The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 09

[MrPixel]

Dog report:

We're returning to maintenance dosing as of this morning. Second is taking the smaller car up to the cabin. He seems much more relaxed in that car, sometimes resting his head on Daddy's shoulder as we drive. Challenge there is smaller packing, but if we can rearrange to take less, then it'll work.

We hope beyond hope this makes a positive difference.

The changes seem to be working. Driving to and from the cabin this week was exponentially more pleasant. In the two summers we've been doing the long commute with him, for the first time he actually slept en route. Of course it was with his head resting on C's arm on the center console, but we'll take it. I had assessed that he "needed to be able to touch us", and there you have it.

Meds protocol adjustment is also showing promise. We noticed it wears off before the evening dose, so we're revising the dosing to the same daily total, just in three evenly-spaced doses rather than two. We are incredibly thankful that he takes his pills so willingly, even looks forward to "Take your pills!" as a treat (coconut oil really helps!).

We haven't revoked his un-adoption papers yet, but things are looking very good at this point.

 

[MrPixel]

And a dog adventure from yesterday...

We were having lunch at our favorite en route place yesterday, really decent fast food but better yet, we can sit next to a window where the dog can see us from the car. It was a warm day, so as usual he was luxuriating in the A/C. Of course.

A woman noticed the dog from the other end of the parking lot, and made her way toward the store entrance. Judging a book by its cover here, she had a particularly unpleasant bearing about her and, again by appearances, seemed to be the type who aggressively meddled. You know it when you see it. Still enjoying my sandwich, I told C, "Cop will be here in about ten minutes."

I was off by one minute. We've been there before.

Officer was pleasant when I went out to meet him. "Engine's running, A/C's on," I greeted. He responded that the 911 report was the young woman reported she couldn't hear the engine. I told him that I expected this, but underscored that she never got close enough to the car to hear anything, especially next to the busy road. We had a nice exchange, especially about multiple evidences to notice the car was running with the A/C on that our "concerned person" didn't bother to see or hear. He agreed in telling us that they deal with a lot of this, appreciating the concern but wishing that the worried parties would be more observant rather than immediately rushing to judgment.

"Beautiful dog!" he said in closing. I thanked him and we each went on our way.

 

[Duleigh]

What a crush! Working on 2 books and several stories. I finally submitted a story for Lit for the first time in a month and I have 3 others backed up that need work. How did I dig myself into a hole this deep???

 

[Rustyoznail]

What a crush! Working on 2 books and several stories. I finally submitted a story for Lit for the first time in a month and I have 3 others backed up that need work. How did I dig myself into a hole this deep???

But are you having fun?

 

[MrPixel]

But are you having fun?

Worthwhile question! I invested thousands in hobbies eventually abandoned when they turned into work, especially work with deadlines. C asked me that very question when I was active in ham radio, and it had absolutely turned into a second job where I felt compelled to perform certain duties as an organization guy.

I also turned down offers as assistant conductor in two concert wind bands, knowing that it was work versus what I really enjoyed - playing the instrument(s) of my choosing. I'm sort of regretting that a little, 'cuz now I would like to have the baton chops to conduct our current group, but that's not going to happen since there are better and more experienced conductors in our ranks.

"What do you call a guy waving a metal stick while standing with one foot in a bucket of water during a thunderstorm?"
"I dunno..."
"A semiconductor!"

Gosh. The first movement of Beethoven's 8th is going in the background, and that awesome horn chorus just played. Be still my heart!

 

[dmallord]

What a crush! Working on 2 books and several stories. I finally submitted a story for Lit for the first time in a month and I have 3 others backed up that need work. How did I dig myself into a hole this deep???

I'd hazard a guess: usually with a spade and breaker bar... and a dash of overly optimistic procrastination.

It sort of becomes self-aware when you realize your eye level no longer sees grass, just dirt from the hole sliding back in right after you've tossed it out.

By the way, I'm happy working on one at a time, and if the time comes to post it, I'm good with it. I set a story-a-month goal in January. So far, I've posted in January, February, ..., ..., May, June, and July. So, I, too, am a tad behind. My muse went on a vacation and left me alone to sort it out. The good news is that with the Mike Hammer story finished, it will be posted on July 31, so that will be two stories in July, [one posted today] making up for a missed month. Not bad for an old-timer of 86.

 

[Duleigh]

But are you having fun?

