The View Up Here

Remnants of the previous occupant's life are still present in this apartment, despite the makeover. The artifacts of his journey of self-development are still kicking around:  his Korean language books (now on my shelf, for which I am grateful) and a stack of emergency first response and CPR books still on the floor of my office.  In the entrance way cabinet, a drawerful of cords, tools, tape, even a soldering gun. Many power strips that he must have used for his gaming set-up. He also left a monitor here, which I'm using at this moment. In fact, that monitor has made it possible for me to replicate, more or less, my office set up from my last home. I just needed speakers and a desk fan to outfit my desk for writing and working (and watching videos). I bagged up several handfuls of redundant flatware and cooking utensils. I found some pillar candles, which I have put to good use.  I wonder sometimes how he is (I met him for one day to help me learn the ropes at the academ...

Of course, here in Rochester, we expect our extra winter days in spring, but still things have been greening up rather nicely. Although I had to bring my potted tomato plantlets in because we have a frost warning tonight. Which, if I'm honest, just ticks me off. I mean, really, May 17 frost? Dude. Some good things are afoot, though, including a new job as a staff writer at the Catholic Courier, getting Korea DreamBus into the next phase (only took me 13 years), and a short story being published next month. One might say my late-blooming bloom is starting to, well, bloom. I'm still not sure what's going on with my short film Dream House, as my DP had to back out and I'm still trying to work out equipment for a shoot in June. If it doesn't happen then, I'll have to reschedule.  Tonight I got to see one of my favorite musical acts play again, the tremendous Old Blind Dogs. What a way to celebrate! I love these guys. I also reconnected with an old friend while at th...

"It's spring, people. Time to wake up. Jump into your writing garden and do what needs to be done." -- Hope Clark, Funds for Writers Newsletter Photo @ Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts

Yes, Spring really is on its way. Yesterday, in the parking lot of Wegman's, I could hear the joy of little green roots under the earth, their tiny voices welling up even through the blacktop. Despite the chill and damp of melting snow, I could feel a difference in the air. Something...promising, coming, anticipating. I suppose my few moments of communing with the thaw-in-progress could also have been powered by the fact that I finished the first draft of On The Other Side yesterday . 87 pages of screenplay. Done. Now for revisions, of course, but I already have notes from my writing group, so I know what I need to do from this point. I just need the space to do it. I'm also bolstered by the fact that I just nabbed a free lance writing assignment at Cornell University, which is a wonderful addition to my portfolio as well as my bank account. Ah, the life of a free lance writer, eh? I really want to nail this assignment so that others will follow in the near future. All in all...

My dear readers, unless you are on the Left Coast, you have been touched in some way by the winds of ice and raging snow delivered unto us by Saruman. I, for once, am not complaining, because I get a snow day, which means I am home writing and playing with the cat. Not a bad way to spend a deep-freeze Wednesday in February. Speaking of which, apparently the rodent is predicting an early spring. What do y'all think about that? Because we're out of January, I am starting to feel the pulse of life again. Feb. 1 was Imbolc , the feast of Brigid, that ancient pagan date that confers to the deepest underground roots and springs the movement of spring. Yes, the snow is up to our hips, but under the layers of ice and frost and frozen top soil, life is happening!