THE PAST FORWARD $3.00 pdf book

Read, enjoy, and let me know what you think. And it's only $3.00!!! My head is killing me tonight so I'm posting this a little early. This is my second pdf book. THE PAST FORWARD

BUY

THE PAST FORWARD $3.00 pdf book

CHOCOLATE DRAGON

Here's a few quick star reviews of some stuff I read or watched in 2010. I'm going to try and get all up to date on my reviews in Jan so I can start from new in the new year.You can also find these at my GoodReads and LibraryThing accounts. I'm going to start posting reviews here and both of those places until I'm all caught up.

THE CHOCOLATE WAR
audio
2 out of 5 stars

PIRATE RADIO
dvd
3 out of 5 stars

BATMAN: DARK VICTORY
graphic novel
4 out of 5 stars

BATMAN: FALSE FACES
graphic novel
2 out of 5 stars

HULK: RED HULK
graphic novel
2 out of 5 stars

JLA: SALVATION RUN
graphic novel
3 out of 5 stars

THE AVENGERS: POWERLOSS
graphic novel
3 out of 5 stars

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
dvd
3 out of 5 stars

CHOCOLATE DRAGON

FALL FOR ANYTHING

By Courtney Summers

St. Martin's Griffin

This book puts the whys? of death into your face like a punch for an answer. With each book Courtney Summers offers up to her readers characters who with every mouthful of air are part of what we all are as human beings. These are not cookie cutter characters for a writer’s goal but characters of living life through a story.
I love the harshness, the reality, the drinking of tears she shows with bravery in all of her books; which have been better with each one. Starting with CRACKED UP TO BE. Then SOME GIRLS ARE. And now FALL FOR ANYTHING.

Fall For Anything explores suicide, death, selfish grief, artistic shortsightedness, and the road of answering what truth can be found in the thoughts of someone after they have lost someone important from their life? These are not things which are made up of one superior answer or one way of thinking.

This writer can write pain as if she was holding you down and holding a scalpel to script the words into memories of events from your own life. Like with Some Girls Are, Fall For Anything connected with me not through pages of things that are similar to things that happen in my life but from little moments, scenes even that existed within the book as a sum total.

I believe it sometimes can be more powerful within a book when you are reading and a sentence or a scene rips you back to you life for a little while. You pause. You remember. You may even cry but then you continue with the story now invested in a way that maybe even the writer did not expect.

Even though I had a friend who committed suicide who was family to me it was the character of Milo who I identified with in larger ways in this book for reasons I will not get into for this review but that is the power of books. A great writer creates great characters who live their lives within a story that can make us smile, talk to a friend, tear, or need to take a break in proceedings to go watch something really stupid like Two And A Half Men. But you have to love books for that because they create that connect that makes you want to rush back to them as soon as you can.

The short cast list gives us time to really get into the lives of each character as time unfolds. Eddie stands in the after time of her father’s suicide with a mother who seems to have almost died in her own way, a pushy friend of her mother’s always getting into her face, a best friend who have information she wants, and a stranger linked to parts of her father’s life she didn’t know about.

I think in the end Eddie just wants to scream to her father, “Why did you have to do this now!? I’m not ready for something like this now!” But that is how life strips us of our days sometimes, by giving us things that we are not ready for but nonetheless faced with.

4 out of 5 Stars

FALL FOR ANYTHING

SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND: Tin Universe Story #5, Free Cut Chapter

This is the second of my FREE pdf cut chapters. Check it out and share with your friends. It's another chapter I removed from THE PAST FORWARD but still liked. And remember THE PAST FORWARD comes out on the 30th: http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/school-for-the-blind/14313490

SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND

SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND: Tin Universe Story #5, Free Cut Chapter

DHAKA: Tin Universe Story#4, Free Cut Chapter

This is my new FREE pdf cut chapter. Check it out and share with your friends. It's a chapter I removed from THE PAST FORWARD but still liked. And remember THE PAST FORWARD comes out on the 30th: http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/dhaka/13845881

Dhaka

DHAKA: Tin Universe Story#4, Free Cut Chapter

THE PAST FORWARD

THE PAST FORWARD

ALAN, ORLANDO, AND TWO DAYS WITHOUT SLEEP

I attended ALAN with Mar yesterday. She had went the previous day with one of her sisters but I had writing that really needed to get cracked out and couldn't go with them. All of us would have liked to have attended the whole event but had to pick and choose days that fit into our lives. Though we were both there Mar went to the talks and got the autographs while I tried to get more writing done just outside the doors sitting on park benches.

