Halloween is typically a night filled with fun and festivities for many. I always loved Halloween as a child. It was certainly one of my favorite events of the year. When my children were younger I always liked Halloween because I wanted my kids have the same fun experiences I had when I was their age. It's usually fairly typical for parents to want to watch their kids having the good experiences that they remember from childhood -- except usually on a bigger scale. Recently my granddaughter had her first birthday and her parents threw her a party that was bigger than anything I ever did for my kids. And my kids had more elaborate parties than I ever recall my siblings or I ever having had. But I had a great childhood and I can't complain. In any case, my kids are all grown and when it comes to Halloween I'm there sequestered in my living room as I wait for each round of trick-or-treaters to come to my door to collect their goodies. I play along, but I think I'd rather have the lights out, watching a movie and then going to bed by 10 PM. Things have changed for me.
When I was younger I enjoyed sleeping late -- often til around noon if school or work didn't interfere-- and staying up late, very late-- sometimes so late that it was really early as in watching the sun rise. Oftentimes I would be socializing with friends, but if was at home alone I frequently would write. There's something about writing at night that I have always enjoyed. Maybe it's just because all the day's activities are finished and writing is about all that's left besides going to sleep. Sleep is great as far as I'm concerned. Besides the restorative nature of rest, the dreaming is kind of like writing without really having anything tangible to show for it when you wake up. For me, dreaming is very stimulating as though I've read a book or story written by my subconcious. Sometimes if a dream is particularly striking I will write the dream down immediately after I awaken so as not to forget the details. Later, if the dream seems to have potential as a story or some other written form I will futher develop it. I have written stories, poems, and songs based on a dream. How many writers use their dreams as a well of creativity? I would like to hear about some of the experiences writers have had with this and what was the process of development.
Now I rarely physically write at night. I guess just it's just the routine I've fallen into. I have heard about many writers who formulate a routine that is much like a job. They will write early in the morning at a regularly scheduled time and quit at a daily designated time. A lot of scheduling has to depend on what other things you might do in life or career. I have not fallen into a regular writing pattern since losing my job seven months ago. And seems like there are so many other things the vie for my attention when it comes to writing. It does come down to a matter of persistence and sometimes forcing yourself to write. That's one thing I like about the blogging experience. If you're going to blog on a regular basis you just have to do it. I've explored some of the other blogs and find a wide variety of approaches. Some post weekly, some daily, and some whenever. Some bloggers that I come across haven't posted for a year or more. Some have posted one or two times and then never again. What motivates some and defeats others?
I read the following post from July 1, 2009 on another blog:
TO WHOMEVER IS READING THIS BLOG:
I will start writing again soon, I promise. I just need some inspiration or something and don't want to force it :)
I entered the following comment:
I'd say go ahead and force it. If nothing else when you just keep on writing it's practice. Even you throw away 90% of what you write at least you're honing your chops and getting into a habit. But then again it may depend on whether you want to write as a hobby or for a living. If you are strictly doing it for your own amusement or whatever, then wait for inspiration-- you're not in any hurry. But if you want to make a living at it push it-- write, rewrite, and write again. Put projects aside until you're ready to go back to them again. Or use an idea that has dead-ended for you and assimilate it as a part of something else later. Or just plain out trash it when you realize it's no good. It's your product and you need to take pride in it and be concerned about the satisfaction of your customers.
If it's a job, then you treat like a job-- you get up whether you want to or not, be professional, and do the work you need to do. If it's your love, then treat it gently, don't be overly critical, take time apart if you need your own time- sleep late, have brunch with
champagne, and spend the afternoon in the park with your "love".
Now that's just the way I look at it. What is your opinion?
