Thursday, July 05, 2007

Beating it the Hell Outta Dodge

I have one workday left until my vacation and I cannot tell you how hard I am chomping at the bit to get going. Saturday morning I am beating it the hell out of Dodge, a suitcase full of books, my alphie, a notebook and stash of pens. And then I’m off to the wilds of Pictou County to spend five glorious days holed up at my family’s camp with nothing to do but read and write.

I can’t tell you how badly I need this break. My brain feels fried, my emotions halfway frayed and my motor running on fumes. I just want to get away. I think there’s a song in that...wait...why is Love Shack by the B-52s going through my head now? Great.

Anyway, the plan was to have Brimstone completed before I left. I have the scene caps completed in some detail but I still have about 14 scenes left to write. And I need to do it in 50 pages. Yeah. Can you say ‘going over page count once again’ boys and girls? I can. But I’ll worry about cutting back in the read through. Either way, chances of me whipping off those 14 scenes in my 2 hours tomorrow morning is probably not going to happen. But I’ll work on it while I’m at the camp in between reading and plotting out Saving Grace.

Wednesday I come home and meet with my CP and then the rest of the week I’ll kick back and putter about the house, probably doing more reading and writing than actual puttering, although those two back bedrooms are in dire need of being cleaned out.

I’m still trying to get used to Coop not being in the house. Not actually being very successful at it. I guess 12 ½ years of habit is hard to break. I’ve been looking at breeders for golden retrievers and have found a few I feel comfortable with, but most of them having litters now and I can’t really afford to take on a new pup until later in the year after I get some bills paid off and some money stashed away. If I wasn’t in the mood to be fiscally responsible I’d be sitting on their doorstep now demanding one of their furry bundles. After nearly 30 years of always having a dog I’ve discovered I’m not very good without one. I feel aimless and pointless, like I used to have a purpose and structure and now it’s just all gone. And I think we all know how badly I do when I don’t have structure. It ain’t pretty.

But I’ve promised myself to wait until the end of the year and so that is what I will have to do. Unless of course I find a really good deal, or some gut feeling tells me this is the right puppy and you have to buy it now, the way it did with Coop. But unless I get that, I'm waiting.

I hate waiting. Not a good waiter...not a good waiter at all...


Oh - and if I miss any of you conference goers before you leave: Have a great time in Dallas!!

14 comments:

Christine Wells said...

Kelly, have a great vacation and good luck with D&B!

Unknown said...

Hope you power through those last pages on Brimstone.

And hope you see a little sunshine at the camp.

Anonymous said...

Enjoy your break, Kelly. And don't stress about those last 50 pages. I'm sure once you get settled at the camp, the words will flow. :-)

Lexi said...

Have a GREAT and PRODUCTIVE time!

Anonymous said...

Enjoy the vacation and take time out for YOU. The scenes will come, no rush. :)

Unknown said...

I hope you have a great vacation! I'd love to have a few days alone to read and write. I love my family, but I need some focus with my writing right now.

Kelly Boyce said...

I won't be completely alone. My parents will be there. But they usually leave me to my own thing so I can get my writing done. Then Mom and I can have our gabfest when I need a break.

Tess said...

Have a fantastic time!! You definitely need the break.

Have you looked at the Humane Society as well? Lots of pups need adopting, though I know they charge as well.

Julia Phillips Smith said...

As Ruth would say, Refresh and Reload.

Kelly Boyce said...

Tess - I did check the SPCA but they have mostly older dogs over a year old and where mine will be around small children and other animals I want to get a puppy to make sure they are trained and socialized properly. Plus the younger I get them the longer I have with them (hopefully!).

Anonymous said...

Kelly, that sounds like such a great relaxing time! Enjoy it!!

You'll find the right puppy soon. Maybe when you least expect it.

Julie S said...

Sounds idyllic. Have an awesome time!!!

Melissa Amateis said...

Ahhh...that sounds so wonderful. Reading and writing amidst nature. Hope you have a very productive and relaxing time!

MJFredrick said...

Sounds like a lovely vacation, Kelly! Have fun!