Speaking of the park benches. I was sitting on the hard benches inside the convention hall, turned sideways with my legs crossed, writing and to one side of me was a lady typing on her laptop. I thought she looked familiar. I had a feeling it was Ellen Hopkins, writer of books such as CRANK, but wasn't sure. I also was too deep into a chapter to distract myself. I asked Mar later when we meet up for lunch but she didn't know for sure by my description but I just checked her website and it was her. I've never read any of her books but Mar has and I have heard of her a lot from other friends. Oh, and at the same time standing on the other side of me beside my bench was Tom Angleberger and I love his book THE STRANGE CASE OF ORIGAMI YODA. Funny how things like that happen. Mar had gotten an ARC of  his new book HORTON HALFPOTT signed for me earlier in the day so things started out good for me in the day.

It may have been because of the distraction of so many writers around me but I didn't notice until I opened files to start writing today but I finished my NANOWRIMO project yesterday. That was a nice check off of the book in a very busy writing month for me.

They were giving out boxes of books and Mar and her sister got tons signed. I got books signed by Tom Angleberger as I said above and also THE EARTH, MY BUTT, AND OTHER BIG ROUND THINGS by Carolyn Mackler but I also picked up books to read such as CRUEL SUMMER by Alyson Noel, HEREVILLE by Barry Deutsch, and THE LOOKING GLASS WARS(which people have been telling me to read for a long time) by Frank Beddor.

Wish to write more but need to get back to writing.

ALAN, ORLANDO, AND TWO DAYS WITHOUT SLEEP

THE PAST FORWARD

Below you will find the ad blurb and cover for my second book THE PAST FORWARD. This book will be released for download on LuLu Dec. 30th. I really think I learned so much writing this book and as I do think it is better than my last book I'm happy with how it turned out. 

I had all of these big ideas for the cover but in the end as I did with STEREO I went with a simple idea and here because if I can not hire someone to do a nice piece of artwork for the cover I'm going to go simple when it comes to using photos.

Stop by here Monday because I will be posting the book trailer for THE PAST FORWARD. It will be my first book trailer, fingers crossed.

Gail Busiek was once a cheerleader then she fell out of a tree. It knocked the cheerleader right out of her. After falling out of the tree she staggered around before falling down a set of concrete steps. 

She once loved gymnastics but those steps knocked that out of her too. 

All combined she ended up in a coma and when she woke she not only hated cheerleading and thought gymnastics was a waste of time but she now was a sci-fi geek and had a brain similar to a computer.

Pretty simple, this is a soap opera as you watch Gail deal with being moved up to high school but also deal with now attending school with her sister, her sisters best friend, a former friend of her sisters, and a group of people who are stalking her life, and the fact that this book will focus more on her sister and an old childhood friend reentering her life than it will Coma Girl (that’s what the newspapers call Gail)

Sucks to be the lead character when the writer gets affection for another member of the cast.

You might notice the "TIN UNIVERSE STORY #6" note on the cover. Even though this is the 6th installment in my Tin Universe line of stories you don't need to read stories #1-5 to enjoy THE PAST FORWARD. But if you want to have all the little and big details of the Tin Universe before reading THE PAST FORWARD click on this link: http://stores.lulu.com/billywas

THE PAST FORWARD

TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS INTERVIEW SERIES #3: DAMON FORD

I’ve known Damon for a number of years. An admirer of the way he thinks and someone I have and always will consider a friend and so when I decided I wanted to finish this three interview series talking to a consumer of the arts and new technologies, the first person that came to mind I wanted to send questions to was Damon. I’ve never talked to Damon about any subject without coming away from the conversation thinking from different lines to what we talked about.

