Hello, everyone!

Well, a lot has happened since my last entry (80 years ago) and even since I last spoke to some of you. Lots of good stuff and some not-so-good, but all in all, a decent few months.

First, the good. I’d been tentatively offered a dream job a few months ago, but I still haven’t heard a final word. (It would involve traveling a lot and mapping retail stores, something something…not really sure of the specifics.) Since it looks like I’ll be in town a while longer, I decided to attend the Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference. I’ve been hearing a lot about this conference, especially in Lonely Planet’s Travel Writing book by Don George. (I’ll be giving a review of that later this week.) So I was able to borrow the money (ah, more debt) and I’m registered! Woo-hoo! They were accepting entries for a Best Story contest (due today), which I scrambled for, but decided not to burn myself out (which I'd been doing all week). There’s always next year. They also accept 20 pages of material to be critiqued (for an add’l $90--worth it, methinks), but the deadline for that is this Friday. So I’ll still be cranking on the writing, coming dangerously close to burning out anyway. Still, I’ve written more last week than I have all year. It’s nice to feel passionate about writing again.

As a bonus, not only will this year’s faculty include some people I’m dying to meet, but it will also include some people I already know from past events (some of who actually know me). It’ll be nice to be among friends and in a motivating atmosphere. The only glitch is that a rental car and accommodations will cost as much as the conference, but it’s an investment, I say.

On a less happy note, April and I finally called things off after 9 months. We ended on decent terms, but we won’t be speaking to each other. Odd for me, since I usually have no problem keeping in touch with ex’s. But I think we’re better off this way. There were too many little things getting in the way. Don't get me wrong; I'm not doing a happy dance about the break-up. But it's for the best.

Also, my trip to Hawaii is 99% not going to happen. I was hoping to be in Honolulu 8/5-8/10 to visit friends from Australia, but with the travel writing conference and getting time off, it looks like time off and money are scarce right now. But never say never. If I can get enough money for a ticket and cheap accommodations at the last minute, I’m there!

Other than that, no major life changes. I’m looking to get out of Santa Barbara eventually, but right now, a little stability is good for me. But not too much. Otherwise, I’d have nothing to write about.

dave