I’m quite certain many of the people still visiting this site are from the old days, when I was still writing Children of the Halo. Children of the Halo was my premiere project. One of the first in my life that I saw through from conception to completion, and one of the proudest achievements of my life. My experimental foray into digital writing has enabled me to appreciate my own skill and focus on it.

Now, however, with changes to my work situation, I find I no longer have the time to write, and to be honest, I feel guilty for jilting you guys out of the final chapters of The Liar’s Law, but it’s more than that. When I wrote Children of the Halo, I had the whole story planned out, so when I wrote it, I built the frame of the story well before I began to truly write it. The Liar’s Law, on the other hand, wasn’t. It was written from scratch with no more than a loose idea of where it was meant to go. As a result, I think the story’s suffered. With future revisions, however, I plan to rewrite the whole story from scratch, this time building around a frame I’ve delicately constructed. Therefore, I, regretfully cannot finish the version of The Liar’s Law already existing, as it wouldn’t be fair to the story or its readers.

I’ve also spent more time considering the future of The Last Luminii and Persephone. The truth is, Persephone needs to be put on the back burner for a while, and I find The Last Luminii needs some tweaking as well.

The truth is, folks, that I’ve burned myself out with The Liar’s Law. I’ve got some insurmountable writer’s block happening and I’m just not satisfied with what I’ve done with the story thus far. I bit off more than I could chew and I need to… well… regurgitate some.

That being said, I felt I owed you an explanation. This isn’t the end of EJ Spurrell, not by far. It’s the beginning of a whole new one. I will get back to The Liar’s Law, but only after I’ve cleansed myself of its characters. In the meantime, I’m going to dedicate what little time I have to The Last Luminii.

Hope you’re all still watching.

EJ

Yell Fire! – Michael Franti & Spearhead

In my hometown of Ladysmith, whenever someone wants to go for a hike, they’re usually talking about the Holland Creek Trail Network. Situated just above the town, the trails have features appealing to most hikers of varying experience. It has everything a trail could ask for. Nature, wildlife, scenic views and even a swimming spot or two.

Having lived in the Ladysmith area for several years now, I’ve had the pleasure to experience this trail network on many ocassions, and almost every time the experience is new. There’s always a new direction to take, something new to notice.

When I was younger, I took to the trails whenever I had gotten my mits on a joint. I recall one drunken night years ago hanging around the bench at the outlook.

The main creek loop, which is my usual trail, runs 5.8 kilometers, traveling north up one side of the creek, and back south the other. On this trail you can see waterfalls, lagoons, enjoy spectatular views and witness nature.

The creek has a number of colliery dams in varying states of decay, dating back to the early 1900’s. The dams were used to collect water for washing coal down at Transfer Beach.

Crystal Falls is also located in the trail. An amazing waterfall view enjoyed from three different accessible areas, including right beneath. It features a large lagoon one can easy swim in.

Finally, there are the ruins of the old railroad that used to run through the area. Retaining walls for bridges have long since begun to crumble, and the sight of them really give you a sense of just how quickly nature takes back what was hers.

You also have the option, at the northernmost tip of the Creek Loop, to continue on either the Heart Lake Trail, the Stocking Lake Trail, or the Rotary Lookout Trail. I have to admit, I’ve only been on the Heart Lake Trail, running 6.4 kilometers there and back again, and the Rotary Lookout Trail, which runs 1 kilometer just behind the town.

While the Rotary Lookout Trail offers a spectacular view of Ladysmith, nothing offers so much of a view than the Heart Lake Loop. After hiking for a kilometer or two up the side of a mountain, hikers are rewards with a view so great, so spectacular, that it literally catches your breath. On a clear day, you can see the mainland. Amazing.

Continuing up the trail will eventually see your arrival at Heart Lake. A still, reflective lake populated by beavers and fish. One can find evidence of all sorts of deep forest wildlife.

Moving onward, there’s the Stocking Lake Trail, a 9.3 kilometer hike to points beyond Heart Lake. I have to admit, I’ve never been on it. I’ll have to do that sometime for Something Amazing.

But seriously. If you ever have a chance to hit up Vancouver Island, please make sure you walk the Holland Creek Trail.

The Main Creek Loop, for those curious, is the hiking loop I’ve chosen to take for my goal of six times by the end of the week.

View Larger Map

So I gave myself seven days to get my crap sorted out. Seven whole days where I would devote some time each day toward getting rid of the clutter, dusting off the tabletops and sorting out everything that needs sorting.

And I did it. While the cleanliness of the living room is a chore shared by my roommate and I, I have a small corner of it which is my responsibility. Namely, the computer area. I’d proud to announce that it is spotless, the desk drawers cleaned out and organized, much the same as my bookshelf, which previously was cluttered with disorganized books of varying sizes, is now crisp, clean and organized according to size and author.

