Like riding a bike, I guess

After my brother died on December 7, 2007, I just stopped writing. I had a terrible taste in my mouth from a last-minute story assignment that I did as a favor for my editor, which ended up getting panned pettily by SD Dialed In in late November. Then Garrett died and I just closed the laptop and hibernated away from the nasty world and its criticism for a year and a half. I'd had enough and didn't have the ability to deal.

But it's been a while and I'm feeling more confidant, healthier and willing to try things again. I thought it might be a step in the right direction to try to write for publication; Do some music pieces and try to hone my craft back to some sort of semblance of what it was before. So I just finished my first feature today and I feel like I am myself for the first time since 2007. I feel whole. 

I don't know if I believe that we all have a calling -- something that fulfills us or allows our lives to feel complete -- but maybe I have one. Not that I'm changing the world with band profiles or anything. But there is something to say for a soul that was (or still is?) broken, which can be made whole through literary expression. There's something to say for that.

Like riding a bike, I guess

Lullaby

Auntie Risa came for a visit about two weeks ago. J was teaching her some guitar skills and apparently they were really soothing because the dogs crawled up and fell asleep. Rough life.

Lullaby

More weather

I know I continue to post weather-related things but I'm just so beyond amazed at the kind of storms we've had this June. Coming from 72-all-year to this has been a shock. So excuse me if I'm amazed for a few years.

More weather

This is how my garden grows

The garden is coming along. I have no idea if the seeds are going to take but I've planted corn, beans, squash, tomatoes, strawberries, green peppers, basil, watermelon and pumpkin. Here I am planting the first round, which holds about 1/3 of the plants. (Or will as soon as they sprout!)

This is how my garden grows

He can run for miles

J ran in the Rocky Mountain Half Marathon on Sunday and he kicked butt. He ran it in 1:55 and beat his goal by five minutes. I'm so proud of him and I was there to cheer him on during the race. Here he is at the start (I think he was nervous)...

Here he is coming around the final leg to cross the finish...

Then at the end, he got to hang out with Kit the car. I don't know what this car was selling us, but it was cool looking.

He got a medal for his hard work. Made of real heavy stuff. He thought it was gold and wore it around the house for a while.

He can run for miles

It hails here

The other night it just started dumping with crashing thunder and lightning. So we look out and the poor car is getting dented to hell. So we pulled it in and took a look at the size of the hail. It looked like it snowed.

This happened in less than five minutes...

This was kind of on the smaller side, but I thought my wrinkly hands could give it some relative size...

It hails here

You raise me up

It's getting harder to cook as we move up in elevation. San Diego was obviously not an issue and then up in Lafayette we went to 5200 feet. It was a bit of a change for baked goods and some pastas. Now we are at 5700 feet in Golden and it's annoying. I had to bake some blueberry muffins TWICE as long as it said on the package to get them done last night. And now I'm cooking pasta for 25 minutes for al dente. Oh well. At least we can see the Rockies from the back door.

You raise me up

Monetary FRUSTRATION!

Why am I not at Bonnaroo right now?! WHY?!

Monetary FRUSTRATION!

New house photos for the parents

The house is set up (mostly) and rearin' to go. We don't have any art hung yet (it's all sequestered in the guest room, which subsequently looks like Colorado's tornado central), but the general items are in place and the domain is in livable, working order. Which, for all those that know me and my anal retentiveness, makes me feel nice and fuzzy inside.

Here is a mini photo tour for the parents...

New house photos for the parents