The Wild and Scenic River, Raven Boys & Talk Like a Pirate Day Contest
WHAT I'M READING
I finished my re-read THE RAVEN BOYS in anticipation of the release of THE DREAM THIEVES. Very excited to dive into this one. I'm also reading DRAGONFLY IN AMBER as it popped onto my kindle from the library hold list. Yay! Now if I just had more time to read.
WHAT I'M WRITING
Does blogging count? I hope it counts, because I've been doing more blogging lately than actual writing. I did the Walk the Plank challenge for the YA Buccaneers on Monday. Which is here, in case you are interested in the first time I laid eyes on Notebook Boy. (And yes, that's his actual notebook. He has a mind like a supernova.)
And tomorrow is Talk Like a Pirate Day!!! Check out the
YA Buccaneers site for all the details because you can win awesome prizes just for talking like a Pirate. (Easiest, most fun contest EVER) :)
WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO
Boy Chris' new job involves surveying 30 miles of the Wild and Scenic Myakka River every month. Believe me, it has earned that designation. It is simply exquisite. And on Monday I got to help him survey a section that you have to have a special permit to paddle. It's basically a Biologist's wet dream. We didn't see another human, or even evidence of another human all day. But we saw snowy egrets by the hundreds, baby alligators making their tiny, barking way out of the nest, and too many other wonders to mention. The thing that impressed me most, was the absolute stillness. The river doesn't make a sound and you are left with this supreme sense of peace. This section of the river hasn't changed since the first Spanish explorers dragged their boats overland looking for the Fountain of Youth. I wonder if they felt the way I felt, seeing all that majesty for the very first time.
WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW
WHAT I'M WRITING
Does blogging count? I hope it counts, because I've been doing more blogging lately than actual writing. I did the Walk the Plank challenge for the YA Buccaneers on Monday. Which is here, in case you are interested in the first time I laid eyes on Notebook Boy. (And yes, that's his actual notebook. He has a mind like a supernova.)
And tomorrow is Talk Like a Pirate Day!!! Check out the
YA Buccaneers site for all the details because you can win awesome prizes just for talking like a Pirate. (Easiest, most fun contest EVER) :)
WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO
Boy Chris' new job involves surveying 30 miles of the Wild and Scenic Myakka River every month. Believe me, it has earned that designation. It is simply exquisite. And on Monday I got to help him survey a section that you have to have a special permit to paddle. It's basically a Biologist's wet dream. We didn't see another human, or even evidence of another human all day. But we saw snowy egrets by the hundreds, baby alligators making their tiny, barking way out of the nest, and too many other wonders to mention. The thing that impressed me most, was the absolute stillness. The river doesn't make a sound and you are left with this supreme sense of peace. This section of the river hasn't changed since the first Spanish explorers dragged their boats overland looking for the Fountain of Youth. I wonder if they felt the way I felt, seeing all that majesty for the very first time.
WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW
Posts
The river looks absolutely beautiful. The only experience I have had of kayak was as a teenager when we went to an adventure place with the school. I quickly worked out that there was a way to clip on to the instructors Kayak and begged and pleaded until he let me. Seeing me do it, all the other girls begged and pleaded too, until the instructor was towing all the girls, while all the boys continued to go in circles and not really get anywhere. I regret not giving it a proper go now. lol but we live and learn.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post, thanks for sharing.
love and hugs Joss xx
Haha! I've had to tow a few people when the wind got bad. But we never tell people that's an option. I've found if you let people try, they actually get the hang of it pretty quickly. We've taken kids as young as 3 and our oldest paddler was 94 and he insisted on doing everything himself. He ended up doing great!
Deletep.s. I'd take you kayaking any time. :)
I can't wait for my copy of THE DREAM THIEVES to get here! Everyone else seems to be rereading THE RAVEN BOYS first and it's making me wonder if I should to. I'm not sure I remember everything that happened in it. :/
ReplyDeleteThose photos! So beautiful! And how awesome that you got to paddle through a place like that. I can't even imagine how peaceful that would be. And as for writing, blogging *definitely* counts, in my opinion. It takes creativity and thought, doesn't it? Have a wonderful week, Kris! :D
That's why I had to reread it. I remember loving it, but not exactly everything that happened.
DeleteSo glad you think blogging counts, because I am really slacking on the "real" writing lately. :)
I hadn't heard about the Twitter contest. Super cool! Your pictures make me want to go on vacation, forget kids and responsibility, and go play in nature. Will I ever be that carefree again? *sigh* Beautiful shots.
ReplyDeleteI hereby give you permission to throw responsibility to the wind and go have some fun in nature. Call it a sanity day. And tell them I said so. :)
DeleteYour photos are always so inspiring. Wooooooooow! And that does sound so peaceful. I love the feeling of knowing what the world was like hundreds of years ago.
ReplyDeleteHave a brilliant week. Good luck finding more reading time ;)
Thanks! Days like that last me all week. When I'm sitting in the world's most boring meeting, I find myself day dreaming that I'm floating down the river. :)
DeleteWow, these are some gorgeous photos. It looks luck such a peaceful place.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a fun contest. There's never a bad reason to talk like a pirate. :)
Thanks Tracey! It is a peaceful place.
DeleteAnd you should definitely join in tomorrow. I'm with you, there's never a bad reason to talk like a pirate. :)
It's encouraging to know there are still places on Earth that are so untouched by humans. Those photos are beautiful, as was your description of the Myakka River. I would so love to see baby alligators!
ReplyDeleteAnd blogging definitely counts as writing. Every word you get out means something, no matter what form it's in! :)
Everyone seems to be reading The Dream Thieves! I need to get a copy ASAP!
ReplyDeleteCave to peer pressure. Do Et! (I wouldn't say that, but I heard it was actually pretty damn good) :)
DeleteThe river looks so peaceful--I can definitely get you're inspired by it. I've never been somewhere that sounds o still and serene.
ReplyDeleteAnd blogging totally counts as writing, in my book. It's all good :)
i'm almost done with TRB as well, can't wait to read Dream Thieves. What a beautiful pic, I think anyone would love exploring that! And I think blogging counts, you're still using your skills to get a point across so....
ReplyDeleteI too am rereading THE RAVEN BOYS - I have seen that on so many other blogs today. TRB is trending!
ReplyDeleteAnd wow - just wow. I read then reread your paragraph on the Myakka River. How AWESOME. And great picture too. You have such amazing opportunities!
Have a great week! And that YA Buccaneers contest sounds so cool!
Even though alligators are scary, I think baby ones are so adorable, I always have, which my husband finds weird.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome to find such silence among the usual buzzing of the world.
I enjoyed your Walk the Plank story, Kris... I'm still thinking about mine. Hopefully I'll get around to writing it before the end of the month!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a biologist, but from your description and the picture, I can see why you were so excited and inspired by this little adventure. Cool!
Have a great week. :)
That river trip sounds amazing! I'm totally jealous of your life.
ReplyDelete