Conversations with Calliope- Directions

(Letchworth)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How goes it today?
JOE: Other than a leaky faucet the day's off to a fairly good start.
CALLIOPE: Did you tend to the faucet?
JOE; I got it diagnosed. Next is surgery, but it's in the works.
CALLIOPE: How about literary matters?
JOE: I'm continuing to work through Guerrilla Marketing for Writers.
CALLIOPE: What do you think so far?
JOE: There's enough here to keep me busy for years.
CALLIOPE: But?
JOE: But I don't want to spend years marketing.
CALLIOPE: So?
JOE: My current thought is to make room for marketing efforts in my schedule but not let them take over my life.
CALLIOPE: Sounds sensible. Back to balance.
JOE: Indeed. Now to do it. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Writing Adventures

(Searching for Coney Island)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Ready for another week.
CALLIOPE: What's on your plate today?
JOE: Continuing to plan my future.
CALLIOPE: How much of that do you think you have?
JOE: Obviously none of us knows. My mother's ninetieth birthday yesterday reminded me that I don't have forever to live.
CALLIOPE: Unless you are a muse. Have you come to any decisions about marketing?
JOE: No, but I did find Levinson, Frishman and Larsen's book Guerrilla Marketing for Writers on my bookshelf as I was perusing it for something to help me.
CALLIOPE: Did it?
JOE: Yes. They present quite a few approaches which cost little or no money and don't involve spending your whole life in the pursuit.
CALLIOPE: Where does that leave you?
JOE: I'm still reading it but it suggests to me that I can incorporate marketing tasks while keeping my focus on writing.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like you're working toward a balance.
JOE: I am. I'll let you know how it's coming when we talk tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Saturday Morning

(Phalaenopsis Orchids)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Relieved.
CALLIOPE: On what account?
JOE: Having met the technological challenge of developing new websites and living to tell the tale.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like an accomplishment.
JOE: I like to think so.
CALLIOPE: So now what?
JOE: I';m taking a little time to enjoy summer.
CALLIOPE: How?
JOE: Carol and I will walk down to the Leroy Farm Market this morning and this afternoon our friends have invited us to bask in their pool with them.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like fun.
JOE: I feel like the world has been passing me by while I became engrossed in my technological challenge.
CALLIOPE: With everything going on in the world it can still be a beautiful place.
JOE: I plan to remind myself of that this weekend. Talk with you on Monday.

Conversations with Calliope- Gone Fishin'

(Joey Not Fishing)
JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon Joe. Where have you been?
JOE: Gone fishin'.
CALLIOPE: Likely story.
JOE: It happens to be true. My grandson Joey just turned seven. I bought him some fishing tackle for his birthday and took him fishing for the first time today.
CALLIOPE: How was it?
JOE: We both enjoyed the adventure. So did the fish. They were somewhere else besides under the bridge where we fished.
CALLIOPE: I thought you would be hard at work on our book.
JOE: Patience. I spent most of yesterday working on it. I checked the size of the book with reduced size pictures and realized it was still way too big.
CALLIOPE: So now what?
JOE: I have to decide whether to eliminate all the pictures and proceed or publish it myself with pictures.
CALLIOPE: What are the pros and cons?
JOE: If I do it myself, I can include all the pictures in a PDF. If I have Booklocker do it, I will have a distribution channel.
CALLIOPE: What's your inclination?
JOE: I'm still waiting for the jury in my head. You are invited to vote. Talk to you Monday.

