Weathering the weather, and more...

Neighbors home today from their summer-long camping trip. Place is jumping with kids again.

Put in some good work early on getting the synopsis in order. Did a little work on the new story, too, then headed out to the gym to try and blow off steam.

Drove Kit out to the vet to have his blood drawn, then came home and made a brief excursion to Starbucks for an iced tea. No word yet from the vet. Guess we won’t hear anything until tomorrow.

Have an early trip to Denver tomorrow, and not sure what time we’ll be back. Glad it’s Friday, and we’ll have the weekend to sort out whatever news we get.

Was my uncle’s 90th birthday yesterday. Left him a message. Today is Matty’s 5th, which is equally difficult to believe, though in a completely different way.

Weather still sucks, but don’t expect it to change anytime soon. Sounds as if we won’t see truly blue skies again until late September.

Yeah, that's right...

Did some okay things today, at the keyboard and otherwise.

Also got in a decent workout at the gym.

Weather still’s awful, but I think it’s going to be that way for a while. At least until the weekend when the temps are supposed to drop into the 80s.

Talked to my sis, Moya, this afternoon. Got some writing done as well.

Neighbors come home tomorrow—with their four children. Sigh. It’s been a long summer.

Dog days, indeed...

Spent the early morning writing, the afternoon at the Broadmoor with my buddy, George. Got in a short workout around noon. Thought maybe I’d make more of the time I had in front of me, but will take what I got and call it even.

Weather was suppose to have improved today. What I came across were more smoke-filled skies and temps close to one hundred. Again, looking forward to fall.

It’s only Tuesday, so there’s still time to salvage the week. Guess we’ll see what tomorrow brings.

Of time and memory...

Mom’s dead a year today. Hard to believe. Still have moments of thinking I’ll call or write her, only to remember she isn’t around anymore. What a lovely, irrepressible soul.

Wrote well today, though I didn’t make it as far as I’d hoped. Still, good work, even in limited supply, is a thing to be enjoyed.

Put in some quality time today at the gym. More than usual. Felt good to be creeping back into my old routine. If I can make it a few weeks without getting derailed, who knows, maybe I can make up ground on the surgical shoulder? Not sure the bicep will ever look right again, but maybe I’ll get lucky there, too.

Skies came back a bit today. Not a lot, but enough to notice a difference. Meanwhile, every national headline is about global warming. Can’t help but worry what sort of world we’re bequeathing to our grandsons.

Drinks with G tomorrow at the Broadmoor, a small celebration of his TV series, SurrealEstate. Looking forward to seeing him again. Been too long.

Figure to get back to work on the synopsis tomorrow. Get the reader draft of “Cold Cocked” in line. Busy week. Lots in front of me.

Living the burn...

Read Denver’s air quality was the second worst in the world, just behind Beijing. Air currents are pushing the smoke directly into our faces.

Despite the weather, I did manage some good edits, and even wrote a rough draft of the synopsis of my new novel.

Depressing skies, but nothing to do about them.

Glad I have a diversion or two.

Shared a brief FaceTime with the boys this morning, but they were distracted and it didn’t last long. Matty’s birthday this week. Big doings. Look forward to catching up again, maybe spending a little more time with him.

Hid out in a movie theatre this afternoon to escape the smoke. Probably have to do the same next week. With the asthma, surprised I can breathe at all.

Saturday evening, 5:43...

Restless night, early rise, and another dreary, smoky day. Air quality alerts in effect early on. Sky an ugly blue-brown. Been trying hard not to wish the summer away, but have finally given up. Fall can’t get here soon enough.

Managed some good edits this morning and think I’m ready to push back into the novel. Would like to finish the short story I’m working on first, but it might be better to work on the pieces simultaneously. We’ll see how I feel tomorrow morning.

Busy week coming up, including a trip to the vet for Kit. I’ll be interested in seeing where his blood work stands now that he’s gone through his first regimen of thyroid medications.

Meanwhile, we soldier on.

Wednesday makes a surprise appearance...

Tech issues today. Hope to straighten them out soon. Meanwhile, some good edits on some old pieces and a lazy day otherwise waiting for the crabgrass to die.

Did manage a fruitful trip to the gym. And a nap. And a fill up at the gas station. Asking for anything more felt greedy.

Enjoying the Denis Johnson novel.