The really daunting task, however, was what Lin affectionately refers to as The Nest. The spot where I sleep. In last week’s post, I showed you a picture of my room as it was. After a collective five grueling hours, I turned the Nest into a real bedroom. (I even reorganized my wall decor.) I went through all my old boxes and sorted out what I need to keep versus what I definitely have no use for. That rule applied to knick knacks, clothing, electronics, board games and pretty much anything that had called my room home for the past several years.

Three garbage bags, four boxes bound for goodwill and a few blisters later, and I found myself standing in a clean room. My living spaces are now organized.

That being said, I can call my first goal completed.

I’ve put quite a bit of thought toward my next goal. I considered a few different things, but first thing is first. I need some accountibility. Therefor, I’ve asked my good friend DaveCam (Called as such on account of the fact that he’s been acting as my photographer since my recent mishap with my own digital camera and my ex-girlfriend’s cat’s water dish.) to check up on me daily to ensure I’ve done what I’ve said I’d do. Therefore, if I do not do what I say I’m going to do, it’s going to be his responsibility to force me to endure a humiliating feat and record it for your enjoyment.

Yes. That’s right. For your enjoyment. If I ever fall back, or do not reach a goal, I’ll be making a blog post about it, likely including pictures… So I’d better succeed.

Anyway, we now come to my goal. Weighing in at 280 pounds isn’t easy. I’ve decided that between now and next Saturday, I will walk the Holland Creek Trail Loop six times. Even if I have to do it in the dead of night, I will walk the loop, measuring in at around four kilometers, six times between now and Saturday. I will do it, and I will report. Then, I will have completed my second goal.

After this week, I will also commit to walking the loop at least twice, if not more, a week after that, adding the trail walk into my regular routine. Over the next few days I’ll be making posts about the trail, including some of the sights and interesting local history.

Finally, I want to talk about Something Amazing.

Something Amazing is a weekly feature I’m in the process of putting together on the blog, which will feature my adventures in getting out of my comfort zone.  It could be anything, so long as it involves me going out to do something many would consider amazing. I’m open to ideas, folks. There’s a lot of experiences I haven’t yet experienced in my life that are free to experience. (And some not-so-free.) Something Amazing will cover those experiences, and I’ll share it all with you.

Talk to you all soon.

EJ.

So, after a very disappointing Tuesday night where I had planned to catch the midnight showing of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen without realizing that I would have to travel a few towns away in order to catch it, I managed to catch the movie on opening night Wednesday. Let me warn you now… there may be spoilers ahead.

I had originally planned to write this review last night, but let’s just say I got sidetracked and couldn’t perform it. So I’m making up for this now.

Before I start, I’d just like to say that I grew up a fan of the original Transformers. That being said, the Michael Bay Tranformers are whole ‘nother ball game.

I feel I have to warn you about this movie. It’s long, and my ass was definitely needing a cushion for the last 1/3 of the movie. While it has some storyline mixed in with the numerous and oftentimes unneeded action sequences, it took a close second to what most people came for. Robots and Megan Fox. Which they have both of, in droves.

However, I was disappointed with their usage of Megan Fox as Mikaela. Sure, she’s drop dead gorgeous, but she was mostly eye candy, leaving little to the imagination (or the storyline, for that matter.) I have to admit, I laughed along with everyone else when Wheelie, the little smart-mouthed Decepticon started to hump her leg. I would have too.

As for Shia Labeouf as Sam Witwicky, I found him annoying, needlessly nerdy and way too lucky. I counted at least ten times during the course of the movie (there’s probably more) when he should have died.  Seriously, Sam. In the first movie you survived things that would have given better men post-traumatic stress disorder, and you’re acting like a chump. How Megan Fox ever stayed with you that long is a wonder to most of us. I’m sorry to say it, but to me, Shia doesn’t seem cut out to be an action hero.

Mind you, this isn’t Shia’s fault. He works with the script he’s given, and this script seemed to have a one-track mind. Run. The amount of running in this film is enough to kill healthy grown men from exhaustion.

I was, however, extremely pleased to see the return of  Josh Duhamel as Captain Lennox. Like in the first movie, I felt his performance was a good display on what an action hero really should be, and the few scenes he was in in this film, I felt he stole the show. From the opening, with his apparent growing relationship with the Autobots, to his willingness to disregard the orders of his superiors at the risk of court martial in order to save them, I felt he played the role very well. Of all the characters in the movie, I felt Josh Duhamel delivered the best performance.

And now for the fun part. The part that we all want to see the movie for… the Transformers themselves.

