2005-02-23 - 8:30 a.m.

OH MY GOD.
am just back from Florida; weather was incredible--mid- to high seventies all ten days.
we had an lovely time getting to know Eve and Shawn of West Central Florida Adventure Racing, having stayed at their house and learned a lot about them and the way they see their race-directing business. In fact, I feel truly lucky for having chosen this sport, as I've met many wonderful people through it. Sigh.
Jim and I drove down to Florida. Drove, do you hear me? A word of caution--don't ever attempt this unless you are ready to truly find out whether or not you're suited to the person you're driving with.
I don't know how Jim feels about it--in fact, and isn't this funny? I'm just now remembering what it feels like to go through that whole, "Does he like me? Does he? Does he feel the same way I do?" rigamarole.
Isn't that funny? Disastrous, really. At any rate, it was a loverly trip down. I got cranky on the way home though, in Maryland, because I didn't get to see the Mermaids at Weeki Wachee while we were there, I didn't get to see the Manatees in the FLA rivers, although we did see one at Mote Aquarium in Sarasota, and I even got to touch the Manta Rays as much as I wanted to!
Um. Anyway. Also, I didn't get boiled peanuts or fried green tomatoes, and although they may sound icky to those of you less well versed in southern cookery, I assure you, they are fabulous.
Anyway. So I made him pull off the main highway in Maryland and we got to have crab things at the loverly Woody's Crab Shack.
Sigh.
It was my first-ever long road trip. Goodness. I feel vaguely accomplished, although the only thing I've really accomplished is five days of non working out!
Slug.
Lara has finally put up photos of the family again, by the way. What a nice thing, to be able to see the Taylors from so far away.
As much as I bitch bitch bitch about how "connected" we are all the time, I have to say, it's had having international friends that much easier, although a lot of me does long for the days when I had friends that I simply wrote letters to. Sigh.
I did write this week while we were in Florida, though--I wrote to Kate, who will forever be my letter-writing companion, and also to Lara, who will no doubt be confused as to the volume of communication pouring from this side of the Atlantic.
But you know what?
When you are sitting by a pool after having cooled off from a long run and are feeling a little smug and very very lucky, looking out at a marina and a couple of cattle egret, well, you just feel as if you must share such things with your friends.
My first edits have come back from the guy at Consumer's Digest, and they are not great. He said I was flat. And I agree. This article had lost its lustre for me when he first told me about the fact that it was going to be on product and not so much on architecture. Why, why, do I take assignments that I'm not interested in?
Some would say that a true writer is able to turn any subject matter into scintillating materials. To which I say, fine. Call me not a true writer, then, but a clairvoyant! [Cue triumphant horns here]. Yes! A clairvoyant, hell-bent on sharing the feelings that we all experience with everyone who might feel just a little bit lonely! Yes!
[Rolling eyes out of head.]
Good grief.
Anyway. Lots of good things going on. Audrey Brashich, who's the owner and founder of Culture of Modeling, is writing a book, and she wants to interview me for a book she's writing on girls who "bucked the system" and went on to do things that made us happy, even if we were a little struck by the concept of beauty and society's form of what makes us gorgeous. That's hugely flattering. Even more, she seems to think that I might know other women who have done such things! Goodness.
Also, the lovely Sara--and here I must digress a little bit and say that I am stunned that the crappy job I was in actually served the purpose of making friends for me, and such supportive amazing good friends at that!--has put me in touch with a fellow who is going to give me some pointers on turning the short story I called "Character Flaw" into a possible screenplay. I'm not at all interested in writing a screenplay, of course, but it has been brought to my attention by a screenwriter that it might be turned into a worthwhile screenplay. Good enough.
At any rate. I do feel a little starstruck by this person--he's none other than the son of Louis L'Amour.
Goodness.
Erm. Today is fraught with things like paying bills with money I don't have and other mundane tasks. Good fun, that, eh?
I'm sure there will be more to talk about in short time. Suffice it to say that it'snow 8:50 AM, the work day for the rest of the world is about to begin, and I think I'd better call my financial advisor and ask him for an advance. :)
Happy day, everyone!

 

 

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