of three days, but it happened. The King's Speech, which I saw on Saturday night, is a superb film that has two wonderful messages of perseverance and hope. Colin Firth well deserved his awards. Geoffrey Rush was also deserving of his accolades. His role was less flashy, but it was essential to the film and essentially a second lead part. Unfortunately, awards this time of year are rarely handed out to performances that are just good acting. There has to be flash or starvation or wigs and heavy makeup. I like Rush and shouldn't complain, though. Would he have even been in this role if he hadn't won his own Academy Award? And what did he win the award for? Well, for playing a mentally ill piano player which was all... flash.

I haven't seen The Social Network, so I can't be a judge as to which film is the "best" picture. But I've reached a point that I don't care. Any movie that gets made is an accomplishment. To be considered one of the best of the year really should be good enough for the filmmakers and other artists involved with a movie. How can you really compare 127 Hours to Toy Story 3? Yet, they were both competing for "Best Picture" at this year's Academy Awards.

Speaking of Toy Story 3, I have a huge issue with it being nominated for "Best Adapted Screenplay." Apparently the logic is that it's based on the previous two films. Well, actually, I agree with that assessment. Overlooked in all of the well deserved praise for the quality of Toy Story 3 was the fact that the movie borrowed HEAVILY from the second in the series. Don't get me wrong, it's a great movie, but I was only surprised once or twice (that ending at the trash dump where they all almost die... whew!). The animated film that really surprised me this year was How to Train Your Dragon. That film really moved me and I was blown away by the cinematography of the film. There was so much depth and composition to Dragon. The music was some of the best I'd heard in ages, and the story really got to me. Maybe it's because I'm a father and I could relate, but that was one of my favorite movies of the year. I wish we'd seen it in 3-D.

Tonight I watched The Hurt Locker. It's been sitting on our DVR since January (free Showtime, oh yeah!). I'm not a war movie buff, but this movie immediately sucked me in and I couldn't stop watching. I've been thinking a lot about Apocalypse Now the past couple of weeks for a script I'm developing (Charlie Sheen constantly being in the news also helps) and I felt like The Hurt Locker was a cousin of Francis Ford Coppola's '79 classic. Jeremy Renner's character, Will, is just a couple years away from becoming Martin Sheen's Willard. I'm starting to get tired of the hand held/documentary camera work of so many films (which may account for why I loved The King's Speech so much), however, I thought it was essential to The Hurt Locker's success. I can't recall what other films were even nominated last year...

I just reviewed the list. Again, how do you compare a film like Up in the Air (a modern classic, as far as I'm concerned) with a gripping war film like The Hurt Locker. You can't.

It's taken me a long time to really not care so much about the Academy Awards. It's not that I don't love movies anymore. On the contrary, I've kind of fallen back in love with them after several years of not caring. Maybe it's because I'm over the need to win one of the statues. My friends, I'd be happy to make another movie again someday (anyone got some $$ they want to invest in a film project?). It's that my priorities have changed.

By the way, here's a piece of trivia: Guy Pearce was in back to back Best Picture films. He starred in neither.

It's that time of the year again. Please donate!

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:49:00 +0000

Hello again,

It’s that time of the year when we once again reach out to our friends and family to help support us in our quest to find an end to cystic fibrosis. Each year, our family walks in Great Strides, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 5K Walk-A Thon, in support of our son, Jacob, now nine-years-old, and all people who suffer from this life threatening illness.

As you may know, Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. It also obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food. Because of the illness Jacob, must sit through at least two daily breathing treatments and take an assortment of oral medications, including enzyme pills with each meal.

We’ve been blessed that Jacob continues to do well. However, that doesn’t mean there haven’t been challenges. Over the past nine months Jacob has had a pretty significant drop in his lung function. Through a change in some of his medications and a lot of hard work he’s gained back some ground, but he’s still at about a 12% loss. Although it has been difficult at times, we’re so hopeful about what the future holds.

As we speak, some very exciting new drugs that are coming through the pipeline. One in particular, VX-770, just finished phase 3 clinical trials with extremely positive results. This drug is for a certain mutation of CF that Jacob unfortunately doesn’t have but it opens the possibilities for other medications. Another, VX-890, is in phase 2 trials and also looks very promising. (Jacob thinks these drugs sound like secret agent names!) Using these two drugs in combination could benefit almost 90% of those with cystic fibrosis, including Jacob. They don’t just treat the symptoms; they actually correct the basic defect of the CF gene!

As you can imagine, news of these medications has ignited a new sense of urgency through the CF community. An even deeper determination has set in to do whatever it takes to get these medications to our loved ones affected by this terrible disease.

Now, more than ever, it’s absolutely vital that we continue our fundraising efforts. It takes a great deal of money to get a medication through clinical trials and FDA approval. To see this type of treatment on the horizon and not be able to reach it because there isn’t enough funding would be devastating.

