Not Giving Up
Fighting through problems with the newsletter, another date night, some great music, and battled a cold last week
OK, so I had an entire opening wrote for this weeks newsletter, but I actually just deleted it all and decided to start over. It was basically me whining and complaining. I went on and on for two paragraphs about issues I'm having with the Substack website dashboard. Specifically, creating new posts. But, after sitting and thinking about it, I decided I didn't need to do that. Where is that going to get me? Is whining and complaining in my newsletter going to fix the issue? Probably not. I also had said that hopefully I can continue doing the newsletter with the issue I'm having. But I decided that that's bullshit, I'm going to continue doing the newsletter. I enjoy writing this newsletter each week. I enjoy telling you all about what's going on in my life, books I am reading or have read, music I am enjoying, shows my wife and I are watching, and all of that kind of stuff. I love doing this each week. So, despite having issues with creating new posts, I'm not quitting or giving up on my newsletter. I'm going to have to figure out a workaround until Substack can get the problem resolved, but that's what I'm going to do. I'm not going to give up on my newsletter, I'm not going to quit putting out new issues, I'm going to keep moving forward with it. If that means I have to figure out a different way to do it in the meantime, then that's what I'll do. But I enjoy doing this, so I'm going to do it.
I know that opening probably seems odd and your probably sitting there like what the hell? But just know that I've been battling issues with creating new newsletter posts from the website dashboard, and Substack is hopefully going to fix that sooner than later. It pissed me off really bad last week and Made me start to feel depressed again. Why depressed? Because it gets exhausting constantly having to find a workaround or a different way of doing something instead of simply being able to do it like everyone else. It's extremely frustrating at times. But, like I said, I thought about it over the weekend and decided that no, I'm not giving up on this. I'm continuing with the newsletter no matter what. Of course I'm still frustrated at how I have to create new posts right now, but I'm not giving up on this.
So, with that, welcome to this weeks newsletter! And don't worry, moving forward you will continue to get weekly newsletters from me. Along with other posts with poems and stories in them, chats, and notes. All kinds of fun things to read and enjoy here. Remember, it's always a good day to be Blood Soaked and Blind!
On a more positive note, had a fun date night class thing with my wife on Thursday evening. We went to a class called the 27 club, which talked all about some famous celebrities who died at the age of 27. That kind of stuff really interests the both of us. It was quite interesting and really fascinating to learn everything that they talked about in that class. I had a great time going to that with my wife, and it was nice to get out of the house together for a little bit. Love those date night things we do together.
Finished reading The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste. Damn that was a great book! Really loved the story, the characters, and everything about it. It had some pretty dark creepy moments, and was written beautifully. Definitely recommend this book! Go get yourself a copy today.
Currently reading: actually, I'm taking a break from books right now and re-listening to all 20 episodes of "Scars In Time", a really cool series that was released on the Westside Fairytales podcast in season five of that show. I had listened to each one of these episodes as they had aired in 2022 through 2023, but I love this series so much that I wanted to re-listen to all of it again. Westside Fairytales podcast is currently in season six, and if you like great original horror fiction with accompanying music, sound effects, and great stories, give the show a listen.
Currently listening: I turned up Warren G's "Regulate...G Funk Era" album and let it play from start to finish. I remember buying this album on cassette in 1996 when I was 16. Wow I'm old, lol. Also remember my buddy and I cruising around and around Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville Iowa as it had newly opened. That album cranked up and bumping hard on the 15 inch subwoofer I had in the trunk of my hatchback car. Actually, I was pulled over by two bicycle cops outside of the mall doing that. I was cited for disturbing the piece because apparently I was vibrating the doors of the mall as we cruised around it. Still one of my favorite albums to this day. And now I can turn it up as loud as I want and no bicycle cops will stop me!
The Near Misses released a new song on Saturday evening called "Gray". I like this one a lot, but then again I like all of their music. Check it out, give it a listen, and check out all of their other songs while you're at it. Also, they were featured on a local TV station of ours on Friday morning. It was really freaking awesome to turn on that show and hear that band on there. Really proud of those guys.
Currently watching: we are now on to season five of The Rookie. Still loving the hell out of this show, and eager to watch more of it. It's nice to have a show that we can watch together and not have to worry about if the content is inappropriate for our youngest daughter. Some shows the wife and I watch we have to pause when she comes in the room because they're just not appropriate for kids. So I love that we are all really into this show, it's appropriate With our youngest in the room, and it's a really great show.
Dealt with a wonderful cold last week. Felt bad sinus pressure, had a bad headache, and just generally felt like shit. The wife was sick too, not really feeling that good either. And, our oldest daughter actually stayed home from school one day with a bad headache and Just felt crappy. I figure it's probably due to the weather shifting because it got cold here again. Who knows. Started feeling better towards the end of the week though, so that was good.
Feeling much better this week, and excited to get back into the groove with writing. It really sucked last week wanting to write but with a pounding headache and feeling like crap it just wasn't possible. For now, I'm going to focus on Writing more short horror stories, and moving forward with my book Dark. I rewrote the first chapter last week because I just didn't have a great feel for it. I liked some of what I had written before, but generally didn't care for it. Now I feel like it's more on track to move forward. Already finished up the second chapter, and moving onto the third now. So let's just hope that keeps going in the right direction.
Alright, well take it easy, enjoy some yummy coffee, and I'll talk to you soon.
Thank you for reading this weeks newsletter. I hope to see you back here next week. Be yourself, be original, and be bloody.
- Matthew R. Taylor