Posted in Likes, Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, adventure, fun, inspiration, Thoughts, yay on September 10, 2022|
No writing today. Instead, adventure.
Morning: an early drive through the fog-filled hills of Quebec to canoe through a giant water maze, home to beavers, frogs, birds, turtles and more.
Lunch: hot dog with ketchup and sauerkraut in honor of my grandfather, who also liked them that way.
Afternoon: three hours of hiking, climbing, zip-lining, rock climbing fun.
Ziptour – Adventure – Discover our Arbraska Parks
And now we rest.
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, exercise for writers, Thoughts, Writers, yay on September 9, 2022|
Today, I went shopping for a new bicycle. It’s been a long time since I was in the market, but I used to ride a lot, first with my family and later through the beautiful Appalachian hills.
I found this site useful when it came to research, pricing and comparative data. Lots and lots of data: 99 Spokes.
Because it’s been so long and bikes have changed, I also needed a refresher on bike terminology and geometry. This page was helpful: Understanding Bicycle Geometry.
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The weather was perfect, sun shining, warm with just enough humidity to make you appreciate a breeze, and a brilliant blue sky.
Lingering supply constraints (thanks, pandemic!) meant that my choices were somewhat limited, but I was optimistic. The owner of the store introduced me to several options, then rolled a bike outside and gestured toward the side of the building. “Go ahead, take it for a spin.” It was a gravel bike, something I didn’t know existed until a couple of weeks ago. (Told you it’s been a while.)
The bike shop was located in a little shopping center, the kind with a parking lot out front and a service road around the back and sides. The parking lot’s pavement quickly gave way to gravel, potholes and a little grassy hill. Perfect for testing.
I took bike number one for a spin. Then bike number two. I convinced Mr Man to find a bike of his own and join me. Then it was back to bike number one. It felt right.
Fit: good. Function: good. Smile: wide.
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, Queen Elizabeth II, Thoughts on September 8, 2022| Leave a Comment »
“It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words, “And this too, shall pass away.” How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!”
― Abraham Lincoln
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, creativity, Fiction, Thoughts, Writers, writing on September 7, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I drafted a drabble. I drafted a haiku. I drafted another drabble. None of these pieces are ready to share, so instead I’ll leave you with this back-to-school story from Fireside ok, that was too scary so I’ll just go submit a story to an anthology!
Such is the writing life.
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Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, Artemis, NASA, space exploration on September 6, 2022| Leave a Comment »
You may have heard that NASA scrubbed the Artemis moon launch for technical reasons. The good news is that the launch will be rescheduled.
NASA could again try to launch Artemis moon mission as soon as late September : NPR
Until then, we wait.
Why Is NASA’s Hold Music So Catchy? – The Atlantic
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, Fiction, genre fiction, Hugo Awards, inspiration, Thoughts, Writers, writing on September 5, 2022| Leave a Comment »
The winners of the 2022 Hugo Awards have been announced!
Click through the links above for free access to the winning novelette and short story, or visit the awards page for the full list of awardees.
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Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, Thoughts, Writers, yay on September 4, 2022| Leave a Comment »
We were on our way to having one of those days. Our team did not win. And then the first bike shop was closed. The second bike shop was closed. The outdoors store was closed. And when we tried to drop off a package of mushroom soup, black bean soup, and hazelnut chocolate pudding to friends, they were not at home. It looked like our score for the day was going to be zero for four.
But then.
We found the friends. They were out on a walk and we headed their way. One pleasant stroll through a new neighborhood followed by treats in the back yard and good conversation later, and we achieved the improbable: A good day.
Sometimes, what goes wrong isn’t what matters. It’s the one thing that goes right.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, #thebalance, ah well!, Thoughts, Writers, writing on September 3, 2022| Leave a Comment »
This morning: up early, start a batch of bread, do laundry, prep a batch of household items for a Ukrainian family new to Canada, including a heavy couch that promised to be a hassle. Everything went according to plan, better than, really. Even the couch move went well.
This afternoon: The new batch of flour is strangely weak, I finished none of the pieces I planned to work on, my Scrivener short story file has developed some concerning hiccups, and (for reasons too pedestrian to get into) I was recently doused in chicken stock.
Ah well! Such is the way of things.
The sun is bright, the birds sing, and a monarch butterfly has adopted one of the pine trees out back. Life is good.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, #healthforwriters, health, Thoughts, Writers on September 2, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I’m happy it’s Friday and I’m looking forward to making the most of the weekend. I can’t, of course, do that if I’m creaky from hours at the computer. (As a writer with a computer-facing day job, let’s face it, I usually am.)
We also have “move a couch” on tomorrow’s social calendar so I want to be ready.
Ok, ready-ish.
NPR recently showcased four simple exercises by Vinh Pham designed to help ward off physical pain by extending your range of motion and increasing flexibility.
After a day of intensive computer time some of these exercises hurt just to look at, but they’re really just stretches and I should still do them. You might appreciate them too.
This 15-minute exercise can help ‘futureproof’ your body from chronic pain
What if there was a way to stop chronic pain in your body before it strikes?
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, creativity, Thoughts, Writers on September 1, 2022| Leave a Comment »
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing — that’s why we recommend it daily.”
— Zig Ziglar
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