Category: Blogs!

Saturday Shenanigans, Main Arc Night, and Future Posts

Life wouldn’t be interesting if it didn’t occasionally put a dash of irony into my awareness. After writing about how the day job was starting to throw off my perception of time and schedules, I went to bed last night after a Side-Arc session convinced that I would be rested and ready to sling letters at 7:30AM.

So of course, I was woken up this morning by my 6yr who kept saying “Dad, you’re going to be late for work!”

It was 7:10AM, and it’s a 22-minute drive to my office.

So…you know: panic.

I made it to work with 10 seconds left on the clock before I’d be considered ‘late’, so no discipline will be coming my way. I don’t want to think about how fast I had to drive to get to the office in that time, but I got there. I was lucky to have grabbed my satchel on my way out; I’ll be out here without supplies or tools. Didn’t even grab a hair tie.

That’s survivable, but also very annoying. At least my water jug was in the satchel, but I did have to give an explanation as to why I also had the training device for the whip-chain Kung Fu forms. (Note: it is highly illegal to have a weapon on your person in a Federal building unless you’re authorized, even if it’s an esoteric melee weapon)

I won the argument by saying it was just a training tool, not designed to cause harm, and really, it looks silly if you don’t know what it’s for, so I was forgiven for my weirdness. So now, I’m out here, taking parcels and letters out to the community. It’s a pretty day for it, at least.

Tonight will be the session for Arc 2, Adventure 4! The finale of the Arc, and I’m predicting it’ll take at least a month to finish, given our scheduling and the amount of detail I’ve put into the challenges for the players. After that, I’m expecting everyone will want some downtime to explore their characters’ Side-Arcs and have some development, while I whittle away at the story-writing and page-posting. That “taking time off to write” idea is looking very tempting now.

There might be a new section on the front menu fairly soon, as well. I keep going back and forth on the “Postal Living” idea, but now that it’s been requested, I’m duty-bound to give it some attention. We’ll see where that goes.

Happy Saturday, readers. Stay safe out there.

-JB Swift

When Kung Fu meets Nerd

My daughter and I have been attending a Kung Fu school (kwoon, according to Sifu, but I’m not confident in my pidgin spelling, so if you know the correct term, be sure to comment) for several months now. I have to admit that I had two reasons for suggesting Han begin training:

Firstly, because she needed something physically engaging that would help her learn self-control where her strength is concerned. For a kid barely out of toddlerhood, she’s frighteningly strong.

Secondly, I’ve also been wanting to go back into training, and I’ve wanted something the kids and I could do together. My son has gone with us a few times and wants to train with us, but the boy will have to wait a couple more years.

As we attend class, Han has realized that weapons-training is part of her education. Granted, I’ve put a hold on that until she’s got some more height on her and got the basics of the staff down first, but she sees the cern-do in my equipment bag.

“Dad!” she said while I was talking to Sifu. “You could fit your lightsaber in your Kung Fu bag!”

At first, I was mildly embarrassed at that. I may be comfortable with my nerdiness, but you never know how someone else is going to react when they realize just how nerdy you are.

“Is the lightsaber rated for sparring and combat?” Sifu asked. Well, yeah actually. What good is a lightsaber if you’re not going to have a sparring match with lights and sound effects with other specky nerds?

“Start packing it with you and we’ll see if we can figure out a form for it.”

Oh. Well then. Nerds know their own, I suppose. It took some searching, since I hid the thing and not have to worry about Han whacking her little brother with it, but the lightsaber is now in the Kung Fu equipment bag.

I’m going to be amused if I’m asked to use this for a broadsword form and I’m told to widen my swings because “the blade is all edge so you can’t keep it too close.”

With that, I’m off to see to my son’s appointments. If I’m lucky, I’ll have some downtime if he takes a nap and can get that chapter worked on. Stay safe, readers.

-JB Swift

Early Morning Fog and Late Night Dogs

Technically, I suppose, it’s not all that early when I step outside at dawn for my coffee and pipe (tobacco, folks, don’t forget I’m a Fed and can’t do that), when I consider that my kids are already up. They were playing games in the living room, waiting for me to toddle down the hallway, struggling with the buttons on my shirt, before asking for breakfast.

They fight bedtime so much but they sleep like logs for several hours. If they only knew how much they’ll want that sleep when they’re my age.

So, the kids are munching on breakfast and I’m out here, ingesting the coffee and waiting for the stimulant to hit my system when I snapped this moment in the morning fog.

Living out in the woods makes for a crappy internet connection, but damn if it isn’t pretty.

