hunt & peck

difficulty

2007-06-22T13:44:00.000-07:00

To the stars through difficulty.

or another quote:

Difficulties along the path of life are opportunities.

I guess I'm finding it difficult to move my thoughts into blog-mode. At the moment, I am obsessed with my query, that seems to be falling short. And, of course, that leads me to question, does the novel fall short? I mean, who needs a plot anyway? Looked at one way, a plot seems somewhat stagnant right? Unevolutionary. If that's even a word. But at the moment, who cares? The word plot reminds me of a cemetary. And we know how unmoving they are.

Okay, back to de-obsessing. Maybe when I'm clean, I'll think clearly.

Last quote: Deeds done in confusion cause regret.

AW Blogchain #9

2007-06-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

Below are the participants of the AbsoluteWrite Blogchain #9. Check them out.

Virginia Lee: I Ain’t Dead Yet!
writing@cathsmith.com
hunt & peck
Life, Writing, and Other Things
periodically.org
Food History
A View From the Waterfront
Organized Chaos
Willibee
The Road Less Traveled

Comfort Zone

2007-06-05T17:24:00.000-07:00

Well, it looks like I have a hard act to follow on the AbsoluteWrite Blogchain #9. Check out http://writing.cathsmith.com and see what I mean.

On discussing courage, she mentions the dreaded comfort zone. The thought of approaching, nevermind exceeding, your comfort zone, can set your heart rate on fire and the sweat oozing.

But, when I look back on my life, I would have gone nowhere without pushing the limits. Let's face it, I would have never been married. Whoa. There's a comfort zone slayer. I would have never had a child. Yep. Had to take a nap today with him, just to build up my energy for the rest of the day. And, foremost, (still!) in my mind is learning to surf. I would never have continued to try and fall on my face and look like a 40 year old shark snack in a wetsuit.

What gets us beyond our fears? Is it pride? Or maybe the vision in our head of how we want our lives to be? And are there people who really don't spend much time outside of their comfort zones at all and still remain happy and productive?

Well, next up on the blogchain is Life, Writing and Other Things. Check it out at http://tjwriter.blogspot.com

Great Day!

2007-06-02T12:44:00.001-07:00

Wow. I had the best day. My husband and my son and I went to the beach with two friends and their child (my son's best friend) and we went surfing. I am a major beginner and timid of the ocean in general, but going with my friend is so fun! I learned so much in just a couple of times going with her and it feels so great. Just being out in the ocean, in nature is wonderful, but today had an overcast, slightly eery feel to it. I couldn't wait to get out of the water at one point, so I took one last wave, and it was the best I think I've ever done. Elated. Thanks to cool friends, a great husband and a beautiful beach.

If you were stuck in a box store today, remember, there is always tomorrow to enjoy what is free...it's amazing out there.

Quote

2007-06-01T10:52:00.000-07:00

Barns burnt down, now I can see the moon.

This is one of my favorite quotes, because it is a simple reminder to appreciate the important things in life that we neglect to notice. Nature is so important to humanity and it's pretty sad the way we are losing it for monsters of mini-malls. My husband and I were watching KCET the other night and the program featured artists from all over the country (USA) and one man mentioned a time when 'trout were still in the stream.' My husband, who tends to be quite laconic, piped up, 'that said it all.'

And it does.

Apparently we are going to have a blue moon? Check out http://luna-chyck.blogspot.com/ for a bit more info on that....

Website!

2007-05-31T16:48:00.000-07:00

Hi there,
I just got my own fancy new website! Check it out if you like....

www.andrea-peck.com

Today's Advice

2007-05-30T13:06:00.000-07:00

Stop Complaining, Stop Apologizing, Just Do

funny blog

2007-05-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

http://wimseyblog.blogspot.com/

I found this blog while on www.absolutewrite.com. It's very funny if you're an animal lover.

2007-05-25T17:11:00.000-07:00

Word of the Day

2007-05-24T12:37:00.000-07:00

Pernicious
1.
causing insidious harm or ruin; ruinous; injurious; hurtful: pernicious teachings; a pernicious lie.
2.
deadly; fatal: a pernicious disease.
3.
Obsolete. evil; wicked.

A friend said something along these lines to me the other day: "I don't mean to be pernicious, but...."

Wow! I like that word! Two points for vocabulary!

Sartre on books

2007-05-22T15:30:00.000-07:00

I recently read (at my mother's request - thanks mom!) that Sartre was a lonely, only child who resorted to reading to 'fill his life.' From books, Sartre learned about the world, but he was also self-aware enough to note that books are ordered and systematic, while the real world, especially in Sartre's view, is disorganized and chaotic. Apparently, he spent thirty years overcoming the idealistic view of life that he learned from reading.

As a reader and a writer I have to wonder about this.

I believe that writing informs our lives and our decisions more than any other method of transferring information. Even the news has some sort of 'order' and organization in how it is presented to us. It starts out as print after all.

Are we expecting too much from life? More reason and sense than it can provide? Are we destined to be annoyed, irritated and disappointed?

Miss Snark

2007-05-22T13:17:00.000-07:00

For those of you who read the blogs: Miss Snark is retiring her blog. A blow to those who want to hear the truth told with wit. If you are not familiar with her, go to www.misssnark.com. It's almost a good thing for me that she is retiring - now I can catch up on her old stuff!

quote for today

2007-05-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

We must sail sometimes with the wind
and sometimes against it-
but we must sail, and not drift,
nor lie at anchor.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Response

2007-05-17T13:25:00.000-07:00

I just discovered a new concept.

I need to write it down so that I don't forget, so please ignore my own self-admonishments while reading. Unless, of course, you fall into the same category as I do. I am a self-proclaimed high-responder. This plight was further exacerbated by being a first-grade teacher for six years. Responding falls into many categories, the most bothersome stems from a sense of responsibility. Now, we all know, underneath it all, that we are not responsible for everything. High-responders, however, tend to forget this. Hence, the new concept I came upon. One does not always need to respond.

For example, I can choose to ignore the phone ringing. A good time to do this is when I am in line at the supermarket. I am not responsible for the well-being of the phonee. I am not that important.

I don't need to respond.

What do you read?

2007-05-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

How many books do you read and of those, how many do you actually like?

Recently, I came across this question in a blog and was surprised at the answers. It seems that we don't actually enjoy a high percentage of what we read. I wonder if we tend to approach reading as an intellectual activity - something that requires a bit of work and a lack of honest fun? Or do we get stuck with a book that looks good on the outside, but is ultimately unsatisfying?

I find the whole topic interesting, because as an unpublished writer, I am innundated by what I read on the topic of getting a novel published. It's almost impossible, requires thick skin, a deadly combination of false-confidence, real confidence, cockiness, and suicidal insecurity. I also read quite a bit about how much alcohol this combination requires. And I wonder, why aren't we loving what we are reading.... and moreover, who is telling us to read that which we don't really want to be reading? Is reading sometimes like a marathon, ultra-competetive? And how do you know who wins?

Well, that's enough thinking for today... bobbing back over to my dishy, easy-read. We'll pretend it's War and Peace....shhhh, don't tell.

Hello World!

2007-05-14T13:27:00.000-07:00

Wow!
That was fast! Suddenly I am a blogger. What to say, what to say? Hmmm.... How about this: Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!

Andrea