The Origins of BLADE RUST

There's a large landscape full of mountains and geyser fields as far as the naked eye can see. This place is called Geige. On a mountaintop that snows all year is a village called Munsinniss. A mile past the outskirts of the village and on the side of a cliff is the entrance to the mine; the one where each of these villagers works for the third decade of his or her life.

(Oh yeah, and did I mention that the villagers are dwarves? Hmm. Must have missed that little detail)

BLADE RUST follows through the eyes of Arisad, a thirty-year-old [young by dwarf standards] graduate who has yet to grow his beard past stubble and whiskers the color of rust.

Now that his three decades are over, he can now choose to stay in the mines or leave and be assigned to a teacher. Though he is interested in the mines, he wants to be as far away from his physically abusive boss as possible. So he signs out of the mines, but because of his being a 'red dwarf', the leaders are prejudiced and do not assign him. Displeased, Arisad's defiant and [blonde-bearded] brave older brother Norice takes him as his apprentice, training him to be a warrior like him. Soon the two find themselves on the run from the law during which time Munsinniss seems to crumble.

It's kind of strange how the idea for this story came to mind. For one thing, I was watching the third STAR WARS prequel on the way to visit relatives in New York when I thought of it. [I know. Random, right?] Anyway, there was a book series I had previously been writing for a year and a half based on stuff from A Practical Guide to Dragon Magic, but thinking practically I thought, "I really don't think there's a future for it unless I get permission from that author." And as you might guess, there's probably less than a snowball's chance in hell of that happening.

     But the thing is, the world it took place in was 100% my design. I'd made tactical and color-coded maps, the whole nine yards. Why waste it? So the idea was to create a sequel that has little to no references of the other books, and could act as if those events never occurred. So really, it can coexist but it doesn't have to for any reason.

     I thought of dwarves and then did some digging. "Where do dwarves start out?" I asked myself. "They had to have been young once, to have grown their massive beards and turn old." Other questions I asked myself were things like "Why do they dig in mines all the time?" and "if dwarves dig/mine all the time, does that necessarily mean it works out for the better often?" Arisad, for example, loses his interest in working these particular mines near home because of his new boss who comes around a few years into his work period. The young dwarf gets kicked, hit and a bunch of other things as the others do [but more to him because he is a red dwarf and some don't trust the remaining few anymore].

The book has reached 250 pages and is being edited and proofread at various times. I hope at this point it will be easier to write the second and third books since I have the overall plot of book 2 mostly figured out. 'Cause now I have to figure out what happens between page 26 of COAL DUST and the stuff I already planned, and sort of link them together. Yes, I have gotten writers block on several occasions, and I still do a lot which really pisses me off.
Sometimes it lasts for days, but it doesn't stop me because so far I'm proud of this supposed masterpiece that started last July. There's brotherhood, loyalty, fear, courage, hardships, and the question that's puzzled people for generations- "What am I supposed to do?"

Easter

I see I haven't typed a blog here in a while. That's because I did one on "Storylane" and by now those entries are WAY out of date (I haven't done one of them in a while either, and frankly I like this one better) so there's not much point putting them in. I might do one or two as a flashback or something but not now.

Ok, Easter weekend. Saturday, my parents and I left early in the morning to visit my sister Kaitlin at Susquehanna. I didn't bother putting the portable DVD player in the car since the ride isn't that long, but I still got bored now and again so I tried to kill time by playing THE HOBBIT: An Unexpected Journey in my head. I kept getting off track since I love playing parts of it to myself (almost regularly) but that kept my spirits up 'cause I knew by the time I could even get halfway through the movie we would already be at the campus.

We planned to hang out for the day and just 'get out of the house' as if we weren't out already. :) It was fun seeing Kaitlin again and moving around that afternoon. We went to a big mall, and it made me glad to have brought my phone since we ended up splitting not too far in. Mom was helping Kaitlin with dress-shopping in Boscov's, I think. Dad just hung around (as far as I know), and I went to one of my favorite store chains, JOANN Fabrics. Yeah you probably don't see a guy in a fabric store very often, but that's actually one reason I like it. It's the kind of store I can look around in without anything (like choices of fabric/thread, etc) being obvious. It might not make sense if I try to explain it, but it does to me. I just love the different kinds of designs, the textures and details, craft-work and all.
Anyway, I looked in aisle after aisle until I came across racks with eyelets (little metal rings to close the edges on holes in fabric, like for shoelaces or something) and the kind of puncher used to put them into fabric. Since I didn't have any money with me I planned to visit the store near home and look there, but when I found my dad he helped me get a pack of eyelets and the puncher. Surprised and excited, I could barely wait to check into the hotel so I could get started.

