Monday, July 21, 2014

Big doings and a companion blog

Hello, good gentles. 

For those of you who missed my posts on Facebook, I'm recovering well from my June heart attack. I'm down more than 22 pounds and have lost nearly two pants sizes in the waist. I'm staying home from work until August 1, not just to recuperate but also to help my loving wife Tracey, who needed emergency surgery and six units of blood two weeks ago. (She's fine but weak as a kitten, and all this rain is giving her extra joint pain.)


I've long had a desire to start a separate blog to gather everything I'm creating for my steampunk London setting. That way I can put the stories, character sketches and world-building research in one convenient place. I can also better organize game stats and content to bring the characters alive in "In Her Majesty's Name," which has been such an impetus in my setting's creation. 

I can now announce that the thing is begun and viewable, although there's little content there as yet. You can read the intro to the "For Your Table" section about gaming with the characters and setting. I'll start copying some existing content from "Dispatches" this week. 

The new blog bears the overarching name I've created for this saga: Brass and Blood. I envision it as a series of novels, with three books planned so far. Well, for certain weak values of "planned." More like "loosely sketched out."

I even purchased a unique domain name. To indulge in business parlance, I want to "build my brand" under the Brass and Blood name. So you can get to it at www.brassandblood.com or brassandblood.blogspot.com.

Don't worry, though. Things won't change much here at "Dispatches." I still intend to cover my gaming purchases and experiences, kickstarters and unboxings, and I plan to increase the number of out-and-out reviews I do.

Ye gods, I can't believe I've written so much at one go. I'm a little tired now, so I'll see you all later. 

Back to the boards, everyone, and I'll see you across the table soon. 

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

And we're back!

Today is the second anniversary of the debut of "Dispatches from the Rim," and it marks the blog's return from a six-week  hiatus as I've dealt with some serious health concerns.

Although I took a break starting in late May, my health issues came to a head in late June, when I apparently suffered a heart attack. I was hospitalized for nearly a week and am still at home recovering. I'm going to try to go back to work on the 17th, provided my cardiologist clears me.

I feel worlds better than I did prior to my hospitalization, largely because I'm acting like an adult and actually following my doctors' instructions. We've got me on insulin now, even though we're still titrating the dosage. I'm following an appropriate diet plan and the weight is dropping off, although that's largely my body coping with the edema. I feel really good, although I have at times overestimated just how much I'm able to do. Given that Georgia and Alabama are already flirting with three-digit daytime temperatures, it would be draining even if I weren't recovering from a heart attack. 

On the hobby front, all that has gone on for me was finally receiving my Relic Knights Kickstarter rewards (after two years) and I've pledged for the Zombicide Season 3 Kickstarter. That's about it. Oh, and "Sleeping Dragon, Rising Sun" came out for "In Her Majesty's Name." Couple that with the IHMN Gothic releases Craig's been posting on the official blog and I'm as happy as a clam. 

It's my birthday next week. I turn 46. In the words of David Niven, I believe, "If I'd known I would live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself."

Take care, everyone. I'm back, and I'll soon be plunging you back onto my steampunk London creations for "In Her Majesty's Name."

Back to the boards, everyone, and I look forward to seeing you across the table soon.