Warmed up a bit today. Got some time in at the keyboard, but not entirely sure I accomplished anything. Sometimes that's the way it goes. Particularly with writing. Anyway, got to have a brief chat with my buddy, Scott, write a review for N., talk to the folks at the body shop (truck expected to be finished Wednesday!) and still get in a quick trip to the gym. Coming up on the last chapter of James Salter's The Hunters. Quite the read. Disarmingly simple, but beautiful at the same time. Isaacson's Leonardo continues to amaze as well.
Counting down the days...
A chill winter bastard, as Anthony Burgess said. But the sun was out, and when the wind wasn't pushing back it was an okay day. Got more accomplished than I would have bet on when the morning started. Looking forward to the last of the tree trimming this evening. Maybe a fire, too. Need to hit the ground running tomorrow. Find out what's going on with the truck repairs, and other business. Hard to believe Christmas is only three weeks away.
It All Adds Up to Zero...
Another one lost.
Interruptions, meetings, etc., sank whatever hope there was of pounding out even a few words. I'd like to think tomorrow's gonna be different, but I know better. Best to take a deep breath and let it go which way it will.
Victory!
Some nice news today. 2 Bridges Review picked up "Herald Angel." It's an annual pub, so I won't see the story in print until 2019, but it'll be worth the wait. Had my eye on 2 Bridges for a while. Was impressed by it.
Spend most of the day looking after small stuff. Pecked out a few words, but not many. Saving my ammo for tomorrow. Gotta keep reminding myself that any advances this time of year are nothing short of a miracle.
Silver linings...
A guy once said to me, "Chekhovian, right. I mean, everyone says that. But what exactly does that mean?" All I know is, it's Monday, and before the afternoon was out I'd spend time with the body shop, the plumbers and the dentist's office. No explanation necessary.
Driving a bright red Yaris for a few days. Teeth are looking swell. Toilet flushes without bubbling over. Not the most impressive list of accomplishments but not a sharp stick in the eye either. Gonna decorate the tree tonight, hope for the sleep that didn't come last night, and regroup for tomorrow.
Windy again. Cold too. Think I'll build a fire and settle in.
The Antidote...
Getting sidetracked too easily these days. Nose is still to the grindstone, but feeing less and less effective. Meaning, less and less positive about the direction of my work. Sometimes I sit back and think, why bother? And I mean it. But for some reason I keep going back. Which means the whole thing's on me. Gotta stop worrying about the where things end up after they leave my hands. Only thing to do is to keep working, keep believing, and keep being true to myself.
Pretty day. Spent most of it researching new markets and making submissions. Brief trip downtown to Starbucks, then time in ATB park with young J. Highlight of the afternoon, to be sure.
Break on through...
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.