Thoughts of a Physical Nature

Jim Hines wrote a very interesting post on body image last week, which you can locate under this link. I have very little to add, because I think a whole bunch of angles on the subject have been discussed over at Jim’s place. Of course, leave it to me to find a tangent in here somewhere.

This week, I am a bachelorette for three days, while my husband runs off to blow things up camp a science teacher workshop. I’m usually the one that runs away from home on him. I expect the cats and I to have an off kilter week. Further twilight zone experiences will result for the next couple of weeks, because Bryon has foot surgery on Friday, and then he’s laid up for a bit.

One of the things this means is that I’ll be going to the gym alone pretty much for the foreseeable future.

Jim’s post got me thinking about the concept of healthy. Many people on the post agreed that regardless of your BMI, what’s important is healthy. I did some serious thinking about my physical condition. Am I healthy?

Well, no. I’m not. In April, a mad dash through the Minneapolis airport left me sounding like an emphysema victim. I can’t lift much with my arms. I can’t do many push ups (any?).

I don’t eat right all the time. Much of the time, yes, but ask me about ice cream and the Amana colonies in spontaneous color this weekend.

Being healthy is harder when you are sedentary. As a writer, I am generally not keyboarding and treadmilling at the same time. As an ELA coordinator, I sit at my desk, a lot more than if I were just teaching.

Teaching isn’t exactly aerobic. Yes, the soul search revealed two things. I need to move more, and I need to eat better.

It’s not because I want to be thin. It’s because I want to be able to dash across the Minneapolis airport. It’s because strong bones and muscles are much less likely to lose mass in my old age. It’s because I want to have more energy and pep.

And I want to eat better for many of the same reasons. As much as I love ice cream, brownies, and chocolate, these things are meant to be eaten in moderation, if not sparingly. Water and vegetables, lean protein, the things that make us run better. You know, nutrition?

How do you eat? How do you work out? How do you weight train? I guess I have to put my amazing grad school/author research skills to work for my body, because another benefit of healthy is longevity.

I’ll let you know how this all works out in regard to weight. I suspect I know the answer, but since my emphasis will be on eating well, and not on portion control, I’m curious.

In the spirit of my new philosophy, I ran for the first time today. For leisure. Since 1987. Yup, still Wheezy.

Do you all move? How do you get your heart rate up? Do you lift? They say women often make the mistake of not lifting. And how do you sneak in vegetables and fruit?

We now return you to your regular writing blog. I think I do need that treadmill for my computer…

Catherine

Snip: Rural Troll Goodness

Grant headed down a sloping hill, his wings helping with balance, over the metal and wooden bridge that crossed the creek, and further down into the timber. General Hjalmar meticulously placed on large foot in front of the other as he trod down. Hjalmar was a broad, rocky troll, the color of tan sandstone.

Grant stretched his wings. He soared past Hjalmar, half rolling, half running down the grade. Just as he was about to hit the bottom, his wings sharped upwards, and he skimmed over the rooty surface. He dodged in the nick of time before he hit a tree and he righted himself, hovering above the ground.

“Humph,” said Hjalmar, although Grant could hear the approval in his rusty voice. “Just like your father!”
It was the highest compliment that the general could have given him. “Dad wouldn’t have hit the tree,” Grant said modestly.

“You didn’t hit the tree,” reminded Hjalmar, trudging forward. “You almost hit the tree. I wish I had wings. You and your dad have an easy time getting around these hills.” He sighed as he thought about navigating the drop off in front of him. “Feel free to fly ahead.”

“I could carry you,” Grant said.

“No,” said Hjalmar. “I don’t think both you and David could carry me. Scoot. You don’t want to be late.”

***

Just about half a scene today, so no need to up the scene count.

Catherine

Writers Work Weekends

I have the scenes arranged for chapters 2 and 3 now. Two more scenes are polished, and we’re working in the quiet teen troll angst. Need to get the teen trolls talking just a bit more with each other, but one case of angst at a time.

Manuel is introduced very shortly soon, so I’ll have to learn a little appropriate Spanish.

The scenes have shrunk, as I’ve combined a couple of them.

6 / 54 words. 11% done!

