writer
Quiet day at home.
Caught up on a few things, missed out on a few things.
Can’t believe we’re coming up on Christmas, and haven’t seen any snow yet. Maybe we’ll get lucky come the end of the week.
Speaking of getting lucky, I think I’ve arrived at a reader draft for my new short, “Natural Piety,” a kind of twisted homage to Wordsworth’s “My Heart Leaps Up.” Took a while to get there, but that’s all right. It wasn’t like I had anything better to do.
Only a week before the boys come. Happy days.
A lovely Friday.
Worked on a short this morning, then drove up to Denver with S & K for a splendid high tea at the Brown Palace. The weather was a bit cool, but the sun was out and the sky was blue and nearly cloudless. The food at the hotel, perfect. Last time we were there we had mom with us. She was the only thing missing this go-around, but just the memory of her brought back smiles.
Took a nap when we got home to try and ease the neck. Results of the MRI came in and the good news is, no tumors, no cancer, spinal cord damage. Lots of compression and other goodies, but no show-stoppers. Now if I can just get to the bottom of the pain and get back to rehab.
Not sure what tomorrow’s round up looks like, but a walk around the neighborhood would be nice. Have had my fill of cars for a while.
It’s late.
I’m off to my MRI.
Another later-than-usual rise. Chalk this one up to a halfway decent night’s sleep.
Spent some time with one of the short works, which seems to get shorter all the time and is now creeping into the territory of short-short. But that’s okay. Haven’t written a piece of flash fiction in some time, and this one’s begging to be brief.
Worked on some Christmas wrapping later, then went off to the gym to get some lifting in. Decided to forego the bike, as it’s been aggravating the neck, especially when I’m reading. Good policy, I think, at least until I have the MRI behind me. Tried again, unsuccessfully, to schedule an appointment with surgeon. Not sure what the glitch is in the system, but nobody seems to know who I’m being referred to, or when.
Wrote a little more when I got home, then begged off a trip to the store in favor of a nap.
Kit’s suddenly become reluctant to take his meds. I think maybe he’s not feeling well. Seems to be ignoring his food, too, though not entirely. Like to get him back into his routine.
The day didn’t turn out the way I thought it would. What day does?
Got some nice writing time in the morning and made the most of it.
Meanwhile, Christmas-ing.
Have a feeling tomorrow’s going to be a wild one. Hope so/not.
Long talk with my sis this evening. Some nice reminiscences.
Made a pot of beef stew for dinner. My hoodie smells like onions. That’s it, folks. Life in the fast lane.
Thought I’d be up before dawn—and was for a while—but fell back to sleep until a little after seven. Not sure what that was about, but I guess I needed the sleep.
Worked on a short this morning, then headed out to the theater to catch the new release of West Side Story. Man, I thought, why remake a classic? But having seen what Spielberg did, I take back every bad reservation I had. It was a splendid piece of work. Really wonderful.
Finished the last of my N critiques when I got back, then talked on the phone to my sister for a while. Had a nice chat.
Day went by in a flash, but that’s okay. It turned out well.
Looking across the street and around the neighborhood I’d have to say it’s a bit lonely this year. But the boys will be coming in a few weeks, so that should help. Been a melancholy holiday in some ways. Hope that passes soon.
Pretty good day—all around.
No big wins, but no loses either. Was up early working on a story, then off to the gym for a late workout.
Got the tree decorated last night, and it looks great.
Movie tomorrow.
Air smells like winter.
Up early today. Surprised to find the cold front that moved in the night before had been courteous enough to move out again. They’re saying snow tonight, but I don’t buy it. It’s 5:30 and temps still have to be in the mid-forties.
Worked on a short this morning, then drove Kit to the vet to have his bloodwork. Was worried with the new thyroid regimen, but the doc called later in the afternoon to say his levels looked good. Kidneys, in particular. Was happy to hear it. Really happy.
Ran a few errands late afternoon, then came home and trimmed the tree. Had to back off when we lost the sunlight, but quit with things pretty well in hand. Tinsel tomorrow morning, and after that we’ll have most of the big stuff out of the way. Toughest thing now is keeping watch for the packages and the porch pirates.
Looking for a good night’s sleep and an early rise tomorrow. Getting back to the book draft. Pushing my latest N critique out the door.
Meantime, taking it easy in front of the fire.
Okay day. Didn’t do anything special, but not sure I ever do. Was up early to the keyboard, put in some decent writing time, then went off to the gym. There’s a sameness to everything at the moment and I’m not sure why. But it isn’t bad, so I guess I won’t complain.
Worked out early this afternoon, then came home and took a nap. Worked a little longer after I got up, took a brief trip to Starbucks, and started planning for tomorrow.
Kit goes to the doc a little after one. Crossing my fingers on that one.
Christmas shopping halfway in the bag with the long distance stuff nearly finished. Just in time, I think, given the current state of our delivery services.
Catching up.
Another tough night’s sleep, but I guess that’s gonna be the way of things for a while. Didn’t get any writing done today, but did manage some Christmas shopping, a pretty good workout, and a haircut.
Leaving it at that.
More tomorrow.
Decent night’s sleep for a change. Woke rested and ready to go.
Put in some work on the new novel, then turned my attention to the N queue and my critiques. Sent two more pieces out the door, and need to revisit a third. Day was quiet otherwise.
Hit the gym for an easy, early week workout around 1:00. Came home and made a pot of split pea soup. Took a late nap, then went for a drive around the neighborhood to check out the lights and decorations.