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- Dialogue with My Muse

(With Carol at the Mardi Gras Museum- New Orleans)
JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Fine, but a little preoccupied.
CALLIOPE: With what?
JOE: I am planning a move from Batavia to Leroy in the next month and have been busy preparing.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about the process.
JOE: Since I moved here twelve years ago, I retired as a psychologist and began writing full time. Much of the detritus of my former life still fills my apartment. Now as I prepare to move, I am sorting through the remains of my past life and preparing to move on.
CALLIOPE: How does that feel?
JOE: A little strange. I don't often stop to look back over past chapters of my life. I just close the volume and move on. Deciding what to throw out and what to pass on to others makes me think of what I have accomplished and what I still want to do.
CALLIOPE: Have you come to any great realizations?
JOE: I now realize I have been motivated mostly by achievement and helping others. I have become a little unbalanced, letting go of the opportunity to make sure I enjoy life in the process.
CALLIOPE: How are you planning to become rebalanced?
JOE: By making sure I spend more time with people and also making room for painting and photography.
CALLIOPE: My sisters will be proud of you.
JOE: Please put in a good word with your sister muses for me. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Fine. After a deluge last night, the sky is clear blue with a few friendly clouds. I am feeling at peace and optimistic.
CALLIOPE: What brought all this on?
JOE: I have been contemplating my conversation with Gerry which we discussed yesterday. I think he is right that to some extent my early conflicts still plague me.
CALLIOPE: Which conflicts?
JOE: The ones which made me feel it was my responsibility to make sense of the world and to some extent contribute to saving it.
CALLIOPE: Rather messianic isn't it?
JOE: Now that you mention it, yes. I took it upon myself to contribute to making the world a better place in which to live. I chose to do this through my writing.
CALLIOPE: Wherein lies the conflict?
JOE: Despite what I have done in my own small way, I see the world as largely an egocentric pursuit by many of its denizens. It seems most people care mostly about themselves and not so much about others. Pursuit of what they want seldom seems to involve consideration of others' needs.
CALLIOPE: Is it you job to change this?
JOE: I am coming to realize that it is not. I think I have made suggestions in my writing of alternative ways to live including a better harmony between our own lives and those of others. But it is not up to me to make the world a perfect place before I leave it.
CALLIOPE: Good realization. So what now?
JOE: I will continue to offer any suggestions which occur to me for consideration of anyone who will listen. I will also concentrate more on enjoying the world as I find it. Talk with you tomorrow.
(My grandson Joey at Strong Museum)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I have been expecting you for a while.
JOE: I was feeling rather languorous this morning.
CALLIOPE: Still not back in gear after yesterday?
JOE: Correct. I spent most of the day in service to others. The whole morning was at the police training telling my mental health story as a parent and listening to others' stories.
CALLIOPE: And the afternoon?
JOE: I had planned to relax which I did for about fifteen minutes. Then my daughter asked me to go with her to look at a car.
CALLIOPE: Which you did?
JOE: Of course. What kind of father do you take me for?
CALLIOPE: And the evening?
JOE: I went to the first Jackson Square concert of the summer in Batavia for a Frank Sinatra tribute. It was a chance to relax and interact socially with others.
CALLIOPE: So you spent your whole day with others instead of by yourself?
JOE: I hadn't thought of it that way, but yes I did.
CALLIOPE: And today?
JOE: I found a book on the Craft and Business of Writing, a Writer's Digest book, and might spend some time reading it.
CALLIOPE: What about the recordings?
JOE: Ill fated. The construction continues upstairs. Either today or Monday I will get to them. Now I need to post my column on my website and get going for the day. Talk with you Monday.
(Columbus Circle- New York)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: In high gear. it has been a very busy week and today does not look any quieter.
CALLIOPE: How was the training conference yesterday?
JOE: Interesting. I was looking for some more marketing ideas. Most of the ones mentioned were already familiar to me. I guess I am beginning to know my way around the Internet marketing field, at least a little.
CALLIOPE: Did you learn anything?
JOE: Yes, but it was a bit of a surprise. I learned what was important to me. The focus of the training was on making money. One point early in the presentation was that your book was one of the least important elements and that it was leverage for making real money. I realized that I am not in this for the money. I would not mind earning some from my writing but my main focus is on what I have to say.
CALLIOPE: Which is?
JOE: My mission is to help readers understand themselves and their impact on others. I realize I need to do marketing to make people aware of my writing and also meet my expenses along the way.
CALLIOPE: Noble of you. How do you balance your communication and the business aspects of writing?
JOE: Good question. I have been thinking about that one for quite a while. There have been times I have been tempted to try writing something which would make a lot of money. Then I realized this was a distraction from what my writing is really about. I am struggling to keep a balance and stay focused. I wonder if there are other writers with this same dilemma. I would like to hear from them.
CALLIOPE: So what are you up to today?
JOE: I am off to Tonawanda shortly to do a police candidate evaluation, one of the few remaining psychological tasks I have. Then I will be back at the computer exploring the writing world and my place in it.
CALLIOPE: Any specific goals for today?
JOE: Yes. I have been planning to design a logo for my writing and plan to at least start working on it today. Time for work. Talk with you tomorrow.