-Damon, thank you for taking time out of your day to answer some questions.

*You’re welcome. Despite some initial surprise at being asked, I’m happy to try to articulate some of my thoughts here.

-Over the time I have known you it seems like you have always had a interest in how technology effects us all and this series of talks deals with technology and the arts; so, to start how about you give us some insight in how technology has changed how you encounter art and how you consume it in your life?

*To start, technology has certainly made art more accessible. Whether that be through purchasing a DVD, reading something online, buying a book that is not released locally (or even just finding out about artists that don’t release / have a presence locally) – technology levels the playing field.

Recently, a New York Times article highlighted a marketing position of some publishers to give away e-books on the kindle. Distribution / publication costs are minimal, so in some respects makes sense. But it also reinforces that ‘e’ is also a code for ‘free’, and there are a generation of consumers that consider online content is, or should only be, free. And for this, content providers really only have themselves to blame. I have, and will continue to pay for content that is valuable to me online, and in some cases would start to pay, if the content provider actually started charging for their content. I just don’t follow the logic of giving content away online, but charging a premium for that same content being in print.

Perhaps this legacy has come about from the fact that just getting online has traditionally cost quite a bit of money (and while falling rapidly is still generally not ‘free’) - content providers have in the past faced a challenge getting people to pay again once they are online.

Of course, people will (and do) pay when the content is packaged in a way that the consumer values – witness iphone / blackberry apps (and ipad ones), or when the content is time sensitive, like the markets data and analysis of the Wall Street Journal or Financial Times.

Working out just what consumers will pay for online, how much, and in what delivery form, is going to be one of the big challenges of the next several years. And personally, I have no idea what the successful models will end up being – that is something for others to work out.

- I remember us once discussing pdf books and reading on handheld devices. How often have you read materials of any length on an handheld device? Do you see this becoming more and more the normal fashion for artists to communicate with their audiences?

*I’ll admit that as a primary medium I prefer print, even when I have to wait a week or so for delivery of print editions of international magazines that I subscribe to that also have free online access for subscribers. So, while I will peruse the tables of contents, and perhaps look at some online only content, when it comes to reading / interacting with a text, I like the tactile involvement of words on paper. And I’m prepared to pay for it, because it is of value to me.

However, I say this at a time when e-books / e-reading is in its infancy, and the devices for reading content are, to be honest, less than impressive. A friend had me order a kindle for his wife as a Christmas present, which was both wanted, and eagerly awaited. And then, on Dec 26 I was asked to help out, because they could not get the kindle to connect to a wireless provider. A google search gave me the information I needed to help out, but it was not an intuitive solution, and even knowing what I had to do, it still took over half an hour on the kindle to make it work.

The challenge that technology companies are going to have to overcome in bringing e-readers and their associated technologies to market is that there is still a significant proportion of the community that is not comfortable with these sorts of products, and don’t understand why they don’t just ‘work’. And when you’re experience is opening a book or magazine and not having to fight the medium to get content you had paid for ….

So, while e-reading has potential, there is much work to be done on the devices, and the software running them. I have every intention of ordering an Ipad, because I’m curious to discover if it has the potential to change the way I read / purchase content. I have a feeling that in time it will, but perhaps not with this initial release of the product. I definitely see a substantial change in the way publishers will have adapt to these new products over the next 6, 12 and 18 months.

-Reading or viewing art forms, which do you prefer in a non-personal way(though personal may not be the right way of saying it): Website, email, pdf, all?

*For reading, I like pdf, and always have. It’s all about the visual for me, and pdf fonts / layout just seem much more readable.

-Do you believe technology is an advancement with bumps in how it mates with art or is technology an enemy of the artist and art itself? This is a question I've asked several artists and I was wondering about the view from someone who is sort of an outside view on art as you like to say you are not an artist. Though in my eyes everyone is artistic, I consider intelligence artistic.

