Short story writer

I did it! I finished writing my first short story of fiction. It only took a year.

Let me explain. A year ago a friend started a writers group. I hesitantly joined not knowing if I could even write fiction. We met once a month and that's about how often I'd work on the story. Without those meetings and the encouragement of the friends in that group I would've never finished. Thank you to each one of you.

It's a story of a guy that faces a tragedy in his life that he's not well equipped to handle. The main character is someone you despise, pity and sometimes like all in the same story. Like real life no one is all good or all bad.

Now, the process of editing and reworking the story is next. During the year, I learned to write better so the end of the story is more engaging than the beginning. I want to go back and make it more consistent.

Drilling for oil & environmental wackos

Environmental wackos is what I used to call anyone opposed to drilling for oil.

Of course drilling for oil is good. We need more oil. It's good for our country, good for our economy and it's good for business.

Lately I've been asking the question, "How would God want us to take care of the world He created?" I'm haunted how we've used and abused the land to fit our needs and desires. Little or no thought has been put into saving natural habitat for animals. We fill in swamps, plow up fields and cut down trees without regard for the consequences because developing the land leads to economic progress.

Have we become slaves to the god of economic progress that we're willing to risk destroying God's creation to serve our god?

So, when it comes to drilling for oil in areas that have been left virtually untouched by human development, I'm less inclined to jump on the bandwagon to drill for oil like I used to be.

Of course I'm no fan of paying $5/gallon of gas. And yet, if that the price for saving the last remnant of God's creation that's not developed, then perhaps I am willing to pay that price.

Riding the bus

I never seriously considered taking the bus to work until one of our cars got held hostage by our mechanic (it's a long story that I'll tell you about at another time). After looking into it I found a route that drops me off right in front of my work place. It only takes 25 minutes and has been a great option since we're down to one car.

Taking the bus is actually a relaxing way to commute to work. No traffic headaches. Just chilling reading a book.

I admit to having the typical stereotypes of people that ride the bus - poor inner city people. The reality is a broad cross-section of people of all colors take the bus - students & professionals, blue collar & white collar, middle class & poor.

A few years ago we hired someone at work who didn't have a car and took the bus to work. I offered him a ride sometimes because I couldn't imagine someone having to take the bus. I felt like the whole idea of working was being to afford a car so you didn't have to take the bus. I've come a long way from that idea.

I figured out that the cost of the bus fare is nearly the same as the gas I use commuting to work with our car. If you use the IRS mileage rate, it's far cheaper to take the bus.

It's great when I take the bus because that keeps the car available for my wife & our son. Also, it's a small way to reduce the consumption of resources and pollution.