Monday, November 13, 2006

Still alive, still on hiatus...

Hi everyone!!! I'm just popping in to give you a quick update on what I'm up to:

My hiatus has been very productive so far, and my kids are doing great!!! Their new thing lately is whales and dolphins -- apparently they've decided to take a break from being hooked on trains.

However I have a lot left to do on my Java project, so I will continue to be on hiatus for another month. That means that I won't be posting new entries here (you didn't see this one...) and I (mostly) won't be reading the blogs in my sidebar until December 15.

I will return, though, so I'd like to kindly ask all those who are linking to me not to unlink me. :D

Oh, and to those of you who are not linking to me, link to me!!! Don't make me get out my leather outfit with the steel-tipped stilettos and my riding crop. ;^)

Even while I'm hard at work, I still get in a little bit of fun. Lately I've been drawing a series of illustrations for my novel Exmormon. As you know, I'm planning to post the whole novel as a serial, and I figured it'd be just that much more entertaining with pictures!!!

This new art project is taxing my meager artistic talents to the limit. Luckily the novel is a comedy -- so the illustrations don't have to be good, just funny. I can do funny. ;^)

As a sneak preview, here's one I drew over the weekend that I'm particularly pleased with:



Here's the full-size version: Mishies at the Cafe des Arts

You may have noticed that I've added illustrations to the sample chapters in my sidebar as well.

I look forward to being back up and blogging soon!!! Keep on keeping Outer Blogness warm for me!!! :D

28 comments:

C. L. Hanson said...

p.s. to my LDS friends:

Please don't get the misimpression from the above picture that this story is going to contain some (potentially inappropriate?) sex story involving LDS missionaries. It doesn't.

The missionary segment of the novel is a story -- partially based on accounts people have told me -- of being tempted and not giving in to temptation.

How (and why) would an exmo write such a story?

Buy the novel and see for yourself. ;-) Or wait until I post this segment and read it for free. :D

Also, there's some discussion of this story here.

Rebecca said...

Good to hear from you. And good to know you're reading SOME of our blogs (that's my sarcastic voice)... No, really, your illustration rocks. It's totally illustrative.

Anonymous said...

"Don't make me get out my leather outfit with the steel-tipped stilettos and my riding crop. ;^)"

errr, how could this possibly lead to anything good? :P

CHanson, I'm guilty of unlinking but I've fixed that now...now that you've given me some hope. I'm sure missing you, and you should know that outerblogness is hell without you.

Oh, and the illustrations rock.

Sideon said...

Hey there, Chanson. I'm glad you gave an update on what's going on with you!

The illustration is awesome. Serializing and pairing those with your novel is a wonderful idea. I think they'll compliment each other very well.

I couldn't draw myself out of a paper bag. You have more talent in your little pinky than I do in my steel-tipped stilettos and riding crop. :)

C. L. Hanson said...

Thanks Rebecca!!!

I caught myself cheating on my no-blog-reading goal a little too much, so I figured I'd do one new post, then go around and read a bunch of blogs and get it out of my system, then back to work!!! :D

Thanks Watt!!!

I guess I won't have to punish you after all. Maybe. ;-)

Thanks Sideon!!!

You're too sweet!!! :D

Anonymous said...

I've got my own project underway and it will in no way be related to Mormonism or Java, I just can't give up blogging though.

Keep writing.

C. L. Hanson said...

Hey Sinister Porpoise!!!

That's cool -- what's the project? I didn't see it on your blog.

The Sinister Porpoise said...

I've made only oblique references to it -- and I'm holding off on saying what it is exactly until I've got the check from the publisher in hand.

C. L. Hanson said...

Wow, sounds exciting!!!

I look forward to the day you spill the secret. ;-)

Floating in the Milk said...

I'm glad to hear you'll be back soon. And I kept you linked this whole time.

C. L. Hanson said...

Thanks Floating in the Milk!!!

Sister Mary Lisa said...

Chanson, you know I've missed you. Keep up the good work of juggling family and work. And you know how I appreciate good illustration...you've done really well with yours.

:) I've been impressed so far with your self control in not jumping off hiatus more. I'd be so bad at it.

