How’s everybody doing?
New Steps
I’m plugging away at completing edits on my short story Desert Heat to query for the open call for a new sci-fi/fantasy anthology Brave New Worlds by Zombies Need Brains LLC. The deadline is December 31st. Truth be told, I almost forgot about it. Luckily, I was reviewed my monthly bullet journal and luckily had written myself a note about it. Desert Heat is a sci-fi same sex m/m romance about Deek and Sam. They live on Bontil 5 a goldie-locks zone planet that has been terraformed to accommodate human life… kind of. The story is about finding a sense of home in unexpected places. See my projects page for a more detailed blurb.
I am debating whether I want to enter the Writers of the Future Contest again. If I did, it would be with The Reservoir, which I previously received an honorable mention for. I’ve entered three times. Thus far, I have been more confused than anything else with this contest. Their communication seems to be getting worse and worse, and something in me just has not been very excited about it since the first time I entered. Getting the honorable mention was cool, but… I don’t know. Maybe this is one of those times I should listen to my gut and just let it go.
Since I talked about all the business stuff, last week, I synchronistically received a course catalogue in the mail for the local university. It is for their professional education and personal enrichment courses, in which I found an affordable six-class course geared toward the financial aspects of self-employment. The course starts in January, and then again in October. I’m trying to decide if I want to jump in and do it. After talking it over with my sister, I might wait until October and just make sure I take good records in the interim.
The Breakdown
Robin by David Itzkoff
This is a biography about the late Robin Williams, who is, in my opinion, one of the most talented actors of his generation. I grew up watching his movies. Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Will Hunting, Hook, and Fern Gully (he did the voice of the bat) to name just a few. Whether a drama or comedy, contemporary or fantasy, Robin enchanted audiences with his blue eyes and childlike wonder of the world. He always seemed to be having fun. We found out, when he tragically took his own life in 2014, that his was a more deeply troubled mind than anyone had known.
This biography was thoroughly researched as is clear by the sheer number of quotes from hundreds of people who knew Robin over the years. It’s exceedingly detailed, if a bit meandering in places, but overall, well written.
I’m about halfway through, and I’m finding it very interesting so far. It’s not quite a page turner for me as I said it does feel like it can jump all over the place, much like Robin himself apparently. It takes concentration for me to read, so I need breaks. My fear is that the book will show the man behind the curtain, so to speak, and my perception of Robin will lose some of its whimsy, but that is, after all, what books like this are for.
Living Life
I am thinking of taking a trip on my birthday weekend. I will have vacation hours that need to be used or I will lose them. The reason I’m hesitating is because there is a problem with taking trips near my birthday. It is so close to Valentine’s Day, I am inevitably caught in that tide. Unless I become romantically entangled with someone by then I will probably be travelling solo. I enjoy solo travel. In fact, I prefer it sometimes, just not the one time of year that is made for couples. Then it's just sad and a little depressing. Even if you don’t feel sad and depressed, people will remind you that you should. Because you are alone on Valentine’s Day. I don’t think they mean any harm, and I don’t think they do it on purpose. But every time, I get at least one Look when they find out I’m there alone. This Look can come from anyone. When someone finds out I have no plans for Valentine’s day, be they acquaintance, friend, or (most often) complete strangers, inevitably there is at least one person (but usually several) that gives me that look. Anyone who’s ever experienced it knows what I mean. It’s the ‘oh-bless-your-heart-but-how-can-you-not-have-scraped-up-a-date’ look. You know. Sympathetic that you don’t have love in your life while simultaneously wondering what the hell is wrong with you.
I guess that is the curse of being a single woman of a particular age… oh well. I shall endure… It’s all I can do, because as those of you who have gotten this look know, there is nothing you can say that does not make it worse. There is no justification, explanation, or story that works. Either the judgment or the sympathy or both will deepen with every syllable that comes out of your mouth. It is best to just move on, regardless of how you feel about it.
Has anyone else experienced this?
That’s it from me this week.
As always, thanks for checking out the site, and I hope everyone is doing well. If you feel so inclined, check out my social media.
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