April 2023

Saturday, April 1, 2023

Our pub pretty much won April Fool’s Day last year with the launch of our helium beer, so the pressure was on …

… but we were up to the challenge!

I planned to go to the pub for 8pm just to see who would show up expecting this show to happen, but instead my boyfriend (the sexy one in the picture) left work early.

The lady customers were already getting grabby and asking for pre-shows. He figured he was safer watching a movie with us.

Sunday, April 2, 2023

I’ll turn 43 this month. Being middle-aged is the best! I have the confidence, life experience and resources to do practically anything I want.

For example: I had no problem hitching up my tent trailer and moving it. I set the whole thing up myself.

But I also asked my dad to charge the battery for me, and when I wasn’t sure how the wires should connect I SOS-ed my mechanic friend.

Being forty (aka wise) means I’m capable of doing things myself, but also smart & humble enough to ask for help when I need it.

For the record: the RED wires are the positive ones. They have the fuses attached. Which means the white wire is the negative one.

Monday, April 3, 2023

I swung by the Columbia Basin Trust’s community open house today.

The Columbia Basin Trust manages the money that our area receives from the 1961 USA-Canadian Columbia River Treaty and the subsequent construction of dams along the river.

These dams had some devastating impacts socially, culturally and environmentally. For example: our salmon aren’t able to come home.

BUT: these dams also continue to bring in a LOT of money from power generation.

This means my little town of Invermere (and other Columbia Basin communities) is rolling in grant funding.

The CBT hosts these open houses to gauge local priorities to help them distribute the money. So I studied the gorgeous infographics, filled out the questionnaire, advocated for arts/music/writing funding at the photo booth, and said “thank you!” for the writing grant I received in the video booth.

Then I took a beautiful stainless steel souvenir coffee mug and delivered it to my mom.

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

I’m able to read music and play the clarinet, drums and ukulele because when I was growing up in Invermere we had INCREDIBLE music teachers at the elementary and high school level.

These days, I practice my repertoire of ukulele songs at the beach and playgrounds while my kiddo frolics, and every Tuesday I play my clarinet as part of the Second Winds community band.

We no longer have music at the high school level in Invermere. Our elementary music program is patchwork and rudimentary.

This makes me sad because not only are these kids not learning to read music or play an instrument, they also aren’t experiencing that humbling, exhilarating feeling of being a small part of something bigger.

Our spoiled, entitled Gen Z kids could really use a positive, humbling experience.

When I practice my clarinet at home, it’s nothing special. But when I play as one part in an orchestra, when my clarinet takes its turn playing the melody and the background notes, it’s magical.

Saturday, April 8, 2023

My dad’s a Baby Boomer and his whole life he’s been on the forefront of trends, because whatever he’s going through or needing, a whole bunch of other folks his age are in the same boat.

Millenials/Zennials may have invented the term “tastemaker,” but the Baby Boomers lived it. For the Boomers savvy enough to notice the coming wave, they could invest early and ride that wave to their own million-dollar private beach.

I’m a Xennial/Elder Millenial, aka a Baby Boomer Boomer: a child of that generation’s boom. My generation is approaching menopause (invest now in hand-held fans!). Some of us are deciding we don’t want/need to drink as much (ahem non-alcoholic options).

So often these days I’m realizing my generation is no longer society’s mainstream: middle-aged models aren’t in the commercials; every webinar I attend is hosted by a Millenial. It’s comforting to know that we 40-somethings still have some power, due to our numbers.

Sunday, April 9, 2023

Today I tried really hard to stay away from the computer and all my to-dos, and just revel in doing Eastery things with my kiddo.

When he walked over to visit his grandparents I couldn’t resist preparing my tax documents.

And then there were the dishes to wash, and two pies to make …

We don’t spend as much time together doing fun things as we used to, and that’s kinda for the best: he’s increasingly independent and I’m encouraging him to do more things with his kid friends.

But then I notice I haven’t actually looked at my kid for days, we haven’t made eye contact, or that I’m being too critical of him instead of just supporting and enjoying him.

We have a fun adventure coming up next weekend and we need it.

Monday, April 10, 2023

I spend much of my time writing, but I wonder (constantly!) if those novels are any good or if I should just stop this foolishness and get “a real job” so I’m not broke as a senior citizen.

This is the plight of the (as yet) unpublished author.

I’m tempted to pause writing this third novel just so I can get more submissions out into the world. Submitting my novels to agents and publishers hasn’t been a priority: I love writing best.

But all my life choices would be validated if I had an agent or publisher who believed in my books and my writing abilities as much as I do.

In the meantime: today I’ll cook two turkeys for Easter dinner. Turkey is one of my favourite things to cook, because it involves math and makes the house smell tasty.

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Sometimes a “good mom” doesn’t go in to watch the judo class.

My kid was reluctant. He listed many reasons why he should skip his judo class.

I made him go so he could sit on the sidelines and learn any new moves. I made him wear his judo pants. I packed his gi, belt and water bottle.

And once we were there, I told him I had an errand to run and would be right back.

Instead of watching my kid’s judo class, I drank to-go tea and sewed in the car. Because I knew the senseis would get him onto the mat, and I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist joining the games and matches.

I went in 5 minutes before the end of class to find my kid smiling and sweaty.

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

I woke up at 4am on my birthday with a sharp, twisting pain in my gut.

Instead of the osteo session to fix my tendinitis, the three hour hair appoinment and the decadent oysters & champagne dinner I’d planned, I spent the day trying not to die on our couch.