Looking forward to the close of the Olympics.

Waiting with trepidation for the next big surprise.

Waiting for the smoke to clear...

Day didn’t turn out like I imagined it would, but few of them do anymore. Made an early rise, wrote a bit, and enjoyed a few cups of coffee with Moya and Haley before seeing them off to Albuquerque.

Found some time to make a couple of submissions, get in a workout at the gym. Also found time for a nap afterward.

Saw my old pal Scout later in the afternoon while running an errand, then sat in on young Jack’s chess lesson, via Zoom. Got a chance to chat with Matty, too, afterward, but it was a short conversation.

Zapped the crabgrass yesterday with a nasty industrial weedkiller, but haven’t seen any results yet. Maybe they’ll all disappear after tonight’s rain.

Still feeling precariously out of touch with the world, but expect I’ll get my sea legs back before the end of the week.

Lots going on, lots to accomplish.

Looking forward to the fall and clean air. The oaks in front and the maple in back have been shedding leaves, and we think it’s the fires and all the pollution they’re driving in.

Tired of the fires. Really tired.

Picking up speed...

So, a better day today at the keyboard. Or, maybe not better, but more productive. Made some good progress on the new story, then started in on some correspondence I needed to catch up with. Had a long talk about life with S. this morning. Long and melancholy. Lots of new things coming our way, not all of them pleasant. But that’s life, right? Who at our age isn’t in some sort of bind?

Anyway, back at it. Thought I might get the weed killer on the lawn, but waited until too late to lay it down. Was worried it might rain, and didn’t want to wash a lot of garbage into the storm system, so I backed off. Will get on it tomorrow—as long as there isn’t any rain in the forecast.

Made it to the gym this afternoon only to discover a lot of other old timers like myself. Masked up, as usual, and plodded forward. Wondering, with the Delta variant, whether I ought to retreat to the garage for my workouts. Guess we’ll see. Meanwhile, good to be up and going again.

Nice day today. Nicer than usual, anyway. The long rain last night cleared the air, and even better, cooled things off. Not sure what tomorrow’s going to be like, except that Moya and Haley should be stopping through for another overnight on their way back to Albuquerque. After that, who knows? Maybe I’ll get started back on the book and synopsis.

A matter of readjustments...

Still settling in. Woke at five this morning, but decided to pull a pillow over my head and stay in bed. After all the dizzying wake up calls when the boys were visiting, I need to realign my habits and try to get my energy back.

Went downstairs a little before seven and went to work on the short story I’d abandoned when I left for Casper. With all the crazy bad luck I had driving through Wyoming, I never got around to any reading or writing, so I’m going to have a nice full week trying to catch up.

Learned my neighbor Robin will be leaving for California soon. Seems like a whole different neighborhood than it was even a year ago. A real metamorphosis.

Heavy rains fell this afternoon. Man, did we need them. Despite all the attention it’s been getting, the lawn is taking on that nice fried patina of late summer, so maybe this will help. Hope so. The crabgrass and I have a appointment to see who’s boss, but it can wait until the current monsoons pass.

Looking forward to a quiet night.

Friday night and ready for anything...

Getting back to where I want to be. Easy day. Didn’t push anything. Got up, spent some time reacquainting myself with the keyboard, then headed out to the gym to put in the workout I’ve been missing for a month.

Skies here bluer than they were in Wyoming, and much welcomed. Been trying to enjoy the summer, but the smoke haze has killed almost all the fun of late.

Started Denis Johnson’s Dead Already this afternoon when we got back from Whole Foods. Man, the guy can write.

Talked to my sis, briefly. Sounds like she and H are in a good place, and eager to move forward with the Heart Mountain material. Will see them on their return trip to New Mexico.

Tomorrow, more work on the latest story and whatever else I can manage. I’ve said it before, but good to be back in Colorado. Come Monday, I figure to be like my old self again—whoever that is.

Meantime, chill.

Move over, I'm back...

Back at last.

Wyoming is a different place for me anymore. I still know it, still remember it, but haven’t felt it for a long time now. Lots of ups and downs this time around. Lots of small disappointments. Glad to be home in Colorado, though I expect it will take a few days to put everything in perspective. Who knows? Maybe something good will come out of this summer. Too early to say.