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
Dark Mysteries
Halloween conjures images of night and darkness. Bats and black cats, witches, vampires, zombies, and other creatures of the night are offered up to frighten us during the Halloween season. But the most frightening or most puzzling mysteries of the darkness are the ones that we can read about everyday in the newspaper. Here are three that I read about today:
Mitrice Richardson
"She's afraid of the dark and always has been," said Latice Sutton, the mother of Mitrice Richardson. Mitrice Richardson was arrested on the night of September 16 after she refused to pay a bill at an upscale restaurant in Malibu, California. Witnesses at the restaurant said the petite 24 year old black woman had begun acting in a rather odd fashion. Police were called. They admininstered a sobriety test and determined that she was not drunk. After finding marijuana in her car they arrested her and took her to a nearby sheriff substation and impounded her car. Latice was processed at the station and eventually released. Her mother was going to pick her up later that morning, however for some reason Mitrice decided to leave on her own on foot saying that she was going to meet friends. She is a doctorate student in Clinical Psychology who had recently graduated with a 4.0 average. She was a past beauty pageant contestant who has a good job and who is active in her community. Why she was behaving so strangely that evening is indeed a mystery. But what happened after she left the police station at about 1 AM the morning of September 17 is perhaps a bigger mystery. She disappeared and has yet to be heard from. There have been a few reported but unconfirmed sightings. What was going with Mitrice that night? And why would a young woman who was afraid of the dark take off by herself in the darkness of the early morning in a place far from her home. Where is Mitrice?
Amy Farris
A beautiful, talented violin player, Amy Farris was a session musician who had played with many great artists and was highly regarded in the music industry. She had come to Los Angeles from Austin, Texas to further pursue her music dreams. Amy was part of a new musical group, Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women, and the future was looking promising. Then on Tuesday September 29 she was found dead in her home. It was most probably suicide, but investigations are underway to confirm this. I do not know anything about Amy Farris other than what the papers stated, but her story is just another of many other talented people who end their lives. Year after year we have read of people who seem like they should have everything to live for but end their lives. What darkness overcomes these lives to make them end them? It is a darkness I do not understand.
Andrew Garcia
Little Andrew Garcia, 4 months old, was just innocently being fed when he became just another victim of Los Angeles area gang insanity. It was in the darkness at about 1 AM Sunday morning September 27 in Van Nuys. He was in the backseat of a car being fed by a woman, not his mother, who was also shot and sent to the hospital. Andrew however was shot in the head and died. Another man was also shot but he was apparently not to seriously wounded. The police did not specifically attribute the incident to "gang violence", but all indications were that everyone involved had gang affiliations. I personally don't understand this gangster mentality or why there is not more pressure to eliminate gangs. Of course we have wonderful organizations like the ACLU to protect the rights of gangbangers and many of the gangs have the money for top notch legal defense. The innocent pay the price for the freedom of gangs to exist. Gang culture is a darkness that casts on ominously evil shadow over the future of our nation.
There are many awful things that happen under the cover of night. And the evil darkside of the human soul can cast its shadow no matter what the time of day. This is why each of us who despise the evil dark need to shine our lights for good.
Mitrice Richardson
"She's afraid of the dark and always has been," said Latice Sutton, the mother of Mitrice Richardson. Mitrice Richardson was arrested on the night of September 16 after she refused to pay a bill at an upscale restaurant in Malibu, California. Witnesses at the restaurant said the petite 24 year old black woman had begun acting in a rather odd fashion. Police were called. They admininstered a sobriety test and determined that she was not drunk. After finding marijuana in her car they arrested her and took her to a nearby sheriff substation and impounded her car. Latice was processed at the station and eventually released. Her mother was going to pick her up later that morning, however for some reason Mitrice decided to leave on her own on foot saying that she was going to meet friends. She is a doctorate student in Clinical Psychology who had recently graduated with a 4.0 average. She was a past beauty pageant contestant who has a good job and who is active in her community. Why she was behaving so strangely that evening is indeed a mystery. But what happened after she left the police station at about 1 AM the morning of September 17 is perhaps a bigger mystery. She disappeared and has yet to be heard from. There have been a few reported but unconfirmed sightings. What was going with Mitrice that night? And why would a young woman who was afraid of the dark take off by herself in the darkness of the early morning in a place far from her home. Where is Mitrice?
Amy Farris
A beautiful, talented violin player, Amy Farris was a session musician who had played with many great artists and was highly regarded in the music industry. She had come to Los Angeles from Austin, Texas to further pursue her music dreams. Amy was part of a new musical group, Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women, and the future was looking promising. Then on Tuesday September 29 she was found dead in her home. It was most probably suicide, but investigations are underway to confirm this. I do not know anything about Amy Farris other than what the papers stated, but her story is just another of many other talented people who end their lives. Year after year we have read of people who seem like they should have everything to live for but end their lives. What darkness overcomes these lives to make them end them? It is a darkness I do not understand.
