“Waiting for Free Food: 13 Stories About Stuff in Life”

You can follow my new book, as it’s being written!  I’m going to post much of it online on my blog.  There will be some parts that will wait until a print version is published.  There will be some parts that will wait until an audio version is published.  And, there will be some surprises and other dealings with life along the way.  (I’m no marketing dummy!)  :P

Here are some links…

Waiting for Free Food - Book Homepage
http://tweblog.com/waiting

Waiting for Free Food - Blog Postings
http://tweblog.com/category/wfff

Waiting for Free Food - RSS Feed
http://tweblog.com/category/wfff/feed

Waiting for Free Food - Writer Info
http://tweblog.com/about

Other Shenanigans
http://www.getsch.net
http://tweblog.com

<<Sunday, June 8, 2008 - 6:30 AM - Kahili Coffee - Kirkland, WA>>

Ain’t no everything perfect here!

Just had to start a book with “ain’t”. (And, that first period should probably be inside that quote.) (And, an emoticon.) (And, some sentence fragments.)

OK, now that we’ve established this we are not perfect, lets marinate in that for a bit and get ready to enjoy some stories!

…

You ready?!

I’m ready!

…

For those of you that I will see along this journey, I’m excited to share with you. If you want to know, please ask! Comments are open. My email and phone number are both published. Transparency breeds trust. That doesn’t mean you’ll see everything. It does mean that I’m doing what I can to have this book be stories that you will want to read and life happenings that you can relate to.

So, to the morning guy at QFC on Bellevue Way, you asked. I answered. You are part of a story. And, to the friendly barista at Kahili Coffee, you were open and you were friendly. I noticed. You are part of a story. To my friends, who have endured long talks with me and shared life, I noticed. You are part of a story. To the acquaintances, who have happened upon me during a bar visit or quick chat in an airport or brief visit in a coffee shop, I noticed.

To everyone: Everyone is an author. It’s different to be a writer. Everyone has a story. It’s different to tell it. Waiting for Free Food is my true story.

Enjoy!

1. write a book
2. lose 30 pounds
3. go to hawaii
4. simplify material possessions
5. move to midwest

Intro

Well, it’s a Thursday.  Once again, I’m at work early.  I like the calm and quiet of the mornings.  It allows me to think clearly, feel fully and breath with ease.  I’ve been this way for a while, going back to working at the health club during college through the mid-90’s.  I had mostly early shifts and often arranged for no work on Friday through Sunday, unless I was doing a basketball camp or clinic, which I adored - and still don’t really understand why it paid so well! 

The ride on the bus this morning on I-90, going across Lake Washington was typical.  Yeah, typically awesome!  Calm water.  Slight mist, could be considered fog, but the sun was shining through it enough that Mt. Rainier looked awake and mostly clear.  I wish I could say the same for my head - for the cold I have and the thoughts and emotions I’m trying to endure, understand, embrace and learn from.  I’m glad I’m listening.  I’m hearing and feeling.  And, I don’t regret this softer side of me, nor do I want it to callous.

This, I think and feel is the beginning of my writing, real writing.  I have no doubt talked about it and thought about it for years.  This is it.  I’m going to write and I’m going to write and I’m going to write.  I’m going to feel all the strains and pains of writer’s block at times.  I’m going to also feel the pressure of so many thoughts and so much stuff trying to get out, that my fingers will hardly be able to stay even a few laps behind, as these thoughts race.

This one is a long distance endurance adventure.  I don’t think it’s a race.  That doesn’t mean I won’t rev the engine, nor does it mean I won’t take pit stops.  One thing is certain, I am going to WRITE!

I’ve got to give some inspirational credit here.  Greg Geyer, a friend of mine, gave me a book to read.  It’s Kitchen Confidential, by Anthony Bourdain.  I’ve had it a month or so, and finally started reading it on a trip up to Victoria, BC, the weekend after my 36th birthday, about a week and a half ago.  This morning I just made the connection… Way back, in about ‘94 or ‘95 when I was working at the health club, I was going to do something.  I don’t even remember what it was.  I asked a coworker, “Guess what I’m doing?”  She replied, “Waiting for Free Food.”  I said, “No, but someday when I write books, that will be the title of my first book.  Is that ok if I use it?”  And, I mentioned to the other coworker who was right there, “You heard me ask, if this ever goes anywhere.”  They both chuckled and I was concretely given permission.  Now… connecting the dots… “Kitchen Confidential” … “Waiting for Free Food” … Now, I am going to WRITE! 

P.S.  awesome ways to start 003