Sitting Somewhere Not Quite on Top of the World… But Close Enough

Today was my first day “off” since we arrived on Monday. Monday was spent traveling here and getting set up in the RV park. Tuesday was spent working on client projects, as was Wednesday and Thursday. So, today was my first day of freedom!

Pops and I took a trip on the 4-wheeler up into the mountain passes. (I uploaded a slew of new photos onto the Colorado Photo Blog to go along side the few shots I made on the way into Salida.)

And, I must admit publicly that my client was right, it would have been a crime to come back out to Colorado again this year without a decent camera. That client, Alpharetta real estate agent and camera buff, Jeff Aughey, send me one of his cameras to borrow for the trip. He had to fuss for me to finally accept (He started out trying to give it to me, but I
refused and we finally agreed to a temporary loan). Now, I’m probably going to end up buying one just like this one. It’s a tiny little “fit in the palm of your hand” Cannon with 7.1 megapixels. It’s wonderful. I had to call Jeff tonight to tell him that he was right and how much I appreciated the loan. (Thanks again, Jeff!) Continue reading

Soul Searching and Selecting My Cause – The Sorry State of Education in Russell County and Throughout Kentucky

The retreat is going well, although the last three days have been spent working, even though I’d planned only to work Tuesdays and Thursdays through this month, while on retreat. I need to spend the majority of my time writing, researching and coming to some conclusions.

But, when a client has a crisis — what’s a good girl to do?

So now, after stomping the multiple client fires, I’m ready to settle in. And, in between work hours today, I chatted with Pops a bit. About my future, the direction of my career and the fact that I don’t really know if I’m more afraid of success or failure if I pursue a fiction writing path.

The fact is, I’m had alot of pretty lofty goals in my life. And, I’ve reached almost all of them thusfar… Continue reading

Settling in Salida, Colorado – My Writer’s Retreat Begins

We arrived in Salida yesterday. This morning, after finally getting some sleep, we both felt like we had been hit by a train. I’d forgotten how wonderful it is to be old, fat and at a high altitude all at the same time. Whew!

But, catching glimpses of the snow capped mountains and being surrounded bythis spring-time majesty … well it makes labored breathing and even breathlessness completely worthwhile. It’s simply stunning here.

I hope this will provide the environment I need to enjoy a productive writing retreat. It couldn’t have come at a better time, immediately following both the writers conference and the trip to Asheville (an emersion in history tour). All the recent events have served to make me feel quite inspired. Continue reading

My Father Turns 60!

This is a long distance “Happy Birthday” wish for my Pops, who turned 60 years old today. His birthday wish was to climb to the top of his favorite Colorado peak today — Taylor Mountain.

Since he will be gone all day, I’m posting his birthday greeting here for when he returns.

Birthday card with image of Taylor Mountain, Colorado

TAYLOR MOUNTAIN, COLORADO

I hope it was a wonderful day!

Love you,
Angela, Wayne, Alex and Abby

Mountaintops and a Day to Write

Today I spent in all the glory of nature. Today I had several hours to write and dream and plan beside a sparkling, cold crystal mountain stream.

Pops and I picked up my sister and her husband at the Denver airport yesterday and we all went exploring today.

I was a bit concerned about getting too high without a week to acclimate, so Alex and I took a tent and selected a site at just at 10k feet to spend the day. Continue reading