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Showing posts from July, 2022

Last Chance to order for FREE at Smashwords

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  We begin with a sudden memory, follow it to see where it leads. Yet so many of us tend to ignore these flashes.Using a process I call write right now, I help the writer to harvest the urgency of sudden memories.The prompts in this book are designed to spur memories, to get you writing. I’ll also direct you to resources, authors to read and study, and places to submit. CLICK HERE: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/725948

From Shade to Shine, a book review

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From Shade to Shine Jill Peláez Baumgaertner Paraclete Press, Iron Pen Imprint, 2022 Many of the poems in this book are not new; they appeared previously in journals or were read or performed for tributes, retirements, dedications—with that being said they are new . Assembled and arranged during a pandemic, in light of mortality, toward the end of a highly productive academic career. So the title seems somewhat indicative, from shade to shine, of that feeling of walking on a day of clouds, where racing shadows envelope the reader, and, just as fleetingly, they disappear and we are surrounded by brilliant sun. Within this volume we travel from the Orkneys, to the warm environs of Cuba, to the forests of Poland and a concentration camp, to the terrace patio of a Chicago highrise. Baumgaertner takes us there, into the shadows and subterranean Neolithic mounds scattered across the Orkney Islands, then into the bright day as we follow the sun and calendar into Lent, Easter, and summer solst

Follow Your Joy

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I’ve had an amazing acceptance of a small flash memoir piece I’ve called Starting Over which will appear in the next issue of Random Sample Review for an issue themed “Follow Your Joy”—yes, it does involve a bicycle! More importantly, it was selected by a poet Debra Stone . This is significant in that my agent is reaching out to many small presses with my manuscript—a hybrid of memoir, historical criticism, and meditations that also involve bicycling. Here is Debra’s bio. Debra lives in Minnesota and attended Carleton College. She is co-founder and co-facilitator of the Northside Writers Group in North Minneapolis, a community-based writing group that has been meeting for ten years. Her poetry has been published by the Saint Paul Almanac, in the chapbook, “Bringing Gifts, Bringing News,” short stories published by Black Magnolia Literary Journal, Tidal Basin and is forthcoming in other literary journals. She has received residencies at New York Mills Arts Residency, The Anderson Ce

Available for FREE

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  We begin with a sudden memory, follow it to see where it leads. Yet so many of us tend to ignore these flashes.Using a process I call write right now, I help the writer to harvest the urgency of sudden memories.The prompts in this book are designed to spur memories, to get you writing. I’ll also direct you to resources, authors to read and study, and places to submit. CLICK HERE: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/725948

Eagle Lake Beach to Lansing--well, that didn't happen

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 Eagle Lake Beach to Lansing--well, that didn't happen Wednesday July 6, 2022, 45 miles (72 km) - Total so far: 251 miles (404 km) The plan was to ride home to Okemos from Eagle Lake Beach, but weather set me back. AGAIN it stormed all night long. I checked my phone in the a,m, and it said ending by 7. Nope, then 9. I got started at 9 with my taillight blinking and being extra careful. There was an overgrown trail that bordered busy M-96 past the Fort Custer Armory and Veterans Building. After that I picked up Battle Creek Linear Park. AGAIN beautiful, by the river. So many rivers! I rode through the trees, on planks over ravines and waterways (I was careful as everything was wet and slippery). The North Branch of the Kalamazoo River runs into Battle Creek. Once I left Battle Creek I was on roadways with moderate hills. Humidity if not 100% was close. I could not stop sweating. My cycling gloves were white from salt. EVERYTHING was wet. At least the day was overcast, so no in

From along Lake Michigan to Eagle Lake Beach, Fort Custer Rec. Area

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 From along Lake Michigan to Eagle Lake Beach, Fort Custer Rec. Area Tuesday July 5, 2022, 68 miles (109 km) - Total so far: 206 miles (332 km) Well, more than fireworks lit up the sky--add thunder and lightning. It stormed all night long. I stayed dry in my tent and the rain stopped around 7 allowing me to get going at 8. Yet everything was clammy. Humidity fogged my sunglasses so I took them off--as well as the speedometer/computer on my bike. The Ironhorse is a piece of junk. It doesn't stop adding miles--even when I've stopped!! I didn't need it as the Google lady directed me to the Kalhaven trail where I cycled to the end where I met up with the Kalamazoo Valley Trail. The heat was again intense once I finished the shady parts through the woods. As the Kalhaven came to an end it was uphill and the trail was wide through the trees. Very beautiful. At the end is a little park with a caboose. I kept following the KVT through Kalamazoo and along the River to the east