When the Midwest and Trolls Collide

Twenty minutes of grooming later, Grant tumbled down the wooden stairs, passing the family portraits on the wall. Stone giants smiled and waved at him from picnic tables, on top of tractors, in school plays.

He grabbed his coat from the hall stand, went through a doorway and crossed the plush carpet of the living room to the kitchen door. His mom flipped pancakes in a cast-iron skillet over a gas burner. Two miniature women in red bonnets stood on stepping stools, setting a taller than average oak table.

“Morning, Inga,” said Grant. “Morning, Helga.”

“Morning, Grant,” said one of the nisse. The other small woman giggled.

“Morning, Mom.” Grant kissed his mother on the cheek. “David’s on bowl patrol.”

***

And so it goes. Our goal for chapter two will be to build a small Midwestern town in which it’s okay to have trolls on the basketball team.

5 / 56 words. 9% done!

Writers and the Need to Eat

I’m a little late to this party, but I still think it’s worth posting about, especially for all three of you who read my journal and don’t read Gaiman or Scalzi.

Let’s start with a little history. Many famous writers have, on occasion, had to fall back on their writing and reputation to make a living in the world. The one that I teach the most often about is Mark Twain.

Twain was an entrepreneurial man, and quite frankly, it cost him. He went from being exceedingly rich to tragically poor. What did he do to pay the debt from his investitures that bankrupted him? He launched a world tour. He traded on his name and reputation, and embarked on a trip that would change his life. The Clemens family had honor, and wanted to make sure their debts with creditors were cleared.

Time wends its way to today. Unlike Mark Twain, through no fault of their own, Catherynne Valente and her fiance Dmitri are suffering tough economic times.

Many writers have been. Occasionally the writing community has asked for donations for individuals to save their homes, or help with medical expenses. Sadly, there have been many more of these requests in the last few months, as you might expect.

Valente is pulling a Mark Twain and a Charles Dickens.

Continue reading “Writers and the Need to Eat”

Chapter One is So Done

Chapter one weighs in around 17 pages. The new improved version makes you feel sorry for Jensina and Wort. I hope the trick of not coming back to Wort until chapter three or four works to keep the reader in the loop, because I’ve got to set up my young trolls next.

Keep weighing in on that label post. I’m finding that information fascinating and useful for class!

Scene count:

4 / 56 words. 7% done!

Catherine

Seminar Reflections: Labels

I have been attending a class on the Mahabharata. Last week we talked about the details of the Indian epic, and I’d like to do some summarizing and reflection on it and the culture it represents, but this week, we’re talking about symbol, culture, ritual, and art.

Right now, a discussion of labels is going on around me. We’re talking about how people perceive others and how labels define us. I’m very curious about your opinions, so I’ll throw out this question:

When you describe yourself in relation to your creative/occupational activity, how do you describe yourself to others?

Examples:

I’m an artist.
I’m a novelist.
I write novels.
I want to write novels.
I’m a published author.
I’m an author.
I am a _______ (the area of work which makes you money)

Further, how do you feel how you describe yourself affects how other people see you?

Examples:

The label I use makes people see me as overconfident.
The label I use makes people uncomfortable.
The label I use term makes people respect me more.

Finally, why do you choose the term you use to describe yourself?

Very interested in your answers!

Yesterday and Today

More scenes. The first scene expanded a lot; the second two were pretty okay, and needed some tightening.

Tomorrow’s scene is one of the later ones, and needs a lot of work. I have to reframe Jensina and Wort, setting Wort up to meet Manuel and family, and setting Jensina up to make the troll cat.

That will be the end of the first chapter. Chapter Two gets us right into the trolls. Of course, in this version, I give my three young trolls flaws. I’ll be asking Team Revision if I hit them over the head, or if it’s too subtle, or if the flaws are just right.

Well, today’s word count.

3 / 56 words. 5% done!

Tonight, unfortunately, we drive down for a funeral visitation. Bryon’s aunt. Bryon’s fine, but he’s concerned for his parents. That’s the second person they’ve lost in a short time, and it is hard on them, especially his dad.

I wish you all productive writing and gentle summer evenings. Especially if you’re Jim Hines, and you have to clean up the trees in your yard.

Catherine