Hearth and Home and Fireplaces.

Until we moved into our current home, we've never had a fireplace. Sure, I've been around them all my life, but only as a visitor. Now, I wish I'd had one all along. There's something very special about sitting next to a crackling fire, snuggled up with your sweetheart, and talking. It's charmingly magical. Of course, most fireplaces do generate quite a lot of heat, so they do have a great amount of usefulness. But, for us it's mainly a wonderful luxury, and I'm grateful to have it.

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I've enjoyed campfires throughout my life. I've roasted marshmallows over them, sang songs around them, and fallen in love beside them. The romantic in me wants to carry a portable fireplace wherever I go, though that's not entirely possible. I do get to cook on a grill, so that's fun, but there's no comparison to the warmth of a fireplace.

One thing I've found very interesting about the fireplace is our cats don't seem to care. They've sniffed the heat, nosed the cooling embers, but haven't basked in the warmth even a moment. I'm not sure why. Perhaps they don't like all the reflected heat? Maybe it's the dancing flames that spook them? I'm not sure. Whatever the reason, they sure have disappointed me. I was certain I'd go to the kitchen to get a cup of hot chocolate and find both cats lounging on my seat. Oh well. Life isn't always fair, is it?

- M

The importance of story

Public Storytelling

Why are stories important? I've posed this question to myself many times. As a writer of mainly fiction, it seems like pure hilarity that such stories would have any lasting importance, yet fiction stories from centuries past are still with us. And, I'll go even further and suggest stories of all kinds are worthy methods to pass on knowledge, morals, viewpoints, history, and whatever seems important to the author. I think it's fair to say the modern world understands how advertisements are very persuasive, so why not even more a story we live with through hundreds of pages?

Stories make the lessons of life easy to understand, demonstrate situations we may never face, and provide context for all of it. When we walk in the shoes of the characters, both true and fictional, we learn to see the world through their eyes. Part of the nature of their character grows within us. That's why I think characters like history's Abraham Lincoln, or Tolkien's Bilbo Baggins, are so engaging. Stories are capable of changing perceptions, opinions, the past and the future. They are a powerful tool, and should be used accordingly.

Most of all, stories are fun and should be enjoyed. I love good stories of all kinds--even bad stories can be fun if you don't take everything seriously. Children love bedtime stories, to delight, terrify, and tickle their fantasies. Plus, stories excite our brains, open new pathways, and help us in many other ways. Yup, stories are life itself. Stories will never die!

- M

Origami ... where art and fun collide.

An origami rose
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Have you ever made a paper hat, or boat, or frog, or replica of the painting "St. George and the Dragon." Origami is the art of folding paper. I pretty much stopped at making a paper gift box, so I couldn't even call myself a beginner. However, I've seen some of these works and am truly astonished at the possibilities. There are pieces of origami so complex and artful that they are considered priceless ... wow.

Do a quick search online and you'll discover galleries of origami that will challenge your definition of paper folding. How is it possible to achieve some of these designs? I doubt I could replicate these things in clay, much less paper. Absolutely incredible. And, if you've examined how they are made--using wet paper, multiple pages, alchemy and magic--then you know how fantastically impossible they are. I honestly can't imagine ever doing it, even if I was immortal and spent all my days trying.

For these reasons, I find origami fun and enjoyable, but also a form of art that's impenetrable by most human beings. I'm sure most anyone could at least paint something on canvas, or carve a thingie from wood, or even screech out a tune on an instrument, but delicately folding paper into Chinese dragons and spectacularly lifelike swans is so far beyond those others that it's hard to believe anyone can do it at all. Okay, I admit to exaggeration, however origami is definitely art and I love seeing the really good stuff. I suppose it's akin to my fascination with Bonsai trees (also an art, but it's more like a dance within nature itself), in that I love delicate treasures. Maybe someday I'll learn ... maybe.

- M

Happy surprises are still the best

As children, we love being surprised (think of the game Peek-a-Boo). Yet, we continue this love throughout young adulthood and into old age. Something about being surprised makes us electric, filled with energy, and eager to have more. I think that's why we give gifts, and why we deeply desire a specially selected item (rather than a gift card). Sure, the gift card is more practical, as we can buy whatever it is we actually need, but we want a surprise gift. It's the adult version of Peek-a-Boo.

