Sometime in Fall of 1998, when a visit from Dad was infrequent, and primarily at the mercy of his 88 Toyota making the 50 mile journey, I was being treated to lunch. The restaurant was my choice, I think. Sisley Italian Kitchen at the Town Center mall was somewhere my dad had not yet tried, so that was my pick. Either I was being treated to the luxury of lunch and adult conversation without my husband and 5 year old son in tow, or that's just how the moment has lodged in my memory. The more I think about it, they probably were there, but enjoying the Italian food too much to bother interrupting.

Daddy and his lady friend at the time, Ann, came up together and made a day of it with me and the family. We were eating together and talking about some of my scripts, stories, coverages, poems and other creative attempts that really were not seeing the light of day. I think I'd just finished a group reading of The Artist's Way and was in a terribly frenetic mood over my writing. I think I'd just given them an entire rundown on a speculative Star Trek script.

My Dad asked me point blank, “Why don’t you write it?? Ann agreed. It sure sounded like I wanted to write it. Why wasn't I writing seriously? It's what I'd set out to do when earning my college degree in Broadcasting many years earlier.

Heck, I should, I agreed non-verbally.

“I will.”

But, I didn’t.

Blogs can be wild, unpredictable storehouses of moments, tangents, creative dervishes, if you will. I'm getting a firmer handle on my creative cycle. My mental compost heap (which is a catch phrase from Natalie Goldman or Julia Cameron - I can't think which, right now) finally seems to be allowing a fairly regular seepage of by-products. That may be a gross analogy, but I give myself credit to categorize my work in raw terms. It proves that I'm not so much the procrastinating perfectionist that I once was.

Still, I always seem to need prompts and motivation. Being a self-starter is the next step. My attempt to keep up in the Write in Every Genre Contest at the beginning of the year seemed like a perfect point to launch the blog.

Dang. I contradict my status as 79% Geek by not being able to competently apply this link badge to my blog. Is that more of nerd thing?

I volunteered time and money once. I did not keep track. One friend wanted me too. Another explained why I'd refuse. For me at that time keeping track = work and I didn't need more work. In the end, I did what I did for as long as I could and wanted to. I no longer do as I no longer live there and no longer know whether I am needed as they don't keep in touch. Guess we've all moved on; but I haven't changed much. In the future I'll volunteer to do what I can but keeping track will probably not be a part of the contract.

I lose things around here all the time. Use to lose things in the car. Face it, I'm just lost!

I'm chatty to strangers, but tongue-tied when I want to say something important/embarrassing/emotional ...

Oh great! Next year let me know, maybe we can meet for lunch, I'm not that far!

Interesting your thoughts on music lyrics and literature as Scarlett and I are doing a writing series based on songs! We use them to stimulate our imagination/memories.

Perhaps night classes could help you gather the momentum?

Nope, I don't think it is creepy. Blogging is a way to connect, and good ones can pull you in and make you feel.

I wanted to congratulate you on being invited back to Northridge...did you go? I often wonder what it would have been like to be a college student. Oh, I took some college classes, but as an adult. You're fortunate to be a graduate.

Glad to hear of something I want to see! Thanks!

Thank you, sweet voices of wisdom. So often I write into my blog as if I'm screaming into the void. Here too is the Divine.

Tough times call for greater dreams. You go have time to make it come true!