10.17.2011
Castle Mountain Recreation
Do you consider yourself a hearty soul? Can you withstand rough winter conditions that test your mettle and callous your fluffy side against the harsh realities of Mother Nature?
I have the perfect place for you to go camping this December: Castle Mountain Recreation near Bailey, Colorado. It's close enough to Denver to be easy to get to but man, when those two in the morning winds blow drifts of snow against your tent door, it going to feel like you're deep in the wilderness.
Check it out!
www.CastleMountainRec.com
They have fishing, boating, camping, hiking, snowshoeing, biking... it's all there. Just one entrance fee and you're free to any of these activities. Go for it and enjoy!
9.19.2011
NaNoWriMo 2011
This past weekend I attended the Colorado Romance Writers annual Fall Retreat, this year held in the Galena Street Mountain Inn in Frisco, Colorado. What a lovely place! If you get a chance, do stay there.
The retreat was wonderful, full of helpful presentations by Those In The Know and informal chit-chat by fellow CRWers who want to help. Also, there was wine (LOTS of wine) and all around good times!
One thing that really got me going (apart of the scheduled two-hour writing sessions) was the wonderful talk by Margie Lawson. There were several wonderful bits of advice, but one of the exercises is a way to set up attainable goals by setting up a list of items sorted into two categories: "WINNER" (which can be achieved within two hours or so) and "SUPERSTAR" (which is all the next in line stuff). I applied it to my plans for Saturday and it worked! The Winner list included "Write down possible storylines for NaNoWriMo 2011" and I got not one but TWO skeletal outlines for stories from start to finish.
I am going to FINISH NANO this year!
Wish me luck!
The retreat was wonderful, full of helpful presentations by Those In The Know and informal chit-chat by fellow CRWers who want to help. Also, there was wine (LOTS of wine) and all around good times!
One thing that really got me going (apart of the scheduled two-hour writing sessions) was the wonderful talk by Margie Lawson. There were several wonderful bits of advice, but one of the exercises is a way to set up attainable goals by setting up a list of items sorted into two categories: "WINNER" (which can be achieved within two hours or so) and "SUPERSTAR" (which is all the next in line stuff). I applied it to my plans for Saturday and it worked! The Winner list included "Write down possible storylines for NaNoWriMo 2011" and I got not one but TWO skeletal outlines for stories from start to finish.
I am going to FINISH NANO this year!
Wish me luck!
3.06.2011
Parade
Someone told me "Don't let anyone rain on your parade."
If it's my parade, I'd better start throwing candy to the crowds.
If it's my parade, I'd better start behaving like the grand marshal.
If it's my parade, I'd better start preparing my staging area.
If it's my parade, I'd better start deciding the order of my participants.
If it's my parade, I'd better start doing up flyers and sending them out.
If it's my parade, I'd better start finding bands to play lively music.
If it's my parade, I'd better start marching.
If it's my parade, I'd better start throwing candy to the crowds.
If it's my parade, I'd better start behaving like the grand marshal.
If it's my parade, I'd better start preparing my staging area.
If it's my parade, I'd better start deciding the order of my participants.
If it's my parade, I'd better start doing up flyers and sending them out.
If it's my parade, I'd better start finding bands to play lively music.
If it's my parade, I'd better start marching.
1.25.2011
Ode to the Notebook
What is it about a new notebook?
You open the cover to the first page, the white gleam marred only by faint blue lines to guide you across the page and a pale pink that leads you down. There's promise and hope in that blank virginity. Nowhere are the vague curls of past pressure. No reminders of previous events. Nothing to connect you to other projects.
All you can see is potential, the possibilities of a bright future.
You open the cover to the first page, the white gleam marred only by faint blue lines to guide you across the page and a pale pink that leads you down. There's promise and hope in that blank virginity. Nowhere are the vague curls of past pressure. No reminders of previous events. Nothing to connect you to other projects.
