We’re at that odd transition, the summit of the summer. It’s hot. The children are restless. We’re having fun, keeping busy with park days, the library, the pool and the beach. I know it’s all downhill from here. Soon they’ll be back in school, and I’ll be wondering where the time went. We’ll all be glad to get back in the routine, but summer’s great glory is the potential to sleep late and stay in pajamas all day.

The boys keep moving forward as always. Son #1 lost his second tooth last night. Son #2 can now touch in the shallow end of the pool. I, on the other hand, haven’t done half the things I wanted to this summer. I haven’t read enough books. I haven’t called enough of my friends and family. I haven’t finished writing any stories or chapters. I haven’t seen many movies. (Thanks to Red Box I have at least caught up on a few. Shutter Island was pretty decent — Remember watching Leo on Growing Pains? Who knew what a solid actor he’d become.)

So here’s my kick in the pants, to myself. Call it my New Year’s in July. I’m not letting this summer get away from me. I could add this motivational quote to my list up there, but too many people have said it for proper attribution. If you want to be a writer, write. To that end, I will post to this blog at least once a week. I will finish one short story, polished and ready to send out, by then end of August. Finally, I will finish the first draft of Novel #2 by Christmas. (Novel #1 is officially ‘under the bed.’)

Welcome to my first blog.

My blog title comes from Ernie’s quote up there at the top: What amateurs call a style is usually only the unavoidable awkwardnesses in first trying to make something that has not heretofore been made. That pretty much sums up not just my writing, but my whole life.