Happy New Year, a Writer’s Research, Friends, Terror in Peru

January 5th, 2013

Happy New Year everyone, I hope that all of you came through the celebrations safely. On New Year’s Eve, I enjoyed cocktails with my friends Mona and Kelly via Facetime. We were having a good ole time until they lost their WiFi connection. My neighbors were having a party at the same time. Their music was so loud that I had to use my earplugs to hear what my friends were saying. That party lasted till 4:30 in the morning and there wasn’t a break in the music that entire time. I almost decided to join them but in the end I didn’t want to get dressed and join a bunch of people I didn’t know who were obviously getting very drunk. Then, of course, there is my limited Spanish that would have made communication next to impossible. The fireworks started at midnight and lived up to my expectations. I spent a good thirty minutes on my porch watching the sky light up with brilliant displays of pyrotechnics. Anyway, here it is five days into the New Year and I haven’t updated my webpage since the 26th of December. Please accept my humble apologies to any of you who make an effort to keep up with me here. I made no New Year’s resolutions. I figure dealing with life is enough for now.

The past two Fridays, I met up with Larry for our usual coffee and chat. The first was at his house where Lucha put out a nice little spread for us to enjoy. I was also able to spend a little time with the newest member of his family, young Bastian. I very cute amiable young man who I think is between the ages of 2 and 3. We played with his trains and toy cars and he shared his cake with me. I got a big hug from him as I was leaving, always a special treat. This past Friday it was back to Café Gianfranco. The Patio is still not open. I am totally crushed by this and at a loss as to why it is taking them so long to reopen their business. The woman who works behind the counter there was cleaning and told me it would be at least another month. As always, Larry and I enjoyed our wide ranging conversation trying to solve the problems of the world. Afterwards, I joined my friend Kathy who is finally back in Peru. We had a nice lunch at Café Buena Vista and I got to hear all about her time in the states spent with her family.

I didn’t get much writing done over the holidays. I found the festivities too distracting for me to concentrate on my story. A few hundred words and some research were all I managed. I want to thank an archaeologist friend of mine, Julia Miller, for her help. I had some questions on how things were handled at excavation sites and her answers will put a more realistic tone in those passages in the new book. I’ve even name my main character after her in appreciation. I hope the beginning of the coming new week will find me back in the saddle and ready to get more accomplished. That includes getting back to the gym on a regular schedule.

Finally, there is a story floating around on Facebook about some friends who were traveling around South America. Here in Peru, they had a horrible experience when they found themselves far from civilization and in a little community tucked away in the mountains. Rather than repeating the story, here,s the link to the blog posted by one of the young people who were attacked. It’s a very scary story and an experience no one should have to go through.  http://adventureamericas.wordpress.com/2013/01/03/nightmare-in-peru/

I want to add that in the four years that I have lived here in Peru, I’ve had nothing but great experiences with a kind and friendly people. I haven’t traveled to back-water places like the one described in the article but for those who travel, I recommend that anyone think twice about going into a location like that without a guide or an almost perfect understanding of the local language and customs. I do hope we hear what caused the people in the area to react to these strangers in such a violent manner.

Have a great 2013 everyone and may it bring health, happiness and prosperity to you and those you love. Remember to exercise the body and the mind, it’s the only one you have.

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A Writer’s Life, Coffee with Friends, Christmas, The End of the World, Cocktails with Mona and Kelly

December 26th, 2012

A writer’s life is full of ups and downs. At least as far as getting those words onto paper is concerned. We have our good days where 500, 1,000, 2,000 words and maybe more depending on the Muse make it to the page. Then there are other days where writing a hundred words or even a sentence can be an agonizing ordeal. Stick in between those two extremes the research, the changes in plot, putting in or taking out a character because they just aren’t working out, or dealing with the editorial changes and you get the picture. As a writer, you are also expected to be a reader. From articles I’ve read, a dozen books a year is the minimum. Toss in life’s interruptions and frustration can easily set you back on any project. Writing is work, I don’t care what some say. The writers who seem to live in some fairy land where all things are sunny, rosy and words spill onto the page in a never ending torrent. Frankly, I don’t believe them. Don’t get me wrong, I love to write. I thrill at the creative process and swell with pride at any finished product. But getting there can be a long road studded with pot holes and speed bumps.

