Summer Swim Team and Writing

I exited Memorial Day weekend with high hopes for my writing this summer. I had geared up significantly during April and May, the two months between my winter swim season and my summer swim season. Sure I was still running two pre-season swim clinics in April and May. Yes, I was doing private lessons at two different pools also during this time. But I was really writing. I took on a ton of assignments in May and June and was fully prepared to blast right on through July coming out of the summer swim season on the front end of August with loads of articles in-house and more due on my desk. I had plans. I was having a blast.

Well, I am fighting the good fight. And I am determined to win this one. But after a day like today, it gets discouraging. It is going to be a beastly hot summer. I can feel it in my soul.  And if weather from hell decides to make an appearance on a Monday - when my workload is most maddening, I am toast. Literally.

I actually made my way to the gym to work out with my friend, Bob, early this morning - 6 a.m. early. And I loved it. We were done after an hour and 15 minutes, I was in my car sipping a Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee on my way to the pool, laughing along with The Bob and Tom Show on the radio, thinking, I got this. Made it to the pool early enough to put in the lane lines - usually one of my assistants does this - change out of my workout gear and into my suit and shorts all before the first swimmer arrived.

And then the heat started. I purposefully wore a long sleeve t-shirt to protect my arms today. I knew it would be hot; I knew what the day would bring, but I really try to keep the sun off me as much as possible because I am in it so much - all morning coaching, into the afternoon doing lessons, five days a week.

I had my floppy straw hat and my wild white sunglasses (extra glare protection). I was geared up to foil the sun. But it kept getting hotter, and hotter. Broke out my water bottle. Hydrate, hydrate. And still the sun baked. Practice was from 8 until 11 a.m. and that would have been fine, but I had two more hours of lessons. None of them required I get in the water, which was good and bad. Good so I did not have to lather up with sunscreen and have full-on sun. Bad because, I was still wearing my hat and long sleeve tee.  Two more hours to bake.

Once 1 p.m. rolled around, I was back in my car heading to another pool; an indoor pool. My lessons there started at 2 p.m. and went until 5 p.m. Here I was at least out of the sun. Here I could put on my sleeveless tank top and ditch the hat. Here the pool deck atmosphere is like a sauna. Only my last two lessons required I be in the water - the training pool water. The water they keep around 90 degrees.

Like I said, toast or maybe better yet... poached.

Once 5 p.m. rolled around, I'm back in my car heading home to.... write? I don't think so. Yes, I am a bit crabby when I come through the door. No, I don't feel like making dinner, but I do because I'm starving.

Dinner dishes are done, two loads of laundry are making their way through wash and dry cycles, and I find myself before the computer ready to begin my work. Umm... I need inspiration.

So, I am writing a blog entry. Thought I'd gear myself up for the night ahead by writing for fun - not money. But money is a great motivator. It's time to get to it. 

I have two antique show reports to put together - which I love to do. Maybe one will get done tonight. I have an auction to write up - love those too. Two other assignments require interviews so those will have to wait until tomorrow when I get home at the more doable hour of 1 p.m. - when I can actually make work-related phone calles. Just got the okay via email today to cover two more auctions later this month, and I have to write up the swim team newsletter which needs posted by tonight.

My night lies before me like an endless task, but that's okay. I love my work - writing and swimming; love the people associated with both. And love that even after a day like today, I still have hope I will figure this all out. Wish me luck.

Writer's Block

There have been times during my writing career where I just get stuck. Writing becomes agonizing and no matter what I try, it just doesn’t happen. Experienced that last week. The “stuckness” lasted longer than I expected, but thankfully is easing up somewhat. Until right now – it’s back again.

This time it is not so much my inability to finish my assignments – four auction reports and counting; a show review; news blurb about a youtube video, park press releases… these are getting done.

It’s this blog entry. I try to be witty; try to be expressive, but then….Ever read someone else’s work and say to yourself, “Why do I even bother doing what I do when others out there are so extremely skilled at the same task?” I often ask myself, “Will I ever be able to convey such thoughts, give such insights, make emotions known so easily as these talents?”

And then I find what these writers produce; their creative ability I devour with my eyes, is truly food for my own creative soul. Thank goodness for these wordsmiths who are so giving and let others experience their skill firsthand. I am drawn in; come back again to learn and hope for more.



Friendships

Attended an auction last week to cover the event for a trade publication, but more importantly, to finally meet a colleague I have known for more than 20 years but had never met face to face.

I really knew this person from reading his work and a few random emails or phone calls, if that. To say I admired what he did is an understatement. Here was a person who was making a living writing about antiques. He is highly respected in our odd, very specialized literary field and he is known to be unfailingly fair and at times, brutally honest. His standards are high; his opinion is eagerly sought and his work reflects both his knowledge and his ability to convey what needs to be said.

