Did You Know: Scarlet Maples Hold Their Leaves Until Spring?

Sometimes it's the simple things which bring pleasure, maybe even joy. Or in the case of such a simple fix, it brings us a sense of safety. Which will seem ridiculous when I tell you what it was. 

Somehow it fits. With this photo I took almost a week ago: the moon through the scarlet maple, still full of the rust colored leaves from fall, waiting for the spring bud to emerge, green, pushing away the crisp leaves. I was sitting in my car, a few minutes of transition from the drive home from work, before going into the house.

The moon in an a nearly totally clear sky. Its light bright and soothing, lightly illuminating the places out of sight from the ineffective street lamps.

The very simple thing I did a few days ago? I bought small, palm-sized motion sensor lights to put on the stairs. The light fixture on the top stair landing has always been funky, but it gave out several years ago. No one wanted to replace it for us, because - well, reasons. No way either of us are going to try to install or repair anything involving electrical wires. So we're always extra cautious going up and down the stairs at night. There is a little light bleed from the front porch, or a little on the landing if the upstairs light is on; but there are dark patches with very little usable light. We've managed. We've never fallen. There is railing. And. For safety reasons, adding light on the stairs seemed like a good idea.

It was and it is. Every time I have to go up or down the stairs at night right now, I smile. I can see each step. I can see the piece of mail I forgot to put away. I can see the water bottle I left on the stairs. I can see the fanned corner at the bottom.

Such a simple solution. No holes were drilled, no wires messed with, no big expense or major time investment. Yet we are safer and more comfortable moving through the house at night.

A little light on the stairs, which automatically turn on when we approach, and turn off about 10-15 seconds after motions stops.

I wonder what other simple solutions are just around the corner. 

Next week I will be meeting with a beta reader of the manuscript. He is one of my "book lights" I'd say. I look forward to seeing where his light falls and where he found shadows, or what questions remain.

I don't think there is a this simple of a solution for getting the manuscript from here to publishing. But maybe keeping the focus on each step, each edit, each round of feedback will do the trick. 

There is a bit of light coming through and a path going forward. Like the moon through the scarlet maple anticipating spring. Like me with my slippered feet making their way more confidently down the stairs for a cup of nighttime tea. 

One step. One light. Keep going.

Still Here. Don't Know What to Say.

 It's been over four months since I've put anything here. 

Which is not the same as not writing for four months. I've been writing. A lot. I've been in workshops and working on book projects and experimenting with writing essays and different styles of memoir pieces and I even took a class on making an illustrated manuscript (page or book).

But I haven't written here.

How much "woe is me" and "the pandemic is hard" and "life is great/sucks/changes" writing can I produce and can anyone read?

The truth is that I could write a lot of that. Potentially. That is not what I've been writing and not what I wanted to put here.

So. Nothing was put here.

And I'm thinking again - what is this space? What should go here? What do I want it to be?

I don't know right now.

I am writing. I am doing some theater again - baby steps to distanced outdoor theater and I've been doing a little virtual theater (staged readings mostly; some audio plays/dramas). And writing. And working. A couple of big theater projects in the works - one of which is being recorded tomorrow. 

In a time of transition and some people are going to quickly, in my opinion. (And the opinion of several people I know.) Let's open a bit, see what happens. If the numbers don't spike, then let's go a little more. But let's not just throw all caution to the wind and jump into the mosh pit. Please. Too late. Okay, then I'll continue to be a little cautious while we see what happens.

I will also continue to think what I would like this space to be.

For now, here is a sample I made of an illustrated letter.

It's Happening Tonight at Midnight: NaNoWriMo 2020

*

Yes, this will be happening! It seems very fitting that my 13th consecutive NaNoWriMo will begin with a full moon and in this midst of our current circumstances. I even have a working title and a few ideas! I am looking forward to midnight! The first midnight write-in will be virtual but still taking place. Snacks and full laptop battery and as-of-yet-unworn 2020 NaNoWriMo shirt are ... ready... get set .....

