ONCE IN A BLUE MOON

I am still slogging away at my book project, but wanted to stop and wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

Tonight we will have a "blue" moon to herald our new year. The moon will not be really blue. It is the second moon within one month, and those are typically referred to as "blue". They are rare, hence the phrase "once in a blue moon". The last one we had was in 1990.

For more info on blue moons, you can read this on Wikipedia, or you can go to this article on ABC News.

Also, this is the beginning of a new decade. The last one wasn't so great - globally or personally; but, I'm trying to focus on the good parts and build on those for the new year and decade.

I am reminded of Mr. Dickens who said in "A Tale of Two Cities":

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair..."

I think our last decade *was* a bit like that - for me personally, it surely was. Let us grab on to the best of times, the age of wisdom, the epoch of belief, the season of Light and the spring of hope. Let's make those the things we take into our new decade.

Let's make the good parts happen more than once in a blue moon.


Polla Filia,
J.F.

THE GREAT BOOK PROJECT

Well, folks, nothing interesting to post today. Sorry, The Great Book Project continues (and is nearing its end). I am knee deep in book stacks and dust. Now that all the books have been moved, I'm on to the last phase, which is the shelving. I'm going in. Wish me luck. :)

Polla Filia,
J.F.

SAN FRANCISCO REDUX IN PICS

I am in the midst of many things today, so I'm posting some previously unpublished photos from my trip to San Francisco in August.

These are photos of Mr. Steinbeck's resting place in Salinas,California (the flowers in the bunch with the yellow ribbon around them are from me); the Pacific Ocean from Monterey, California; and the Great Mr. Steinbeck's camper truck, Rocinante (named after Don Quixote's horse), which made the trip around the United States with him. That trip was immortalized in his non-fiction work "Travels with Charley: In Search of America". This happens to be one of my all-time faves of his.

Check out the inside of the truck. I think it is so cool he slept there as he and his dog drove all around the entire Continental United States.

Enjoy!

Click on the photo for a larger view.








Polla Filia,
J.F.

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

I am missing New York City lately. I haven’t been to the Great City in a while. As soon as I am able I will arrange a trip there, but it may be a bit. Meanwhile, here are some photos I like.

I shot all of these on two separate trips - in fall one year and in early spring in another year. The last photo of the Flatiron building in snow is not mine. It’s an old photo shot in 1920, but I just love it, so it’s here, too.

Meanwhile, click on the link below and listen to the Piano Man himself sing the song while you enjoy the photos. :)

New York State of Mind-Billy Joel

Click on the photos for a bigger view.











Polla Filia,
J.F.

THE HONOR OF BEING LOUIE’S KID

“Every day I remind myself of all that I have been given.”
-- Luciano Pavarotti

Yesterday was the day after Christmas. Great day for sales, and to spend more time with family.

For me, it is and always will be the anniversary of the last time I ever saw my father. I was living in Dallas at the time, and my parents lived in Austin where I was born. I had driven home for Christmas. I was working at a big blue-chip law firm in Big D, and I had to leave the day after Christmas and drive back to the big city to get back to work. No rest for the wicked (or weary, depending on who you talk to).

I stood with my Dad next to the driveway of my childhood home (which is no more). We had discussed when I would come home again, and I told him I thought I would come back in mid-February for his birthday. I hugged my Mom and said bye, and then I hugged my Dad and said “I’ll see you next time.” Who knew next time would be on the other side of life?

I drove away and never saw him face to face again. Three weeks later he suffered a major heart attack and died instantly. I had spoken to him on the phone only two hours before. His back was hurting and he was going to take a hot shower. When he got out of the shower, he had the heart attack and it was over.

I don’t morbidly remember this day each year. I remember it with joy and gratitude. Joy at the great, close and wonderful relationship I had with my Dad, and I remember it with gratitude for having such a father.

All men should strive to be the kind of father my father was. Here was a mechanic and machinest working physically hard for a living every day. He came home from a hard day's work, read the newspaper, had dinner at the kitchen table with his wife and kids, and asked us about what we did that day. He had three daughters, and all of them loved and idolized him.

He wasn’t all syrupy and mushy, though. He was a tough guy - a man’s man; but, he was loving and giving to his kids. He would praise us often for doing well in school, or in some other effort. He didn’t spank or yell, but if you dis-obeyed the rules you would be grounded - and you DID NOT ask for early reprieve on a grounding. There were no bicycling privileges when you were grounded. You needed to spend your time only in your yard, and in contemplation of how you would improve yourself and amend your ways. Consequently, we followed Dad’s rules. I was the worst of the three of us, getting a two-week grounding (with the bicycle put up on high hooks in the garage). I had ridden said bike outside of the approved area for riding my bike without an adult (I rode it all the way down to the creek and was riding it through a culvert when Dad came looking for me - I had been gone a long time). This rule was (of course) one for my own safety. I never did it again.

