“Are the faculty and students accustomed to the sight of your manservant at the University then?”

“Quite.  Why do you think I took my position there, instead of here in the city? And no, not just for the wealth of local breweries catering to the students.   Prauygis University is the most haunted in the four worlds!  One does not bat an eye at such things there.  A student in my 302 lecture is a lost soul, actually.  Much more actualized than this poor fellow.”

“Actualized?  Is this why he has no face?”

He nodded.  We began to walk away from the station.  I had passed a tavern nearby on several ocassions, and even though I never have the time of coin to enter such places, I had made note of its location.  Professor Welterschmidt has always done much of his thinking with a pint of stout in his hands since we were students together.

“Indeed.  Spirits are merely echos in the ectoplasmic frequencies of the aether.  This poor echo has little mind of its own, little motivation other than to work.  I provide it that opportunity.  With time, its actualization requirements will be satisifed and it will fade into the background energies. Anyway, you may note that most ‘proper’ people pay him no mind. Transparent and faceless he may be, but he is still dressed a low class laborer, which might as well make him invisible in these streets. ”

So, go check it out.  This week, you can converse not only with Dr. Roundbottom but with Professor Welterschmidt as well.    Where can you find such amazing entertainment?  Why, click this link of course!

My activities outside of my day job have been winnowed down to a few things.  I watch TV.  I will never ever criticize anyone for watching TV over other forms of entertainment.  When you are mentally drained, it’s soothing, and helps you unwind.  The quality isn’t that bad these days.  And it’s easier for my wife and I to have a shared experience via a TV show or a movie than it is via a book.  Part of the reason I think fiction fandom is so fractured compared to the old days is that there are too many choices and we hardly never read the same things.  So little overlap in interests anymore.

I’ve found my interest in SFF short fiction waning quite a bit since taking on the new job.  Roundbottom oddly enough is the only project that interests me.  I haven’t missed actually writing as much as I thought I might.  I guess that’s because I’m writing as much as I ever did, just in one big consolidated storyline/lump.  One post a week is about all I’m good for, see above reasons.  I’m not even reading since getting back from our trip.  Shame, because I was finally starting to get into Sam Henderson’s novel.  Maybe I can this weekend.  I need to force myself to take computer/TV breaks just for the sake of my eyes.

I also think I understand now why people take up drugs like meth.  The idea of getting my energy back after a grueling day fixing bugs is tempting.  Meth itself isn’t.  Hell, I don’t even drink caffeine and have not for over a year now (it messed with my anxiety disorder).  But if I could find a safe, non-panic attack inducing  method of restoring some mental energy after a long day, I would do it.  I’m still aiming to try Yoga.  I just haven’t had time to enroll in the gym.  I think we’re planning to do that this coming weekend.

I feel behind on everything and out of touch.  But financially, things have never been better.  So I can’t complain too much.  It’s funny, because I was afraid other people would stop talking to me because I was taking a break from writing. The reality has been the other way around.

The other thing I’ve had energy for is playing computer games.  For a while, it was Spore, until I got tired of being invaded by unstopple alien forces.  I really enjoyed making things in the creator though.  Now I’m into some Warhammer Online.  I think it’s an iterative improvement on the World of Warcraft model of MMORPGs.  I don’t get too bored running around like I did in WoW.  I like the art and the twisted sense of humor.  I’m playing something called a squig herder, a goblin class.  I make this little monster run around and attack things.  It’s the hunter class, basically.    But can the hunter class eventually jump inside its pet and ride around in its mouth? I guess that ’s entirely possible. I  haven’t played WoW in 3 years. But I doubt it.  I spend a ridiculous amount of time in game growing seeds into alchemical ingredients. It’s getting to the point where I can’t pick up proper loot because I am carrying so much of that crap around.

We’re still debating about where we want to go next year.  Kansas or Oregon?  Family?  or Friends?  A house? Or apartments and rentals.  I think the whole debate is tabled until closer to the date when we know better what our finances will be and what the state of the various economies are.  I’m making better money, but Sarah still mostly needs to have a job.

In the meanwhile, I’m going to use my time as best I can.  That weird sense of urgency I’ve had for the last several years has really faded.  Maybe I’ve given up writing for the short story markets for good. Maybe my future really is just in web architecture.   I can live with that I guess, so long as the rest of my life is interesting.  Good friends and conversation.  Fun is fun, whatever the form.  Writing stopped being much fun, so it was a good decision to make.

Now if you’ll excuse me, there is a squig that needs herded.

• one 8×10 print of either the Curious Mycoid, Another Clockwork Curiosity, The Common Maned Sprite, or Regarding Moth Pixies and Browncaps.  These prints will printed on  Fuji Luster Pro paper.  be stamped on the back with the official City seal and will be signed by Dr. Roundbottom.
• A specially addressed formal membership card with your steampunk name on it. Or your real one, whatever you want.
• A letter of thanks from Miss Watkins
• Access to the members-only area of the site, which provides a behind-the-scenes look at how Dr. Roundbottom’s photonic captures and podcasts are made.  Will include hilarious outtakes from podcast sessions and discarded photos.  Basically, fun stuff.  This area will update monthly.

All of this for a $35 “donation”*.   All images not listed above will sell in limited editions of 50 in a 16×20 size for $125 per print.  These will signed and stamped as well.  If you buy a larger print, you will receive a free membership in the Roundbottom Society.

I’d be more than happy to hear suggestions for other membership perks I should give.  Leave me a note in the comments.  I still need to make the membership cards.

So there are the near finalized financials behind the Clockpunk project.  I won’t even go into how much bloody money I’ve spent on this thing.  It will take a very long time to recoup my expenses, if I ever do.  I’m doing this because I really enjoy it.  Money from memberships will mostly be turned right back into props, materials, and photo equipement.   Maybe I’ll sell a bunch of limiteds and I can rent that studio space down town.  I really need an indoor place to shoot soon with winter approaching.

*Not really a donation.  We’re not non-profit.  Not that we’re actually making a profit, mind you…

You can listen to it here.

I’d write more, but I’m in a world of hurt at the day job.  I put in about 8 hours yesterday and I see working until I drop in my future today.