Andrew Garcia
Little Andrew Garcia, 4 months old, was just innocently being fed when he became just another victim of Los Angeles area gang insanity. It was in the darkness at about 1 AM Sunday morning September 27 in Van Nuys. He was in the backseat of a car being fed by a woman, not his mother, who was also shot and sent to the hospital. Andrew however was shot in the head and died. Another man was also shot but he was apparently not to seriously wounded. The police did not specifically attribute the incident to "gang violence", but all indications were that everyone involved had gang affiliations. I personally don't understand this gangster mentality or why there is not more pressure to eliminate gangs. Of course we have wonderful organizations like the ACLU to protect the rights of gangbangers and many of the gangs have the money for top notch legal defense. The innocent pay the price for the freedom of gangs to exist. Gang culture is a darkness that casts on ominously evil shadow over the future of our nation.
There are many awful things that happen under the cover of night. And the evil darkside of the human soul can cast its shadow no matter what the time of day. This is why each of us who despise the evil dark need to shine our lights for good.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Silent Night, Eerie Night
Halloween now looms ahead like the big orange harvest moon creeping over the horizon. It's the first day of October and the festive event is now thirty days away. It also means Christmas is coming! But we'll focus on Halloween before we get the yuletide holiday. I don't like to refer to Halloween as a holiday, but rather an event or an occasion or a festivity. There is no longer much of a Holy Day significance to the day other than its past relationship to All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Most churches in this age do not particularly like to hype the day of Halloween. Many churches indeed plan carnivals or celebrations related to the secular nature of the day, but instead giving their events names like "Harvest Festivals". Many churches try to avoid the associations the day has with evil, occultish realms, and darkness. However, darkness is not always bad or evil. Sometimes darkness can be quite beautiful.
In the case of caverns and underground spaces within our amazing Earth, darkness is a natural occurance. Sure we often think about the fearsome side of these dark places. There are bats and other frightening creatures of the dark. There are the very real fears of becoming lost or trapped in these nether chambers that have been so wonderously formed by God and the forces of nature. The fear makes us more cautious about being there. But to visit a cavern that has been developed for the purpose of public visitation, such as Carlsbad Caverns or Mammoth Caves is safe and well worth anyone's time. There are many caverns open for public viewing that are either run by government agencies or by private owners. The facilities have many safety features in place that minimize any danger, but at the same time give one the sense of being in a very dangerous place. Yet more people are injured or even killed at an amusement park like Disneyland or any other park in a year's time than in the entire public life of a cavern. The wonders of God and His creations are unparalleled by any manmade schmaltz. If you have never been in a cavern, and are not ridiculously afraid of natural things or walking, make an effort to visit one of these natural wonders next chance you get. There are 100's of caves to visit in the United States and throughout the world. If you want more information here is a great website:
http://cavern.com/
One of my oddest experiences with the darkness of nature came in a visit to southern Idaho's Craters of the Moon National Monument. Craters is a vast lava field which is something like 750,000 acres of black basalt flow. The terrain looks like a moonscape thus the park's name. It is an incredible place to visit. Craters is not crowded like many parks elsewhere-- probably less than 200,000 people visit during a years time-- so it is a nice place to experience solitude. I believe I was there in July sometime in the mid 1980's. My wife and I spent the afternoon driving throughout the park scenic drives. Then we pitched our small tent in the campground. It is not a particularly large campground and it was by no means full. During the evening it was much like other campgrounds with people walking, talking, and having their dinners. Then a very strange thing happened-- it got dark. Keep in mind the ground in the campground and for miles around is all black. So when it got dark, I mean it got dark like in no other place I had ever been. And with the darkness came silence -- totally no sound whatsoever silence. It was as though not just the lights had been turned off, but the entire world had been shut down. There were no campfires like one normally sees in a campground. Fires weren't allowed and there was nothing there to burn anyway. There were no happy campers sitting about in lantern light. There was a sudden darkness and silence as though the world had been abandoned.
