Vacation Blues

I'm not sure what I thought a vacation would be like. I've had some rather nice getaways over the years and always enjoyed it. I'm not having any fun this time. I'm stuck in unbearable heat and find I do not want to do anything to work up a sweat. And there is much that needs doing. But then, that doesn't feel like a vacation.

So, I've messed around on the computer for days, spent time reading my book, and playing with Sarah. Sarah went home last night and is in day care today.

I was going to try and do some things in the yard but it is too crazy hot to bother with that. I need to tackle the study and get the wall finished and ceiling repaired. Then, paint it. But it is too much work to contemplate.

I'm not sure what is wrong with me. I have a complete and total lack of interest in anything at all. I would so love to sit outside but don't dare in this heat. You can't find a cool spot anywhere! I suppose I could try and go out under David's tree but it is a long way from the house. Although, I just stepped out there and it is probably several degrees cooler under that tree. I'm going to get several more trees this week and put in the yard. I need shade trees bad, both front and back. The porch is a heat sink so sitting there has not been much fun. But it looks nice. A tree for shade would fix it.  Of course, I may never reap the benefit of them. It has taken nearly 17 years for David's tree to become the shade it is.

Cassie posted her first challenge on the Asylum blog. I have been working on my response to the challenge for about three days and am nearly done. I think I'll post it for everyone to see. It will not be a story as far as I know, just a character work up. I will limit it to my contacts probably.

I'm off now to find something else to get me interested.

Memorial Day Tribute

Blog Crazy

I started another blog..... {sigh}. Yes, I did. Well, actually, I'm hoping that the writing group will co-author it with me. I've set it up and sent them the notices. It would make it easier to keep up with some things for the group. Here's the link if you want to look. The Writers' Asylum

I don't know it they'll want to bother. Doug and I talked about it a little bit last year but we didn't actually group discuss it. And we got no further than the idea stage. I decided to go one step more and toss out the idea in a more concrete fashion. If no one wants to bother... well, I can always delete it. I don't actually have time to do all the posting. I already have several blogs out there but not all are active. Some are just novels I put out there for protection and to make it easier to share when I wanted to share.

Anyway, take a look. We're discussing t-shirts too and the logo is on the blog.

A Sunless Day

Vacation begin under a cloudy, cold sky. It is 55 degrees! I don't know what that is about. I nearly froze to death over night and hurt absolutely everywhere. I'm not in a vacation mood at all. The phone company just left. Still more trouble with those stupid jacks. My fax machine in the study/library/office didn't work. It is brand new and worked in the other room so it isn't that.

I had a writer's meeting last night. It went well but only four of us. Cassie, Doug, Melina and me. Oh, Cassie brought a visiting friend, Faith with her. She said she enjoyed the herself. She is an English major in college. So, lots of youth in the house. They're very energetic.

Doug stayed a bit later but he usually does. We usually spend time talking about his writing or mine. I'm usually a lot clearer once he's torn the whole thing apart with his questions. He really is very good at getting to the core of the story. I have a hard time keeping up at times and have to think about it or ask him to repeat a question. Last night he paced and talked me through Simon's knotty story. I have some clearer ideas this morning but feel absolutely overwhelmed by the scope. I need to get it down. I should probably start taping the sessions!

At one point I explained something to him and he stared at me and shook his head, "You are creating your own Bounty!" Bounty is his book that is probably several and that we usually critique parts of. The scope is very broad and it has become a joke of sorts when we each get into stories that seem to have no end. His story is very good but HUGE. We've been pushing him to narrow his scope and focus on one character and his/her story.

I probably should go and dress. I had to actually turn on the heat because it was so cold and I was in a lot of pain from the stiffness caused by being cold all night. Yes, I took off the electric blanket. But it was 80 degrees, for goodness sake. You can't sleep under blankets. I still have a quilt and a woven blanket and sheet over me. But they aren't heavy and they tend to get cold in themselves.

I'll be dropping in over the course of the week from somewhere. I don't have anything in mind at the moment. Today, I just want to do nothing.

It's Friday.... MY Friday

Yes, 5 p.m. today begins my so-called vacation. Not what I had envisioned, of course, but I'll take what I can get. Work will be exceptionally tedious.

The trip to Mammoth is off. My sister is sick. Glad I didn't book a hotel.It is not my lot to go anywhere. The heat is supposed to get to 90 by Sunday. This morning it is partly sunny. Some heavy dark clouds passing over with bouts of sun breaking in. To the West it seems to have cleared a lot. Might be a pretty but I suspect warm day. Currently 66 degrees but that won't last. There is a stiff breeze.

I've had my coffee and breakfast and will now gather up my gear and head back into the mine, feet dragging, shoulders drooping, eyes downcast.

PLOP!

Eyes forward. Shoulders back, feet dragging.