*I would consider technology to be a provider of opportunity, and how the artist uses (or chooses not to use) any new technology would I think be made on an individual basis. Technology need not be an advancement per se – it’s more about a different way of doing something – and I think that art grows with every new way there is to present an idea.

-Since we are both of the age that technology was beginning to really grow in its modern fashion during our youth to how it stands today, do you think you enjoy the way art is presented now over then when you where younger?

*I consume a lot more art now, thanks to the internet, especially in the sourcing obscure music, movies, tv shows, books etc. I remember back in the mid 1990’s when I first ordered cd’s online – the idea that I could source music of artists that I wanted but which were not released locally was both amazing and addictive. It’s those initial feelings of wonderment in the sudden expansion of opportunity that was presenting itself that I have never forgotten. And I don’t think we should ever forget that. And even now, every time I order something online it amazes me that, within a week or so, it will arrive at my door, and I didn’t have to go anywhere for that to happen.

So in the sense that ‘presented’ means ‘available’, I certainly enjoy things now.

Damon has worked with NSW Department of Human Services- Ageing, Disability & Homecare. He attended the University Of Wollongong class of ’93 and ’98: ’93 Primary, Bachelor of Education. ’98 Special Education, Master of Education.

Picture provided by Damon Ford.
Interview questions by Brian C. Williams

TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS INTERVIEW SERIES #3: DAMON FORD

ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO PETER PARKER

WRITER

brian michael bendis

ARTIST

david lafuente

COLORIST

justin ponsor

LETTERER

vc's cory petit

PUBLISHED BY

marvel comics

I  have missed a few volumes of Ultimate Spider-Man leading up to and including The Ultimatum Wave but this volume is my first introduction to the new look Ultimate Universe and as the only book I was following was Ultimate Spider-Man that's how it should be.

There are a lot of Bendis haters out there. People who will only judge his books just by his name being connected to the project. I'm not one of those. Some of his work I have enjoyed, some not so much, but I think when time has passed his run on Ultimate Spider-Man will be considered one of the top five takes on the character ever.

Even though there is a lot of back story to this series, don't let you lead you away from reading it, most of the back story is explained before the collection gets started or easy to understand as the story goes forward. I consider this a great jumping on point for those who may not want to start with the very first Ultimate Spider-Man volumes, though I think you should, you can start here.

I've always looked at Ultimate Spider-Man as one of the best YA books out there. Better writing and drama than most of the big prose books YA books AND YOU GET REALLY COOL ART WITH THE COMICS!

4 Out Of 5 Stars

AND HERE ARE SOME QUICK REVIEWS:



BATMAN: KING TUT'S TOMB

2 Out Of 5 Stars

HOUSE OF M: UNCANNY X-MEN

2 Out Of 5 Stars



ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO PETER PARKER

DOCTOR WHO #13-14

WRITTEN BY tony lee

ART BY matthew dow smith

COLORS BY charlie kirchoff

LETTERS BY robbie robbins; neil uyetake

EDITS BY denton j. tipton

COVERS BY paul grist, phil elliott, matthew dow smith; charlie kirchoff

The first two issues of the final 10th Doctor IDW storyline begins here with SACRIFICE Parts 1 and 2. As always my reviews are short and without many details or spoilers (but when I start ranting about something) but what I will say about these issues right off is how much I wish we had gotten the chance to see more stories of the travels of Matthew and Emily with the 10th Doctor. With it appearing like the 11th Doctor IDW time will start with Amy Pond as his traveling companion it does not sing that well in my eyes for us seeing Matthew or Emily again. I have Part 3 of this story on a stack to read so no SPOILERS for me please.

The story smells a little of the Black Gaurdian Trilogy of stories from the Classic Series during the 5th Doctor's time with Matthew sort of taking on the Turlough role; which is highlighted more in my mind by the Turlough Diary angle the story takes. Maybe Tony Lee found a little inspiration there.

