August 20, 2006

READY FOR TAKEOFF!

Those props are turning — weird how they appear stationary in the photo. This guy had flown a wedding party into Green Lake. Well, not into the lake ;) although that did happen to some poor Germans a few years back — and he was reversing, getting set for takeoff … just like I’m setting my mental wheels in motion, readying to launch into my Writing Week Challenge at 5:30 am tomorrow morning, along with 12 intrepid fellow RWA members from the Greater Vancouver chapter.

We’ve all set and stated our goals for the week, and we’ve resolved to report our progress each evening. I’m hoping the mutual butt-kick will help keep me focused these last two weeks of August … or at least, just knowing they’re out there giving it their best shot should give me some company

Any other mums out there find these last days of the summer vacation as tough as I do? Structure just seems to crumble in from the edges. I’m already on the lookout for the yellow bus :)

My Path: No running — rest day after the 22 kilometre long haul yesterday. No alpine hike either. DD was not well — a relapse of an evil lurking cold bug that refuses to leave the house. Looks like we’ll miss the flowers.

     Victoria Marathon — 49 days to go!! (eep)

     Honolulu Marathon — 112 days to go.

August 19, 2006

UP. UP. UP!!!

That’s where we’re off to tomorrow —->> up into the alpine, and then on a four hour walk to check out the wildflowers. I’m hoping they haven’t already peaked … will let you know Going to take my new bear bangers up for a test shot as well.

And thank-you Kristen for pointing out another typo on my SHADOW SOLDIER MISSION page!! That’s worth a signed copy of THE HEART OF A MERCENARY …. which will be on its way as soon as I receive my author copies :)

And for anyone else who wants a copy, don’t forget my AUGUST CONTEST for another chance to win.

My Path: 22 kilometres, but I forgot my watch. After the initial moment of panic, the lack of timepiece afforded me one of the happiest runs ever! Since I didn’t check the time when I left home, I have zero idea how long the half marathon took — but it took me into the moment, and put be right back in touch with all the reasons I run in the first place.

Happy weekend all :) 

       She’s armed with bear bangers …….. 

August 18, 2006

I CAN’T GO WHERE?

 Yeah. Right. Whatever.

I love these shots — they’re not mine, and were not taken in my town, but I just adore the way they make the bear look so human. But check out those massive arms. Can you imagine getting swiped with those? The guy who did … the one who was attacked in his house in Whistler, is lucky to be alive. The bear’s claws racked across his neck, just missing severing his carotid artery.

No one did anything wrong here, either. Apart from the municipality, in my view, which provides no way for people without cars to dispose of their garbage. Whistler does not have garbage collection service — it’s not an option with our wildlife. And while the town advocates using buses, and makes parking an expensive proposition (to protect the environmnet), it also bans people from transporting bags of garbage to the dump on its buses. What’s a hardworking tenant to do, but store garbage in bags inside his house until a buddy with a car can come round to help take it all to the dump?

And when a few bags of garbage accumulate, so do the smells. And it brings in hungry bears. In this case, the bear ripped the door open, and found his way to the stashed garbage bags. What followed was an unfortunate set of circumstances that led to a tenant’s encounter with a petrified and trapped bear in the passage (for those who asked ;)).

Meanwhile, landscapers are uprooting natural berry bushes around town in an effort to elminate ‘bear attractants’???? What’s next? Dandelions? Duh — sort out the garbage issue before paving paradise, folks! Please.

And in writing news, I’m back to getting up at 5:30 am in an effort to find some quiet time during these last few messy weeks of the school holidays. I’m working on my online read, which, if all goes according to plan, will run with one chapter a day appearing on eHarlequin in October.

It’s a bit of a prequel  to my Trilogy, and this story, while introducing the SHADOW SOLDIERS of the Force du Sable, features Scottish mercenary Grant McDonough. You can check out Grant’s stats here — you need to scroll down the page a bit

 Thanks for visiting!

     Victoria Marathon — 52 days to go!!

     Honolulu Marathon — 115 days to go.

