A kinda anniversary

Three years today.
Wow. It's hard to believe. Where have the past 1096 disappeared too. It sure as heck doesn't feel like I've been taking up space in Poland for that long.

What have I done in all this time? Has it been wasted? Has it been worthwhile?
Well, in my personal guidebook for life I like to think that every experience is a valuable one. There will always be good times, bad times and indifferent times. The only thing I hope for at this moment is that I have grown as a person. The rest doesn't really matter.

So how am I celebrating?
A delicious bowl of pasta, glass of red, and an assignment for my Masters that must be finished today, no excuses. Joy.

Taking Your Own Advice

Why is it always easier to give others advice but when it comes to taking our own it just doesn't happen. I'm beginning to wonder whether or not I'm looking at life a little bit inappropriately. Being born under the sign of the Pig, I am a Taurus. Taurus's are stubborn, love life and food, like to get what they want and can be temperamental. I am all those things with little boundaries. They also like the fine things in life and to be surrounded by people they can be proud of. When this does not happen, life can go haywire for some Taurus's. And if they aren't satisfying their life expectations every day, things get nasty.

I've noticed in recent months that things are getting nasty for me. The people around me are driving me crazy. I see their imperfections and I realise that some of the things I dislike in them, are actually the things I can't stand about myself. As a result I feel down most of the time and feel like packing my suitcase and disappearing.

The problem? Me, really. I've stopped doing the things that I love and moving in the direction that I want to go in.

The solution? Get off my ass, start dong the things that matter to me and stop caring about what others think. Until I am happy with who I am and what I'm doing, nothing will change.

Good news or bad news?

Reading the newspaper on-line has become an everyday ritual. It's one of the first things I do when I turn on my computer whether it's in the morning or afternoon. Keeping abreast of all the latest in news headlines keeps me aware of what is going on in the world. I always thought this was a good thing. Lately, I'm beginning to wonder.

Wherever I look there's bad news posted on the page. Murder, violence, drugs, accidents, fraud, crime, war. I'm sick of it. I'm sick of seeing all the negativity in the world. Yes, I know that the reality is that there are good and bad people. Unfortunately, it's just those that commit crimes or do something stupid who get attention. The individuals who actually make a positive difference to society are rarely heard of. Why? Yes, we are obsessed with bad news. It's what sells. Just like sex sells, bad news sells. Which newspaper would you be more likely to buy, 'Five Beat Up in Nightclub Raid' or 'Mother of Five Saves Stray Dogs'?

Shouldn't journalists be paying as much, if not more attention to stories that show the positive sides of people. Wouldn't that have a positive impact on society's behaviour? Set an example to act like decent human beings? Maybe it's all the bad news that's broadcast around the world which is leading to even more crime and violence. I'm worried that in five or ten years time it's going to be dangerous to go outside like portrayed in one of those lame futuristic films.

What do you think?

II Bieg Zoo, Warsaw

Yesterday at 10am, 1000 people from all over Poland joined together to participate in the second 10km Bieg Zoo in Praga, Warsaw. While the weather was in our favour, the morning was filled with sweaty smiles, laughter and exhaustion. A combination enjoyed by many runners.
Running is one of those sports where everyone is equal. No one is judged by their occupation, income levels, age or likes and dislikes. Everyone on this day is a runner and there for the same thing, to give it their best and have a good time. Some people beat records, others are happy to finish the race. The atmosphere was great regardless of the rain.

While I had fun, this was one of my lousiest runs. My body somehow failed me but I managed to finish with a time of 52:17 minutes. At one point I had nausea, stomach ache and a stitch at the same time which slowed me down incredibly. Why? I'm guessing it was the large breakfast I had on the morning of the race. Next time, I'll remember to eat less before the race. Jarek finished with a great time of 46:32.

Poland in Mourning

April 10th 2010. A day meant for commemeration. A day for remembrance. The 70th anniversary of the Katyn tragedies.

Instead, Poland is in mourning another tragedy.

The Polish President and his wife, have been tragically killed in an aeroplane catastrophe near the Smolensk Airport.

What has occurred is beyond anyone's imagination. What happened this morning is one of the biggest tragedies of the 21st Century that a nation could experience.

As the TVN broadcasters read out the names, one by one, they claim that there were 88 individuals on board, though the number could be lower or higher. Many of them important parliamentary and religious figures in Poland.

The loss experienced is beyond words, beyond understanding, unimaginable, unbelievable.

How could this tragedy have occurred?
Why?

Questions that may not be answered to anyone's satisfaction.
Faulty aeroplane. Bad weather. Something else.

The irony in it.

70 years ago Poles were killed in Katyn. Today, 70 years after, another catastrophe has hit Poland.

An investigation will take place. But whatever they find, it will not bring back the lives of those lost. Condolences and sympathies to the entire nation.

When things like this occur, it forces us to reflect. To wonder about what is life about. How insignificant the things we worry about are. We don't know what tomorrow brings. Yesterday shouldn't matter, tomorrow doesn't exist, and we should focus on the present because really it's a present to have every extra day. Accidents happen, we cannot predict them. Things happen that are out of our control.

The magnitude of this tragedy, the repercussions on the nation. What will happen next?

Writing Excessively or Not

I often read about the problem with overwriting. Too many details, too many words, similes, metaphors, unnecessary adverbs and weak verbs. Looking over my manuscript I find that my problem is 'skinny' writing. I'm yet to come across an article telling me how to avoid this – I doubt that I am the only one with this problem.

I've written and thrown out about a dozen novels. My apprenticeship as I see it. The problem is that once I get to about 60,000 words I'm finished. The story is finished. There's a lot happening. The problem is that I don't know how to thicken the scenes out.

So what is my solution?

Well I need to learn to write excessively. Figuring that out is the easy part. How does one write excessively?

Details. Details within the details. Description. It's easy, so why can't I manage to do it?

Any advice?

Did I or Didn't I?

Lent is finished. At the start of this period I created some goals. I have to say that life got in the way. My work load was higher and there were a lot of other things in the middle that couldn't be avoided. Some positive some negative, most unavoidable.

So how did I go?

I successfully managed not to eat any chocolate, cakes or sweets during the Lent period. This was probably the most important goal because I love eating chocolate. Surprisingly it wasn't as difficult as I assumed. This morning I was reading a health magazine and there was a short filler on the benefits of dark chocolate on stress levels. Eating a small piece or two of dark chocolate every day can reduce stress levels – that probably explains me having a short fuse over the past forty days.

Exercise was overlooked a little bit. Weather and time constraints. Yes, excuses, excuses. But I have started a regular exercise regime again to stay fit and improve my fitness level, running time and general health. I've got a 10km run coming up mid April – Bieg Zoo – or Zoo Run. It's a few laps around the Warsaw Zoo.

Writing those queries. This was a tough goal. I probably overestimated my abilities and time availability. I slacked off a bit. The aim was to write and submit 100 queries. I've submitted about 50. This is still a good effort. Every extra query I send out is better than none. The results from this effort? I've had one acceptance so far and five rejections. I'll give it another two weeks before I follow up. The rejected queries are going to be sent out to start looking for another home.

Happy Easter to All!