A Break From Writing

I had a great time of rest and refreshment on my world travels these past weeks.  First Paris then the Big Island in Hawaii. In Hawaii I read a lot and even did some writing.  Most excitedly I snorkeled almost every day.

We stayed at a house in Kapoho in the Puna district on Hawaii.  Its beautifully green and lush there. Tide pools created by the lava at the edge of the ocean were walking distance from the house.  The interconnected pools are geothermally heated and teem with sea life--vibrant colored fish of all sizes, sea turtles (I saw four), and varieties of gorgeous coral. Each day we consulted the tide schedule to plan our daily snorkeling.

When the tide was not high enough, in order to swim to the next pool, we pulled ourselves along the rock practically on our bellies. On one occasion, I decided to stand up with fins on and carefully "flip-flop" my way to the next pool. When I got up I saw my brother close to me, flat in the water, wriggling his way across the rocks to the next pond. I burst into laughter as the picture before me looked like a giant salamander shimmying along the rocks with snorkel pointing skyward.  What a sight it was with me standing near.

Now that I'm back home with all of life's distractions (bills to pay, laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, home repairs), its been hard to get back to all the writing projects I have going.

Last count I had six writing projects in various stages: two picture books, three children's magazine articles and one adult magazine article.  Its hard to prioritize what to work on next and for how long.

Meanwhile I have found that its good to take brain sharpening breaks to stimulate the creative juices and nurture clear thinking.  Here's a fun little match game that can help:

http://milescooley.com/mc/ecards/cards/2

Post a comment with your own break ideas and how you prioritize your writing.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua To Mexican Mutt

Taking vacations to warmer climates in the winter has been our pattern for some time.  This winter we spent Christmas in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with my sister and brother and their spouses. On the trip down, Mexicana Airlines showed just the right movie: Beverly Hills Chihuahua--about dogs (talking dogs--the best kind) on location in Mexico. This movie is a dog-lovers delight--a must see!

Cabo delivered on a wonderful time soaking up the sun, watching gorgeous sunsets...and sunrises, shopping, eating great food AND going on the most spectacular fishing excursion.  Now...I am not the fishing type or the boating type for that matter, but my brother set up a boat for the six of us to catch marlin...or at least for him to catch a marlin as that was a lifetime dream for him.  The last time I went out on a boat on the ocean, I got so sick that my hero husband Bob had to hold me around the waist while I hung over the side heaving stomach contents into the ocean.  Not a pretty picture.  Ok, call me crazy, but I was willing to try again, plus my brother gave me a seasick drug that divers swear by.

Once on the boat, our boat captain took us out past Land's End taking a right turn into the Pacific.  After 90 minutes of motoring north along the west coast of Baja, we made our way west toward boats and flocks of birds visible in the distance.  We had arrived at the Golden Gate Banks, a seamount, where a veritable cornucopia of sea life churned the waters and filled the sky.  While hundreds of seals, sea lions, marlin and dorado were feeding on schools of mackerel, swarms of pelicans and frigates flew overhead ready to swoop down to grab the "bait" just below the surface or steal one from a casting line.  And to top it off there were hordes of humpback whales swimming throughout the scene.  What a feast for the eyes! Looking in any direction, it was a magnificent sight.

Did we catch a marlin?  We caught two marlin and one dorado.  Each marlin fought for a good 45 minutes before being brought in for a picture and then released back to the water.  We took the dorado home (about 35 - 40 lbs.) and had fish for dinner with plenty left for future dinners.  Oh...I almost forgot.  I did not get sick at all.  I'm ready to go again!

Later in the week we went out to Cabo Pulmo on the Sea of Cortez. While my brother went diving, the rest of us had breakfast and then went snorkeling.  During our breakfast under a palapa on the beach (what ambiance!), we met an adorable little boy and his mexican mutt.  The two were inseparable.  As the dog lay appearing to sleep, the boy would love on him.  But once the boy left, the dog would wander off after him.  The scene repeated.  Then all of a sudden, "Thud, screech, whack, scuffle...snap!"  Upon leaving his sleeping spot, the dog had snagged the fishing pole propped nearby.  Caught in the line, he panicked, dragging the pole through two bar stools until the pole got hung up by a palapa support.  With fishing line stretched tightly around his chest and a menagerie of pole and bar stools attached, the dog gave one big thrust, snapping the fishing line and dashed off.  Only a dog could "create" the twisted pile displayed before us.  You gotta love dogs.  For all the love and amusement they provide...even on vacation.