“Expect problems and eat them for breakfast.” — Alfred A. Montapert
This is the setting where my friend, Kim, and I, ate our last breakfast in Africa. The setting is Little Governor's Tent Lodge in Kenya. We were up early to take our last game ride through Masai Mara National Park. -- Photo by Pat Bean
Our breakfast table this morning looked out on herons feeding in the swamp that surrounded our tent lodging. -- Photo by Pat Bean
Posted in African Safari, Nature, Travel, Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged breakfast, game drive, kenya, Little Governors, postaday2011, safari, weekly photo challenge | 2 Comments »
I have been nominated for the Liebster Award by Kathryn Johnston at 4amWriter.com. And now I have rules I’m supposed to follow.
First is to link back to her in appreciation. OK I’m lost. I know how to go to her blog and I know how to comment and say thank you, but no one has yet told me what button to push to link. That’s the kind of computer user I am. Tell me which buttons to push and I can do anything.
And no thank you, I don’t want to know why or anything else about computers. My brain is already overloaded with too much data.
The second rule of the nomination is to nominate five of my favorite bloggers for the award. Only five? Whine, whine, whine. Kathryn chose blogs about writing, because like me she is deep in NaNoWriMo. It sounds like she and I are within about 100 words of each other and both well on our way to reaching the goal.
The bloggers we choose are supposed to have less than 300 followers. But how am I to know how many followers other bloggers have. I only recently discovered that I now have 80. It’s that “tell me what button to push again” thing.
Two of my top favorite bloggers are photographers. Life in the Bogs by Robin http://bogsofohio.wordpress.com/ and Martina’s Photography Designs http://photosbymartina.wordpress.com/
I’m an avid birder so I’m going to nominate Judy’s Jottings for spot No. 3 http://judysjottings.wordpress.com/
No. 4 goes to A Year on the Road http://allevenson.wordpress.com/ Al’s a full time RV-er like me, and a writer as well.
For the “how in hades am I going to choose only one more blog,” spot I’m nominating Jim’s Notyethere http://notyethere.wordpress.com/ because I enjoy his poetry, photos and our back and forth conversations. Now I have to go let them know I nominated them. That’s also a rule.
The final two rules are simply to bask in the love of supportive bloggers and have fun and spread the karma. Since I don’t have to push any buttons these are easy.
Thank you very much 4amwriter – and now that the fun is over, it’s back to NaNoWriMo. Well, except for those of you whom I have nominated for the Liebster Award. You now have rules to follow. For clarity, below is exactly how they were described to me.
The Rules are:
Posted in Writing | Tagged 4amwriter, nanowrimo, pat bean, postaday2011 | 9 Comments »
My Favorite Places: Natural Falls
I never pass a waterfall by without snapping a photo. This one is Natural Falls in Oklahoma. -- Photo by Pat Bean
“On plenty of days the writer can write three or four pages, and on plenty of other days he concludes he must throw them away.” – Annie Dillard
NaNoWriMo Update … 34,559
I spent an hour this morning sharpening pencils. That’s what I call doing things like reading e-mails, thinking about what’s for dinner, ordering books from Amazon, reading blogs in search of inspiration, and staring out the window at birds to prolong the moment when I had to look at the blank space on the page where I left off writing the day before.
While I tried to kid myself I was thinking about the writing, I knew that the next line on the page was not going to come together until I faced the computer screen with my fingers on the keyboard. Me, who collects quotes about writing, finds it interesting how many of them are no longer applicable in a literal sense because they refer to pen and paper.
Up until now, my writing has been focused on keeping things going. Now I need to tie up all the loose ends and try to create a conclusion. It’s giving me writer’s block. Aaaagggghhhh!
Perhaps I should follow Babs Hoffman’s advice. “Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey.”
Her words refer to travel, but seems appropriate for NaNoWriMo as well. I read them this morning as I was ditzing around not writing. I found the quote on Marina Chetner’s Nov. 11 blog, “When a Bolt of Inspiration is Required.” Thanks Marina.
Posted in Nature, Travel, Writing | Tagged marina chetner, nanowrimo2011, natural falls, Oklahoma, pat bean, postaday2011, waterfalls | 2 Comments »
My Favorite Places
What I remember best about staying at Kickapoo State Park in Illinois was the tremendous thunder and rain storm that pounded my RV. It was a marvelous concert and light show. -- Photo by Pat Bean
“You can say any fool thing to a dog, and the dog will give you this look that says, ‘My god, you’re right! I never would’ve thought of that.’” – Dave Barry
NaNoWriMo update … 32,438 words
I met my writing goal today, but only my slapping my hands and telling myself to get on with the writing and not get into the rewriting – yet.
I haven’t really gotten crazy with my quickie novel, as many have suggested. I think I’ve concentrated too much on trying to get the plot moving along. I know I will need to go back and sass up the characters a bit.
Meanwhile, the dog inherited by the first person protagonist in my mystery has taken on a more major role than I imagined. I think when I would get stuck writing I could always write something about what the dog was doing.
Would you believe I named the dog, Maggie. But she’s a combination of a couple of dogs, and cats, I’ve owned. No she doesn’t talk, but her expressions and mannerisms say it all.
It sure feels good to have my computer back. How’s everybody else coming?
Posted in Favorite Places, Nature, Travel, Writing | Tagged dave barry, dogs, illinois, kickapoo state park, nanowrimo2011, pat bean, postaday2011 | 4 Comments »
My Favorite Places
Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado -- Photo by Pat Bean
NaNoWriMo Update … 30,325 words
Through joy and through sorrow, I wrote. Through hunger and through thirst, I wrote. Through goo report and through ill report, I wrote. Through sunshine and through moonshire, I wrote. What I wrote is is unnecessary to say. — Edgar A. Poe
But Poe never had to write when his computer was suffering a glitch.
