Sunday, December 3, 2017

Revitalizing My Online Presence

Since I've taken to the World Wide Web back in 1998, I have embraced the internet wholeheartedly. The computer has made it possible to produce and present content that would otherwise have been very difficult, if not, nearly impossible for me otherwise.

I have created websites on subject matter that I feel very passionate about. However, when it came to the Gray Locke website, and my personal website, I just never felt satisfied with the way that they were presented. And these are two very important websites for me. I consider the Gray Locke series to be my legacy to the world. And as far as my personal website, well, it should be the hub of my interweb wheel. But it was pathetically bland and uninteresting.

So, I am revitalizing my online presence. I decided to return to this blog and use it as the hub. Everything you need to know about my creative work, you'll find a link to it here. I am happy with the new layout and design. Finally. Just got a few more tweaks to make.

As for the Gray Locke website ... well, that's a project for another time.


Thrive!

~Craig

Thursday, November 23, 2017

New England's Natural Bridge

Back in May of 2016, I created a website about another local historic site -- Natural Bridge. In June, I had put together a brief history of the site. Then, in October of this year, I revised it and added much more material that I had come upon while working on another article for the site. The other article, where the visitor can learn a little more about the history of Natural Bridge, and of some of the documented accidents that have occurred here over the last couple of centuries, was completed in November.

Links are provided below.



The New England's Natural Bridge website was created out of my love for this park, and for local history, with the goal to help educate the visitor of New England's Natural Bridge's extraordinary history. The community as a whole must understand, appreciate, respect, and know its history. When you visit a historic site, such as this one, you learn from their stories and help keep its history alive.


Stay marbleous!

~C.A. Chicoine





Friday, September 1, 2017

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

~Heart Thoughts~

"Why are you so scared?"


"You led me astray once before."


"Have you not loved?"


"Yes, of course, I have. But, my love was forsaken."


"Love, in this way, takes two hearts. And I beat for only one."




~C.A. Chicoine

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

When Darkness Closes In

When black tides beckoned her from her coastal reverie, it was all she could do to set sail before the darkness came on. These kinds of journeys weren't planned; they never are. But she learned to prepare for them. She had always kept a sailboat moored at the wharf near the upper end of Sanity Point. And it was well stocked with provisions––not knowing how long she'd be gone.

She often visited that place where others had warned her not to go. Her friends were afraid that she'd never return, and if she did, she would not be the same; for, when navigating the ocean of shadows, one can, at any time, be swallowed up by waves of despair. And many––too many––have been lost at sea, never to return.

But she would always come back, sometimes stronger than before.


~C.A. Chicoine


Monday, June 26, 2017

"Heart Fantasies"

He gently caressed the side of her face with the back of his fingers, so as not to scratch her delicate skin with the calluses he'd acquired from work. And he couldn't help but smile.

“What,” she asked, slightly bashful in her tone.

“I'm just living in the moment,” he replied with an even bigger smile. “That's something that I can only do with you.”


~C.A. Chicoine

Monday, May 1, 2017

Electric Dreams Revisited

"Electric Dreams Revisited"


Tell me, boy
Do you have room
In your heart
For the computer boom?

Electric dreams
Electric dreams

He was a boy
Who bought a computer
To put him right
Wake him up on time
What an appliance
A matter of science
Taking over was
Its only crime


We interrupt this program for a brief introduction 

Some of us go to see a movie because its trailer looked good. And some of us, because we like a particular actor, director, or writer. And others of us, because of a song. I bought the soundtrack album to Electric Dreams before ever seeing the movie. Think I came upon the advertisement in either the Rolling Stone magazine or Billboard at the time of the album's release. Being a fan of the Electric Light Orchestra (Jeff Lynne) and The Human League (Phil Oakey/Heaven 17), this was a must-have album for me. So, this soundtrack was on the top of my list during one of my pilgrimages to Toonerville Trolley Records.

I had no clue what this movie was about. The only clue was what was written on the back of the album cover.


And, by the time I got the album, the movie was no longer in theatres (at least in my area). So, unfortunately, I did not see it on the big screen. But, I did take a trip to the local video store and purchased it on VHS. And I was not disappointed.


"It's not about words. It's more a feeling." 


We all have our guilty pleasures, and the Electric Dreams movie and its soundtrack are among mine. It's not that it's a bad movie or anything–-it's an all-around feel-good movie. And I found the movie very engaging, between the cinematography, special effects, and the music. And I loved the chemistry between Lenny Von Dohlen and Virginia Madsen in their respective roles as Miles and Madeline. And the humor and innocence of Edgar helped to root, develop and move the story in a direction that you'd never expect it to. These elements helped enliven the traditional romantic plot of the boy-meets-girl scenario.

It's just not one of those mainstream blockbusters that people generally talk about. And I wouldn't even consider Electric Dreams to be classified as a cult film. We'll take the movie Blade Runner, for instance. That movie flopped at the box office too. However, there was already a fanzine created six months after that movie's theatrical release. And once the World Wide Web caught on, there were a number of websites paying tribute to this highly influential box-office-flop-turned-cult-classic film of all time.

I have not come across one fan website about Electric Dreams. Although, I did find one page that is part of this 80's Movies Rewind website -- doing it for the love of the classic 80's movies. It's not bad. But, that was it. That is, until now.

So, whether you've seen Electric Dreams in the theatre when it was first released, or many years ago on VHS or when it was aired on HBO, be sure and make a vigil to watch it again. And if you just discovered this movie for the first time, it makes for a great addition to any stay-at-home date night! You will not be disappointed.


Electric Dreams
Are never what they seem
Electric Dreams
Now I'm electric too
Electric Dreams
This is what I'm tellin you



A link to the website is HERE.


Stay electric!

~Craig