Oh, yeah, and my mental picture of Sideon in stiletto heels is enough to keep me going for weeks!

Anonymous said...

That's a cool illustration. I wish I could draw like that. No, actually, I just wish I could DRAW!

C. L. Hanson said...

Thanks Sister Mary Lisa!!!

It means a lot coming from someone with serious artistic talent like you. :D

Thanks Matt!!!

Compliments from non-artists are also always appreciated. ;^)

Kalv1n said...

Oh my! In any case, there wouldn't be anything wrong with it being a sex story if that really did happen. Oddly enough though, I think that doesn't happen as much with women who are already "members" as ones who are "investigators"...btw, you always have very insightful things to say, and I appreciate them.

C. L. Hanson said...

Thanks Kalvin!!!

I have definitely heard stories from exmo RMs of having had sex while on a mission, however the vast majority report that they didn't. Many report going all or almost all of the mish without, y'know, "M", and are shocked by the tales the naughty ones tell... :^)

I'm glad you like my comments as well. I always wonder if it's absurd of me to post comments about gay marriage over on your blog, where most of the readers are gay and hence already believe that gay people should be treated like everyone else. But it's an issue I feel strongly about, and that's one reason I feel like it's subversive of me to have posted these photos of my little traditional family -- I want to help make it clear that the gay marriage issue is not just a question those who don't "have a seat at the table" asking for something, but it's a question of fairness and justice for everyone.

helensotiriadis said...

thanks for your visit and comment. i had just started exploring your blog when you posted the hiatus news. i'm glad things are going well and look forward to more posts when you can.

C. L. Hanson said...

Thanks TooManyTribbles!!!

I joined Mojoey's atheist blogroll just before going on hiatus, and I've done a little bit of exploring the various blogs listed, such as yours.

You have a great blog with a fun title!!! :D

Here's my Star Trek adventure.

Freckle Face Girl said...

I wondered if you would give into the dark side and do a post. It is hard for addicts to stay away, but you're doing great! I'm looking forward to your return though.

C. L. Hanson said...

Thanks Freckle Face Girl!!!

It's so true -- I've of course been sneaking a peek at various blogs (for example I knew about your adorable new blog style before you posted this comment ;-) ). But only after I've finished whatever is my real-job goal for the day. For example, tomorrow I'll be writing an example program using Bluetooth.

I have a whole list of sample programs I need to finish during my off-works hours before mid-December!!! But I'm on track as long as I keep plugging along and don't waste too much time composing blog entries like this one for my personal blog... ;-)

freethoughtguy said...

Just discovered your blog. Good reading, good art! Enjoy the hiatus, and post soon. I'll be back!

C. L. Hanson said...

Thanks Freethinker!!!

You have a great blog too!!! It sounds like fun living in San Francisco. I've only been there a couple of times, but I liked it a lot.

I don't see your blog listed on Mojoey's atheist blogroll -- you should consider joining up. Just click on the image at the top of the list for instructions.

Anonymous said...

Excellent news about the illustrations and about the hiatus being over soon. Must say I missed my (irregular) trips to your blog. Hope the Java thing is going well (Java... it's a question of class, LOL!). Take care,
Rudi

C. L. Hanson said...

Thanks Rudi!!!

I've appreciated all of your comments and your visit as well!!! And I've got your disc in my Christmas disc rotation. ;-)

Louis Brossard said...

Just read your blog for the first time. I looked at it since I had abandoned my sacred underwear and the Church the day I left the French Mission in 1952.
I have rejoiced in that decision ever since. Those were the two and a half most difficult years in a long life but the most rewarding. I have kept close ties to Europe ever since.
Enjoy your time in France.
My temptation was truth rather than sex. I just followed the exhortation we were giving to the French people to use their own intelligence and they could know the truth.

C. L. Hanson said...

Hey Louis!!!

I'm glad to hear your experience in France was so constructive!!!

As for leaving the church because of being tempted by sex or truth, I like to think it's a little more complicated than an either/or proposition, but I agree that encouraging people to honestly weigh all the evidence often leads them out... :D

Anonymous said...

One day more...

C. L. Hanson said...

Thanks Pete!!!

It's nice to know people are still thinking of me!!! :D