Mini-post

I hope everyone is having an excellent day.  I am writing to you from my couch, having just returned from a marvelous walk up to Cafe Capri where I sat outside and spent over an hour reading in the sun.  I started with Les Miserables; not a light read, and eventually switched to High Five by Janet Evanovich.  Yeah, I like to mix it up.  No, I was not carrying a backpack full of novels, although I would.  I was gifted with a Kobo this last Christmas and it comes in handy when packing light.  I know everyone has busy lives but I highly recommend sitting outside with a good book, or trashy novel of your choice.  It is a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

Lazy, Lazy...

Did you realize it has been at least two weeks since I've posted?  That it has been over ten days since I went on one of my walks?   And, it has been weeks since I last worked on my book?  I did.  I have inadvertently cycled into an extremely lazy season, and man those drag out longer than an Idaho winter. 

I've learned over time that there is not much to be done except to ride it out.  Eventually, I get discontent with my slothful contentedness and start giving myself short pep talks.  These typically turn in to "shame-on-you!" talks; which are easier, and more satisfying to ignore.  When I finally admit skipping one more day might turn in to a lifetime of accomplishing nothing, and waking up old and rotten; I put one leg in front of the other, and walk out the front door.  That is what I did today.  I started with what took the least mental energy, and made my way up to Cafe Capri.  I travelled there through wind, and threat of rain, sipped my coffee, flipped through Barista Magazine, (oh, yes- it exists), and walked home. 

Since I've been back; I showered, started laundry, cleaned the cat box, am writing this blog, and will soon head out again to whatever this day has in store.   

So, if anyone out there finds themselves similarly averted to productivity, my advice to you is to start small; put one foot in front of the other; over and over again, until you find yourself back on track.

The Jib, the Hull, and the What?

As I mentioned in my previous post; I was to attend a Banquet Saturday night for a local Sailing Club.  To be honest, I didn't know we had a local Sailing Club.  Kind of land bound here.  We do however, have some good lakes scattered about; and those who love to sail make frequent use of them.  Between April, and October, SISA (Southern Idaho Sailing Association), holds several regattas, (Glossary provided below).  I feel it was a successful event.  I went in, and actually talked to people!  About tillers!, and hulls!, and Oh, My!- there are a lot of names for things on a boat. 

I will be studying such terms, and diagrams over the next several weeks; because when I'm out on the water, being yelled at; I want to know why I'm in trouble.  I met several people who were more than happy to answer my questions, and offer important advice such as: 

Clothing:  Wear layers. It can get pretty cold because of the wind. Gloves- we'll be pulling lines (ropes) and it can be pretty painful. Sneakers- with good tracking.

Food: Bring a sandwich/water. Nothing fancy- something you can eat with one hand is best.

Bathroom: Go before you get on the water. Some boats have a "toilet." But...yeah better to go beforehand

Precautions: They can supply life jackets. It is important to wear a good sunscreen, and if possible one that protects from wind burn as well.

As you can tell, a very entertaining sailing post is on the horizon.  Maybe as soon as early May!  I look forward to sharing it with you.  In the meantime, outside of studying sailing terms; I will be working on my story, and getting my characters in to a more complicated situation- involving a prison convict, and father issues.





Regatta: A series of boat races, usually of sailboats or rowboats, but occasionally of powered boats.

Hull: The main body of a ship or other vessel, including the bottom, sides, and deck but not the masts, superstructure, rigging, engines, and...The outer covering of a fruit or seed, esp. the pod of peas and beans, or the husk of grain.

 

Tiller: a lever used for steering, attached to the top of the rudder post. Used mainly on smaller vessels, such as dinghies and rowing boats.

 

Jib: A triangular staysail at the front of a ship.

 

Staysail: A sail whose luff is attached to a forestay.

 

Luff: The forward edge of a sail.

 

Forestay: Long lines or cables, reaching from the bow of the vessel to the mast heads, used to support the mast.

 

...you can look up the rest.  It just goes on, and on...

The bright side...

This post is coming late, and I apologize.  I like to post on Sundays because I usually have a lot of time to reflect before I write.  This last Sunday I was reflecting on why I owe the Federal Government money, and why my dreams of financial Independence were yet another step away.  I admit it took a couple of days to look on the bright side.

Today is different.  Today my mind is free to dwell on other things.  Positive things.  New things.  You see; I belong to a small band of Adventurers.  Once a month we gather together, and attempt something we have never done before.  This coming Saturday I am going solo on a reconnaissance mission for an upcoming adventure.  I will infiltrate an exclusive party, gather information, and through my contact- whom I have never met; will network on behalf of my team.  If I am successful my colleagues and I will soon be posing as crew in a local, competitive, sailing race.  Hopefully, no one will catch on that I have no idea what I'm doing.