The final mistake of my 42nd year was drinking tequila on an empty stomach. Boy, did I pay for that one.

The one silver lining: I spent 24 hours NOT working, NOT being productive or feeling any pressure to be productive. The dishes, the laundry, my various work to-dos, my kiddo spending too much time staring at a screen: nothing mattered.

It was a weird freedom.

Thursday, April 13, 2023

Thank goodness I feel better today: we’re heading to the airport!

Our visits to my Vancouver bestie and his fiance are always laidback. We’ll do fun city things but also have plenty of time just to lounge around the house. So I’m bringing my book notes and have good intentions of adding to my word count.

It’s a little writing retreat, only I’m bringing my kid along …

Friday, April 14, 2023

Success!! With a hot cup of fancy loose leaf tea, my friend’s wifi password and a silent house, I surpassed 31,000 words.

These quiet, calm mornings to focus on my story start the day right. I can relax and enjoy people & activities for the rest of the day, knowing my novel is progressing.

I wonder if it’s possible to write like this at home …

Saturday, April 15, 2023

I made peace with not reuniting with my friend A.J. Devlin this visit, given the distance between Port Moody and North Vancouver, but I was determined to buy a copy of his new book, Five Moves of Doom.

Unfortunately, we encountered only one bookstore during our touristy wanderings, and that particular Chapters only had A.J.’s second book in stock. Foiled!!

I will have to order it online. Ideally with a personal inscription.

Sunday, April 16, 2023

Our Vancouver visits are all about giving my rural kiddo new experiences. We adults brainstorm things he’s never seen or done, like Science World or raw oysters or frothy orange juice at brunch.

This time, we visit the Vancouver Aquarium … but also expose him to frozen yogurt. Zack loves seafood as much as we do, so we try new sushi and dim sum restaurants.

In the city, I see a million people staring at their cell phones, ignoring reality. This makes me so sad. Here they are surrounded by unlimited new experiences every day, and instead they stand or sit like zombies, staring at their TikToks.

Monday, April 17, 2023

I love British Columbia. I’ve lived half my life in the mountains, half my life on Vancouver Island, and roadtripped all over the middle: this province is stunning.

I want my books to make British Columbia proud. I want readers to LONG to visit these beautiful places. Someday someday, people will tour the Columbia Valley and the Cowichan so they can see the real places I write about. They’ll walk and drive my characters’ routes. They’ll go for lunch at the restaurants where I set my scenes.

The hardest part is remembering to describe these places so that readers can imagine them: beautiful views are so routine in my life that I forget not everyone has seen places like this.

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

We travelled home Monday by Seabus, Skytrain, airplane, shuttle and SUV …

and my head felt foggier and foggier.

By the time I pulled into our driveway, I knew I had a head cold.

April 18 and 19 were a blur of Kleenexes, chicken soup and naps.

Thursday, April 20, 2023

My kiddo got a taste of fame today: his producer from Shaw Spotlight invited him (us) to a volunteer appreciation lunch, and then tooks us on a three hour hike up to the hoodoos to show us some filming tips.

Zack got to hold the fancy microphone and feel like a star.

I love seeing him get closer to his little kid dreams.

Want to watch some of his videos? Check out Outdoor Kid Adventures on YouTube.

Friday, April 21, 2023

I follow oodles of writers and agents on Instagram, as one does, and it’s starting to corrode my self confidence.

This book deal, that award … I’m happy for these writers and proud of the ones I know personally, but ughhhhhhh I feel left behind.

It’s my own fault: I haven’t prioritized submitting my books to agents and publishers. That’s kinda a key step in getting published.

So today I left my manuscript alone and used my limited computer time to query an agent. I’ll tackle a few more on my list this weekend.

I hate not writing. But I’m sick of being undiscovered, and the only way to change that is to change how I spend my time.

Saturday, April 22, 2023

My brain/soul is hungry for intellectual stimulation so I watched Adaptation again last night & did the NYT sudoku this morning.

I’m longing for conversations where words matter. Otherwise, what’s the point of knowing all these fancy words and having this literary knowledge?

• Ameliorate
• Pedantic
• Anthropomorphic
• Russian Formalism

Today on our hike a 9-year-old explained his version of the 1st law of thermodynamics and it sounded a lot like the Heart of Gold’s infinite improbability drive … but I don’t have anyone in my life who would understand that.

I’m craving a tribe. In 2023, where do we find our people??

Monday, April 24, 2023

ProWriting Aid is offering a free crime writers’ week online starting today: daily webinars (archived on YouTube) about writerly things! 

The speakers include Sophie Hannah, one of my favourite people.

I sent the link out to all my crime writing buddies, big and small. 

AND: this week I am spending my limited computer/free time researching agents & sending out queries. It’s a lot like dating. I read the agents’ bios and look for things we have in common: will this person understand me? Will they support my goals? Will we laugh together?

Then I hit “send” and hope they like me back.

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

I was double booked on Tuesday … and when one thing was cancelled, I ditched the second to listen to a live string band instead.

My sweetie and I were lured by Vincie’s delicious pizza & the promise of a live fiddle to see the Lonesome Ace Stringband at our local arts centre. 

My favourite song was “Praying for Rain” (or something like that), about the B.C. wildfires: it’s not listen-able yet online, but should be on their fall 2023 album.

It’s been awhile since I heard folk music: I forgot how much I love the politics & storytelling. Our normal household soundrack is pop music, which is fun to dance to but only 1-2 dimensional.