[*this one's for you, Aunt Donna - I know you're watching from the other side of the the veil this year*]

Bodies Breathing Heartbeats

A friend posted a question in Facebook, which triggered me to think about what things I'm not doing during the pandemic. I made a list of what I am doing - what I have done since the day first things (in my corner of the world) started being canceled, restricted, closed down: March 13, 2020.

If you know me in 3-D world, you know that I am an introvert. And a shy introvert, at that. I only put that here for those who don't know, because it is relevant to what I am about to say.

One of the things I miss most is being in the room with other creative people. Theatre people; artist people; writer people. As soon as the "stay home, stay safe" order came out and theatrical performances were postponed then canceled, I signed up for a few writing workshops. Online writing workshops, because that was - and is - what's available. 

I love my online writing workshops. I have worked with some amazing facilitators and writers online, through Ariel Gore's Literary Kitchen and through Corporeal Writing. My writing workshops with Ariel are almost entirely online all the time, with an occasional in-person class when she's in town. But my workshops with Corporeal Writing have been 90% in real space, breathing together, writing together, sharing heartbeats in real time and place. It's been a perfect mix for me. But since mid-March 2020, all of my writing community is online. 

I am grateful for the ability and opportunity to continue connections, continue mentoring and facilitation, playing with new kinds of writing, exploring words together while apart.

But one this I miss the most right now is the ability to be in the room together as we create, individually and collectively. Because I also think that anytime a group of creative people come together to share art making in real time and space, we are also creating community, some of which may be temporary for that specific time and some of which may carry over into our lives. 

And, for me, I like some heart breathing bodies together time, too. 

I miss being bodies and hands and hearts in the same space for creative adventures.

But, by being safe, keeping distance now, wearing masks/face coverings, good hygiene, limiting bodies together in space time, we can come together later. In real time. In real space. And breathe words together.

I miss my 3-D writing people time.

Photos from the Transmutation Book Making writing workshop through Corporeal Writing, with Ruth Patience Bryant and Domi Shoemaker. 

Breathing and Writing in the Time of COVID and Fires and Hate-storms

 *

I've been meaning to write something to put here. To not leave this hanging, seemingly unattended. It isn't. Or my writing isn't. As we navigate COVID-19 and fighting racial inequality, protests of Black Lives Matter and other anti-racists, as we learn and grow and - hopefully - change for the better, better good of all. I hope that we will remember and retain the lessons and the changes. I hope. I hope. I hope.

And I write.

And theatre is seeping in from the edges. Trying new platforms and approaches and new scripts. How to incorporate access. We learn and we try and we try better next time and next.

And I write.

And the government is such a mess. I cannot believe the overt rise of hatred and discrimination, which feels like they are thrusting us back 70 years, 80 years, maybe more. This is intolerable. 

There is so much at stake right now.

The recent death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. So much at stake. There should not be a new appointment until after the election. That is what they - the Republicans (I'll stick with that politer, public word, for here) - said when it was in an election year and Obama had the opportunity to appoint a new judge. But they barely waited for her body to be still before they (Republic....) jumped into their rhetoric and intent to streamline her replacement.

Hateful - they are very hateful and promoting racism and sexism and all the isms. And they are selfish and only out for their own.

This is why I have not written here. I am writing. A lot, still. Keeping in some workshops. Playing with new forms - which includes Comics. I am playing in online workshops where we get an hour with different Comic Artists and learn their approach and play with visual storytelling. It is a lot of fun.

We had some terrible wildfires here in Oregon; some are still burning, but containment is in process. A couple of weeks ago a few large fires billowed smoke and ash far; sometimes the entire state was under such a heavy blanket of smoke that we could barely see the sun as an orange or red small orb of light somewhere up high. The air was literally thick with smoke and ash and, amidst COVID-19 when the outdoors was supposed to be better in terms of decreasing the spread of virus, we were forced to stay indoors due to problems and potential damage of breathing the outdoors air heavy with smoke particles and ash. For about ten days, we were hovering in the Unhealthy to Hazardous Air Quality.

