Mountain Men in the Wild

I just read a book that impacted me in more than one way. Keep in mind that I'm a fiction addict and rarely read non-fiction not related to my day job (i.e. Medical.)

However, once I began Wild-Lost and Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, I couldn't stop reading. I felt everything she felt, met and liked other hikers, was ready to knock-out a couple of hunters. I will never look at hiking, back-packing and food in the same way.

At the same time I admired the writing and was wrapped up in making it to the end of the trail, engrossed in nature along the way, I marveled at the structure as Cheryl wove in all the things that brought her to the trail. If you ever want to write a memoir, read this one as she takes one pivotal event in her life and links everything to it.

I not only learned about nature and the PCT as well as dealing with loss, anger and grief, but learned more about writing a riveting memoir than I ever have. 

If you haven't read this, go to  http://www.amazon.com/Found-Pacific-Crest-Trail-ebook/dp/B005IQZB14/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1340832886&sr=1-1&keywords=wild  Beleive me, you'll be glad you did.

Busy Squirrels.

I'm watching the squirrels chase each other in the yard, a cardinal trying to stay on the fence in spite of the birds, a woodpecker just minding his own business, fluffed out sparrows, listening to a noisy wren. What does that have to do with writing? It's just life, which is busy and full of things that want to conflict with your writing. Keeping focused is my big issue. The cats just want to get out and chase everything out there. That's me, I want to do everything, put can't, have to put things on a calendar, schedule them to get anything done.

On that note, I cleaned out the kitchen desk and coat closet. Yes! Had them on the calendar, got them done. I now have 13,491 done on BLOODY MURDER. approx. 3,500 this week. Can't get my little word meter to work right but I am getting real work done. Now for sales . . .

In real life we are considering a puppy but unless I retire, by daughter would have to train and care for it. If she couldn't, got sick, we'd be up a creek because I'm sometimes gone for over ten hours a day at work. Hard decisions.