Transparent Tuesday: Yacht Rock On

Summer breeze makes me feel fine

– “Summer Breeze”, Seals and Crofts (Summer Breeze lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group)

GilbertTempMemDayI’ve settled into one of my favorite writing spots this Memorial Day afternoon – the screened-in back porch. Sure, it’s 95 degrees, but it’s a lot closer to the Arizona “dry heat” with humidity of only 28%.

A couple of massive white oak trees (top five on my all-time favorite tree list. Yes, I have such a thing) shade the back of the house, and combined with the ceiling fan, it’s quite tolerable. Not necessarily physically pleasant, but not unpleasant, either. However, it is mentally pleasing, and that’s probably most important.

I know that it’s time for a cool change
Now that my life is so prearranged
I know that it’s time for a cool change

-“Cool Change”, Little River Band (Cool Change lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc)

IMG_7943Another happy note – now that Memorial Day has come and gone, marking the true start of summer, the Yacht Rock Radio channel has made its way back to XM radio. What is Yacht Rock, you may ask?

In a nutshell, it is ’70’s and some early ’80’s soft rock. Think Seals and Crofts, Little River Band, and the captain of the ship himself, Christopher Cross.

While it’s fun to listen to these classics and rarities that take me back in time, like Chuck Mangione’s Feel So Good, it’s even better to drive my daughter bonkers when I switch the radio channel to Yacht Rock.

Ah..making memories.

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Speaking of rarities…I was actually paying attention to the pastor during the second half of his sermon yesterday.  While I appreciate the time and effort it takes to deliver a talk to a congregation each week (especially after several different blog attempts), it doesn’t mean I don’t drift off mentally after about 20-25 minutes.

I beg your pardon momma
What did you say?
My mind was drifted off on Martinique Bay

– “American Dream”, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (American Dream lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Travellers Hollow Music)

I think studies have shown 20 minutes is the maximum attention span of most people (That why Ted Talks are 18 minutes), so I don’t understand why some pastors insist on 45-minute sermons. But I digress.

Anyway, the pastor said in tough times, some things need to go. And since some parts of 2019 can be classified as tough times for me and my family, this advice has me thinking: What needs to go? There’s a definite number one, but I’m not going to put that in print right now since you never know who might read this. Let’s just say that for the first time in a long time, there are some potential developments in that area.

So, what would be second? I’m working on that, and it’s becoming a long list to mull over. However, in the interim, I am considering giving up Diet Dr. Pepper. Again.

I realize, this is probably not what the pastor meant, but as I sit here on the porch sipping on my fourth Pepper of the day, I think it might be time.  During my last couple of marathon training cycles, I have given up soft drinks, and the last one was no different. However, since I completed the last marathon in March, I’ve had way too much of the stuff.

Now, with the heat, it may be best to up my water intake, anyway. I’d like to say I could cut a deal with myself and limit DDP’s to some sort of five to one water to soft drink ratio, but I’m usually better at cutting them out altogether than moderation.

Decisions. Decisions.

Transparency

So what about this week’s fiction writing progress?

ZERO. NADA. ZILCH.

I’ll admit, this writing pursuit is one of the things I’ve been considering putting on the break-up list. And weeks like this where I accomplish absolutely nothing toward my novel don’t help. Sure, I have plenty of excuses, but I’m just not making headway on a new routine for novel writing.  If you’re going to eat an elephant one bite at a time, at some point you need to pick up the fork. The problem with quitting writing is that the noises in my head eventually come back…

“Put me out there,” they say.

Photo Credit: Sheba_Also 15.6 Million Views Flickr via Compfight cc

Photo Credit: Sheba_Also 15.6 Million Views Flickr via Compfight cc

Therefore, this week, I am not giving up on writing, but I will have no expectations or goals for the week. I will write for enjoyment and if that is toward the new novel, great. If it’s toward something else, then that’s great, too. Or maybe I’ll by a boat.

Sailing takes me away to where I’ve always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free

-“Sailing”, Christopher Cross (Sailing lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group)

Have a good week.

Yacht Rock on!

Thanks for reading.

GFLogo

 

 

PS. My family would like to see me give up Yacht Rock Radio, but that’s not going to happen. I’m am considering giving up eating at my hometown Chick-fil-A or at least giving up dining in there. With their new configuration, there is no way to escape the kid noise and it’s driving me crazy(er). I must have passed some old-age threshold. Ha!

 

One Reply to “Transparent Tuesday: Yacht Rock On”

  1. […] At least it was my current favorite, 93.1 The Lake, a locally owned station with a penchant for Yacht Rock. Perseverance for the win and high seas for the […]

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