Getting Older - Writing On - Enjoying Life

When I was born, my life expectancy was just under 65 years. Today, for people like me born in the late 1940s, life expectancy is around 73. Born today, and life expectancy jumps to 76 and a half. Here I am at 78 and still living on.

    One of my favorite things - speaking to a nice group of people

No one ever told me how much I would hurt, joints mostly, as we age. My older brother used to say, "I'm not sure how I should feel at my age, I've never been this old before." And that fits perfectly. Aches and pains, but still doing lots of things every day. I hurt before and then worse afterward, but I'm still working on projects, playing golf, gardening, hiking, and walking, and enjoying life. I have learned that Tylenol can fix most of what ails me.

For anyone reading who is near the twilight time of life, I hope you are doing well and loving beating the odds and growing older. Every morning, I walk, eat a nice breakfast, and then spend some time sitting in the sun or, on warm days, in the shade. Sadly, after that, I watched a bit of the news, limited to about 40 minutes. Afternoons are for hobbies and projects and some YouTube favorites; evenings, and sometimes into the late hours, are for writing and editing.

                                            My 14 books

Now it is time to go back to work on my three WIPs, yes, three books going at the same time. Call me crazy, and some do, but it keeps me young!

Another Book Completed - and It's About Time

 Writing - It has been a long time – too long, but I have ordered a proof copy of my newest book. Health problems set me back many times, but finally, it was completed. Funny when good health came back how much I could, once again, do.  This book, entitled Morning Walk, is my third book for and about senior living.

The first two, On Turning 70 and Elderly, sold enough copies for me to forge on and, at last, finish this one. It's good that I did, as I have another in the works, although it is more of a memoir than the previous three.

So, what's next? I am in the final edit of my third Blade Holmes western. I have said that before, but I never finished the edits. This time, I believe I will.

It is always the weather. Cold weather has kept me mostly inside, which has been good for my writing. I don't know how much I will get done in the world of writing when April comes along, with its suitable weather for gardening and golf.

"Writing is just work—there's no secret."    -   Sinclair Lewis

Today's photos are from my morning walks the past few days.

Enjoy the rest of the month, and keep reading and writing.

2024 - It's a Wrap

 Looking Ahead

It is getting so close to the end of 2024 that many are already considering 2025 resolutions. Never mind; I don’t do them, but if you do, great. Change for the good is never bad, and isn’t that what resolutions are all about?

Looking back on 2023 - here are a few things I have learned.

 It now seems unlikely I will get my followers on X to the one million number. Being short by a little over 998,000 after over a decade, it might be time to give up—not give up Twitter—X, but give up on trying to drum up more of a following. I have not tried too hard, and my numbers show it.

Engaging in any online politics is not only a waste of time but might also harm our health. (worry, worry, worry) I occasionally comment, but let's face it, no one will change their mind when any of us disagrees with a political post. It is good for a smile or laugh some days; otherwise, not much good comes of it.

Saying I will write or edit more next year is not enough—I guess I will really need to do it.

If independent writers want to sell books, it takes work.

And this is the last one—my resolution for 2025 – I will finally publish the two books I have completed, even if that is all I get done in the world of writing.

 

Today’s Photos – All taken within ten miles of our home in East-Central Wyoming.

“I’m writing a book. I’ve got the page numbers done.”    

Steven Wright

Happy New Year! Keep on writing, editing, reading, and, most of all, publishing and raking in all that money.

 

 

It's Almost the End of the Year - Writing Update

 

Writing - After a couple of years of low output, I am once again rolling along. Yep, I am writing, editing, and working on a new book cover. With a bit of luck, I might get something published in 2025.

Weather - We are experiencing a mild winter so far. We have been getting more wind than I like, but most days are reaching close to 40 degrees with an occasional 50. It was so mild, in fact, that I played golf several days last week.

The early sunsets make it seem like the days are shorter, which, according to the calendar, they are as far as sunlight is concerned.

Books - Tonight, I should have the third book in my series for seniors ready to send to my first readers.

Walking - I'm still getting in my morning walks. A skiff of snow slowed me down today when I was on hard-surfaced roads. Luckily, most of my walking is on gravel, which is much safer for an old guy like me.

Today’s Photos – From my walks and drives nearby. 

Have a great rest of the month. Make sure to finish your Christmas shopping soon. Meanwhile, keep on reading and keep on writing.

 

Writing Thought from Someone Famous - “Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good.” William Faulkner

November Writing Update

Long Time - As I say each time, it's been a while. No, I'm not dead; I'm just not actively writing much. In the past few days, I have started to edit one of my finished projects, hoping to get to the final edit done stage. Maybe I'm back. 

What am I Doing? I am staying busy, working on putting my yard and gardens to bed for the winter, and still spending some time out with my cameras. It is always fun.

Staying Busy - I found myself following more of the news as we went through another election cycle. My hope for the new administration is that prices will stop going up. I would love to see them drop, but I have lost hope for that. 

Keeping Fit - Still working on staying physically active and making sure to get my daily walks in. On that note, I am ready to create a cover for my book on senior walking/fitness. Yes, that one is done. 

Western Writing - My Blade Holmes western mystery, book 3 of the series, should be out this spring. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. 

With my Camera - Photos today are from my morning walks this month.

Writing Quote of the Day - “You should write because you love the shape of stories and sentences and the creation of different words on a page. Writing comes from reading, and reading is the finest teacher of how to write.” — Annie Proulx.

Random Thoughts, Writing, and Loving My Outside Days

Random thoughts today - 

Where has this month and the summer gone? It's hard to believe it's already the last day of July. Here in Wyoming, we have been warm and dry, as normal, but maybe a bit dryer than the past two or three years.

I continue to work, halfheartedly, on some of my finished books. Someday I will reach the level of polish that I want before I reach the satisfaction I need to publish. Meanwhile, I spend too much time working on covers for the two books closest to completion.

I have been spending some time in the mountains, but my outside hours are curtailed presently as we have a huge fire that got within two miles of town yesterday. We are safe, but lots of smoke. 

It seems I am spending more time writing on X and Facebook than I do on my fiction and nonfiction. Oh well—I guess I am still writing something. 

Photos from around my little part of the world this month.

"I need this wild life, this freedom." Zane Grey

Getting Back

Sometimes, it is difficult to get back. But, slowly, I am. For the past two weeks, I have been both writing and editing some works I have finished but not polished. Odd, but I thought they were finished, but I couldn’t get myself to publish. The reason was simple – they were not ready. Why? They were not good enough. I still had work to do and knew it. Now, I seem to be rolling along and, best of all -  enjoying it.

We have been busy enjoying summer company and doing some traveling ourselves. After physical complications kept me off the golf course for two years, I am also back at it again.

Enjoy your summer!

Photos today from our adventures over the past week here in beautiful Wyoming.