Low temps, high expectations...

Many doings. A bit of writing in the early morning, then off to the shop to manage a few projects. Blood drawn at noon. Lunch at Starbuck’s afterward.

Read forty or so pages of the Krakauer book last night. Three new lit journals and a new New Yorker to look into this weekend. Feeling energized. Also found a book by Ernie Pyle—essays from WWII—that I’d forgotten about and need to revisit. Been years since I’ve looked at it.

Cats have been particularly sweet the past few days. Wonder what that’s about? Nice to see them cuddling, chasing each other around. Everything’s okay when the boys are okay.

Supposed to be snow tonight, but we’ll see. If so, might strap on the snowshoes. Otherwise, looking forward to a long morning of writing and, with luck, a movie later in the afternoon.

 

Half speed ahead...

Still under the weather. Feels like I’ve been working at half speed for almost two months. Whatever’s going on, I hope it gives soon.

Highpoint of the day was a story in the new issue of redivider (12.1) by Robert Long Foreman, a professor at Rhode Island College. Funny, funny piece that, in a completely twisted sort of way, Mick Jagger would probably consider an homage.

Also finished the Hillenbrand book. Wow. What a story.

Had some time early in the morning to make a few revisions. Have four, maybe five pieces close to finished. Feel if I could summon up the energy for one big charge I might get two of them out the door.

Robert Pinsky was supposed to appear at the Colorado College tonight, but cancelled because of bad weather on the east coast. Looks like reruns on TV instead.

Was sorry to hear Pinsky wasn’t coming. Saw him here years back, just after he’d published his translation of The Inferno, and it was a great night. Robert Haas was also there. Terrific double-header. (It was a good run of talent, that year, if I remember. I believe W.S. Merwin spoke the following month, just after releasing his beautiful long poem, The Folding Cliffs.)

Beat, calling it a day...

Not feeling particularly great today. A prescription ran out, and been forced to use generics. Even so, got in a walk, some good editing, and a sizeable amount of reading time.

The Hillenbrand book is hard to put down. What a story. Nearly finished with it, though, and looking forward to whatever comes next. The new Denis Johnson novel, maybe.

Temps got into the sixties today. Not sure how long the good weather’s expected to stay. Haven’t seen the paper or heard any reports. If the warm keeps a while, might try another trip to New Mexico to see the folks. Could use a nice long drive to clear the head.

Tired. Signing off now. More tomorrow.

Making tracks...

Snowshoeing in Mueller State Park, yesterday and today. Both outings beautiful. The Sangres were covered with snow, a great white jawbone stretched across horizon. Good to be outdoors. Good to see the sky again. Good to get in some exercise.

Buried...

Snow. Lots and lots of snow. Been coming down all day. Got into the office early and went on a marathon writing session. Six TV scripts and one brochure later, it’s time go home. Revisions will show up on my doorstep come tomorrow, I’m sure, but for now it’s kick back and relax.

Need to stop at the grocery store on the way home and pick up some coffee and milk. Maybe find a beer with my name on it. 

A toothsome day...

7:24 pm. Just home from the office. Dental appointments took up most of the day, and writing projects took up what was left. As always, happy to bring in a few bucks, even if it means short notice and tight deadlines.

Not a lot of story work today, but that’s okay. Probably needed a small break from the pieces I’ve been working on. Or, looking at from a different perspective, they probably need a small break from me.

The battle of Marathon...

Overcast skies, warm temps, and lingering snow all day.

Got in some decent writing time this morning and made the most of it. Movie this afternoon—American Sniper—then over to the grocery store in search of light bulbs. All in all, a lazy day.

Still have a number of drafts on queue to be finished and pushed out the door, but can tell which will be first.

Feel as if I’ve gotten a slow start with the new year, but like many things in life, it’s a marathon.

More comings and goings...

Productive morning editing. Went out to the Saigon Café for a noodle bowl at noon, then made tracks to the office for a bit of new year paper filing.

Temps mild today, but no sun to melt the snow. Might prove a good weekend to pull out the snowshoes.

Corned beef brisket’s been simmering on the stove all day. Will let it rest in the fridge tomorrow, then stick it in the oven Sunday and hope for leftovers. Last one produced some fine Reuben sandwiches.

Regrouping...

Long day. Plans for the trip south stymied. Need to dust myself off and try again. Meanwhile, new projects coming in and a big weekend ahead.

Kitties wrestling on the floor. Too tired to write or read. Time to hit the sack and start in again tomorrow.

Stalled...

Third day straight with overcast skies. Felt warm today, but the snow hasn’t given much ground, and the town’s taken on that tired gray look of a stalled Midwestern winter.

Managed a few revisions on “Desperado” before going into the office, then spent the better part of the day reworking brochure copy. Waiting to see what revisions might be in store before making a commitment on my road trip.

Feel like I’ve fallen into the doldrums, but was reminded I’ve been sick since well before Christmas. Which is true. Just wish I could summon up the energy to get another story out the door. That, or get a good run at Riverbound again.

A Hundred pages into Unbroken, and enjoying it. Again, it’s not Seabiscuit, but what is? Need to remind myself to get out and pick up the new Johnson novel…also the new edition of Best American Short Stories. It’s that time of year, right?

 

Holding patterns...