I write. I cry. I write. I work (part-time, I'm lucky I still get to work). I am having conversations about theatre and I got to interpret a script reading week before last, on Zoom, it was fun, it was so good to get my brain and hands on theatre again. I read about anti-racism and I engage in self-assessment and growth. I have a small cohort of close friends who rely on each other for information, news, support, confirmation that we are doing right by masks/distancing/washing/minimizing contact with others, and so on; it helps (and my "quarantine bubble" is still just my partner and me and one friend who has been in that bubble from the beginning). I write. I draw. I write.

And now I am going to retreat into my quiet, watching, witnessing, mode. Into my writing and experimenting with words mode. Because, yes, I am in another workshop. And it is going well.

Be safe. Wear your masks when around others. Wash your hands often and well. Social distance. Don't hate on people Think of others, not just yourself. VOTE in 2020 and, please, vote out the mess we have right now because if we don't, the mess will be unbearable. It is going to be a mess and a struggle either way until things get sorted out - I am 100% sure the transition will not be easy. But if we have any change of righting the wrongs and getting on a better track, we must replace the selfish, egotistical, power gluttons in the Administration.

Coronavirus - It's Not Just How Many Die

There is so much happening in this time that I am finding it hard to write much about it. I let an entire month slip by without writing anything here; almost two months. I have been writing quite a bit, thank you for online writing workshops with Ariel Gore's Literary Kitchen and "Multiplicities" with Daniel Elder under the umbrella of Corporeal Writing. I don't write a lot about the killings by cops, the demonstrations and protests calling for police reform and Black Lives Matter and related concerns. I haven't written about the riots and police violence and the invasion of Federal cops into Portland and them snatching up peaceful protesters with unmarked cars wearing unidentified uniforms. The Federal cops who are escalating the protests; who shot a protester - a guy holding up a sign? a radio? (I don't remember right now) over his head and who was standing across the street - they shot him with a trajectory, right in the face; he was in critical condition and required facial reconstructive surgery and is having brain damage issues right now. That is completely uncalled for. They are literally kidnapping people from the streets and spraying with a banned chemical and more. They are not "quelling" the protests, they are instigating and stirring whipping the situation to critical. We were not a city "under siege" as the WH administration commented before he sent unwanted Federal cops here; we are under siege right now - by them. And the coronavirus is raging again, with predictions of it going higher and higher. Because people are quibbling about a face covering, a face mask. I am not going to climb into that one right now. Just as I am not going to climb into the inanity of our government in regards to the virus. Or the utter stupidity and cruelty of the push to get teachers and children back into schools when there is no plan for their protection, testing, treatment when the inevitable virus spread happens. I cannot believe some of the lies and the ignorance I have seen them spout. So, before I devolve further into my fury or anxiety producing rage at the pre-COVID virus which begins with T and is supported by R, who were destroying our country ahead of the pandemic, I want to share something I typed up and put out on Facebook.

... I have another concern regarding our current status ...

 I see some people who seem to be minimizing the impact of COVID-19 based on the percentage of people who die. This concerns me. Yes, the death rates are currently low, but are just beginning to increase, again; this is to be expected because of the spikes in infections following various stages of re-opening over the past weeks. (Currently, around 4% of those who become infected do die.) But it is important that we not only focus on the infection and death numbers. We must also be aware of other associated risks for those who get the virus; even those who are asymptomatic. I do not see people talking much about the potential long term effects for those who do recover from COVID-19. Yes, many more people recover than die. But it is becoming apparent that many who have recovered are experiencing or may experience health effects requiring treatment for months or years; it is unknown at this point what continuing effects are permanent. It also is starting to look like the antibodies may not protect those who have recovered for very long - and health care providers are seeing more cases of people who have recovered becoming reinfected. These findings should be taken into account when making activity decisions involving other people. Some of the current long term effects being observed in those who have recovered from even "mild cases" of COVID-19 include: - stroke (even in people age 30-40); - blood clotting (same age group); - significant lung damage, which may worsen over time and is probably permanent; even asymptomatic people may experience lung inflammation; - dangerous rashes in young children (part of a syndrome which is being linked to COVID-19); - heart damage: 1 in 5 COVID-19 patients experience cardiac dysfunction; - kidney failure; - liver abnormalities; - neurological manifestations - brain health is at risk; - fatigue and muscle weakness. According to current data available, the reported cases in the USA (July 17) are: -- deaths = 140,888 [projected to be around 225,000-240,000 by October 31] -- confirmed infections = 3,677,453 -- recovered cases = 1,076,823

