PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 16, 2024

 

After another involuntary absence, I'm back again.

At least this time I didn't lose any files, but it took quite a while to get the computer back online and 100% working again.

Not sure what happened.

The technician ruled out user/human error AND mechanical problems, but would never commit to an official diagnosis of what was actually wrong.

All I can tell you is that everything was working fine October 18 when I preposted the October 19 Puzzle Corner on The Free Choice E-zine before shutting down for the night.

Yet the next morning all I saw on the monitor when I turned the computer back on was the BIOS screen and no matter what I did, the display never changed.

Eventually the Operating System had to be totally reinstalled from scratch and then it was a couple of days of endless system updates before I could reinstall my personal files (backup everything EVERY day folks!) and declare myself back online and operational again.

In the meantime, while it was all handwritten on legal pad(s), I did finish SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA and even started a new novel project, which I will discuss in more detail within the coming weeks.

Right now I've got to finish transcribing all those handwritten pages into a word processing document file and by then I can give SOLITAIRE 2 one last read through from start to finish before submitting it for publication.

In any event I better get back to "work" now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet, including my new texting home on BLUE SKY!

Lee Houston, Junior

17 November, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 12, 2024

 Another busy week on both the personal and professional fronts.

Not much to say on the personal side that hasn't already said before about housework, errands and my entire "staff" consisting of me, myself, and I.

However Facebook now thinks that whenever I try to share one of my Filling Blank Spaces blog posts on their site that I'm guilty of spam and delete the attempt within moments of hitting ENTER.

Yet they run ads all over the place, even to the point of interrupting videos with them!

I'll figure something out on that front eventually, especially when there's important news to share with everyone.

I'm well into Chapter 33 and past the 57,000+ word mark on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

There will be at least another chapter or two for sure once I'm past the fight scene in progress because Solitaire hasn't completely finished her latest mission yet, but I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

Have a great week and I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

13 October, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 5, 2024

 Another busy week on the personal side of my life.

Had a long drive to make the bi-annual round trip to see my Cardiologist this past week, but at least I'm still as healthy as a 62 year old man with (pre-existing) heart issues can be.  😁😎

I also got the results of my colonoscopy.

Unfortunately, there were three polyps, compared to only one from my previous test ten years ago.

The good news is they were all BENIGN! 😊😃

However, between them and my age, that doctor wants me back in five years instead of the ten that passed before the colonoscopy I just had.

I wonder what the prep liquid will taste like then?

Last time I thought it was like a liquified cheeseburger with extra onions.

Next time? 🤷

So you can imagine that there wasn't very much writing on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA accomplished this past week. 😢

Hopefully this coming week will be a different matter because the only excursion I have planned (at the present time) is the weekly Grocery Hunting Expedition at some point.

In any event I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

6 October, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 28, 2024

 LIFE, OR SOMETHING LIKE IT.

WELL...

I did manage to finish Chapter 32 of SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA.

I have all the physics finally worked out and it's a great action scene, if I do say so myself.

As it stands at the moment, I'm almost at the 57,000 word mark and figure there are at least another 3-5 chapters to create in order to finish the first draft of the manuscript.

UNFORTUNATELY, I haven't been able to accomplish much since then because I had to get ready for a colonoscopy at the end of last week and will be making my semi-annual pilgrimage to go see my cardiologist at the beginning of this coming week.

When you get to be "that age", on one hand you're seriously happy to still be around but are shocked over some of the things you have to go through to stay that way.

Especially when you have outlived the manufacturer's warranty. 😉

Take the colonoscopy for example.

This was only the second in my entire lifetime, but it was as enjoyable as trying to push a boulder uphill during a blizzard.

The Prep Liquid certainly tasted better than during the previous test a decade ago.

Last time I mixed this powder into a gallon of water and had to drink it all down within X amount of time.

Even the "flavor packets" the prep came with did absolutely nothing to help the situation.

