Last night was the first total lunar eclipse of 2014. It was also the first luna roja, blood moon.
We knew it was about to happen, and had just put the finishing touches on a little graphic to celebrate this stunning celestial phenomenon, which we posted on our Mayan Calendar Facebook page. What we didn't expect was the speed with which the image would race around the world:
Climate change. That was the topic for the "Musing of the Moment" of the January issue of my eLetter "The Muse." Like all of my musing moments, it was written from the heart, with reflection and respect. Some of the people subscribed to the eLetter routinely email me back after every issue to send words of support, thanks, encouragement, and sometimes simply their thoughts and ruminations.
On Christmas Day 2013, my usually clear head began to fog up. No, it wasn't writer's block, nor was I in a Tesla showroom (although I would happily fog up for Tesla Motors any day!).
It was the beginning of a tenacious demon of a sinus headache and cough. The fact that it's flu season, and that we're having a whooping cough epidemic here in California, immediately registered, but was instantly overridden by a determination to cure my body my way—i.e., naturally, without antibiotics.
Because last year, I ended up taking them.
When is the truth truly free?
On June 9, 2013, news shot around the world that NSA sub-contractor Edward Snowden was the person who leaked information about the agency’s secret surveillance activities to the media.
Author John Assaraf once said, "If you don't value your time, nobody else will."
I don't know about you, but the older I get, the more intensely I value my time. To the extent possible, I choose to do things I deem fulfilling, productive, useful, or enjoyable. I'm not afraid to say "no thank you". I think twice about the movies I watch and articles I read, I think more than twice about the events I attend and prospective clients I meet, and I place spending time with my family & friends, travel, and writing at the very top of the list.
The tropics. Hot hot sun, exotic fruits, amazing local food, plenty of wildlife and songbirds, a hammock swinging in the breeze, cool drink in your hand… what more could a writer want for inspiration?
We writers have never had it better, easier, or more convenient to write. Laptops are lighter, smaller, thinner, faster and more powerful than ever before. We can write anywhere, anytime. We can send entire manuscripts to our editors from anywhere in the world instantly—assuming wi-fi of course.
Note: This is a copy of my post that appears on the Pen Parentis blog.
First things first: a big warm thanks to Milda De Voe, Executive Director of the Pen Parentis literary organization in New York, for enthusiastically embracing the idea of blogging from the field as my family and I embark on a 2-month-long trip in Colombia.
December 21, 2012. Winter Solstice. End of the current cycle of the Mayan Long Count calendar. Storied date. Inspiration for countless movies and documentaries. Source of much fear, panic, concern, and ridicule but also hope, renewal, transition, and inspiration.
That's a lot of pressure on one ride around the sun. I wonder if the other planets in our solar system are feeling a bit left out because they don't have their own December 21... but then, even if they did, there wouldn't be anyone around to be impressed by it.
