Foundling

Uh-oh. While driving home from school yesterday, there was a little dog wandering in the middle of the street, nearly getting hit as he was clearly clueless with zero street savvy. I stopped in the road, turning on my flashers, halting the traffic behind me (yes, I've done this before!) but was so close that I could no longer see the little dog and an impatient driver behind me passed in the right lane and my heart jumped into my throat! However, as I tried to get a glimpse of the dog, a car in the oncoming lane stopped beside me, and the older male driver, with an indulgent smile, kindly said "open your door." Sure enough, I opened my door and this little guy hopped into my outstretched hands!

I drove the rest of the way home with the dog kissing my arm and snuggled into my lap. Of course, I immediately posted "Found Dog" on craigslist and created some flyers. When DH got home, we drove down to that neighborhood and taped flyers for a couple blocks around the area where I'd found the dog. However, I received no phone calls, and this morning when I called the shelters to give them a "found dog" notice for their records, they'd had no inquiries. Really?! How can someone NOT be missing this charming fellow?!

Rhetoric and Bits

a canopy of citrus trees on the UA campus

This semester's English Comp teacher is intensely focused upon rhetoric; he's clearly passionate about the art of persuasion. Me? Not so much. I'd rather share a perspective than try to cleverly convince someone of my view. (In full disclosure, I'm thinking that my distrust of classic rhetoric probably stems from spending nearly twenty years as a secretary to attorneys.) Supposedly, there is no such thing as conversation without rhetoric, but then that depends upon how one defines it, yes? That said, I am happy to learn about rhetoric and to figure out how it fits into my own writing style.

Coincidentally, this morning I was listening to one of Krista Tippett's On Being podcasts and it mentioned rhetoric in the context of science, and how scientific rhetoric can express lack of appropriate humility in light of our vast ignorance as we creep along learning bit-by-bit. The podcast is titled "The Mystery We Are," which can be heard HERE, and is a facilitated dialogue between Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marilynne Robinson and Professor of Physics Marcelo Gleiser. This is a fascinating conversation!

Finally, for those of you who like my freestyle metaphorical writing, a new piece called Leaf on the Wind is over On the Gaia Path...

Digging Up Character

One fun thing about writing a novel is the ability to explore all kinds of personalities, lifestyles, and occupations. I've mentioned before that my current fictional WIP has been morphing and expanding. With that evolution, I found myself diving further into the history of the protagonist's parents. I mean, maybe other writers do it differently (probably do), but I find it difficult to flesh out my lead character without knowing her past and the ghosts that may be haunting her.

In addition, since I'm envisioning this story as the first in a series, I want to start as I mean to continue, and that, for me, means understanding the forces that drive the characters.

This first book is seated in the "father story" of the protagonist. I didn't intend it to be this way, it just happened as I moved deeper into the storyline. With that in mind, I'm not only reading some psychology books on fathers and daughters--Daughters of Saturn, Leaving My Father's House, The Wounded Woman--I'm also reading some books that focus upon the career I gave the lead's father, including this one called Accidental Archeologist.

The previous two novels I've written were not as complex as this one, and I am enjoying the challenge--a challenge that would have sunk me earlier on.

This coming week, my second semester at UA starts, but for now … on with story-building!

Healthy Finger Food

Roasted Chick Peas, Sliced Yams, Asparagus, and Kale

This is one of my favorite easy dishes for dinner. It serves two purposes: dinner and snacking! Now, granted, my husband isn't as fond of it as I am, but since I'm the cook, I decide, and sometimes that means we eat what I'm craving. The roasted chick peas are seasoned with a masala specific to easing the dry, cold Vata-deranging season of winter, while the yams offer sweetness. The kale and asparagus are rubbed with olive oil and tossed in at the very end of the roasting period. YUM!