Beach report
Aug. 30th, 2005 08:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deborahjrossIf I keep putting this off, I'll be off to Cascadiacon in Seattle and then have 2 reports to do. So here are some highlights, or lowlights, as the case may be.
The journey started with a near-crisis. I was to meet up with Denise, and most of the way there, my car engine overheated and died. I was able to get off the freeway and coast to a stop near a car wash, where the entire staff of Hispanic workers, having ascertained I was indeed in trouble, gleefully pushed me across a busy intersection and into an Office Depot parking lot, where I could safely inspect the damage. Only one or two spoke any English, but they were full of smiles and refused to take any payment for their help. Then a couple in the parking lot helped me calm down enough to figure out that the radiator was bone dry and the car, once rehydrated, would start. Denise very nicely came to where I was, and after discussing the situation with the store manager (who pointed out that since there was no towing signage, he couldn't and wouldn't have my car towed). I did an okay job putting thoughts of permanent damage to the engine out of my mind, and off we went.
cut out 400 miles of driving. Arrive in Culver City, get lost, find motel. Next morning, with Sarah and household, and Rose arrived from spending a week with family friends up by Mt. Baldy. Everyone out to breakfast at Sarah's fave Frenchplace. Somehow got ourselves extricated and all down to Laguna.
Everything is always different, and once I let go of expectations, I got to see the new and interesting rhythm of the week. I didn't get nearly as much writing done this week as in others in the past, but I did other things. Denise and I would get up before anyone else, got into separate corners to write in our journals, then take a long walk together before breakfast. Went to the beach most days, played in the surf, swam, went boogie-boarding. Did not snorkel, as on the days when the water was clear and waves gentle, I forgot my gear, and when I brought my gear, the waves were rough and water murky. Sigh.
I did finish the outline for CHILDREN OF KINGS, and 10-12 pages of SEVEN-PETALED SHIELD, and serious noodling with the YA series. So, a good but not spectacular week. If I look at what I did, flowing with alone/together time, rest and exercise and reading and ocean, I'm very pleased.
We won't talk about the drive back. LAX to San Luis Obispo was like a parking lot. I was so wound up that by the time I got home, it took me hours to fall asleep. But my car still had water in it, it started and ran, and at an appropriate temp, and has a date with the local mechanical genius on Thurs. He's going to sort it out while I'm in Seattle.
Lest this be too much a recitation of itinerary, I missed my lovely husband and it was good to be home, appreciating each other. Sunday was Quaker meeting and laundry; Monday walking & Pilates & piano. Today, work and kid schlepping. tomorrow, getting ready for Seattle and more kid schlepping. One of my coworkers is having back problems and needs me to fill in later in Sept when she has an epidural. Such is life.
The journey started with a near-crisis. I was to meet up with Denise, and most of the way there, my car engine overheated and died. I was able to get off the freeway and coast to a stop near a car wash, where the entire staff of Hispanic workers, having ascertained I was indeed in trouble, gleefully pushed me across a busy intersection and into an Office Depot parking lot, where I could safely inspect the damage. Only one or two spoke any English, but they were full of smiles and refused to take any payment for their help. Then a couple in the parking lot helped me calm down enough to figure out that the radiator was bone dry and the car, once rehydrated, would start. Denise very nicely came to where I was, and after discussing the situation with the store manager (who pointed out that since there was no towing signage, he couldn't and wouldn't have my car towed). I did an okay job putting thoughts of permanent damage to the engine out of my mind, and off we went.
cut out 400 miles of driving. Arrive in Culver City, get lost, find motel. Next morning, with Sarah and household, and Rose arrived from spending a week with family friends up by Mt. Baldy. Everyone out to breakfast at Sarah's fave Frenchplace. Somehow got ourselves extricated and all down to Laguna.
Everything is always different, and once I let go of expectations, I got to see the new and interesting rhythm of the week. I didn't get nearly as much writing done this week as in others in the past, but I did other things. Denise and I would get up before anyone else, got into separate corners to write in our journals, then take a long walk together before breakfast. Went to the beach most days, played in the surf, swam, went boogie-boarding. Did not snorkel, as on the days when the water was clear and waves gentle, I forgot my gear, and when I brought my gear, the waves were rough and water murky. Sigh.
I did finish the outline for CHILDREN OF KINGS, and 10-12 pages of SEVEN-PETALED SHIELD, and serious noodling with the YA series. So, a good but not spectacular week. If I look at what I did, flowing with alone/together time, rest and exercise and reading and ocean, I'm very pleased.
We won't talk about the drive back. LAX to San Luis Obispo was like a parking lot. I was so wound up that by the time I got home, it took me hours to fall asleep. But my car still had water in it, it started and ran, and at an appropriate temp, and has a date with the local mechanical genius on Thurs. He's going to sort it out while I'm in Seattle.
Lest this be too much a recitation of itinerary, I missed my lovely husband and it was good to be home, appreciating each other. Sunday was Quaker meeting and laundry; Monday walking & Pilates & piano. Today, work and kid schlepping. tomorrow, getting ready for Seattle and more kid schlepping. One of my coworkers is having back problems and needs me to fill in later in Sept when she has an epidural. Such is life.