All you can see is potential, the possibilities of a bright future.
1.03.2011
Services for the wonderful Dawn Meaney
I just received this message from the Colorado Great Pyrenees Rescue volunteer coordinator.
"Services will be held on Wednesday (1/5) at 2pm at the Tabor-Rice Funeral Home in Brighton (75 S 13th Ave, Brighton, CO, 80601). Dogs are welcome, but please be courteous and give space to each other because it will be emotional and our wonderful furry friends will be picking up on that too.
"From Ken: Dawn would prefer any donations be spent on the saving of the dogs. It is my belief she would have chosen Caretransport.org and Dr Schulmans fund called tails of woe . Dr schulman can be reached at animal health care specialists, 6701 N Washington, Denver? Colorado. Hug your families, hug your dogs, cry for us but do not send money to me or CGPR. We will be ok.
"Thank you,
"Ken + Brianna Meaney.
"The links to donation pages are here:
"Tails of Woe: http://www.animalhealthcarespecialists.com/donate/
"Colorado Animal Rescue Express (C.A.R.E.): http://www.caretransport.org/donate.html
"Please also feel free to bring pictures of the dogs who have touched your lives and Dawn's, and any notes/stories you might want to attach to them. Dawn always loved to receive updates and photos of those dogs that had found their way into their forever homes after having passed through hers."
I probably won't be bringing Torr; I'll be too busy crying to pay him proper mind.
"Services will be held on Wednesday (1/5) at 2pm at the Tabor-Rice Funeral Home in Brighton (75 S 13th Ave, Brighton, CO, 80601). Dogs are welcome, but please be courteous and give space to each other because it will be emotional and our wonderful furry friends will be picking up on that too.
"From Ken: Dawn would prefer any donations be spent on the saving of the dogs. It is my belief she would have chosen Caretransport.org and Dr Schulmans fund called tails of woe . Dr schulman can be reached at animal health care specialists, 6701 N Washington, Denver? Colorado. Hug your families, hug your dogs, cry for us but do not send money to me or CGPR. We will be ok.
"Thank you,
"Ken + Brianna Meaney.
"The links to donation pages are here:
"Tails of Woe: http://www.animalhealthcarespecialists.com/donate/
"Colorado Animal Rescue Express (C.A.R.E.): http://www.caretransport.org/donate.html
"Please also feel free to bring pictures of the dogs who have touched your lives and Dawn's, and any notes/stories you might want to attach to them. Dawn always loved to receive updates and photos of those dogs that had found their way into their forever homes after having passed through hers."
I probably won't be bringing Torr; I'll be too busy crying to pay him proper mind.
1.01.2011
R I P Dawn Meaney
We got some very sad news last night. The woman who was the main shaker and mover of the Colorado Great Pyrenees Rescue died on the 29th. I can scarcely think of her without tearing up. What a special lady! She made me love Pyrs even more than I did before. If you do any praying, send one up for the dogs who were under her care. Although her husband and daughter seemed as dedicated as she was, I don't know how they'll go on without her. I don't know if I would be able to in that situation.
12.03.2010
NaNo-What-Oh?
I'm a winner... of sorts. I participated in National Novel Writing Month, intending to get fifty thousand words committed to a document, intending to make a good start to writing another Romance novel set in contemporary Colorado, some sort of adventure to take place in some part of this great state where very few people venture. Last year I did it. I'm a seasoned vet. It shouldn't be that hard, right?
When last year's effort seemed to breeze into and out of my life, I marveled at how few people were in the winner's circle with me. Dis wuz E-Z! Why didn't everyone come through with 50K?
Well, I know now why. To write a novel is very hard work, made harder by lack of planning and lack of commitment. Last year, I spent the last two weeks of October writing out note cards, doing character sketches, playing with outlines - everything allowed in the "rules". This year, I didn't even settle on a story until November 3rd, and it took me two weeks to convince myself that it was the right story. Hell, I'm still not convinced it's a full novel, and those thoughts in the back of my mind are making me question every word, every scene, every character I create. I'm struggling in a way I don't remember ever struggling to write before.
