NaNoWriMo ate my life!

It's about to begin: As of Nov. 1, I (and thousands upon thousands of other writers, aspiring and otherwise) will accept the challenge of National Novel Writing Month and attempt to write a 50,000-word novel in a month.

I didn't decide to participate until the beginning of this week, so I'm already a bit behind the eight ball, but that's okay. I'm looking forward to some seat-of-my-pants writing and churning out a bunch of words on a daily basis -- about 2,500 words per workday, to be exact.

My story is tentatively entitled "Snakebit", and it is inspired by an attempted arson case related to insurance fraud that I covered when I was working with the Starville Daily News in Starkville, Mississippi. It takes place in the fictional Mississippi town of Crudup, and I think it will make for a good comic story in the "Raising Arizona" vein. I've got some interesting characters sketched out: a painkiller-addicted protagonist, a Gypsy-blooded fortune teller from New Jersey, a flamboyant pawn shop owner, and a crooked "Dr. Feelgood" orthopedic surgeon. Hilarity shall ensue.

Unlike my other story-in-progress, "Committed", I will not be posting the novel for general consumption. I'm doing this for a couple of reasons: 1) the draft will most likely be unfit for public consumption because of the rate at which I will need to write it; and 2) when I finish, I hope to have a first draft of something I will be able to ultimately present to potential publishers and I don't want to trash my first publication rights.

So, I'm knocking out some more outline and pre-writing work over the weekend, and then on Sunday, the big show begins.

Bring it on!

Paradoxically speaking

Lately I've been reading The Tao of Physics, a book by Fritjof Capra which investigates parallels between Eastern spiritual traditions and modern atomic physics. It is an interesting read, although those of lesser scientific minds (myself included) might find themselves reading some of the physics passages more than once -- or a dozen times -- to pick up the gist.

In any case, the book has piqued my interest, specifically some of the paradoxical aspects of quantum theory. I'm still trying to wrap my head around how light can behave both like a particle and a wave. Doesn't make sense, yet it happens. Go figure.

Yesterday, I ran into a paradox of my own. I'm a big believer in the theory that the universe will teach you the same lesson over and over (and over and over and over and over) again until you "get" whatever it is you are supposed to learn. I believe it because I've seen it happen in my own life. Sometimes it's been a subtle teaching, other times good ole sensei universe whacked me upside the head with a big stick. Sure, there were different teaching methodologies at different times, but the same lesson(s) were taught until I knew them by heart.

So my paradox is this: When I am being taught the same lesson again and again, why is it that I learn something new and different with each successive teaching?

You would think that learning the same lesson numerous times would get old. And all too often, it does. Sometimes the lessons come with hurt, heartache, and sadness -- generally of my own making. But with each teaching, I learn.

I guess it's similar to looking at a painting from different vantage points and finding something new, something hidden, that you didn't see from the previous viewpoint. From one view, you might be taken in by a slight variation in shading. From another, the texture of the paint on the canvas might capture your eye. Even though it is the same painting, each perspective uncovers something you couldn't see -- or simply hadn't noticed -- before.

So maybe it's not a paradox; maybe it's just life. In any case, I like learning something new every day, even if it is just recognizing something about myself.

Headed for the hills -- part VI

Full and happy following a good breakfast and plenty of coffee, we head out of the restaurant and back into the rain. We drove back to the campground to find the camp store open, so we stopped before heading back to the campsite.

The store is nice, with a large porch outside and nicer people inside. A woman, who I guess is in her mid-fifties, helps me with the check-in process. It's easy (they actually preferred that I write them a check), and I also purchased a couple of bundles of firewood, some fire starters, and ice for the cooler.

Loaded down with provisions, we headed back to camp to get ready for our canoe trip. We packed a cooler with lunch (as well as some beer and wine) and filled a dry bag with a camera and other items we will need on the river. Then it was time to head back out.

We hauled our stuff back to the camp office where a beat-up old van was waiting to take us to the river. We were joined by several families who were also going to do some paddling, although we were the only ones headed out on the 10-mile trip. And then we were off through the countryside, driving along winding back roads for fifteen minutes or so until we came to the put-in for the long paddle.

By now the rain had stopped, and we were both practically beaming as we walked down a gentle slope to the riverside. It wasn't long before we had the canoe in the water, and with a friendly wave, we said goodbye to the other canoeists and shoved off.

Almost immediately, we came to a small bridge, then the first big bend in the river. When we came around it, it was like we'd left any kind of civilization far behind. There were no cars to be seen or heard, and no people around, either. All was quiet and peaceful, with green meadows rising on either side of the river. I can't really explain the feeling of peace that came over me that morning; everything was beautiful and verdant, and I practically expected Julie Andrews to top one of the hills and start singing from "The Sound of Music" as we passed. Row after row of fir trees topped the hills as far as the eye could see, rhododendrons climbed the walls of sheer rock faces along the riverside, and occasional flocks of geese paddled quietly downstream. I couldn't stop goggling at it all; I wouldn't have been the least surprised to see Snow White leading a line of happy woodland creatures along the riverbank.