We all met up and sat on a bench after browsing through a BOOKS-A-MILLION, and Kaitlin checked showtimes to see if there was anything good to watch. This way we could pass time before checking in (we had to wait till three, I don't get why but whatever). The three of them were interested in seeing THE HOST, a film I had heard of but wasn't entirely sure of. There were a few actors I was familiar with starring in it, so that contributed some. I didn't wanna be a stick in the mud and just hang out myself while they all went to the movies (I've been wanting to see THE CROODS for a while). 'And who knows?' I thought. 'I bet it's cool.'
So we all went to the theatre next door and saw the movie. I have to say it was impressive as a sci-fi. Once was enough, but still it was good.

We finally checked into the hotel and moved in our small amount of luggage. After having dinner at Perkin's [I got a Belgian waffle just 'cause I was urged to and was hungry. It was ok but I wouldn't go for another one] we came back to the room and I got to work almost right away. I took off my blue hood (one that I had made just over a month ago out of a giant t-shirt (to look like Kili's from THE HOBBIT) undid the para-cord laces from the shoulder piece and punched the eyelets into the holes before putting the gray laces back in. It looks great  and is finally finished. Now I know I can do this with the next [few] hoods I make in the future :)

It was the same hotel me, mom ad Kaitlin checked into on June 29th, 2011 [I had tagged along and we all had to share a room, I only got two hours of sleep because of snoring, and ironically both hours of sleep were on the floor instead of the bed I had to share with Kaitlin] a.k.a. "The Worst Night of my Life." But this time there were two rooms, mom and dad split from me and Kaitlin so there were no problems with snoring. I mean, I could hear dad once or twice (through the door!!!!!!) while watching SUPER 8 on my laptop, but when we tried to sleep it was quiet. Thank God!


Easter Sunday
We moved Kaitlin back in her dorm and drove home. Well, not exactly like that. On the way, dad kept pulling over to every gas station we saw (saw three, two were closed), something about not enough oil in the engine of the car. He ran to get oil and filled it, and minutes later on a long straight road... the car just "died." Somehow it just screwed up and wouldn't run. Dad walked out to a call-box nearby and just seconds later a truck came. The mechanic (or whatever he was) was probably already there and saw the car on the side of the road.
After several boring minutes of waiting in the car and eating some Easter candy while it rained, a tow truck came along. So the three of us got in, dad in the front and me and mom in the back seat. Although it can barely be called a back seat since it was small and cramped enough to hold two empty dog carriers snug. :( We were dropped off at a Toyota place and the three of us walked around (waiting for my uncle to pick us up) in case worst came to worst that mom would need a new car eventually. It was still raining a little, which made me glad to have kept my hood on.
After MORE boring minutes, my dad's younger brother came in his vehicle and we moved our luggage into it easy. It was about an hour before we got home, and could finally relax.

SO... yeah. Not really the best way to have spent Easter Sunday. But it was ok, I guess.

Hurricane Sandy

THANK GOD IT'S OVER! I mean, Hurricane Sandy itself only lasted a couple days where I am, but the power-outages and all lasted a couple more.

The wind and rain was just freaky. The power first went out, I think, two days in. That was when without internet we would get bored.
Most of my time was spent editing videos and working on my dwarf book, BLADE RUST (which for now I will save for future blogs). At least having no access to the internet gave me time to work on some more productive projects like the two I just listed, along with reading the Appendices in The Lord of the Rings, and thinking about how repair/upgrade the atlatl I've been making with my dad.

If you don't know what an atlatl is, it's a very native hunting weapon like a boomerang or a bow. I learned about it from reading the BROTHERBAND Chronicles books. With it you shoot meter-long darts that look more like giant arrows. Rather than fire from a bow, you use a throwing stick that hooks into the back of the dart. And when you throw with the handle, it adds more force and power into it.
Of course, right now I can only think of the modifications to the weapon, like figuring out just the right way to make the darts, and of course to make a second throwing stick with a small platform at the bottom of the stick for the dart to rest on, so I can hold the handle with all of my fingers and it might add more force. I can only experiment for now.