And this makes me a winner. You know why? Because now I truly appreciate how hard the act of creation can be, and I cherish every angst about my craft because it is a growing pain. I'm a better writer for it, and I will keep writing no matter the pain it causes.
I'm a winner.
When last year's effort seemed to breeze into and out of my life, I marveled at how few people were in the winner's circle with me. Dis wuz E-Z! Why didn't everyone come through with 50K?
Well, I know now why. To write a novel is very hard work, made harder by lack of planning and lack of commitment. Last year, I spent the last two weeks of October writing out note cards, doing character sketches, playing with outlines - everything allowed in the "rules". This year, I didn't even settle on a story until November 3rd, and it took me two weeks to convince myself that it was the right story. Hell, I'm still not convinced it's a full novel, and those thoughts in the back of my mind are making me question every word, every scene, every character I create. I'm struggling in a way I don't remember ever struggling to write before.
And this makes me a winner. You know why? Because now I truly appreciate how hard the act of creation can be, and I cherish every angst about my craft because it is a growing pain. I'm a better writer for it, and I will keep writing no matter the pain it causes.
I'm a winner.
10.28.2010
Another Cool Quote
"Substitute 'damn' every time you're inclined to write 'very';your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be." - Mark Twain.
Hannah Howell (author) posted this on her Facebook wall with the added speculation that it should be a much harsher (presumably four-letter) word.
Hannah Howell (author) posted this on her Facebook wall with the added speculation that it should be a much harsher (presumably four-letter) word.
National Novel Writing Month
Well, well, well...NaNoWriMo in just under four days...
Last year at this time I had a stack of notecards, all sorted by the colors that indicated their information (green for character info, blue of potential quotes/interactions, red for scene details, etc). There was a sense of "Will November First ever arrive??" I contemplated cheating by starting early and just counting that which I'd written as of the official start date.
This year - as veteran of a NaNo 09 win - I'm both cocky and distracted. Back then I knew I'd have no problem. Right now I'm worried that there won't be enough novelty to keep me inspired or that I won't find the going as easy as last year because of my commitment to other projects taking up my available time.
I have the excuses lined up, of course. "Whirlwind trip to Illinois" coming up. "Too many stories in my head" for me to decide upon. "Committed to my volunteer work" which is more necessary that my personal goals.
Fortunately I recognize these as excuses. They are - in reality - no different from the challenges of other WriMo's (or is it NaNo-ers?) and like the other participants, I simply have to organize my plate to fit all my victuals.
Or I can treat NaNoWriMo like a dessert; it will be on a separate plate, waiting for me to finish my main plate so I can enjoy it like a reward.
Last year at this time I had a stack of notecards, all sorted by the colors that indicated their information (green for character info, blue of potential quotes/interactions, red for scene details, etc). There was a sense of "Will November First ever arrive??" I contemplated cheating by starting early and just counting that which I'd written as of the official start date.
This year - as veteran of a NaNo 09 win - I'm both cocky and distracted. Back then I knew I'd have no problem. Right now I'm worried that there won't be enough novelty to keep me inspired or that I won't find the going as easy as last year because of my commitment to other projects taking up my available time.
I have the excuses lined up, of course. "Whirlwind trip to Illinois" coming up. "Too many stories in my head" for me to decide upon. "Committed to my volunteer work" which is more necessary that my personal goals.
Fortunately I recognize these as excuses. They are - in reality - no different from the challenges of other WriMo's (or is it NaNo-ers?) and like the other participants, I simply have to organize my plate to fit all my victuals.
Or I can treat NaNoWriMo like a dessert; it will be on a separate plate, waiting for me to finish my main plate so I can enjoy it like a reward.
10.07.2010
Irony
"I refuse," she said with quiet indignation. "Even if I have only choice of that or dying, I would continue to refuse."
