When you Just Have Nothing to Say

I had almost forgotten about this, not because I don't think it is of value, but because I really haven't had anything to say.  Of course, you can usually find me madly scribbling in my moleskine but that really is a different type of journaling, an inner view.  I have it down pat.  This outer view is what I struggle with, what to write and put out there.

I am happy to say that the "busy" season is over for another year at the desk I occupy during the day.  Which has had me just itching to do something creative.  I have been writing, here and there but with no real direction.  I have a canvas half painted in my closet, that I have wanted to get back to, I also have at least 30 trips to scrap book.  Oh yes, I had a "brilliant" (yes that is sarcasm ) idea to create a scrap book of every trip I have ever taken.  This after being in the travel industry for 15 years, AND starting to travel when I was very young.  It sounded brilliant at the time, now as I am working on ONLY the 3rd trip to Cuba (decided to work backwards) I am feeling I might be doing this until I am dead and only then if I cease and desist all travel right now. I kid, I kid. hahaha.  Needless to say I can feel the creative urge starting to pull on me . ..  now which project to tackle first. 

Here's to spring and summer!  Let's hope they bring lots of inspiration and lots of time to explore that creative part of me that I so often ignore.

I really haven't forgotten I have a blog . ..

I did however have a band of travelers show up at my desk and have occupied almost every moment of time since the middle of December . .  don't worry it's not dead . . . it's just on vacation ;-)

I forgot as a travel agent - in the winter I don't have free time! LOL

Interesting stuff coming soon.

Alarms - A wet foot - and a wake up call

I generally wake up at 6:00am.  I then check my e-mail, have a cup of whatever, and get ready for work.   This week because I am riding with Jason into the office I have had to get up a little earlier to have my shower and bags ready for when he leaves.

This morning however, for whatever reason my alarm did not go off.  I got up and did not have time for a shower so I cleaned up got dressed, and went downstairs.  On my way downstairs I guess Noah had a "verp" and there was a piece of wet dog food an slobber which I stepped in - so now I am tired, feeling nasty and have one wet dog food foot.  From there I picked up my cell phone and noticed I two messages from my credit card company saying 2 more charges had gone through.  (I had canceled the card on Saturday because it was compromised)  As I stood there without shower, with one foot with dog puke on it, I decided I had enough.  I picked up the phone, dialed the fraudsters cell number (that's what happens when you top up your phone with a stolen credit card) and I let loose, I didn't hang up like I normally do when he answered -  I yelled - I yelled for a good 5 minutes.  I had awoke him from a dead sleep he just kept saying "who is this?" my response "you know who it is - it's the person you stole from"  of course I always press *67, so he doesn't have my number.  Before I hung up on the jerk - I told him I wasn't done with him yet - then I sent one more anonymous text saying I hoped he enjoyed his wake up call - and that I would talk to him again soon.

I got to work and called the CC company - turns out the e-mails were delayed and there were no more charges on my account.  Oh well the jackass needed it.

Jack

Health, Reviews & Santa in Cuba

From my title above you can see that today's entry is as my description says - a collision of ideas.

I spent the better part of yesterday in my bed resting.  Tuesday evening I wasn't quite feeling myself, and turned in quite early, by Wednesday morning I knew something was amiss and I wouldn't be leaving the house.  Lucky for me the day of rest seems to be all I needed and although I am still not quite right - although it could be debated I am never "quite right", I do feel much better.

Gerry posted his thoughts about Finding Forever and I agree with him.  When I wrote it, it was to get the idea out of my head and what he essentially received was a first draft.  So his criticisms are all accurate and I very much agree.  Of course the fact he said that jounalistically it was well written makes me very very happy and of course lets me know I am on the right track.  I am also very thankful that he read and reviewed it.  I am hoping by the time winter has passed I have something that will blow Finding Forever out of the water as I explore my imagination more and also start beating up my characters more.

http://gerrycan.wordpress.com/

On another note, I have convinced Michel and Evelyn that they should both be writing letters to Santa Claus.  Considering their first "semi-traditional" Christmas was last year, I explained yesterday after I assured them I did not need a doctor and would be fine (uff you mention you are under the weather and Cuban's assume the doctor must be sent for - post haste), that when you are a child here you right a letter to Santa explaining whether you were naughty or nice and giving a short list of your Christmas Wishes, and that because they had missed that during earlier years, that this year they were to write them - send them to me via e-mail and I would make sure that they made it to the North Pole (I'll walk them over on my lunch - haha).  I also let them know as Santa's personal travel agent, although he would be exceptionally busy over the next few months, I knew for a fact that Santa & Mrs. Claus would be taking holidays in Cuba this year in March, and that he would stop by La Lisa then to visit them.  I don't think the delay on the visit will bother them - they are Cuban, and adults - they understand.  Although I don't think I could be separate from my family at Christmas time, I wish I could be there for Christmas to make it special for them.

Jack

Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead. ~Louisa May Alcott

With baited breath I wait . . .

Well - not really, but in a small way I am very anxious.

