 | 4 Sep 09 |
Last time I was at bat here, I talked about giving an author a break. This go around, this author is taking a break with Sylvia and 4 other authors who also need a break. The plan was to get some work done. It’s happening. Sort of. Tuesday was a travel day. Wednesday we spent the day down by the lake, drinking beer, talking, laughing and oh, yeah, we helped Sasha with a few GMC issues. Before that, over coffee, we helped Delilah with some plotting issues. Then we took a walk around the lake and solved the world’s problems. We went out to dinner, did some shopping, then came back to the lake house and kind of crashed.
Yesterday, Sasha fixed breakfast. I love her! Then Sasha and Delilah took off for an adventure in the paddleboat. Syl, Shelley and I walked the lake again. And ta da! We brainstormed a GMC issue I was having with my current wip, then came in and had lunch. When we sat down to do some timed writing I nailed the next three scenes in my book and came up with a fabulous subplot! All of this while Sasha made Blackberry margos, then mango pineapple margos followed by kiwi lime margos. Then I hopped on Twitter and fucked up my tweets. Hey, even w/o a buzz, I don’t get that replying to tweets so everyone knows who and what you’re replying to thing! Sue me.
Then we took a little break and whipped up some pizza and salad for dinner. While half the girls took off to do some grocery shopping (hey, we needed more tequila!) the other half of us sat out on the deck with our drinks and a beautiful sunset.
The rest of the evening? You guessed it, more margos! Today I’m going around this lake twice! It’s gorgeous, and tranquil and there are big effing slugs up here. I’m going to get more writing done and tweak my proposal. We’re cooking lasagna for dinner and I’m sure Sasha will be making more of those yummy margaritas. It’s a good thing to have a writer/bartender along for the retreat.
It’s also a good thing to hang out with ladies who are professional, polite and fun as hell. There are six of us here in a three-bedroom two-bath lake cottage, but everyone is pitching in and doing their fair share. We split the groceries and the chores and, surprisingly enough, just two bathrooms for six women hasn’t been a problem. Go figure.
I do miss my family. But I needed this break. It was the jolt I needed to infuse my energy and my story. I was stuck, and I know damn well had I backed out on the trip, I’d still be stuck or I’d be writing down the wrong path.
This is my second such trip this year. The first one was up in Sonoma and it was too short. I’ve got another one planned for next March. I look forward to my girl time, my quiet writing time and just a plain old chill time. No one has asked me what’s for dinner, to drive them here or pick them up there. I haven’t had to feed the cats the dogs the birds or the fish. I’m not picking up after anyone or bitching at them to take out the trash or sweep the floor or fold their laundry. Although my son did call Wednesday night just as I was getting into bed d and asked if I’d do a quick read of his English paper that was due the next day. I didn’t ask him to ask his dad. I had just talked to his dad and he was exhausted from a 100 degree plus day on the football field. I sighed and said, “Sure, email it to me, and I’ll have it ready for you before you leaver for class in the morning.” So, I got up early and did my quick and dirty copy edit for him, sent it back and called the house to let him know it was good to print. A few hours later I received a text message from my son that read: I love you.
I guess, no matter where I am or whom I’m with, I’m always mom. I’ll be home Sunday. I’m not looking forward to the travel. I hate airports. But the good news is Sylvia is flying with me so I know the plane won’t crash. 
I’ll be tired when hubby picks me up, but I’ll be very happy to see him and be home. But if asks me what’s for dinner, I’m going to clobber him!
So, what do you do when you need total chill time? Do you hole up somewhere, go on a retreat or a mini vacation? And how does the family handle it? I know mine groans, most especially the hubster, he misses me even if I’m gone for one not. But they endure.
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Glad you got your mojo back, Karin!
by Margaret A. Golla September 4th, 2009 at 7:31 amI’ll let you know how my first writing retreat goes–after I come back.
Margaret create one! Then go and have a blast.
by Karin Tabke September 4th, 2009 at 9:26 amI’m going through a year long sabatical as we speak. I’m in Iraq and while there is no laundry, no kids to get ready for school and no dinner to cook, I find I miss those things. There is no ‘break’ for me over here but at the same time, the whole deployment is a break from my mommy routine (trust my, I’d give anything to get this over with and get back home). But I’ve used this time to connect online with other writers. I’ve teamed up with a fab cp who’s helped take me to the next level with my writing and I landed my dream agent. So on the writing front, my ‘not break’ has been incredibly productive.
by Jessica Scott September 4th, 2009 at 7:34 amI worry about life when I get back to the states. About how I’m going to find time to write during the day when I’m working soldier issues or family issues or both. But I know that if I’m seriously going to be a writer, I’ll find the time, even if I have to carve it out of the remains of the day when all I want to do is sleep.