I drove to GameStop today to look for the LEGO Lord of the Rings videogame (give me something to do that doesn't require the net or to just get out of the house). But because of the hurricane, delivery was slowed down or something. I think I'll get it for Christmas instead. At least it gives me another thing to look forward to.

The house runs on a generator when the power goes out, but we turn it off at night so that was hard to get used to at first with just one lantern lighting my room and the hallway. At least now, on Halloween, the power came back on and I have the ability to post my blog. I heard the power at Mont Co is back on, too. And just in time for me to go to a couple of good media classes where I don't have to wake up early.

Halloween Bash at Mont Co

I take off my plastic ring and HUNGER GAMES wristband, swapping the pentagram necklace for the Bronze Oak Leaf. I later get out of dad's truck with a camouflage cloak wrapped over my shoulders and carrying a heavy bag of candy. As soon as I walk in, there are a few people sitting at a table. Once I get to it, my friend Leyna comes out and answers when they ask if I'm in the drama club (responsible for the party). "So you don't have to pay." one of them says. So I didn't even need my five bucks and ID.
    Walking into the darkened cafe, I ask where I should put the bag of candy. Leyna puts it on top of a vending machine to serve as 'extra' in case the other stuff runs out. I don't see that happening, though. Its mostly cubed fruit, but there are also treats like soda and gum. I'm just glad there isn't any beer. If no one eats the candy, it's more for me then! :)

    I spend quite a bit of time leaning against the wall with my hood up, or at the snack table eating chips. I talk to a few of my other theatre class/drama club friends like Ryland, Dominic, and making one or two new friends. Like James with his wizard garb.

There's a DJ with the system and everything, playing lively beat music and getting everyone on their feet. Well, most of them. There isn't too big of a crowd until before nine PM, (I got here at quarter to eight, fifteen minutes before it was supposed to start) and then thing's get a bit crazy. Of course to some people, it would be considered normal. But to me, it's insane.

 

Dancing. Yeah, most of us get to our feet and went crazy. And when I say "us" and "our" I mean INCLUDING ME! Yeah, I actually do a lot of break-dancing (which I never ever ever ever ever ever thought I would EVER see myself do in a million years) during it. See, it started when I was talking with my friend Dominic saying I can barely dance except a couple things I've seen, and he said it was good. So when there's a bigger group, I just walk up there and join in, going crazy. I even incorporated a lot of my martial arts moves (like punches and high kicks in sync with the music). I even made up a few small dances like "The Ranger", "Gollum", and "Indiana Jones." With that one, I would wave my fist and say [in the beat of the song playing]: "I HATE SNAKES, JOCK! I HATE 'EM!" I think they enjoyed that.

When I was doing one of my kicks, 'SNAP/POP!' goes my leg. From the inside, I mean. Swearing angrily and quietly (at least, compared to the music blaring through the huge speakers), I limp back to a chair I had previously claimed next to Dominic, attempting to nurse my sore leg.

After a while, Leyna comes over and brings us both out on the floor. I do as much as I can, without bending my right leg too low. Of course I get worn out, hot and sweaty, (several times) which makes me take my cloak off a few times over the four hour duration of the party. When I sit down, I try to take as many good pictures as I can. (I couldn't get one of all of us in a 'conga line' which I really enjoyed, hence the reason I didn't take my camera out of my pocket)

 I did manage to get these, though :)

Me, Ryland, Leyna, and a few others sort of work together and try to get James to dance after finding him sitting on one of the couches. Not the best results (he barely moved) but at least we got him off his butt.

After all that at midnight, after a bunch of us have left, the lights come back on and I decide to hang around for a while with the remainders and pick some stuff up. I guess I just don't want to leave 'till the others do and then there's nothing to keep me here. I did help a bit, picking up the strings of lights and shoving them in a plastic bag. I think I felt my phone vibrate with a text, but I don't bother to look at it yet.
Not wanting to forget, I reach for the bag of candy on top of the machine. James helps me get it down, after which I take off my cloak and use to wrap/cover it up.

