Ask-a-Cat

Evening Light

Bonafide!

Bonafide, certified, fortified, justified, satisfied, maybe even sanctified!

I had my last visit from the very nice physical therapist who has been working with me since I came home and she declared herself pleased with my progress. She watched me descend (backward) and ascend the steep basement stairs that have heretofore been a no go zone and then we went for a little walk outside. 

Now it's just a matter of doing a bit more each day. But what a pleasure to be outside! The snow is gone and it's rather balmy out.

Spring bulbs are nosing their way into the light (not unlike myself.)

And the wide world awaits!

A Blast from the Mythological Past

All this talk of Golden Showers, whether fake news or something much more serious, has me thinking of the legend of Danae who was impregnated by Zeus in the form of a shower of gold.

Zeus liked to have his way with maidens but often had to disguise himself in a vain attempt to fool his jealous wife Hera.

It never worked. She always found out.

And how I hope that this vulgar buffoon who is about to be inaugurated is  eventually found out by his supporters for what he really is. His cries of 'fake news' would carry a bit more weight if it hadn't been he who kept up the story that Obama wasn't born in the US, promising the faithful that 'his people' were making some interesting discoveries. And did he ever open his mouth to discredit the incredibly far-fetched 'pizzagate' libel? If he did, I missed it.

"People are saying" that DT is a useful puppet for Putin.  Will this turn out to be true? And even if it did, would it bother the true believers who seem totally okay with their leader's infatuation with Putin?

The lack of regard for facts puts this whole election into the realm of mythology. It would be interesting to read what history will have to say about this time we are living.

Always assuming that the future holds anything resembling objective history . . . 

Snow on the Mountain

Two Rather Different Workshops

This summer I'll be teaching in two residential workshops -- both quite good but very, very different. 

I'll be at John C. Campbell Folk School, June 25 - July 1, leading a class for folks who might want to write a novel. This class meets five days a week and the participants write in class from my prompts, read aloud what they've written and listen to suggestions, and then do it some more. 

We are the only writing group that week  -- other students for the week will be making glass beads, blacksmithing, bookbinding, throwing pots, cooking, fiddling, painting, weaving, quilting, carving, making jewelry, making soap, making a longbow . . .

I've led this class for several years -- and several novels have come out of it. The participants seem to thrive on the beautiful setting and the general hum of creativity that hangs over the Folk School. 

It's always a pleasant week --  there are optional nature walks every morning and a program called MorningSong and there are musical programs most nights. Campers are encouraged to sit at different tables at every meal so as to get to know others --and I always try to leave an afternoon free for my students to roam around and observe the work going on in the various studios. Everyone is friendly. And the food is remarkably good. There's a link HERE for more about JCC.

My other workshop will be July 8-15 at the Wildacres Writing Workshop. This is a critique workshop -- participants will have already submitted 18 pages of their novel in progress to me and the other workshop participants. Those 18 pages will receive my full attention and that of the others during the workshop meetings. We meet for only half of each day (and have one day off) -- leaving time for more writing, hiking, hanging out, and working on the skits for The Gong Show. 

It's a very different vibe from JCC. Ninety writers instead of a dozen.  For many, it's a time of finding their community, of taking their art seriously.

There are faculty and student readings, jams (lot of musicians here too) every night, and a kind of party atmosphere. In spite of or because of this, a lot of fine work comes out of this week on the mountain.

More about the Wildacres Writing Workshop HERE. (Note the page may not yet have been updated for 2017 but it will be soon.)

Both JCC and Wildacres offer scholarships. Both encourage early signups -- Wildacres especially fills up quickly and always ends up with a waiting list. 

Might one of these be a good fit for you?

Outside and In

Of Sickness and Health and Brokenness

The snow of the first snowfall was still coming down Saturday morning and I still had to decide whether to attempt the barefoot walk for health in the coming year.

Some friends suggested that it wouldn't be a good idea, what with my somewhat crippled state; others offered to barefoot walk  for me by proxy. And several suggested that my barefoot walk last year hadn't saved me from the late unpleasantness of a broken ankle, dislocated shoulder, and large laceration.

Hmmm. I disagree. The barefoot walk is for good health -- and I don't consider brokenness resulting from an accident as ill health. I haven't been sick -- just impaired.

But though I'm a little superstitious, I'm not an idiot. I asked John to come hold my arm while I tottered out barefoot into the snow.

 And when I mentioned to him the comments that said the walk last year hadn't saved me from brokenness, he suggested (and he's not at all superstitious) that maybe it had saved me from getting killed.

I'll take it.

Snow... and a Dilemma

Christmas Book

Helen on Facebook mentioned that she was looking forward to my list of books received for Christmas and I had to tell her that, aside from a very nice cookbook, I'd received no books at all ( my family suspecting that I have them all already.) Horrors!

A few days later, Hung Over with Grandma appeared in my mailbox -- sent by the author who was appalled at my lack of books for Christmas.

I have a particular soft spot for this book as the main character -- Stella, a plain-talking, no nonsense West Virginia woman of a certain age -- first appeared in a class I taught at John C. Campbell several years ago. When Becky read the scene she'd just written, it was obvious she was channeling a very real and fascinating character.

I was thrilled when Becky went on to complete and publish her first novel Drunk on Peace and Quiet and was intrigued by the fact that Becky had given her Stella an Inuit boyfriend.

And I was even more delighted when I found that this second installment in the saga takes Stella to Alaska and into the heart of an Inuit family. Beck spent quite a few years teaching in Alaska and her knowledge of the communities there is put to good use. (I had no idea of the role high school gyms play in the social life of these isolated communities but it makes sense.)

These are good-hearted, easy-going stories with an unexpected edge. It was fun to see the development of this character at whose birth I was present. 

Thank you, Becky! Write on!

Crow Shape Shifter

Maybe It's the Weather . . .,

Three days of foggy, closed-in skies and I find myself growing fractious. So here's one thing getting on my nerves -- misused words and phrases in the media. My inner English teacher is grabbing her red pen and making sarcastic remarks . . . 

You say you're trying to eek out the few remaining bits of chocolate? 

No, dear, eek is what you might say when you spot a mouse. Eke is what you do when you try to make a limited amount last longer.

Your boss insists that everyone tow the line? Unless you're in the business of hauling objects with a rope, actually, it's toe the line, from the days of sailing ships when the crews lined up for inspection etc. along a certain line in the planking on the deck.

Nothing phases you? Perhaps you mean nothing fazes you. Or maybe you have a strong resistance to going through phases...

And now you say you're reigning in your use of social media. Please, unless someone declared you king or queen of Facebook or Twitter, what you want is reining in -- slowing down just as one would slow a horse by pulling on the reins.

Did it peak your interest -- bring it to an all time high? Or did it pique your interest -- just a little jab to get your attention?

My favorite is, perhaps, when you say you await some anticipated event with baited breath. I at once imagine someone who's been gorging on sushi and has bits of raw tuna between his teeth. Bated  is a form of abated and when referring to breath, it means you're holding it.

There are many more (I'm keeping a little list) but that's enough snark for today. Maybe the sun will come out and I can hobble outside and find something to photograph. 

Orchids and Hellebores