Yesterday’s day off had some payoff! Tried the writing sprint for 30 minutes and walked away with over 800 words in Adventure Two! I’m aiming to hit my personal goal of getting that chapter posted by this Saturday. Normally I struggle through the evening and get maybe half that much before I konk out at my desk, but I was rested and able.

Plus, the evenings all week have been filled with Side-Arc sessions! Players have been wanting to pursue their character development stories and see what else I’ve had in store for them! So, it’s been panicked plotting and rushed voice-acting practice every day before I start the video call.

Hello, my name is Jacob and I’m addicted to RPG running.

I have Side-Arc sessions for the next two days before the Main Arc session on Saturday, and I’m coordinating with the players’ decisions and mapping out where their stories will be going down the timeline. I’ll be making the attempt today and tomorrow to get that chapter finished, but I have to remember that the further I write, the bigger those chapters are going to be.

(This is reminding myself to also get those character pages finished for the party, so they’re not confused)

Just as I finished the session and started heading for bed, I found these two old men on the rug behind me. They don’t seem impressed with my plot-writing, but they’re good company.

It’s time to sling letters and walk my 12 miles. Stay safe, readers.

-JB Swift

A Surprise Day-Off! Plus: Casey!

Either a few stars aligned to grant cosmic power over the schedule, or the Postmaster had taken my statement of needing mental health days seriously (if the latter, I’m grateful but genuinely surprised), but I wasn’t scheduled to go in on my non-sched (not-scheduled for those outside the post office) this week!

I would say that today would be filled with writing and editing, but I had to prove my words to children this morning: “You can play as soon as you get your chores done”. These kids pay attention to my actions, so they’d notice if I was doing the things I wanted to do instead of my own chore list.

Being an adult isn’t fun.

Those chores are done, though, so I can take a little time and get some writing done before the next crisis. I might take a page from Kevin Hearne’s book and set a writing sprint time, since those seem to work for him and other writers.

Meanwhile, taking advantage of a moved rug for the floor-cleaning chore, Old Man Casey has taken up a post in the office to listen to me plunk away at this keyboard.

Time to write, folks!

-JB Swift

Updating Pages and More Writing!

Now that I’ve finished another day at the day job and walked my 12 miles, I’m able to dedicate some attention to this site and put more work into the campaign and its story. While this post won’t be going up until the morning, it’s best that it’s written out while I’m still awake and capable of writing.

There were two major updates added to the GM Notes page: “Rules of Play” and “Character Creation”. As much as I like to believe that I will always explain these two things to my players, experience has taught me otherwise in some slightly embarrassing ways. So, I’ve taken to putting them up on the website via the GM Notes page, and I’ll link them here for those wanting to read them over. As I’ve explained to my players (and repeat to them constantly), if there are questions, don’t hesitate to ask. Write a comment to this post with your question, and I’ll do my best to answer you.

Rules of Play

Characters Creation

Story-wise, the first part of Arc 1, Adventure 2 is nearly finished and will be posted (hopefully) by this upcoming Saturday. If I’m lucky and can stay awake long enough after work, I’ll also have the first chapter of the novella written and sent to my editor (who is gracious with her patience and can’t hit me with her shoe, being hundreds of miles away) to check it over.

This week is looking to be a busy one, campaign-wise. Multiple Solo- and Short-Arc sessions before the Main Arc session this Saturday. I’m enjoying the challenge.

-JB Swift

Happy Birthday Han! Also, debating taking mental health days

It’s Monday morning, and we’re in our usual rush to get out the door at the sound of the alarm and beat morning traffic.

I’m usually frustrated during these mornings, because it’s rare for me to have time off from the day job. It’s especially frustrating today, though. My daughter is 6 years old today, and I’ll be lucky if I make it home in time to tell her goodnight as she gets in bed.

I’ve always been of two minds when it comes to my work. On one hand, the labor gives me a sense of contentment. I enjoy working, especially if it can provide me chances to challenge myself. Letter-slinging being a way more intensely physical job than most people realize, I get this sense of contentment quite easily. But on the other, I know what it’s like when your parents work too much and you’re left to your own devices. I desperately want to be present for my family, but the demands of said family keep me away, making sure they have enough to keep food in their bellies.

But as I’ve gone 2 days with mild panic attacks over my work time, I’ve been considering taking a few days off. Not for writing (though I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t want to try getting some chapters done during) but for my mental health. I usually work 6 days a week, averaging around 9-10 hours a day. Do that for too long and you’ll start breaking down.

