Short writing break

We had visitors for the past 10 days, and it was a joy to have them here. I didn't do much writing while they were here, and I am perfectly ok with that. After all...we have to take a break from working now and then and have some time with family and friends.

I think though. I need to return to working and get this book really going.

Don't Belong

This is a difficult song for me to say something about.  Because it isn't available in the US.  That's really frustrating too.  It's a great song that really fits the mood I want to be in while writing on Natalie's Hunt.

So I built my Natalie's Hunt playlist on my iPod.  And I added all the songs I wanted (that I found first on YouTube and listened to enough to know I want them), except for this song.

Well, you can't buy it, but you can enjoy it here (and on YouTube).

Man in Leather

 

Got my new leather riding vest this week.  I'm pretty happy about that.  The full leather jacket is great, but some days it was really hot wearing the full jacket.  Now I have my leather, can stay a little cooler, and ride more.

I know earlier this week I mentioned having trouble writing due to a medication to help me get past insomnia.  It doesn't affect my reaction time.  So I am still perfectly safe riding this freshly cleaned machine.  (Just in case anyone was worried about me being safe).

The nice thing about it is that when I ride, I am not thinking of anything else, but enjoying the ride.  So it clears my mind, and when I get back, I am more ready for writing than ever before.  So the motorcycle is a help.  Now I just need to write a scene for the one character I have who has her own motorcycle.

Maybe next time I'll get a photo of me in the leather vest and leather leggings....Maybe even go for an action shot or two.

Writing while on medication

It's far from easy.  Recently I had a bad problem with insomnia.  It got bad enough to affect me at work, and at home.  So I had no choice but to go see a doc about it.

I'm on a temporary medication while I work with the doctor to determine why it happened in the first place.  We figure it will take a bit of time to really understand why I couldn't sleep, but we'll be persistent and get it figured out.

In the meantime I'm still giving my best to writing.  But for the time being it feels sluggish.  I know exactly what I'm writing, and it's coming out like I want it to.  It's kind of like I went from typing about 70 words per minute to only typing 35 words per minute.

The hunt is continuing, and I am really liking how its coming out.  One word at a time, and pressing on.  I still can't give a timeline for the book because once I get through the draft there is still so much work to be done.  Once I have an idea on the timeline, I'll start posting it and giving updates.

In the meantime, I will slog through the medicine and keep pressing on.

Crystallize

I got to thinking about what I post here for music and realized I am really not saying much. It wouldn't take much effort for me to at least learn something special about a song and share it here.

Lindsey Sterling was voted off of America's Got Talent in 2010. Piers Morgon told her that the world had no place for a dub-step dancing violinist.

Yet she persisted, and now she is selling out auditoriums.

A Day in the life

I just can't seem to think of anything at all for me to write about tonight, and I made a promise to write a post. So I'm just going to briefly talk about my day.

Started off, took time off from work. So I slept in (much needed rest).

Caught up with a few people over social media.

Did a little yard work (efforts aimed at getting weeds out of the grass).

Got on the motorcycle and went to lunch.

Brought a friend back from lunch (the motorcycle handled just fine still).

Went to get my hair cut.

Fixed a nice dinner of buttery crusted chicken, southern style baked squash, and mashed potatoes.

Finally sat down to relax.

I think I should go get some ice cream now.

He was Daddy

This is about a man I knew. He left us this week, and I know I miss him. Just as I know it pales in comparison to those closest to him.

When I was young, still in high school, I dated his youngest daughter. She was his baby girl. He adored her absolutely, and even to a naive teenage boy, it was really clear he loved his daughter.

He was a man's man. His trade then was car repair and he was dang good at it. He loved racing, and went to the dirt track to enjoy the races often. He even got an old beat up car, fixed it up, and got out on that track once or twice himself. He had an absolutely gorgeous (and babied) classic car.

He treated me great, like a second dad. Helped me work on my car. Helped me get a better car (one that could be worked on), and helped me get it in better shape (as much as my budget allowed).

He had dirt bikes and go carts (one of which said girlfriend drove into a dumpster as I was following on a mini bike).

