Windmill Musings

This weekend was about disconnecting and relaxing before the slow reintroduction to my career and "real" life. It was also about doing a little writing, distraction-free.  Well, I've had enough distractions to halt my writing until a little earlier today.  I realized I have a lot of rewriting to do in my first 8 eight chapters (well, 7 and 8 are okay, but 1-6 need some big improvements). However, there is one little section I'm willing to share to the world as it is.  Here's a little excerpt from the novel/story I'm trying to finish. It's about a third way there.  I hope you enjoy the very small peak into my story. From The Secret of The Windmill, Tiffany Pereira, publication date TBD... It took almost 20 minutes to get to the dam, which was located on the west side of town. I walked over to the red car and then to the gurney.  Lifting the sheet off the face, I was expecting to see Diane Clemmons. What I saw though confused me. "Detective Davis, ...

What makes you take action on something? Its a good question for all of us. We all have something in us that is awakened to propel us to do something about something - when the day before we might not have even thought to lift a finger. But what is that thing? What is our individual "prompt" that makes us actually take action? Is it anger or desire or determination or harsh words from someone or a thoughtful conversation with someone or, or, or...??? I know our prompts are different from someone else's, and it can vary from situation to situation. But the one I'm finding most often during this time of Covid-19 is that of anger. It is all around me right now. I'm doing my best to diffuse it - but when you are dealing with differing perspectives, its a landmine to carefully walk through. Not just a thin line but a land mine! But it is an emotion that is valid - not taken too far, of course. Its okay to be angry. Its ok to seek a way to vent and that way can be a...

...are 2 words that I've come to find important together or on their own during this time of "stay-in-place." I've also learned that though it means something different to everyone, it is something that is necessary for EVERYONE.  SELF Merriam-Websters Dictionary defines self in over 12 ways depending on which form of the eight parts of speech you are talking about (noun, verb, adverb, adjective, etc). But my favorite is this one: " :  the union of elements (such as body, emotions, thoughts, and sensations) that constitute the individuality and identity of a person." We are each our own selves; there is no one like us though we at times say things like "you remind me of (insert name)," or "you're just like your father/mother/etc." We may be like them but we are our own person. There has been or will not be another one of our person ever on this planet again with every single attribute, likes, dislikes, desires, gifts, body, mind,...

I had a day yesterday. Well, guess it started the previous evening. You know, what some people have been calling the "Covid-19 Blues." Yeah, I finally got them. Luckily, it was only for a day - but it ended up surprisingly productive for such a depressive 24 hours. I started to think of all the things I HADN'T DONE in the last 50 days of quarantine. I hadn't kept up with some work things; I hadn't checked in with students enough, or at all; I hadn't finished a story, or poem or book; I hadn't found an essential job during this time; I hadn't helped enough; I hadn't read enough, studied enough, learned enough with the free time; I hadn't lost enough weight; I hadn't done enough self-care; I hadn't prayed enough; I hadn't reached out enough to people; I hadn't, I hadn't, I hadn't! And this is me. I go to the worst possible thoughts first. I see the flaws in myself first. I'm certain a lot of you are like me, some o...