Kicking it tonight. Was a long drive back from Alcova. Feeling a strange kind of tired I haven’t felt in a long, long time.

Ramblings...

Moya and Haley arrived later than expected last night. Sat up and talked with them until after eleven, then went to bed. Had a host of strange dreams.

Up early, but the guests didn’t pull out of town until one, so didn’t manage much in either the way of work or packing for my own trip. Will have to jump on things tomorrow.

Not really ready for Wyoming, as I think I’ve mentioned before, but won’t have another window for a while so will have to make the most it. Figure to be gone till next Friday, at least.

Did manage a quick look at a short piece I’ve been laboring over for a while, and was pretty happy with the look of it. Be nice to have a project waiting for me when I return. Meanwhile, maybe I’ll scribble a few things on a pad while I’m up in the Bighorns.

Weather was nice today, though hot again. Less smoke than in days prior. It’s supposed to be a hot week all through the west, but there’s rain here tonight so who knows.

Missing my boys, and my old life, both, at the moment. A time of contradictions, for sure.

Not worrying about dinner tonight. Just gonna pop a bottle of wine and break a baguette and relax in front of the tube. Or, better yet, sit out on the front porch swing and watch the rain fall.

Saturday, 4:45 pm...

Easing my way back into things.

Worked around the house today, then put in a long afternoon at the keyboard. Weather’s been wet and drizzly since I woke up, and doesn’t look to change course this evening.

Sis Moya and her kid, Haley, are driving up from Albuquerque to spend the night. Will leave tomorrow on their way to Laramie. I’ll follow after them on Monday.

For now, just trying to get my sea-legs back after the long go with the boys.

Got a lot on my mind—most of it to do with things here—and feeling a little less than enthusiastic about leaving town, though I won’t get another opportunity if I don’t do it now. We’ll see how everything pans out.

Kitcat trying to ditch his thyroid meds. Wish he hadn’t decided to go and get all stubborn this week, but maybe I can straighten him out before I go.

Quiet around here. Hardly know what to do with myself.

Back to quiet again...

Up early to Denver with Caitlin and the boys. Sad to see them go. Had a great time while they were here.

Talked to my buddy S on the way home. Nice to catch up, see what’s happening on the other side of country.

Worked around the yard when I got home, catching up on mowing, trimming, and trying to bring the fountain back to life. Successful on most counts, but behind in others. Too tired to worry about the losses and setbacks.

Moya and Haley stopping by for an overnight tomorrow. Been a long time since we’ve seen one another. Looking forward to catching up.

"Aftermath” was published in the Saturday Evening Post today. Nice to see it in print. Can’t wait to get back to work on some of my other pieces.

Gonna be a quiet night.

Quick note to catch up...

Quick entry tonight.

Just off a Zoom meeting with Jack and his chess coach. Interesting time. Still burning the candle at both ends, but come tomorrow night, that will be the end of the festivities for a while.

Took Matt fishing this morning. He caught a nice bluegill out at Quail Lake was beside himself. For four years old, he’s a patient soul and a good angler. Wish we’d have more time together.

Learned this morning the Saturday Evening Post as accepted a new story of mine, “Aftermath.” Signed the contract a little while ago, and am looking forward to seeing it online. Got a ton of press the last time they picked up one of my stories, and I hope I enjoy the same kind of success this time around.

Bone tired. The past two and half weeks are quickly catching up with me. Have an excursion up to the North Pole set up for tomorrow, and a farewell dinner with the whole crew. Been an amazing time all around.

Need a vacation from my vacation.

A day of rest...

Big thunderstorm last night. Lots of lightning, lots of rain.

Up early thinking to outflank the boys, but you can’t outflank youth. They were there to greet us at the coffee pot.

Had a good part of the day off from sitting while the parents took them up to Denver to visit friends. Well, not off, exactly, but alone. Decided to clean the house while we had the chance, and finish up the grocery shopping for dinner.

G’s new SyFy series SurrealEstate debuts tonight. Gonna catch it on an hour delay owing the boys’ bedtime. Hope it turns out to be a big success.

Not sure what tomorrow’s gonna bring, but maybe we’ll get another hour or two of personal time and I can take a peek at one of my old stories. Had time to make a couple of submissions today, but not much more. Getting eager to get back to work.

Don’t expect the kids back until after seven, so will take the time to sit on the front porch and relax.