All Work And No Play Makes Glen...Well You Know the Rest...

Neil Young looks out over the horizon and wonders "Where's the damn book, Glen?"

Haven't updated the blog in awhile, so I thought I'd check in and bring y'all up to speed on all things Glen.

The book: As most of you already know, I'm working furiously to meet my publishers deadline for the book I'm writing on Neil Young originally scheduled to come out this fall -- but that will more likely be published next April (at least according to my own Google searches for book store pre-orders on Neil Young FAQ).

This is mostly my own fault.

I was supposed to deliver a finished manuscript this past April, and when it became apparent I wasn't going to make that deadline, I asked for an extension until June (which my publishers at Backbeat thankfully, if reluctantly granted).

The good news, is that although things like work have gotten in the way, I'm still confident that I will make Backbeat's graciously extended deadline.

But I'm not gonna' lie here... it's gonna' be tough. I've basically got about eight chapters and 30,000 words to complete, and about four weeks to get there. I will make it, but you are still not at all discouraged to wish me luck in getting there...

Work: The new day job is both a blessing and a bitch. For those of you who endured my near continuous bitching about being unemployed for two years until last October, you already know how much I needed this. The fact that I got my underpaid gig slinging cable at all is something I am also highly grateful for. That two years of total poverty took its toll.

That said, it's been a tough ride. The schedule sucks (mid-week days off), as does the commute from West Seattle to the East Side, a monster run encompassing both the notoriously tricky West Seattle Bridge and  three major freeways (I-5, I-90, and I-405). Despite the charming personality you all know and love, I also get the overall impression the youngsters at my day gig would love nothing more than to get me the fuck outta there. Hey, I gotta' call it like I see it. In just six months I've also been written up for a quick exit twice -- so far, I've managed to dodge both.

I'm probably not long for a future there, bottom line. That said, I'm doing the best I can -- and actually had a personal best sales day there today. But do I see a long term future of being screamed at by pissed off customers who don't understand their costly cable bills (and by the way, neither do I)? In a word, no I don't. I'm trying my best, I really am. But in reality the odds are not in my favor...they see me as an old fool.

I'm not of course, but in an odd sort of way, I sort of understand why they view me that way. After all, I was once an obnoxious, self-important, too cool for words twenty-something myself.

Better days lie ahead I'm sure. But for now, this is gonna' have to do. On a side note, thanks for getting Osama, Obama. Now please...please...get us some meaningful, well-paying, and yes "fun" jobs, sir.

Blogcritics: BC's role in re-establishing me as a still relevant music critic after chasing my own ass for much of the nineties following my spectacular flameout as an aspiring record exec in L.A. simply cannot be overstated, and for that I will always owe them an enormous debt of gratitude.

That said, I cannot deny the overall dip in quality of the music writing at BC over the past year in particular, nor the unfulfilled promises of improvement since the "regime change" to Technorati last year. The mass flight to greener pastures elsewhere from some of BC's best former music writers in the past 12 months or so speaks volumes -- but you already know that if you have been paying any attention.

My own recent absence at BC is largely due more to my need to get this book done than anything else -- I won't return to an active role there until NYFAQ is done (hopefully June 1). Once I do -- and if I do -- I will resume being as active as ever in my dual roles as a music editor and writer. The Rockologist and all the rest will be back in force.

But this is provided I see signs that things are improving. The fact that Donald Gibson is now the senior music ed is one of the biggest reasons I am optimistic that BC can regain its once mighty position. Donald is one of those guys who was pretty much born to edit and write about music -- and he does so very well. On the other hand, the fact that elsewhere the site has the increasing feel of a bunch of brats throwing sand at each other in a sandbox does not raise hopes that things are improving.

We'll see...

Social Life: Non existent at present, but stay tuned.