For about three years now, I've been thinking and not doing a lot of things. Tennis classes, a more structured writing schedule, taking a creative writing class, finding out the formal and professional way(s) to submit work to publications... all these things and more have been thoughts and wishes that I never acted on seriously enough to make happen.
Tennis lessons are still just a thought, but I'm happy to report that a more structured writing schedule is at least in the works. As for the last two, I'm elated to report, are going to be a reality beginning August 18, 2008. I've registered for a class at Arapahoe Community College; Publishing Your Work.
How does this translate into creative writing? Well, what's really cool about this class is that along with teaching a writer how to write query letters, book proposals, and bringing in speakers who know the ins and outs of publishing, there is also a workshop deal. This will be extra help to me with all my writings that are publishable from personal essays, to a piece of fiction I'm working on.
I'm very excited about this class and cannot wait to see just what I am missing in the whole getting published equation.
On a different note, I've stopped using the website where I've been getting feedback on my fiction piece. Or what I should really say is that with the knowledge that I can't please everyone, I can only take so much criticism and "I love this!" comments to keep me moving forward. I feel I've gotten all I can get out of this group concerning this particular work, and seeing as how I'm only working on this for the time being, I have no use for feedback, at least from that group of critiquers. I now have two drafts for what I've written so far, and still like the first draft best with a few tweaks and changes. Now I think is the time to move forward with the story and stop worrying about the details that can be taken care of later.
Hopefully, with the class I'm gonna take, the story will not only move forward but be ready to go places.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Of downhills
I haven't ridden my bicycle since I had my mishap last year, which involved huge scrapes, a swollen knee and a completely obliterated wire basket.
Today, I aimed to dust my bicycle off, and get right back on it despite the heat and my worries that I will have another mishap on that steep hill I can't avoid if I really want to have a nice and fulfilling ride.
Of course, dusting off sounds a lot easier than it actually is, because a lot more than dusting was needed. I focused on the basics, like making sure my brakes were functioning, air in the tires, the chain... you know, things everyone should check before going on a bike ride. From my limited knowledge of how a bicycle is considered operatable, I found the tires to be a little deflated, so I took care of those. The brakes seemed to be functioning properly, and the chain wasn't offtrack. There was some dust that I took care of, but other than that, I was ready to go.
When I first started bike riding as an adult, I was still a little paranoid about another nasty fall I had taken on my bike about 20 years prior. I was afraid of downhills, eager to squeeze those brakes and slow down as soon as I felt my bike picking up speed. If the hill was too steep, I would get off my bike and walk it down. I was like this for a while, until my paranoia disappeared with taking the same route each time I rode. I developed so much trust for those hills I started speeding down them, enjoying the wind blowing through my hair and even steering the bike with one hand.
Today's ride was like starting all over again, though the fear factor and paranoia were a lot milder than the last time. I was slowing down on the hills, using both hands to steer, and really getting familiar with my brakes. The hill that caused me to fall last year was scary, but I tried to remain as calm about the speed picking up as possible, and I made it. I got to enjoy biking all over again today, despite the bit of fear I had left over, but I have a feeling it won't be long before I'm enjoying the wind blowing through my hair as I speed down hills and enjoy nature on my bicycle.
Today, I aimed to dust my bicycle off, and get right back on it despite the heat and my worries that I will have another mishap on that steep hill I can't avoid if I really want to have a nice and fulfilling ride.
Of course, dusting off sounds a lot easier than it actually is, because a lot more than dusting was needed. I focused on the basics, like making sure my brakes were functioning, air in the tires, the chain... you know, things everyone should check before going on a bike ride. From my limited knowledge of how a bicycle is considered operatable, I found the tires to be a little deflated, so I took care of those. The brakes seemed to be functioning properly, and the chain wasn't offtrack. There was some dust that I took care of, but other than that, I was ready to go.
When I first started bike riding as an adult, I was still a little paranoid about another nasty fall I had taken on my bike about 20 years prior. I was afraid of downhills, eager to squeeze those brakes and slow down as soon as I felt my bike picking up speed. If the hill was too steep, I would get off my bike and walk it down. I was like this for a while, until my paranoia disappeared with taking the same route each time I rode. I developed so much trust for those hills I started speeding down them, enjoying the wind blowing through my hair and even steering the bike with one hand.
Today's ride was like starting all over again, though the fear factor and paranoia were a lot milder than the last time. I was slowing down on the hills, using both hands to steer, and really getting familiar with my brakes. The hill that caused me to fall last year was scary, but I tried to remain as calm about the speed picking up as possible, and I made it. I got to enjoy biking all over again today, despite the bit of fear I had left over, but I have a feeling it won't be long before I'm enjoying the wind blowing through my hair as I speed down hills and enjoy nature on my bicycle.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
A fun evening despite a dull board game
I had the opportunity to sample the Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader? board game this Saturday night, and though I don't really watch the show unless I happen to stumble upon it, I have to say the TV version is a lot more exciting. I found the board game to be dull, boring and the questions are either about things nobody who isn't some kind of guru about a subject would know, little else a fifth grader, or even a 30-year-old; or so ridiculously dumb, there's no satisfaction from answering them.
