Changes to Hyde and Geek

I'm writing for another site (again) so I won't be double-posting my stuff both here and there. So, from now until further notice, my comic book news will be seen on ScienceFiction.com. You can find the latest headlines from me over on the right side of this page under the heading "The Latest Comic News from Scott and ScienceFiction.com".

For now, all other writings (Muppets, Game of Thrones, video games, and other random goodness) will still be featured here on Hyde and Geek... unless you know of, or are, someone looking for a writer who has expertise on these subjects. If so, drop me an e-mail to swank_stuff@yahoo.com

When I was a Boy

When I was a boy,

the days were long,

and summers went on forever.

My only care was making it home,

in time for dinner,

Hoping that it was burgers

and not spaghetti… again.

and that my Mother wouldn’t

notice the rip in my new jeans.

The world was a grand adventure

waiting to be experienced,

and almost everybody was my  friend.

If they weren’t, that’s just because

I hadn’t introduced myself yet.

There was never much trouble,

and what there was didn’t matter.

Because my mother could fix anything

that might go wrong with a single word

…or a kiss, but don’t tell my pals.

They’d never let me live it down.

Now I’m a man,

the days are shorter,

and summers almost don’t exist.

But I still try to make it home,

in time for dinner,

and hope that it’s burgers,

and not spaghetti… again.

and that my wife doesn’t notice

the stain on my new shirt.

The world is a still grand adventure

if only a little more worn around the edges

from too much play.

Most everyone is still my friend,

but there are far more people

to introduce myself to than I expected.

There is more trouble than I remember,

but it still doesn’t matter.

A kiss from my wife or a hug from my kids

can make a bad day wonderful just like that.

…and go ahead and tell my pals.

I’ll never let them live it down.

Hyde and Geek Musings

When I started Hyde and Geek some years ago, it was intended as a break from what I'd done before. My previous online presence, through websites and blogs, was always devoted to a single theme or genre each time. My first website was about comic books, my second was Godzilla, and my third was horror movie reviews. Over time, I decided that I wanted something that would allow me to stretch my geeky little fingers into everything that I was interested in and not be confined by a single theme. Thus, Hyde and Geek was born.

As I look back over all the posts on this site, I see that I have posted news and random goodness and that reflects my interests in a much better way than what I've done in the past... but it's still very limited. I have recently been considering posting some of my writings here as opposed to simply posting geek news, videos, and the like. These writings will most likely be random bits of personal commentary along with some fiction and whatever else that I care to share. (For the interested, I've started sharing random photos and videos on my Tumblr to keep them from bleeding into this main blog.)

I haven't decided when, what, or if I'll start posting these writings but I wanted to give my readers here a heads-up in case some random posts show up that aren't necessarily geek news. It's still me folks. It's just a different side of me. I prefer to think of it as the Mr. Hyde to my Dr. Geek.

A List of Random Things that I Love...

• the way my wife looks so beautiful without even trying - I'm especially glad that she doesn't realize this or she'd never have married me
• my kids for letting me see the world through their eyes on occasion and experiencing a wonder that only children have
• a fall afternoon when the summer heat is long gone but the chill of winter is still just an unpleasant thought for tomorrow
• the near perfect still of the night at 3am when normal people are asleep and the world feels magical and ancient
• the cold of a dog's nose
• that I'm in my 30s and cartoons, Muppets and toys can still make me smile
• the feel of fresh grass under my bare feet
• that I live in America
• the smell of fresh ink when you crack open a new comic book
• the pencil stain on the side of my hand after an intense session of writing or drawing
• anything made by my kids for me
• the fact that some of those things made for me say "world's best dad" when I often feel so far from that praise
• the smell of a book - fresh and new or old and dusty, it doesn't matter
• cleaning my house while singing along to Cat Stevens tunes when there's no one around to hear how silly I sound
• the still chill in the air just before it rains
• that my mother let me be me and never forced me to be something that I'm not - I hope that I can do the same for my own kids
• and the knowledge that someone who is as hard-headed and downright odd as me could end up with the life that I'm living right now

Mirror, Mirror

Below is a short piece of my fiction writing inspired by a recent writing challenge over at GeekGirlDiva's blog. I just liked it so I thought I'd share. Feel free to respond with your feedback and thoughts.

---------------------------------------------------------

I looked into the mirror. My face stared back at me. Unblinking. My resolve began to falter. Could I really do this? I looked around at the candles; still flickering in the breeze from the open window even though there wasn't much left of them. The night had grown long and I was exhausted from my preparations. I glanced downward and praised whatever gods were with me tonight that the arcane symbols that I'd so meticulously drawn on the floor weren't smudged by my sweat and constant shifting.

"Hello, sparky!"

My head shot up with a bolt at the voice. The sound had come from directly in front of me. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, looking for any signs that the magics had worked, and only saw my ragged self staring back.

"I said hello. Are you mute or just rude?"

It had worked! It was my reflection that was speaking! I started to answer but was too fearful and shaken to do more than spit a few nonsense sounds.

"That's how it is, eh? I get pulled from my sleep at this hour of the night to hold a conversation with a dumb mute?"

I licked my lips and spoke...

"No... I... I am Simon Wilcox. I have summoned you here to help me."

My own face sneered back at me from the mirror.

"Help you? I guess that's the plan so long as your protection holds. But if it doesn't... Heh heh... You'd better hope I like whatever it is you're asking of me."

I returned the vile smile back at myself.

"I'm not saying you have to like it but I have the feeling that you will."

"Get on with it then! I haven't got all night! I have a plump little one waiting back on the spit that requires tending to."

I started to speak "I want...", but my voice cracked. I began again, "I want release. I want to trade places with you."

My reflection stared back and his hideous crack of a smile grew enormous on the reflection of my haggard face.

"Indeed? Release you say? In that case, I shall like it immensely. But you realize what you ask of me? You will be doomed to live in my realm for eternity and I'll be free to do as I please in yours."

I began, "Yes. I can’t..."

"I don't care what you can or cannot do. The question is whether this is truly what you ask of me?"

I shocked myself by not hesitating and I heard myself say "Yes."

As the word came from my mouth, the room began to spin and the walls seemed to bend. The breeze from the window rushed in and snuffed the candles and all was beyond my comprehension.

It could've been minutes or hours but when the room righted itself and I could see clearly again, I looked out from within the mirror and saw that the circle of protection was scratched beyond any recognition and a trail of charred footprints leading out of the room.

I could still hear the faint whisper of my own voice snickering back at me and I wondered if what I had done was right. But I didn't care. It was over. I was going to be at peace and to Hell with the world.

I laughed at my own bad joke and turned to explore my new home.