Ctrl Alt Del – Other Side of 40 reboot

Grumpy Cat

Since the Mayan Apocalypse was a resounding dud I figured that it was time to get back online and start blogging again.

So in the spirit of organizing for the new year, my blogging minions have worked round the clock redesigning the look of Other Side of 40 and tidying up the old posts. They have been also raiding past blogs of mine taking the good bits and defining my blogging domains better!

You will notice (please look up at the banner) there are several new tabs for pages. The Fiction page now has most of the short flash fiction that I have written in one place. Fictional Campfire acts as a portal to that site. And finally Rumpus in My Mind is an introduction to my newest blog and home to all things that are nerdy and geeky.

So there it is! All laid out and organized. A place for everything and everything in its place.

It’s been 15 long months since I’ve blogged with any sort of regularity, and I’m sure it will be many more before the rust is gone. But at least this is a start!

Other Side of 40 is back on the air (or web?)

Fictional Campfire

I’m pleased to announce the creation of “Fictional Campfire“. This brand new blog will offer me a place to work on my fiction writing skills without worrying about how it fits with the “Other Side of 40” theme. I hope that you can drop by and maybe pull up a camp chair. The fire is burning, and the stories are just about to start.

Now Hear This !

Photo by kpweker (Flickr)

Don’t blame me OK! This is totally not my doing. When you find yourself muttering under your breath when you edit your story for the 50th time “Why did he challenge me?” please remember its all Haley’s fault!

She dared me to issue my own Flash Fiction Challenge. Thinking about it now, I’m pretty sure she said “I double dog dare you! ” and according to the “Rules” I now have to do it.

So here goes –

I formally Issue this Writing Challenge!

Create one fictional story of 500 words that starts with the sentence “I cared what she thought, so when she dared me I knew I was in trouble.”. Challenge ends May 1st.

I’ve read some super stories written for Flash Fiction challenges in the past few days, so please participate! As with Haley’s challenge, include a link to this post on your blog, and/or add a comment with a link to your flash story on this post.

Have fun and I look forward to reading some more stories!

How the Numbers add up!

Photo by woodleywonderworks (Flickr)

I’ve had so much fun this week with the Flash Fiction Challenge issued by Haley Whitehall, I almost missed this hallmark moment for the OTHER SIDE OF 40!

This week I reached 100 posts, 200 comments, and had a single post generate 13 comments!

So what does that mean? Lets look at the numbers shall we? OK, first lets add them all together… lets see… 100 + 200 + 13 = 313 Hmmmmm (curious fact of the day – type Hmmmmm and the spell check will offer Hammad, Hummus, Hummel, and Hummed – just saying!)

The number 313 according to the internet (which is never wrong) is significant because –

1. It is the Area Code for Detroit, Michigan.
2. The year 313 started on a Thursday, and was known as the Year of the Consulship of Constantinus and Licinianus. (don’t ask! I have no idea, ask Wikipedia instead)
3. Was a song title from the band EMINEM. (1996)
4. Is a Racing Skateboard Team and Brand from Germany.(you know the guys who race down really BIG hills, really FAST)
5. Frame 313 of the famous JFK assassination film is the frame in which the fatal shot hits the President (that is a slightly weird coincidence)
6. The address of a house that I have never lived in. (honest)
7. And finally, 313 is not the answer to “life, the universe, and everything” (that’s actually 42 )

For all those people (both of you 😉 ) that read this blog, thank you! Without your support, I would never have been able to keep this blog going (I’d most likely be playing solitaire or surfing Facebook instead). I feel a bit like Sally Field right now (sniff) “You like me, you really like me! … sorry, I need to go find some tissues and watch “Smokey And The Bandit” . (Mom you can stop hitting the Digg button now)

Cheers!

This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us (via The Good Greatsby)

I had to re-blog this one.!

I enjoy “The Good Greatsby” blog; the author shares the same twisted humor that I have. While I try to tone mine down so that I don’t draw too much attention (a blogger not wanting attention, go figure!), he fortunately does not suffer from the same problem. I can always find a smile somewhere in his work.

Enjoy!

This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us The grizzled cowboy ambled out through the saloon doors, squinting against the high noon sun as he tipped his chin to acknowledge the square-jawed lawman framed in the center of the dusty street. They sized each other up as the cowboy strode to the center of the road and stopped ten paces away. The cowboy spit over his shoulder and the street cleared of people. The sheriff called out, “This town ain’t … Read More

via The Good Greatsby