Does Writing Euphoria Exist?

So, I'm training for my second full marathon. It's easier this time (knock on big ol' slab of wood). My goal is to train injury free... meaning no tendinitis, sore knee, pulled calf muscle, etc. etc. All my long runs are done on trails in the woods, which has significantly helped to keep all the aches and pains at bay. I've also finally reached what some runners call "running euphoria." No, I don't hallucinate and see margaritas up and down the trail while I run (although that would be great!) But I have reached a point where I am no longer breathing hard and feel like I can run forever, or until my legs collapse. It's really quite cool. I can, after an 18 mile run, stop and NOT be out of breath whatsoever! Of course my body is exhausted, but it's still really, really cool.

So my question is... does writing euphoria exist? Can I reach a point where I can write and write and write and not become mentally exhausted? And how do I reach that euphoria? 'Cuz seriously, I'd sign up... pronto.

In other news, Max is doing very well. We are treating his Cushing's Disease and he has his energy back, is happy and doesn't want to drink 50 gallons of water a day. Our son graduates from preschool in June. They do caps and gowns and everything. I think we are all seriously ready for a vacation. Two weeks after the marathon (it's on June 27) we are taking a two week vacation. This time no planes involved. Pure road trip, which should be fun. Of course I'll bring the laptop and get some writing done, and probably blog about the sites. Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole, and all things Colorado. Yey!

Hey Seattle

Yeah, it snows. Get over it and drive. Sheesh.

Also, I'm wondering if I should have a black out day for Facebook, Twitter and blogging. Now with the iPhone, I am totally sucked in! I need a break! Besides, we are into serious TV right now. Lost, Amazing Race, Survivor (guilty pleasure), Hell's Kitchen, Grey's Anatomy.

Oh, and then there's the writing... and work...and the family. Can we had more hours to the day please? I may need sleep at some point.

Just Busy Writing

Yeah, I know mom... I am not blogging enough. I hear you! I just finished revising my synopsis for book #2 and wrote an outline of a synopsis for book #3. Where is book #1, you ask? My fabulous agent has it in submissions... so I will wait... and write... and wait.

By the way, will spring EVER get here? Seriously... I love snow but I can't run in it, can't drive my convertible in it and generally can't visualize spring when it is covering my garden.

Everyone's a Writer...NOT

I couldn't agree with this column more...sigh.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/391188_egan09.html?source=mypi

VOTE VOTE VOTE

I just mailed my absentee ballot. Tomorrow is the day! My stomach is in knots, but I'm hopeful the polls are right and we won't have a nail biter late into the night.

Please oh please don't blow off your vote tomorrow.

Now, back to my regular scheduled programming...I am back to my old work schedule, yey! This means more time to write, more time to blog, more time to run, more time to kick it with my little guy. I couldn't' be more happy.

I'm going to be all superstitious and not talk about The Road Home for awhile. When I have solid news, I'll post it here. In the meantime, I'm going to work hard on Take One (working title, novel #2).

Happy Monday everyone!

One More Week

One more week of working full time, then I can get back to part time...which means I can spend more time on book #2 and will be better about keeping my blog up to date.

Right now? Just so freakin glad tomorrow is Friday. I've got a nasty throat infection and have four articles to write tomorrow. Uggh. Okay, I'll stop complaining and drink my tea!

I'm a bit pathetic

I promised a blow by blow of the marathon...but between running, working more than usual, writing/revising book #2 and taking care of a sick four-year-old...well, excuses excuses. I will make a concerted effort to resume my regular blogging soon! Bear with me!

This is it!

Sunday is the Portland marathon. WHAT have I gotten myself into? I've done all the training, so I'm just playing the mental game now. We leave for Portland Saturday morning and stay through Monday. If I am still coherent, we will be able to celebrate Sunday evening.

Writing Update: Turned in revisions to my agent on Tuesday. Yey! Now back to the current project...need to get that one done by the holidays (self imposed deadlines are great, eh?)

Running and Revisions

That's what I'm up to, in a nutshell! I will have a revised manuscript to my agent by Tuesday, I think...and the Portland Marathon is Sunday. Yikes! Somebody deserves a big, icy margarita in about a week!

I'm also working full time this month and next to help a colleague out. I just LOVE having a full plate!

This Weekend

This weekend is all about revising and running. Running and revising. I'll probably throw a little house cleaning in the schedule just to mix things up. It's rainy this weekend, which I LOVE. Makes me want to curl up with my laptop in a coffee shop or on my couch and get some serious work done on the book (I'll have something soon Colleen, I promise!)

