writer
Read a splendid story by Roddy Dole today in this week’s New Yorker. “The Buggy.”
Also managed some good early writing time and a decent workout at the gym.
Highlight of the day: a letter from young Jack.
Not sure what tonight will bring, but happy to see what comes.
A long aimless day.
Up late, slacked at the keyboard, put in a decent workout at the gym, and spent the rest of the afternoon running errands.
You win some, you lose some.
Woke clear-headed after a good night’s sleep.
Dinner at K’s last night. Biggest excitement all week.
Got some decent work in at the keyboard early on, then went off to a movie and a chance to get out of the heat.
Working up plans for Wyoming. Not sure of the dates yet, but eager to get everything in order. Boys will be out in a few weeks and want to have a clearer picture of where we’ll be and when.
Grass is looking a bit sad after all the heat. Gotta see if I can curb some of the damage.
Tonight? Nada.
Maybe an early bedtime and some reading.
Tough day today.
Another loss.
Go easy, Lucy.
Many goings on today.
Put in revisions on “Not Fade Away,” saw the new couch delivered, toughed-out a good workout at the gym and suffered through a long bout of PT.
Presidential debate tonight.
Lawn mowing tomorrow.
The world appears to be in good order for the moment. Guess I’ll leave it to its own devices.
Sat up late and watched “The Sand Pebbles” last night. Always amazed at what a terrific film it was. Saw it with my grandpa when I was a kid. He’d been a chief petty officer on a troop transport in WWI.
Good day today at the keyboard. Came close to putting together a new reader draft for my short, “Not Fade Away.”
Good day at the gym, too, despite it being overrun with other old-timers.
Ran a few errands this afternoon, then came home and worked a while longer. Too hot to hang outside.
New sofa arrives tomorrow. Looking forward to that.
Been reading The Confessions of Nat Turner now. Styron was a hell of a writer, wasn’t he.
Up later than usual, but a good day nonetheless. Wrote well in the morning, put in a good workout at the gym, mailed in my ballots for the upcoming primaries, and did little grocery shopping. Didn’t set any records, but didn’t fall any further behind either.
This one went by like it was shot out of a cannon. After yesterday’s yard sale, it only made sense to continue with the psychic cleansing and repaint the den. So we did. The new rug and sofa should arrive before week’s end, so in the meantime we’re hanging in the living room. Tuck isn’t sure he likes the new arrangement, but I suspect he’ll come back on line once the new furniture’s in place.
Tried hard to accomplish something at the keyboard this morning, but no luck. Worst day of writing in ages. Not gonna beat myself up for a change, and accept it instead and shoot for something better tomorrow.
Boys went off to their camp in Chesapeake Bay this afternoon. Eager to hear what sort of adventures they’ll have, especially since they’ll be roughing it with me in Wyoming another month from now.
Lots to do tomorrow. Probably check out early and hope for a long, sound, easy night’s sleep.
Spent most of the day working the Old North End yard sale. Didn’t make a whole lot, but cleared the house of stuff that needed to go. Spend the other part of the day mowing my lawns.
Skies were overcast, then sunny. Off and on all day. But no complaints. Did what needed to be done, then moved on.
Taking it easy tonight. A nice caprese salad, and a glass of wine.
Cool, overcast day. Loved it.
Quiet day. Up early writing letters, then off to the gym, the off to rehab. Hard to believe that constitutes an entire day, but hey, I’m old and that’s the way it shakes down.
Finished Seven Days in May. On to Mann’s Death in Venice.
Tomorrow—lawn management! Hi ho!
Flying blind tonight. Or, mostly blind. Spent the afternoon with the opthalmaologist and the eyes are still dilated. As such, no real writing today except for a brief forty minutes early this morning.
Talked briefly to the boys this afternoon. Everyone’s excited about their visit.
Meantime, some new work from the Philharmonic, and lots of revisions on a number of other pieces.
Lazy morning. Up a little later than usual, then off to work.
Cleaned up an old short, then went back to work on the long piece.
Spent the afternoon shopping. Bought some new kayaking pants and shorts. Some new t-shirts too. Talked to my bro, Joe, about plans for Wyoming when I got home.
All in all, a quiet day.
Back to it tomorrow.
Good day.
Managed a full morning at the keyboard straightening out the structural problems of the long piece. Now if I can only get the rest in order.
Spend the afternoon on the phone with the boys. School’s nearly out and they’re getting antsy for their summer vacation. Two weeks at camp back east, another two cooling their heels in Silver Spring, then a month here in Colorado and Wyoming.
Was hoping to get the new canoe out on the water this weekend, but rain and lightning keep getting in the way.
Taking it easy tonight.
Hot temps have descended upon us. High eighties today.
Worked hard on the long piece this morning. Lot’s of shaping, lots of note taking.
Good workout at the gym. Made it home in time to cut the lawn(s) before the rains came. Or should I say, before the rains that were supposed to come. (Never happened.)
Beat.
Gonna take it easy with a pizza tonight.
Hot today. Hot tomorrow, too. Even so, the sky was, and will be blue.
Good night’s sleep made all the difference.
Killed it at the keyboard this morning, had a nice even workout at the gym this afternoon.
Temps way up in the eighties today. Supposed to reach ninety-something tomorrow. Then rain going into the weekend.
Got a chance to speak to young J this afternoon. Made my day.
Dragging today. Woke up around three last night and never got back to sleep. Had an okay morning at the keyboard, and a better than expected afternoon at the gym, but sitting here now wondering how I’m gonna make it to 8:00 pm.
Temps got up into the eighties this afternoon, reminding us summer’s standing on the doorstep. Wish it wasn’t because the lawn looks great. But with the ashes having picked up some serious umbrage over the winter, who knows, I might be able to keep it from burning out as early as it’s done in years past.
Worked on the long piece most of the day. Felt good to take a deep dive after all this time. The pieces feel like they’re in place, but the prose needs pruning.
Not a whole lot else to report.
Drove out to Sportsmans Warehouse and picked up a couple of compound bows for the boys in anticipation of Wyoming. Still working on a decent set of fly rods.
Took a late afternoon walk. Wished I gotten over to the gym, but that’s what tomorrow’s for.
Looking for an easy evening.
Put some time in on the long piece today. Felt good to get back to it.
Got some time at the gym, early afternoon, then came home and took a walk around the hood.
Feeling a little bit slow today. Not sure why, but it’s definitely there. Laid down for half an hour with Tuck, and that helped. Still dragging though.
Made a pot of split pea soup for dinner. Hope it lives up to the hour I spent butchering the ham shanks.
