Life after Pittsburgh...

Played a little catch up today. First time writing in a while. Was up early to the keyboard, and put in some decent work before shoveling the snow.

Had the plumber out late this morning to discuss the current washer/dryer dilemma. This afternoon, went out window shopping for new appliances. In between, cooked up a pot of bean soup.

Still cold. Temps didn’t get much above five degrees. Not sure if tomorrow’s going to be any better, but don’t figured to get sidelined either way. Have a bunch of work in front of me.

PT tomorrow. Gym time, too. Eager to get back at it after the layoff. Can’t believe we’re already looking at the weekend.

Back in the saddle...

Off the grid a while, in Pittsburgh visiting the kids. Good time had all around. Weather was cool, but managed to get in some good fun at the pool one day and the zoo the next. Lots and lots and lots of great company. Best part may have been I haven’t looked at a manuscript since last Thursday. Chill time was much needed and an excellent way to clear the head.

Arrived home this morning about an hour before noon to temps of five degrees. Supposed to drop below zero tonight, so got back in time to leave the taps open. Cold all week according to the weather folks. Snow too. Already have a light dusting.

Took some rejection hits while I was away, but no acceptances. Tough start of the year so far, but I suspect I’ve had worse. A lot of stories in the works and a lot more over the transom. All you can do is keep on keeping on.

Looking forward to getting back to the gym, see if I can’t straighten this neck out. It’s not as bad as I might have expected after a couple of long flights and sleeping in a strange bed, but need to stay ahead of things.

Good to be home. Kitties were well-cared for in our absence, but seem happy to have their old routine in line again.

Taking it easy tonight. Cooked up a batch of potato leek soup to help fend off the cold.

Small doings...

Heading out to Pittsburgh tomorrow. Snow predicted in Chicago. Already snowing here.

Best day of revisions in a long time. Think maybe this new story might be good, providing I don’t mess it up.

Looking forward to a break.

End of sermon...

Keep coming to this late in the day and finding I don’t have much to say. On the other hand, I must be tired for a reason.

Hit the keyboard early this morning and had a good day at work. Later, wandered off to the gym and put in some decent time there, as well. Skipped rope, hit the bag, lifted. When I got home we went out for a nice walk.

The evenings don’t get dark as early as they once did, so spring can’t be far off either. I’m looking forward to it this year, especially if it means getting a jump on my fishing.

Meanwhile, making preparations for our trip to Pittsburgh. Itching to see the boys, and at the same time crossing my fingers Mr. KitCat doesn’t give K any trouble. We’re all dealing with the vagaries of age, here, and as somebody once said, It ain’t for sissies.

Pretty day today. Not sure what tomorrow holds, beyond PT, but guess we’ll deal with it as it comes.

Short and Sweet...

Good day. Up late, but a good day.

Spent some quality time at the keyboard, then went off to the gym for a workout.

Pretty weather. Blue skies all around.

Worked a little more, got in a late afternoon stroll around the hood, and now here I am, off to cook dinner.

A disinterested look backwards...

Started another week yesterday, though I must have sleepwalked through it. Today wasn’t a whole lot different.

The dryer went tits up with some kind of electrical problem, but other than that the day drifted past without a great deal of notice.

Haven’t gotten back to the novel yet. Still slapping this new short piece around, hoping I can make sense of it.

PT went well. Got a short nap, too. Otherwise, not much to talk about.

Signing off.

Another sun-drenched Saturday...

Splendid dinner last night with John and Kath. Great night’s sleep, and an early rise. Worked on a short piece for few hours then split for Castlewood Canyon State Park and an afternoon of hiking. Weather was beautiful, even a bit warm, but there was enough snow to make a challenging go of it. Needed a day out like that, and happy to have had it. Hoping for another next weekend up in Mueller.

Missed a call from young Jack yesterday. Will try and catch up with him tomorrow. Meanwhile, on to a quiet evening.

If wishes were horses...

This is Thursday? Is that right?

Late rise for me (7:30), but followed by a pretty good day of writing. Turns out everything I did at the keyboard yesterday didn’t actually stink, and as an added bonus it paved the way for today’s work, which I believe also doesn’t stink. It now appears I might actually finish this new story some day.

Had PT this afternoon, and a short workout before. After, was the guest on S. J.’s podcast. Had a fun time with both.

Temps have been near zero for two days now, but are supposed to rise here in the next couple of days. Still hoping for a mountain outing on Saturday. No obligations tomorrow, so the day’s mine to do with what I want. Mostly, I don’t want to shovel snow, or hear apocalyptic stories about Donald Trump. Ergo, I think I’m good.

The snowman commeth, finally...

Woke to snow, and watched it fall the rest of the day. In fact it’s still falling. Been waiting to see a sight like this all winter.

Spent most of the day cleaning the house, but took a little time out in the morning to make a pot of homemade ham and bean soup.