Think about it - this man disciplined his children without threats, spanking or yelling. He was firm and consistent, and he showed love and praise often. I never argued with him, or questioned him - not out of fear, but out of admiration and respect.

After regular work hours, my Dad restored old American vehicles for himself and for others, and he did repair work on their older cars, too. From the time I was a teen, I worked in the garage with Daddy on these cars. I continued doing this after I was grown and moved away to Dallas. I would come home on a weekend, and Daddy and I would be in the garage on a Saturday up to our respective elbows in grease. I had my own creeper for rolling under the jacked up cars. I would roll in from one side and Daddy from the other and we would get to work. In work under the hood, both our heads would be hovering over the engine while we collaborated on the repairs.

Once the work was done, it was time for a cold brew. I would go inside and get two bottles and bring them out to the garage. The two of us would lean back against the workbench with our refreshment and feel the relief which can only come from cold beer after a hard day’s work. Then the family would all get dressed and we’d go out for Mexican food. Daddy and I would frequently go play pool afterward. We were notorious for playing until three in the morning. My pool playing is rusty now, but I’m resolved to practice and get my skills back. I used to run the table, so watch out! :)

You can see why I would have a feeling of gratitude for a fabulous Dad such as this! I’m also grateful I got to speak with him one last time before he died. I’m grateful my Dad never suffered or knew what hit him. He was gone before he even had time to think about it.

I am most overwhelmed and grateful for having a Dad who was also a man of remarkable character and ethics. Streams of people consistently remarked on this at his funeral - and it was standing room only that day. A man such as this compels people to come and pay respect.

There isn’t enough gratitude for being the daughter of such a man.


So I remember December the 26th with joy and gratitude. I am honored to be Louie’s Kid.

Polla Filia,
J.F.

BE THE GARDENER

“Out of damp and gloomy days, out of solitude, out of loveless words directed at us, conclusions grow up in us like fungus: one morning they are there, we know not how, and they gaze upon us, morose and gray. Woe to the thinker who is not the gardener but only the soil of the plants that grow in him.”

-- Friedrich Nietzsche

Attitude is what it is all about.

I have two weeks off of the “day job”. I covet these two weeks. I covet them passionately. I am almost through the first week. I have a bit more than one week left.

I have been working on a project here in my house. I am moving some books around from one room to another and vice versa. It is a re-organization project I have needed to do for a long while. It relates to the office I have in which I do my writing, and it relates to cleaning up another room in the house.

Also, I am going to clean out my bedroom closets when I am done with the book project. Goodwill is going to “inherit” the stuff I get rid of (that is, the stuff which doesn’t go to the trash can).

I was fretting yesterday about knowing these two projects are going to take another three to four days to complete. The projects are eating into the remainder of my two weeks off!

I was getting my knickers into a little twist over it.

Then I took a deep breath. I took a few more deep breaths and said to myself, “Self, you have two brilliant weeks off. They are being used for a good purpose. There will be ample time to play after the projects are done, and you will feel refreshed when they are finished. You will be satisfied to finish them, and it will make the remaining time off all the better. Quit your lame whining and knickers twisting.”

Attitude switch over occurrence. **click**

It is the day after Christmas and yesterday I got quite a lot done, thank you very much. I had my Christmas festivities with the fam yesterday. Then I came home and did some work on the computer, and I worked a bit on my book re-org project. I am very happy I was industrious enough to accomplish a good deal - especially for a holiday.

So, I am going to be the gardener come what may. Out of damp and gloomy days, solitude, and any loveless words directed my way, I will not allow anything to grow like fungus. I will not be the soil of the plants that grow in me. I will instead be the gardener and cultivate something more - more than fungus, more than whatever plants grow of their own accord. I will be the gardener who tends the plot and brings it to beauty.


So, my friends, let us all Be The Gardener.

Polla Filia,
J.F.

Merry Christmas

Today has been a great Christmas so far. My niece and nephew loved what they got from their Theia (that's "aunt" in Greek, and that would be me).

I made out like a bandit with bubble bath, Starbuck's card and chocolate. :9 Yahoooo!!

The best part, though, was the time with my family and for all of us to be together.

