I meet other writers

I went and signed up for a writing workshop, knowing that I both need some hard deadlines for producing something I'm okay with others reading and the feedback of other writers. Chris and Matt and others are dying to read my work, but it's not the same as getting honest feedback from another writer. I should be encouraged that the worst I've received from editors is try again later rather than outright rejection, but I still am really doubtful of everything I produce. Eventually it just sucks the motivation for that piece dry so that I have far too many almost finished things.

The people in the class look to be an interesting assortment. There's the engineer who, when asked what he wanted to get out of the class, proceeded to read a list of very specific syntax questions. Then the geek who runs a wiki, and the former musical theater major who perpetually smiles. And many memoir or fictionalized memoir writers. Should get a very well rounded set of opinions out of them.

I've been thinking about what I want the class to read, so I know what to work on. Oddly enough, I am really tempted to have another go at a novella I've barely touched since last fall, rather than anything else nearer completion. Probably because I often find myself thinking of it as my only serious piece so far (which makes it that much harder to make myself work on). I've found myself thinking about it more frequently the last few weeks, so I'll give it a shot and see how much more I can do this week.

I'm done looking

So, after many tastings, one shockingly horrible, the venue choice has been narrowed down to two contestants. The first, the Chautauqua Dining Hall, is an amazing historic location in the middle of a park backing up into the mountains, with views of the flatirons.

It's food is probably okay, parking will be very problematic, and it's at least a few thousand over budget.

The second, the Red Lion Restaurant, has really spectacular food in a rather oddly laid out place nestled just up Boulder Canyon. While a little strange — and I mean beyond being very German — it comes in just under budget.

Any opinions?

I hate Bridezillas

So, I guess I haven't mentioned it here yet, but Matt and I have been engaged a few weeks now. The wedding madness had started even before, as we started deciding when and where and such. Thus there were wedding magazines, and Matt rolling his eyes as I girled out about the whole thing. This weekend, though, my mom's flying out so we can start the venue search, and I can feel that the real madness is only beginning. Really I just wish that I could throw a big fun party with all my friends where I happen to get married rather than a wedding. Is there some rule against that?

And, as to the title, just days after picking out the ring WE went and ran a wedding marathon made up of mostly Bridezillas. It annoys me just to know that this show is on television, that these people are being rewarded with attention for their bad behavior. And the grooms are such enablers. You never catch them saying, "Hey, isn't the important part that we're married at the end of the day?" This is what comes of the "your wedding day should be a perfect and magical experience no matter what it costs" culture. No, it's just a party where you get married.

I hike some more

For her birthday this weekend the other Laura wanted to go tackle another fourteener, Quandary Peak, which is a popular first fourteener in the summer because of the nice trail ascent all the way to the top (map). Right now, however, it's still snow covered enough that two of our group lugged their skis up and made it all the way back to the trailhead on them. I wasn't nearly so badass — just happy to have lugged myself to the top.

We knew that Quandary had a number of false summits, but still got fooled. In fact, we were considering turning around since we'd passed our planned turn around time still unsure of how far the summit was. We only really realized that we would make it a few hundred feet from the top, when yet more mountain failed to appear. The way down was much more fun, and we did slide down some.

Afterwards, we went back to Laura's for burgers and whatnot with everyone, only a few hours later than planned. Despite thinking I wasn't really that hungry at first, I managed to eat two burgers (probably a third of my average yearly intake) in addition to salad, dessert, alcohol, etc. All in all a good day.

Unfortunately, coming home to a stuffy, no-AC house after a long day was apparently too much for Higgs. He started overheating and had to be showered with cold water and fed ice chips until he cooled down. I think it's time for another haircut.