https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/506752-mild-cases-of-coronavirus-may-not-be-as-mild-as https://www.healthcentral.com/article/long-term-effects-coronavirus

Melting Calendars and Flattening the Curve

We've just been given the warning that we are on the brink of a "stay home" order from the Governor and the Mayor and the County Chair. We are currently under a "strict social distancing" order and that was upgraded earlier today (Friday, March 20, 2020), with the details to be released next Monday.

My body has many words inside, my head and hands haven't yet found the words to move them onto the page - virtual and paper, or in the form of pictures. Hybrids.

Every day, several times every day, the news changes.

We are so far into this pandemic now that I check not only the date of an article or an announcement, but also the time. Something which was written or announced two days ago is old news. If it was yesterday, there is probably an update, but there may or may not be major changes. Then double check that, even if it was earlier today, there is not something new.

Early on Friday I received what I am jokingly calling my "hall pass." Jokingly because this is all very real and it also feel unreal. Surreal. My "hall pass" is an official government paper from my work, which in the case of a curfew or actual "shelter in place"/lock down, identifies me as essential emergency personnel so that I can drive to work when we're supposed to be staying home. I have my official document and my work badge and it allows me to be on the streets and not be arrested or get a ticket. Surreal.

My very full calendar of theater and meetings about theater has emptied, leaving my my "essential emergency personnel" work and a few reminders. Even my provider appointments were cancelled or rescheduled, one person is doing phone or video calls. I had three shows and one event cancel in two days - and just realized that was only one very long week ago. Shows dropping off one by one - some I was scheduled to interpret, some I was coordinating, some I was consulting. A few more went away this week. There are three or four which have not yet cancelled but I expect they will - or be postponed. One show I was involved with is postponed until next fall; another show I was going to watch (not work) is postponed indefinitely. Theater is one of my passions and my fuel and a creative outlet - now gone.

So when Ariel Gore posted that she was doing a Social Isolation Writing Intensive online, I signed up. I'd just lost a bunch of work and, although my calendar has opened up, the financial hit won't start until 30 - 45 days. So I did it. I clicked register and paid. And I'm writing.

And wondering what the next day or the next few hours will bring.

I am not in a panic. I am aware. I am keeping anxiety at bay. I don't know how long this minimization of activity will last and when or how we will return to normal; and I am completely aware that "normal" is relative and life will be different - but I don't know how.

A time of upheaval. Changes many of us didn't predict or couldn't predict, but it's here. Now. Not some dystopian future. Now.

Wait. Listen. Be Aware.

In the words of the Oregon Governor, "stay home and stay well and save lives."

Check in - writing is happening

Checking in, again.

Again, I could write that I'm busy. I am. I am busy a lot.

Am I still writing? Yes.

Have I made any progress on the WIP? No. But I have written a lot, several times every week; not every day. All of that is okay.

I still don't know what I want this space to be. What to write. What it's for.

I don't want to let it go but I don't have a clear path. Which is funny, because this is pretty much the topic I'm working on in my general life (what do I want? where do I go from here? and so on). This is also - in a way - the topic of the current writing workshop I'm in, "Experiments in Story Structure" with Ariel Gore. We are exploring non-traditional forms of writing stories, which aren't really non-traditional, but they have new names and are described in new ways; but many of the examples are from what have been considered "traditional" stories.