Christmas has come and gone. Spending the holiday in another country has its challenges. The cultural aspects are the hardest to adapt to. I brought my idealized version of the American Christmas to Peru with me. Slowly over the few years that I have lived here, I have come to appreciate the holiday in a different way. The late night Christmas Eve Dinner, the gift exchange afterwards, the Fireworks that start Christmas Eve, peak at midnight and explode across the night sky well into Christmas morning have instilled a more festive attitude. Before, I saw Christmas as a holiday for children, opening gifts from Santa that morning, the highlight and end of months of shopping on the part of parents and grandparents. A big meal on Christmas Day followed by a nap seemed to be the routine. I went to Jaita’s home, Steve’s Mom, on Christmas Eve. We had turkey, rice, vegetables, peaches, panatone, and hot chocolate; a meal that has become a tradition for me and my Peruvian family. On Christmas Day I called Rita, my Sister, and talked with her. My nieces and their families were all there. It enjoyed that all too brief conversation. Thanks to modern communication, I was able to see everyone and get a peek at the Christmas they were enjoying.

This past week I met up with Mark and Larry at Café Sama in Miraflores. I had met Mark there a few times in the past for coffee when he was unable to join Larry and I at our regular meeting. As always our conversation spread across varied topics from exercise to politics both local and international. These two keep me mentally sharp. You have to be aware of what’s happening not only in Peru but other countries too. Otherwise you wouldn’t be able to contribute to the talk as it flows around the table. This coming Friday, Larry has invited us to his home for coffee. Lucha will probably join us so the conversation will be even more lively.

Friday evening I met Mona and Kelly in their dining room for cocktails again. It was 12/21/12 and the Maya had predicted the end of an era. Just in case it involved the end of the world, we wanted to have a cocktail in hand. Our friend Cyndi Roberts had even gone so far as to take a trip to Belize with some friends to celebrate the occasion. She visited some of the Mayan ruins while there and has posted some beautiful photos on Facebook. Mona, Kelly and I enjoyed our time together as always. It’s almost as good as being there. I do believe I had one too many rum and cokes though, next time four will be my limit.

Last, if you’re reading this, I want to thank those of you who took the time to mail a Christmas Card to me here in Peru. That’s not to say I do not appreciate those mailed to my Sister’s house. It’s just that I don’t get to read them until I return home for my annual visit in October. I hope and pray to all the Gods who ever were or ever will be that all of you have a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year. To help part of that happen, remember; exercise the brain and the body. I read that drinking a lot of coffee could help too. Love to all of you.

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War with Words, a Trip and Fall, a New Mall, Coffee with Friends, The Hobbit, Slaughter of the Innocents

December 18th, 2012

I’m still struggling with words in my new book. It feels like war, a battle supreme, a fight to pull the ideas floating around in my brain and place them on paper for readers to enjoy. What weapons can I use to organize, create, describe and write? The story changes in my head before I fall to sleep at night and when I wake up in the morning. I heard a lecture on uTube by Stephen King recently who said this very thing happens to him also. Maybe I should keep a recorder at my bedside to help me remember these insights into changes in my plot. Then again, a notepad, I have plenty of those. Since my trip back to the States, I have fallen out of my routine. It has been a struggle to get back into. Distractions come at me from every angle, some self inflicted, others provided by my surroundings.  Lately, two to three hundred words at a sitting are all I can manage before my mind wanders onto other subjects. The logical side of my brain tells me that, “that’s better than nothing,” while the bad boy side tells me to “have fun, you are retired after all.” For now, I’ll plod along until my mojo returns. I’m just hoping that this war I’m having with words comes to a quick end.

As an “ExPat” living in another country with minimal knowledge of their language, I had a scary moment the other day. It’s something that anyone thinking of residing out of their homeland needs to think about. I had gone out for a long walk with my camera. It’s one of my favorite things to do here as I try to capture the beauty that resides in Lima Peru. I had managed to wander into a Naval base (not one on the ocean) without being stopped by the mariner watching the gate. Realizing my mistake, I turned to leave. The sidewalk was elevated a few inches and when I took my first step, I stepped off of the sidewalk not expecting that drop. I took one of those gymnastic dives and ended up on my a$$ in the lawn area. Thank goodness I didn’t land on the concrete. A sore shoulder is all I ended up with but I realized it could have been worse. All this made me think. What would happen if I were unconscious? How would they know who to contact? A dozen questions like this crossed my mind. Now I carry a card on me in English and Spanish with that info, something for everyone to think about.