The few times I've caught the show on TV, I've found the questions to be interesting, and at least familiar subjects or keywords; even when I don't know the answer, I can at least guess, but with the board game it was nearly impossible.
I did have fun, nonetheless. My sister and I were invited to dinner at a friend's house, and that was where the game took place. We played by the rules the first couple of times, but then it got too dull, so we changed the rules slightly. Then that got too boring, and so we just started reading the million dollar questions and guessing at those. At which point I realized that I know details about certain subjects that don't answer the question being asked, yet make me feel smarter than a fifth grader anyway.
The few times I've caught the show on TV, I've found the questions to be interesting, and at least familiar subjects or keywords; even when I don't know the answer, I can at least guess, but with the board game it was nearly impossible.
I did have fun, nonetheless. My sister and I were invited to dinner at a friend's house, and that was where the game took place. We played by the rules the first couple of times, but then it got too dull, so we changed the rules slightly. Then that got too boring, and so we just started reading the million dollar questions and guessing at those. At which point I realized that I know details about certain subjects that don't answer the question being asked, yet make me feel smarter than a fifth grader anyway.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Tube socks and a host umbrella
One of the many cool things I appreciate about AOL are the weird news items they put on their welcome screen. Each time I sign in I get intrigued by at least one news item they've provided a link to, and before I know it, I'm clicking through an endless photo gallery of crazy and sometimes ugly fashion trends.
The latest fashion trend I came across on AOL was that of the tube sock. Apparently, these iconic socks made famous in the 70s are now back in a crazy way. The reason why this is something I feel the need to write about is the fact that as a child, I loved said style of socks. I was girly, loved pink and idolized Disney's Snow White, but I loved my tube socks and wore them with everything.
Though I have more pictures to showcase my tube sock loving phase, I was only able to find one with ease.
I wore these socks with everything from the outfit in the picture, to dresses... and now super model Gisele is sporting them along with everyone else in that gallery. If you ask me, I think my take on this piece of 70s style is the cutest, and most creative. What do you think?
On a completely different note, something very interesting happened to me just yesterday. I was outside, sitting on the swing we have on our deck, and had our umbrella open when a gust of wind came and made the thing not so stable. I decided to close it up, and as I was doing this, I heard something fall on the glass of the table underneath. I looked down, and this is what I saw...
I have no idea what these things are, but to me, they look like baby caterpillars that were waiting to hatch. Their Mama must've put them inside one of the folds in our umbrella and left them there. They were squirmy and remained so for a few minutes, but soon flatlined. I feel really bad for basically aborting these babies, but it was a pure accident, and a very interesting one at that. Ah, the beauty of the outdoors during the summer... however morbid it can turn.
The latest fashion trend I came across on AOL was that of the tube sock. Apparently, these iconic socks made famous in the 70s are now back in a crazy way. The reason why this is something I feel the need to write about is the fact that as a child, I loved said style of socks. I was girly, loved pink and idolized Disney's Snow White, but I loved my tube socks and wore them with everything.
Though I have more pictures to showcase my tube sock loving phase, I was only able to find one with ease.
I wore these socks with everything from the outfit in the picture, to dresses... and now super model Gisele is sporting them along with everyone else in that gallery. If you ask me, I think my take on this piece of 70s style is the cutest, and most creative. What do you think?
On a completely different note, something very interesting happened to me just yesterday. I was outside, sitting on the swing we have on our deck, and had our umbrella open when a gust of wind came and made the thing not so stable. I decided to close it up, and as I was doing this, I heard something fall on the glass of the table underneath. I looked down, and this is what I saw...
I have no idea what these things are, but to me, they look like baby caterpillars that were waiting to hatch. Their Mama must've put them inside one of the folds in our umbrella and left them there. They were squirmy and remained so for a few minutes, but soon flatlined. I feel really bad for basically aborting these babies, but it was a pure accident, and a very interesting one at that. Ah, the beauty of the outdoors during the summer... however morbid it can turn.
Someone said to write without discrimation
Someone said (the other day) that it's important to write down everything. Even the most mundane details will one day be not so mundane. I always knew this, and in the age of the blog it is now easier than ever to record every detail no matter where you are.
I remember when I used to have one of those diaries with a lock and key, and a cute little satin ribbon to hold my place. It was a green hardback book with an illustration on the cover I don't remember well enough to describe, but for some reason is reminding me of something out of The Secret Garden. This book of mine had green ruled pages and smelled like an aromatic novelty eraser. I loved that book and wrote in it sporadically until I was about 13 or 14. I haven't seen this book in quite some time, what with moving and storing things not of immediate use, but I do remember the sort of things I used to write in it. They were mundane details of my adolescence, but I suspect that if I were to find this book today, I'd gobble it right up like good reading material.