First, let me say that there were a lot of Transformers in this movie. A lot. So many, I can’t even name them all, so I’ll stick with the ones that, to me, were the show-stoppers.

First, I’ll start with the most surprising of them all, a Decepticon named Alice. Alice, as I understand things, had scanned her second form at a Disneyland-esque style amusement park, from an animatronic mannequinn. If so, I have to admit, that Transformer had taste. Played by Isabel Lucas, she enters the scene actively pursuing Sam at his school. At first, I was to assume she was a plot device to create friction between Sam and Mikaela (and I would have been right), but there was more to it than that. Watch the movie, you’ll understand.

Then there was Wheelie, a smaller Decepticon that transforms into a small RC truck, then back into a foul-mouthed wise-ass with a human fetish. I laughed nearly every time something came out of his mouth.

Of course, there were a great many classic Transformers I was pleased to see. Soundwave, for instance, who came into the scene as a Decepticon sattellite, and the Constructicons.  Jetfire. Then Mudflap and Skids. And old favorites like Bumbleebee, Ironhide, Megatron and many, many more.

Did I mention there were a lot of Transformers in this movie? I can’t even go into detail about them… there were just… so… many… Most of them I can’t even but names too.

But that’s what we went to see, isn’t it? I defy you to find one person who went to see Transformers mainly because there wanted to see if Shia Labeouf can act. No, we went to see the movie for the Transformers, and if that’s what you went for, you won’t be disappointed. Two things this movie has in droves is Transformers and action.

So, that being said, I’m giving this movie a thumbs up. Sure, it’s mindless action and eye candy with little to no story or plotline, but hey– did you expect any different? It’s definitely an experience I’m going to see again. This time on Imax.

EJ out.

I can read minds.

No, seriously. Put down the phone and keep the men in white coats at bay. I can actually do it. I’m convinced of it. At least, my roommate is. I can now pluck thoughts from her head at random, much to her dismay, and, I have to admit, mine as well. For the past few weeks, the both of us have suspected that I’ve had the ability to do it, but it wasn’t until yesterday when I plucked the age and name of a guy she mistakenly slept with one drunken night right out of her head that made me realize there might be something to it.

So, I decided this was an avenue of research I had to explore. Seeing as this blog is about a wide variety of things, not just my personal well-being, I figured I should share it with you.

Apparently, scientists say everyone can read minds. In this article from 2005, scientists discovered whilst poking about in a monkey’s brain a cellular clusters that behaved in the same fashion when the monkey performed an action, or saw someone else performing the same action. The two cellular movements were indistinguishable from each other.

Who knows? Could be something to it. I’m not going to don my Hypno-Toad helmet just yet, and you don’t need to wear aluminum foil around your head to prevent my poking around in your head. After all, it’s a long way to go before my mentally dominated soldiers start taking over the country.

After spending some time looking up the phenomenon online, I was surprised to see what little information actually exists on the subject, considering the sheer amount of information on other paranormal subjects such as aliens, ghosts or government conspiracies. (I wonder if it’s a conspiracy!)

Nonetheless, it could be nothing. It could be chalked up to brainwave synchronization. Perhaps she told me herself through body language and kinesics, or perhaps it was simple coincidence.

Could go either way, but then, telepathy mixes pretty well with my belief on the origin of consciousness. We’ll just have to see.

I’ve never been the most organized or cleanly person. My work station is usually cluttered with a variety of dirty dishes, random pieces of technology, scrap printer paper, keys and the occasional roach. The drawers in my computer desk often have to be sifted through in order to come out with a prize, and even then, most of the time the prize I seek can’t be found.

And, of course, don’t get me started on my bedroom. It’s not the largest of rooms, and easily made messy, but with the amount of laundry I have stacked up all over the room, it’s a wonder I can even get inside it half the time. My wall decorations are old, probably could use a trip to the dump, and don’t get me started on the intense amount of crap I’ve squirreled away over the years, mostly old and out-of-date electronics that have stopped working, sometimes little trinkets or sentimental objects. My bed is even worse. I, unfortunately, lack a frame for my bed, so I’m currently using a very old box spring and mattress set that needed to replaced about five years ago. While I have a sheet,  it is usually not on the bed. What does sit around on the bed, however, are ashtrays, a laptop computer, and occasionally little bits of change or pocket debris.

Don’t get me started on what’s on the floor. You’d be horrified.