Recharging is possible but over here, there’s no real break except Sunday mornings, when we get the big sleep. Otherwise, its all day every day. I’ve tried to use the time to my advantage. We’ll see how it all plays out in the end.
Great post, Karen.
Jessica,
My husband served in Tikrit for 9 months. We missed him like crazy. Be safe and thank you for serving!
by HollyD September 4th, 2009 at 8:21 amJessica I didn’t realize you were over there serving and protecting! Thank you for your sacrifice. Wow, I can’t imagine how much you miss your family. Hugs. But your silver lining sounds like a nice one. When you come hope you’ll find a way to write with your job and the family. We strong willed ladies always find way. When are you coming home?
by Karin Tabke September 4th, 2009 at 9:29 amEven though my kids are grown and out of the house, my life is all family, all the time it seems.
by Lee September 4th, 2009 at 7:53 amRight now I need to go to the moon to get away from them. Recently we did a big family thing at a beach house, to get away I wanted to walk the beach, but as soon as one of the kids saw me walking I had them at my side, big and small. So right now the moon is my only escape.
Lee, while my family is at my very core my heart and soul, if mama isn’t happy or she’s frustrated or drained or whatever, they suffer right along with me. When I go, I go. I miss them but they get that I’m going and they have to figure it out at home. I have them trained very well. I’ll call in the evening. Do not call me.
lol, my son who i helped with the paper emailed me and apologized for disrupting my getaway. i told him he had used up his one SOS call.
by Karin Tabke September 4th, 2009 at 9:37 amI’m glad the retreat is going well. My only escapes are twice a month to my critique meetings. When I have to miss one, watch out family, mommy gets cranky.
by HollyD September 4th, 2009 at 8:24 amHolly, you’re going to RT and RWA next year, yes???? Start setting the groundwork now! Prepare them.
by Karin Tabke September 4th, 2009 at 9:42 amHey Karin, your trip sounds fabulous!
At this time, I do have plenty of quiet time and I’ve grown to love it. My recharging comes in the form of precious, cutie-patootie grandkids and play days. We always find ourselves in nature, and it’s magical.
by LaDonna September 4th, 2009 at 9:22 amLaD, I have lots of quiet time too with the kids being older and hubby coaching (rubbing hands together in anticipation of that grand baby!). But for me there is something so rejuvenating about getting out of the house, into a lovely setting with like minds, and no worries. oh and fab margos!
by Karin Tabke September 4th, 2009 at 9:45 amOh, y’all sound like you’re having a wonderful time! I sooooo need one of those retreats.
Actually, I’m going to have one end of Oct. and then go see our oldest in November, so I have two coming up. I might actually start being coherent after that. (crazy talk, I’m sure)
by Toni McGee Causey September 4th, 2009 at 9:32 amToni we’re having a blast! This morning is gorgeous on the lake. It’s as smooth as glass, the sun is shining, and the scenery is spectacular!
by Karin Tabke September 4th, 2009 at 9:51 amKarin, sound like this is just what you need!
When I’m that slammed and tired, I usually whine to my husband first
But I don’t know what I’d do without my friends. They have a way of stripping away the bullcrap and excuses to find the problem, help me resolve it and make me laugh–all at the same time.
by Jen Lyon September 4th, 2009 at 12:29 pmI ended up on a semi-private writing retreat when hubby had a meeting near St. Augustine. The hotel was dictated by the organizers — right on the beach. I let him have the car to commute to his meetings while I holed up in the hotel room and came to grips with some of my manuscript troublespots.
I’d love to be able to do something like this with writing buddies, though.
(And I did take time for morning walks along the beach before settling down. Pix on my blog if you scroll down a few days.)
by Terry Odell September 4th, 2009 at 1:23 pmSounds like your R & R is needed and a lot of fun. Have never gone off on my own for R & R. I am planning on signing up to volunteer at RWA in Nashville next year. Right now the plan is for me to go alone, but my husband will probably decide to come along last minute.
by Patricia Barraclough September 4th, 2009 at 6:10 pmEnjoy the rest of your break.
Usually I go on R & R with my husband, but only because we’re absolutely the same type of person. He can get lost in his world and I can get lost in mine, and then we can come together when we want to and do fun stuff together. I have often told him that being with him is just as good as being by myself, and often, even better!
Mountains, beaches, and desert hideaways for us, preferably with a fishing component and lots of peace and quiet.
by J. JCarson Black September 5th, 2009 at 11:50 am