The new Mall they started to build over a year ago has finally opened. About half of the stores in it have also opened for business just in time for Christmas shopping. It’s not overly crowded at this point but I’m sure as more people realize, the crowds will increase. I’m glad that it finally complete because of the new Plaza Vea that it contains. Now I have a choice of food shopping places. A few pictures of it are in this post. It’s a very USA kind of place. I do like the architectural design though.

I met with Larry and Mark this past Friday for coffee at Café Gianfranco. I did manage to add some words to the new book before they arrived. With the three of us together, the conversation was even more wide ranging than normal. Politics worldwide, economics, education, finances, and our experiences as expats plus a lot more wound around the table for 2½ hours. Delicious snacks and good coffee made it all the better. This past week a person contacted me about my friend Diego de Soto. He had gone missing for a few weeks and she was very worried. Naturally, this made me worry also. She even went to the trouble of contacting the police and was on her way to missing person when his father contacted her. I was glad to hear that other than a health problem he is OK and will only be out of circulation for a short while.

I want to express my sympathy for the family and friends of those killed at the Sandy Hook School in Connecticut this past week. This senseless slaughter of innocent children and adults has shocked not only the USA but the world. When it comes to children, there are so many horrible things happening to them all around the world. What is humanity coming to? Slavery, starvation, tortured, murdered; how can this be stopped? I wish I had an answer. I wish I could make it stop.

Last, on a lighter note, I went with Steve to see “The Hobbit” this past week. Well, it was Part 1 of a three part movie from what I understand. I saw it in 2D (I still don’t care for 3D movies). The film was outstanding. It hit all the right points for me. Lots of action, mind-blowing special effect, I cried, I laughed, I worried about the characters have me giving it a 4½ Llama rating. It would have gotten 5 but the beginning was a little slow for me. This film deserves to be seen on the big screen and for those of you who enjoy 3D; I imagine that it will be spectacular.

That’s it for this post; hope you all have a great week. Sorry for the late post but things got in the way the last couple of days. Get creative, use the brain and exercise the body; you won’t regret it.

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Starting a New Book, Editing Again, Coffee with Mark, the Malecon, Getting Ready for Christmas

December 10th, 2012

For the last six months an idea has been floating around in my head for a new book. The tentative title is “Inca Gold.” It will start on one of the terraces of Machu Picchu at an archaeological dig site. I am very loosely basing one of my new characters on an expat friend I’ve never met, Julia Miller and another on my friend Mark Kennet here in Lima. The only basing will be the use of their names. Descriptions or anything else closely resembling them will be purely coincidental.  Naturally murder, treasure, mystery and suspense will flow through the story along with more than a few historical and contemporary facts. I’m two chapters into it now and already thinking of altering my original story, mostly it involves who’s going to die and when. Wish me luck everyone.

I sent the Suitcase Murders off to my friend Amanda, who is in Seattle now, for another read and give me her opinion of the story and editing suggestions. She has returned it with some excellent comments which I will try to incorporate for the improvement of the story. She is an excellent editor and fearless in her comments. My friend Katrina, now back in Minnesota, is also a good editor but she’s so buy with school I hesitate to bother her at this time. Editing is the part I like least about writing. I’ll be happy when I get to the point where it comes a little more natural to me. Fortunately I found an article on editing that knocks it down to four steps. That makes things a lot easier.

My friend Larry was unable to join me for coffee this past Friday. His grandson, Bastian who is two, had a must attend school Christmas Party. I imagine that I will get to hear all about it this coming Friday. Mark did manage to come so I still got in my conversation on wide ranging topics. Everything from the state of affairs in the Middle East to economics around the world and everything in between was on the table. I’ve said it before, Mark is a brilliant guy and I really enjoy my coffees with him. It’s nice that I can expand my mental capabilities at this age. Next Friday, I’m hoping that the three of us will all make it. The more input, the better as far as I’m concerned.

After my meeting with Mark, I decided to go for a stroll along the Malecon in Miraflores. The sun had broken through the clouds and a beautiful day lay stretched out before me. Walks through the stunning parks that lay between the Malecon and the cliffs of Lima are always interesting. You never know what kind of show you will see. On this particular day I saw young men juggling Machetes (no photos, afraid I would cause an accident), tight-rope walkers, musicians, para-sailers, outdoor art, new architecture, skateboarders practicing tricks, men working with asphalt and so much more. I did manage a few photos which are included in this post. I also found a new Café. The Buena Vista Café in the Parque Migual Grau has only been open for about a month and a half. It site next to the edge of the cliffs and there are dazzling views of the Pacific Ocean from the terrace that contains its seating. I might actually try to have lunch there after my meetings on Fridays. I forgot to see if they serve wine. That evening, I had another fun get-together with Mona and Kelly in their dining room via the internet. Cocktails and conversation always go well together.

