I'm finding it interesting, all the stuff I have time to do when I'm not writing.

Like hang out with my lovely wife and son, just chatting with them and laughing at Drew's antics, hanging pictures we got framed a few weeks ago, stressing about getting them just right on the wall, admiring them and feeling proud that we finally have the baby's room done at last.

Or working on the yard while Lizzie and Drew are off at a friend's daughter's birthday party, pulling weeds and raking up a pile of cut grass and savoring the green-ness of our small patch of land.

Or simply sitting in my big chair or out on the back deck, reading. I've not read all afternoon for a long, long time. It's been quite wonderful (even if it's just me, as Lizzie and Drew are still off at the party).

I've been doing pretty good on Jenn's Dare, with the rules I've set up for myself -- I got to the gym yesterday for almost an hour, and worked on the lawn today for almost three hours(!), read "Go Dog Go" and "Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now!" by Dr. Seuss to Drew, and read a bunch of stories today. Still no guitar-practicing today or yesterday, but I may get that sucker out tonight.

As for reading, I have to mention the fantastic story I read today by James Blaylock. I've been grooving on his story collection, Thirteen Phantasms (the title story is simply wonderful, nostalgic yet cool), and I also tracked down all his stories online over at Sci Fiction. The story of his I read today that really got to me just a few minutes ago was "His Own Back Yard," which was reprinted in the Year's Best Fantasy and Horror for 2001 as well.

Oh man, what a heart-wrenching story, both sentimental and sad while being wonderful and uplifting. Yes, it pulls at the heartstrings with its ending that borrows heavily from the end of "Field of Dreams," but it worked. And I'm not TOO ashamed to say that the ending (to both the story and "Field of Dreams" as well) made me bawl.

I think it helps, being a father, to make that story really reach deep into your chest and give your heart a tweak. In a good way, though. Quite a lovely story. Can't wait to share it with Drew, when he's older.

So if you have time, check out the story and let me know what you think. Blaylock is a fine, fine writer, though he does sort of hit a lot of the same notes quite a bit (wry sadness and wistfulness, goofy and drifting male protagonists, settings in southern California) but when he's on, he's quite good.

I'm getting all sorts of ideas for future writing, but for now I'm not going to write. Not yet. Still have a lot of other things to do... Like read some more Blaylock! Ask me again about writing in a month or so. Later!