How life is

I know this fabulous woman Connie who has a sharp, cynical wit for which she is much celebrated by her friends and co-workers.  I've been thinking about something she said recently--people think she's a straight shooter because she isn't afraid to call bullshit on something.  But lately she's begun to ask herself why people seem to equate "cynical" with "truthful."  Truth can be dark.  But it can be light, too.  And ignoring that fact just makes you the flip side of a Pollyanna.

When a good series goes bad . . .

As I've said before, I have cherished the Hamish Macbeth novels by M.C. Beaton.  So!  Much!  I've adored  the Scottish setting (Brigadoon with an edge), the quirky characters, the mildly malicious humor.  Some titles have been better than others, of course, but for years now I've found the series to be consistently enjoyable.

Last year's DEATH OF A CHIMNEY SWEEP, however, felt rushed and underdeveloped--LOTS of telling, not much showing.  Still, I was eager to read this year's DEATH OF A KINGFISHER, which I did today and . . .  wow.  For me the novel was hugely disappointing--disjointed and strangely unlikeable.  Seriously, I don't think I'll read another.

Writers--particularly ones who have successful series--are under a lot of pressure to produce.  As a reader, I get that.  I've been looking forward to a new Hamish each February for years now.  But that pressure can ultimately kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

Bottom line?  I'm just so bummed.

The How-To List

I told my writer friend Stephanie that I'd mostly manage to write 1,000 words per day this week.  She kindly complimented me and then asked what the difference between this week and other weeks had been.  I thought about her question.  What was the difference?  I finally realized I had made a determined decision to bump the writing part up my daily To-Do list.  And then I made a specific plan about how that writing would happen.  What time would I write?  Where?  What did I have to ignore to get it done?

I'm a big fan of To-Do lists.  In fact, tomorrow's column is devoted to the topic.  But I'm beginning to realize that identifying what you want to do isn't enough.  You have to make a plan.  You have to make a How-To list.

Algie and Erika

I read this Trib story with a great deal of interest.  Erika and I have been acquaintances since childhood, and I used to see her during the summer when she would visit her grandmother Algie Ballif, one of Provo's grandest grande dames.


Algie was a natural born crusader, a tireless fighter for social justice, the very epitome of a happy warrior. I can't help but think she's cheering her granddaughter on.

Random Photo Day Three (and also a meditation on why it's so hard to write in the 21st Century)

Behold!  The new peony Heather put aside for me at Trellis Garden Center!  Holy cow, folks, it's a yellow!  peony!  It's a new beast--part tree peony and part herbaceous peony.  I am thrilled with the
huge-y dahlia-esque flowers.  (If only peonies lasted longer.)

As for the meditation part--it's hard to write in the 21st-century and here's why:  you dutifully open up your computer to write.  But instead you get online and notice that a story called "Miami Cannibal Attack" is currently trending.  Which do you choose?  The pain of writing?   Or the perversity of reading about possible cannibals in Miami?

Yup.  Me, too.

Random Photo Day Two

Since it's Memorial Day, I think this column is particularly appropriate.  I love the picture of my dad here. He looks so young and natty in his uniform, don't you think?  Meanwhile, another gnome . . .

Random Photo Day One

I am going to be uploading photos that have nothing to do with my blog posts, mostly because I want to practice using my camera and then posting them.  AND THEN I WILL BE AS AWESOME AS ALL YOU GUYS.

As you can see I bought another gnome.  I think maybe this is a form of mental illness?