I put up my Christmas Tree this week. Antonio, Steve’s younger brother, asked to come over and help. I didn’t really need it but the job is easier with a second person, especially when you are stringing the lights. He seemed to enjoy the experience. I don’t believe Steve’s family has ever put up a tree in their home. I find that putting up the tree keeps me connected with my family and friends in the US and other parts of the world. Before I retired, I had quit putting up a tree. I didn’t see much point in it. I never had any type of Christmas Festivity at my house so I was the only one who ever saw it. Now, a few wrapped presents have taken up residence under the tree and I find myself wanting to listen to Bing Crosby’s Christmas songs and watch old movies. In the meantime, Santa and Frosty guard the presents from any premature openings.

Have a great week everyone. Take a walk, lift some weights, read a book, work a puzzle, take a photo or paint a picture; your mind and body will thank you.

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What Writing?, Sweet Sweet Jazz, Outings With Friends

December 4th, 2012

It seems that my muse is asleep, the one that sets me down in front of my computer every day and tells me what to write.  The number of words that I have put to paper this week wouldn’t fill a page. I have, at least, worked on the characters for the fourth book I am starting and plotted out a few paragraphs on it. Still, disappointment hangs over my head like a noose ready to choke any inspiration that tries to come out. I am not happy. Distractions come at me from every corner and the strength I use to ignore them seems weak and ineffectual. Friends, writers and others, tell me not to worry. “Take a break,” they say. “A rest will do you good,” follows from their lips, an enticing invitation to do nothing. They are well meaning and I listen but it’s time to toss aside my blasé attitude and get back to work. At the very least I need to start work on the beginning chapters of book 4 and try to finish a short story I started back in the US.

I managed to pick up a setting for a scene in my new novel while I was out with a friend this week. On a small path that runs between buildings in a square block in Miraflores, lay a multitude of small shops, cafés and bars. In the middle of this treasure is a place called the Jazz Zone. A small upstairs dimly lit bar, it caters to the Jazz scene here in Lima Peru. My friend, Mark Kennet, let me know that a group he knew about would be playing there Wednesday evening from 8 to 10pm. I joined him there to listen to the sweet sorrowful tones of The Gold Standard Trio. The room was packed with the hip crowd and friends of the musicians. The music flowed through the room like thick sweet honey. It lifted my spirits and across the dark room, in a corner at a table for two, I saw my detective and the new love in his life. They sipped scotch on the rocks, held hands and let the melodic notes fill their souls. At the end of the night, they walked out into the street. A night sky filled with bright stars and a full moon greeted them. This scene will be in the new book. Oh yes, the music was incredible and I can’t wait to enjoy another evening there.

Friday morning I met Larry again at Café Gianfranco. We briefly thought that the Patio was going to be open again. Madre Natura the store that you have to enter through was open but the Café and seating area of the Patio were still closed. We talked about a lot of things during the course of our meeting. Once again we solved the problems of the world, if only they would listen to our well reasoned solutions. That night I met Jose Perochena and Fiorella Vega Galdos. It had been at least seven months since the last time we had gotten together. They were married in that interim. I met them at Hose’s bike shop and the three of us headed up to a Café on Larco for an espresso and snack before heading out to dinner at La Interna I San Isidro. There, Jose and I shared a large thin crust pizza while Fiorella had a salad. All of this was chased down with a good bottle of wine. From there it was off to a bar on the top floor of the Radisson in Miraflores. Cuba Libres, Pisco with Maracuya and beers topped off the evening along with the usual fabulous conversation people have while enjoying the company of great friends. Needless to say, I was a little woozy on my arrival home at 1:30am. Sunday, I met Mark again for coffee at Sama. Again, meeting my friends and having wonderfully stimulating conversations on everything from politics to art makes my life very interesting here in Peru. No arguments, just wonderfully thought-provoking intellectual exchanges.

It looks like I may have a couple of visitors coming this next year. My great friends Anna and Doug Stevens, they live on a small farm outside of St. Louis Mo, plan to visit me from April 6th through the 17th. I have no idea how much of that time they will be in Lima but it will be great to see them again. It has been many years. They’ve already made their plane reservations. In the meantime, Anna and I have exchanged books for critiquing. She’s a writer also. She has sent me her first novel and I have sent her my second. I started hers this past weekend and so far, it’s very interesting. I am looking forward to finishing it and seeing where she takes me.