There was one moment though, that made him daddy then and forever. It was the time that he wanted to kill me. I didn't treat his baby girl right, and he was ready to make me pay for that infraction. It's pretty clear he didn't, but still. He was truly daddy. I didn't understand it then. That came years later.

My poor words seem so little to do justice for the heart this man had. But they are all I have now. Angels welcome him.

Sweet Dreams

The original.



The one on Natalie's Hunt playlist.

Keeping your promises

This might very well be my most controversial post yet, and hopefully I write this in a way that is not too terribly controversial.  It's just something that has been on my mind for a bit, and so I'm going to let the thought find it's freedom right here.

I would never have any trouble finding someone who will tell me their word is good and that they keep their promises.  In fact, it's the opposite, I would have tons of trouble ever finding someone who will tell me I can't trust what they say and that I should never bother believing their promises.

I'm focusing those whose word is good and they keep their promises.  See, I kind of have an issue with certain aspects of this idea.

I've known so many who made promises, or said they would do something, and then later they broke the promise, or didn't do what they said.   Then this is usually followed by say something about circumstances changed, or their feelings changed, or there were things they didn't know.  There are plenty of things to be said for why the promise was broken or the word was not kept.

In the end though.  I think I am at a point I cannot trust someone to keep their word or their promises if they can break them when they believe they have enough of a reason to.  Honestly, if someone makes a promise to me, or gives me their word on something, I am hopeful they will do everything they can to keep their promise, to be good on their word.

I expect that of me too.  I haven't been perfect, and I wish I could have said otherwise.  But the truth is what it is.  I just want to be better about what I say to others, and really mean what I say, and not leave anyone with a broken promise or an empty word from me.

Feeding Vampires

I am about a third of the way through the draft for Natalie's Hunt.  Once I get through the draft, I will probably need more time to get it sorted out, and do a lot of repair work on it before it is ready for an editor to see it.  I don't have a timetable right now, but I promise to keep working on it.

In Jeremy's Kiss, when Natalie fed on her first human, she discovered that it is a sexual experience for the human involved.  That is how vampires draw in their prey so that they can feed.  They are natural predators, who use human sexuality as a means to attract them, keep them.

She did it again later in the book when found Steve, and both fed on him, and questioned him.

I completely forgot about that sexuality aspect   I got into writing a scene in which a vampire needed to feed.  I made it through the scene, but I swear I really needed a cold shower after I was done writing it.

The Other Side

A bit of Rock.  A bit of Opera.  A bit of Goth.

One hell of an amazing video.

Not Just Alive. Living

 

 



Following up on Monday's Music Post.  I mentioned that there was an event in my life that reminded that I am alive.  But I needed to be more than alive.  I needed to live.

That event was the passing of the woman I was married to.  It was a long and difficult illness that finally took it's toll.  It didn't just take it's toll on her though, it took a toll on everyone in her family.  After it was over, I remembered I am alive.  But after years I saw that I was with a woman who was alive, but didn't get to live.

I made a vow to live.

There are lots of things people do to live, or to feel alive, or however you wish to phrase it.  Some people enjoy the thrill of skydiving (I'm not on that list).  Some enjoy scaling sheer rock walls, pushing their strength to it's limits.  Some enjoy straight forward exercise, feeling the exertion of the muscles.

I could go on and on with thoughts about what people do to live, or what they do to avoid living (getting stoned is an escape from living - in my opinion), or what people do that is just getting by (neither living, nor escaping from living).

I chose to get a new motorcycle (not the one pictured above, that one is my 2nd motorcycle).  I had never ridden a motorcycle before.  I really didn't know what I was doing.  But I learned.  I picked it up quick.  In my motorcycle safety course (filled with people like me who were riding for the first time), I was at the top of my class with handling the motorcycle.  I'm not saying that to be bragging or overconfident.  It's just that I was willing to push some of my limits, and yet kept the bike under my control.  I felt comfortable, and quickly become confident.

The motorcycle became my way to live.   I somehow become a part of the machine, and just ride.  I keep an eye around me, and know my surroundings.  I take care of me, and I take care of my bike.  I ride, and I feel the closer to the world around me.

I found a way to live.  I intend to live.