Starting Over

I drove into work with Blair this morning. “So this is what this ‘work’ thing is like,” I said as I climbed into the passenger seat of the car. “Hmm. I’d forgotten.”

I’m meeting a friend in Winston for a writing session this morning and Blair and I have plans in Greensboro tonight, so it seemed a waste of time and gas to have both of us drive to Winston, both of us drive back to Madison at different times, and then drive into Greensboro together. Instead, I dropped Blair off at work and am tooling around Winston all day. Except ideally there will be no tooling. There will be novel writing and lots of it.

I’ve gotten off track, yet again. The thing with creative writing is that it needs to be done on a regular basis. Even going 2 days without working on the novel throws me out of the “zone,” and I have to spend time reorienting myself to the time and feel of the story. This week I’ve had some client work and lots of work for the agencies with which I volunteer and have let the novel writing take a backseat.

Bad writer! I know better. But I kept thinking, “I’ll have all day Friday to devote to it.” But writing is like exercise, best done even in small daily doses versus trying to shove a week full of missed workouts into a one-hour power session at the gym. Doesn’t work and leaves you feeling frustrated and exhausted.

So in a few minutes I’ll drive over to Borders and plant myself there for what I hope will be a solid 5-6 hours of writing time. Then a quick jaunt to Goodwill. I’m on the hunt for clothes for our trip to Egypt. I need long-sleeved cotton and linen blouses. I’m pretty sure I will never again wear most of the clothes I’m required to pack on this trip, so cheap is good.

I hope everyone has a marvelous Friday! Oh, and if you need a smile, this 2-minute video of a true-story reunion between a lion and the people who raised him will be sure to bring one to your face.

Personal Trainer: Session #2

Last night was the second session with Ben Roberts, my trainer. We focused on shoulders, core, and a little cardio. It was not quite as torturous as last week. I can tell this because I still have the full use of all my limbs this morning. Last week I did the training on top of my 20-mile Uwharrie Mountain Trail Run and putting one foot in front of the other Wed-Friday required focus and concentration. Lowering myself to the toilet was an act of sheer willpower only accomplished by the leverage offered by the towel rack. 

But today I feel good. A little stiff, but not bad. I did learn one thing, however, No eating or drinking 2-3 hours before a workout. I had some hot tea (oh okay, and a cookie) about an hour and half before our session yesterday and YECH. I was fighting the urge to throw up for half the session. 

I like how Ben mixes up the training. We didn't do any of the same exercises yesterday that we did last week. It's also fun to watch him explain the exercises we'll be doing. "I can do that," I'm thinking as he's demonstrating a strap or pulley. "That doesn't look too hard." Then, of course, it's like OH. MY. GOD. A humbling experience, this working out thing. 

But the training is paying off. I did a run this morning and at the end thought, "Oh, it wouldn't kill me to do some sit-ups." Pounded out some of those along with some push-ups and planks. 

That May 2nd marathon is just around the corner. Time to start getting a little more serious about it.

Dena

The Battle of the Spouses

Spouses fight about different things. Kids... money... and whether the man was lying or just being nice when he said you didn't look fat in your new dress.

Blair and I are currently engaged in the reoccurring passive-aggressive "Who Will Be The One To Empty The Kitchen Trashcan" battle. The rules are simple:

1. Never admit you've actually noticed the trashcan is full to bursting and needs to be emptied.
2. Instead, earn points by continuing to fold, stuff, and tuck garbage into every available nook and crevice.
3. However, you LOSE points if your significant other catches you folding, stuffing, or tucking instead of emptying.
4. Strategy is employed if, while stuffing, you are able to convince your spouse that a) "There's still room for more," or b) "I'll take care of this in just a minute," and then walk away.
5. The game is won when your opponent either breaks down and takes the trash out due to there being no more room or when they pass out over the trash due to the toxic fumes created by the mixture of old Windex bottles and banana peels. (Note: Upon awakening, the passer outer must still admit defeat and be the one to empty the trash.)
6. Bonus points are available if, when the trash is being taken outside, you can sneak into the kitchen and place a fresh bag in the can, thereby earning the right to claim that "we emptied the garbage together."

My road today is fraught with danger. Blair left for work and the can is close to spilling over. Well-played, my love. However, I am the master stuffer, so the game is not over yet.

And even if it is, I am very close to winning the "I used the last bathroom tissue but I'm going to wait until you break down and replace the box" war.  So there.

Stroke of Good Luck

The middle grade novel I'm working on has an 11-year-old bee-keeping girl as a side character. I've been reading books on honeybees in order to add realistic details to the story and hoping to be able to find someone who keeps hives so I could observe.

BINGO. Thank you, fate. Friday as I'm sitting in a cofeehouse typing, I hear a customer at the counter talking to the shop owner about her honeybee hives, and how they only have one now but are getting ready to introduce four more boxes (or hives).

I grabbed a business card, popped out of my chair, and ran up front to introduce myself. The outcome being that this woman said they had an extra netting and if I wanted to observe them with the hive, I was welcome to. She's going to call me to arrange a time.

SO EXCITED. And a little nervous. I have a huge fear of bees. Never been stung. But I'm willing to suffer for my art. Or at least run screaming in an unncessary panic up a stranger's yard. ;)

Isn't it amazing how the Universe will so often deliver exactly what you need? Now I'm thinking of a large chocolate milkshake... let's see what comes my way.