That’s it for this post. I hope you enjoyed reading it. Sorry it’s a little late; I spaced out a little Sunday and Monday and forgot. Remember to get up and get out. Take your camera and capture the interesting things you see around you whether they be large or small. Read a book, write a poem, draw a picture and expand your mind. Movement means a better life.

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A Writer’s Burden, Thanksgiving in Peru, Coffee with Friends, Cocktails with Mona and Kelly

November 26th, 2012

My burden as a writer is to put words on paper. To place those words in order, to make a story that people want to read whether it is fiction or non-fiction. To keep a plot flowing towards an ending that both surprises and satisfies the reader. To describe characters and places with color, flavor, scent, emotions and sound that will make them memorable. Therein lays the burden of all writers. We slave over each word, each sentence, and each paragraph in an effort to bring a person or a scene to life in the reader’s mind’s eye. To have them empathize, love, hate, rejoice and so much more as they turn the pages of our works. I sit here at my desk almost every day and struggle with these issues as I write. I edit, I rewrite, I discard; all in an effort to make my stories better. Some days, the work goes better than others. On the bad days, a sentence can take hours. Sitting, staring at the screen of my computer, I struggle with the direction of a story, the structure of a sentence, the correct word to convey the passion of a character. Writing is easy, writing is hard but for now it’s something I love to do. So yes, some days the burden is almost overwhelming but those good days when words flow like sweet wine into a glass, it’s all worthwhile.

Thanksgiving was celebrated by my friends and family this past week. It seems that everyone had a great day this year. Here in Peru, my great friends Larry and Lucha Pitman, invited me to their home for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Friday. Lucha is a great cook and wonderful person. Their daughter Claudia joined us also and between mouthfuls of deliciousness, we enjoyed excellent conversation. Lucha had prepared Turkey and Ham, mashed sweet potatoes, wild rice with olives and pecans, pastel de choclo, cranberry sauce and a wonderful salad with lettuce, green beans, tomatoes, boiled eggs, carrots and mango. It goes without saying that I didn’t leave their home hungry. As a matter of fact, I didn’t eat for the rest of the day.

I arrived home just in time to join Mona and Kelly for cocktails. Normally (weather permitting) I join them on their patio using Facetime, an Apple App much like Skype. Now that the winter approaches they have moved indoors and now it’s cocktails in the dining room. Caesar, cute puppy that he is, did his best to join us also. We caught up on all the stuff that’s happened to us since I returned to Peru. Nothing spectacular and on my part, it would have been included in previous posts anyway. I had four Pisco and Coke Zeros with them so I was feeling no pain by the end of our get together. I really enjoy these get togethers, they help me not miss my friends quite so much.

It was a good week for coffees with friends also. I met mi amigo Aaron for breakfast at Café Gianfranco Thursday morning. I hadn’t seen him since returning to Peru. We caught up also. His tour business is doing well and he’s looking forward to the holidays. At the time of this writing he’s enjoying an excursion into the jungles around Iquitos. He’s posted one pic on Facebook and it looks like he’s having a good time. On Sunday I met Mark for coffee at Sama. As always, we discussed everything from economics and politics to where to buy mace or pepper spray for self protection. Of course there was a little how are things going in there. Mark is a free lance economist and consultant. His works takes him all over the world. Like all of my friends, he a fascinating guy.

That’s it for this week. Hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving or just a great week depending on where you are at in the world. It bears repeating every time, “get up, get out, exercise the body and the mind.”

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Another Book Finished, Safety as an ExPat, Coffee with Friends, Twilight Part 2

November 19th, 2012

I have finished writing The Suitcase Murders and have completed the first edit. I’ve also sent it off to my Sister, whose opinion I value and asked her to read it. After I hear from her, it will go to a few more trusted friends for their opinion also. Then I’ll need to do edit three and four. In the meantime I have started outlining chapters for my next book, tentatively called Inca Gold. This one will involve some of Peru’s rich archaeological history along with a few murders and myth’s about the lost hoard of Incan Gold. I’ve shelve my original second book that started in the Jungles of Peru. I lost, or maybe never had, a clear vision of where I wanted that book to go and how it should end. I’ll pull it out in a year or so and revisit it.