Anyway the bad news is no new words on my novel today. But I watched a glorious military retirement for my son, whom I am very proud of, and I got my computer back. So all is well, all is well.
And tomorrow it’s back to NaNo and at least 2,000 more words.
Posted in Favorite Places, Nature, Travel, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged Black Canyon of the Gunnison, edgar poe, nanowrimo2011, pat bean, postaday2011 | 5 Comments »
Geek Squad”s got my computer. Did 1,500 words today before it glitched. Posting this on my son’s computer. Hopefullty I’ll get my computer back tomorrow. Wish me luck.
Posted in Writing | Tagged nanowritmo2011, pat bean, postaday2011 | 6 Comments »
My Favorite Places: Zion National Park
Emerald Pools waterfall in Zion National Park in Utah -- Photo by Pat Bean
There are so many different kinds of writing and so many ways to work that the only rule is this: do what works. Almost everything has been tried and found to succeed for somebody. The methods, even the ideas of successful writers contradict each other in a most heartening way, and the only element I find common to all successful writers is persistence-an overwhelming determination to succeed.” – Sophy Murnham.
NaNoWriMo Update … 28,717 words
NaNo goal of 2,000 words met, physical therapy appointment kept, drive from my daughter’s homein Dallas to my son’s place in Harker Heights accomplished, segments of my novel written out in my head as I drove, hugs and kisses from my autistic granddaughter, yummy liver with onions and bacon, rice and gravy and green pea dinner with family, ice cream sandwich for dessert, Survivor show watched with my son, and now I’m writing and posting my blog post.
I’m pooped but happy.
Posted in Favorite Hikes, Favorite Places, Nature, Travel, Writing | Tagged Emerald Pools, nanowrimo2011, pat bean, postaday2011, Utah, waterfalls, Zion National Park | 5 Comments »
Travels With Maggie
Maggie and I were just about half-way around this 1.5 mile trail at Laura Walker State Park, located just a few miles from Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, when we came upon a warning sign that said beware of bears. I think she and I covered the last half of the trail in a fourth of the time it took us to walk the first half. It was beautiful trail, however. -- Photo by Pat Bean
NaNoWriMo Update … 26,697 words
“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” – Jack London
Busy day today. Lots of errands to run. I’m not pleased with my word count, and hopefully I will get some more writing done before I go to bed.
I find it interesting that when I start writing a scene, things happen that I don’t know are going to happen. I find it frustrating, however, when I start a scene and then it doesn’t know where it wants to go. Both of these happened to me today, and numerous times over the past 15 days.
Keeping the action moving, trying to insert clues and red herrings, and leaving out all the boring stuff is my goal. But meeting it isn’t easy.
There is so much I want to do to make my words better. But I tell myself to just keep writing … just keep writing … just keep writing. Better is for later.
I would take heart in that the challenge is halfway over and the fact that I’m on target with my word count. But I fear it’s easy part that is all over. I’m thinking hard on the “S” word again
Posted in Favorite Hikes, Favorite Places, Nature, Travel, Writing | Tagged georgia, jack london, nanowrimo2011, okefenokee swamp, pat bean, postaday2011 | 3 Comments »
Somewhere over the rainbow is Mesa Falls in Idaho -- Photo by Pat Bean
My Favorite Places
“The best time for planning a book is while you’re doing the dishes. – Agatha Christie
NaNoWriMo Update … 25,743 words
Two glorious days of writing going well, followed by two miserable days of brain farts. At least I got a little more written these last two miserable days, and thankfully I was ahead of schedule.
Next two days have chunks of missing writing time: Doctor’s appointment, final physical therapy appointment (The therapy for my neck went much better today than the writing.), and drive to my oldest son’s for his the official retirement ceremony from the military after 37 years.
I sure hope Christie was right about writing going on even when you’re not writing. But just in case she’s not, please send words my way.
Posted in Favorite Places, Nature, Travel, Writing | Tagged agatha christie, Idaho, mesa falls, nanowrimo2011, pat bean, postaday2011, waterfalls | 3 Comments »
“From wonder into wonder existence opens.” – Lao Tzu
Thanksgiving Square Chapel, Downtown Dallas -- Photo by Pat Bean
“Wonder rather than doubt is the root of knowledge.” – Abraham Heschel
Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.” – Greek Proverb
Wondering is healthy. Broadens the mind. Opens you up to all sorts of stray thoughts and possibilities.” – Charles de Lint.
Posted in Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged Dallas, lao tzu, pat bean, postaday2011, thanksgiving square chapel, weekly photo challenge, wonder | 4 Comments »
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters.” — Ursula K. Le Guin
Pat Bean is a writer, avid birder, hiker and passionate nature observer with wanderlust in her soul. She spent nine years living and traveling in a small RV. She now lives in Tucson with Scamp, a rescue who was supposed to be a Schnauzer mix but turned out to be a Siberian Husky-Shih Tzu mix who is as stubborn as his owner, her granddaughter says. She was also a journalist for 37 years, and can be reached at patbean@msn.com
 | Sue Needham on The Book Club for Troublesome… |
 | kimurahiroko on The Book Club for Troublesome… |
 | Pat Bean on Killing Time |
| Pat Bean on Killing Time |
 | Jen and her cats on Killing Time |
Pat Bean's blog 