Introducing the Picture of the Day Series

I love taking pictures! Especially of the goofy variety!

Hey there. I've been on a bit of a sabbatical as of late. I haven't really been posting online, I haven't been active in podcasting, and I haven't been doing any type of writing. But you know what I have been doing?  I've been learning and have been taking pictures. You can see the evolution of some of the pictures that I have taken over the years here on this site, but I've been learning about taking photography to the next level. The majority of the pictures that I've taken before have been on the most basics of settings or on "Auto" mode. You know... of the just point and shoot variety. But I've been reading about Aperture, about ISO settings, about F stop, and about shutter speed. So... in an effort to keep that fire for photography burning, I'm going to start a new series of posts here. I'm going to call it... Picture of the Day. And it's going to be just that... a picture that I have taken that day. It may be mundane... it may be awesome... or it may just be an experimental pic that sucks. Either way... I want to post those pictures here to keep as a catalog that will capture any progress I make. Also, I'll write a little blurb about it. What I thought of the picture. Maybe even post the camera settings just for those that would like to replicate it. So that's enough of an intro... let's get into our first entry of the series!

Day in the Life of the First Day of School, NBA Top Shot Cool Cats Pack Drop, and Softball

Nothing like a nice, cold beer to end your day.

Hey there friends. My day job kept me busy today, but that didn't mean I didn't have an eventful day. Let's get into it.

Starting the Day in the Life of... Series

Just a typical day at the computer. I swear... this is my home within my home. lol

Hey there. So we're going to attempt to get back into writing on the daily. I started this blog years ago as an outlet to put my thoughts in writing. So we're going to attempt to get back into that. Especially now that I'm sitting in front of a computer for most of the day. So what I'm going to do is start a blog series named, Day in the Life of... It's going to essentially be my personal highlights of my day. Will it be interesting? Who knows. At the very least, it'll get me to start writing and that's my goal. But I do want to make it clear that I do have a day job but I WILL NOT be posting about that on here. There's no need. No one wants to hear about the typical work day of a number cruncher. lol 

Back to Being Metallman

Oof... the worst is over now and I'm ready to take on the world!

Hey there, friends. It's been awhile, huh. I've been on and off the interwebs throughout the years. Recently, I went through surgery and had to deal with some complications. Hospitalized for a few days and what not. Scary stuff, especially now since this Covid 19 pandemic has turned our world upside down. Anyways, I wasn't in the right state of mind to write. I wasn't in the right state of mind to review. I've had a few posts here and there, but they are far and few in between. There was no consistency or motivation on part during that time. But that dark period is over now. I have a renewed sense of life and my motivation has been renewed. Overall, I just feel better about myself and about life. With that being said, I am back to being an online person. Back to being a podcaster (back on The DragonCast with Brian), back to reviewing, back to giving stuff away to my readers... back to being Metallman.

Serious Case of Writer's Block

Ugh...

Hey there.  I'm sorry, friends.  I've had one serious case of writer's block for like... the past year or so.  Like, seriously.  Somewhere around a full year where I have started many posts, went through the process of reviewing, jotted notes for thoughts on posts, but... I just couldn't finish the process.  It's been frustrating to say the least.  I've felt like I've had so much to say, but I couldn't get it down in blog post form.  Why?  No idea...  Even this post, I'm struggling to write down.  You see, I've always prided myself in being able to write with ease.  What I write is what I'm thinking and in essesnse, it's how I speak.  I don't give too much thought to my words, since I feel that it will take away from what makes my writing style unique.  So... does that mean that I've lost, "it". ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Metallman Hiatus is Now Over

"I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." - Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Hey there friends.  I've been away for awhile.  Not physically away... but mentally away.  I've taken the last couple of months to find myself.  I needed that time to recharge... to reconnect... to refocus.  You see, I'm a guy of ambition but I sometimes lack the motivation to get things done.  Well, let me rephrase.  It's not hat I lack motivation, it's that I have so much that I want done that I don't know where to start.  I have so many pending projects that some end up falling by the wayside.  In essence, I over extend, and to an extent, over exert myself.  I was mentally and physically burnt out... but now I feel ready.  I feel ready to take charge, I'm connected, and I'm laser focused.  I'm ready to take steps forward again.

I know I've been away from my website for quite some time and I wanted make this quick post just to let you guys know that I'm back at it.  I started drafting some reviews and I'm getting some giveaways lined up for you guys.  I'm sorry that I was gone for so long, and I know that I lost some of you along the way, but for those of you that stuck with me, thank you.  The hiatus is now over and Metallman is coming back at full force!  Later!

The Struggle with Complacency

Breathe in... breathe out... breath in... breathe out...

