Writing

What is writing?

I catch myself asking that question almost every day now. What prompted this was listening to one of my favorite Podcasts, The Thomas Jefferson Hour. The creator, Clay Jenkinson was interviewed (some would say cross-examined) by his recent guest host, an attorney, about his life in Bismarck North Dakota. They discuss “Writing” with a capital W and a sense of place. This got me thinking.

Am I a writer?

If the definition is, One who is paid to produce works that derive income or royalties, the answer is a resounding no. However, if it's someone who every morning parks his hind-side at a desk and taps away at a keyboard attempting to clarify his thinking, improve written communication skills, synthesize experiences and knowledge, I emphatically say in a sonorous voice, Yes. I leave it up to you, the reader to make your own assessment.

Sense of place?

My attempt to share a “sense of place” is my fictional creation Hercule Peridot. Indeed, the notion is to synthesize my love of gems, share my travel experiences, apply the science of deduction, practice the art of creative writing, and have a little fun in the process.

Scattered stories.

The fictional stories are scattered throughout this blog. So, to help the reader establish some sense of continuity I’ve listed Peridots' adventures so far in chronological order:

The adventure continues. It looks like our heroes are headed for the United Arab Emirates.

. . . stay tuned.

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A B+ Kind of Life

Welcome back to this week's On the Fly . Retirement has taught me something unexpected: life gets a lot more enjoyable when you stop chasing perfection. Lately, I've been having an absolute blast playing executive par-3 courses like Rancho Carlsbad . A short iron, a sunny morning, and nowhere to be except the next tee—that's my kind of day. This Thursday, though, I'm raising the stakes. I'm heading to The Links at Lakehouse in San Marcos, a full-size par-71 course with enough water hazards to keep the local fish well-stocked with my golf balls. After shooting a 64 on a par-3 course, I've set myself a new goal: shoot an 89 before my birthday next August. Why 89? Because on a par-71 course, that's bogey golf—one extra stroke per hole. For non-golfers, think of it this way: par is like earning 100% on a final exam. Bogey golf is a solid B+. You got the job done, learned something, and probably had a lot more fun getting there. The older I get, the more I appre...

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