I am still writing.
I will continue to write.
I am still working (of course) and I am fortunate to have a part of my work be creative and inspiring and something I love (theatre).
I am in need of some down time (note to body: no, I do not need to get sick to get down time; I will make time without it - please and thank you).

I have been doing a lot of writing, actually. The most recent workshops I've done were the 14-day winter intensive with Ariel Gore, and then the current workshop (also online) started about 4 days after the end of the intensive. So - writing. Yes. Keeping it on the "front burner." I also like a lot of what I've written.

This week I have a couple of uncommitted days, where I have a little space to breathe before jumping into March. Which is going to be one of the super busy and super creative months - starting with interpreting the Oregon Poetry Out Loud (high school recitation) competition, and the month includes mentoring for one play and watching a couple of other interpreted performances that my only role is as coordinator. Full, busy, creative month.

I am wondering about this space - what do I want it to be? Not for the first time. I liked the times when I posted prompts, when I shared more resources, shared articles and advice from others. I may bring some of that back. Maybe have some regularly scheduled writings to post.

Time to go back and look at my original intentions and see what still holds and what has changed.

*

New Fiction Story Published

*

My copies of the anthology, "places like home," arrived yesterday. I am excited and honored to have a new short story, "the day jimmy changed," included in this beautiful book. I am thrilled to be sharing the printed pages with this collection of other skillful writers, some of whom I have written with in the room in person; some of them I have shared virtual classes with. 

Ariel Gore is, herself, a talented and creative writer. She is also a fantastic workshop/class facilitator, mentor, editor, creative human. All of the stories in this book, be they in the form of fiction, memoir, or poetry, sprang from prompts in classes, or from her Saturday writing prompts (available for a $5 per month subscription).

I also was delighted to be an editor for one of the chapters. This gave me the opportunity to work closely with some of the other writers and their creative visions.

This is a beautiful book and it is available at LiteraryKitchen.net. This link takes you directly to the book's page on the website; but I encourage you to look around at what else is there.

"Ariel Gore’s School for Wayward Writers is a network, a community, a secret society of writers and art-makers. We are beginners. We’ve been at this for decades. We are bestselling authors. We’re recluses who only create for ourselves and each other. We are MFA professors, sex workers, high school dropouts, administrative assistants—and sometimes all of the above. We are witches and witch-adjacent. We are teenagers and grandmothers. We are feminists and anti-racists of all genders. We live in Eureka and Melbourne, in Seattle and Brooklyn, in Melbourne and Cairo. We gather online in The Literary Kitchen. We meet in person in Portland or Astoria; in Longview or Oaxaca; in Santa Fe or Truth or Consequences. We tell the truth. We face the consequences. We lie sometimes, too."

—from the introduction

*

New Year/New Decade

Short and sweet, because I don't make New Year Resolutions. But it is the beginning of not only a new year, but a new decade, so I want to start it on a good note.

The year 2019 was a challenging year in several ways. It was a wonderful year in many ways. Lessons learned, friendships strengthened, writing skill and production increased, theatrical life blossoming and taking off in exciting new directions. Life is good and it is a new year.

I will remember the goodness of 2019 and I will remember the lessons and move forward.

I started 2020 today with writing. That felt really good. I did good work and I wrapped up feedback from a wonderful two week writing intensive workshop with Ariel Gore in the Literary Kitchen. Starting the year with an intention of writing more and completing more writing projects.

I look forward to the new of the decade, the new of the year.

New year, new decade, refreshed creative soul.

NaNoWriMo Update from Day 8/9

I took a few hours tonight (Friday night) to attend three Lit Crawl events. Readings at one of my two creative heart centers: Corporeal Writing in downtown Portland. They were the site for three strong groups of writers - a conversation, and two readings. It is good for me to get out and just listen to other people reading their powerful writing.

I also changed the sheets on the bed today. Which the cat thanked me for and I was barely out of the room and he had climbed up and plopped right down in the middle, fast asleep - or so he pretended - when I returned a couple of minutes later.