One of the things that surprised me the most was the number of cows we saw along the river. Every so often as we paddled along, we would come to a field where cows, bulls and calves would start lowing in unison when they saw us. For some reason, I was completely entertained by the sight of a half-dozen of these animals wandering around a dilapidated school bus.

The geese were also entertaining. Most of the time, they would swim slowly away as we approached, but one time we decided to head straight for a flock floating peacefully in the middle of the river. As we got within twenty feet or so of the group, they suddenly took flight, splashing and honking, making a splendid sight. It was truly amazing.

After a couple of hours of easy paddling, we decided to stop for lunch. We found a spot where a small shoal led onto one of the meadows, and we pulled the canoe onshore. After a nice picnic, we hopped back into the canoe and headed back downriver.

It wasn't long before we ran into three inflatable boats, each filled with three men. One was paddling, using two oars to navigate, while the other two fished for trout. They seemed to be having almost as good of a time as we were, and we exchanged pleasantries as we passed by.

A short time later, we found a rock outcrop in the middle of the river that seemed to be a good place to stop for a swim. The water was cool and clear, and we had a good time scrambling around on the rocks.

After the swim, we came to a large series of rapids. Our drivers had warned us about these, and suggested that we stay far to the right for the best passage. But I think we went too far to the right, leaving the main flow of the river and heading to the side of a small island in the stream. While we may have avoided the rapids, we ran into a shallow, rocky patch that required more getting out of the canoe and pulling rather than expert paddling.

It was hard work, but after about 10 minutes or so we were back into the main part of the stream and headed back to camp. There was time for one more swim, and about half an hour later we paddled up to the take-out point, tired but very, very happy.

To be continued...

What am I doing here?

The last time I stood on a track at a high school football field was when I was, in fact, in high school. When I was a photographer for the yearbook, actually, taking pictures of fans and football players on Friday nights.

Those days flashed through my mind for an instant this past Friday at the Vestavia High School stadium as I stood, waiting in awkward anticipation with my wife, my ex-wife, and her new husband for my eldest daughter to come walking down the track.

It was Senior Recognition Night for the band members at Vestavia, and weeks previously Katie had pleaded that Jean and I come for the evening. "No problem," I told her, and I took the night off from work to see Katie get her due for her work with the color guard. I anticipated sitting in the stands, watching proudly as my daughter's name was announced over the public address system. I do pretty well as a proud papa, especially from a distance, because that's what I've become accustomed to being since the divorce.

However, things didn't work out that way. I'm somewhat surprised they worked out at all.

Katie had been sick with a viral infection, pleuresy, and bronchitis for nearly two weeks prior to Recognition Night, so there was a question as to whether she would be able to attend. And then Friday came with heavy downpours, making it touch-and-go as to whether the event would even be held. But, as such things so often go, we learned at the last minute that everything was on. We rushed to Vestavia as soon as Jean got home from work so we could be there for the 6:30 ceremony. We got lucky with parking, and made our way into the stadium.

The skies were still threatening as we found our seats in the bleachers, and we'd been sitting for just a couple of minutes when the following announcements came over the PA system: 1) Because of the weather, senior recognition would be delayed until halftime; and 2) also because of the weather, the start of the game would be delayed for at least 45 minutes.

Jean and I exchanged glances, and came quickly to a decision: We would go have some dinner and come back for the halftime event. We were both starving, and it just made sense. We would have plenty of time to eat and get back for the ceremony. We packed up and started out of the stadium. We were almost out the gate when we heard someone calling us.

We turned, and standing in a line of parents were my ex-wife Leigh and her husband, Shane.
"Hey, we're about to get started," she said. "Y'all come get in line with us."

"Uhhhh.... okay," I said, and Jean and I fumbled our way into the group of parents. We passed pleasantries and some confused information between the two couples: Is the ceremony now, or is it at halftime? Now, we're told. Is Katie able to go? Yes, but she can't stay to march afterward. Before we knew it, we found ourselves marching down the track to a spot in front of the home team grandstand.

It wasn't long before the senior band members made their way down the track as well, with Katie stopping in front of her mom, stepdad, myself and Jean. Even though she was still ill, she was beaming. And when she was announced, the names of all four parents were called out.

It was awkward for a few minutes. Weird, even. Of all the situations I anticipated for the evening, standing on a high school track in front of several hundred people with my wife, ex-wife and her husband wasn't one of them. But we made it through. Cordial. Polite. I daresay friendly.

