Got some good writing time today. Took a while to get up to speed, but that should make the transition into tomorrow's regime a little easier. Have two projects in progress, but thinking maybe I should begin drafting some new pieces and keep things fluid rather than drive myself crazy with artificial deadlines. Too many holiday obligations to get in the way, and too many visitors and guests coming. Better to get in the mindset of taking what's there and leaving the heavy lifting till later. Happy the way "Devotion" turned out. Maybe it'll find a nice home before long. Hope so.
Cold snap...
Wild day. One chore after another, none of them writing-related. Guess it's just the holidays.
Still looking for a win. Something to put in the plus column. Haven't found it yet, but holding out hope.
Leonardo book's keeping me sane. Same with the Salter novel. Maybe I'll make some headway tomorrow.
P.S. Coming down with another cold. Yeah. Again.
The Early Bird Gets the Wormhole...
Need to work on my scheduling technique. Of late, too many days have gotten out of hand. Too many opportunities lost. Have something like nine stories in the mail, and begun to think all of them are worthless. Check that. Not worthless, but worthlessly submitted to the wrong publications. Still, it's made more sense to push forward with new work than put a halt to things by pulling old pieces and resubmitting them to more favorable markets. End of the year's staring me in the eye, and while I don't believe in resolutions, I do believe in resolve. Gonna fix this thing one way or the other.
Coasting...
Funny how age turns life around. When I was a kid I had all sorts of hopes and wishes and expectations during the holidays. Anymore I just want to sit back and watch. Give up all ambition, as the great Robert Bly once said. Enjoy the moment without having to play a part in it.
Nice clear day today. Cool, but pretty. Spent a lot of time looking after small stuff, but managed to read the new N. piece and gather a few ideas on how to critique it. Ran some errands, but can't claim any other victories without stretching the truth. Looking forward to a quiet night and an early rise. See if I can't put "Devotion" to bed and move on to other things.
Choosing my words...
I button my lip about a lot of stuff when writing these journal entries. Today's presidential address to the Navajo code talkers of WWII is a simple reason why.
Had a good day putting the finishing touches on my latest, "Devotion." Needed it. Yesterday's rejection of a piece that had been in the mail one year, four months, was tough.
Been enjoying the Da Vinci biography. More than enjoying it. Been getting lost in it, not wanting it not to end.
New piece in from N. Gotta put this to rest and see what kind of hand I've been dealt.
A good Friday...
Tossed back a couple of quick cups this morning, then loaded the truck and headed up to Leadville to cut down a Christmas tree. Day was a little breezy, but sunny, too, until just outside Buena Vista where low clouds came and spit rain. Thought it might snow, but the weather blew through, and things shaped up. Collegiate Peaks looked like an engraving. Silver gray, white-edged. Bought a permit at the Forest Service station in Leadville, then had lunch (green chili) at the Golden Burro. Drove up into the San Isabel forest afterward on a dirt road that was slick and rutted with mud. Hiked in and found the perfect twelve foot pine. Took it down with an axe, then dragged it through the rocks and snow and loaded it in the back bed of the truck. Quite a day. Didn't see much in the way of wildlife, but Clear Creek was magnificent, and the Arkansas, as usual, was a sight you never tire of. All in all, a beautiful day.
Can it only be Tuesday?
Little ones, all day. Gives you a whole new perspective on the world.
Read an excerpt from Leonardo's notebook last night. "Notes on the Penis." It, too, put a few things in perspective.
Need to regroup.
Another look at Monday...
Hit the ground running today, but gassed out before I'd hoped. Still, not a bad jog. Time in at the keyboard, a good go at the gym, more. Gotta keep my head in the right place. Hands moving. We'll see what the rest of the week brings.
Life...how and what is it?
After suffering what seemed like a dry spell, ran across a fine new story. Gonna kick it upstairs, will take my time in its promotion. Make sure I get it right.
Enjoying the W. Isaacson bio of Da Vinci. Forget sometimes how refreshing it is to read a nice bit of non-fiction. Also enjoying the Salter novel (The Hunters) that came to me recently by way of an old, old friend. Have a lot to be thankful for and know it. Need to work at being a better recipient of so much good grace.
Had a dream about my dad last night. We were both younger. He was dressed in a white shirt and tie, wearing a vaguely unfamiliar pair of glasses. He put out his hand and smiled and beckoned to me, but I couldn't quite return his reach.
Setting up for a deep run...
First day of uninterrupted (mostly uninterrupted) time at the keyboard in a while. Made the most of it, making notes, revising, making more notes, then researching pubs as possible homes for my new stories. Might be just me, but the last six, nine months, folks have been a good deal slower getting back on submissions. Makes sense, I guess, given the turnover at any given college. Still, you expect a certain level of professionalism from a literary publication, and you don't always get it. Anyway, was able to push a few pieces out the door before heading off on errands, and getting in a late afternoon session at the gym.