Didn’t get to the gym, but did manage a few late afternoon hours at the computer trying to write myself out of a hole I’d dug several weeks ago. Despondency won out, I’m happy to say, excusing me to the guest room for a much enjoyed nap.

Weather’s supposed to stay chilly for a few days, so maybe the snow will stick in the high country and we’ll get that afternoon of snow-shoe-ing we missed last Saturday.

Feel like I’m looking at another quiet evening.

A slightly wayward weekend...

Okay. Good day. Did some decent work at the keyboard, went for a long walk, and managed some reading time to boot. Would feel even better if my output were more prodigious, but you can’t have everything, can you?

Thinking this new short is going to be a good one. It keeps presenting new possibilities, and every draft is taking it closer to a solid end. That said, need to get back to the novel soon.

Fast times indeed...

Took it easy today.

Went to a mid-morning movie that lasted until mid-afternoon, then came home and wrote for a while.

Chicken for dinner.

Gonna try and get past the rejection slip I woke to for the story I submitted the evening prior.

No questions, no answers, no worries...

Strange series of dreams last night, though none of them was memorable enough to, well, remember. Just as well, maybe.

Worked for a few hours, then moseyed on to the gym for a workout. Tried a new warmup routine, throwing three two-minute combinations at “Bob” the dummy. Thought it fairly successful. Think I’ll keep at it.

Had a nice breakthrough on the new story, as in I found an ending I hadn’t expected. Eager to see if I can make it all work.

Thought about making a trip out to Whole Foods to pick up a couple of branzino fillets, but lost my ambition somewhere along the way. Guess it’s another Friday night pizza and a glass of zin.

No plans except to sit back and enjoy...

Pretty good day all around.

Neck feels like a daisy, revisions to the new story went well, PT did what it does and I got in a nice workout to boot.

A nice snow started falling around noon, and the way it was coming down I thought we might be looking at five or six inches. But no such luck. It left a little over an inch and then the skies cleared. Temps are supposed to begin warming tomorrow and be almost springlike come the weekend. If any of the white stuff sticks around we might snowshoe on Saturday.

Tonight, taking it easy.

Bits and pieces...

Blur of a day.

Some good writing.

Some good reading, too.

A muddled middle filled with errands and appointments, but also a nice nap mid-afternoon.

Bummed to hear our buddy J had his car stolen from a parking lot in Denver. Been down that road late last year, and it wasn’t much fun.

No workout today, but should be in for a nice one tomorrow before PT.

Need to catch up on submissions, applications, reviews and more.

Looking forward to a quiet evening.

Putting the pieces together...

Rickety night’s sleep, but a solid morning at the keyboard with the newest short. Also put in some research/background time on the new novel. Still not back to full productivity, but damned close and happy for it.

Got to the gym early this afternoon as well. Again, improvements. Upped my workout, avoided any injuries, and treated myself to a short nap when I got home.

Caught up on some miscellaneous paperwork. Went for a late afternoon walk, too. Neck still feels good, and that’s the best of all of it.

Cool temps today, and no snow forecasted. Warmer weather’s supposed to blow in toward the end of the week. Talked about snow-shoe-ing on Saturday if the conditions are right. We’ll see. Meanwhile, onward.

PT tomorrow.

Tonight, a throwback dinner of tuna casserole.

Marking time...

All things being equal, I’ve decided it’s the lack of production, and not the sundry aches and pains that have me down. I’ve been putting in a lot of work the past month, but much of it feels like wheels spinning. Grasping for what isn’t there, or that I can’t see. I’m never sure what inspires the episodes of negativity, but they’re real insomuch as they can get inside you’re head and poison everything you’re working on, so you have to respect them. That said, I believe I’ve finally come to see the purpose in the newest short I’m working on. Made good progress today, and hope to continue with it tomorrow. Meanwhile, the new novel goes through its own fits and starts.

Have been reading pretty widely of late, and I’m crediting time spent with the work of others for helping me (partway, anyway) out of the hole I’d dug for myself. I’m deep into the new Best American Short Stories now, caught up on the latest NYer pieces, and even getting in a little friend reading on the side.

Weather’s been cool of late, but the sun came out today and we got in a nice stroll around the neighborhood. Not sure what we’re looking at for the rest of the week, but hope whatever it is includes some sort of precipitation. Had a face-time call from Matty when we got home. Didn’t see Jack, but that’s the way it shakes down sometimes. Sure good to see their faces when we can. I'm already eager for summer.

Lost, and not yet found...

Spent the morning working on projects I’d set aside a while. Late afternoon, went to PT for the first time in weeks. Much progress, I think, since the last session.

Came home, sent off an N review, and wrote a letter to my grand niece, E.

Stuck with the keyboard a few hours longer then took a break and drove to Starbuck’s. Cooked up a pot of stew when I got home.

Nearing the end of the first volume of McCartney’s The Lyrics. Enjoying it quite a bit. Read the short in this week’s NYer as well.

Still trying to find my footing.