Conversations with Calliope- Making it Through the Week

(Rain Clouds- San Juan)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Hanging on by a thread. I keep hoping to be recovered from my cold but it won't seem to let go.
CALLIOPE: Sorry to hear it. That must be a drag.
JOE: It is. Looking back over the week, I'm glad to have accomplished anything.
CALLIOPE: Not a stellar week?
JOE: Sometimes survival is a feat.
CALLIOPE: Any plans for today.
JOE: Tentative ones at best. I have managed some chapters of our new book, based on our blogs together. Maybe I can continue working on it.
CALLIOPE: Don't push yourself. Sometimes it's best to relax and let nature take its course.
JOE: Sound advice. I don't have too many expectations. However I will be ready for any energy which passes my way.
CALLIOPE: Take care of yourself.
JOE: I will. Talk with you on Monday.

Conversations with Calliope- A Beach for Ideas

(Boathouse Beach- Barbados)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you?
JOE: Still a little foggy from my cold. My mind has been active though.
CALLIOPE: What's stirring up there?
JOE: I thought about the column I just posted, Lessons from a Nude Beach and had an aha moment.
CALLIOPE: Which was?
JOE: I have been thinking about a website consisting of a playground for ideas. That's about as far as I got.
CALLIOPE: Until today?
JOE: Yes. I realized my ideas would be happier on a beach than on a playground.
CALLIOPE: What led you to that conclusion?
JOE: Maybe it's because I would be happier on a beach than on a playground.
CALLIOPE: Any other thoughts?
JOE: I realize life originated from the sea. What better place than a beach for ideas to germinate? They could write in the sand, swim or just bask in the sun.
CALLIOPE: All true.
JOE: I'll work on it some more and let you know what develops. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Getting Ideas to Work Together

Floating Bridge- Curacao)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: A little better than yesterday. I am holding my own in a struggle with the first cold I have had in ages.
CALLIOPE: I hope you win.
JOE: So do I.
CALLIOPE: I am anxious to know how you resolved your difficulty with your column yesterday.
JOE: First I had to figure out what the problem was.
CALLIOPE: Did you?
JOE: Yes. I had several distinct ideas which refused to communicate with each other and form a coherent piece.
CALLIOPE: That is a problem. What did you do about it?
JOE: I wrote as much as I could. When I realized I was getting nowhere, I put aside the column to let it percolate while I worked on other projects.
CALLIOPE: So what happened?
JOE: I trusted the process which I have used before. Later in the day, the connections appeared and the ideas started working together.
CALLIOPE: To what do you owe the honor?
JOE: To you, I expect. Thanks for the inspiration. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Parts is Parts

(Morning Rain- San Juan)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Okay, I guess. I went all winter without a cold and today I am struggling with one. My head is a little foggy today.
CALLIOPE: Will it slow you down?
JOE: I think it already has.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.
JOE: Yesterday I was working on my column for this Saturday. I talked with you about the idea last week, "Lessons from a Nude Beach."
CALLIOPE: Yes?
JOE: I thought it would be an easy column to write. I had a few clear ideas in my mind and thought I could compose a coherent column with ease.
CALLIOPE: Not the case?
JOE: No. I found the ideas harder to put into words than I realized and ended up with some disconnected observations which did not form a coherent piece.
CALLIOPE: How did it end up?
JOE: It didn't. At least not yet. I decided to put it aside and work on it today.
CALLIOPE: Is it still waiting?
JOE: I think of it as aging or marinating. I will get it out when we are finished and see whether I can pull it together. I'll let you know the results tomorrow. Talk with you then.

Conversations with Calliope- Parts is Parts

(Morning Rain- San Juan)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Okay, I guess. I went all winter without a cold and today I am struggling with one. My head is a little foggy today.
CALLIOPE: Will it slow you down?
JOE: I think it already has.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.
JOE: Yesterday I was working on my column for this Saturday. I talked with you about the idea last week, "Lessons from a Nude Beach."
CALLIOPE: Yes?
JOE: I thought it would be an easy column to write. I had a few clear ideas in my mind and thought I could compose a coherent column with ease.
CALLIOPE: Not the case?
JOE: No. I found the ideas harder to put into words than I realized and ended up with some disconnected observations which did not form a coherent piece.
CALLIOPE: How did it end up?
JOE: It didn't. At least not yet. I decided to put it aside and work on it today.
CALLIOPE: Is it still waiting?
JOE: I think of it as aging or marinating. I will get it out when we are finished and see whether I can pull it together. I'll let you know the results tomorrow. Talk with you then.