3 Out Of 5 Stars

My star rating is for the most part based on a hope that the story pays off in the end. I have enjoyed almost all of the art IDW has used for the Doctor Who books but the writing needs to pay off more. At times is seems like they are costing on it being a big brand tie-in.



review written by Brian C. Williams

DOCTOR WHO #13-14

Crazy Hair

The art within this book makes it one of my favorite picture books ever and everyone knows I will read anything and own anything written by Neil Gaiman. But my Star rating might show I didn't care for it but I have to say the price alone for picture books makes me rate them rather low.

2 Out Of 5 Stars

Crazy Hair

Runaways, Vol. 1

I had always wanted to check out this series as I had heard so much about it and then recently a Mar's library got a number of the volumes in. I was not let down an really hope when they do make this into a movie they do not let me down either. The Marvel Universe is not as strong in my eyes without this series currently going. Though I enjoyed the artwork and the story, I have to say I was hooked right away by how strong each of the characters were.

2 1/2 Stars Out Of 5

Runaways, Vol. 1

Vampire Kisses, Volume 1: Blood Relatives

I read this because Mar has read all of the Vampire Kisses stories. I have to be up front and say this is the only thing I have read of the stories. I wasn't that pulled in to make me want to read other books in the series either prose or manga.

1 Star Out Of 5

I'm going to start moving my reviews over from my LibraryThing since I never use it and this way all of my reviews can be in one place. This blogger account needs to be the starting point for all things ME and this is another step in doing that.

Vampire Kisses, Volume 1: Blood Relatives

WHAT I'M DOING FOR BANNED BOOKS WEEK

BANNED BOOKS WEEK

For Banned Books Week I'm going to be listening to two books that have been challenged and banned at different times; while walking and working out at the gym. Plus, plus. Both of these are considered classics by some but I haven't gotten the chance to read them, though I did see The Chocolate War on TV once.

Also remember to support your local libraries because right now they need that support.

THE CHOCOLATE WAR
BY ROBERT CORMIER
PERFORMED BY GEROGE CUIDALL

ATHLETIC SHORTS
BY CHRIS CRUTCHER
PERFORMED BY FRANK MULLER

 

WHAT I'M DOING FOR BANNED BOOKS WEEK

SUCK IT, WONDER WOMAN! THE MISADVENTURES OF A HOLLYWOOD GEEK

By- Olivia Munn

with Mac Montandon

Published by St. Martin's Press

Being a fan of Attack Of The Show I wanted to check out this book. But also being a fan of the show I really wish Olivia Munn was on the show more often. I don't think she has been on the show since Comic Con but that is neither here nor there, this is a book review.

From what I've read about her life I would be really interested in a full book her story.

I found the book to be a bit uneven which I guess is the style of these types of books but I would have really have liked to have heard more about her personal life growing up and how she got onto Attack Of The Show and the entertainment industry in general.

The uneven nature of the book keep taking me out of it every time I read a section I enjoyed. The low rating I think comes a lot from really looking forward to a better read and not getting it.

1 Out Of 5 Stars

Review by Brian C. Williams

SUCK IT, WONDER WOMAN! THE MISADVENTURES OF A HOLLYWOOD GEEK

TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS INTERVIEW QUESTION SERIES #2: Lea Hernandez

Welcome to the second of three interviews were I have sent out questions to several people about the connection between technology and the arts. I picked the three best interviews and I’m presenting them now and hope you enjoy reading these answers.
The subject of technology and the arts is one I’ve always had a vested interest in, from making fanzines on copiers when I was in high school to connecting with people through the internet on blogs and the other opportunities the internet can offer up to artists. But with those opportunities for artist to grow and shine, technology has also always been a double edged sword for the artist and the consumer also with pirating hitting artists and consumer fraud for those purchasing the works of artists. I hope to get a better understanding from this series of what is being felt on the subject not just by me but by others. I also hope you enjoy reading these interviews as much as I have as they have come into my inbox.
With this interview I get answers from Lea Hernandez

Lea Hernandez is a twenty-plus years comics veteran who has published in traditional print and led the charge to publish comics on the web. Her graphic novel series include Texas Steampunk, the tart pop satire Rumble Girls (the first print comic series to move to the web) and the 90% true Near-Life Experience. Her comic, "Ribbons Undone" was part of the Eisner and Harvey Award-winning "Comic Book Tattoo" anthology.