August 17, 2006

I am so chuffed — looks like my 12th place finish in last weekend’s 5 Peaks Cypress Mountain enduro race (in my age category, of course ) warranted a mention in the sports section of the  local paper!! It also made me realize how important it is to have personal goals outside of writing, how crucial it is to actually have a life outside of work. Because this job can consume you.

The other thing that dawned on me is the importance of the whole mind-body connection thing, and the need to form a habit of getting that writer’s butt off that writer’s chair – because if you’re strong and fit physically, it’s going to help with the long mental haul of completing a book … and weathering the often harsh and rocky trails of this peak-to-valley industry.

Above is the site of the next 5 Peaks race, to be held Aug. 26th atop of Whistler Mountain(a date that looks as if it’s just not going to work for me :(). And yep, there’s still snow up there — this pic was shot weekend before last.

My Path: Centennial

My Time: 51 hot mins

My Beat: Funky Town - Lipps Inc

Victoria Marathon — 53 days to go!!

Honolulu Marathon — 116 days to go.

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PS:Thank you Bailey for noting the first typo in my  SHADOW SOLDIERS site!! Much obliged, friend. Hope you get those blog posting woes sorted out soon :). We miss you!

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PSS: The next person to spot a typo gets a signed copy of THE HEART OF A MERCENARY

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August 16, 2006

LIFE ON THE WILD SIDE …

Okay, so maybe he did get a whopper, sort of. It’s apparently not a whopper by Chinook standards — but it made a helluva good dinner :). And there’s plenty more in the freezer where it came from. Hope the bears can’t smell it.

Talking of which, I mentioned yesterday that one better not get between a bear and his food, especially at this time of year. Easier said than done, because that’s exactly what happened. Whistler has had its first bear attack, and it happened inside a house down the road. 

Details are still sketchy, and local staff have been told not to talk to media, which in turn is being referred to our conservation officer. This is a famous tourist town after all, and the press has a tendency to run wild *cough cough* with news from this neck of the woods.

Still, I maintain it was just a matter of time, and we’re lucky it wasn’t worse. The victim, I understand, has had plenty stitches to the face, but is otherwise going to be okay.

My Path: Lost Lake Trails

My Time: 76 mins.

My Beat: Bad Reputation - Shrek Soundtrack

Victoria Marathon — 53 days to go!!

Honolulu Marathon — 116 days to go.

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PS: I now have my SHADOW SOLDIERS fully activated, with bios of my characters, details of their private combat company, their island, the inspiration, and snippets about the French Foreign Legion  … and if anyone takes a peek, and comes across a faulty link, or glaring typo, I shall be forever indebted if you would let me know. There’s bound to be something

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August 15, 2006

CHANGE IS ON THE PROWL …

The days might still be hot, but at night the mountain air is getting distinctly chill. The trees might still be full of glory, but you can sense subtle change in the breeze — Fall is just weeks away from showing her face, and that means the bears are everywhere, all the time, biologically programmed to reach hibernation weight at any cost. Don’t even think of standing in their way

And last night a massive beast prowled outside my house. Brunswick – the watch cat — growled and alerted me to his presence around midnight. For the longest time I peered out the window into the darkness, but I couldn’t see the animal – just hear him moving around in the bushes. Every now and then he exhaled, like a horse. It sent shivers down my spine.

Then finally I saw him lumber out from the shadows, his hulking size suddenly silhouetted by the full moonlight, and my breath caught in awe. For one brief moment I was once again connected with the ancestral human in me. There’s nothing quite like seeing a massive beast in the shifting shadows of silver moonlight, when the barrier between stark reality and Jungian consciousness is thin. Mostly, I was worried he was going to get into the barbecue

As for industry change in the air — cyberspace is all abuzz with the Bombshell that Harlequin officially dropped yesterday, along with speculation about the future of Luna and NEXT, and the discussion is far more knowledgeable than anything I can say here. But once again, my heart truly goes out to all those authors who have been left in the air with the harsh and rather fickle winds of change.

My Path: Rainbow

My Time: Almost one hour, with speed intervals.

My Beat: The Ballad of Lucy Jordan — Marianne Faithful (remember that one?) 

    5 Peaks – DONE!!! In under two hours.

    Victoria Marathon — 54 days to go!!

    Honolulu Marathon — 117 days to go.

CONTEST >>>