My visit back to the states has thrown my regular routine off a little. I’m finding it hard to concentrate on my writing as well as getting back into the gym. I’m hoping the “slowly working my way back into it method” will do the trick. At least my new story line is whirling around in my head, ready to be put on paper.

Now to a less pleasant topic. While I was in the US my landlady’s home was broken into. The thieves, there were three of them, took a few pieces of her silver before being interrupted. This made me a little nervous. Then, just this past week, thieves came back and took the rest of her silver despite new security measures she had put into place. She lives on the first floor of the building, I live on the second. Now, we’ve retained a security company that is putting in magnetic door alarms and motion sensors that will activate a call from the company to the police and/or fire departments. Their response time to the alarm is what concerns me. We will see how that works. In addition an alarm will go off on top of the house. It’s loud enough to wake the neighbors for a four block radius. Hopefully, that alone will scare them off. An electric fence now stands atop the walls that surround the property. In some ways, I feel like I am the prisoner and the bad guys are out there running free.

If you have moved from a first world to another country, whether third world or emerging economy, it will present challenges. First there is the language barrier. Unless you have made a lifelong study of it, you will struggle with communication. Then, regardless of your financial standing, people will always think you have more than they do and there are those that will want to take it from you. They are not always people who break into your home. Dealing with the bureaucracy can be frustrating also. Long lines and multiple trips to the same or different agencies can test even the strongest of resolves. I am not trying to discourage anyone from moving to another country for retirement or any other reason. Despite the drawbacks, it can be an amazing and wonderful experience. It will enrich your life if you let it. Just be aware, much the same as you would in any big city.

I met my friend Larry for coffee at a new place this past week. It’s called Café Gianfranco. It has a great atmosphere and although the prices are a tad higher than the Patio, they do have good WiFi and the food is excellent. We had our usual wide ranging discussion on topics that interest us. It’s great to be back into my Café society routine. Afterwards I met Mark for lunch at a new (for me) vegetarian restaurant. The food was excellent and afterwards we meandered over to another new Café (for me) called Sama. Another nice quiet place with good coffee where you are able to have a nice chat without having to shout. It’s part of the Casa Andina Special Edition Hotel. Mark and I discussed the problems of the world as well as things going on in our personal lives. It made for another great day. I still need to meet up with several other friends, Kano, Aaron, and Diego to mention a few. Kathy is still in the states enjoying her granddaughter.

Finally, I went to see the new Twilight movie. It was good. I especially liked the surprise ending although it seemed to me that they (either the author or the movie maker) had ripped off a few ideas from Anne Rice’s Vampire Novels. I give it 3 Llama’s on my rating scale. My biggest problem with it – way too sugary! But, I guess that’s what all the preteen girls like.

That’s it for this week. Hope yours was as exciting as mine, except for that robbery stuff of course. Remember to get up and move. Exercise the body and the mind; you really do need them both. Words to paper to all my writer friends and paint to canvas to all my artist friends. The photos are from a walk in Miraflores on Friday.

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Celebrating a Birthday, Back to Writing, The Gym?, and Skyfall

November 11th, 2012

Another week has flown by which is nothing in comparison to how fast the year since my last birthday went by. Other than a few aches and pains (oh those knees), I don’t feel much different than I did five, ten, even twenty years ago. I know I’ve changed (thank you Christina for posting that pic of me from my birthday party in 1997) but in some ways I think it’s for the better. I’ve definitely lost weight (and gained it, and lost it LOL) since that picture was taken. I’m also less apt to be seen in a Conga Line. I tend to celebrate my birthdays in a more sedate manner these days, coffees, lunches, and small get togethers are more my style now. So many friends sent me Birthday Wishes on Facebook. They came from all over the world and all walks of life, CEO’s to Day Laborers, Thailand to Macedonia, South America, North America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. I guess if I could make a friend who lived in the Antarctic, they would truly cover the globe. I am a richer person for all of them and oh so grateful that each of them has included and shares with me the details of their lives. That alone makes all the birthdays worth it.

I’ve managed to finish re-reading the work I had done on the Suitcase Murders and have completed the first draft of the book. It’s rough in a couple of spots and I need to add in some local flavor and describe the physical characteristics of some of the characters but I hope to be through the second edit in a couple of weeks. When I’m done with that, I’ll send it to a couple of friends for comments and then work on a final edit before deciding if I will self publish or go through the process of sending it to agents and publishers again. Somewhere in there I want to work on a couple of short stories that I have started, including the one I began on my visit back to the States. Right now the story is just called “Bone Gap Road” but that might change. I’ve been thinking about that second untitled book I started and it might go into the filing cabinet for awhile. I want to start a different book with another plot, something that involves the rich archaeological history of Peru. Look out Julia Miller; you’re going to end up a character in a book.

