Vacation report

[deborahjross]

Pics are in the works.

I just spent 2 heavenly weeks in a cottage on a private beach between LA and San Diego. The first week I was alone, except for one night when an old college friend visited. My days were quiet, uncluttered (small, simple vegetarian meals, no internet or other distractions), filled with long walks, reading and napping and writingWRITINGwriting (7 chapters! whee!)

Second week, manawolf and otana joined me (along with another person, from my LA writers group days, but she only stayed a couple of days). It was even more lovely. We cooked together, were silent together, talked and walked and poked around the tidepools.

I'm calling it the magic vacation. Not only did I get a tremendous amount of writing done, but also:
I lost weight.
Several nagging joint problems got significantly better.
When I sat down at the piano upon arriving home, my hands did amazing things (that's good amazing, not bad amazing) after 2 weeks of non-practice.
I'm still sleeping way better than before.

And... an email with exciting publishing news. Not sure I should blab, so leave it at "exciting publishing news." More Will Be Revealed.

Comments

[manifestress.livejournal.com]

Lovely to read this post!

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

When shared, joys are multiplied and sorrows divided, yes?

[lingster1.livejournal.com]

Wonderful what a getaway will do for the muse's mood, isn't it?

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes! For so many years, I fought for time to write. At the beach house, when the kids were little, we'd all go down in the afternoon. Then, when everyone was busy with sand castles and tide pools, I'd sneak back up, shower, and have a blissful hour or so to write before they returned. Now I have whole days!

[tcastleb.livejournal.com]

Oh good! Glad you got to get away for a while and that it went so well.

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

I hadn't realized how badly I needed it until I'd unwound enough.

I approve of vacations.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

It sounds lovely. And yay exciting news!

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Lovely, yes, and productive and deeply renewing.

[equesgal.livejournal.com]

Sorry I couldn't make it (if there was even still an opening for me! LOL) but I've been busy making coffee at my new job. Can't wait to hear your news.

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

I missed you, but that's life. Yet, I enjoyed being alone so much that I see this evolving into primarily a personal retreat.

Hope the new job is going well. Me, I manage to burn coffee. But occasionally I like it, so it might be worth learning to make it properly.

[rosehelene.livejournal.com]

Me, I manage to burn coffee.

That's what french press is for. :)

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

I thought French press was an exercise for the triceps...

[rosehelene.livejournal.com]

French press :) No burning required.

Vacation

[stellatangdele.livejournal.com]

That's exactly the type of vacation I enjoy. No traveling great distances and rushing around to do as much as possible for me. Just a change of pace, a restful environment, friends, healthy food, and time to do what I want free of the usual distractions and duties.

Re: Vacation

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Yes indeed. I'm wondering how we get so overloaded in the first place. Shouldn't our "ordinary" days be like that??