Self-Portrait, Christmas Walk, 2009

Self-Portrait, Christmas Walk, 2009, originally uploaded by confections.

Just before preparing dinner on Christmas Day, I went for a walk at one of my favorite paths in San Diego, which I call the "magical walk" on Point Loma. It's always uplifting and invigorating.

Artichoke Bloom

Artichoke Bloom, originally uploaded by confections.

On my walk last week I came upon this artichoke plant in bloom. My sister and I saw it again on Father's Day (June 21st) and most of its glory was spent. The ephemeral nature of spring blossoms....

Solitude and Time for Writing

Abandoned dinghy, originally uploaded by confections.

This is one of my favorite rejuvenating sights on what I call my "Magical Walk", not too far from my home. I usually drive the few miles to the northern end of the walk, stroll the mile or so to one of the best lookouts, hang out there for a few minutes pondering the imponderable, and then head back. Often I see snowy egrets and at least one great blue heron feeding.

I'll be taking the magical walk later on today as an antidote to writing frantically as I participate in National Novel Writing Month this November.

So far, I have discovered the genre where I'm most comfortable: literary fiction. Who knew? As of this moment I'm at 9,030 words of the 50,000 required, and it's a very rough draft. That's the point. Quantity not quality is part of the exercise. December will be for editing...er...celebrating. I'll be editing in the New Year!