Hey there.  You guys still with me?  It's been while, huh.  I apologize.  I've had a few personal struggles that I've been working on.  Mostly on the mental side.  Not saying mental mental... but that there is always a few things that can be done to better yourself mentally.  One of the things that I've caught within myself is complacency and it is something that I want to get rid of.  You need the drive, you need the fire, you need to push yourself to not only better yourself but better things around those that support you.  No one should want to live a stagnant life.  There's no fun in living that way and to be honest, that's what bother's me the most in being complacent.  For someone that loves to be spontaneous, love to have have fun, and loves to joke around with loved ones, why settle for living life on a plateau?  I see that now and I'm done with it.

I Was Missing... But Now I'm Found

Clear the mind, find a happy place, take a moment and calm the storm.
Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Hey there.  I went on a self imposed hiatus for the past 3 weeks or so.  I needed time to clear my mind, body, and soul.  I felt that I was under immense pressure and I needed to just step away from it all for a bit to refocus and regroup myself.  This is the main reason why I have avoided almost all Emails and social media posts.  I haven't logged into Facebook for so long that I'm sure I must have like a 100 notifications by now.  It's tough having to step away from social media when you are considered to be an online presence.  I know that my ratings have suffered because of it, but I feel that I needed to be gone for a bit in order to survive for the long run.  I've avoided posting reviews and giveaways and I'm sure that some of those opportunities are no longer available.  I just felt that I wasn't ready to drive right into my work again.

Giving Thanks for the Year that was 2014

Hey there.  Can you believe that 2014 is nearly over?  Tomorrow is New Year's Eve.  2014 will soon be a memory and new experiences will be made in 2015.  2014 has been an eventful one, both personally and professionally.  Personally, new city, new home, new environment...  Professionally, new schedule, new contacts, new opportunities.  Personal items affect business items.  Moving into a new home really set me back a bit blog wise.  I'm sure you noticed that my posts have not been as routine as they used to be.  But those months spent settling into a new home is now over and a schedule has been set in place to assure posts are done on a more consistent manner.  But I digress...  This post is about giving thanks.  Thanks to those that have made 2014 a successful one for this website.  Also, I want to give a little insight on what is to come in 2015.  So let's get right to it.

Metallman's Reverie YouTube Channel

Hey there.  I just wanted to have a quick post announcing our YouTube Channel!  I didn't want to bring it up until I had at least a few videos to check out.  The channel has gone live for a little over a month now (maybe 2) and I just uploaded my 4th video review last night.  I plan on having more of them on a consistent basis so make sure you stop by frequently to check it out!  I'm still new to YouTube and am not really sure how to best utilize it so if you have any feedback or suggestions, I greatly appreciate it!  So here's a playlist of my videos so far!  Enjoy!

Updating Blog Stats

Hey there.  Today, I am updating my blog stats on my Press Kit Page.  I haven't been able to squeeze out the time the past several months to keep up with my blog posts and let me tell you... my blog stats have suffered because of it.  Even though I do have a small following (thanks guys!) you need to keep those readers happy with content.  When the content is simply not there, you can't expect the readers to swing by for a visit.  I've always known this but it's hitting home more so now than ever.  At one point, my Alexa Rank was well under 200,000 (it's sitting at a 1,400,000+ at this moment) and I was getting over 10,000 page views a month (struggling to get 2,500 a month at this moment).  I'm not too happy with those numbers.  I know I can improve on them.

2014, Metallman is Ready

Ms Jacqui Holland, everybody!

Hey there.  I'm sorry I haven't posted in a few weeks.  I entered "vacation mode" and stepped away from blogging while I attempted to stop the holidays from Falcon Punching my wallet.  lol  Anyways, 2013 is now in the books and in the past.  2014 is a week old and is already looking promising.  Here's what I have in store for you guys.

First off, we brought the Get a Life Podcast back.  It was on hiatus for a bit and was on a 3 week vacation these past three week but fear not dear Metal Maniacs (Metallman fans... maybe?  lol  the fan name is still a work in progress)!  We have 2 guests lined up to join us in the coming weeks.  Australian indie developer, Witch Beam, Co-Creator Santana Mishra will join us to disuss the Xbox One Parity Clause and Witch Beams' latest game, Assault Android Cactus, being released on PC.  We also have the beautiful, talented, and self proclaimed geek, actress Jacqui Holland, lined up to have a chat about her up coming films, her production company, MindFuc Films, and just generally geeking out over horror films and pop culture!

Online Writing Jobs You Can do at Home

Hey there.  You know, with Halloween and the holidays coming up, I found myself going online and getting stuffs more frequently.  You want to know how much of that I paid out of pocket?  Practically none of it.  Why is that?  Well, because I have an online job that is pretty damn awesome. I've been in the blogging game for well over 5 years now and throughout those 5 years, I have tried many things to find a way to provide my kids with what they deserve.  I've been fortunate enough that I have been in the blogging game for over 5 years so I've been able to provide extras for them AND spend time with them.  I know that there are many of you out there that do not have that luxury.  Whether it be because you are a traveling salesman or you simply want to add a little extra income without having to get a 9 to 5 job.  For those of you that are in those fields and want to stay home and spend more time with your families, you may want to think of finding extra ways of making some money.  Accepting some online writing jobs may be just what you need.  The best part about it is that there are countless possibilities for you make your fair share of money online and allow you to stay at home.  Just look at what I was able to do with my website.  Humor, parenting, technology, reviews, video games, movies, giveaways...  you name it, it's probably in here somewhere.  And because I have such a wide range of topics, I am free to write about practically anything.  That freedom has provided me with opportunities... money making opportunities...  money making opportunities that I will share with you guys looking to stay at home.  So, if you are looking stay at home and are looking for ways to make some money on the side, then you need to check out these top online writing jobs that you can do at home.

