End of story...

Long day.

Worked a while, waited a while, worked out a while, then threw in the towel.

Wanted more, took less, and figure to bargain with tomorrow now, instead.

High point was talking to the boys after I got home from the gym.

Comfort food tonight. Maybe a movie.

We’ll see what Saturday brings.

Gettin there...

Well, made it this far.

Up at a good early hour to nice weather and a warm cup of coffee. Productive morning all the way around, and not a bad afternoon, either.

Wrote, read, worked out. Slipped another N critique out the door and over the transom. Even got in an early afternoon walk.

Feeling like it might be a nice holiday weekend, providing no one comes along and messes it up.

What else is there?

Big improvement in the weather. Still cool, but back to being sunny.

Was in the cottage early, and made some nice headway on the story I’d meant to get to yesterday. Feeling like I’ve got two pieces close to submission and a third not far behind.

Paid the bills after a pleasant coffee break, then went for a walk and a brief trip to the gym to work on my rehab.

Made a pot of potato leek soup when I got home. Wrote a couple of N critiques as well.

Still hoping to get back to the novel before the end of the week, but not entirely sure it’ll happen given other things keep popping up. We’ll see.

Meanwhile, trying not to think too hard.

Reason to believe...

Weather changed, just like they said. Only not as much. Figured to wake to an inch of snow, but there was nothing, just a few flurries. Stayed gray all afternoon.

Been thinking quite a bit, trying to sort through what it is I’m doing and why, and have come to the notion I may have to work some streamlining into my life. But that’s a story for a different day.

Was up early again, and again got in some good writing time before heading out to the gym. Covid’s kept the place quiet, which is nice, and working on some of the old machines has been a real help.

Talked to Jack, briefly, when I got home. After, took a nap. Hoped to get into the second of the new stories I’ve been working on, but time got away. Tomorrow, right?

It all adds up...

Put in a pretty good day today.

Made some nice revisions, sent out a couple of reviews, went for a walk, hit the gym for a quiet workout, then came home and took care of some family business.

Weather was lovely, if you discount the wind. Cool temps coming tonight, and maybe even a little snow.

Have fallen behind in my reading, though I’m looking to catch up tonight. Still feeling the effects of Daylight Savings Time. Don’t know why, but there it is.

Got a lot on the mind. The closer I get to pinning it down, the further away it seems. Nothing to do but press on.

Yup, Sunday...

Easy day.

Polished one of the new stories, enjoyed a couple of cups of coffee, and wrote a few critiques.

Worked out this afternoon, then came home and went for a nice leisurely walk.

Feels like I should’ve done more, but then it always feels that way. Maybe it’s a sign of personal growth I don’t give as much of a damn as I used to.

Making my own version of pasta pomodoro tonight.

Gonna kick back, rest up, and get a good jump on tomorrow.

Nice and easy tonight...

Did all right for a Saturday. Was up early and writing after tending to the kitties.

Put in some decent revisions on a story, and wrote four critiques for N.

Went to a movie early afternoon, then over to K’s for tea and conversation.

No heavy lifting, but that’s okay. Made progress, which should make tomorrow’s work all the easier.

Kicking back tonight. Omelettes and asparagus for dinner.

Nickels and dimes...

Getting harder and harder to sort out the days.

Was up early, to work early, and off to the gym early. Of the three, I remember the gym because my shoulder still aches.

Anyway, did some good work at the keyboard, including the writing of a handful of notes for my new N critiques. Gonna be busy with other people’s stories for the next day or so, but that’s okay. Looking forward to reading work that isn’t my own.

I think I’m still adjusting to daylight savings time. Or maybe it’s the epidemic. Either way, I got knocked off stride somewhere, somehow, and haven’t been able to regain my footing.

This, again, is why there’s tomorrow.

Tonight, pot pies and a bottle of wine.

Is That you, John Wayne? Is this me?

Been trying to focus on what’s in front of me.

Did some good revision work today, and a had a nice workout, too.

Rest of the day full of ups and downs.

Not sure if I’m making progress or falling behind, but I guess that’s the argument for living in the moment. You don’t really care.

Sent another N critique out the door. Two to go. Probably see another landslide of submissions before the month is out.

Dylan’s birthday tomorrow.

Time sure flies.

Digging out...

Well, the snow caught up with us. Got about five inches overnight. Wet stuff. Was worried about the locust tree in back that suffered the big hit last winter, but it was fine. No issues throwing the bolts we put it back together with, and no new branches down.

For all the accumulation, the sidewalks were wet but clear. In all, it turned out to be a good thing for the grass and trees.

Worked hard on finishing one of the new stories, but didn’t quite make it to the end. Soon, I hope. Had a couple of kitties in my lap, trying to speed the process, but in the end it had the opposite effect.

Put in some rehab today, and it felt pretty good. That is, the pain wasn’t bad and I learned a few new tricks along the way. Like to kick it into high gear, but still a bit hesitant fearing I might re-tear something. Guess it’ll all come in its own good time.

Talked to my old buddy S this afternoon. Been a while, and it was good to hear from him. Got a chance to swap some new war stories.

Also heard from the Belmont Review. They’ve accepted my piece, “Devotion.” Nice way to end the day.

