Happy On A Field Trip

I'm feeling much better, so am thinking of all I need to cram in during the (possibly) healthy weeks I have until the weather turns again. It seems I am the most unwell when the temperature shifts are forty degrees or more (say, 40 degrees at night, and 80 during the day, a frequent occurence in August, September, etc, around here. So, I'm on the lookout for fun things to do close by, so I can enjoy at least a bit of summer. Which brings me to the subject of field trips.

Remember field trips when you were a kid? Our field trips really were to fields -- where the boys would play baseball, or set off rockets, and the girls would watch them desultorily, gossip about who liked who, or talked about who was hotter, Donny Osmond or Keith Partridge (really). Then we'd all walk to Friendly's for an ice cream cone, and John Fernandez would push me and I'd fall in the gravel and skin my knee.

Thankfully, I am older now, and can do much better than that. Today, I'm planning a trip to Old Deerfield, to gawk at historic houses, take photos, in the name of research for my books. Then get a tea at Rao's in Amherst and do a little writing. Later in the week, I may go to hike Greylock or Hawley Forest, for research as well. That's one of the great things about being a writer. One always needs to do research of some sort. I really should go to Las Vegas, but that's a little much.

In any case, this week search out some fun field trips for this summer. Field trips that are educational, or physically challenging, or in other ways stimulating. Take advantage of your local heritage. If you live near Gettysburg, or a CA mission, or Mark Twain's house but never have been, what's a matta fa you? Go, and write it, draw it.

Happy Outside!!!

Since it's such a fine day, and I'm feeling tramendously sick (stupid fibro!)and onviously can't even spelllll, I suggest we take the weekend off, and just enjoy being outside. Let's cut ourselves some slack and be unapologetic about it!

Happy With a Treat

First of all, this computer is acting wierd again, so no guarantees...why I'm a day late and a dollar short. Well, I'm usually a dollar short, but that's got to change sometime, no?

In any case, the post today is about getting through one's day more happily than might otherwise be expected. I've been feeling really well these past few weeks. Inexplicably the fibro-fog has mostly lifted, and may stay away until at least mid-August when the weather changes and we have 40 degree temperature shifts all the time again. But I've not been exactly jumping for joy, as I've lost my best companion Charming, don't have Sparky to kick around, and have been plagued some days by wretched allergies. So, what do I do when I should feel happy and energetic, but don't? I give myself some treats. It's something I learned from my dogs. Treats always seem to brighten their days considerably. And, like chicken jerky, your treats don't have to cost a lot. For instance, Sunday I went to a free jazz fest down the road in Springfield, at the beautiful Armory grounds. It made me feel great! I think music festivals are the epitome of summer. Today, I'm not sure what my treat might be, but possibly some iced tea at Starbucks, ($1.67 or so) or a soak in the gym hot tub, or fresh flowers (the biggest spurge, at approx. $5.00), but they will last a week or so.

This week, treat yourself, every day if you need to, even if it's summer and the weather is perfect and your life should be perfect. Or at least make a list of all the treats you prefer, so when you're down you won't forget. Then write and draw your treats, it's almost as good as getting them.

Happy In The Rain

We are having quite a rainy summer. It has rained, it seems, every day for weeks. With breaks of sun, actually lovely weather between raindrops. But it does not bode well for outdoor activities, and one of my favorite hols, Independence Day, is coming right up, with its scads of outdoor concerts, picnics, fairs, etc. And of course, fireworks, which I adore. But I have been planning ahead, or trying to, deciding what I will do, rain or shine. And really, the rain is usually gentle warm rain, and although I'd never seek it out, would never go to live in Seattle, for instance, rain has its charms. I love sitting with a cup of tea in my studio, looking out at the tattered clouds racing by or the almost daily branching bolts of lightning. I love having an excuse to read and read, then go to a cafe and read some more. And I seem to be accomplishing quite a bit actually working, as rain is also condusive to writing, and even slogging through the editing of my book.