Conversations with Calliope- Our Journey Together

(Canadian Sailing Ship- St. Lucia)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What's this about a journey? I thought you just got back from a trip.
JOE: I did. This time you're invited.
CALLIOPE: Oh?
JOE: Actually we already took the trip. I am planning a book about our exploits in writing over the past year.
CALLIOPE: What do you plan to do with it?
JOE: I am working on an e-book documenting our conversations over the course of a year.
CALLIOPE: Sounds interesting. How did you settle on this project?
JOE: Booklocker has an interest in writing related books. I thought it might be a good place for us to hang out.
CALLIOPE: How will you organize it?
JOE: Right now I don't think I will. I see it as documenting the day to day adventures in writing and publishing for people who wonder what the writing life is about.
CALLIOPE: I like the idea. I guess I have never thought about the progress of our work together.
JOE: Neither have I. But I think we might both learn something about the process of writing.
CALLIOPE: Maybe it will suggest some new directions.
JOE: Perhaps. In any case I am looking forward to the adventure.

Conversations with Calliope- Train Memories

(Engine 999)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I missed you Saturday.
JOE: Sorry. I was out the door early and never got back to my computer.
CALLIOPE: Where were you off to?
JOE: I took my son and grandson to a model train show in Rochester.
CALLIOPE: How did you decide on that?
JOE: Trains have always been important to me.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.
JOE: My first life memory is of changing trains in Washington in the middle of the night on the way to Miami with my mother when I was about two so we could be with my father in the navy.
CALLIOPE: Any others?
JOE: My favorite memory of my grandfather is hearing the whistle as a train entered Dunkirk. We piled in the car and drove to the end of Park Avenue to watch a freight train stop, let off steam and cargo and then chug to a slow start on its way to the next stop.
CALLIOPE: Any other memories?
JOE: When I was writing my dissertation at the University of Illinois, I was assigned to the sixth floor of the library stacks where they also kept their collection of train books. They kept me sane when I felt overwhelmed with my research.
CALLIOPE: Did you share all of this with you son and grandson?
JOE: No. I kept the memories to myself but did share my enthusiasm for trains and what I had learned about them over the years. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Lessons from a Nude Beach

(Tiki Hut- Orient Beach, St. Martin)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What are you up to today?
JOE: I think I might have mentioned that I would be trying a new schedule.
CALLIOPE: You mean one with a day off from regular activities?
JOE: Exactly. Glad you are paying attention.
CALLIOPE: So tell me about the day off.
JOE: Today is the first one. Rather than spending my time poring over internet goings-on, I will spend some time thinking, reading and reflecting.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good idea. What reflections do you have? Anything about a nude beach?
JOE: How did you know? I was thinking about Orient Beach lately.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.
JOE: Orient Beach is the only one touted in the Caribbean as being clothing optional. I had wanted to visit it several years ago although my traveling companions weren't enthusiastic about the idea. This year they suggested it.
CALLIOPE: What was it like?
JOE: I suppose about what I expected. People of all ages and body types walked the beach in an unselfconscious way, very much in contrast to our schizophrenic attitude about nudity and sexuality.
CALLIOPE: Sounds interesting. What impressed you the most?
JOE: Seeing a father and his young daughter running down the beach in innocent glee. The image of the burned girl running from the massacre at MyLai in Vietnam sprung to my mind in contrast. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Life's Mysteries

(Metal Sculpture- Vigo Spain)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Fine, thank you.
CALLIOPE: What are you up to today?
JOE: Continuing to plan my website conversion.
CALLIOPE: Tell me more about it.
JOE: I see it as a playground for my ideas where I will let them run around and watch them develop.
CALLIOPE: You told me yesterday about what you know for sure. What else will be running around?
JOE: What I call life mysteries.
CALLIOPE: Which are?
JOE: Things I have thought about for years but still can't make much sense of.
CALLIOPE: For example?
JOE: Sexual abuse is one. I have worked in a sex abuse program and also written a novel about a priest struggling with his abuse issues. Still I don't really understand why people do such things, although I have a few hints.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a complex topic.
JOE: It is. Maybe we can make some sense of it together and with the input of our readers. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Things I know for sure

(With Carol in the Caribbean)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Was yesterday as busy as you thought it would be?
JOE: Yes. I spent most of it running around as I thought I would.
CALLIOPE: Did you get to work on your website revisions?
JOE: Not much. I did think about things I know for sure which will be one component.
CALLIOPE: What did you come up with?
JOE; My first realization was that I am loved. I think I will start with that one.
CALLIOPE: Did you come up with any others?
JOE: I tried but couldn't get past the first one. I thought of people who don't feel loved and wonder what life must be like for them.
CALLIOPE: Good point.
JOE: I also wondered how much a part not feeling loved plays in the violence which seems to be increasing or is at least more reported in the news lately.
CALLIOPE: Maybe that will be the first of the life mysteries you plan to include.
JOE: It may well be. I will give this some thought. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Refocusing

