Lots of wanderings...

Another lovely fall day. Most of the trees are holding their leaves, and the neighborhood’s as colorful as it’s been in years.

Good day at the keyboard, too. Think I’ve solved the puzzle of my newest short and am probably only another day or two from a reader draft.

Lots of quiet today at the gym. Only two or three folks working out, so had most of the place to myself. Cycled, worked the heavy bag, lifted.

Took a short rest when I got home, then went for a walk around the neighborhood.

Cool article by Paul McCartney in the New Yorker about the origins of “Elenor Rigby.”

Halfway home with All the Light You Cannot See.

K leaves for Washington tomorrow. Bet it’s going to be pretty there, too.

I should pay more attention...

Earlier start than usual, but was held up mid morning after being visited by more tech issues. Problem(s) solved for the moment, and with any luck for a long time.

Got another one of those “took us a year to decide we don’t want your manuscript” rejections, and have thought, seriously, about writing a practical manual for submissions to literary journals.

Didn’t get chance to work out today, owing to the computer problems, but did get my second PT session for my neck. Looks like I’m down with a touch of arthritis and maybe a bulging disc. Or something like that. Meanwhile, we soldier on as usual.

Had a dream about my mom last night. She was dead, but through some miracle reanimated. There was an explosion of light and she sat up in bed, and when I asked her what people in Heaven eat, she said (without missing a beat) “Rolled oats and nectar.”

Took a nice walk this evening. Raked leaves afterward. What a pretty fall evening.

Not sure what tomorrow will bring, but looking forward to it whatever it is.

Mr. Fixit...

Still haven’t made it out of bed before seven, but I’m gaining.

Put in some good work at the keyboard drafting the end of my newest story. Not sure it’s entirely there, but it’s close. Hope I can keep running with it.

Left for the gym a little after noon. Only a couple of folks there, so had the place to myself. Rode the bike, lifted, even got to hit the bag a little. Didn’t feel tired like I have the last few times out, and I’m crossing my fingers I can make a trend of it.

Cooked a pot of potato leek soup when I got home. Went for a walk around the neighborhood, too.

Part finally arrived for the upstairs sink. Gonna fix that bit of tragedy before I do anything else. Here’s hoping I remember how to reassemble everything.

Yeah, well, it's Sunday, so...

I think the flu shot has slowed me down. Haven’t managed to get out of bed before seven in days now.

Did a little bit of writing before having coffee on the front porch. Another beautiful fall day. After all the smokey mornings this summer, I’m determined to get in as much outside time as possible while the fall weather holds.

Watched a game this afternoon—first in a long time—and got in some reading during the commercials. Took a walk around the neighborhood afterward, and a nap after the walk. So, yeah. Lazy day.

Thought I might get going again on the new long piece this weekend, but it didn’t happen. Need to give it a push this week, and see if I can jump start it where I left off. Meanwhile, just keep churning.

Hodgepodge...

Got to sleep late last night after sitting up to watch the old documentary Into the Void.

Tossed and turned quiet a bit, but for a change not because of the neck. Weird dreams all night.

Finally got the reader draft in place for the new story. Calling it “The Denunciation.”

No gym today. The Bonn Shopping Center was celebrating its 70th birthday, and I didn’t want to be anywhere near it. Stayed home and caught up around the house instead. FaceTimed with young Matt for a while, too, before taking a late afternoon drive around the Broadmoor.

Beautiful day. A little cool, but no complaints.

If I’m not mistaken, it’s our erstwhile neighbor Robin’s birthday. Happy birthday kid, wherever you are.

Shoot...

Not even sure what happened today. Isn’t that strange?

S. under the weather after her flu shot.

K’s birthday.

The two were supposed to take a road trip to Taos tomorrow, but it’s been put on hold.

Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

Amen...

After much consideration, I’m calling this day a draw. Nothing was accomplished, but at the same time no one was hurt.

Did get my flu booster. The high-octane old man rendition. Now it’s just the shingles shot and the Covid booster and I’m home free.

Here it is, Wednesday, again...

Took it easy this morning. Rolled out of bed after seven, brewed some coffee and sat out on the front porch watching the world go by.

Did a little late morning writing, then headed off to the gym for the best workout I’ve had all week.

Went for a mid-afternoon walk when I got home. Another beautiful day. Cold front hasn’t moved in yet, but our luck’s supposed to run out tonight.

Enjoyed the new Tom McGuane story in this week’s New Yorker. Nice piece with a very relatable theme. Made me think about my mom.

You do what you can do...

Restless night’s sleep, but an early rise all the same to cool, overcast skies.

Wrote a while, then spent an hour on the porch swing drinking coffee. Not sure if we had any real ambitions for the day, but we did manage to return the tile samples and make some decisions about the shower demo.

Meanwhile, got in some writing, a short workout at the gym, and a lazy afternoon nap.

Feels like fall in the air. Winds have picked up and the weather people are saying a cold front will come in tonight, and we’ll have our first hard freeze. Maybe even rain.

Hope the trees do okay. I’d like to see the leaves stick around for a while longer.

Started another new story this morning. Made a pretty good draft of it. Not sure why I’m suddenly making all of this progress, but maybe it’s my subconscious trying to avoid getting back to the long piece.

Beginnings, middles, and ends...

Bit of a lazy morning. But not too lazy.

Up later than usual, but early to the keyboard with new revisions to the latest story. Thought I had it well in hand over the weekend, and did. It’s just that when the good stuff keeps coming, you don’t want to dismiss it because it might be even better than what you already have. Anyway, I’m close.