(Sitting in Herman Melville's pew- Seaman's Bethel, New Bedford, MA)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Fine. It is starting to look and feel like Spring. It brightens my spirit and adds to the good feeling I have from finishing the draft of Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: Have you started with the editing yet?
JOE: I have read that it is best to let a book rest for a while after finishing a draft. I guess I'm anxious to get on with it. The beginning of the book has had plenty of time to rest. I'll work on the editing for a while and see how it goes.
CALLIOPE: What if it turns out it is too soon?
JOE: I can always put it aside and do more with Commonsense Wisdom for Teens which I was working on before.
CALLIOPE: Why did you stop working on this book?
JOE: I was getting a little frustrated. I talked with a publisher but we had trouble agreeing on how I should go about it. He wanted me to try to gather input from teens online and I had no idea how to go about it then. So I just put the book on the shelf.
CALLIOPE: And now?
JOE: I have learned more about how to get input and am ready to renew my efforts.
CALLIOPE: Good luck.
JOE: Thanks. Things always turn out to be more effort than I thought. But I have plenty of stamina these days. And so to work. Talk with you Monday.

(Sunrise- Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning.
JOE: Better than the last few days. I did something to my back and haven't been sleeping well lately.
CALLIOPE: What are you doing about it?
JOE: I was hoping rest would be enough. But I keep aggravating it. I plan to call a chiropractor today.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good idea. What's been going on besides that?
JOE: Aunt Lucille finally died yesterday morning. She seemed close to death a few times but was finally ready to go and said, "Let's get the show on the road."
CALLIOPE: She was quite a character from what you have written about her in the past.
JOE: You're right. I will miss her as will Carol. But we have fine memories of our times with her. One of her last requests was that I do her eulogy.
CALLIOPE: How's it coming?
JOE: Just about finished. We have a cruise planned starting Saturday and were in quite a quandary about what to do if she lingered beyond then. I didn't want to disappoint her and Carol wanted to be there for her cousins. As it turns out, everything fell into place.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like quite a week so far. Any work on writing?
JOE: I sent out a few more news releases on Saturday and also worked yesterday on a presentation in lieu of a book reading and signing. I didn't get to work on Marital Property. My couple remains in bed unrequited. I hope to give them some relief today and don't see why I can't finish their bedroom scene.
CALLIOPE: I am sure they will be grateful.
JOE: I imagine so. Still, I think they might be enjoying the antici---pation. I guess I better get going. Talk with you tomorrow.

(Wedding arch- Portland, Maine)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon Joe. I was beginning to think I wouldn't hear from you today.
JOE: Never fear. Actually I have been quite busy with things I have let go all week to work on marketing. I won't bore you with the details.
CALLIOPE: Okay. What progress have you made on marketing?
JOE: I am busy finding contacts for news releases at the moment. I am making good progress, but finding detailed accurate contact information is not always so easy. I did search the library yesterday for newspaper contacts and magazine contacts. I also discovered Gale's, a wealth of information when I find the time.
CALLIOPE: You sound quite busy. Any progress with Marital Property?
JOE: Yes. I worked on the bedroom chapter with my couple. I thought I had reached the end of the chapter but they were having too much fun and wanted to continue.
CALLIOPE: So did you leave them hanging, so to speak.
JOE: I did. It doesn't look like I will have to write today. But I am sure they will both reach full satisfaction on Monday. It's not quite so frustrating to have to wait when it fictional. I hope they won't hold it against me.
CALLIOPE: I hope so too. What's next?
JOE: More work on Marital Property next week as well as more marketing efforts.
CALLIOPE: Do you hve a plan?
JOE: Yes. First was to get my website where I wanted it. I am happy for the moment with it. Now I need to look for reviews and am scouring the country for possible sources.
CALLIOPE: Are you doing any local PR work?
JOE: I am developing a program which I think I will call Writing from the Soul. I plan to talk about the different kinds of writing I have done, give examples from my writings, and engage my audience in discussion of their writing or aspirations instead of a traditional signing. Of course I will have my books for sale as well. I guess I better get going. See you on Monday.