(New Yorker Cartoon)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Fine but still a little groggy from my trip.
CALLIOPE: Did you get much accomplished yesterday?
JOE: After writing our blog and posting my most recent newsletter, I started thinking about revisions in my website and continued reviewing The Gift of Years. That's about it.
CALLIOPE: At least you got something done.
JOE: True. Today is fairly busy. I have yoga this morning to refocus my mind and a trip to Batavia this afternoon to drop off a copy of my book and do some shopping.
CALLIOPE: Any plans for literary activities?
JOE: I would like to work some more on my website revisions. I also have a radio interview to post on my Sliding Otter Website.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like enough for today.
JOE: I think so. I am beginning to realize that there is no pressure to get things done. My livelihood doesn't depend on it. I can work at my leisure.
CALLIOPE: That's a nice feeling.
JOE: It is. I was frantic for too many years.
CALLIOPE: And now?
JOE: I can just enjoy the process of what I am doing without the necessity of working on a schedule. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Footprints in the Sand

(Footprints in the Sand)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I thought I might hear from you while you were on the high seas.
JOE: I thought you might too, but it turned out to be more complicated that I thought.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about your trip.
JOE: It was wonderful to get away from the cold for a while. We spent more time on various beaches than ever before and enjoyed the water and breezes.
CALLIOPE: Did you discover anything about yourself while you were gone?
JOE: My mind remained pretty fallow. I concentrated on enjoying the moment most of the time.
CALLIOPE: You planned to consider your future directions.
JOE: I did but only toward the end of the week.
CALLIOPE: What did you come up with.
JOE: After finishing Joan Chittister's book The Gift of Years I have decided to concentrate on two areas, what I know for sure and life mysteries.
CALLIOPE: How do you plan to do that?
JOE: I will use my Sliding Otter website for my books and other formal writings. I will convert my Commonsense Wisdom website to a place where I can explore both issues.
CALLIOPE: Sounds interesting.
JOE: I think so. I'll let you know how it turns out. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Leaving on a Jet Plane

(Serenade of the Seas)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Having trouble concentrating on matters literary.
CALLIOPE: Why's that?
JOE: I'm leaving for a cruise on Friday and will have a chance to get away from my usual routine. I'm afraid my mind has already left.
CALLIOPE: Not surprising. It is rather exciting.
JOE: It is. I have been on a fair number of cruises before, but it's always a marvel for me to live aboard a floating town for week.
CALLIOPE: Will I hear from you while you are gone?
JOE: Probably not. If I can find a way to send a post I will, but no promises. It might be beyond my mortal powers.
CALLIOPE: I can't help you there. Muses are versed in inspiration but not technology.
JOE: I'm glad you understand.
CALLIOPE: Maybe I need a little break too.
JOE: Perhaps. If you do take one, say hello to the folks at Mt. Olympus for me. Talk with you on February 16 if not before.

Conversations with Calliope- Finding Balance

(Towel Swans)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Not bad.
CALLIOPE: Not too talkative either I see. What's going on?
JOE: Not much. I guess I sometimes get a little discouraged.
CALLIOPE: On what account?
JOE: I spent quite a bit of time preparing the launch of my newsletter but have had very little early response.
CALLIOPE: What did you expect?
JOE: I guess more than I got.
CALLIOPE: Did you go all out in announcing it?
JOE: No. It was a rather modest presentation.
CALLIOPE: How do you expect to get attention that way?
JOE: Good point. I am annoyed by all the "in your face" ads I face everywhere and did not want to add to the barrage.
CALLIOPE: I understand but it looks you went to the opposite extreme.
JOE: I can't argue there. Like everything else, I guess I still need to work on moderation and balance. A remaining challenge. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Vacation Posting

(San Juan-Condado Coastline)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Rested after a peaceful and interesting weekend.
CALLIOPE: How did you spend it?
JOE: Doing a little tweaking on my website on Saturday and entertaining friends at night. Yesterday I got out the cross country skis, did some reading and watched the Super Bowl.
CALLIOPE: And now you are back at the computer.
JOE: You noticed.
CALLIOPE: I did. What's up this week?
JOE: I will be away next week and I am busy trying to decide how much to keep in contact. Gerry would suggest I leave my correspondence and writing behind for the week. Carol already did suggest this.
CALLIOPE: What are you considering?
JOE: I thought of an autoresponder for my email. I am considering continuing my blog although I have never used a shipboard computer. I might try sending some blogs but haven't decided about this yet.
CALLIOPE: It might be an adventure.
JOE: It might but it might also entail aggravation and expense I do not need.
CALLIOPE: I guess I'll have to wait and see.
JOE: I guess so. Talk with you tomorrow.