This past summer I had the distinct (and I do not use that word lightly) pleasure of meeting author Gerry Burnie.  Gerry arrived at my office looking for travel advice and although I value all of my clients, when I met Gerry I heard an audible click.  It has been a pleasure helping him, and although it was not necessary, he offered to review one of my short stories.  Of course this sent me into a bit of a tizzy, this man has written and has published BOOKS! and he wants to read something I wrote.   It took me awhile to work up the nerve, but last week I gave him a copy of a first draft of a short story I had wrote called Finding Forever.  It was a romantic piece that I wrote this past fall.  Today Gerry stopped by the office on other business and we discussed Finding Forever.

It needs work, but his feedback was so positively laced it wasn't nearly as scary as I expected.  I need to work on a few things like formatting and character motivation and beef up my emotion, but it wasn't a train wreck!
Gerry is doing me a huge favor by reviewing it on his site later this week.  I am a little nervous again, but I'm sure it will be fine - plus I am writing under my "nom de plume" so it's all good.

If you haven't checked out my links to the blogs I read on the right of this page - you should.   Gerry's website is http://www.gerryburniebooks.com/ and his blog is listed there as well.

I have read Gerry's novel Journey to Big Sky -  when Gerry starts telling a story you can't help but get swept up into the wave and you don't want to get back off until he has finished sharing the tale with you.   If you are looking for something to read with a great story Journey to Big Sky is recommended by me!

Although I should be working on my newest writing project tonight - my day at the office today has been long and busy - I think I may just scrapbook and relax.

Jack

Corruption, Politics, and History - Create Great Brain Fodder No?

When you think of Cuba, what do you think about?  Beaches?  Rum? Or do you think of the history that has taken place on that island in the last 50 years?   I am in love with the island and all of it's positives and even some of it's negatives, so much so I have been to the island 6 times in the last year.  This of course has raised a lot of questions for me, some of which I could find answers to in Havana and others I have had to search for once I am home because  out of a still existent  fear, or out of pain, some Cubans just won't speak about the answers I seek.

Questions and what if's are what drives a story.  I have found my self querying pre-revolutionary Cuba a lot.   I am fortunate that I have an acquaintance who is American, but who was born and raised to the age of 15 in Havana before his family had to/chose to leave after Castro took power in 1959.  He has been generous enough to share some of his stories with me, and some other interesting information, including why in general the middle class of Cuba in the 1950's supported Castro, and the ultimate betrayal they felt when what they were promised was forgotten so quickly after their goal was achieved.  The story I am working on isn't necessarily about the political situation, but it gives me the back story and the mood of the people during the time I am writing about.  His story has raised more questions again for me, but luckily I have him to query further, and of course on the other side of the coin, I have a very close family in Havana who the matriarch is a faithful Castro supporter and has the opposite views of my friend.  Both stories share similar memories but the feelings associated with those memories are direct polar opposites.  Needless to say - I am inspired more than I have ever been to dig deeper, to find all I can to help tell the story of the character in my mind.

Over all yesterday was a day of discovery for me, and although some of the things I read bothered me to my core, it hasn't affected my love of the island, actually if it is possible I love it more.  Although my return to "my home" (as my Cuban family refer to it) is still long off, I am going to spend the time between now and March learning all I can - and telling the story of a young woman who loses everything she knows, and must fight in her own personal revolution  in Havana as Castro's revolution was taking place right outside her door.

As an old friend used to say to me, colour me inspired.

Jack

If a writer knows enough about what he is writing about, he may omit things that he knows. The dignity of movement of an iceberg is due to only one ninth of it being above water.
-Ernest Hemingway

Finding Enough Time for Everything

I know my life isn't unique in my time being in demand most of the time.  Over the last few years my responsibility at the office has increased, my responsibilities in the house are still there, plus other tasks I have taken on voluntarily to be involved in.  I need more time.  With that as it is, I often find my time for brainstorming story ideas to be relegated to the time right before I fall asleep, or in the shower, or while I am driving. None of the locations lending themselves particularly well to recording an idea without issue.  Have you ever tried to record a new plot idea while driving through a snow storm?  It would be so much easier if the ideas came to me while I was sitting at my desk, Word document open with my fingers poised on the keyboard.  - Nothing ever happens that easily!

Two nights ago I was laying in bed and I had a moment.  A character popped into my head and started to tell me she had a story to tell.  As the pieces came together I turned on the light, put my glasses back on, and started to write.  It's one of the better story ideas I have had.  Historical, romantic subplot, and a story that I cannot wait to see how it unfolds.  Where do I find the time to give it the justice it requires? 

Of course if I had an upcoming week in Havana I would just bide my time until I arrived and use my "Michel free" time to bang out my beginning, unfortunately for me, March - my next planned trip to Havana is a long way off.  This won't wait though, this character in my mind needs to get out and onto the page.  I've started my research, the characters are ready to go to paper, now to make the time.  If I could just have 26 hours in a day it would be so much easier.

Jack

People seek within a short span of life to satisfy a thousand desires, each of which is insatiable.
- Oliver Goldsmith