Kitty is happy, too - he had some yummy catnip.

Hope all of you are having a wonderful Christmas and have a Fabulous 2010!

Polla Filia,
J.F.

BLOG NEW YEAR

“For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice.
-- T.S. Eliot ”

I have seriously neglected this blog for a while. I could make all sorts of excuses, but I won’t. There may be reasons, but the truth is, I have not done as I should.

My New Year’s Resolutions for this blog are as follows:

1. I will blog regularly, although some blog entries may be just short thoughts, or things that cracked me up, or flabbergasted me.

2. I will blog on a variety of subjects per the sidebar to the right (see “About Me”). I am a writer and sometimes I will blog about writing, but I will also post about art, wine, racing, fitness and nutrition, travel, and anything else that floats my boat, including a lot of nonsense just for fun.

3. I will sometimes post only in photos - with or without captions.

4. I will post on the mundane and the magnificent and all sorts of things in between.

5. The posts may not always be interesting to you, but the posts will be true to me - a sincere offering on whatever the subject of the post, even if it is just nonsense and fun. Sometimes - okay, more than sometimes - I am just goofy. :)

So, today I wish you the Merriest of Christmases, the Happiest of Holidays (if Christmas isn’t your thing) and a very, very Happy, Prosperous and Safe New Year!












[Translated Version]
Merry Christmas!

Polla Filia,
J.F.

REVERIE

“Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it.”

-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I’ve used the above quote before, but for this nothing else seemed so a propos.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I am contemplating the fact that this will be the first one without my mother. She died last December right before Christmas after a lengthy illness. My father died many years ago from a heart attack.

It is odd to approach a holiday as an orphan. Last year at Christmas I was not in any kind of mind to even think about holidays and orphanhood, so fresh was our loss.

This year it weighs heavy; but, I must feel it, and then cast it off. I move on to much, much brighter days, with a renewed energy, and a much better grasp of life. There is more in what I just told you than I could ever write in this one post.

Just remember that life is all in the attitude, and no matter what comes, as dark as it may be, you can always seek the light, and walk toward it, and embrace that way of being. The darkness can only encompass you if you lie down and let it.

I am not lying down. I have walked in a new direction, and I will dance along the way.

So, as Thanksgiving approaches I am focused on all I have, which is far too much to recount - and I am focused on all I know I will have, and achieve. The next chapter is going to be absolutely *Fantastic*!!

Remember:

“Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it.”

-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Indeed, I know it.

Polla Filia,
J.F.

NO ONE IS YOUER THAN YOU, OR ME-ER THAN ME

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

-- Dr. Suess

I am in a writing groove. For the past couple of months, I have been wavering back and forth on what my next writing project will be. I need another entry in the series I have just begun (see more info here).

I have turned in the first manuscript in that series and my agent is reviewing that. We will work on it together and then endeavor to sell it. Meanwhile, I need to be writing the next book.

Initially I thought that next book in the series was going to be one thing, but I also had another story in the series nibbling at the back of my brain. The problem was, which one to write first - the one I already had planned (sort of), or the one that was now dogging me?

In addition to that, there is a standalone story I want to write, and it’s something I *do* need to write soon. It is the story for which I did research when I went to San Francisco in August.

Last night, as I reviewed various notes, the decision came to me and it is The Decision.

I will work on the standalone (I always knew that), but the next installment in my new Melina Nikolaides “Art of Crime” series will *not* be the book I thought it would be. Instead, it will be the one chewing on my brain. It has to be. It’s a writer thing, so you’ll have to trust me on this one.

I’ve started the process now and I’m in it - all the way up to my surf suit.

Last night I began re-reading notes on renowned forensic sculptor, Frank Bender and some other things, and I am INSPIRED! I am on my Dream World Wave (see this). The next book in the series is jelling, *and* my standalone book, too. I’m hanging all ten toes now.

My lead character Melina Nikolaides was partially inspired by the great Mr. Bender referenced above. (I’ll write a blog post on him later because he deserves an entire blog post); *but*, Melina isn’t Frank Bender. Melina also is not *me*.

I wrote another book under another name some years back (I didn’t write for a while because of a family issue that required my attention). Anyway, in doing talks before fans and before writing groups, I was always asked *that* question. Is (insert character’s name) you?

No.

No character is me. No character I create is anybody I know. The characters grow on their own. Some of it is inspiration (like Mr. Bender), some of it is bits of someone I’ve met, some of it is life experience; BUT, most of it is (drum roll, cymbal crash) just STUFF I MAKE UP.