A fun part to that is that I had to go to my boss and let him know. A couple of my supervisors, not to mention some of my older coworkers, will resent this eventual action. But as they’ve also been the ones to say that my children don’t need their father present in their lives, I’ve elected to ignore them. I’ll be taking those mental health days soon, most likely in a few weeks when I can lock in a 4-day weekend without spending annual leave for it.

With that, it’s time I went and slung these letters. Hopefully, I’ll be home in time to enjoy my kids’ birthday with her.

Stay safe and be well, readers.

-JB Swift

Saturday Morning Posts and Updates!

Well, there was an hour of quiet in the house while I made ready to head to town and sling letters all day. I had hoped to get up early enough to get another page written down, but that was just wishful thinking.

But there’s progress! I’ve added 500 words to both the Sidewinder Story adventure and the novella project, so it’s growing, it slowly. I’ve been tempted to put in a time-off request to make a sort of writer’s retreat, but I know what first instincts would be. If I’m off from my day-job, I’m wanting to get a house project done, or whittle away at the ever-present chore list.

I’ll be adding a new page on the GM Notes section concerning character creation, as well. I’ve had players asking questions about my home-rules on the creation process, and if I get any more new players (another 2 have expressed interest!) I’d want them to be comfortable coming here for references.

With that, break time is about over and the mail is waiting. The morning is promising rain, which for a walking route is a mixed blessing when you deliver in Louisiana.

Sporadic Postings and Site Maintenance

I haven’t been giving my blog site the attention it deserves. For everyone that keeps visiting the place, I apologize for not making my daily postings like I’ve wanted and promised.

I have to admit that I’ve been exhausted lately. My day job has me outdoors for 10-12 hours a day, sometimes 6 days a week, walking multiple miles. While that shouldn’t keep me from at least writing something during my breaks, I’ve been forgetting to write up a post with updated content.

(This post was started around 9PM when I fell asleep at my desk and woke up at 12:30AM, in continuation of my sleep pattern. I’ve worried that it was unhealthy to sleep the way I do, but I’ve also used it as a primary writing time. Apparently, it’s way more common than I thought, though it’s called ‘interrupted sleep’. I prefer my titles of ‘Big Sleep, Little Sleep’ or ‘Dammit Sleep’.)

But I have finally managed to get the layout I’ve been wanting for my posts set up. Or at least, I’ve started setting it up for that goal. Hopefully, it’ll be easier to navigate than what I’ve had in the past, so readers and players won’t get confused when they need to look something up.

With that, it’s time I got away from this desk and to the bed. Dawn will be here soon, and I’ll be slinging letters shortly after. Goodnight, readers.

-JB Swift

Tired postman is tired, but still making an effort!

It looks like my age is starting to catch up with me. 10 years ago, I bid on a walking route the day I became a career postman. I won the bid, so it’s been my route ever since.

This is a 12-mile walking route with heavy parcels. It’s also one of the nicest walking routes in my little town, with large shade trees and reasonable residents. But it’s still pretty heavy, and those 12 miles will wear you down. Naturally, no one challenged my bid.

After 10 years, I’m looking for a driving route so I can stay acquainted with my natural knees. Until a route comes up, I’ll be walking. Unfortunately, that means by the time I’m home and can write, I have a small window of consciousness before the exhaustion bonks me on the head.

But we’re making progress! Arc 1-Adventure 2, “Pickup Consequences” (gonna workshop that one) is nearly ready for writing out fully. It’s a debate with myself over if I focus on hammering that out or getting the novella written, since it’s outline is finished. The novella might win out, as I’ve promised a reviewer I’d get it to her soon (and that was 3 weeks ago; I’m disappointed in myself), so we’ll see on the story-writing.

We also have 2 new players coming in! They have some great ideas for their characters, so I’ll be looking forward to making their stories. This does remind me that I should clean up the RPG pages. I’ve made the attempt, but I also like to sleep occasionally.

Outside of writing and letter-slinging, it’s about as chaotic as being the parent of two kids under the age of 10 as you’d expect. It bothers me that I’m away from my family for most of the day; sometimes, the only time I get to spend with my children is when I walk into the house and check on them while they’re asleep. But when I do get home before bedtime, I try to spend as much as the remaining time I have with them.

I’ve told my wife before: if she ends up making more money than me, and we could still afford it, I’d be a house-spouse in a heartbeat. Cleaning the home and actually being there for my family? Absolutely.

(I mean, I’d also get to write more, true, but it’s the family aspect I’d enjoy most.)

With those notes, break time is over and I’m off on my daily 12 miles. Hopefully, I’ll be awake enough this evening to plunk away at the keyboard. Stay safe, readers.

-JB Swift