With this blog I've gone back and forth on what constitutes a post. I've even gone back and forth on what this blog's focus is, and now with almost two years in business, I still don't know what this blog is about other than the roller coaster ride that is my life. The only thing that is for sure and constant about this blog is that it's about what has invaded my mind for the moment.
Some posts are about me sitting on the porch and hearing kids in my neighborhood say the darnedest things. Some posts are formal movie and book reviews, while others aren't so formal. Some posts are strictly my news and travel experiences and pictures. Some are just streams of my conciousness, or something I've discovered (like Japanese gum) that I find so fascinating, I must write about it.
Having said all that, I feel that the lack of focus of this blog is what makes it so interesting... at least to me. It's kind of like one of those heart monitor printouts telling me exactly what was fascinating me and occupying my psyche at a particular moment in time, and it's really cool. I already go back and read some of my older posts and either think "Wow. I totally forgot about that," or "What the hell was my problem that day?" I just love having that window into my mind from months ago, and it's so much easier than it used to be to create that window into your ultimate growth in words.
I guess I will continue to treat this blog as I have been treating it all this time, writing anything that suits my fancy. The only difference will probably be more entries, as I plan on really writing everything without discrimination.
In an attempt to write without discrimination...
- One of my favorite TV shows, if not my absolute favorite, is The Golden Girls. It's only natural that I would be saddened by the death of Estelle Getty, who played Golden Girl Sophia Petrillo. She died on Tuesday after having suffered from dementia. I wanted to pay a tiny tribute to her, so I wrote a piece about my love for the show on Intrepid Media, so look for it in the gallery.
- For weeks now, and thanks to the wonderful summer weather, my sister and Dad and I have been going on walks in the great outdoors for exercise. I can't tell you just how nice it is to not be cooped up in the basement doing the same mundane workout on the treadmill. There is so much to look forward to when your exercise is outside, that I'm dreading when the basement is the only option. It reiterates my love for the summer, and warm, snowless weather. Not only does the newly watered grass smell heavenly on these beautiful evenings, but the birds are singing and sometimes I see deer in the distance. Aside from my strength training, which is obnoxious, these walks have eliminated the feeling of dread toward working out. I only wish we could go for bike rides the three of us, because that would make it even more exciting and relaxing. :-)
I remember when I used to have one of those diaries with a lock and key, and a cute little satin ribbon to hold my place. It was a green hardback book with an illustration on the cover I don't remember well enough to describe, but for some reason is reminding me of something out of The Secret Garden. This book of mine had green ruled pages and smelled like an aromatic novelty eraser. I loved that book and wrote in it sporadically until I was about 13 or 14. I haven't seen this book in quite some time, what with moving and storing things not of immediate use, but I do remember the sort of things I used to write in it. They were mundane details of my adolescence, but I suspect that if I were to find this book today, I'd gobble it right up like good reading material.
With this blog I've gone back and forth on what constitutes a post. I've even gone back and forth on what this blog's focus is, and now with almost two years in business, I still don't know what this blog is about other than the roller coaster ride that is my life. The only thing that is for sure and constant about this blog is that it's about what has invaded my mind for the moment.
Some posts are about me sitting on the porch and hearing kids in my neighborhood say the darnedest things. Some posts are formal movie and book reviews, while others aren't so formal. Some posts are strictly my news and travel experiences and pictures. Some are just streams of my conciousness, or something I've discovered (like Japanese gum) that I find so fascinating, I must write about it.
Having said all that, I feel that the lack of focus of this blog is what makes it so interesting... at least to me. It's kind of like one of those heart monitor printouts telling me exactly what was fascinating me and occupying my psyche at a particular moment in time, and it's really cool. I already go back and read some of my older posts and either think "Wow. I totally forgot about that," or "What the hell was my problem that day?" I just love having that window into my mind from months ago, and it's so much easier than it used to be to create that window into your ultimate growth in words.
I guess I will continue to treat this blog as I have been treating it all this time, writing anything that suits my fancy. The only difference will probably be more entries, as I plan on really writing everything without discrimination.
In an attempt to write without discrimination...
- One of my favorite TV shows, if not my absolute favorite, is The Golden Girls. It's only natural that I would be saddened by the death of Estelle Getty, who played Golden Girl Sophia Petrillo. She died on Tuesday after having suffered from dementia. I wanted to pay a tiny tribute to her, so I wrote a piece about my love for the show on Intrepid Media, so look for it in the gallery.
- For weeks now, and thanks to the wonderful summer weather, my sister and Dad and I have been going on walks in the great outdoors for exercise. I can't tell you just how nice it is to not be cooped up in the basement doing the same mundane workout on the treadmill. There is so much to look forward to when your exercise is outside, that I'm dreading when the basement is the only option. It reiterates my love for the summer, and warm, snowless weather. Not only does the newly watered grass smell heavenly on these beautiful evenings, but the birds are singing and sometimes I see deer in the distance. Aside from my strength training, which is obnoxious, these walks have eliminated the feeling of dread toward working out. I only wish we could go for bike rides the three of us, because that would make it even more exciting and relaxing. :-)
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