The real question is, do I succumb to my junk food cravings? Will it help the creative process, or am I just looking for excuses? Hmmm...

Indian Summer!

I haven't been very good at blogging lately. I am working more hours this month and next...and am in the final weeks of marathon training. Oh, and I've now got concrete revisions for my book, which I will complete in the next couple of weeks...whew!

It's mid September and we are expecting 80 degree temps. I am SO SO thrilled!

I ran 20 miles on Friday, my longest run yet. Now I taper until the marathon on Oct. 5. Hopefully all my aches, pains and injuries will heal in this time.

More later!

Random Monday Things

It's Monday, it's raining and I'm lovin it. Maybe because I grew up in Seattle I have a twisted sense of what I think is good weather? But after too much sunshine, I welcome a couple days of good, hard rain. After all, it's what makes this part of the country green! And...the rain always gives me a better time on my runs. Yesterday I had an awesome 12 miler in the pouring down rain. It was GREAT. Other random things for a Monday:

• My 4-year-old learned how to lock the bathroom door from the outside, so no one can get into the bathroom. How'd he do that?
• The dogs have decided the pigeons who keep visiting our pond are pure evil, and sound the Labrador alarms with great gusto every time they show up. It's quite rattling to the nerves.
• Max is back in agility after his surgery. He still looks like a patchwork quilt, but the hair is starting to grow back. I can't wait until we're competing again.
• The PGA tournament this weekend was fun!
• Someone on my runner's forum said duck tape for my blisters is the ultimate solution. Is there anything duck tape can't do?
• My son is still completely enamoured with Curious George. Does anyone think the man with the yellow hat is a bit odd? Maybe I've just been watching too much. I really should be writing.
• Countdown to the Portland Marathon has begun. It's less than six weeks away (gulp).

Happy Monday to everyone!

Happy August, Goodbye 30's

This is the last week I can say I am in my 30's (gulp). Yup, turning the big 4-0 on Saturday. I'm kind of looking forward to it in a weird way. Just a new chapter, right? The husband is throwing a party at the house Saturday evening and I'm trying to get the backyard in shape for it (think red paper lanterns, candles, tiki torches). Our son will go to grandma's for the night, so it's actually a grown up party!

So, turn 40, make a book deal (through fabulouso agent) and run a marathon. Kind of a wacky to do list. What's next?

Random things happening right now:

• My brother and his friend ranked #6 in the state for fishing tournaments, so they are invited to some big national tournament next year.
• Max is doing great with his recovery and I'm hoping he can get back to agility in two weeks.
• My long training run this week will be my longest run EVAH, at 15 miles
• I will need a massive dose of Advil and a massage after that run
• My birthday is August 9 (did I mention that already?)
• I need to be more disciplined with book #2 and am hoping to hear from my agent soon on book #1.

Happy summer everyone!

Summer Fun!

We had our family reunion this past weekend up at my dad's house. He lives in what used to be our summer cabin on Lake Whatcom. It's rural, green, beautiful. The lake is gorgeous and clean. I spent summers there growing up and am hopeful our four-year-old son (little B) will have that same experience. In addition to swimming, boating and making s'mores over a beach fire, Little B learned how to fish! Uncle Eric (my brother) is an expert fisherman (he competes in state tournaments and is ranked 12th in the state so far this year). He taught B how to bait the hook, cast and wait patiently for a fish. B was ecstatic when he reeled in his first trout. Even today, he can't stop talking about it.

The hubby and I also went on some long, technical mountain bike rides in the woods behind my dad's house. It was sooo much fun. It was also good to see our cousins, eat way too much good food and reminisce over a few (or more) drinks. The dogs were in Labrador paradise...swimming and running on the beach for three days straight.

Speaking of dogs, Wednesday is Max's surgery. His CT scan was beautiful and the cancer hasn't spread anywhere that we know of, so we are very hopeful. He has his last agility class (for awhile) Tuesday eve and I will take him to the hospital at 7:30am Wednesday. We probably won't be able to pick him up until Saturday morning. I hope I can visit him in the meantime. I will be a wreck on Wednesday and will have to restrain myself from calling every hour. Still haven't figured out how to tell our son about the surgery. I'm figuring, "Max has an owie in his mouth that the doctor needs to fix" is about as much as I can say.

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer so far. Seattle actually has summer weather...YEY!

Song I loved hearing today: "Mercy" by Duffy
Weekly running mileage completed (ending yesterday): 25
Running mileage for this week: 0/26
WIP word count: Ask me tomorrow!