A lot of fun! I'm re-editing a 450,000 word story I wrote years ago for publishing and I had forgotten how much I loved these characters

As for HAM radio - I'm into DMR now and finally have access to an awesome HF rig so I can burn up 40 meters every Thursday morning. Kind of the Alpha and Omega of radio communications.

 

[Duleigh]

I set a story-a-month goal in January.

Last year I set a goal to hit every contest and several of my favorite events - I quickly burned myself out.

 

[dmallord]

Last year I set a goal to hit every contest and several of my favorite events - I quickly burned myself out.

Sounds like you need a 'pace-maker' calendar to set your writing rhythm in sync with that optimism!

 

[Duleigh]

Sounds like you need a 'pace-maker' calendar to set your writing rhythm in sync with that optimism!

My problem is that I fall in love with my characters and I don't want to quit writing their stories.

 

[dmallord]

My problem is that I fall in love with my characters and I don't want to quit writing their stories.

Nothing wrong with that. At least on paper they aren't too expensive to 'maintain.' LOL

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Last year I set a goal to hit every contest and several of my favorite events - I quickly burned myself out.

This is the little dog who recently informed us that he’d just finished 20,000 words in three days.

 

[Duleigh]

This is the little dog who recently informed us that he’d just finished 20,000 words I’m three days.

I found out quickly that there's a difference between writing 20,000 words and EDITING 20,000 words
I would spend days wondering, "What was I thinking?"

 

[litfan10]

I found out quickly that there's a difference between writing 20,000 words and EDITING 20,000 words

Amen.

 

[litfan10]

Weather made things rough, but hey, I'm alive with all my body parts so I'll take that as a win.
Time for some Bigelow Blackberry and Citrus tea, my latest obsession.
Flip the Mr. Coffee on and pray to the caffeine gods that I don't poison anyone.
Have a great day all. Peace, love and happiness.

 

[NotWise]

Such productivity! I haven't published a new story in the last year.

Waiting for a few minutes to top up the charge on my weed-trimmer's power pack, then I have to take care of the burst of weed growth that resulted from last weekend's rain.

The gardens are doing well. The sweet corn is tasseling and, despite being blown down last Saturday, it's grown from waist-high to chin high. I need to figure out a better way keep the afternoon sun off the green peppers. I've already lost two to sun scald. The Armenian cucumbers are starting to bear, but the closely-related charentais melons haven't. The gladiolas are giving us one or two new cuttings a day. Three varieties of tomato, New Mexico chiles and jalapenos have all set fruit, but they aren't ready for harvest. Garlic has been curing in the garage, I'll bag it up today and shred the tops back into the bed they grew in.

 

[Rustyoznail]

No Sinday here, and something stronger than coffee, please.

Participated in a regional karate tournament today. On the road before 6am, home a bit after 6pm. I'm buggered. I lost my first fight to the gold medallist, which put me out of the running for a medal. I comprehensively won my next two, which made me happy.

 

[SimonDoom]

This gave me a chuckle as I was about to begin my morning cup of coffee.

 

[ElectricBlue]

This gave me a chuckle as I was about to begin my morning cup of coffee.

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Where do you go for coffee, that you see road signs?

 

[SimonDoom]

Where do you go for coffee, that you see road signs?

Just driving along the Information Superhighway.

 

[Duleigh]

Good morning all - Trying to get the brain in gear. I spent 20 minutes trying to figure out which story I was going to work on this morning and then I realize that I haven't had any coffee yet - typical rookie mistake.

I'll put on a new pot, I'm going to need it.

 

[litfan10]

Good morning all - Trying to get the brain in gear. I spent 20 minutes trying to figure out which story I was going to work on this morning and then I realize that I haven't had any coffee yet - typical rookie mistake.

I'll put on a new pot, I'm going to need it.

Enjoy your coffee and happy writing

 

[Kumquatqueen]

I slept for 14 hours. That and two mugs of tea and I feel like a new woman.

Actually I feel as if I'm as decrepit as I was a week ago, but potentially new women can form an orderly queue...

 

[litfan10]

Relaxing with a hot cup of peach tea. Beautiful day so pain isn't too bad. A win.
Have a great day everyone

 

[MrPixel]

"Sometimes being right is not the most important thing."

That profound bit of wisdom was from our son who arrived home yesterday from two years in China. His work is as a functionary more than a diplomat, but "the other side of the business" seems to be rubbing off onto him.