Grand Rapids to along Lake Michigan

Grand Rapids to along Lake Michigan Monday July 4, 2022, 63 miles (101 km) - Total so far: 138 miles (222 km) I was still wasted and exhausted from heat and dehydration in the a.m. but got going around 9 a.m. I soon found it hard to breath I was so dehydrated. I had to stop every so often and rest. I made it south of Zeeland to a Mooville ice cream shop where they were offering $2 all you can eat sundaes. I took Market Street out of GR as it was a holiday and no traffic, Market ran into the Kent Trails. So beautiful! After that there was a series of street cues to Fred Meijer Kenowa Trail. That trail continued onto Upper Macatawa Natural Area--another natural wonder, very curvy with some ups and downs. After that it was streets using Google maps and my phone talking me through Holland. I stayed south of downtown. Eventually I connected to Beeline Trail. Again, super nice. I was just soo soo tired. Gatorade just wasn't fixing me. Saugatuck and Douglas were quaint and touristy.

Time for a ride

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Since my cross-country bike extravaganza in 2020 I've been hard at work. There have been some weekenders and day trips, plus a whole lot of moving around and getting settled. I wanted to do a ride just to see if I still have it in me--to be seen. I'd planned to do this trip mid-May, but came down with Covid and so had to cancel, losing hotel reservations and getting some Amtrak train money back, but not all. On top of that my friend who was to go with me couldn't do it any other time. I decided to use the holiday plus 2 days off to string together 4 days for the ride. Starting in Owosso-Grand Rapids-Holland-South Haven-Kalamazoo-Lansing, not quite a loop. Owosso to Grand Rapids Sunday July 3, 2022, 75 miles (121 km) - Total so far: 75 miles (121 km) The day started at 9 a.m. getting a ride to the trailhead via my son-in-law. It was kind of him to take me, but he was a bit out of it attaching the bike rack--at one point we looked back and saw the bike dangling. We pu

Staying Light Later

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I just had visitors the past few days—my FIRST since moving to Michigan. Granted they had points at a motel not far away so they didn’t stay with me, nevertheless, it was great to take them on hikes and to see the sights. What sights you may ask? They are Ohio State University geeks and so make it a point to visit Big Ten campuses—especially the stadiums. Whereupon we came upon Sparty, the statue. After dinner on the back patio we took an evening walk. The summer sun was brilliant as it ebbed closer to the treeline. They commented about it staying light later. Of course, we’re on the far western edge of the time zone. Just across the lake in Wisconsin where they are from the sun sets an hour earlier. I guess I’d missed the memo, but, yes, I have been have Scandinavian déjà vu=the intense longing to camp and watch the sun set from the fly of my tent. We’ve just passed the solstice so things stay light until 10 pm. My circadian or biological rhythm has me still doing projects at 9

Available for FREE

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  We begin with a sudden memory, follow it to see where it leads. Yet so many of us tend to ignore these flashes.Using a process I call write right now, I help the writer to harvest the urgency of sudden memories.The prompts in this book are designed to spur memories, to get you writing. I’ll also direct you to resources, authors to read and study, and places to submit. CLICK HERE: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/725948

Tiny House Heaven

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 When I was in Oregon I began to dream of a Tiny House. I’d talk to my friend Sam and we’d pretend he build it for me—even then I knew there is no such thing as tiny house prices. Tiny houses are big business and folks are paying upwards of $75,000 to outfit trailers or build on wheels. Then . . . I moved here to Michigan and, though, I have a great situation, I haven’t given up on my dream of having my own small place. Lo and behold, my dream might be coming true. My daughter and son-in-law just bought a house with a studio out back. Yup, a tiny out building. Not quite a house, not yet, but we are looking at what it will take to retrofit it for year-round living. Since they moved (like the day before yesterday!) I’ve ridden my bike over and hung out and it’s been so nice just sitting in the backyard watching Jack play (hurt himself) and being able to be an extra set of eyes and hands to help. It’s given me a glimpse of what life could be like: the dream of tiny house living.