Giddy up!

Here's a photograph, taken during the recent Action at Pelznikkel, of the Stollenian cavalry general, Count Pavel Petrovich von Butinski and his ADC Herr Major Georg von Gorgonzola, who hails from a prominent Prussian family of Lombardian origin.

Well, it’s been a few days, but things are back in action here in the Grand Duchy of Stollen, following a family reunion and memorial service for my maternal grandparents, which kept the Grand Duchess and I busy for several days last week and during the weekend. It was especially nice to see some more distant family members and the country where my grandfather grew up. Oddly, there was nothing sad about the occasion that brought us together. It was, rather, a joyous, happy, and humorous celebration on a number of different fronts. A very fitting way to end the summer I think.

I began teaching again this morning, and that went pretty well as far as first meetings go. I have a nice bunch of students, and helping them to improve their writing skills over the next 16 weeks will be fun. Remind me of that in October when I grouse about grading papers and such! My film history course begins next week, and that is always terrific fun. It involves writing too, but with rather more analysis and discussion plus the library use and research component, all of which helps to keep things interesting for both the students and yours truly.

Anyway, it’s time to get things cranked up again here in Zum Stollenkeller after what has been an especially productive and fun summer as far as painting, collecting, modeling, and gaming are concerned. I’ve spent the afternoon reading through my notes and looking at my table of contents for the planned book, and I think my focus has tightened rather nicely with just a few hours of thought and note-taking after several weeks of NOT looking at any of this. Always nice when that kind of thing happens.

Most everything is written, although there are a couple of new things to develop given today’s “concepting session”, and a few chapters that need additional development. Then, I think we’re ready to go with writing book proposals and bugging a few publishers in the U.S. and U.K. I’ve also looked into publishing myself, but it would be even nicer to have the book picked up by a publisher. However, this is awfully hard to accomplish when one lacks a published book already from what I understand. So, we’ll see what happens over the next several months. Rest assured, I'll keep you loyal members of the far flung "Stollenian Legion" apprised of any related events.

In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to post yet another picture from the recent game for those of you who need your regular “old school” fix. Enjoy!