I reconnected with this writer when I decided I needed to ramp up my workload. I emailed him tentatively asking for guidance, which led to many more emails and phone calls. I really had nothing to offer him; being the underling to his seasoned talent. I was the taker in this situation; and he was the constant giver – of advice, of his time, of his ideas, of his encouragement.

When it comes down to it, we are media rivals; both vying for the same story; both wanting to cover the same events; both wishing to make our marks. He already has; I am still working on it. How refreshing to find someone in your same line of work so eager to lend a helping hand. He is that person. When he suggested we attend the same auction – he was covering it for one trade publication; I was doing so for another – I saw the opportunity and committed to what would end up being a 6 hour drive to meet this man.

What was I expecting as I stood by my car knowing he would be pulling into the auction house parking lot in a few short minutes. I can’t really say I had any preconceived notions. I was just looking forward to spending a morning at a lovely auction with my new friend. Finally meeting was a joy. Walking through the auction house and discussing what we saw was so much fun; to have a person on the same wave-length; to talk about such obscure things like dovetailing, if the legs were right on that chest, to view first-hand items that before were only seen in catalogs.

And I also found out some other things about this guy. The most important is his writing talent goes way beyond discussing what type of woods make up that corner cupboard. See for yourself.  www.bicycleeyes.com/2010/05/29/of-sunrise-and-shadows



Kites, parks, sewer tile - it's my life

You are now reading the blog of the new Columbiana County Park District events co-ordinator. This new position basically boils down to my setting up the spring, summer and fall events that will take place at Scenic Vista Park and the Greenway Trail in my county. This would be all well and good except that I just got the information to do this last week and my program needs to be to the printer in a few days. You guessed it - I am still finalizing events. I need phone calls returned, dates solidified and I need someone to man the concession stand at three of the events. Once the program is finalized I will post a link to the park's website so you can see what's going on for this season.

I am also working on a feature story for AntiqueWeek about collecting vintage kites and kite memorabilia. This is turning into a really fun story. Meeting lots of interesting people and learning tons.

I am also researching a recent robbery which took place at an Ohio museum in Uhrichsville where 51 pieces of sewer tile art - yes, that's what I said - sewer tile art was stolen. After the thieves came back for seconds, the big boys were called in, some of the pieces were found in local antique stores and suddenly 40 of the stolen items, carefully wrapped in newspaper, appear in a church parking lot as if to say, "We're sorry." It will be interesting to see how this story unfolds.

And in the course of one week, my winter swim season concluded, I bought a new "used" car, I am preparing for my two swim clinics to start up next week, our home's basement was flooded by an inch of water by a sudden spring storm and I turned 50. I need a nap. Enough said.

Time to Get Serious

My winter swim season has again absorbed a great deal of my waking hours. But it has been another successful year, and we are now winding down. We won our YMCA Division 1 Championship held at the University of Akron on February 6. This coming Saturday, March 6th, we compete at our League Championship meet at Cleveland State University, and March 19, 20, and 21 will find 34 Neptune swimmers competing at the Great Lake Zone Championship at Bowling Green; the largest Neptune contingency ever to attend Zones.

The swim team paperwork is backing off, so I now have the time to get back to writing. I recently wrote six articles for The Youngstown Business Journal's orthopaedic medicine section. Actually, I was the section. No one else contributed to it, but me. What a humbling experience! I can rip off antique related terminology with the best of them, but writing about orthopaedic medicine required learning a whole new vocabulary.

I am also finishing up a feature story for AntiqueWeek concerning RumRill pottery when it was made in Ohio from 1938 to 1942. The history of this company reads like a who-dun-it. It truly would make a great movie script - sex, double-crossing, a mysterious fire... Next up for AntiqueWeek is a feature on Hatch show prints.

I've also been asked to be the event coordinator for the Columbiana County Park District. I have a meeting with that group this coming week so they can determine if I am the right person for the job. The CPD is comprised of Scenic Vista Park and the Greenaway Bike Trail, plus the group recently acquired 750 acres somewhere in the southern part of the county, I believe. This will be a fun diversion from my normal workload.

I am also in the process of taking some graduate course work in order to renew my teaching license. It is not unlike sticking needles in my eyes, but you do what you have to do.

Did I mention I hate snow. We got blasted again last night. Three new inches on top of the 24 inches that has accumulated since February 1 or what was left of it after two days of some substantial melting. I'm done with this stuff. I need to see some green grass - hell, I'll settle for some brown mud. Saw a robin two days ago. Poor sucker, probably doesn't know what hit him. Nevertheless, it's my first sign of spring, and I will grasp and hang-on to any crumb Mother Nature wants to toss my way.

 RumRill Pottery - the Ohio Years (Collector Books) by Francesca Fisher. Image provided by the author.