Up Down, Up Down...

Early rise for a change. Managed to drag myself out of bed a little after six. Made some good progress on the stories, wrote letters to Matty and Jack, worked out.

FaceTimed with Matty and Jack a little later in the afternoon, and got in a little more writing time. All in all, not a bad day.

The late afternoon rain turned to snow. Then it turned back to rain. Probably turn back to snow again if it lasts much longer.

Feeling like we’ve high-centered on something and can’t quite get free, but hey, that’s the lump sum of the past year, isn’t it?

Head down, shoulder to the wheel. That’s the antidote for the moment. Or the diversion, anyway.

Looking ahead to a quiet evening.

All Over the Place...

A day of many doings.

Up early to the keyboard, then off to the WalMart in Fountain to get S. her second Covid shot. Things went pretty smoothly, and we were back home by 10:00.

Put in a few more revisions, then showered and traipsed off to an early afternoon movie, The Courier. Felt good to kick back in an empty theater and do nothing for three hours.

Took a short walk when we got home and left the rest of the day to fend for itself.

Nothing of any urgency on the table tomorrow, so hoping to get in some quality early-morning writing time.

Saw the first robin of spring yesterday. Fingers crossed tomorrow’s expected snow isn’t too wild.

Made it...

Still a day behind in my reckoning. Could’ve sworn this was Saturday.

Good night’s sleep, early rise, pleasant day.

Trying to work through a synopsis for the book, though I don’t know yet if the book is the book.

Pulled away from the keyboard to take a nice, early afternoon walk, then worked out, went to the grocery store and showered.

Side effects of the vaccine gone today. S gets hers tomorrow. Think we might take in a movie afterward, just because.

Nothing special going on tonight. That’s good, right?

Still here, still kickin...

Blur of a day.

Nice day, but a blur.

Got some information, answers too. Big picture’s still a little fuzzy around the edges, but that’s to be expected.

After effects of the Covid shot: headache, dizziness, joint pain, and fatigue. None of it bad, though the late afternoon napped helped.

Wednesday. Already.

So, progress. Up an hour earlier than yesterday, and straight to the cottage to work.

Hammered away at the keyboard till it was time to go off to WalMart for my second Covid shot. Mission accomplished.

Got home and worked a little more, then worked out.

Talked to Jack via FaceTime later, and had a quiet day otherwise.

Pretty day today, though the wind took some of the starch out of it. Wanted to go for a walk, but didn’t manage. Denver tomorrow, so we’ll see what that brings.

Meanwhile, onward.

Understand it might be nice enough to do some fishing this weekend. We’ll see.

Why does it feel so much like Sunday?

2nd Covid shot tomorrow. St. Patrick’s Day. Boiling the corned beef brisket as we speak. Hope I’ll be able to partake.

Figure to have a quiet night.

Didn’t accomplish much today, but managed a few lines, some posts, and a bit of research. No workout. Did have a nice walk around the neighborhood, though, which was almost better.

Weather started out well, but took on a distinctly dreary face toward the middle of the afternoon. Not sure if we’re supposed to get rain or snow tonight, but something’s brewing.

Slept in again this morning. Woke up thinking, “And this is bad, why?” I believe I’m forming a dangerous and possibly fatal habit. Gonna have to do something about it—and soon.

All tank, no think...

This daylight savings time stuff has really twisted my mellon. Didn’t get down to the cottage, and the keyboard, until after eight. And I was the first one up.

Worked on another news story till it was time to go off to the dentist for a checkup. Good news on both counts.

Put in an early workout too, which was nice.

Snowmageddon, or whatever they were calling it, never happened, and while we did get a pretty good fall, most of it melted this afternoon. Glad to have the moisture, but feel a little cheated.

Read some this afternoon, then took a long nap. Think it might be the only way I’m gonna find my way out of this time change warp I’ve fallen into. Can’t seem to finish what’s on my plate.

Doh!

Hoped to make more of the day, but here I sit, empty-handed.

Thought daylight savings time was last week.

Anyway, up at a decent hour (or what would have been a decent hour a week ago) only to find that the predicted snow had finally arrived.

Wasn’t too bad. Maybe four inches down here. But it was wet and heavy and I’d had enough of it after shoveling my respective sidewalks.

Sent off a mess of N critiques this afternoon with two stories left in my queue. Also did a bit of research, FT’d with the boys, and managed a small bit of reading before calling it quits and taking a nap.

Cleaning appointment with the dentist tomorrow. Second Covid shot on the 17th. Hope that’s the extent of my contact with the medical world for the week.

Gotta shake off whatever’s eating at me.

Was looking for more, but didn't get it...

Mostly maintenance today.

Slept in till eight, had coffee in bed, then went out the cottage to do a little work.

Big snowfall hasn’t come yet, and not sure it ever will. Didn’t see our first flake until late morning, and even then it wasn’t anything to talk about.

Worked out a little before noon, then drove out to King Soopers to pick up a couple of prescriptions.

Lazy day.

Caught up with some social media things, read a little, then spent the afternoon writing reviews for four of the N pieces.

Quiet around the neighborhood. Must be the snow. Which, by the way, is picking up again. We’ll see what the weather brings overnight, but for now I’m calling it quits.