a good, strange week

Bob's work schedule was thrown awry this week; only now am I aware it's Friday.  For days life has been this odd collection of him sleeping while I work, then a few scattered hours of shared consciousness.  I accomplished plenty of work; publishing Memories of Home was a thrill, also wrapping up iPod edits on September Story.  Some exciting issues are swirling with that novel, which I will note in upcoming entries.  That was part of the goodness; the strange bit was Bob's altered hours, and rain that fell Wednesday and Thursday.  Awful to admit, but rain in California, especially this late into winter, is just weird.

Also good, but not enough has fallen to enliven our dull-gray hills.  One of the driest years in our recent West Coast tenure (which will hit the five-year mark at the end of this month, dude!), also one of the driest years in California, period.  Nothing good about drought, nothing overly surprising about it either.  California's unpredictable weather usually veers to the sunnier side of life.  My life's pretty sunny too, new book out, another coming next month, summer-like temps forecast for this weekend.  Life is never what it seems to be, always something random around the corner, also beautiful.  Someone is always coming along, handing blessings and treasures, all I have to do is stick out my hands.

Another blessing; I had two covers to choose from (thank you Brian!).  This photo was taken by yours truly AGES ago, from the barnyard of my childhood home, looking west.  When I was younger, dreaming of being a writer, I passed time by snapping clouds, actual film used to capture landscapes.  Who knew years later those photos would be utilized?  The book's actual cover was also my shot of a field across from our ranch, a little bit of trivia for you...

Many years ago, when I was so much younger, I wanted to be a writer, but had little discipline or ambition.  I have cultivated those necessary assets, and I possess a fertile imagination, no issues there.  But not everything in one's daily walk can be planned for, no matter how diligent or prepared we are.  Why this week was good, but strange; I was bowled over by courtesy and kindnesses, even in the rain.  Now it's sunny, will get warmer.  Then a little cooler, but Bob's apricot tree has blossoms, I have spider plants dying to be repotted.  Spring (or really mild summer) is nearly here in my neck of the woods, and I feel that rapturous glow all around.

May this weekend bring you happiness and joyful surprises, rain or shine!  (And plenty of words if you need them...)