July 26, 2006

MY PATH

After having realized with mild shock yesterday that the season was half gone — I decided to take stock — running-wise. My shin injury set me waaay back this month, but it feels good now, so I think I’m back on track. And that means getting down, dirty and serious for the next two months when it comes to training, nutrition and proper sleep (easier said than done, eh? )

It’s not a bad thing, because when I’m in control of my running, I find I’m in control of my writing. I have some work to do there, too. I’ve signed on to do an online read for eHarlequin due the end of August, and I’d like to get another proposal in the bag by September or October. Sooo it’s back to daily logs.

My Path: Tenderhook – Lost Lake

My Distance: One hour and four mins with 20 mins of hill circuits.

My Beat: This Is The Base – Enigmato (techno-hypno )

The Temp: 31 C – 87.8 F

And Toni got me measuring heart rate — 46 beats per minute at rest. I don’t really like to train using heart rate — but I’d like to see if this changes at all over the next two months. Did a weigh-in, too. Five pounds down since May, so there is some movement there now! I had originally gone down two sizes while staying exactly the same ‘poundage’. I put it down to muscle increase — but now that dang scale is finally showing signs of life (I promise not to bore you with the nutrition log, too — but the goal is another five.)

Victoria Marathon Countdown – 74 days!

Honolulu Marathon Countdown – 137 days

PS - don’t forget to enter my contest. I have a really special prize coming up later in the year — one for readers, and one for writers … details to come

July 25, 2006

THE SEASON IS PASSING

The lupins are gone. The fireweed is everywhere. Summer holidays are half over. Only two months left of marathon training. Only one month until my baby starts high school. Where are the days goooooing??? Soon the road above will look like this (below) … amazing what happens in the space of months.

Which reminds me — there are a few days left to enter to win a copy from my backlist (winner’s choice).

July 24, 2006

MURDERER!

I had no idea birds moved so fast when eating — this guy was impossible to photograph! He’s the Steller’s Jay I call ‘Baby II’ — after ‘Baby I’ who arrived on my porch with downy grey fuzz still sticking out of his shiny blue feathers. He looked like an untidy little mess and all the big nasty Jays higher on the pecking totem would constantly bomb him . I confess — I felt for him. I gave him a few seeds. He learned fast. Soon he was sitting in the pines outside, earnestly looking into the house windows. And every time he saw me pass by, he’d start flapping his wings like he never left the nest, yelling: “Feed me! Feeeeed me!”

Eventually, he took to pecking on my bedroom window to wake me up in the mornings, and then he’d join me in my study, sitting on the windowsill, and sometimes coming right in to hop around on my desk (especially if there was a bagel in sight). Determined thing.

Well, blow me down if Baby didn’t introduce a Baby of her own a following season. And now that baby has brought another — all with that irksome “feedme” behaviour down pat. It was okay. I was even somewhat flattered by the attention, because it was only me who ever got the ‘feedme’ treatment – they recongized me. I felt special  …. until this guy demonstrated something I’ve never seen in a Jay — he attacked a little black-headed junko in mid-flight, tore into him with his talons, lost him in a cloud of feathers, chased him down, pinned him down … and pecked him to death.

It happened twice this week.

Has anyone ever seen a Steller’s Jay do that? I just can’t feel the same affection for ‘Baby’ these days. I know those Junko’s could do with a little more brain matter, but this — this they do not deserve

 PS … do not tell the conservation office I ‘once’ fed Baby

PSS … for those not going – there’s a place to get the dirt … and, well, it seems Atlanta is not that hot after all … or not as hot as the Pacific Northwest …

July 23, 2006

STILL LIFE

I was aware that it was ‘feeding time’ and that the swamp scrub was ideal ursine habitat, so I took off my headphones while I photographed the glass-like tranquility of the morning lake – before the real heat kicked in. That’s when I heard it.

Squirrels and birds can make disproportionately loud noises in heat-desiccated leaves and dry scrub …but this … this sound was the unmistakable crunch and sway of a heavy beast moving through the undergrowth toward my hide – a bird watching platform with one exit. And entrance.

I was trapped.

Okay, so I’m melodramatic  , but I could have been.

The only way out was to move toward the sound, making for the main trail .. hopefully before the bear could enter.

But there he was.

Blocking my way. Or rather, I his. Our eyes connected and adrenaline dumped straight into my system. Base and primal. And every time I get an adrenaline rush like this my limbs don’t pump up with fight, they go weak and wobbly … and they make me think that even if I did chose flight, I might have trouble making my body cooperate. What’s with that? It takes concerted mental effort to make my legs … un-wobbly.

Well, the bear wasn’t going to move for me, so I tried to sidetrack him and veer back onto the main trail at which point he decides to follow. I made human noises, to let him know I was, well, human, but they came out more like a grunt. Which then had me worried he might think I was trying to be aggressive. So I tried ridiculous high-pitched talking. I know, I know — at this point you are all laughing. But even though I see these animals all the time … there is ALWAYS something so awe-inspiring and elemental about an encounter with a wild beast.

I kept looking back over my shoulder for a while as I made my way along the trail – careful not to run and trigger reflexive chase. It was early in the morning, real quite. I felt quite alone with my friend.

Two cyclists came past. I told them to take it easy – bear ahead. And they rode off ringing their bells. A few minutes later they were back. Turns out he wasn’t going to move for them either. I laughed the adrenaline buzz off.

And that’s when I realized it. For every second of that little encounter … a part of my brain was taking mental note of exactly how my body felt … because while I’m looking at this bear … and feeling a moment of raw fear, I’m thinking … concentrate kiddo, you can use this in a book.. This is what your heroine is feeling when she meets the bad guy, or …..…..

Is this normal?

I’m guessing the weird thing is, that for writers – or artists of any sort really – it is.

July 22, 2006

HOOK AND TWIST …

So far he’s got me. I can’t put it down. Can’t figure out who the bad guys are, or the why? I have no idea where the plot is going next. And I’m rooting for a heroine I’m beginning to like a hell of a lot. 

What more can one ask for?

This is my first Harlan Coben and it’s been a while since I’ve had to continue reading a book while making dinner. It’s a GREAT feeling!! Kind of like the exhilarating flush of first love. Hey, book junkies will understand .

Altogether not a bad way to while away another 38 C (100.4 f) scorcher.

And happy travels to all heading to Atlanta!!! I’m beginning to feel like I’ve been left at home with the mean old step-siblings and being made to do all the work in the house. Well, not really. Okay … just a little. But I WILL be in Dallas next year.

July 21, 2006

TOO HOT TO BLOG …

I’m talking weather . Sorry.

Tried a run early this morning, but it was already 36 C (96.8 Fahrenheit) in the shade. I felt like a slug. My purple water bottle was my life saver, my purple car too hot to drive.

And although I do have a thing about purple,  please, no comments about the prose

Back to regular programming tomorrow, when the brain matter has cooled … and when I can see if anything I wrote today actually makes sense …