This year’s Great Strides will take place on April 9th in our hometown of Valencia. We would love for you to join us if you’re able. You can also support us by going to our webpage and donating to this amazing cause. Simply click to donate! You may also Please know that ANY AMOUNT is appreciated more than we can fully express.

Thank you for continuing to support Team Jacob and The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation!

Sincerely,
Scott, Julie, Sophie and Jacob

Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 09:35:00 +0000

It's been quite some time since I've written a blog entry here at thunderbolt, I fear that I've questioned what worth I have in adding my voice to the blogosphere. Anything I wanted to get out of me usually wound up in the Basement Songs posts over at Popdose, so what else could I really say?

Today I have wonderful news I want to share. This week the Cf Foundation made a reamrkable announcement that has spiked the hope of every CF parent. I'd rather give you a link to the NY Times article than to try and explain it myself. So here it is:

http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/vertex-says-cystic-fibrosis-drug-helped-patients-breathe-easier/

Pretty exciting!

Another reason I haven't written much has been my efforts to get my first novel complete. After two years of writing, though, I sent it off to NY in hopes that it will get read by a publishing company and stir up some interest in my skills as writer. With the manuscript out in the world, it seems like a good time to pull the old blog out of the garage and see if she still runs. I suppose I'll try to cross promote any entry I make by using Facebook and Twitter. I'd be foolish not to.

In the meantime, I hope the ten of you reading this right now will be patient as I try to gt back in the swing of things here at thunderbolt.

It's 1:44 AM in Saugus, CA and the rain is pouring outside. There's talk of snow and the one thought that keeps going through my mind is, the Indians are in Arizona and the baseball season is a little over a month away. Nice.

Aloha.

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 20:00:00 +0000

One of the reasons I've been so reluctant to add new posts is the spam comments I've been receiving on thunderbolt. I haven't figured out how to delete them, so I guess I'm doing a service for any of my ten readers who are into Asian porn. Enjoy!

Yesterday I decided to run 6.5 miles to determine whether I might be able to handle a half marathon in November. I have been thinking about running the Santa Clarita half for a couple of weeks. I need some sort of goal. Lately I've been feeling kind of down about myself and the lack of things happening in my professional career. Suddenly it hit me that maybe what's missing is that physical drive that keeps me motivated to get up every morning to run. Thus, entering a race came to mind.

For over a year, now, I have wanted to challenge myself to run a half marathon, and by run I mean not doing a run/walk method. I mean I want to see if I can run without stopping. That's my goal and yesterday when I finished 6.5, which including two gnarly hills, I felt strong.

So, I'm going to start training for the Santa Clarita half which is happening on November 7th.

Wish me luck.

Busboys, bartenders, ladies of the night...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 13:24:00 +0000

Matt’s parents took us to see Huey Lewis and the News in the summer of ’84.

Read the rest here.

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 06:11:00 +0000

Working on the latest Basement Song and I've now listened to "Baby" by Justin Bieber over 15 times. The song actually gets better, especially Ludacris' rap in the middle.

What have I become?!

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:11:00 +0000

Another Saturday at the beach, yesterday. Not much to report except that I'm getting used to the whole "do nothing and listen to the waves" aspect of what the beach experience is supposed to be. I've been reading Lonesome Dove this summer and even though I picked the book up is spurts yesterday, I managed to get through 50 some pages and still retain what I read. The beach up in Carpinteria was CROWDED. I can't recall the last time I've seen that many families hanging out and enjoying the coolness of the water breeze.

On the way home we blew a tire on the van. Just like last year's experience with Mom and Dad, the spare had to be put on with traffic speeding by in intervals. It was nerve racking, but there was also this rush of adrenalin that made me feel useful for a change. Luckily I had the experience from last summer to get me through last night's excitement rather quickly. Believe it or not, I didn't slip out any obscenities except for once, and it had nothing to do with the tire. I tweaked my foot and had to stand up suddenly. The whole tire changing incident only took about a half hour. Not bad considering I was only wearing a T-shirt, swimming suit and flip-flops. The only drag is having to buy a new tire.

Aloha

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:39:00 +0000

Why has it become so much harder to get into the groove after returning from vacation. I swear, I left for Ohio feeling stoked about what's on the horizon, then I enjoyed one of the most relaxing week's in a long time, and now that I'm back, I feel like a ten pound weight has been placed around my neck. It's not just work related, I just can't find the energy or motivation to write a single column or story or script idea.

It's just the weather, right? It's just that this confounded heat is bearing down and making it hard to even think, right?

I hope so.

The Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 06:18:00 +0000

I've decided to embrace the beach as best as possible. For years I've been indifferent about going to the beach with the family. The sand. The waves. The undertow. The cold water. It just wasn't me. But this year is different. I'm going to take it all in. I'm going to relax in the sand. At some point I may actually go into the ocean (baby steps, people, baby steps) and I'm going to have fun, enjoy being with the kids, take in their laughter and joy.