The rest of my apartment is shared with my roommate, Lin. Lin is twenty-one years old and a clean freak. How she managed to have put up with me for the past few years as a roommate I’ll never know, but we get along great. The fact of the matter is, the rest of the apartment stays clean because she’s the one behind it. Lin, if you ever read this, know that what you do is appreciated. Also, Lin was the inspiration for the character of Lily in the Engines of Creation series. I’m also quite upset with Lin for running off to see the Tragically Hip last night in Victoria… Damn you, Lin…

Over the next week, I’m going to organize it all. I’m going to pull my boxes out of the closets and sort through them, eliminating all the things I don’t want or need anymore. I’m going to compact my life to just a few main possessions. I’m going to sort out all of my clothing and give what I can’t use (or don’t want) to the local Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store.  I will do every piece of laundry and do everything I need to do with them.

By next Saturday, this will be done. And I’m going to chronicle the interesting bits… So make sure you all stay tuned.

Hey everyone. On Monday, I promised to fill you all in on the direction of this blog. I’m here now to do just that. Welcome to EJ’s complete rehabilitation, as chronicled here… I’ve spent a lot of time soul-searching over the past little while, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I really don’t know much about how to live life. This is going to be remedied starting today.

First, I’m going to fill you in on a few things. I was high school dropout, a teen parent, an alcoholic and drug addict with no life direction. The timespan in which I made much needed life changes occured over the space of years, even to this day. I recovered from alcoholism and drug addiction almost entirely on my own to the point where I reached a kind of status quo. While I will occassionally have a drink or two, no longer am I the drooling buffoon being kicked out of the bar. I also recovered from drug addiction through willpower alone.

But really, that’s all I did. Since that time, the only major stride I’ve made in life is holding a steady, yet dead-end job and finishing my first book. Recently, I had an experience which jarred that part of me that was merely content with my life as it was. That’s when I made the decision. Five goals, each to be completed over the course of the next year.

1. I never got my driver’s license when I turned sixteen. To this day, thirteen years later, I have never been behind the wheel of a car while it was on the road. By this time next year, I will have learned to drive.

2. My weight had always fluctuated throughout my life. At age sixteen, I was nearly 300 pounds. By nineteen I was closer to 350. By twenty-one, I had shrunk down to 200 pounds. Since that time I’ve been stuck between 240-280 pounds. I’m currently at 280 pounds. By this date next year, I will be 190.

3. I still, to this day, never got my diploma. By this time next year, I will not only have my diploma, but will have applied for a student loan for a post-secondary education starting the fall 2010 season.

4. I started smoking later than most. I was a non-smoker before I was twenty. By twenty-one I started smoking regularly. Now I’m up to a pack a day. By this time next year, I will be a non-smoker.

5. After four years of working the graveyard shift, I’ve recently been promoted to working the afternoon shift full time. This helps free up time, but still doesn’t change the fact that I earn a mere $10/hour. Over the next year, I will seek out a job that pays at least $14/hour.

Those are the five main goals I have for the next year. The goals will be broken down into many smaller goals and scheduled accordingly over the next 52 weeks. Each week I will complete a goal, which will span the five main goals, and many smaller goals that I’ll speak of as the time comes.

Over the next few days, I will outline my first weekly goal and bring you along the adventure as I complete it. Stay tuned. It won’t be long.

About two weeks ago, I was told by my girlfriend of five months that she had cheated on me, and that it was over. At first, I wasn’t sure how to take it. In stride? Should I get angry, hurt, jealous?

Atlas Fountain, by FantasyStock

For about a week I went through a wide array of emotions. Frustration. Love. Hate. Anger. I went through the entire emotional spectrum and found myself little more than a blubbering buffoon.

Then I reached the moment of epiphany. The moment where I was forced to look back on my life and take stock of my experiences.

The truth is, I’ve done very little with my life. I dropped out at sixteen, spent several years jobless and aimless, then finally got into the working world, first as a security guard, next as a store clerk. (I’m Supervisor now, but that’s notwithstanding.)

In the time, the only true experience I’ve had with being successful was the moment I finished my first book, Children of the Halo.

And thus entered the moment of epiphany. Why? How hard would it be for me to take thirty minutes out of every day and put it toward one of the many, many things I’ve been putting it off? How hard would it be for me to set five easily attainable goals for this time next year? How hard would it be for me to reach them? And why not share my experiences?

Starting this Friday, June 19, I will begin on a trek of self-discovery. I will announce five areas of my life which I plan to have changed completely by this time next year, and I will bring all my readers along for the ride. You will experience what I experience through book, media and product reviews, personal activities, photos and video, and even work life. You will meet the people, see the places in EJ’s life. Perhaps it can inspire you to do the same.

Stay tuned.

EJ.

Greetings!

Please bear with us for now, as the site is only just in the process of becoming fully operational.

In the meantime, feel free to check out the works of EJ Spurrell over at From the Mind of EJ Spurrell.