I went to see the latest James Bond movie, “Skyfall,” with my friend Steve last night. It was quite a show. It had lots of edge of your seat action, beautiful women, high and low tech weaponry, a devious plotline and a very crazy/scary villain. I loved that they bring Moneypenny back into the franchise at the end and the new “Q” is nerdily cool also. I give it 4½ Llamas on my rating scale. It would have gotten 5 but the title and the one time mention of it in the movie left me a little confused. Maybe one of you can explain it to me.

I’ve only made it to the gym one day this past week. Pray for me. LOL It seemed that lots of little things just kept getting in the way. I hope to set all that aside starting tomorrow and get back into my workout routine. That’s it for this post. If you know a veteran, wish him well today. We owe a lot to our soldiers and those in all agencies of the US that help to protect our democracy and freedom.

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Goodbyes to Friends and Family, Return to Peru, Writing

November 4th, 2012

As those of you who are far away from family and friends know, the hardest part of visiting is saying goodbye again. My friend Larry here in Peru wrote an article recently about the home you have in your head versus the one that exists. He noted, poignantly, that they are different for him; too much has changed over the years. I agree with him in a certain respect. People have moved about a little, relationships have changed and of course we all got a little older (naturally it doesn’t show one bit). Still, when I met with each and every person I was able to, it was like I had never left. The love, the friendships, the familiarity between us had not changed. For that reason, it was difficult for me to say goodbye to all of them again. I realize that if I were still living in Southern Illinois things would be different. Changes that affected all of them would have affected me also. Who knows where I would be at this point in time. Therefore, in a small sense, I am glad that I live in another country. Making this move has preserved that idyllic life that I left there, at least in my heart and mind.

I spent my last few days with my Sister and George in Albion. I will need to add some days to my trip next year, I know that I wasn’t able to spend as much time with Rita as I would have liked. The Sorghum Festival kept her busy the first week I was there, which resulted in less quality time together. We moved all of my stuff out of the locker in Marion to their pole barn the Monday before I left. That will save me a little money and make it easier for me to get to when I do return for a visit. On my last morning, Rita drove me back to St. Louis to catch my plane for the return to Peru. I was able to upgrade to first class for the Atlanta to Lima leg of the journey cheaply. It was well worth the money. They served a five course dinner with wines that would have cost more than the upgrade in most of the fancy restaurants in New York. Wish I could afford to fly that way all the time.

I mentioned in previous posts that I accomplished very little writing while I was away. Three pages on a short story was the whole of it. I guess I should consider myself lucky that I managed that much. Now that I am back, I will return to the Suitcase Murders and try to finish that novella. First I’m going to have to read it through, make myself familiar with the story again. Fortunately, I have my notes and it shouldn’t be too hard. Unfortunately, I feel like the words have left me. They float like wisps of clouds across the night time moon, disappearing over the horizon, never to return. I try to pull them back, tether them to my soul but they break free and continue their journey before I can get them on paper. I hope as I begin my routine of writing each morning again, that they will come back to me. Return like the swallows to Capistrano only to stay and bask in my literary brilliance (a polite laugh at this point is appropriate).

That’s it for this post. The photos are from the Sorghum Festival and show the process of Sorghum being made. Hope you enjoy them. Now, get up, get out and go for a walk. Now that I’m back in Lima I have returned to the gym. If an old guy like me can get out and exercise the body, so can you. Take an audio book with you and stretch you mind while you’re at it. Have a great week everyone.

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New Harmony with Sis, Time with Friends, Golf, Party Hearty, Writing

October 28th, 2012

First let me apologize for the long delay in posting to my webpage. Time with friends and family has consumed nearly every minute of my free time.  Before leaving for Carbondale Rita and I headed over to New Harmony in Indiana to bathe in the colors of the fall leaves and enjoy the ambiance of the quaint little town filled with artisans and historical architecture. We spent quite a few Saturdays or Sundays there with our Mother before she passed in 2006. The streets are lined with maple, oak, sassafras and pine trees. When the leaves change colors it is a paradise for painters who love to do landscapes. Beautiful old homes with lots of character, made of brick and wood with stunning paint jobs occupy almost every street. The town is spotless and there are small restaurants, cafes, antique shops, and galleries dotted throughout the downtown area. We enjoyed a delicious Italian meal (Calzones for me and a chicken pasta dish for Rita) at a place called “Samuels.” It was a stunning day of sunlight interspersed with large billowy clouds, a perfect day for my camera.