And I slept in today. A luxury I haven't had for over a month. That was nice, too.

Then I finished the end of this story I'm working on, which I need for a writing workshop on Sunday. No surprise, characters from my NaNoNovel showed up, so that is also part of my NaNo word count. Thankfully.

With the rewrites and the other writing I did today, i passed the 10k mark. Hooray! I still have another 3200 or so words to go to get caught up. Which I won't do today (now Saturday) - probably not do today. Or maybe I will if I get that inspired. Who knows what I may be able to do after another good night's sleep! Which is where I'm headed now, with 11,946 words under my belt.

Hooray for writing!

NaNoWriMo 2019 update

I have managed to write a little bit each day. I am behind in my word count - which is not all that surprising. But this year I do have a writing retreat planned, so I am not concerned about being behind. I have a few days away to catch up and get ahead coming soon.

I also have a workshop this weekend, to which I am supposed to take a piece of writing to share and work with. Yikes! I did manage to write something today - which is a piece from my NaNoNovel. It needs a little more, which I plan to do tomorrow while I'm spending half a day in Gresham, waiting for a car repair to be done. Nothing like being trapped at the car dealers in the suburbs to make writing happen (I hope!). I am finally getting that defective air bag situation taken care of.

But, as of right now, this is what my stats look like. Sitting at 7460 words; the target for today is, yikes!, 10000. I am a little further behind than I realized. Oh well; I will get right on that tomorrow.

NaNoWriMo Day Two

Hard to get into the writing habit. But I did write today. It was not a zero day. Too early for that.

Then wrote another 950 words after I got home. I mean, what else should I do with that extra hour?! I thought I would get more written, but I am tired. I will get more written before I go to work tomorrow (later today, I mean).

I like what I am developing. It is very rough, but it has potential. I look forward to seeing where my NaNoWriMo 2019 writing will take me.

NaNoWriMo Day One

What an amazing day it was!

On October 31st I had the absolute pleasure of interpreting Tina Packer's "Women of Will" at Portland Playhouse. It truly is part Masters class and part performance. Tina Packer wrote a book, of the same name (also available as an audiobook, read by Tina herself), and then turned it into a play. The entire work is 12 1/2 hours long. Then there is also this overview version, which is about 2 1/2 hours and includes scenes from a dozen of Shakespeare's plays. Her work follows the feminine in Shakespeare's plays, along the continuum of the canon; exploring five phases of his work by examining the female characters. She and co-actor, Nigel Gore, are knowledgeable and talented and offer many insights, and entertainment.

Following the play, I changed into my regular non-working clothes and, along with my interpreting teammate and fellow writer, headed to Starbucks, then the Portland airport.

To the airport to write after interpreting a play?

Yes, indeed. Vancouver and Portland NaNo groups hold a midnight write-in to kick off the current year's NaNoWriMo. (Not to be confused with the kick-off party, which was a couple of weeks ago.)

As of the end of our time there, my current word count is 2,183. And I still have most of November first to write! For now, some sleep. Then later on, after I've rested and am ready, I will write more.

I have a title. I have the start of a plot.

And are we surprised that it is coming out a little dystopian? And probably will become even more so? No, I am not surprised. I don't know where it's heading, but it is off to a good start.

I present to you my NaNoWriMo 2019 project, "Life in the Cracks."

Counting Down to . . .

The time is almost here. I am counting down to NaNoWriMo 2019. On Thursday November 1st, after interpreting a play called, "The Women Of Will" with Tina Packer, I will be among the writers gathered at PDX to start our 2019 50k+ novels. At midnight, as the MLs (municipal liaisons) count down to that magic time, midnight, and we all begin writing.

Let the month of writing freely and as a priority begin! Soon, anyway, not just yet.

Patience.

