I've been at my desk since breakfast, puttering away at a column for the Sunday paper. It's been rather hard going, which I choose to blame on the yet-to-materialize predicted rain. First the National Weather Service said an 80 percent chance of showers. They later dropped to 70 percent, and then to 50 percent. Now they've revised back up to 60 percent.
It's not that I particularly want rain. It's that no rain has meant a day which began as sunny, and though it has since gradually turned cloudy, is still a 68˚F day which looks constantly enticing through my deskside window. I want to chuck this writing task, go outside, and play…or at least kick around the new-fallen leaves, watch the river slip softly along, and breathe deep of the autumn-scented air.
That's what I want to do—that and take my fine old dog for a walk. Unfortunately, Moon is not supposed to be doing much walking other than whatever brief ambles necessary to manage her business, while I'm on deadline and must have my piece in this evening.
Any other day, I'd already be done with my work. It seldom takes me more than a couple of hours to write my column. Then, I give it an hour's rest—eat a snack, walk the dog, make a few casts in the Cottage Pool for smallmouth—before returning for a fresh read and edit and afterwards zapping the finished piece off. On a typical day I'd have accomplished that hours ago. Especially if it had rained.But, as I said, I've been seriously distracted…by gray squirrels scrabbling amongst the leaves, chipmunks dashing along flowerbed rocks, birds at the feeders, and the long, sparkling sweep of moving river I only have to look up to see beyond my deskside window. Who knows when I'll finish!
P.S. I made the sparrow and downy shots earlier, which shows how long I've been suffering…
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10 comments:
Just chanced upon your blog - yes, I should be doing something else too - and thought I'd say hello. I'll be back!
John…
However you happened to find your way to the riverbank…welcome! Please do visit again.
I made a quick zip to your blog and will also have to return for a much better look and read. But as you can see, I'm again messing about when I should be working, so that will have to wait.
Again, glad to have you stop by.
Griz: Hmmn, you're still in the upper 60's and I have snow in the forecast, well, flurries anyway.
Carolyn H…
Yup, though heading toward the low-50s for the next few days…and who knows where after that. November looms, and we can't expect such days right on. I do hope they continue—or at least that it doesn't snow!—until I've gotten my wood all split and stacked. After that, let the flurries begin.
Grizz: Would it be heresy to ask for a link to your columns in the newspaper, or would you rather we just enjoy getting to know the "riverbank" Grizz?
Scott…
Not heresy, though I'd do that via an email from me to you personally rather than as a link here. But such a link would prove pointless, since my columns are not part of the paper's online edition. Why? First because they're subsequently syndicated to other outlets, and second because I own copyright and retain all publication rights and permissions…they purchase only one-time print media rights, not electronic/digital media rights, and thus cannot legally run my stuff online. No pay, no play. I have the same deal with all papers. It's not just a question of playing hardball. Several of these operations own multiple newspapers. If I didn't firmly manage my own publication rights, they'd pay me for just one paper, yet blithely run the column in each and every one, plus stick it up on all online editions. Not that newspaper publishers are truly unscrupulous, just that they expect a professional to manage their product (writing or photos) professionally, or they assume you do it for fun and don't care where it winds up.
"Suffering" sounds too strong a word to me Grizz - sounds like enjoying life.
HI GRIZZ - oh the shoulds and ought to's and used to's :-) I have days like that too. Today it is a cold, raw rain that is promised to end as wet snow tonight. Our fire is ready to light. We are cleaning closets and hanging up our Winter stuff and packing away the summer stuff. phew. AND, there is an exciting project I will be posting/announcing/sharing soon so keep an eye out, k? Enjoy the day, regardless of what you do, don't do, whenever.......
Love you
Gail
peace,,,,,
Weaver…
Oh my yes…SUFFERING! Wretchedly, miserably, suffering! To be stuck inside when autumn calls from beyond the window is the worst form of incarcerated torment. Man was not made to sit on his posterior and view life, but to get up and out and into the thick of it, to become participant rather than observer. To do it not is to suffer.
Gail…
Rain here today, and Myladylove was home—so I assigned her Moon-watching duties and set out upon the crowded highways to forage amongst a variety of stores for good things to eat. I have summarily returned bearing many laden bags, and now must cook, and later, bake (pumpkin bread with spiced sour-cream icing.)
Our fire has been going all day and the cottage smells wonderful.
I'm curious about your plans/news, and await details.
You have reminded me that I need to get into the attic and pull down some crates of winterish clothes, and probably store a few crates of shorts and flip-flops and tees. Tiz that time of year.
Be good, have fun, mind your docs and body, and live large every single day.
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