#Weeknotes S02 E34

Aaaand, we’re back! It’s been awhile but I finally feel like I have the brainspace to bring this back now and in the fast approaching new year. I’m choosing not to be too hard on myself about taking a break and instead to (a) be happy with the 33 straight weeks of entries that I did manage and (b) to approach the prospect of 52 straight weeks in 2021 with curiosity — i.e. How will I pull this off? — rather than a goal that I’ll either meet or fail (usually fail) to meet.

So, what’s been going on the past seven days?

WRITING PROGRESS
Longest Writing Chain This Week: 7 days for 10 days total!

So far, so good building off of my November writing progress! It’s strange having found my way back into this groove, but I’m not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. The key this week (actually, over the last month) has been trusting my instincts, and it’s allowed me to take a story I’ve worked on for a couple of years and (I believe) come up with all the elements it needs. Now, I just need to fill in the words…

FEEDING MY HEAD
I picked Kit Reed’s STORY FIRST: THE WRITER AS INSIDER back up. I’d started reading this in January, so I went back a few pages from where I left off and finished it off between writing sessions. It definitely helped me through a couple of tough spots.

FEEDING MY EARS
I haven’t been able to get this out of my head for a week. Now, the more cynical of us might think, “Oh great, a Journey cover band made of of current and ex-Journey members… like how some ex-members of Chicago did?”

No, I’m here to celebrate Journey Through Time – two original members of Journey (Neal Schon and Greg Rolie), one not-original member who was with the band almost 20 years (drummer Deen Castronovo), and three other guys. Not to diss the three other guys, but they’re not the point of my obsession.

I saw Journey live around maybe 1999 or 2000ish after Steve Augeri replaced the apparently not irreplacable Steve Perry on lead vocals. Supposedly, Castronovo would do the occasional lead but I can’t remember if he sang anything when I saw them. Because you would think I would’ve remembered the drummer sounding at least as good as the Steves. Hey, don’t take my word for it…

I know, right??

Don’t worry, Arnel — you’re still my boy!

IN THE WILD
Really, there’s only been one barrier to my writing in the past few weeks. A lovely, sweet baby girl of a barrier but still…