Do I know what I will be writing? No.
Do I have a germ of an idea of storyline or plot? Maybe. Just a tiny speck.
How many NaNos will this be? This is my 12th consecutive year of NaNoWriting!
How many have I been a "winner" (written over 50k words Nov 1-30)?  This will be - hopefully - number 12.
Will it be fun? Yes.
Will I love what I write? Don't know. At least I (probably) won't hate it!
Am I taking a writing retreat this year? Oh yes! Absolutely! Missed it last year.

I have set up my 2019 author page on the NaNoWriMo website. I have joined the PDX NaNo Discord. Have joined the NaNo Reddit.

Have my Halloween all planned. From Shakespeare interpreting to transition to my author self and off to the airport with a friend & writing buddy. And ready to hit the keyboard! Maybe I'll spend this week's Tuesday writing date brainstorming the speck of an idea and see if more comes out. No writing the actual novel until November 1st; but I can take some notes and brainstorm.

In case you're curious, this calendar shows the target word count for each day of the month. Wow! Look at those numbers.

One month later .dot.dot.dot.

I've been back home just over a month now, from the road trip down through California, across Arizona into New Mexico and up to Taos, then back home through Utah, Idaho, Oregon.

It feels much longer than a month. I worked as many extra hours as I could to make up some of the time (meaning money) that I didn't earn during those lovely two weeks away. I also had an event I was involved with which took time, and more time, and additional time. A lovely annual event I love; but it still required more attention than the original agreement, which was fine, it was important. And my partner had, apparently, a burst blood vessel in her eye, which turns out is actually a common occurrence and no big deal - and with arnica and compresses and extra thick eye drops healed itself quickly, faster than predicted and well ahead of her upcoming trip to Italy to teach art; but we didn't know what it was when it happened and it was a late night trip to urgent care, arriving about 20 minutes before they closed but, luckily, she was the only patient. And there was a minor car accident (not her fault, but we're still waiting for the insurance company's determination on that - the other driver blamed her) - an accident is pretty much always a pain in the butt but the car is repairable and drive-able.

I didn't realize until I was writing this: it has been only one month.

One month. One full month. Not bad and I am not complaining. But I remember on the last leg of the trip, driving home through the Columbia Gorge, I was thinking and then said - I don't want to lose the good things from this trip. I don't want to forget the slowing of time in a good way and the being able to relax and just be present some of the time. I don't want to forget that life exists in a realm where there is time and space and air to breath.

One month.

Have I forgotten already? Not quite. Not entirely. There has been a lot of good happening, as well. In the theater side of my life, there are two new places I am working with and am excited about. I am excited by many of the theatrical productions I get to work on and see this season - there are a lot of really strong plays and casts. It is a power filled season. I have a short fiction piece coming out in an anthology sometime soon; I will share the details as soon as the release date, title & cover are available. I have my November (NaNoWriMo) writing retreat planned [I didn't get the residency I applied for and it really is okay; the coast retreat is later that month will be spectacular in a place I love and it is half the distance away, so, more time for writing!].

I have not forgotten. But it was receding to the background. Until now.

I remember.

Time and space and air to breath. It is within me. It is around me. I will remember to take time, too, even when obligations require more time in the moment. In my overall life, there is time, space, air, breath.

Water Retreat (Whidbey Island)

I recently spent a few days up on Whidbey Island. Time off for me, except for driving S to and from teaching a four-day cold wax class at Pacific Northwest Art School.  I want to say that I spent all five days writing; I didn't. I want to say that I spent all five days working on three in-process projects and completed them all; I didn't. (I did complete one and started an important report.) Or maybe I want to say that I took time out and just relaxed all five days; I didn't. What I did do was take some time to relax, I even took naps a couple of time (which I truly never do, unless I'm sick, and usually not even then); I did get nearly done with a work project, which is now completed and I am sending it out today.