K leaves for NY tomorrow, and that’s about all the excitement going on in my immediate circle. Need to get a jump on my shopping. Otherwise, just taking it easy and trying to get used to the cold temps that just moved in.
Kit sees the doc on Thursday for tests. Ain’t looking forward to that.
Meanwhile, life’s good.
Fun day.
Easy day.
Worked a little, hung Christmas lights, put up decorations and even did a little shopping.
Ran into our neighbor, T, while the church choir was performing on the veranda.
Later, came home and wrote a review.
Wind started up this evening. Guess the cold front’s coming.
We’ll see what tomorrow brings.
A nice day away from the gym.
Put in early at the keyboard and did some composing, then gave over to letter writing, decorating, critiquing a few N stories, and grocery shopping.
Chicken piccata tonight. Maybe a Christmas movie.
Whatever happens, I’m down with it.
Great day all the way around.
Yeah. Back at it.
Yesterday was pretty humdrum, except for the evening jaunt to Till, which made for a splendid night out. Wine…appetizers…a splendid glass of Scotch…all combined for a lovely evening.
Up early to the keyboard.
Off to the gym before noon.
Afternoon trips to Costco, Lowes, and Barnes & Nobel.
Read one of the new N stories when I got back, and now off to a quiet night.
I don’t know. Fell into a dead zone today and never made my way out.
Lot’s of clients coming and going this morning, more in the afternoon. Did a little bit of editing, a little bit of research, then went off to the gym to try and get things straight with myself.
Caught up with young Jack for a chess session late. Sorry, but not surprised, to see he had a cold.
Not much got done, but everybody’s tired.
Haven’t been able to find the next gear.
Maybe tomorrow.
Up at the crack of dawn—a little before, actually—to have coffee with my buddy, G. A great time as always. Lots of laughs. Got to work a little later than usual, made a few submissions, chatted with John S. a while, then headed off to the gym to put in a workout. Didn’t do much in the way of aerobics today, but lifted well, and even got to work the heavy bag a bit.
Preliminary word on the neck is arthritis, a slipped disc at C3-4, and general deterioration owed to old age! Can’t wait to see what the MRI coughs up. Meanwhile, Tremadol to sleep.
A new story rolled into my N queue, so I’ve got some reading to do. Finished two of the stories in the past two days, but haven’t written any of the critiques yet. Maybe tomorrow.
My bro, Joe, is closing his juvey, rehab facility today. A good decision at a good time. He put in a lot of hard work over the past thirty-odd years and deserves a break. Hope the kids he treated will have fond memories of him. He sure loved them.
Nothing big on tonight’s schedule. Just looking to take it easy. Finished the Beatles documentary last night, and enjoyed the closing performance. They were some talented guys.
Happy to say I believe I’ve solved the problem with my latest story. It still isn’t there, but after some major edits it’s closer to what it ought to be.
Spend the better part of the morning writing, and the less than better part speaking on the phone with medical folks in the hope of scheduling an MRI. Mission accomplished. New images of the neck to be taken mid-December. Meanwhile, no PT.
That said, got in a decent workout at the gym, and a chance to speak to my PT-ist, Brian, about the X-rays I had taken on Friday. Looking forward to getting to the bottom of things.
Pretty day. Put up the Christmas tree this afternoon, and look to be decorating it by the weekend. Kitties are covered with sap, enjoying their new watering hole (aka the tree stand). Life is good!
Coffee with my buddy G tomorrow morning. Be good to get out and catch up.
Good day all around. Particularly after a rare good night’s sleep.
Wrote early, worked around the house getting things Christmas ready, then took a drive up to Woodland Park where we kicked around in the woods. A lovely day, what with all the sun and warm temps, but sure hope we get some snow soon or the mountains are going to be in trouble again come fire season.
Saw the new Disney movie yesterday and enjoyed it. Wish I could say the same for the Beatles documentary, which is in serious need of editing. The musical interludes are fine, as is the study of their creative process, but there was a forty minute interlude where no one did anything but sit and look at one another. Not sure Jackson couldn’t have used a good narrator to push some of the material along. That, and offer the occasional explanation of what went on behind the scenes.
Reading a collection of stories by Kevin Barry—Dark Lies the Island. Good, good stuff.
Splendid day. Up early, wrote a bit, then headed out to the Collegiate Peaks to hunt down this year’s Christmas tree.
What a beautiful day. Saw pronghorn, elk, deer…
Weather up high was the warmest it’s been in the past few years, which made harvesting a tree a little less arduous than it typically is, but no complaints. Just hope the mountains start getting some snow or we’ll be looking at another big burn come summer.
Yesterday’s Thanksgiving dinner at K’s was splendid. Great food, great company, great time. Looking for a quieter time tonight. Maybe a movie tomorrow.
Great to get away. Great to be home.
Signing off.
Up later than usual, but by my own choice after a long, pleasant, drug-induced sleep. Nothing like a couple of ibuprofen with a boost of wine to knock a guy out.
Spent most of the morning gathering together a story collection. Took a while to get all the pieces in place, but I think I have what I need and it’s time to start making submissions.
Have a new short in mind, too, but not sure when I’ll get at it. The long piece is starting to make sense, and I may have to get back to it while the ideas are still flowing.
Put in an okay workout at the gym, and managed a nice nap when I got home.
Thanksgiving tomorrow.
Friday, off to Leadville to cut down our Christmas tree.
