Hey, You! Come Out And Play!

Posted on August 30, 2012

Sure, I could come with some brilliant bit of personal insight and adventure to tantalize you with today, but, really, why keep the expectations so high? Or…I might be bluffing and simply have decided that I’m in a bit of an introspective mood this morning. If that’s the case–and I’m not saying it is–then it feels like a good time to recap a few things going on in my life. I have to warn you, though, that I’m not going to do any name dropping. I’m not going to tell you about my upcoming breakfast with Gillian Anderson and I refuse to say a word about the hour of karaoke planned on Saturday with Alice Cooper. There will none of that in this blog post. And the fact you may or may not have heard that is just between us, okay? Now let’s get to the real stuff.

Some of you will remember a few mentions about a short story I recently completed a draft of titled Spacehunters: Master Elite and the Maternal Order of Loganites Beyond Uranus. Why the long title? Please, have you seen the titles of my novels? It just happens that this is for an anthology called Butt Pirates In Space. Anyway, why bring it up again? Because not only did I have an absolute freaking ball writing it, but our lead author and organizer found a publisher for it. How cool is that? The hysterical thing–at least to me–is I swore I’d never take part in an anthology. Why? I don’t have anything against them, but I just never had anything for them either. Some fellow authors have related a few horror stories about anthos over the years and it kind of just put me off.

Fortunately, the people I’m working with on this particular antho are absolute sweethearts! Well, most of them. One or two. Besides me, that is. More on that as we get closer to the end of the year. Believe me, there are lines in this new story that I’d love to share with you! I just don’t want to ruin anything, though. I’m pretty sure I’ll break my own rule on this at some point and snake one or two in. I actually sent a line to Garrett Wang a few days ago to see what he thought. Not that I’m name dropping since I said I wouldn’t do that. That reminds me…I owe George Takei a quick e-mail.

Also on the writing front, the editor of Healthy Gay Lifestyles–a new site–contacted me a week ago and asked if I’d be willing to let them reuse some of my blog posts for their online magazine. I checked them out and talked a bit with the editor and it looks like a good deal. They choose the posts, let me know and we go from there. And by going from there, I mean I may do a bit of rewriting on it depending on what it was and when it was written.

The editor mentioned he enjoyed my brand of comedy, so he naturally chose one for the next issue where I’d gone a little bitter about something. Suffice to say that it was an experience to revisit something I wrote back in 2011 and bring it up to where it needed to be today, plus lighten it up a little…or a lot. The interesting thing to me is that the site is focusing on giving solutions to gay men about life. I know. A little dicey to have included me, isn’t it? I don’t know that I give solutions. I point things out and I make fun of a lot of things, but solutions? If I had solutions, I’d know what to tell myself regarding my father. And speaking about my father…

How’s that for a segue? Oh, yes. I have a rhyme and reason for many things in life, just no solutions.

I find when I’m in a social situation with my father that I’m studying him and I don’t know why. Even odder yet, I don’t feel embarrassed BY him and his behavior, but there are many times I feel embarrassed FOR him. I always felt dad would age gracefully because that’s who he was. That and articulate, thoughtful, kind and someone who knew how to enjoy the moments in life. Watching him now is like watching an android operating on a malfunctioning Microsoft Windows program…which is essentially most or all Windows programs.

My folks and I went out for an early anniversary celebration (also mum’s birthday) and it was just odd to sit there and observe him during the meal. He didn’t really follow the conversations, but when mom smiled or laughed, he did, too, only in somewhat exaggerated style. And when he got bored with that, he’d watch the boats come and go outside. If one caught his eye, it didn’t matter who was talking, he’d interrupt to point it out. I think it would be fascinating to have a short-term opportunity to see the world through his eyes and I definitely think it would help me understand more of what he’s going through. As it is, I find I’m wishing I had some way to reach him for even 5 minutes so I could ask him…well, a number of things.

As Mr. Spock is fond of saying, “I like to think there are possibilities.”

Finally, I’d like to share a few things about the Face of Gay posts that are now going on their seventh week. I honestly didn’t know if these would catch on, if anybody would submit anything for them or if it would make a difference with readers. How often do we have lofty ideas that go nowhere and get abandoned? Hey, it was a risk, but one I felt strongly about taking and putting some energy into. Well, it would be arrogant of me to say that I think I’ve become the biggest fan of what folks have written for them. Why? Because they have caught on and readers are leaving comments. Best of all, the focus of each post has widened, which isn’t my doing. Those are the writers doing that and it’s truly magic. I can only hope that while I’m doing what I can to get word out, readers who enjoy them are telling others, too. Anybody can submit one and they can be anonymous.

So that’s where we are. Well, that’s where you are now since you’re all caught up. I’m at DragonCon. The hubby is at home. Yes, I flew out and he flew in. It’s ridiculous. I haven’t seen my husband since July. Grr… Fortunately, he’ll still be there when I get back home where we will proceed to… Oops, hold that thought. Bruce Boxleitner arrived early and is trying tempt me with an apple martini.

Alright. You lose. He wins. See you on Saturday!

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Kristoffer Gair (who formerly wrote under the pseudonym Kage Alan) is the Detroit-based author of Honor Unbound, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To My Sexual Orientation, Andy Stevenson Vs. The Lord Of The Loins, Gaylias: Operation Thunderspell, several short stories featured in anthologies (to be combined in a forthcoming book), the recently re-published novella Falling Awake, its sequel, Falling Awake II: Revenant and Falling Awake III: Requiem.

7 Responses to “Hey, You! Come Out And Play!”

Dorien says:
August 30, 2012 at 7:58 am
Dear Mr. (Albert Einstein) Gair:

I very much (Atilla the Hun) enjoyed your blog, as (Eleanor Roosevelt) always. I find them (Herbert Hoover) always thought-provoking and appreciate (Marilyn Monroe) your blend of humor and the touching.

As for your name dropping (Billie Bob Thornton), I’d never really noticed.

Best regards

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Kris says:
August 30, 2012 at 8:07 am
And that, sir, is one of the many reasons I love you just the way you are. =)

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Carah says:
August 30, 2012 at 10:47 am
Hmmm, name dropping huh? Well, I can honestly say I have met, conversed and hung out with Alice Cooper. After all, he lives in my neighborhood. The man’s a golf fanatic. Go figure. Anywho, love the post Kris and I am thrilled to see that the Face of Gay has progressed so nicely. Glad I participated. =)

Hope you and your hubby have a wonderful….reunion.. 😉

*hugs sweets*

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Kris says:
August 30, 2012 at 1:07 pm
And the Coop is originally from my next of the woods. How cool are we? lol The hubs and I should have a good time provided he remembers to bring back the birthday and anniversary cards I sent him to sign for my parents. Ooh, that reminds me. He’d better have signed them, too. I might want to check on that.

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Patricia Logan says:
August 30, 2012 at 11:31 am
Name dropping? Well, I never met anyone famous, though Nicholas Cage did cut off my minivan and nearly kill me once. It’s okay. I flipped him the bird as I recovered my senses.

Wait! I did meet someone famous once. His name was Kristoffer Gair. Come to think of it, I think I flipped him the bird too 🙂

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Kris says:
August 30, 2012 at 1:08 pm
It’s your calling card, isn’t it? lol It’s really sign of affection and love.

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Katherine T. says:
August 31, 2012 at 8:36 am
Have a blast at DragonCon. Does Shaq count for name dropping? Sold him eyeglasses once. LOL! 😉