Oh, Scrap

The latest meme has come knocking on my blog's door thanks to a nod from Brenton Tomlinson. Apparently he finds something brilliant about this wasteland I call a blog. I guess my plan to fool everyone into thinking I'm a genius is working after all. HA! I suppose this blog is a brilliant way to waste time, if nothing else.

The Award and Rules:

This award is bestowed upon a fellow blogger whose blog content or design is, in the giver’s opinion, brilliant.

The rules are as follows:

1. When accepting this auspicious award, you must write a post bragging about it, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim, and link back to the said person so everyone knows she/he is real.

2. Choose a minimum of 5 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Or improvise by including bloggers who have no idea who you are because you don’t have seven friends. Show the seven random victims’ names and links and leave a harassing comment informing them that they were prized with Honest Weblog. Well, there’s no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon.

3. List at least ten (10) honest things about yourself. Then pass it on!

Here are my picks for further scrap-ness. Since many of my other choices have already been picked by others, I'm leaving it at two.

Mercedes M. Yardley - She of the exploding bowls and ever-ready sewing machine.

Joshua Reynolds - Writer, monster lover and overseer of Jackapo County.

OK, 10 things about me:

1. I come from a very conservative, fundamental Christian family. In fact, in days long past, I was once an ordained minister. The family and old friends tend to frown on many things I like, and while I don't go out of my way to offend them, I long ago decided to live my life my way. Still, when it came to writing horror, I knew I'd never be able to do it under my own name. So in order to avoid their disapproving self-righteousness (and so that I could write other genres and not get associated solely with one field), I had to find a new name. Thus...

2. ...Jameson T. Caine is a pseudonym. In choosing the name, I knew I wanted a first name that could also be a surname, and I wanted the last name to be a single syllable. I went through many names, finally deciding to settle on a "J" and "C" combo. How did I arrive at this? Well, my handwriting sucks, so I chose letters that were easy for me to write. So if I ever get to sign books someday, I'll be ready. Jackson and Jefferson were discarded before I chose Jameson. It happens to be the name of one of my favorite scotch whiskys.

3. My real name is Timothy, thus the reason for including the "T." My middle name was supposed to be Andrew (it ended up being Allen), so if I ever publish any epic fantasy, I'll do it under the name Tim Andrews. My real name is being reserved for any Science Fiction I may one day manage to sell. My last name is Hispanic, though I am about as white as one can get and not blind people.

4. I love bad movies in the realms of scifi and horror. In fact, I have my own website devoted to bad cinema, where I examine films in excruciating detail. Check it out: Shadow's B-Movie Graveyard. Of course, the site is on hiatus for the time being while I pursue writing fiction.

5. I have a huge DVD collection. This is in part due to my love of bad films, but also because I love anything scifi, fantasy or horror. I have over 2500 titles, ranging from film to TV series to anime. They take up one entire end of the master bedroom, encompassing three walls (and it still isn't enough room).

6. In high school I wanted to be a musician really, really, really bad so I took up playing musical instruments. In various bands I have played guitar, bass and even drums. I sold all my stuff years back, keeping only one guitar. Heavy Metal was always my first musical love.

7. I have a fascination with Japan and Japanese culture (except for boy bands - Japanese, Korean or anything else, sorry Natalie). This came from watching Godzilla films a bout zillion times as a kid and then moving on to J-horror and anime. I've even taken lessons in Japanese in hopes of visiting someday.

8. I prefer British television to most American TV, especially when comedies are concerned. I'd love to visit the U.K. someday and visit the many friends I have there. Like Japan, I have a fondness for many things from across the pond (food, drink, culture).

9. I really do not like children. I hesitate to use words like loathe or hate, but I just don't like most kids. I can get along fine with them. Hell, they all think I'm awesome and people think I'm really good with kids, but the truth is I don't like the many rotten, spoiled little hellions out there, raised by clueless parents.

10. I can pop (or "snap" or "crack" if you prefer) almost every joint in my body. Toes, ankles, knees, pelvis, back, neck, jaw, shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers, thumbs - you name it. Combine the loud pops with my double-jointed elbows and you will understand how I can make people believe I just snapped the bones in my arms.