We went up to Carpinteria this morning and met some friends and their families. It was overcast, at first, but the clouds soon burned away. The day was fun, lazy and a superb get away.

Why I love Vin Scully...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 20:33:00 +0000

This afternoon during the Dodgers broadcast, the great (understatement) Vin Scully took ten minutes to explain the significance of June 6, 1944, "D-Day."

I don't know any sports broadcaster who takes time out of the game to give a history lesson, but Sculley is old school. The man has seen the worst in the country and he has certainly seen the best in all of his years as the God of play by play. He's as patriotic as he is poetic and listening to him is one of the best parts of living in Los Angeles.

Anyway, the fact that he pointed out what today means and that when we talk about sacrifice in sports or when we call athletes "warriors," we should take a moment to think about what true sacrifice means and what a true warrior looks like. One need only watch the harrowing opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan to understand.

Thanks, Vin!

Okay, let's get back to the game.

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 06:40:00 +0000

Woke up this morning to the startling sound of Jacob throwing up. My stomach dropped when we saw blood mixed in with the phlegm he threw up. He threw up a couple more times, each with spots of blood in it. Julie took him to the doctor and they put him on antibiotics. Since then he didn't throw up again.

I nearly lost it a couple of times while we got ready for Jules to take Jake to the doctor. Honestly, I expected him to have to go down to Children's and feared he'd be admitted. We've been blessed that he hasn't required hospitalization since he was a baby, but the possibility of that happening is always in the back of my mind somewhere. Julie continues to amaze me with her composure under duress. She seemed calm throughout everything, even when we were both placing our fingers in the phlegm/vomit trying to feel the texture of the red spots. We weren't 100% sure it was blood until then.

Jake and I stayed home all day and missed a pool party with several of our friends. The poor guy took a 3 hour nap in the middle of the afternoon. I wound up crashing, too. I went to bed really late last night anticipating that I would get to sleep in. Then, when everything was going on this morning my stomach was in knots and the last thing I wanted was a cup of coffee. By 2:00, my body went through caffeine withdrawal and I nearly got sick (red flag, Malchus, cut back on the java). I've been out of it since I woke up around 5:00.

Everyone seems fine now, but it was quite a scare and a reminder of how quickly life can change when you're dealing with a chronic illness.

I haven't used thunderbolt as a resource to vent my fears and frustrations in quite some time. Through Julie I've become aware of other, better blogs written by people suffering from CF. I figured I didn't have much to add. However, I'm rethinking that. Maybe I won't have a huge audience (I know I won't), but I think I need to return to thunderbolt for me. I need to release what's inside of me and this feels like the best place to do it.

It's done... again!

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:49:00 +0000

I haven't posted on the blog for the past month because I've been devoting my free time to finishing the revision of my book. I completed it last night. Now all I have to do is type the new pages, reread it and make any changes I feel necessary before sending it off to be read.

What I realized last night is that this is kind of a new book altogether. While there are definitely chapters from the original version of Legendary incorporated into the new version, one major storyline was completely excised (along with those characters) and the other storyline has been shoved into the background. The new book is strictly about three characters and the love triangle that forms around them.

I'm excited about the new book. I hope that other people will be, too.

Aloha

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:14:00 +0000

Last week was kind of crazy, thus there were no posts. I slipped into facial hair mode for the book and really dedicated myself to getting some chapters done. I haven't grown a beard to write in a while and for a couple of days it was worth it. I know Julie hates it, but I was feeling like an "artist." Besides the long nights writing, we were prepping for the Cure finders walk at the kids school that took place on Friday. Each year this is an emotional day as you stand around and watch 300 kids walk around the school cheering to find a cure for CF, and it's all because of your son. Even writing that sentence gets me a little misty eyed. As the week went on, Julie sent out her CF letter and I finally wrote mine.

I realized this weekend that I didn't write a letter last year. I think Julie wrote it and we sent it out, but I didn't give much thought to it. When I don't write my own letter I somehow don't feel as connected with the fundraising. I'm glad... very glad that I wrote a letter this year and was able to send it out the past couple of days. In addition, Julie put together a wonderful... really, it kicks ass... video montage that we have on youtube and included with each email. We're hoping to raise $3000 by the end of April. I think it can be done.

Why, you ask? Because the students at Emblem school, where Sophie and Jake attend, raised $4660 in one week! And since BJ's restaurant will donate an additional $1000, the kids raised $5660. Incredible!

Friday's Cure Finders Walk was a great time and I managed not to cry. Close, but it didn't happen. Thank you Emblem School.

By the way, I woke up this morning after another late nighyt of writing and was disappointed in myself for putting on 5 lbs. Resorting to the old ways of beard writing kind of made me resort back to laxidazical feelings about what I eat and exercise. I need to run. It makes me feel good about myself. It also opens up my mind to new ideas. I don't want to turn back into the loafing 30-someting Malchus again.

I'm a writer, damn it. I don't need growth on my face to write.

The beard came off this morning.

Aloha