Preparation now involved two prepackaged bottles that I had to drink at specific times in regards to when my colonoscopy was scheduled to be performed.

I swear the stuff tasted like someone liquified a cheeseburger with extra onions.

But regardless of my thoughts on the subject, when that stuff "hits"...

In any event, I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

Have a great week, and I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

29 September, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

 I had to scrap most of what I had originally written for Chapter 32 of SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA because when I had my Friendly Neighborhood Beta Proofreader and a few other friends go over that section, they discovered that the physics involved just wouldn't work despite what you see in the visual mediums of movies, television and comic books. 😟

Obviously I'm now in the middle of seriously rewriting that action scene into something much more viable while being at least just as exciting as the previous incarnation.

Hopefully I'll have all the bugs worked out within the next day or so and the first draft of the manuscript completed before the major fall/winter holidays that will be upon us at the end of the year.

Guess what I got in the mail this past week?

I was totally flabbergasted to receive a contributor's copy of CODE NAME: INTREPID CLASSIFIED

Volume 3 from Robert J. Mendenhall and Blue Planet Press because I've never been given a Contributor's Copy of anything before.

Granted, I've always been sent the PDF galley to review and correct any possible mistakes before publication of any book I written or project I contributed to, but this was a whole new experience for me.

THANKS ROBERT!

I hope those who have already purchased their print or e-copy of the anthology have enjoyed the adventures presented by John L. French, Brian K. Lowe, Brian K. Morris, James Palmer, Robert and myself.

And if you haven't had the opportunity yet, you are missing out on some seriously exciting stories.

In any event, I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

22 September, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 14, 2024

 Maybe it's my age or flair for nostalgia, but I remember Saturday mornings past when all I did was just sit in front of the television and watch the various animated offerings between the three (yes, only three back then) networks of the day: ABC, CBS and NBC.

Times have seriously changed over the years. There are a LOT more channels than there ever used to be but far less cartoons to watch.

Then again, my Saturday yesterday was mostly housework when I wasn't trying to post THE WEEK IN REVIEW for The Free Choice E-zine.

In any event, I have managed to get some writing done on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA this past week when I wasn't addressing and dealing with other obligations.

Although I'm still on Chapter 32 at the moment, I'm well into the 55,000+ word neighborhood and another major action sequence.

Cover: Jeffery Hayes/Plasma Fire Graphics

Wish I could say more, but after my author's bio there IS a sneak peak of the work in progress at the end of CODE NAME: INTREPID CLASSIFIED, VOLUME 3, available in print and e-book on Amazon. (Nice lead in, huh? 😉)

With “Storm Front” by series creator Robert J. Mendenhall, John L. French's “Operation Wayback”, Brian K. Lowe's  “The Alpine Affair”, Brian K. Morris'  “Heavenly Unbound”, James Palmer's  “Feat of Clay” and my story “Operation Colossus”.

Lot of adventurous great reading there.

Better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And I'll see you around the Internet.

Lee Houston, Junior

15 September, 2024

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 7, 2024

 HAPPY STAR TREK DAY EVERYBODY!

Work's proceeding apace on SOLITAIRE 2: THE AGENDA as I write Chapter 32 within the 54,000+ words neighborhood.

Not sure when I will be reaching actual end of the novel's manuscript because I've thought of a couple more twists and turns to put the Secret Samaritan through before the final paragraph.

And of course CODE NAME: INTREPID CLASSIFIED VOLUME 3 is still available on Amazon.

If you already have gotten a copy, I sincerely hope you enjoyed it.

If you haven't bought one yet, why?

Pre-World War 2 adventure at its finest as the fiendish Nazi Special Squadron "Sonderstaffel" taps into the occult, the supernatural, and border science to create super weapons and monster soldiers in Hitler's evil quest for world domination.

Only one force on Earth can oppose them: a team of military and civilian daredevils, Code Name: Intrepid.

In any event, I better get back to writing now.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And, considering what today is:

LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!

Lee Houston, Junior

8 September, 2024