The Weekly Report

It’s time to force a blog post – so easy to let it slide. But what to talk about?

Writing: I’m making progress on Bridgebuilders. It’s tempting to give in to writer’s block, but I’m trying to keep myself on a schedule. I’ve learned that I cannot sit for hours in front of the computer. This means that the time I am here, needs to count. So if I give myself an hour to write in the book, and after that I have to get up and do something else – well then, I have to spend that hour writing in the book.  Not talking to you folks, or checking email, that kind of thing. I’ve been doing this, and the additional wordage has been encouraging.

In other writing news, I also have a book (Moon Over Donamorgh) out to a publisher, and the time is approaching when they should be sending me their rejection. Er, I mean their offer of a contract, and where have I been all these years when they so desperately need stories like mine?!!

Hee. I think we all harbor that secret scene when we send our darlings out, no matter how jaded we get with this business. It’s sort of like buying a lottery ticket. You know you’re not going to win, but that doesn’t stop you from planning how you’ll spend the money, even if it’s just for a moment. Writers are crazy. It’s why we write.

Weight: The writing schedule brings up the weight issue, which is actually a health issue. I have to restrict computer time because otherwise, I’ll sit here for nine hours. That is BAD. You know it is.

A funny thing: I did not gain weight during my vacation. And I ate like a pig. Drank like you wouldn’t believe. Well, some of you would believe it. But anyway, I think the reason I maintained weight was because I kept moving. From the time our plane hit the ground in Belfast, I hardly got to sit. This was all very hard on my poor feet, but it had to be done. There was just too much to do! We even kept moving on the ship. We walked around the deck nearly every day – four times around was a mile. Then there was the usual running around, up-and-down stairs, back-and-forth from bow to stern, and back again, over and over and over. We did a lot of walking. Plus, I think the constant movement of the ship makes you burn more calories just staying balanced.

So no extra weight, despite croissants or donuts with a huge breakfast, three-course dinners, dessert once or twice a day, cocktails in the afternoon and evening, and wine with dinner.  Now that we’re home, I’m back to weight-lifting and swimming at the YMCA. I’m also eating less. But I’m sitting more. Hence, my new restrictions on computer time. Which conversely, is helping me get more writing done.

I know. I do realize I am not a normal person.

About those feet: there were times during my trip that I wanted to sit and cry, the pain was so bad. Our first few nights in London, I thought my feet would burn off and I’d find the charred remains under the blankets in the morning. I took care to sit more often during the day, and for a longer period of time. This is frustrating when you’re trying to sight-see, but I knew it was necessary. My feet hurt a LOT.

Yet…

My acupuncturist had predicted that I’d be in her office at the first opportunity when I returned. I still haven’t gone. Because sometime toward the end of the trip, my feet reached some kind of deal with the rest of my body. They simply don’t hurt very much. I can walk about a mile without excessive pain, and if I rest for thirty minutes, I’m fine. I’m not saying there’s no pain – there is constant pain and burning, 24 hours a day. But it’s not at a point where it bothers me much.

Now, this could mean that more nerves on the bottom of my feet have died. But I suspect that that scenario would be accompanied by a loss of balance, which I haven’t experienced. Not much I can do about it, either way.

Tonight, we’re going to Sacramento to watch my teenage grandson in his school play. Life is heading back to normal, and that’s a good thing.