Even animals play Peek-a-Boo
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Surprises come in many forms, such as: happy scares, prize boxes, marriage proposals, grandchildren, new foods, roller coasters, and books. What we find good and great varies by person, of course, but generally speaking they are desirable nice things. On the flip side, bad surprises are typically tragic and horrid and we label those "bad news." Sure, it's semantics, but I rarely hear surprises labelled as anything bad. Maybe it's because words do carry deep meaning for society, and we are loathe to move preferred words into other areas.

I think we never quite lose a baby's fascination with Peek-a-Boo. True surprises are frustratingly rare, and when we find them we adore the experience. I've found myself recommending various activities, solely on the idea that people will be amazed. Sure, I'm a big kid, and I believe everyone should have the joy and fun and excitement derived from great big surprises. Why do we ever stop seeking the experience? Are adults not supposed to have fun? Bah. Let your defenses down and bring back the joys of childhood wonder.

- M

The world and wonder of the writer.

I'm often asked, "Where do you get your ideas?" But, there's a far more important, yet subtle, question, "What do you hope to gain by your writing?" Sure, there's the easy answers of financial success, popularity, and renown, but every writer yearns to make a difference. Writing is simply our chosen method. I think within every writer resides such a powerful desire to affect the world, that they are willing to undertake solitude, self-flagellation, and rejection in their efforts to produce their work. Writing is, after all, a lonely profession.

I mainly write fiction, and specifically fantasy and science fiction. Can those touch the world? Well, I hope so. Stories demonstrate the values we uphold, the truths we believe, and the world we wish we might create. Fiction isn't the only place for these things, but it's what I've always focused on. To me, stories are escapist entertainment, and I want to escape to a place of heroes fighting villains, and good triumphing over evil. It's exaggerated, ridiculous, impossible, heroic, and ultimately satisfying. When I find a great story that puts goose bumps on my skin, then I dig in with both feet and hang on until the end.

So, I hope to improve my world, make people laugh and cry, provide hope and light, and to lift the spirits of anyone willing to read my work. I truly hope to gain all that, simply by writing stories of fantastical creatures, amazing heroes, terrifying villains, and goofy sidekicks. Yup. The right words, said at the right time, can change the world. Deep down, that's why writers write. Maybe, those words will resonate, and then our dreams will come true.

- M

New gadgets are like birthday presents any time of the year!

I'm a computer nerd, so I especially love electronic gadgets. Phones, automatic cat feeders, e-book readers, pencil sharpeners, and basically anything that goes "whizz" and "zoom". The oddity is my phone. I use a computer for messaging and basically everything, so getting a phone for me was never a priority. I'm happy with a flip phone. Well, my wife couldn't stand it and got me an actual smart phone (hardly a fancy one, but suitable).

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So, now I'm tickled with a new gadget to tear apart and put back together, lots of new fizbang stuff to mess with, and essentially a new toy. It's great! What's even better is how I basically can't do any real harm to the device, unless I drop it off a building or run it over with my van. Also, I am now officially part of the 21st century. Yippee!

Of course, without electricity these will all become paperweights. It's easy to take for granted the ability to plug a device into the wall and get power to it. There are plenty of other things we never consider either, but I won't make you feel bad (or me). Suffice it to say that our generation is blessed with incredibly powerful devices of luxury hardly dreamt of in years past. Imagine what H.G. Wells would think of our society? His brain would explode.

- M

I like hats. Especially work hats.

For some reason, hats have an important place in my life. I love seeing my wife wear baseball caps--she looks so cute in them--and I have a habit of wearing a cowboy hat as I write--showing my children that daddy is working and shouldn't be disturbed. I had a nifty hat that I wore at the camp where I met my wife. And, hats keep the sun off my face, so I don't get sunburned. I don't personally wear a hat a work, but there are many professions requiring them, such as construction. The phrase, "I wear many hats," describes someone who performs many varied jobs or tasks. Although, the phrase does usually get used to say the person is overworked and stressed. Well, phrases come and go.

When I was little, I loved the official firefighter hats and construction helmets. They had a kind of flair to them, and hinted at glorious adventure. As an adult, I don't see things the same way, but the hats are still interesting. What's really incredible is the amount of technology and money spent to create the hats! Particularly sports helmets are unbelievably pricey. What incredible inventions they are.

But, I think what catches my fancy about hats are how unique many are. Everyone wears hats in a different way, decorate them uniquely, and adjust them with their own flair. Like socks, hats are a statement of who you are deep inside. Or, I'm just being poetic and simply love hats ... you decide.

- M