In my writing world - it is still happening. New writing is slow. Still working on revisions of the book - by which I mean I am still putting the hand edits into the electronic manuscript, which is (as I knew it would) resulting in more edits and rewrites as I go. I am also currently working with authors on content edits of their stories for an anthology, which should be out in the fall. The first group of editors read through all submissions and make selections for what will be in the book. Then those stories were handed to the content editors, of which I am one. This is an exciting opportunity, to work with the authors to strengthen and tighten if needed, to make sure that each piece fits well with the book's theme and style, while keeping the integrity of the author's original voice. When we're done, the stories will go to the layout and format team for putting together the structure of the book. Watch for an announcement about that book in probably late fall.

Putting a Little Air Back in the Blog Tire

I still don't know what I want to do with the renewal of this domain, with what is now primarily a blog with its own name. I know I don't want to let it go but what that looks like, I'm not sure.

So I am now trying to post here once a month. To not let it die. To pump it up just a little. Keep it moving forward.

I am writing more essays and stories, more nonfiction pieces and dystopian.

The .:LOOP:. reading went really well. I did have a small technical glitch, which I think I figured out four days later during my therapy while I wasn't talking about it. It still went really well. There was one piece of my multimedia reading which failed. But if one part was to fail, it was the best one to not make its appearance. The sound. I wish it would have all been there, but the other pieces, my words, my reading, my visual handmade "word container" the short movie I made - all worked beautifully and those were the most important parts. One tech failure leaves me with something more to work on and improve for the next time. And there will be a next time. And next time I will made a checklist, no matter how small, to make sure that everything is as it should be in terms of the technology. Really. I am not upset about it.

It is the second week of another online writing workshop and I am writing this when I should be wrapping up the finishing touches of my week two assignment. Which I will return to now. I have procrastinated long enough and time is short. (Time is up, really, since it is after 3 AM and I do have to work "tomorrow" which is later today.)

Writing is happening. And submissions. I submitted one piece after work tonight and am working on two pieces (only one of which will be published) in an anthology.
Performance interpreting is happening. And performance interpreting education and coordination is happening (a lot).
Regular interpreting work is happening, too.

And life. Life goes on.
Life is good.
Life has had a few (externally caused internal) bumps recently. But life is (still) good.

Author Bio

I am not a fan of writing bios for myself. Be it for interpreting or writing or theater, I just don't like it. I feel awkward and don't know what to say.

I have developed various length bios over the last few years, for different needs. Which I update and adjust as needed. Once in a while I need something totally new.

The totally new need came about a couple of weeks ago, in preparation for the writing retreat reading and the AWP offsite event reading. I have a short version bio I actually like right now - and it has an even shorter version that is fun, too.

The reading, .:LOOP:., at Corporeal Center on 4-20-19 needed a bio and a pic. I don't have my official "author photo" yet, but I have a couple I've been using that are okay. Tonight I received this multimedia bio from Domi Shoemaker, writer-captain-mammal-extraordinaire. They have the golden creative touch; truly.

Here it is, my bio for .:LOOP:. on 4.20.19.  (If you missed the post about this new quarterly writing series, go back one post for more information. It is going to be one of the highlights of my year. Now I have to get back to editing what I am going to read and working on the multimedia bits.)

AWP2019

My first AWP is a wrap. I'm too exhausted - and still smiling - to write more. But I will. Later. For now - the first photo is officially day one, when we picked up our badges (thank you, Kassie, for suggesting we get our badges and bags Wednesday night), (the schedule columns are 75 minute time slots; the rows are all of the options - approximately 25 options per time slot; those standing schedules are about 6 1/2 fee tall);  the second photo is the Moscow Mules following the final event of my first AWP, the Corporeal Happy Hour. I have pages of notes, some flyers and books, and all of that will be revisited later.

At this moment, as I head to bed, two pieces of advice for first-time AWP attendees? Make sure you're rested heading into the conference. I had a writing retreat with some other Wayward Writers on the Washington coast for a few days heading into the conference - that was perfect. My second piece of advice is to take a friend. Listen to everyone else's suggestions (pace yourself, drink water, rest, eat protein, take breaks if you need to, etc) -- and go with a buddy. The buddy system worked really well. I am still exhausted, but also still smiling.

#AWP19