I mean, you haven't caught on yet; have you?  

In which I don't talk about writing...

I've been thinking lately of where I'd like to go if I got the chance to travel again.  Over the years I have been to Canada, Mexico, Honduras, and Indonesia.  Although these opportunities have blessed me in various ways; I can't say that any of these locations were a part of my Travel Bucket List.  In truth my List is quite small.  There are really only three locations on my mind as I write this.


1. Machu Picchu: 15th-century Inca site. 7,192' Elevation. Cusco Region of Peru, South America.

To be honest, I never thought much of Machu Picchu.  In fact, I'm not sure I had heard about it until college; and that was only because of a brief line in a poem I read by Gwendolyn Brooks.  I didn't think about it again until a few years later as I was flipping through channels, and PBS was showing a special on the Inca Civilization.  The majesty surrounding this now empty city was breathtaking on film, and I realized that I wanted to stand there myself one day.  I imagine it is quite humbling.  You can travel there by train- and I have always wanted to travel by train!  There is an impressive hike up of course, but totally worth it.

Also- look how much fun these alpaca's are having!

2. France: No city in particular.

I want to visit France one day.  I actually made a promise to my Father that I would.  He had me promise to find a small cafe, sit outside, and have wine, with cheese.  He had traveled there himself for work, and I know that he wished he could have taken me to see it.  We lost him several years back, and I miss him greatly.  This is not a promise I intend to break.

 



3.  Scotland:  My heritage.

I am not fully of Scottish descent; perhaps three-quarters?  However, no place in the world feels so uniquely home to me then Scotland.  I know that my anticipation may exceed reality when I finally get to go; but somehow, I don't think so.

Where would you go?

In which I am sick, and tired.

It has not been the most productive week.  I was able to write out a scene Wednesday night, between work, and babysitting; but other then that nothing.  I had good intentions for this weekend, but this weekend had other intentions for me, and I spent all of Saturday between the bathroom, and my bed.  Today, I was able to get up despite some seriously achy legs, neck, and shoulders.  I even took a walk.  I thought getting my blood moving would be beneficial.  I made it up to the Cafe I frequent; but I spent most of the time staring out the window. 

I realized that the notebook I grabbed was a journal I took to Honduras last Summer.  I read through it, and it brought back good, and negative memories; it is interesting to read what you wrote in a different time, and most certainly; a different place.  It feels like more time has passed then really has.  I had forgotten about the Honduran boys collecting giant beetles in discarded plastic bags; only to chuck them at our girls as they walked by.  I forgot how sweltering the sun could be even high up in the mountains, and how hard it was to communicate; not just with the Hondurans, but with those on my own team.   There weren't many entries in the journal, so it didn't take long to read.  After a few more minutes of staring out the window, and at blank paper; I gave in, and walked back home.

I wouldn't say it was a completely fruitless venture; I actually thought through a character I'd been debating about for several days now; and found a spot for them that actually made sense.  This character would probably be the most magical character I have so far; in fact- this character shouldn't even exist.   My intention going forward is that my characters are limited in special abilities.  And, that can be hard when trying to make a story based in a fantasy world go forward.  My Main Character isn't going to find out he has a secret parentage of Gods, or Wizards.  I want him to be as real as you, or me; but vital to the story nonetheless- just like you, or me.  It can be difficult to balance.  At least I have more pieces fitting together.  On the other hand I still have so much to write out, and I'm feeling pretty puny right now.  Hopefully, I'll have a chance to sit down this week, and update my story.  Soon I will need to print a copy out, and take an editorial pen to it.  I don't want to get rid of much right now- only make sure the sequence of events is making sense.

I have a lot to do this week; but here is what I'll probably be doing momentarily.

Eyes bigger then her stomach...

I've been having a hard time not making this story too big.  At the rate I'm going it'll have to be 1,700 pages long.  Now some of you might accept such a challenge; but I'm pretty confident it would be a hard sell to any agent/publisher.  Not that I'm anywhere near 1,700 pages, mind you; more like 35- but in my head it remains massive.  Ideally, I would have the opportunity to turn it in to a serial; realistically- I need to finish writing one book before I start outlining the next eight. 

I suppose it's a good sign I'm motivated to expand this story beyond what I had originally intended.  The fact that I'm getting past the fear of completing it at all is a very good sign.  I get excited about what is to come, and what could come; and it is hard not to jump ahead to the good parts.  This is true in reading, writing, and in life.  What is harder, and more satisfying, is making the parts in-between equally good. 

As I continue to work on the in-between parts; I want you to know that I am trying to come up with an apt description of my story.  I need something to tell people when they ask about it.  All I can say right now is that it concerns two people sent on individual jouneys; who discover their paths are one and the same.  But with dragons.  Well, maybe.