So, this weekend, if you're unable to enjoy any outdoor fetes, remember the pleasures of a rainy weekend. Observe your surroundings, and your comforts. Luxuriate reading in your favorite chair. Bake something. Take a long bath. Write your memories of other rainy weekends (I remember fine times in Irish pubs, and a few remarkable rainy days camping in the redwoods, as well as in Nova Scotia) Have lots of tea available while you write and draw.

Happy At the Polish Picnic

Well, it's that time again, the time of fairs and festivals. A time I truly love. Yesterday, went to the Christ the King Parish Picnic in Ludlow, MA with mom. We ate pierogi, brought some home, and listened to the Polish band play, among other things, a Cajun song I recognized from Beausoleil's catalogue. Met old friends and did some people-watching. It was fun. I hope to go to many other fairs and fests, among them, the tiny yet wonderful Heath Fair, the Hawley Pudding Contest, the Hoop City Jazz Fest, Mass Morgan Horse Show and/or the Reining Horse show. The Lowell Folk Fest is probably a no-go for me (dog care issues), but I highly recommend it, and it's FREE! And I always hope to discover others. This year, need to find more close to home (dogs and driving issues). But I am confident that I will discover fun wherever I look! As mom is fond of saying, I'm a good time girl.

So, this week, plan how you're going to have good times this summer. Get publications, look on the web, remember all the things you used to do in the summer, when you had more $ and time. Plan to do a few anyway. Then write about your anticipation! That's sometimes the best part...

Happy If You Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

Like most sentient beings in the world, I was stunned by the death of Michael Jackson. It is like the 80's died, very suddenly without warning. Being only a few years younger than the man himself, his music was huge on the soundtrack of my life. His passing made me think of many issues: fame and the devastation it has wrought in so many lives, our inadequacy to judge another person's heart, how a seemingly gentle and shy soul can also have the astounding ability to entertain, indeed to keep riveted, huge crowds of people. But what I keep coming back to is the music. I listen to more opera than pop these days-- Renee Fleming is my heartthrob now. But I love all kinds of music. I listen to polkas on Saturday mornings, go to hear bluegrass and jazz, big bands, wispy girls with guitars whenever I can. Some of my must sees are Greg Brown, Richard Thompson, BR-549, Hem, Jane Siberry, Bruce Springsteen, the Primate Fiasco, and the list goes on. But when I was in college, Michael Jackson was up there with Joan Armatrading, Roxy Music, Steely Dan. Not a dining hall dance went by without at least the vast majority of Thriller being blasted, while I Moonwalked (badly) like everyone else.

So, this weekend, start somethin' by digging out some of your old CD's, cassettes, (dare I say 8-tracks or vinyl?) and replay the soundtrack of your life. Dance around in your kitchen until you're sweaty. Remember your misspent youth. Then write it, draw it.

Happy In Your Own Time

In order to distract myself from my grief over the loss of my lovely Charming (grief which is coming in odd waves, not predictable), I went to see the new Star Trek movie. I haven't been to the movies in ages. Now I want to go to the movies every day. Only one of my remaining wonder dogs had diarrhea (in the house) while I was gone. I was only gone 2 1/2 hours. I know the dogs are grieving, too, and evidently don't want to be without me. We are spending the day together today. Maybe this is too much information.

In any case, what I started out to say was that the movie was pretty great. One of the elements was a time-travel element, common in sci-fi. It made me think about the time we live in (are there alternate times/realities? do we live in different times all at once, etc.). I really like the early 21st century, I have to say, although I am an odd combination. I am part Luddite (one who hates modern technology, from the Luddite movemebnt of 19th century England, resisting power looms to weave cloth, thereby putting many weavers out of work -- think Silas Marner). But I also kind of marvel and revel in all the technology we have, that just keeps blossoming. When I was in college, I used a typewriter. Now lots of kids in college haven't ever seen one.

So, this week, contemplate all the wonders of our world. Think of what you would do without them, and be grateful and happy that you have them. No e-mail? No wonderful blogs? No GPS? Aaaargh! Or maybe you are a Luddite, too, do without them and are thankful. However you feel, write it, draw it.