An unusual writing day

Gwen is coming this morning to write. She didn't come on Tuesday as the fella and I needed that day to get ready for his departure the next morning. Yesterday that is. He is off on the adventure and I will follow in two months.

My adventure so far will be managing the house and all the closing up details - like insurance, and who will look in on it and should we have a renter, a house-sitter or leave it empty - all three having their ups and downs - but that is for my other blog - Living the Complicated Simple Life. I'm trying to figure out how to maintain my writing life as well.

Here's the deal - I don't have my computer - I shipped it out with the fella as I can't take it on the plane later. So I'm on the fella's computer which will stay here. And I'm at his desk cuz my office is a shit-storm. This one is too but I just can't move all this STUFF that has cables and so forth on it - too crazy. I can't find the power cord for my little note book so I can't use it - not that I would for writing unless I attached another keyboard as it is too compressed. I can't get the printer to work. I have all my files on an external drive and that's fine but I haven't opened them yet. The keyboard is on the desk which is already giving my hands pain - too high. Whine whine whine. And it is 8 o'clock in the morning!

So ... dear pals ... I need to make some deadlines or I'll fritter my time away fussing.  I have two months minus 10 days when I'll be at a family gatilly in Ontario. What's a gatilly? It is a yeehaw or a friendly fracas or a shindig. You know - party on dude! Me and my sibs are gathering with as many youngsters and cousins and so forth at a big ole 'cottage' (ha ha - way nicer than any house I've lived in) in Prince Edward County. Wine country. Lie around and play scrabble country. Visit with my bro and his wife who live far north country ... catch up with my dear sis and make plans country. Okay I digress but you get the idea - not writing country! Maybe I'll gather some material for a book though - travel does that to me.

So fifty days give or take a few. What could I accomplish?
I'd like to get a reading copy of Bright Angel for my best pal to take to the cottage. She's a second reader for me and that is always a good time for her to do it. Not sure if it is ready though. That would need to be done later on today if she's going to take it or I could copy it and bring it up to her when I go next week for my one day summer holiday at Green Bay.

I'd like to do about twenty or so more pages on Lost and Gone Forever - my new play. It's a silly thing - a frippery - but I'm quite caught up in the story line and I think it could be a whack of fun. If I get a good chunk of it organized it might be something I could use in North West River to work with a new group as well as figure out when we'll mount it here in Prospect.

I think I could devote three hours a day to writing. My clientele is down as it always is in August and I won't be trying to perk it up for September as I wind down my practice here. I have lots of organizing etc... to do but surely that won't take up all my time! I only have the pooch to take care of and although I already miss the lad like anything I AM going to be able to keep this place pretty sparkly with no one about to undo my attempts. ahem.

I also should send out some poems that have wandered back unloved. I still have about five or six out awaiting word but my promise was to keep them flowing and I've let that down. I have charts and systems so that isn't difficult.

So here goes:

Bright Angel : by the end of my time here I will have

• done the next revision making the changes that my beat sheet inspired
• have copies sent to my secondary readers 

Lost and Gone Forever: by the end of my time here I will have

• written 60 pages (of 75)
• checked out when we will mount it in Prospect and helped find the cast and crew

Poetry: by the end of my time here I will have

• re-sent out all ready poems
• sent my newest ready poem to The New Yorker cuz why not?