We are later told we all have five minutes to leave so I say "see ya" to my friends, who fortunately I will be reunited with on Monday for theatre class and drama club!



10/28/12
aw crap I just found out about Hurricane Sandy and classes are cancelled Monday and Tuesday. I don't have class on Tuesday anyway, but... UGH! But at least I have Intro to Theatre on Wednesday (if it doesn't end up cancelled too)

The HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Live Spectacular

On September 15th, 2012, I went on a cool trip I'm not gonna forget, to see the HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Live Spectacular with the drama club.

    First, I was dropped off at the Pottstown Mont Co campus, and almost immediately met up with a few of my friends from the club and the few family members brought along for the ride. Twenty tickets had been available, but I think we had two extra cause two people bailed. I'm pretty sure...
    Anyway, we got on the shuttle bus parked right outside around four o'clock. We sat for a while 'cause a few of us ran late and we were supposed to wait till everyone was there. That already made it better than any random bus trip. The shuttle wasn't very big, maybe eight rows of seats on one side, so it was easier to interact with the others. That was key to more than half the trip, to tell ya the truth.
    See, it's about an hour ride from Pottstown to the Blue Bell campus, and then the same amount of time from there to the part of Philadelphia where the show was gonna be. And as college kids and immature (come on, let's be honest) for the most part, we needed to keep our minds occupied. So we would all just name a bunch of random/stupid topics and discuss, laugh, and just keep each other amused. It went on after we went to the Blue Bell campus to pick up a few others who were coming.
    The only really annoying part was, that thing in the back (behind the last row in my column of seats) that's apparently meant for handicaps, I don't know what it's called; for when someone in a wheelchair has to get on and off the bus-- anyway that thing and the rest of the shuttle would rattle loudly when we would hit a small bump, or pretty much anything. So we had to speak pretty loudly just to hear anything. None of us seemed to be the quiet type anyway, so it wasn't hard :)

    Now, we got to Philadelphia and parked around ten after six, and then it got confusing. About half of us went somewhere to eat, while me and the others went straight to the door of the huge building to get our tickets scanned. It was pretty crowded, so I'm glad I went with them.
   After the tickets, then it got kinda scary. The escalator we took to get to the section of the theatre where our seats were, it was so high. Literally, one gigantic lobby with two escalators and two extra stories on the left side.. So we were going up a three-story-high escalator. I had to shut my eyes just to avoid freaking out. I was relieved when we got to the top. We walked around the long hallway and balconies upstairs, seeing the city from there. When we found a doorway labeled 202 and 203, we walked through it and into the "theatre." Or should I say "stadium"?

    Yeah! It was so freakin' huge, and we were on the third level of seats. THE THIRD LEVEL! So we were incredibly high and it was scaring the crap out of me. I did pretty well of not showing it very much except saying a couple times calmly that the height scared me quite a bit. Ads played in lights at the base of the third level, and it would make me jumpy when they would switch between ads 'cause for about a second it would get dark and then bright again. Not all of us were in our seats right away so I was able to slip out and wander the upstairs 'lobby' for a while until about ten to seven o' clock. I made my way back to my seat and finally relaxed. Took a few minutes, though.. Especially when the show finally started.
   IT WAS INCREDIBLE! Ok, three quarters of the stadium were the seats, and the last bit was covered by black curtains and a giant screen. The floor was covered by a giant screen too, so it look like am Imax theatre or something. Besides the screen, the actors did a good job with the combat, weapons, and riding the dragons-- OH MY GOD THE DRAGONS! If you couldn't see the bases that were attached and making them move, you'd swear they were real. Pretty much every detail was exact in terms of how they all looked and sounded. I had never seen anything like it before, nor did I ever guess that I would. A bunch of people in the audience were taking pictures, so I took out my phone a few times to get some shots (unfortunately my phone takes really crappy pictures so I didn't have a lot of luck). There was a twenty-minute intermission around eight, and by then the huge windows were black and the lobby and halls looked a lot brighter 'cause of the darkness outside.
    After the show, we walked out of the stadium and most of us were together. The rest of us would meet at the bus later. Going back down the escalator was easy, and we just walked straight out and got back on the shuttle bus, taking our seats and waiting for the others. When they finally got on and were seated, the bus lights turned off and we could hardly see each other but we could see the lights outside, which actually made it a bit easier to see each other.