She is currently writing and drawing a new middle-grades series, "The Garlicks," and publishes "Near-Life Experience" weekly-ish at divalea.livejournal.com. She also does lots of work hidden deep under layers of non-disclosure agreements.

Lea is a single mom of two teenagers, and lives in San Antonio, Texas.

QUESTIONS FOR LEA HERNANDEZ

-Hi Lea! Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to answers some questions! I will try to keep these short but cover as much as we can. With your work with Rumble Girls in mind do you believe things are headed in the right direction for artists when it comes to technology?

*Absolutely, you can connect with an audience without an intermediary and keep costs down. Having been in comics since the black & white boom where getting one's work out meant paying for printed books, convincing the distributors to carry you, hand-selling to stores who only had what distros fed them, and a lot of road time to build an audience, GOD DO I LOVE THE FUTURE. The old way was expensive, difficult and frustrating. It sucked.

-I have enjoyed viewing some of The DivaLea Shows you have done. What made you decide to do this?

*It's the kind of thing I like to watch: someone's drawing process with smartassery. I love commentary tracks and making of documentaries and short subjects.

-Have you ever gone the pdf route or considered doing so with your work? Any big reasons for or against? This is my preferred way of getting my work out but I know others have problems with going that way.

*I've thought of it, but never had the time to pursue it. There will be paid digital distro for some of my work in the near future.
Let's turn this around: why do you prefer PDFs? Ease of reading? (Not having to click endlessly through online archives.) Ease of distribution?

-I prefer PDFs because one, you can get a large amount of materials out there pretty quickly. Another is the money you can save. The only thing I spend money on is for cover artists and editors and then share profits with LuLu who I publish my PDFs through. 
The main reason I started  in the begining releasing stuff as PDF was during a time when I was sending free short stories and poetry collections to friends by email. The PDFs could be read on most computers without screwing up my formatting.
The main reason I’m doing it now to be honest is because I’m still learning the craft. I handled my learning disability and the diffcultity it gave me when it came to writing with anger for years and that slowed my progress down. If I had thought my first book was good enough I would have tried print publishing but it wasn’t. When my 2nd book is full and complete I will look it over also and make a decision but as long as I’m inproving and getting better that is my biggest goal. PDFs and internet release lets me release projects as my learning process keeps going, get feedback, and it not cost me tons of money…which I don’t have anyways.
Isn’t it great no one wants to interview me, I just ramble.

-With piracy issues for every form of art when it comes to technology at large and what seems to be a twisted view by some that all things should be free do you think the pros will out run the cons when it comes to the effects of technology and the arts?

*I think the pros still outrun the cons. I also think there are people who, even if given something for free, would STILL steal it, because it's not about having, it's about GETTING. They steal because they can. Some of them are childish, whiny, entitled and impatient. Others are convinced they're sticking it to "the man," whoever the man is. The man is certainly not the artist whose work is pirated.
OTOH, creators need to, as much as possible, identify the people who steal their work because their books are hard to find, to get readers to buy online, get from libraries, buy at shows.
Comickers are in a position to have more direct contact with their audience than prose writers. It's a business that has a lot of hand-selling. So, it's easier to follow this route. By which I mean other than comics and Cory Doctorow, I may be talking right out of my ass.

-Here is my off the wall questions. Is technology like Twitter helping more artists or hurting them?

*It depends. There are days when I love Twitter. There's this good flow, like I'm giving a talk, or doing a stand-up act 140 characters at a time. There are also days when Twitter depresses the fuck out of me, when I have gotten a rejection or work or the personal life is going poorly, and things for others seem (the operative word is "seem") to be going fantastic. Then Twitter can be pure poison for anyone.
It can be another excellent online procrastination tool, like web forums, and newsgroups and AOL and Compuerve...
On the whole, I find it fun and it's wonderful and there's an instant gratification that helps motivate creators who usually work in a vacuum. It's a great way to connect. I am fascinated by the way it's shaping lives and events in its tiny bites.

