Rabbits Rabbits Everywhere...

Maybe this happens to everyone...but I swear the same rabbit follows me everywhere I go...there is a bunny who always gives me the side eye in my backyard...and there is one when I am in Cape May.  I swear...the bunny found me when I was in San Diego.  Or maybe it is just because I am paying more attention that I seem to notice them.  Either way...rabbit sightings have become a thing.  So I knew a few months back when I saw that a new pub like place was opening called White Rabbit Gastropub I was going to have to make my way there.  Sometimes...you just have a feeling. 

You can learn a lot about a place when you are out and about on your own.  There are lots of things that go into the evaluation of whether or not you will go back again...the beer selection is important...the vibe of the place...the music playing...but above all else...it is about the people.  In the spirit of doing the things I want to do, regardless of whether or not I have someone to do them with, I have become quite comfortable walking into places on my own.  It gets easier and I do find that there are a few things make it less traumatic for my introverted self....so I am not always the strange girl at the bar scribbling into her notebook.  Talking about music, soccer, and/or beer are ways that I do actually initiate conversations...but it does take people around you who aim to be inclusive. 

Such was the case on my solo beer adventure this past Tuesday to White Rabbit Gastropub...after finally finding the rabbit hole...I was instantly at home.  I found my way to the second level bar...picked a stool...and had a fun night of good beer and conversation.  I was instantly pulled into the chatter happening around the bar and never once felt awkward or out of place.  It was all so easy...and clear that you find the places that you are meant to find.  Plus, they let me keep a pen...so you know...since I love to write...this was a thing.  

I'm going to keep following my hunches and enjoy the rabbit holes I decide to wander down...I'm definitely on the road to somewhere...and for once...I'm not going to rush...I'm just going to enjoy the breadcrumbs that are leading me forward to the things that matter.

The Things That Matter...

I believe in signs and omens...I believe that you are not handed anything that you can't handle...I believe that you should trust the process...I believe that you should do what you love...I believe that I needed a good swift kick to remember all of these things.  We all have moments when you feel a little bit lost...but the key is not to dwell there to long.  You have to remember the things that matter.  The things that matter to you...and then all else will work its way out.  I know the things that matter to me...my family...love in my heart and soul...writing...music...soccer...beer...walking for miles...staring at trees and/or water...dates with Gym...and travel.  These are the things I need to consume myself with...not my job.  My job is the thing that allows me to enjoy all the things that matter.  I had briefly forgotten.

I was watching my favorite local band (19th Street Band) talk about and then sing their song

"The Things That Matter" and it hit me...I'm not really doing all of the things that matter to me.  It took some time to work it through...many scribbles in my journal...a few beers...some music...random epiphany inspiring conversations at my local watering hole...then a decision to put all fears aside...and just do all the things.  So, I am.  I'm going to make time for all the things...and in doing so...I'll have endless fodder for the one thing I love to do the most...write. 

Beer:  Off the Rook - RAR

Music:  I Want to Be Here - Neko Case (Case/Lang/Veirs)

Vacations are for Writing...

A funny thing happened just before I went on vacation...I picked up one of the 8 unfinished novels I have...the one closest to being done...the one I love the most...and easily started making edits that seemed way to complicated to deal with in 2010, 2014, and 2015.  I guess when you are ready, you are ready.  The most amazing thing is...I shut off social media...and focused.  I didn't write about it.  I didn't post about it.  I wanted to surprise one of my friends for their birthday.  It was the perfect motivation.  It was like all of my fears fell by the wayside.  My voice came back.  I was suddenly ready to finish.

There were many reasons for finishing.  What gave me my kick start was that I had a new idea hit me when I was sitting at an Irish Pub with my sister.  I was watching a "session" and I had a vision for a closing scene...I could feel it.  I was so close.  I knew how the story was going to end.  It is a glorious feeling...when it hits.  Sometimes I get the title first.  Other times there is one vivid scene and the rest of the novel works it's way around it.  In order to fully engage in a new novel, I knew that I had to finish my NanoWrimo 2009 novel.  I need to do the work before I start a new one.  It was a respect thing.  I accepted that I am a writer and I need to write.  As I writer, I owe it to my words to complete them so that others can read them. 

After my Irish Pub Visit...I did some planning...

My first day of vacation...all the edits (pen and ink style) fell across the page...while I had my first ever Duck Doughnut.

Electronic Edits commenced on a novel with hints of espionage while drinking a beer called Burner...it was kismet.

The last set of edits happened at the beach...my haven...Cape May...I came home and printed it to send to Texas.

Twas the Night before NanoWrimo... (Word Count = 0)

So, maybe I won't write a novel in November...but my goal is to write every day.  A story a day.  A story a day that I will post on my blog.  It is something to get my writing going.  That is the point of National Novel Writing Month (NanoWrimo)...to get the words out.  I need to get back to my writing...with some form of consistency.  I don't know what I will write about.  I'm hoping that each short story over the next 30 days will have some common thread to it.  My hope is to let a song inspire me each day to write a story.  Perhaps even a baby sized beer every now and again too.  I have a plan.  Each morning during my 4 miles...I'll pick a song or ask for song recommendations the evening before.  Then I will spend the my hour on the treadmill plotting and maybe making some notes.  Then...after work...maybe with a baby beer and maybe without...I'll put fingers to keys or pen to paper...and write!!  WRITE!!  I can't wait.  It will feel so good to get my creatives going.  A story a day...for 30 days.  This year I am a Nano Rebel...