Nice day today. Blue skies, pretty clouds. Wish I'd had the time to get in a walk. Not sure what tomorrow's gonna bring, but a good breeze is coming in out of the northeast tonight and temps have dropped since sunset. Thought it was supposed to be nice weekend. Maybe I heard wrong.
Oh, yeah. New water heater installed today. Plumbers were banging around all morning, dismantling the old rig and installing the new one. Wasn't looking forward to making a pre-emptive gutting of the old unit--I'm sure the bill won't be pretty--but the damned thing was on its last leg, and with the holidays at hand it was prime time for a major malfunction. You live, you learn.
Eureka!
Progress! PROPAGANDA review out the door, four reviews for N in solid draft.
On the less than exciting side, Jeep's power steering needs a major overhaul. Well, not major maybe, but enough to put a sizable dent in the wallet.
Thank god for Starbucks.
Progress report...
Oye. Another long one.
A sea of holes...
What I'm currently missing: blue skies, my old fly vest, Wyoming, my dad, my kid, a pretty stretch of river, cool summer nights...
Stuck in Saturday...
Spent the whole day trying to knock off the rust. Didn't get real far, but felt like I'd maybe made progress just the same. New Propaganda piece, new stories from N. Enough to keep me busy for a while. Need to have a big day tomorrow. Dinner tonight with K. Will be good to get out.
Trying not to think too hard...
Spent the day in the mountains, North Pole, USA with young J. What a wonderful throwback that place is with all its antique rides! Had a great time kicking around, not a computer or computer game in sight. Rode rockets, race cars, Christmas ornaments, and the world's highest Ferris wheel. How could it ever get better? Read the new Tom McGuane story in the NYer when I got home. God, he makes it look easy.
Call of the Wild...
Saw some sunshine today, but the weather was cool and even less hospitable when the wind kicked up. Wintry, only not really. Looking after small stuff today, so not much progress at the keyboard other than note taking and a bit of light research. Did manage to get over to the gym, but not until later in the afternoon. Will have young J much of the day tomorrow, so don't figure to make up any ground until late in the afternoon. But who knows. Maybe that's being optimistic.
Four new stories in from N this morning. Have read two. Enjoyed them both. One a diction-driven epistemology of sorts, the other a straightforward bit of sci-fi. Nice writing on both counts, but not enough, maybe to vote ahead as contest winners. Second and perhaps third reads will tell.
Woke up swinging last night. A horrible nightmare. Christ. This is the worst week of sleep I've had in ages. Maybe it's the sore arm/back that's stirring up trouble, I don't know. But whatever it is I hope it ceases. Soon. Been dreaming about the dark a lot, loose ends and all that. Ways to unburden myself before someone comes along and tries to do it for me. Need to get a sound night's sleep, score a win at the keyboard, and let things mend themselves. Maybe read a little Jack London.
Stalled out early on...
Couldn't get started. Distractions all day. Up late, ousted from office, more distractions. Did manage one substantive (and entertaining) phone call, before noon, then pretty much called it quits. Got a letter off to D., wrote a few quick notes regarding the SantaLand Diaries, and headed over to the gym around 3:00. Not much of a workout, but I suppose I should have see that coming. High hopes for the day, but they crashed and burned early on. Gonna have to take another shot tomorrow. Weather sucked today, too. Cold, overcast, icy. Glad to have it behind me.
Ruminations...
Broke my promise to myself to be a little more entertainment-forward with this journal. Not sure why I've fallen behind in this pursuit except to say there probably isn't much entertainment going on in my life at the moment. Just plodding ahead, as usual, doing my best to dodge any real responsibilities until absolutely necessary. On that happy note, managed to get some work despite the usual distractions. Looked after small stuff most of the morning, then headed out to the gym mid-afternoon. Wet day. Cold, too. Looking for redemption tomorrow and, if the weather folks are even close to right (for a change) the rest of the week as well.
While putting in some research on a completely unrelated topic, ran across a listing advertising two or three agents willing to represent a short fiction anthology. Find that hard to believe, but the agents work for bona fide shops and seem to be serious. Might have to check one or two of them out. See what the prospects are. Meanwhile, it's steam ahead with some new stories and keep my fingers crossed on the ones currently in mail.
Could've used a great big Starbuck's today. Always makes everything better.
Forward, harch...
Daylight savings time!
Spend the day catching up--or trying to, anyway. Put in some good time at the keyboard, then went off to spend some time with the boys. Had a great time. Weather was brisk, but sunny. Not sure it made it into the seventies like the weather folks predicted, but more than tolerable for an early November day.
Talked to mom last night. Always an adventure.
Need to suck it up and get ready for tomorrow. See if I can't get a fast start on what looks to be a long involved week. Keep an eye peeled for sucker punches.
Veteran's Day...
Out the door early to take young J to the Veteran's Day parade today. Blustery's a kind description of the weather. Wind must have been blowing in off the front range in gusts of 40 to 50 mph. Miserable enough to ground the vintage aircraft. But had a blast just the same. Saw a lot of dedicated folks, old and young, from all branches of the Armed Services.