-Anything you want to promote?

*I'll be appearing at MangaNEXT (http://manganext.org/) as a guest, likely running a workshop on story conception, and a panel that is unlike anything done at an anime/manga convention.
I'm currently writing and drawing an all-new middle-grades comic, The Garlicks. Think a supernatural "Romona and Beezus."
I also put up a sketchnote comic, "Near-Life Experience" once a week-ish at divalea.livejournal.com. NLEx has been running off and on since 2003. It debuted with the launch of Modern Tales.

-Thanks Lea, and again Thank You for taking part in this series and answering these questions.



The next Interview in this series will be posted on October 22 as I ask Damon Ford questions about art and technology.


And as always support your local comic book store, Mine is Famous Faces And Funnies

TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS INTERVIEW QUESTION SERIES #2: Lea Hernandez

TEASER



TEASER

K.S.C. TRIP SEPT 11TH 2010

Saturday we went to Kenndy Space Center. It was my first trip there, Mar has been several times, and it was one of the things I've always wanted to do ever since I moved to Florida. It was free for those who lived in Brevard County and so we couldn't pass up the chance to go. Plus there ant nothing cooler than space. No, not the british tv show though it is so cool. We are talking THE SPACE ladies and gentleman and all creatures of great shapes, sizes, and smiles. What follows are a ton of pictures we took on the trip. Hope you enjoy the pictures and if you get a chance go to K.S.C., it is really worth the money and time. I'm not a space geek but I really enjoyed myself.

The entrance to Kennedy Space Center.

Right after you get through the ticket gates if you wish they will take your picture for you infront of the NASA symbol.

A little down from the main entrance is the place workers and the like get their IDs and you find this rocket there.

You can take a bus tour with three stops. The tour is about three hours and really worth the time.

Stope one. They have a lift here also if you cann't climb stairs.

Looking up.

It takes a lot of skill to build something like this but it also tells you how low tech in some ways things still are. A tube, a screw, and everything goes wrong.

I forgot my sunglasses and too many late nights writing have marked me with dark circles under my eyes.

Looking down.

Mar took most of these pictures and this one looks like a NASA postcard.

This isn't a rebuild of the old control room but the original.

Now that's just cool to look up at something like that.

There is so much stuff in the second stop hanging above you.

See, tons of cool stuff.

Mar walks the steps on the moon.

This area was really cool with the Snoopy statue and the background is tons of really cool newspapers from all over the country and the world when the moon landing happen.

I've actually been in one of these. A story for another time.

Mar took this while we were taking a break.

Nice display.

I good veiw inside. KSC has so many cool things to look at. You could spent a few days taking your time looking everything over.

We smelled french fries as soon as we got into this building and finally gave in. They were good also just so you know.

For driving on the moon.

Now that's a big door. And this also reminds me, Is the Tron sequal out already?

I use to have a toy of this when I was little that I use to throw around all over the place. It was made of metal so the time I was done with it, it appeared to have been used by Galactus as a baseball.

The molds they used to make gloves and a cool image on its own.

The third stop is the area of the International Space Station.

Walk inside and see what the outside and inside of the space station is like.

That tube scares me.

Zoom in Mar's camera takes great pics. This poster is about a book written a long time ago and I took this picture to remind to to try and track it down.

You can look down from a viewing room to see the people at work.

You couldn't get near this that often, the kids just loved this thing. KSC has tons of things great for kids that keeps their attention beyond the facts.

Another cool image.

Stay away from the Starfleet Academy show. I know its suppose to be for kids but we wondered if they even bothered doing much research on Star Trek when writing the show. Just terriable.

They have a launch ride which Mar road while I sat outside talking to an artist I'm working on a project with. I'm not much for rides tha just shake me like a martini anyways.

I collection patches from the places we go. They have patches for every mission in the gift shops, which there are many, and I choose this one. Anyone want to guess why?

K.S.C. TRIP SEPT 11TH 2010