I nodded with understanding, recognizing that some bit of information had been presented to her in the past that changed her life forever.
"So you don't drink anything but bottled water? Even in your own home you don't draw from the tap?" I asked, pretending to be unclear on her meaning.
"Not for drinking. Ugh! Poison! The stuff the city sends through the pipes is nasty. It will give you any number of noxious bugs immediately, and if you manage to avoid that, the chemical treatments in it will give you cancer."
Then she took a long angry pull from her cigarette, a last draw down to the filter.
Again I nodded with understanding.
I nodded with understanding, recognizing that some bit of information had been presented to her in the past that changed her life forever.
"So you don't drink anything but bottled water? Even in your own home you don't draw from the tap?" I asked, pretending to be unclear on her meaning.
"Not for drinking. Ugh! Poison! The stuff the city sends through the pipes is nasty. It will give you any number of noxious bugs immediately, and if you manage to avoid that, the chemical treatments in it will give you cancer."
Then she took a long angry pull from her cigarette, a last draw down to the filter.
Again I nodded with understanding.
7.03.2010
6.04.2010
MemDay Weekend
I've drawn a complete blank about additional wisdom from my mother, and the WAG #25 assignment has left me uninspired to the topic, so I thought I'd post a photo I took this past weekend while chasing steam locomotives down near Chama, New Mexico.
This image was captured lying in a ditch near a grade crossing. Believe me, I checked carefully for rattlers and bullsnakes before settling in. Also, I was certain that a young man, who had set himself up by the RR crossing sign was going to be in my photos, but the train was kind enough to obscure him while still allowing the RR sign to be seen. Timing is everything. :)
6.03.2010
Wisdom of Marcie #2
When you buy bar soap, unwrap it from its plastic packaging and store it in the linen closet. Not only will it scent your towel, it will "dry out" and last longer in the bathroom when put into service.
6.02.2010
Wisdom of Marcie
Always comb your hair before you get into the shower. It keeps the loose hairs from clogging your drain.
5.26.2010
5.24.2010
The Goddess of Strife and the Big Blow
Hello, friends.
I took Sunday off because it was simply too nice to be inside.
I'm posting late today because the weather here in CO was a big blow. There's a personal weather station up the street (that posts its info on the InterNets)which was showing gusts of 30 mph and sustained winds of 20. We've had brown-outs around here often enough that I dared not have the computer on, in case we lost power. I had a UPS but that failed just last week.
I think the other reason I've been lackadaisical about posting is the WAG #23 I put up the other day. Part of it was the fact it hit close to home, being that the dear husband and I are motorcyclists. The other part was the inspiration of the story, which was someone on Facebook who I feel takes too many chances.
The world is a dangerous place, and I am sometimes bothered by my relative safety. I have at least three friends (possibly more) who have had issues with stalkers. Granted, they're all better looking than I am, but this has never been something I've worried about. Do I put a big social shield out? Perhaps I exude a sense of "Don't Fuck With Me?" that keeps all but the nastiest people away?
The Dear Husband and I were discussing a news story he saw about the Colorado Preppers. One of the members was boasting how he and his family had enough food to tide them over for a year, in preparation for a disaster. It seemed a bit excessive, while at the same time, we have enough food to hold us over for at least two weeks, should we get snowed in. We have our own well and a generator and headlamps and sleeping bags and a tank full of LP... I guess we're preppers too.
Rebel preppers, cuz we don't hang out with other preppers.
Is it the motorcycling that has made us into such cautious people? On a bike, you can't trust other people to behave properly behind the wheel, and when they don't, YOUR safety is in your hands and your anticipatory paranoia.
The years of being cavers certainly have driven us towards self-sufficiency. When bad things happen in a wild cave situation, it's easy for the situation to go pear-shaped really fast. That's the time when 'self-rescue' is the hope and 'full-rescue' is the nightmare. The Texas Region caving community (for a while) was listing the phone number of a funeral home in case of emergency.
