Published on April 20, 2008 By KellyW0498 In Blogging

It's been awhile since I posted and for good reason. I can't write. I can't even write a letter to my friends. Even a grocery list is a problem. I don't have writers block. I have a million ideas. I have the time now. I just can't seem to get started. I miss telling stories, but this will have to do for now. I'm going to babble, so you are warned. Nothing life altering here.

 

I just finished reading Firefly Lane, by Kristen Hannah. It's the first non-text book I have read since finishing school. Can you believe it? I have a million books ready to read. Most of them are a lot more substantial, but this is the one that caught my eye. It turned out to be a great read for me. Kind of like a when you are ready the book will be there moment. If you are my age and a woman you will like it. It took me down memory lane as it followed two characters through all, and I do mean all the decades I've lived through. This book reminded me of the friendship I have with my friends from childhood. I was crying so hard at the end of the book I could hardly read it. I think I am in a weird, emotional place in my life right now to be crying over this.

My next book is Duma Key, by Stephen King. That should cure me of emotional outbursts.

WhenI talk to my friends (customers) at work I always try to talk about things that fit into their lives. It makes them feel comfortable and I learn a lot of stuff. Most the time I am pretty good at it, sometimes not so much. I have a regular fellow that comes in who runs a gym. He is in at least 3 times a week for a cup of soup and bread. I asked him if all the people at the gym watched the show Workout. Soup came out his nose and he glared at me.  I guess that means no, or make that Hell NO! Next time I will actually watch a show and not the commercial before I make assumptions. I promised to make him stuffed pepper soup the next day to make up for my foolishness. Good thing he likes my soup.  The second problem is now I think I am addicted to that show. Please don't tell.

 

We finally made it to our property last weekend since last fall. We were supposed to go Easter but Mother Nature was not having it. It was awesome and I can't wait to spend weekends up there this summer. We hiked down our hillside to the valley area. There was lots of deer poop. How come deer poop looks like pellets? Zoo, if you read this, you don't have to admit to it publicly, but could you answer that for me? I mean they are way bigger than rabbits, but their poop isn't much bigger.

Where there is deer there is other animals. I don't have the facts, but according to the guy who we bought the land from the county has the third largest population of black bear in the country. According to him if you make lots of noise they won't bother you but go the other way, unless it's a mama bear. Then you are in a life threatening situation. Yikes!

More good news. There is at least 3 sightings of mountain lion a year there. Again, according to the man with the land. These are the scary ones because they will stalk you and you won't know it. The rules, be loud, don't bend over (they like heads and necks), make your self bigger, don't run, fight back. Yadda, yadda, Yadda. I'm not really a gun person, but I think I will learn. They won't ruin my hide away though. It turns out I really like being a mountain girl and semi-recluse.

As far as animals go, frogs were the only one I saw that day up close and personal. In a really simplified explanation of animal totems the frog, represents rain and the water element. Simply put they bring new rains to keep you from becoming stagnate or dirty. Frog medicine can bring rain to help cleanse, heal and help things grow. I told you there is a big change a coming. I don't mind change so much as the actual transition. This is according to a book called Animal Speak. I am learning a lot about this and there is a story in my head that goes with it. I hope one day you will be able to read it. More importantly, I hope one day I can write it on screen and not in my head.

Well, this is enough babbling for one day, at least I filled the white screen. I'll be back and hopefully it will get better.


Comments
on Apr 20, 2008
Zoo, if you read this, you don't have to admit to it publicly, but could you answer that for me? I mean they are way bigger than rabbits, but their poop isn't much bigger.


I believe it has to do with water conservation...at least that's all I could find online that sounded reasonable. Goats and sheep have the same feces as well...and goats are renowned for being hardy survivors...so it does make sense.

They also have that four chambered stomach going on, but unlike cows are a lot more selective in their diet. Instead of eating vast quantities of grass, they choose things that are easier to digest to maximize their nutritional intake, because of that they don't drop huge piles like cows do.

So water conservation and/or selective diet probably causes this.

For rabbits it's because their intestines make up a huge part of their digestive system...that and they eat their poop again to extract all the nutrients from it. You can check out my feature on the Volcano Rabbit to learn more about that, though.

~Zoo
on Apr 20, 2008

Loved the update...never heard of "Workout" tho....why would he be offended at the reference?

I must be getting your writing java at my house, because its flowing for me pretty well...now if I can just find the time, and get some silence!

It stinks to know exactly what's happening in a story and not having a moment's piece to put it into words.

We had bear in our backyard in Alaska....I chased more than one away with a broom...they generally aren't too confrontational.....of course I can be a loud banshee type person with a broom...

 

on Apr 20, 2008

Zoo Thanks for the info. I knew you would know! I know all I did was talk about those animals, but there are a lot more wonderful ones up there. Moose, elk, turkey, eagles and so much more. I hope I can get some good pictures.