I headed for Carbondale on Thursday the 18th for ten days of visits with friends. My very good friends, Mona and Kelly Stevens, invited me to stay with them for the entire stay. We have traveled together for years and after all this time the feeling of family at their home includes me also. Add to that, Mona is a great cook and it was a great visit. Friday night we went to Tres Hombres in town to meet Haitham who had driven down from Chicago for the weekend to see me. While there Ali, another good friend I hadn’t seen in years and John Lindl also dropped in. The tequila flowed (mostly into me) and tall tales of the good old days were frequent.  Mona and Kelly threw a party for me on Saturday night, lots of friends showed up for a night of conversation, cocktails on the patio, good food and a glorious evening in the country. Sunday, Cyndi came and picked me up for a day of fun. We met Haitham at Harbaughs for breakfast first and I ran into Mike and Connie Solliday while we waited for a table. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to see them again. Afterwards, we bid farewell to Haitham and headed to Makanda for the Vulture Fest. That made for an unusual morning. The festival wasn’t much more than a craft fair but they did have a couple of live vultures on display. Cyndi and I wandered through the booths and a couple of antique stores before heading off to our first winery. Unfortunately, it was closed so we headed to Russell Hill for a glass before going into Carbondale so that I could run an errand. Finishing that up, we headed out to “The Bluffs,” another winery, is a theme appearing here yet?  We stayed there through the first set of a musician and then it was back to M & K’s.

Monday, Kelly and I played gold at Franklin Country Club in West Frankfort on a beautiful but windy day. Rather I should say, Kelly played golf and I swatted a little white ball around all day. The course was in great shape (although there were too many leaves on the greens) and my knees only barked back at me a little. The next day we packed up the clubs and headed to “The Gambit” to play another round. This time we were joined by Joe Melvin and John Lindl. This course was in nice condition also. Kelly and I held a joint birthday golf scramble at this course some years back. Naturally I didn’t play well but what can you expect when you only touch your golf clubs once a year. On Wednesday Mona and I went into Carbondale and had lunch with Tim and Deb, coworkers before our retirement, at The Long Branch, a vegetarian restaurant.  It’s always great to meet up with these two and talk over old and new times at Southern Illinois Healthcare. Afterwards I stopped in to see Art Hazel at his body shop.  Art is a friend I’ve had some wild times with. Baseball games to skiing in Colorado, there was no place safe from Big Dad’s Gang. From his place I stopped by Robin Krummrich’s house. Robin and I used to hang out in the good old days also. She was Catwoman to my Batman in those days as we toured the bars in Southern Illinois in my Porsche. More talk of the good old days and the people we knew. Later that evening, Mona, Kelly and I headed to her Mom’s for a family get together. Her brother Danny and his wife Michelle came in from California.

Thursday I went to Mary’s house for the afternoon/evening. I hadn’t seen her new home yet. She and her husband John have an exquisite place in the country around Bald Knob. They are putting in a large pond and have removed a lot of dead trees from an old orchard that used to surround the house. John and his son Joe fixed us venison steaks and pan fried potatoes with the hottest habaneros I’ve ever eaten. John shared his Prilosec with me so I didn’t have to worry about acid reflux after going to bed. Friday afternoon it was back to Russell Hill to meet my friend Gina, another friend who came down from Chicago to see me. Carmen, Alice, Greg, Cyndi, Laura, David and Joe also made an appearance. There was a great band playing and several of the girls had a good time dancing. The rum was poured generously and by the end of the evening I think I was just a wee bit tipsy. They closed up the winery and I headed back to Mona and Kelly’s where a birthday party was in full swing for her brother Danny. Oh the viciousness of it all. More rum followed with a few shots of tequila thrown in just to punish me.

Saturday became a recovery day and today I drove back to my Sister’s place to spend my last few days with her. I guess you all have figured out by now that NO writing was accomplished in the last 10 days. I imagine I will be back in Peru before another word is placed into any story. So my friends have a great week and I will talk back at you after I return to Lima. Exercise the body and the mind, the two things that can make a better life for you.

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