Extraordinary Things

I’ve been very busy with work lately. In fact, I worked most of the weekend to complete a sizable task in order to free up time to complete numerous other tasks before I go on vacation next month. The days pass by without count, with each blending into the next, and today I wonder, what have I accomplished?

I have labored at mundane things. I’ve written documents for work. I’ve walked the dogs. I’ve vacuumed the carpets and bought groceries. But what have I accomplished recently? When was the last time I did accomplish something noteworthy?

I’m going to the Baltimore Grand Prix again this year. That’s a notable event, but I’m not doing anything noteworthy. Tony Kanaan is the driver I like. He races cars at over 100 miles per hour from May to November. That’s noteworthy. And he won the Indianapolis 500 this year. That’s noteworthy too. But he is a celebrity.

My next door neighbor growing up, who is but a week older than me, made wildlife films and has had three successful nature shows. Those are noteworthy, and within the realm of reality. I knew him before all that, and we got together when I was in his area a few months ago. He was honored by our high school for his achievements the following week.

But what have I accomplished?

Well, I’ve painted almost 100 miniatures. You can see some of them on my other blog Ministieg Studio. Some of me are pretty impressive, if I do say so myself. And I will be adding a lot more.

I’ve also written over 350 pages of a novel. Granted it’s been in the works for over 20 years, and I haven’t worked on it for a couple of years, but that’s something. Fourteen years ago, Brian Lumley advised me to write something every day, even if it was just and idea. Since that time, when I have done that, the words found their way onto the page. That was the inspiration for this blog. However, as you probably noticed, it’s been over two weeks since I posted anything here.

I had started taking wildlife photos in a big way, and some of them are pretty good too. The folks at the park where I take most of them said I should enter their fall photography’s contest. I think I will, and I’m assembling a collection in order to publish a book. Maybe they’ll display my work in the visitor center gallery.

I need to capture the significant things I do in my life, and start settings out to do more of them. Like going to a convention in a costume. Or participating in a LARP. I went to a costume wedding last year and that was a lot of fun, but we were just sitting around the reception. I think LARPing is the next step.

But in the mean time, it’s time to resume work on that novel. It’s been. A New Years resolution for the past three years to finish it. But so was losing weight, and this year I lost 30 pounds. If I can do that, I can complete and self-publish this novel.