Hey people, see the name on the blog. There’s a reason for that. This whole writing fiction thing is about makin’ stuff up. I’m good at that.

The characters take on their own personality and life. They live in my mind. New characters may start with a name, and develop from there; or, they may start with an idea of who I think they are, and then get a name. Eventually, they always become themselves, on their own.

I guess I took the concept of my imaginary friends from childhood, and just kicked it up a few notches. Who knows? I do know this: it’s as natural for me as breathing - and I’ve come to like breathing.

So, I’m in my groove, and on the Wave. I can feel the energy. The characters are all paddling out to meet me, the story is weaving itself around us, and together we will all ride the Dream World Wave to shore. I'm out there. It’s scary, exciting and invigorating. I love every damn bit of it. When we get there, I’ll let you know.

Meanwhile, just remember that no one is Youer than You, or Me-er than Me. :)

Polla Filia,
J.F.

Rainy Days and Happy Endings

Friday and Saturday were absolutely glorious days in Central Texas. Beautiful blue skies, nice breeze, great temperatures.

The heat is gone. The 105-106 degree temperatures we had all summer had dissipated down to the mid-90's. Now, at long last we are in the 70-degree range.

We are also in the midst of what is classified as an extreme drought. Our rain levels have been bad for almost 2 years. Our lakes are all down, with our main lake (the one from which all the other lakes draw water, and the one from which we all draw our water - for drinking, watering the yard, cooking - everything) is way down.

This lake, called Travis, was down 50 feet from its “normal” point. We would be happy if we could get it back up to a “low average”. We had rain off and on for the last month or so, and we were thrilled. Unfortunately, those rains only served to get the parched ground saturated, and to refill some of our aquifers - but, all of it was necessary, and so we *were* thrilled, even if those rains didn’t refill our lakes.

Last week we had a couple of days of some real, soaking rain, and because the ground has had some relief, this rain actually *ran off*! That means it started to refill our lakes. Travis is now up 8 feet!! If we can get 20 more feet in there it will be at its low average.

Now, think about that. We had a couple of days of high volume rain, and it only raised the lake 8 feet. Think of how many days and days of rain it will take to get us back up to just “low average” (20 more feet). Then think how long it will be before we see our “normal” levels again (another 30 feet from there).

I’m telling you this is way worse than any drought I have seen here. It is tied with the worst drought on record, I believe. Drought like this is scary. Crops here have failed (expect cotton clothing, or anything cotton to go up in price, because Texas is the biggest cotton producer). Cattle have died, or been auctioned off before they could get into bad shape (expect the price of beef to go up).

Thank God we live in a country where bottled water, and food can be had at the grocery store (shipped in from other places). We are on water rationing here, and if we lived in an undeveloped country, we would all be starving and in dire straights. It is, therefore, a little scary to see our beautiful Central Texas landscape in this state.

I will not be complaining about rainy days for a long, long time. Even after the drought is relieved, I think I will re-adjust my thinking about what a “bummer” a rainy day can be.

In here I think there is a lesson on the adjustment of thought. How we can look at something we thought was a negative, or something which made us cranky, and turn it around to see how it might be a good thing - or, at the very least, a not-so-bad thing. I’ve been reading some good essays and books on this subject lately, and I’m connecting with it in light of this situation. This summer has made me pause and re-think.

There is such a thing as too much rain - rain which floods and kills. There are also far worse things than rainstorms and droughts. I’m not saying there aren’t terrible things which happen - things which tear you down. I’ve had my share of those things, for sure.

I’m saying the attitude of complaint may need to be modified. I know it does need modification in me. I am going to alter my attitude to something far more positive. It does not mean I will suddenly become stupid happy, grinning in the face of all adversity. It does mean I think there is some better attitude than the attitude of complaint. There is something above it - something more noble which does not involve whining, *or* idiotic grinning. It is a state of mind of much more positive thought.

It’s not a switch to turn on. It requires me to make a decision, and then do what needs to be done to make it stick. I’m more willing to do it - to make it happen - than I ever have been before.

I believe it starts with a memory of how bad things were, and the gratitude for the relief which came, and it builds from there.

On this beautiful, sunny day, with the temperatures so pleasant and the rain returning our landscape to something less severe, I am re-thinking my attitude. I’m going to “make hay” while this sun shines. I’m going to take the relief of this day, and the strength of mind which came with it, and use it to make an adjustment I hope will last into the rainy days, droughts and floods, and anything else which comes along to try and knock me down.

My friends, there is power in this.

Polla Filia,
J.F.