Some like it RAW!



R. Alex Whitlock is the primary author of the site. He is a freelance writer presently working on his second novel and working a solo IT position for an oil services company in the Houston area.

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Lovely Assistant Poster Girl helps RAW out with posts from time to time. She is a college student also based out of Houston, Texas.




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THIRTY DAYS IN NOVEMBER

This is definitely the most difficult decision I've had to make since starting RAWbservations. I've considered a number of options. Could I maybe cut back on posting? Only post a little here and there? Surely there would be time for some posts. Unfortunately, there are only so many hours a day. It has everything to do with where my mind and energy are. For the next month, my mind will not be on politics, whimsical observations, or anything else that people come here to read.

Instead, it will be on Something So Perfect.

For those of you wondering, this isn't the novel I've been working on for the past year or so. I'm taking a break from that one because of National Novel Writing Month.

Blame Oliver Willis. I saw it on his site and I became intrigued. I am a sucker for a challenge and this sounds very challenging to me. The plot already exists in the back of my mind and has been festering for some time now. Better yet, I haven't written so much as a word on it. I ran the mathematics in my head and the time is there. I can do this, theoretically. Part of me wishes I had run the numbers and they wouldn't work. Alas, no excuses for me.

No social life either. No blogging (reading or writing of them). Nearly all of my waking hours not devoted to work, sleep, or staying alive on the road need to be open to thinking about the story. It's possible I could post on the blog occasionally or get a guest blogger, but I don't want to do it half-hearted with my mind clearly elsewhere and I wouldn't want to burden anyone with a month of posting. Nor do I want to waste the time you guys would take by coming here for a site that will only be sporadically updated. If that. So, consider RAWbservations down from now until 12/1/2. If I return early because I bail on the project, I will let my fellow bloggers know and hopefully they will pass on the news.

Speaking of fellow bloggers, Wednesday and Thursday of this week marked the highest hit-count in RAWbservations recorded history (the Instalink I had was before I got the counter). Thank you to Greg, Charles, Page, and Kevin for your link-ups this week. Thanks, as always, to those who have me on their permanent roll. Keep those handy because I will be back!

UPDATE: I posted a link to where the novel will be. I'm going to upload to that vacation so you can watch my progress. I don't know if I'd recommend trying to keep up and read it as I go because I will go back and make changes as appropriate. It's all kind of on the fly. And, when I'm done, readers of my site will get a free copy. I do this not for money, but for glory!

UPDATE II: You can see Alex's progress in spreadsheet form here. You can see song quotes he's going to use here, and you can see notes to himself here. -LAPG

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posted by R. Alex at 4:00 PM

 
AREN'T I, THOUGH?


Which era in time are you?

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posted by R. Alex at 1:28 PM

 
LAST POLITICAL POST UNTIL SIX O'CLOCK ANNOUNCEMENT

I've let me feelings on the Wellstone matter be known. My feelings and basic agreement with Miss Noonan aside, this annoys the heck outta me.

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posted by R. Alex at 1:25 PM

 
SHE THOUGHT, HE THOUGHT: MORE FUN WITH THE MSN 10 LISTS

First off, I admit this list of questions a girl asks herself on a blind date wasn't nearly as lame as the other one because it was entertaining and pointless rather than being stupid and pointless. Nonetheless, inspiration struck. Red is from the original article, blue is her date is thinking.

1. Do I look nervous?
Maybe it’s just a coincidence that I locked my keys in the car. I’ll deal with that later. More importantly, is my lipstick okay? I wish I hadn’t worn this thong.

I think she's nervous
Hurm. Is she nervous or is she mistaking her fingernails for something edible?


2. Didn’t he already use that joke?
Uh-oh. I thought his material was original, not retreads. Please tell me he’s not one of those guys who fires off corny, old jokes like balls in a batting cage when he’s trying to impress a date.

If I tell the joke enough times, she's bound to laugh eventually...
Weird, she didn't laugh the second time I said it either. Maybe if I tell it a third time, she'll realize how super incredibly funny it is! Hm. Or not. Should I go for a fourth?


3. Perfect
The only odor I detect on him is the faint hint of shaving cream. That means I can leave the anti-cologne gas mask in my purse.

She doesn't notice... she doesn't notice... she doesn't notice...
I can't believe I ran out of cologne again. I wonder if Walmart has any more...


4. Wasn’t his hair darker in the photo?
Maybe the lighting was different. But I remember his hairline being lower, too. How old was that photo anyway?

Wasn't she fifty pounds lighter in the photo
It was a studio shot... maybe it's one of those diet before/after ads except done in reverse. I wonder if they do that...


5. Wow
Once he gets warmed up, he’s really good at this. No interrogation — just a comfortable give and take. I like that alert, intelligent look, as if he’s genuinely interested in me. Now this is the fine art of social intercourse.

Hot diggity
She's laughing. This would be an excellent opportunity to try that joke for a fourth time!


6. What a relief
He’s as funny in person as he was online. My stomach is starting to hurt from laughing. I hope I can get this coffee down without choking. How does he come up with those one-liners so fast? And why is that other table looking at me? Oh my gosh, I’m snorting!

Uh oh
Okay, I wish I'd had a little foreknowledge of this whole snorting thing. Maybe they should make an emoticon for snorting. Or an abbreviation. LOLAS for Laughing Out Loud and Snorting or SOOL for Snorting Obnoxiously Out Loud.


7. Yum!
His mouth has a sensual little upturn at the sides, and check out those hands. They’re as big as plates! Nicely manicured. He takes care of himself.

Hel-lo?
It's not my hand talking to you, babe. How would you like it if I just looked at your breasts?...


8. What does he think of me?
He seems to be enjoying himself. If it weren’t so cold in here, I’d unzip my jacket. Then again, with what I paid for this outfit, forget the chill. Maybe the look in his eyes will keep me warm.

... Not that I could even if I wanted to. Wear that jacket next time, I'm gonna wear gloves. That'll teach her...


9. Who’s going to pay the tab?
If I offer to split it, he might think I’m not interested. This is no time for feminist dignity. When the waiter hands him the check, I’m keeping my mouth shut. Let’s see if he’s classy or cheap.

Oh, I'm paying?
She's either broke or a freeloader. This can't be good...


10. A peck on the cheek goodbye!
What kind of kiss was that? I thought we had some chemistry here. But wait: he’s inviting me out for Saturday night, and wants me to wear something dressy. Oh yeah, bring it on home to mama!

Don't order a Philly Cheesesteak next time!
If I don't find a date to my father's retirement party on Saturday, Mom finds me one... [shudder]

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posted by R. Alex at 12:50 PM