    The ride back, holy crap it was awesome. It was like the ride to the theatre, except we were even more obnoxious. A bunch of the things we talked about led to me and couple of the guys singing a bunch of random songs and making fools of ourselves, laughing like crazy and just being goofballs. The driver asked us to quiet down a little (twice, I think). One of the guys brought up an "Epic Rap Battles of History" video (on his phone) of Albert Einstein vs Steven Hawking, which we hovered over and listened intently. He was sitting behind me so I had to stand up and hang onto my seat.
    I remember at one point he said we actually look better in the dark, and we all laughed at that.
    It went on like that till we got back to the Pottstown campus between 11:30 and midnight. I just waited a minute or so until most of the others left 'cause I didn't wanna leave right away. But when I did, mom and dad were right there in the car. So I didn't have to sit around for another twenty minutes or so.
    Overall, it was one of the best theatre experiences I've ever had, and not I'm not just talking 'bout the show.

PS If I see the show again someday (I'm pretty sure I will), lower seats PLEASE!

"I finally did it!"

I am sitting cross-legged on the gym mat floor. To my left is the wall painted like the American flag, and on the other side is a giant mirror. Directly in front of me is a table with a few candles, a pile of small rocks, and an incense burner. Thankfully it masks the smell of the SUBWAY on the other side of the wall.

    I am in the middle of the first row of many, maybe six or seven rows of three going down the gym. The rest of them who I see are barely older than twelve, some of them younger. Some of them are relaxed like me, but not many. Most of them are screwing around with the candles in front of them and making jokes. Don't get me wrong, I love jokes. But when it gets annoying and a bit disruptive, part of me says "Just don't get involved." But when they say something I actually find funny, I look over my shoulder to them and laugh or comment lightly.
    In front of each of us is a small plate with a little round candle, and for each of us, our Black Belts. To just look at mine and be that close to it is amazing. I have to grip my knees tightly just to resist grabbing it.

 At six, one of the instructors lights the other small candles laid out at the edges of the gym, and the ones in front of the other instructors sitting in front of the table. There are seven of them in a row, and Mr Morgan is in the middle, sort of facing me. The lights then go out, and the music player under the table (covered by white tablecloth) is playing a narration apparently by Haeng Ung Lee, the Eternal Grandmaster.

    My row of three is supposed to walk up to the instructors and we light our own candles by holding them to the instructors'. I light mine using Mr Morgan's, and I can feel my pulse pounding inside my head as I do it. It takes me a few tries and am sort of afraid I'll drop out or that it will go out before I go back to my spot. But when I sit back down with the lit candle, I am relieved.

   When it is over, Mr Morgan tells us to blow out our candles, and after a few moments, the first boy on my left is brought up to the front with his Black Belt. He takes his Red-Black Belt off and Mr Morgan ties on the black one. He says the boy's name, everyone claps, and then he shakes the instructors' hands before...

I am called up. Mr Morgan whispers a few congratulations to me while he ties on the belt, and asks if I'm gonna end up running the Pottstown school. Since I might as well, I say yes and then he says it to Mr Wolfel, one of the owners.

"First Degree Black Belt, Mr. Derek Bartlett."
   There is clapping, I shake a few hands, and I walk back to my spot. From a distance or up close, the Black Belts look bigger than colors belts, and that's cause they are. They're thicker by about half an inch, and maybe twice as long so you have to wrap it around once and then knot it. Mr Morgan tied it on very tightly around my stomach above my waist where I normally tie my belt on, so it takes me a minute to get used to that.
   One one end of my belt, my name DEREK BARTLETT is written in gold letters. On the other end I think it says "American Taekwondo Association" in Korean. When I watch the other kids get their (First Degree, and some others getting their Second Degree) Black Belts, I can't help but smile and help cheer them on. 'Cause that's what they need, motivation and encouragement.









  After we are all given our belts, Mr Morgan walks around giving each of us a stone. Not like any stone I have ever seen. I focus on the one in my hand, feeling it smoother than almost anything I've touched, and it has cracks in different places. Mr Morgan goes on to explain how it symbolizes the whole path we each took, learning Taekwondo. There have been smooth spots along the way and some rough ones, he says. And I couldn't agree with him more. But most of the stone is smooth, which is the way I have viewed it. Some rough spots, but it is worth it overall. The candles, we keep as well.