Snow still clinging to the branches. Big rolling clouds still clinging to the Peak. Put in a long day at the office writing a brochure, and ready to go home now. Got stock pot with roasted pork shoulders ready to be turned into split pea soup.

Leaving town tomorrow if the weather holds. Another quick jaunt down to Albuquerque.

Snow, and more...

Woke up to a winter wonderland, boughs drifted over, everything underfoot buried in four inches of snow. Shoveled three walks including my own. Felt good to be outside in the fresh air.

Headway on “Desperado.” Feeling as if the revisions are working, that I’m closing in on something good. Didn’t get as much keyboard time as I would have liked, owing to the snow shoveling, but hope to knock out a few lines when I get home tonight.

Heard from the editor at Licking River Review. The new edition is out, and complimentary copies (featuring my story “Stuck”) are coming my way. All’s right with the world.

 

A little R & R...

Lazy day. Wrote a bit in the morning, drove the old Christmas tree out to Rock Ledge Ranch for recycling, then hunkered down in the den and watched some playoff football.

Look to pick up the pace tomorrow. Can feel the call of spring, though it’s a long way off. Eager to begin new work on the house, make headway on some new manuscripts.

Fair Weather, Friends...

Weather took another turn today, a warm breeze and clear skies melting all the ice and snow, temps reaching the mid-forties.

Got some good work in on the first five hundred words of a piece I’ve tentatively titled “Desperado.” A story loosely based on the robbery of The Bright Spot, a small family restaurant in Hiland, Wyoming. Been carrying this particular idea around in my head for many years, but finally feel I have the horses to make it work. Two thirds of the narrative feels good already. If I can hammer the opening into shape and make some clever edits on the rest of the pages, I might have a winner.

Copies of the new Dalhousie Review arrived in the mail this morning. My story “Blues Legend” is one of the fiction selections included in the pub, so I’m happy to get my hands on reserve copies I can spread around.

Also got a note from the editors at Narrative this morning. Some wonderful soul (a writer, I believe, from Sri Lanka) asked for my email to let me know he enjoyed my story “Fallen Angel.” Not even sure how to respond to a compliment that wonderful, but will certainly try.

A Regular Goddamned Chilly Fest...

A chill winter bastard today. Not a great deal of snow, but lots of ice. Took a few days off earlier in the week to drive south and spend a few days with the old folks. Happy to report, all is well. Had good weather traveling in both directions, and saw some starkly pretty countryside along the way. Ran across a number of coyote, but saw no deer or elk.

Brought the Hillenbrand book along (Unbroken), but didn’t have much time to read. Sixty or seventy pages into it now. Interesting story. Not as well achieved as Seabiscuit, so far, but holding off judgment until the end. Feels good getting involved in a long piece again.

Still making revisions on the five or so stories I’ve been holding since well before Christmas. Got the final bit of work in on “Burn Scar” and began sending it out yesterday. Last night, did a small revise on “Shark Week,” and sent it off to the Broken Pencil, in hopes of having it singled out for their Literary Death Match competition. We’ll see what happens.

Got some work in on the opening segment of Riverbound, but haven’t been able to get back to it yet for more. Will try and mix in the next round of edits while working on the short pieces. Looking for a good stretch of time this weekend to dig in and move ahead. Fingers crossed.

Mailer’s Armies of the Night came up in discussion today. Been years since I read it. Need to crack it again and see what I missed the first time around. Meanwhile, have to get down to the stove and begin prepping the veal scaloppini that’s waiting for me. Looking forward to a nice quiet Friday night.

Forging ahead...

Dinner with friends last night. Mussels in white wine sauce, homemade bread. Cobbler for dessert. Still under the weather, but stayed up to watch Requiem for a Heavyweight (the movie, not Playhouse 90). Been a while since I’ve seen it. Forgot that Willie Pep, Muhammad Ali (actually, Cassius Clay at the time) and Jack Dempsey all had cameo roles. Julie Harris was terrific—as always. Gleason, Quinn, and Rooney too.

Drafted a new story yesterday. Also finished what I hope to be the last set of revisions on “Burn Scar.” Re-opened Riverbound. Will see where I can take it after a long cooling session.

Heading south to Albuquerque tomorrow to visit the folks for a few days. Need to pick up a book on tape from the library before I blow town. Weather’s good. Hope it’ll hold. 

Not Quite Spring Cleaning...

Spent the early part of the morning revising a short piece (just under 2000) I’m calling “Burn Scar.” Happy now with the general cut of the narrative, but need to make a few more tweaks before putting it in the mail.

Spent the other half of the morning policing the house, getting things back to their pre-holiday state.

Am halfway through the Denis Johnson novel (again) and enjoying it more than the first time around. The man knows how to string words together. He’s also wickedly funny.

Feel closer and closer to being ready to take a stab at another book length story. Could use some more research time, but don’t want to stand in the way of ambition or get bogged down in details working on a first draft. The main idea’s there, and I think I have enough to run with it.

Talked to the folks today. Nice to hear their voices. Was told my sisters and significant others have mounted a cross-desert pilgrimage to Disneyland. Might sneak down to Albuquerque next week in their absence.

Hello 2015...

Beautiful winter snow today. Just lovely. Streets are quiet, the sky’s low and gray, it’s a new year. Still under the weather, but after shrugging off the vestiges of 2014, I’m excited about what lies ahead.