WHAT IS IT?

It wasn't far to the shore and didn't require swimming, just a short stroll. Her companions had jumped out ahead of her and raced through the surf, disappearing into the trees before she had even pulled off her sandals. She shoved two bottles of water into her pack from the cooler and a bottle of bug repellent.

Flinging her sandals and backpack over her shoulder, she stepped out of the boat and into the knee-deep, warm, blue water and waded toward the beach, pulling the boat along behind her until it was securely beached in the sand. She turned back to pull the heavy anchor out and drop it in the sand.

She couldn't hear the shouting and laughing of her friends now and assumed they were deep into the surrounding jungle. It wasn't a very big island, so they couldn't go far. The staff at the resort on the larger island where they were staying said it was deserted and no one ever came here except to swim. There was nothing to do here so it held little attraction for the resort guest.

It didn't matter that they left her alone. It was nothing new. Generally when there was a party she ended up near the door, watching everyone else dance. Dropping her gear, she spread her towel out on the sand and stretched out, sighing. She was already slathered in lotion and now she just wanted to soak up the sun in peace and quiet. 

Projects Out My Ears

Despite being unable to walk for much of the last three weeks, other than short trips, and running up and down and back and forth to carry pillows, blankets, pills, food, and water or emptying the urinal I actually have accomplished a few things in the last three days. So, was I productive?

I was really sick on Saturday through Sunday and the foot was just horribly painful. So, I sat down as often as possible and put it up. While seated I worked on a crochet project I've been working on... well, let's just say a while. I'm nearing the point I can assemble the squares, I think. It was nice to get back to it. I could have done writing but after shoveling the snow, I had a bad spell with my back on top of the problem with the foot. So, I couldn't sit at the computer for long.

I watched a video that taught me to finger crochet and I loved it! It was so easy and I like the look of the swatch I made while I learned. Soon, I'm going to try to make something with finger crochet.

Today I worked all afternoon on The Long Summer Run. I'm still working on the ending and I don't know if it is any good, but the writing is fun. I would write a while and then crochet awhile. Mike seemed to need less today so it gave me a long stretch to work with.

Will I be finished by my deadline. (You can seen my progress on the left and the deadline.) I don't know. Probably not. I also have a short story I have to write before July 31. But I might be able to finish TLSR and while it is "resting" write the short story. We'll see.

Was contacted about creating some test questions for someone but that's a free gig as it is for the church school. I could put it in my portfolio? Maybe. We'll see how it goes.

If feels so nice when I can write. I have to do this more often. At the moment, I've got a lot of projects and so little time because I'm playing nurse and Mawmaw. Have you ever thought being bored might be fun? I've wondered.

The Morning After

Despite the heavy snowfall of the last couple of days, the day began with moderately cold temperatures and cerulean skies. Blinding sun bounced off a snow pack 7 inches deep. I know because I measured it. I love snow on sunny days and I went out just for a short time but was content to enjoy the glaring beauty from the warmth of my den.

One look at the drive though, and I knew that I would not be leaving anytime soon. My drive is maybe 75 feet and the snow that covered it was just as deep as the rest of the yard. My car would not be able to clear the snow enough to attempt to make ruts to reach the street. I've been stuck in this drive and in the street about half a dozen times over the years. None of them were a picnic and the last three times, I had no one to help me resolve the problem.

I've had a problem walking for a week now. I think a joint in the ball of my foot is inflamed. I have this red circle just behind my toes, in the center of the pad of my foot, that is so sore I can't touch it with my finger. Walking is not fun. I know I've been on my feet more with Mike's problem. I've tried to do things to help it but nothing I've done has resolved the problem. I dare not go on another course of steroids this soon. However, it doesn't matter. I picked up my shovel and raised the garage door.

I've lived in this town since 1988 and I've never had a single person offer to help us with anything, really, not a single person. I've had many people ask for help but none ever offered it. Since Jerry died, no one has ever asked me if I needed help with any thing. Admittedly, there are some folks I wouldn't expect to offer but gee whiz you'd think in nearly 30 yrs there'd have been one. Nope. If it weren't for Mike, there would have been many times I'd have been in serious trouble. There were times when he couldn't help either and I was in trouble. At the moment, Mike is laid up with a badly broken leg. So, today the job of shoveling is mine alone. 

I started by kicking two trails to the street in the areas I thought the wheels would go. Then, I got my shovel and started digging trenches in those areas, first one side, then the other. Next, I cleared the section between the ruts, every few feet. I'm eternally grateful that this snowfall was a "dry" snow. It was light and airy and useless for snowmen and snowball fights but much easier to shovel as a result because it doesn't stick together. 

Every time I have to shovel snow I remember that my husband died as a result of shoveling snow. When she saw me shoveling, Sarah tried to help me with a regular square point shovel but it was too heavy for her. Face it, 7 inches of snow is still a lot of snow, no matter how airy it is. 

She took her toboggan to the hill in front of the house, near the the street. When I was about two thirds along the drive when she stopped, turned to stare at me, and shock tinged her voice. "Mawmaw, are you praying?"

I kept digging. "Yes." 

She watched me a few minutes before she went back to playing. 

Eventually, after several stops to prevent my back from seizing up, I reached the street. I turned to study the results. I cleared 7 inches of snow from an area roughly 750 feet. When I looked out a few moments ago, I was pleased to see my assumptions were correct. The thin layer of snow left behind by my efforts is now melted and my drive is passable, I think. If I traverse it slowly I may not get stuck in the mud. If I do, I know where my shovel is... or it can sit there till spring.

Weekend Update

CCO Public Domain Courtesy Pixabay.com

No witty title today. I've been sick most of the weekend. Yesterday was a total washout. I did nothing all day but lie around. I thought when I went to bed Friday night I could get up early on Saturday and do some writing. Sarah was out for the weekend and so there'd be little to interfere. Wrong.

I woke at 6:30 in raging pain. I had a horrible headache and pain in my neck, probably the cause of the headache. After I took my meds for RA, I got terribly sick on top of the headache. I lay down at 9 a.m., the usual start time of my weekday writing schedule, and slept for the next three hours. I was only slightly better when I woke. Still felt sick, still had a moderately bad headache, and my neck was a little better, my hands weren't hurting and that was odd.

The rest of the day I just lay around. Nothing done, not even laundry, which is growing. At least the piles that are growing are clean. I did dishes out of necessity. I hate the sight and smell of dirty dishes. Mike was having a bad day, too, and slept most of it.

I felt better around 6 p.m. and had a better evening but I spent it watching t.v. with Mike. I simply hadn't the brains for anything else. I went to be at 12:30 because I'd slept so much Saturday morning! I woke at 6:30 this morning, in less pain but my hands hurt. I fixed breakfast for us today and sat down and started to work on my novel.

The new word count is to the left. Today, in a couple of hours, I've done over 1700 words. At least, that is what Scrivener says. An app on my phone says it is just over 1060. Either way, that's good but I don't know if the writing is good. I'm still working on the end of the story. I haven't finished all the edits. I stopped on page 76 of the printed matter, which ends on page 147. You can do the math.

I have to stop for a bit and take a break. I need to run to the store. I still do not feel at all well. The brain fog, which has been conspicuously absent of late, is back in full force. Still, I have pushed through it a bit today. That may be why the writing feels awful. I just don't care.