    Finally able to wear the belt that I have seen hanging on a wall in the lobby for nearly three years, it feels amazing (despite the fact that it's squeezing my stomach right now, lol). I've come this far, working hard. Here's my prize, and my ability to keep going with my training. I FINALLY DID IT! I'M A BLACK BELT NOW!

Black Belt Testing Part I and II

PART I: The Fitness and Knowledge Test

It was nerve-wracking just getting there 'cause it was on a Thursday I had to miss one of my evening classes at Mont Co to get there. Thankfully I can always make it up later. Anyway, I had my uniform and gear bag in my mom's car so we could go straight to the Exeter school straight from campus. When we got there and I was able to change into my white uniform, the test(s) started in the gym/studio.

First: The knowledge test. They had two-page packets separated by thick binders so no one could see each others'. I was relieved to find out it was a written test instead of being asked the questions right then and there, 'cause you gotta answer in about a second. This time I could think a little. I was worried I had gotten about two of them wrong, but when I got it back, it was a hundred percent! :)

Second: The fitness test. There were five stations set up, each one being watched by a Black Belt, and they were all different. We were each supposed to carry a small piece of paper that the Black Belt at each station could write down how many of each exercise we did. The first station was crunches, which I liked. Now, the second was pushups. You had to go down low enough to make a pad squeak, or it didn't count as one. So i did about twenty-three, very painfully. The third station was punches on a pad, which I didn't mind except I was close to worn out and my knuckles were getting sore. No bruising or anything, though. The next station was kicks, and I was really getting worn out there. The last one was punches and kicks on a bag, and by the time I was done I was beat. Literally, when I had to slide myself over a few feet to move the line when more students went through the stations, I had to drag myself and then I'd fall in a heap. I'm so glad the rest of us were sitting instead of standing. The muscle pain was gone but I literally felt like a heap, my limbs little more than noodles and my head full of rocks.

After that we did a twenty-minute workout, and then we were dismissed after being told that the hard part was over. You have no idea how thirsty I was.


PART II: The Test

I didn't have college the next day (Friday) except in the morning, so I wouldn't have to miss anything. This time, my stomach was knotting for hours 'cause of the nerves, but I was thankful to just get it all over with. Ok, so here's how it went. Me and my parents go to the rec center where my other belt tests have been, and it was SO hot! I'm not joking, it was boiling and there were four giant fans set up. The only ay to get cooled off was to stand in front of one of them, or go downstairs to the basement where it was a bit chilly. At six when all the recommended Black Belts like me (and not to mention first, second and third degree Black Belts) were there, we were all lined up and then we all were put in a corner with our gear bags and the two wooden boards we were each given. They had our names written on them in black marker (they spelled mine wrong on one of them! It said Derrick B. instead) to not get mixed up, thank god.

The Black Belt tested, and it took a while cause there would be six of them on the floor at a time. Eventually, me and the other Red-Blacks tested for form and self-defense. When that was over, we all got our sparring gear on, which got us even MORE hot and sweaty. I was relieved when I finally got to spar against one of my friends from the Exeter school (I go to the Pottstown school, but in the summer last year I went to the Exeter for a while), 'cause I didn't wanna sit and stand around in line anymore.

We were dismissed from sparring and then the Black Belt tested for their board-breaks, which of course, involved real wooden boards. Me and the others sat on the floor watching, and for a bunch of the Black Belts, we clapped (and stomped, that "We Will Rock You" beat, which at one point I started by stomping with my feet and clapping) and cheered when the boards were successfully broken.

Finally, it was my turn. I handed the boards to both holders, readied myself, and then, CRACK! I split the first board clean through with my right forearm, and then I went to the other one to kick. Unfortunately I couldn't break it. But the cool thing is, those of us who couldn't break were given another chance after were were all done. So when I finally got to go again, my right foot shot straight through the wood, something I had never guessed would be possible for me.

I had never sweated that much in my life. We don't get our new belts until some ceremony on Thursday, and thankfully we don't need our weapons/gear bags. It's at six, ("Of all days of the week, WHY THURSDAY?!") so I will need to make that up, too. It shouldn't be too hard. Plus, the hard part is over, so I'm ready.