Tova, I'm glad someone got my writing java. It is working very well for you.

As for the show Workout, it is a reality show about a gym, not so much working out as the who's sleeping with who and doing what to each other show.  He is not the reality show type. He did get his favorite soup out of it though.

on Apr 20, 2008

I don't have writers block. I have a million ideas. I have the time now. I just can't seem to get started.

I really like being a mountain girl and semi-recluse.

 

Nothing wrong with either of those unless you starting writing some manifesto.

 

I am learning a lot about this and there is a story in my head that goes with it. I hope one day you will be able to read it.

 

I hope we get to read it, too.

 

on Apr 20, 2008
Zoo Thanks for the info. I knew you would know!


I know my shit.

~Zoo
on Apr 20, 2008

I don't have writers block. I have a million ideas. I have the time now. I just can't seem to get started.

This tends to be my biggest problem too.  I've taken to trying to write a bullet point of the story, just so I don't forget it. 

I really like being a mountain girl and semi-recluse

If I had to choose, I'd be a semi-recluse living on the coast somewhere.  If I can't see the ocean, I'm not really happy.

My next book is Duma Key, by Stephen King.

Haven't read this yet but I really enjoyed 'Cell', which is the most recent King I've read.  If you would like some recommendations, might I suggest anything by Peter Straub.  He has co-written a few books with King and is a great writer.

has the third largest population of black bear in the country

at least 3 sightings of mountain lion a year there

Wow, see, the worst we have to worry about in Australia is dingoes or native dogs.  But these guys are more scared of us then we of them. 

 

on Apr 20, 2008
Wow, see, the worst we have to worry about in Australia is dingoes or native dogs. But these guys are more scared of us then we of them.


But you also have the most deadly snakes in the world. It's a tradeoff of sorts.

~Zoo
on Apr 20, 2008

I'm a nature girl too.  I wouldn't want to worry about being attacked by a mountain lion or bear but I find it reassuring that they are still around. 

on Apr 21, 2008

I hope we get to read it, too.

You are a nice guy. Thanks.

Nothing wrong with either of those unless you starting writing some manifesto

Sheesh, I hadn't even thought of that!

know my shit

Yes you do!

If you would like some recommendations, might I suggest anything by Peter Straub. He has co-written a few books with King and is a great writer.

I'll check him out. Thanks.

If I had to choose, I'd be a semi-recluse living on the coast somewhere. If I can't see the ocean, I'm not really happy.

There isn't any ocenas nearby, but there is lakes. I grew up around oceans and I do miss them, but lakes are pretty awesome too.

I'm a nature girl too. I wouldn't want to worry about being attacked by a mountain lion or bear but I find it reassuring that they are still around.
It is a good thing that they are still around. I love it up there and it's good to know what to do and what not to do.

on Apr 21, 2008
But you also have the most deadly snakes in the world.


But reptiles are easy to avoid and don't hunt humans. Having said this and parroting Locamama, I do find it reassuring that bears and mountain lions are still around. I'm just grateful its not in my neck of the woods.
on Apr 21, 2008
But reptiles are easy to avoid and don't hunt humans


Well, typically neither do bears or mountain lions...unless of course, prey is scarce or someone's being stupid in nature. That being said, I really don't want to come face to face with a freakin' bear. A mountain lion I could probably scare away...towering grizzly? Uh...no.

Speaking of which in our little zoology museum here on campus there's a stuffed grizzly bear...damn thing's almost twice my height..and I'm 6ft or 1.83m if you prefer. It's a little intimidating to say the least.

~Zoo

on Apr 21, 2008
That being said, I really don't want to come face to face with a freakin' bear. A mountain lion I could probably scare away...towering grizzly? Uh...no.


Yeah, this is the thought I had in my head too. Thinking about it, though, aside from sharks, of which we have plenty, the only thing we have in Australia of equivalent predatory viciousness is the Saltwater Crocodile. Now there is a beast who will chase a man down.
on Apr 21, 2008
But reptiles are easy to avoid and don't hunt humans.


You would never convince my mother of this! She swears she was stalked by my pet red racer when I was a kid!
on Apr 25, 2008

Nice ramble Kelly. I'm glad I looked around for you and got caught up!

on May 05, 2008

Hahahahah...you and I have too much in common....I LOVE Workout too!LOL!  No kidding!  My friends at work don't watch it, but there's something addictive about it, I swear! LOL!

I know what you mean about having lots to read and can't get to it. I'm kind of in the same both but in a different way. I'llhave to blog about it another time.  But I think your lack of wanting to write stems further...liek you  said, you have lots of ideas, but there's more to it, within yourself, you know the answer.  Until you sort that out, or come to terms with it, you're not going to write as easily as you usually do.  I know, I"ve been down that road!  Enough lecturing! [smile]

 

I hope you get to spend many free time at your new property, just be careful!