New Writing Blog

I’ve created yet another blog!

I’ve decided to post one of my novels as an online serial novel It’s the novel that precedes Diana’s Diary, and I’m illustrating it, just like I did the diary.

So here it is: Bella Diana. Take a look and let me know what you think. I’ll start posting next chapters in another day or two. The novel is complete, so unless I change my mind about putting it out there for free, there will be regular installments every couple of days or so.

Note: This post is cross-posted on my Writing blog.

Home Again!

We got home Saturday evening to find the power off, due to a storm. But after the light company repaired the transformer, we still didn’t have power because the lightning had caused a surge which blew out something here on the property. Luckily the apartment management called in an electrician right away, but by morning we still had no power. A good thing it wasn’t very hot! And a good thing we had some glow sticks! They’re cheap and you can set them all over your home to help you find your way around. They’re safer than candles, and the trick is to set them out as navigational guides, like night lights. Then use your lanterns, candles, or flashlights only in the room you happen to be in.

I got up early this morning, still no power, and thought I’d do a long run. But it didn’t go well. I’ve been having trouble breathing since we got back to Houston, and my lungs never cleared on this morning’s run. That wasn’t the whole problem, though. I think I was just more tired than I realized, because at around mile five I realized that I was just deeply exhausted, all the way through. I wanted to push myself to finish at least twelve miles, but I cut it short at nine.

I should know better. A similar thing happened a couple years ago when I got back from vacation and the very next morning went out on a ride where I suffered a major bonk under conditions that shouldn’t have been a problem. It’s funny how you don’t realize how tired you really are after a trip.

But I’m pretty proud of myself for keeping to an exercise schedule while I was on vacation. There were only two days when I didn’t run, hike, or work out in a hotel exercise room. I also got a deep tissue massage, and ate pretty healthy. I can’t get over how in the last few years, it’s gotten so much easier to get a fresh salad, vegetarian meals, and a hotel with a workout room, even in small towns!

While I was gone, my bike was at the shop, and after I test it out on the trainer tomorrow, I think I’ll be ready to hit the road! I got the rear wheel fixed, the chain and cog set replaced, and a general tune-up. So I should be road-worthy now. Anyone up for a ride? Next week, please. Or the week after. I’m tired.

My vacation posts are all up at my vacation blog.

Open Road

Well, first thing in the morning, we’re off!

It was a totally insane week at work, but I think I got done most of what needed doing, and I handed off the rest to my staff, who I hope will rise to the occasion.

I thought I would have time to take a new Tidbit Travel pic, but no such luck. I'm leaving you with an oldie but goodie insead:














I’ll be making updates to my Vacation Blog for the next two weeks. Starting as early as Sunday night, you can check out my pictures and stories of the road!

See you soon!

I’ve Been Tagged!

Allie tagged me with the Eight Random Facts meme! So, okay. Here’s mine:

Eight Random Facts/Habits:

1. My normal body temp is 97.4, not 98.6. I suspect this is why I’m so sensitive to cold and not easily put off by heat.
2. I like to dance, play music, and even sing, but I don’t usually enjoy sitting and listening to music or going to concerts.
3. When Dan met me, I owned a TV, but it was a gift from my parents from five years before and was still in its original box, unopened. I still don’t watch TV and I rarely watch movies.
4. I know more about the stars of the silent film era than of our own.
5. I want to learn flamenco dance.
6. I once took boxing classes. It was a lot of fun. For the last few years I’ve wanted to learn krava maga.
7. I like anything to do with clothes—buying, designing, sewing (with or without a pattern), mending, tailoring, and even ironing. I can starch, too.
8. I write fiction, but most of my reading is non-fiction, especially history.

I’ve seen this meme pop up on several of the blogs I regularly visit, and I’m having a little trouble keeping up with who has already been tagged, and who hasn’t. So for now, I’ll just say that if you haven’t gotten tagged yet, you’re IT!

Scenes from an Identity Crisis

Planning

It was a crazy week at work, and I’m anticipating worse this coming week, since I’ll be on vacation for the two weeks following. Already my meeting schedule is so packed that I don’t know when I’m supposed to actually work. At home, I guess, just like I did last week.

**sigh**

I tried a different route for my long run this morning. I don’t usually run through the Heights, but I was angsting for something different from either of my two usual routes, so I plotted a course online, and off I went! I ran Heights Boulevard to 20th (most of which was on a jogging trail on the esplanade), then finished by running to Memorial Park and home via one of my established routes. It was a tough run for me, with my legs feeling heavy and my calves a bit crampy for no reason I could figure out. I think I need a massage, but who has time?

We have an itinerary, of sorts, for our trip. It’s not big on details, just general locations. It looks like we’ll head out Sunday the 13th, toward Santa Fe and northern New Mexico. My camp is the 18th-20th in Raton, and after that we’ll head south to visit my Dad in Bosque, about 30 miles south of Albuquerque. We’ll start heading back on the 24th, probably south through the Black Range and east through El Paso, like last year. We’d like to be home no later than the evening of the 26th, which would give us Sunday and Monday to rest up before going back to work.

I don’t have much else to say about the past week or today. I have an intimidatingly long list of things to do before we go out of town, but hopefully now that Dan is done with classes for the semester, I’ll have some help.

Recent Workouts
Monday: 30 minute elliptical, 15 minute stairmaster
Tuesday: 30 minute elliptical, weights
Wednesday: 30 minute elliptical, 15 minute run
Thursday: slacker day—skipped spin session
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 13 mile run