Okay, that was just an asshole thing to do... but it did kinda sum things up.
Anyway, we're of a self-sufficiency bent, and part of the process is to anticipate what can get you into trouble. No, we don't lock ourselves in the house and never leave - we do like to enjoy life, after all - but we have gotten into the habit of not provoking trouble. The Goddess of Strife is a mean old bitch, and she'll get you whenever it pleases her.
Well...I've rambled enough. Tomorrow is Suesday, writer's group, lunch with a fellow writer, trip to the grocery store, human interaction. Hope you enjoy it, too.
I took Sunday off because it was simply too nice to be inside.
I'm posting late today because the weather here in CO was a big blow. There's a personal weather station up the street (that posts its info on the InterNets)which was showing gusts of 30 mph and sustained winds of 20. We've had brown-outs around here often enough that I dared not have the computer on, in case we lost power. I had a UPS but that failed just last week.
I think the other reason I've been lackadaisical about posting is the WAG #23 I put up the other day. Part of it was the fact it hit close to home, being that the dear husband and I are motorcyclists. The other part was the inspiration of the story, which was someone on Facebook who I feel takes too many chances.
The world is a dangerous place, and I am sometimes bothered by my relative safety. I have at least three friends (possibly more) who have had issues with stalkers. Granted, they're all better looking than I am, but this has never been something I've worried about. Do I put a big social shield out? Perhaps I exude a sense of "Don't Fuck With Me?" that keeps all but the nastiest people away?
The Dear Husband and I were discussing a news story he saw about the Colorado Preppers. One of the members was boasting how he and his family had enough food to tide them over for a year, in preparation for a disaster. It seemed a bit excessive, while at the same time, we have enough food to hold us over for at least two weeks, should we get snowed in. We have our own well and a generator and headlamps and sleeping bags and a tank full of LP... I guess we're preppers too.
Rebel preppers, cuz we don't hang out with other preppers.
Is it the motorcycling that has made us into such cautious people? On a bike, you can't trust other people to behave properly behind the wheel, and when they don't, YOUR safety is in your hands and your anticipatory paranoia.
The years of being cavers certainly have driven us towards self-sufficiency. When bad things happen in a wild cave situation, it's easy for the situation to go pear-shaped really fast. That's the time when 'self-rescue' is the hope and 'full-rescue' is the nightmare. The Texas Region caving community (for a while) was listing the phone number of a funeral home in case of emergency.
Okay, that was just an asshole thing to do... but it did kinda sum things up.
Anyway, we're of a self-sufficiency bent, and part of the process is to anticipate what can get you into trouble. No, we don't lock ourselves in the house and never leave - we do like to enjoy life, after all - but we have gotten into the habit of not provoking trouble. The Goddess of Strife is a mean old bitch, and she'll get you whenever it pleases her.
Well...I've rambled enough. Tomorrow is Suesday, writer's group, lunch with a fellow writer, trip to the grocery store, human interaction. Hope you enjoy it, too.
5.22.2010
Just a Dreamer...
Much to my husband's presumed disappointment, I am not helping him with home maintenance chores today.
Instead, I am dreaming.
Last night I printed out the first twenty pages of what (I hope) is the final draft of The High Bridge. Diligently, I put it in a binder. Then I printed out my proposed bookcover idea and slipped it into the clear-view sleeve on the front of the 3-ring binder. Then I sighed and thought "Some day soon. I just know it."
Yes, I'm just a dreamer.
Instead, I am dreaming.
Last night I printed out the first twenty pages of what (I hope) is the final draft of The High Bridge. Diligently, I put it in a binder. Then I printed out my proposed bookcover idea and slipped it into the clear-view sleeve on the front of the 3-ring binder. Then I sighed and thought "Some day soon. I just know it."
Yes, I'm just a dreamer.
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