The important thing was that it made Katie happy. And that made all the awkward worth it.

Hitting the reset button on my day

So it's early this morning, just after seven, and Jean and I are out for our daily dog walk. I usually like this part of the day, but this morning I'm not really into it. The sky is dark and dreary, a little rain is peppering us, and I' m feeling more like the walk is a chore than anything else.

But I'm trying to maintain a good attitude, and as we go along, I'm starting to feel pretty good about the day ahead. That is until one of the footie socks I'm wearing decides to slip off my heel and down into my sneaker. All of a sudden, it's like I've got a pebble stuck in the arch of my foot. It's painful, it's distracting, and I'm not going anywhere until I get the situation resolved.

"Hang on a second," I tell Jean, "I've got to deal with this or I'm gonna go nuts."

I hand her Wookie's leash, and begin the process of trying to extricate my sock. It's not as easy as it might sound. The ground is wet, and I don't want to put either sock or bare foot on the pavement, so I'm trying to balance on one leg while simultaneously pulling my sock out of my shoe. The process doesn't go well; I'm swaying to and fro, and I almost lose my balance several times.

Finally, through her laughter at my obviously comical efforts, Jean asks if she can help and moves next to me so I can use her as a prop. Of course, things move along swimmingly from there. Ten seconds later, my sock is back in place and we're back on our trek, dogs and people all quite pleased with our renewed progress.

"I'm thinking this is a metaphor," I tell Jean as we turn a corner. "I can't tell you how many times I've done that same kind of balancing act when we've done yoga. But in yoga, it's pretty easy: there is a teacher showing you what to do and the environment is really conducive to achieving that balance. But the real world is something different. There's wet pavement, dogs pulling at you, and so forth. It's a lot harder.

"I'm thinking the same thing about mindfulness," I went on. "It's easy for me to be mindful when I'm composed and quiet and peaceful, but when I'm full-on into a busy day, dealing with customers or trying to write, it's very easy to get caught up in the business of life and completely let mindfulness go by the wayside."

Jean gave me a look that said "well done, grasshopper," and we went on to complete our walk.

It wasn't long before breakfast was done, Jean was off to work, and I was left to plan my day. There was much to be done, and I was somewhat dreading the rest of the morning. Then my sinuses started acting up, giving me one hell of a headache. After that, the ring finger on my left hand started throbbing (I almost sliced off the tip of it last night when I was cutting limes at work). To say the least, my mood was becoming dark.

Just as I was about to let these things pull me into a crappy day, I recognized what was happening and made a decision. These events aren't going to drive my day. I'm going to be mindful about myself and the world around me. I'm not going to let today be a drag; it's the only day I've got, and I want to make the most of it. All this positive thinking I've been promoting isn't just about words, it's about making positive changes in my life.

So I'm hitting the metaphorical reset button on my day. It's going to be a good one.

Monday, cats, and a big ole list

It's Monday, which is pain enough in and of itself, but today the cats want to play "How Can I Get On Your Nerves?" to boot. I'm not digging it.

It seems like at least three times a week, our four cats get together to nominate the Annoying Cat Of The Day. Plague, the stub-tailed black male, is proudly wearing the title today. He's been banished from the printer tray no fewer than five times already, and I can see him peeking around the corner at me as I write this -- planning more devilry, no doubt.

As such, I'll be trying to cat-proof the rest of my week. It won't be easy. But I'll muddle through somehow; I usually do. For example, I got Episode 34 of Committed posted this morning (albeit late; I really wanted to have it up on Friday, but I just ran out of time). Definitely not my best writing, either. I'll look forward to revisiting this section when am working on the manuscript.

Of course, I will be working on a new episode this week. The Collective will reappear in Episode 35, where we find out what happened with Brandon, Vernon and Ralph after the pissbot attack. This will be a pretty funny episode, and I think it will develop the character of Brandon a little more. We'll see. I hope to have it up by Friday.

Tuesday will bring few opportunities for work on the computer, because Jean has begun working from home one day a week. We're still working into our routine, but I like having her here during the day. I'll probably do a lot of yardwork during the day, and I'll play with some hand-written story ideas.

I also want to start working on a couple of other ideas this week. I want to develop the whole "Deluxe" ideal, perhaps even into a nonfiction book; I'm toying with an idea regarding our various and sundry animals; and I want to try my hand at writing some short stories. Working in another major project into an already tight schedule will be a challenge, but I'm getting better at managing my time. I ought to be able to do this with little problem.

That ought to keep me busy. Additionally, we'll be getting the house ready for the girls to come visit this weekend, and there are some home improvement projects waiting in the wings.

Ain't nothin' fer it but to do it. Gonna be a good week. As long as I can keep the cats in line.

New Committed on the way!

It's been a busy Friday, but a good one. New Committed will be up shortly!