Congratulations Kelly!

My super fabulous agent extraordinaire Colleen Lindsay just sold fellow client Kelly Gay's book in a two book deal. Visit Kelly's Blog for more info and to say congrats.

Yey Kelly and Colleen! Woot Woot! Can't wait to read the first book!

On a Lighter Note

I worked on Take One today, and wrote what I thought was a pretty funny and vindictive scene.

It's so satisfying to screw the bad guy in writing...makes life's inequities much more bearable.

Are We Stupid?

Agent Extraordinaire Colleen Lindsay posted this Atlantic article about Google (http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/google) that I just had to share. My co-workers reacted by telling me it was too LONG to read in its entirety. You'll understand the irony in that statement if you read the article.

Sniffle...

Came down with a horrid cold this week. So, today, I am sniffling my way through my work day and I run into a colleague, who is sniffling his way through his work day. We both came to the conclusion that ALL cold-type viruses can currently be blamed on our LACK of sunshine. That's right. We're blaming it on the weather. I just read that California is in the midst of a drought. TAKE OUR RAIN, I say.

I'll stop whining now because I have a random question. If you order chinese food to go, do you tip the cashier? I am generally a very good tipper...so when I pick up my food from the counter and sign my credit slip, I feel guilty not leaving something on the "tip" line, even though I'm not dining in. Is there an etiquette rule here?

My four-year-old finally filled his marble jar with "good behavior" marbles. He has been talking for weeks about earning a periscope when his marble jar is full (he learned about periscopes from Curious George and PBS Kids...not all TV is bad). Last night we gave him his periscope (a green, plastic thing that cost $20) and he was so excited but he very solemnly told me that periscopes "are not for spying. Spying is wrong." Perhaps our current administration should watch more Curious George, no? I am quite sure their good behavior marble jar is not even close to full...but that's another story.

I finally worked through a sticky part of my plot outline for "Take One" and am very excited with the outcome. More details later...

Mileage goal for the day: Can I run with a fever?
Song of the day: "Stronger" by Kanye West
Take One word count: Hasn't changed from Tuesday. sigh.

Where is Spring?

Okay, I know this is Seattle but seriously...we've had like, TWO nice days since the start of Spring. Right now I am sitting inside with a monster sore throat, watching the rain and trying to convince myself that yes, a run WOULD make me feel better.

Of course, I could be working on Take One (novel #2), but the sore throat is ruining my concentration. So instead, I'll snuggle up with my kitty Tino and watch the season finale of Ugly Betty that I tevo'd last week.

I think I'll start posting my word count for Take One, to make sure I stay accountable for its progress.

Also, check out this running shirt https://www.onemoremilerunning.com/short-sleeve/does-this-shirt-make-my-butt-look-fast-short-sleeve/prod_510.html. I'm thinking of wearing it in the half marathon.

Take One: 10,000/65,000
Mileage goal for today: 5
Song that will inspire my writing today: "End of the Road" by Eddie Vetter (Into the Wild soundtrack) followed by "Where Does the Good Go" by Tegan and Sarah.

Joining the Blog World...Finally

My agent and writer friends suggested I start a blog before my first novel is published. So...here goes! Honestly, I hope I have enough to say...I'm definitely an amateur here. So for starters, this is what's in my world right now:

About Writing:
I have a fabulous new (new as of April) literary agent, Colleen Lindsay of FinePrint Literary in New York. She will soon be shopping my first (and second?) young adult novel to publishers. I am so excited! My second novel is in the works and is way too much fun to write.

About the Family:
My husband is currently shopping for mountain bikes so we can crash through the 700 acres of woods near our house. What fun! My four-year-old has his first music recital (through preschool) next week. He gets to play a xylophone (he can even spell xylophone) so he is very excited. BTW - his music CD collection is now officially larger than mine and he can identify Fallout Boys, Three Doors Down and Paolo Nutini on the radio quicker than me. Amazing.

The Dogs:
My faithful running companions are two yellow labs named Max and Brandy. They are 9-years-old and we've had them since they were babes. Spoiled rotten and very entitled, indeed. Max is still competing in agility with me and shows no signs of slowing. We compete in AKC agility at the excellent level.

Other Stuff:
I am training for my second half marathon, which takes place on June 29. This will help me train for the (gulp) Portland Marathon in October. I can't remember a day when something didn't hurt. Why do I do this? Good question...

Anyway, feel free to stop by and say hi!