I tried not to move for fear of making a noise that might shatter the silence. My wife and I communicated in the softest of whispers at first, and then eventually did not say anything more for fear of being heard. There was no moon in the sky. We were on the moon-- on the dark side. The enormous sky was silently still and perfectly clear to display the millions of pinpoints of star light. The stars did not shimmer. They were just there and quiet. I pondered the scene above and around me for a while and then, as quietly as I possibly could, went in the tent to sleep.
The woods and mountains can be very dark places at night, but there are always sounds. The breezes through the trees, unseen creatures, the spashing streams, and a myriad of sounds joining together in a nocturnal chorus. The darkness at Craters of the Moon combined with the stark silence was totally alien to me. Although somewhat discomforting, it was beautiful, awsome, amazing. I have never since returned there, but hope to someday. I doubt whether I will ever camp there again since I don't really camp anymore, but who knows. I am glad I did camp there that one time. Indeed, darkness and silence can be so beautiful.
In the case of caverns and underground spaces within our amazing Earth, darkness is a natural occurance. Sure we often think about the fearsome side of these dark places. There are bats and other frightening creatures of the dark. There are the very real fears of becoming lost or trapped in these nether chambers that have been so wonderously formed by God and the forces of nature. The fear makes us more cautious about being there. But to visit a cavern that has been developed for the purpose of public visitation, such as Carlsbad Caverns or Mammoth Caves is safe and well worth anyone's time. There are many caverns open for public viewing that are either run by government agencies or by private owners. The facilities have many safety features in place that minimize any danger, but at the same time give one the sense of being in a very dangerous place. Yet more people are injured or even killed at an amusement park like Disneyland or any other park in a year's time than in the entire public life of a cavern. The wonders of God and His creations are unparalleled by any manmade schmaltz. If you have never been in a cavern, and are not ridiculously afraid of natural things or walking, make an effort to visit one of these natural wonders next chance you get. There are 100's of caves to visit in the United States and throughout the world. If you want more information here is a great website:
http://cavern.com/
One of my oddest experiences with the darkness of nature came in a visit to southern Idaho's Craters of the Moon National Monument. Craters is a vast lava field which is something like 750,000 acres of black basalt flow. The terrain looks like a moonscape thus the park's name. It is an incredible place to visit. Craters is not crowded like many parks elsewhere-- probably less than 200,000 people visit during a years time-- so it is a nice place to experience solitude. I believe I was there in July sometime in the mid 1980's. My wife and I spent the afternoon driving throughout the park scenic drives. Then we pitched our small tent in the campground. It is not a particularly large campground and it was by no means full. During the evening it was much like other campgrounds with people walking, talking, and having their dinners. Then a very strange thing happened-- it got dark. Keep in mind the ground in the campground and for miles around is all black. So when it got dark, I mean it got dark like in no other place I had ever been. And with the darkness came silence -- totally no sound whatsoever silence. It was as though not just the lights had been turned off, but the entire world had been shut down. There were no campfires like one normally sees in a campground. Fires weren't allowed and there was nothing there to burn anyway. There were no happy campers sitting about in lantern light. There was a sudden darkness and silence as though the world had been abandoned.
I tried not to move for fear of making a noise that might shatter the silence. My wife and I communicated in the softest of whispers at first, and then eventually did not say anything more for fear of being heard. There was no moon in the sky. We were on the moon-- on the dark side. The enormous sky was silently still and perfectly clear to display the millions of pinpoints of star light. The stars did not shimmer. They were just there and quiet. I pondered the scene above and around me for a while and then, as quietly as I possibly could, went in the tent to sleep.
The woods and mountains can be very dark places at night, but there are always sounds. The breezes through the trees, unseen creatures, the spashing streams, and a myriad of sounds joining together in a nocturnal chorus. The darkness at Craters of the Moon combined with the stark silence was totally alien to me. Although somewhat discomforting, it was beautiful, awsome, amazing. I have never since returned there, but hope to someday. I doubt whether I will ever camp there again since I don't really camp anymore, but who knows. I am glad I did camp there that one time. Indeed, darkness and silence can be so beautiful.
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