Again with the Writer's Block - Small Town Activities

I believe it was Bukowski who said the secret to great writing was to wait until you are inspired - even if it takes years. Well, at this rate, I might not blog for years. Again, please forgive my lack of inspiration.

Last weekend, I was able to volunteer at the Taos Shortz Film Festival. While I wasn't able to attend the pre-festival meeting, I was able to work at the will call desk, box office and usher positions with little difficulty. I met a few new people and was able to see several little movies, all under 30-minutes. One was only 10 seconds long. The films came from around the globe, one of the best, from Japan, an action movie about a company that erases memories for a fee. Wish I could remember the name - mostly because whatever song played during the closing credits had the coolest bass line. Another amazing prize-winning film was from France or Belgium, about a little ballerina, who charms a trio of thugs when she gets the wrong address for an audition to play Tinkerbell in Peter Pan. After my third day of volunteering, I felt empowered and was surprised at how many familiar faces I saw. 

On Thursday, after doing the shopping for my landlady, I headed to the radio station / bar and concert venue to volunteer for the animal shelter's radiothon. Listening in, I was absolutely stunned that everybody who called in to donate had to give out their first and last name and PHONE NUMBER over the air!!!! That can't be very safe. There was another phone number to call if you did not want to be on-air, but I only learned about it later in the afternoon. While I was listening, I never heard them give it out over the airwaves. I was placed at the front desk with 2 other ladies. It was our job to take walk-in donations, sell raffle tickets and collect money and distribute pledge premiums to folks making good on their previous on-air pledges. It was a very stressful afternoon, for me. I could not multi-task at all, and the conversations of the other ladies and their friends nearly blew out my head. There was way too much going on and I was unable to concentrate. I felt like I did that day when I worked at the real estate office and wound up in the fetal position on the floor. When I was younger, I used to love front desk jobs and was very good at being the epicenter for the office buzz. Not any more. Not since the mid-90's. I just can't do this kind of work anymore. I gotta find some kind of skill where I can concentrate on a task. 

Anyhow, I was so stressed out from volunteering, Afterwards I had to go out and get a drink. Deep breathing wasn't helping. The drink helped a little, but then I needed to stay home and decompress for an entire day afterwards. I wonder what is wrong with me? I seem to feel everybody's emotions all at once these days. I can't filter them out. 

In fact, earlier in the day, I stopped for gas. While waiting for a free pump, I felt myself get more and more anxious. I couldn't figure this out. I mean, I only had to wait about 3 minutes for one to clear. Suddenly, a police man ran in front of the station. I said to myself "this can't be good". And then, another cop streaked past. Then 3 police cars sped by. After they passed, I instantly felt better. I wondered if I was picking up their stress and thought it was coming from me? I need to find a way to filter out this stuff.

Writing with Writers Block - Trip to Alamosa

Oh God, we're in a real desert here! Massive writer's block for months.

OK - just pushing through it, advice recently received from "The Pioneer Woman", on her blog.

I have kept myself pretty busy, recently. Back in August, I was in a minor car accident but the insurance company totaled my car (whose name is Bernard). However, I have had severe spring fever, recently, and that means I've been itching for a road trip. I have been thinking of taking a drive to Denver (5 hours away), as I miss city life and corporate coffee. I wanted to take Bernard on a test drive. So, on Wednesday, I pointed his headlights north and decided to see the scenery.

Once you get about 30 miles outside of Taos, there is NOTHING. Wow. Barren roads. Desert and sagebrush and mountains in the distance. A couple of ranches and houses and that is all, for about 25 miles. And then, a small town and the choice of making a left or a right. I turned the wheel to the left and decided to go to Alamosa, CO., the town from where the public radio station broadcasts. I was happy to see clapboard houses and pitched roofs. Different from the adobe saturation I have become used to. Downtown Alamosa has some restaurants and coffee shops and a very old looking J.C. Penney's. Funny to see modern fashions adorning the headless 1970's-era mannequins. I saw a Safeway a few blocks down the road, and a STARBUCKS sign. I satisfied my yen for corporate coffee.

Heading down another street, I came across a sign for "Community Acupuncture". In Seattle, I regularly received the needles in a group recliner chair setting. It was wonderful to do it again, and the acupuncturist was a young man who was very easy on the eyes. A double bonus. I learned that a community acupuncture office has opened in Taos, recently. I'll have to check it out.

After my treatment, I drove back home, using a different 2 lane highway. 70 miles later, I headed up my driveway. I had put 198 miles on Bernard, and he didn't pop or ping or lose much fluid. Sure the heater and air conditioning fan isn't working on settings 1 or 2 anymore. 3 and 4 seem to work just fine - even if the noise drowns out the radio.

Now that I know what lies directly to the North, maybe I will make that Denver trip. Armed with the knowledge that there is no cell phone service and no gas stations for 50 miles, I'll have to drive with a lot of faith.