(Window at Charlotte Lighthouse- Rochester, NY)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning, Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. I thought you had left early for your cruise.
JOE: I'm waiting for February for that.
CALLIOPE: Where have you been?
JOE: I have been most of my efforts into writing and publishing lately. I had to take some time out to prepare for Christmas.
CALLIOPE: Such as?
JOE: Wrapping and sending presents, attending the Rochester Philharmonic Christmas Pops Concert and dining with friends, as well as baking and visiting people and, less interesting, finalizing my Medicare coverage which starts in a few days.
CALLIOPE: Do you have all that out of your system now?
JOE: Not quite. I have family gatherings tonight and tomorrow.
CALLIOPE: What about the rest of today?
JOE: You will be glad to know that my next matter of attention when I finish here is to do some writing in Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: Glad to hear that. I thought it was on the shelf.
JOE: God forbid. I hated to take time off, but I could not find a way to delay Christmas. I'm not quit that fanatical to have to write every day and people be damned.
CALLIOPE:I guess it's good you are keeping some perspective. Better get back to work before the parties start again.
JOE: Agreed. I'm on it.

(Cognac still- Tio Pepe- Herez, Spain)

A Winter's Tale

Now that it is hot, I have been thinking about winter for some reason. One winter when I was a teen, we had a storm in Rochester which kept everyone from going to work or school. I thought it would be a great opportunity to have a neighborhood party. My father worried about the family running out of food. We both thought each other was crazy. I have come to see since that there are people who want to seize every opportunity and those who fear the worst no matter what. With age, I have also learned that their is a middle ground of responding to adventures which present themselves and being careful not to shoot yourself in the foot.

The Art and Science of Life

To look at the newspaper, one would think that living is a scientific endeavor with all there is to be said about medications, medical discoveries, nutrition, etc. In the leisure or living section, we find references to the arts but they are not presented as being essential to our survival, as if they are an afterthought. Lifing life scientifically can be practical but drudgery while living it artfully brings us joy and also an understanding of life's difficulties. As usual, a productive life lies in the balance.

(Carol and Joe at the Mardi Gras Museum- Algiers, Lousiana)

Making Bread

A while ago a friend lent me her breadmaker. I used it for a time, throwing in whatever ingredients I thought would make a good bread and turning on the machine. It mixed, raised, remixed and baked the bread all by itself while I watched or just heard it humming from a distance. The bread was good but somehow did not seem quite satisfying. I did not think too much about it at the time. Eventually the hook became lost and I could not find another one. I did not trouble myself to buy a new machine.

Recently I read Why French Women Don't Get Fat. In it I found a recipe for baguettes (no machine involved). I tried it and enjoyed the process of mixing and kneading the bread, tending it while it rose and baking it at the right temperature to yield fine loaves. I began to experiment with different types of flour and various ingredients. This morning I am baking bread with unbleached flour, cracked wheat, wheat germ, oat bran, rosemary and olives.

I worked initially using my listening and talking skills in psychotherapy. Lately I have been concentrating on writing. But there is something deeply satisfying about mixing the ingredients by hand, creating new breads and sharing them with company. It helps keep my life in balance.

The Relative Merits of Routine

I read an article in the paper this morning about the benefits of routine. People talked about the comfort of starting each day with the same routine and the feeling of comfort and relaxation which accompanied it. I remember when I was younger that what I wished to avoid most was routine and the boredom I was sure would accompany it. I thought that routine stifled creativity and kept me in a rut. Although I still like excitement, I do not crave it as much as I once did. I have also discovered that a morning routine gets me in the mood to be creative and no longer leads to a feeling of boredom. I think I have learned to balance excitement and routine.