Sorry I Have Been MIA

Need to post!  Gotta podcast!  Need to post!  Gotta podcast!

Hey there.  Sorry I've been MIA recently.  I've been so caught up with work and working out that I haven't been able to carve the time to write something up and I feel completely horrible for not writing.  That's a good sign, right?  lol  No worries though.  I'm back.  I'm done with being missing and I need to get back into the swing of things and decided that a quick, "what's up", post will do it.  So what's going down?  Let's find out!

Metallman's Reverie Update

Metallman here, with today's update

Hey there.  I just wanted to drop by and a leave a quick post about what's going on at Metallman's Reverie. I haven't had much time as of late since I've been working on other projects so I want to give you guys a run down as to what the game plan is.  I want to update you guys on the fundraising, the reviews, the giveaways, and the events planned.  So let's get to it.

First off, the Get a Life podcast is not dead.  lol  I've gotten some reader feedback asking when the next episode is going to air.  My Get a Life partner in crime is traveling at the moment so we decided that it we would take a few weeks off while he travels the north east part of the country.  We'll resume the podcast once he settles in and we're good to go.  I'm genuinely flattered that some of you guys are asking about it.  Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  lol

Buying Metallman a Beer #2

Thank you, Shane Dickson, for buying Metallman a beer!  CHEERS!

Hey there.  Time to honor another awesome fan that took the time to contribute to Metallman's Reverie!  The beer chosen?  A Paulaner Hefe-Weizen Natural Wheat beer!  Thank you, Shane Dickson!  Shane is also known as the OregonSlacker and he loves himself some gaming!  Make sure to check out his facebook page and check out the pictures he has of some of the gaming competitions that he's taken part in and take a glance at his pretty awesome gaming PC!  Thanks for the support, my friend!

Buying Metallman a Beer #1

Thank you, Christina Bandy, for buying Metallman a beer!  CHEERS!!!

Hey there! I've started a fundraiser!  When I first started the fundraiser, I figured that it would be a great way to ask friends and family to donate to the website.  The deal is that if you buy Metallman a beer, I would have a beer (or a cup of joe if you prefer) in your honor, post a picture, and give you a shout out as a way of saying thanks for supporting Metallman's Reverie, AND provide you with a link to your Twitter or FB Page if you wish.  I intended the beer thing to be only available for my birthday, but eh... I decided to keep it going number the posts to keep tabs on how many people have donated.  Hopefully, I'll have a good turnout and I'll have many people donating to the site.  And today, we honor the first contributor!  So here's to you, CHRISTINA BANDY, for being awesome enough to be the first to buy Metallman a beer!  Make sure you guys stop by her facebook and twitter feeds let her know how awesome she is for being a part of the "Buy a Beer" campaign!  Thanks!

Happy Birthday Metallman!

Hey there. Today is my birthday! After doing the math, I discovered that today I turn 31. lol Yeah, I don't really keep track of how old I am. I don't see a need for it. My wife is usually the one that tells me, and others, how old I am. Anyways, I've been away from the blogging scene for about 2 weeks now. I needed to clear my head for a bit. I have many thoughts and ideas that I want to implement in my life and career and need to sort that out before I can focus on my writing. I think I've gotten it straightend out now.

Starting a Website is Not as Hard as it Seems

Hey there.  I have been in the blogging game for the better part of 5 years now.  5 years... that still shocks me, you know.  When I started off, it was just something that I wanted to do.  No real plan.  No real path to take.  Just open up a new blog post and write.  If you go back and see some of my very first posts, you'll see that they are very unorganized, have little to no tags, and simply put, just all over the place.  I'm not saying that's bad, I'm just saying that when you jump face first into the blogosphere without a plan, you tend to make more than a few mistakes while you learn.  The good thing is that you don't have to make those amateur mistakes.

Metallman Update: Events, Games, GenCon, and More

Hey there.  It's been awhile since I last had a post.  I'm sorry, guys.  I haven't really been feeling well and I couldn't muster the energy to sit and write.  No worries though! I'm back and at full strength and wanted to give you guys a heads up on what's to come.  A few game reviews are coming, in written and podcast form, a few events that I'll be covering, and I received a press pass for a gaming convention!  How awesome is that?!  Ok... so let's get into the details.  Something tells me this is going to be a lengthy post!