Took care of some housekeeping mid-morning, then went off to the gym where I put in a fairly decent workout. Later, went off to the bank (forgetting it’s a holiday) and the grocery store.

Weather was a little blustery today, but very pretty and full of fall. Feels like colder weather might be on the way, but no surprises there. Just happy the skies are blue and whatever fires are burning, they’re not burning here.

Need to spend some time catching up with submissions. Seems like I’ve let them slide lately.

Started the Doerr novel today.

Made this one count...

Spent the day taking a drive up to Golden. Cheeseburgers for lunch. The weather was blustery, but nice. A perfect Saturday afternoon.

Took a walk around the neighborhood when we got home. Everything was just where we left it.

Looking to take it easy tonight. Real easy.

Another dose of sunshine...

Out the door early to have some blood drawn. Tried all day to get caught up on my shingles vaccine, too, but came up snake eyes.

Made a few more good revisions on the newest short, and think I’ll have a reader draft before the weekend’s over.

Talked to my buddy S. this afternoon. Good catching up, as always. Nice to compare notes with someone who knows what he’s talking about. Doesn’t happen that often anymore, but means a lot when it does.

Got in a nice three mile walk today and some lifting at the gym, too. Also got a chance to mosey off in search of tile for the bathroom remodel.

Dinner at K’s tonight. Wind’s a little high at the moment, but hope to sit outside for a while anyway. Looking forward to a surprise day trip to tomorrow. Want to enjoy the fall weather while it’s here.

Thursday evening, 6:55 and counting...

Still trying to shake off computer problems. Not sure I won’t need a new one before long.

Another decent day at the keyboard with revisions on the new short. Spent the better part of the morning cleaning up my N critiques, then went off to the gym for a quiet workout.

Made a pot of tomato soup when I got home, and took a nice walk afterward around the neighborhood.

The good weather’s finally here and I know it won’t last, so I’m soaking it all up while I have the chance.

Keeping this short.

Have an early rise to get some blood work in order. Figure to get my shingles booster, too. Flu shot will have to wait a while. Same with the Covid booster.

Pretty good, not bad, I can't complain...

Good morning at the keyboard. Did some decent work on the newest story, then abandoned it to attend to the upstairs plumbing. Pulled the tap without damaging anything but came up short trying to replace the damaged part. Ace was no help, but I did manage to find what I needed after a two hour search with the pro supply shops. Now it’s a seven day wait for the goods to come in.

Got in a short workout between errands, then home to put in time on my N critiques. Wasn’t the most productive day I’ve ever had, but given what was out there I did okay.

Pretty day, by the way. Like the two previous. Sun, blue sky, a nice light breeze.

Kitcat’s been fighting his meds. Gotta find a way to do something about it.

With my own meds, need to get this new PT prescription figured out.

Say what?

Restless night’s sleep. Up later than usual, but not too late to put some good edits in on the newest story. Figure to have a halfway decent reader draft by Friday, and along with “Eyes Wide Open” two fresh pieces to push into submission.

Think I’ve figured out where to go with the long piece, too. Guess some time off, pruning and cleaning up the yard must have given me the head space I needed to move things along.

Long trip to Denver today. Left around ten, not home until close to three. Wouldn’t call it a fun time, but certainly productive. Where we go from here, not sure except to say it won’t be to Mexico anytime soon.

Look to finish Dispatches tonight and start in on something new. Maybe the Doerr book. Tomorrow, back to reality.

Moving on...

Drove up to Leadville today. Mountains were gorgeous. The skies were overcast with occasional breaks in the clouds, and it was easy going up and down the pass.

Our favorite restaurant up there, the Golden Burro, was sold and under new management. It’s vegan now. Nothing again vegan, but it wasn’t the same place and a lot of history went out the window along with the menu. Fare thee well to Dave, and godspeed. Hope you’re enjoying retirement.

The answers will come...

This computer is one keystroke away from a bullet in the hard drive. Not sure what its problem is, and don’t care anymore.

Up at 6:00 for an early coffee with my pal, George. Had a good time swapping stories. Drank a couple of cups on the front porch when I got home, updated a few submissions, and spent the next hour and half at the gym pushing things around.

Coming close to the end of Dispatches. Also re-reading a number of R. Carver stories. Despite my having dedicated a lifetime to understanding literature, I’m not sure I’m any further ahead than I was in my twenties.

Wanted to do some fishing today, but the weather had gone south before I ever got up and stayed that way the entire day.

Driving to Leadville tomorrow. Be good to get out of town again. Don’t know why, but it will.

Closing in...

Felt like fall today. Crisp, overcast, trees shedding their leaves. Slept pretty well last night, despite the neck, and even woke a little later than usual.

Made decent progress on the new story, then headed off to gym, which mysteriously empties itself whenever it knows I’m coming. Only two other people there when I arrived.

Rode the bike, lifted, worked the heavy bag. It was all good.

Might go fishing tomorrow after my coffee with George O. We’ll see. It isn’t supposed to rain until later in the afternoon, and the temps ought to be perfect. If I do go, I’ll be heading back down to the Arkansas.

Took a short nap this afternoon. Naps have been the best sleep I’ve been getting in a while.

Finished with the Steinbeck Vietnam book. Did a comparative read alongside M. Herr’s Dispatches, and found it to be a terrible disappointment in many, many ways. Had to steep myself in Ray Carver and Denis Johnson afterward to try and cleanse the palate.

Good talk with my old friend, S, this morning. Nice, as always, catching up.