bridgesburning

Thoughts- may be Profound, Mundane and perhaps laced with a bit of Wit

Tag Archives: Fiction


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What Kind of Champion are You? Sprint, Middle or Long Distance?

English: The lonliness of the long-distance ru...

English: The lonliness of the long-distance runner(s) These two runners had just finished running along the foot/cycle path that runs along the side of the A14 here – which can’t have been too nice for them. I passed them again about 40 minutes later in the heart of Felixstowe, still running – I hope they were nearly home! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Misty May-Treanor Wheaties

Misty May-Treanor Wheaties (Photo credit: GeneralMills)

I have wakened between four and five each morning for a while now. Usually I lie and consider the warmth of my bed, snuggling in a little deeper and give thanks for my comfort, and then, turn over for another couple of hours of comfort. Always a quick little thought intervenes that says, rise, spring up, start the day with vigor and through much self-discipline I stay abed. Simply because I can. This morning was a little different as a softer thought gently wafted into my brain. How about getting up just to see what the day might hold for you? No rush, no fuss, no muss. So here it is, 6:18 am, showered, sipping a cup of tea, and considering some very Important Thoughts. (I have mentioned before that my early early morning thoughts seem to carry concepts and originality the rest of the day never sees.)
So what wonderous pervasive notion has captured my mind today?

Champions or perhaps non-Champions or perhaps some kinds of Champions.  (No I have not been eating ‘Wheaties – The Breakfast of Champions lately’)  What has been on my mind of course is NaNoWriMo as it is for many in this magical month.  And that got me to thinking – great thoughts (depending on the time of day of course).

Now you won’t find any whining and snivelling oh poor me here.  This is a journey of discovery.  Yep,  I have the concept, the plot, story, beginning, and ending.  Like all people, many of whom have full-time jobs in addition to this commitment, time is a challenge and my life much like yours is going through a period where the fates have increased the drama quotient by whirling up a stew of deaths, heartaches, illnesses, more illnesses, strife between people, stressors (none of which are mine personally, but family and friends) all  in the last ten days, stirred it all with the mighty universal spoon, thrown in our bowls and said, “Now deal with it.”

Now the scene is set.  No excuses to be had as life tends to do that to all of us sometimes, and while we look at our own set of problems there are way too many dealing with much much more.  Now setting all this in its place comes the crux of the matter.

I like to write.  I will finish this story because it deserves to be told.  I will  finish it on time.

It did get me thinking about different kinds of Champions though and my mind turned to running and races.

There are for instance Sprints, 100, 200, 300 meters which require a quick and large output of speed and focus on the athlete’s maximum attainment of speed.  Whew even the thought leaves me breathless and my heart feels like it should start pounding explosively. ( I won’t let it of course – much too old for such nonsense).  But the Sprint is pretty much what we bloggers do on a daily basis.

Then there are the Middle Distance Runners at 800 or 1500 meters.  This takes a little more strategy in accomplishing a win without blowing all your energy in the first quarter or half.  Different mind set.

Then, aha!  The Long Distance Runner.  Now that’s what I am talking about.  Going the distance.  The Novel.

My ever trustworthy and sharing friends at Wikipedia  have this interesting tidbit of information.

Stride rate and types

Exercise physiologists have found that the stride rates are extremely consistent across professional runners, between 185 and 200 steps per minute. The main difference between long- and short-distance runners is the length of stride rather than the rate of stride.[15][16]

During running, the speed at which the runner moves may be calculated by multiplying the cadence (steps per second) by the stride length. Running is often measured in terms of pace[17] in minutes per mile or kilometer. Fast stride rates coincide with the rate one pumps one’s arms. The faster one’s arms move up and down, parallel with the body, the faster the rate of stride. Different types of stride are necessary for different types of running. When sprinting, runners stay on their toes bringing their legs up, using shorter and faster strides. Long distance runners tend to have more relaxed strides that vary.

Reaching the finish line.

It’s wonderful to have dallied all these many many years thinking what a wonderful novelist I would be.  The thought first arrived on a sunny June afternoon about fifty years ago (oops a little of my procrastination side showing here).  I think it is pretty much time to find out and the ‘have to’ of a deadline makes it exciting.  Push come to shove I may just find out I am a Sprinter, in which case I shall devote all energy there.  Lord knows I am in exemplary company there.

English: Kensuke Takezawa is a Japanese long-d...

English: Kensuke Takezawa is a Japanese long-distance runner. 日本語: 竹澤健介は日本の長距離走選手。 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Oh The Plots We Weave: A Normal Guy and a Smart Guy ..Oh and Eating Crow

Oh the Plots We Weave

Mondays are Plot days.  Stories from the press with a few ‘whys’ and ‘what ifs’  which could be the makings of a possible story line.  A bit of creative brain exercise.  Yes I know this is Tuesday but since the last few days have been spent with my Scots Cuz Rachael and other family members, ‘making merry’ as Bob Cratchit would say, I have seen neither newspaper or telecasts.

So today’s ‘What ifs’ are really one line from two different stories, one last week and one from ages ago that I tucked into my grey matter for future use and wonders of wonders was able to extract.

The first was a headline in our local rag; MAN ACCUSED OF ARSON AND MURDER A NORMAL GUY.  Huh????  For some reason the press decided to lead with a statement from the accused’s brother.  Being a wordsmith my response remains ‘Huh”?????  I mean I suppose there are some possible ‘what ifs’ but geez (wordsmithing again) they pretty  much only extend to alien or evil possession and that story has been told time and time again.

The other line from a past story concerned a man whose office was relocated to a very high newly constructed building.  Some of the office staff were apprehensive about safety issues.  The man said he would show them how safe it was and launched himself against the plate glass which promptly broke and he fell to his death.  The statement in the article was, “He was a very smart man.”

I’m sure he was but the statement begs another big ‘Huh’???? I am not sure I can even come up with a what if for this one.  Can you?

Have you witnessed or read anything in the last week that got your mind churning with ‘what ifs’.  They are all around us just waiting to be snapped up.  My hero Stephen King does it all the time.

Now for that less than delectable lunch of crow:

My sibs and I are very close and really like each other.  My brother Keith who is less than a year younger than I is more like me than not.  At least that is what his wife says.  I have always placed my brothers on well deserved pedestals, but there is one specific situation in which we clash.  It has now happened twice in the last two years now.

Here is the scene:  five people are driving in a car to a specific location.  The same location as two years ago.  Our destination is in an area I frequently drive through.  He does not.  I am sitting in the back.

Me:  Keith what route are you taking?

K: 52

Me and my sis in unison:  FIFTY-TWO??????

Through further dialogue not necessary to record here he finally goes my suggested route.  Once we arrive at our destination he madly drives first down one road and then down another until he in fact finds 52.  Not a word is said as we proceed back to our target.  When we leave at evening’s end he quickly heads down the road to 52.  Nary a word is spoken by me.  Somewhere in the conversation earlier he said something to my cuz in the front seat about not having duct tape when you need it.

Okay here comes the Crow eating. Ahem (clearing throat).

Dear Brother,  whilst my directions did get us there I have to confess openly, and generously, and modestly, that left to your own devices you would have reached your destination just fine.

PS (not for Keith’s eyes) I still could have gotten us there more directly.

PPS Next time I shall supply the duct tape and apply it to myself prior to launch.

PPPS I just love how magnaminous I am!

PPPPS I guess 2 head-ons in 2 years isn’t so bad.

***It is highly unlikely that my brother will not read this as he does not read my blogs.  However there is a chance my cuz may.

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