(also posted at www.josikilpack.blogspot.com 10/17/07)

Judith over at www.judithheartsong.blogspot.com has apparently been sponsoring these contests for a few months, but I was just made aware of it through Daizie's profile at Cre8buzz--apparently Judith is a friend of hers and Daizie wanted to spread the love. Basically the contest is for bloggers who submit a poem, prose, photo or other blog-postable medium that fits the theme of "My Ideal Day". Posts can be posted between the 15th and 31st of October, and then she'll have another contest next month. Once you've posted, link your entry to her website and then wait for the judging. I was in serious need for something different with my writing, and this fit the bill for a wonderful creative exercise. Anyone can enter, so ponder on your own ideal day and put it out to the Universe--who knows what will happen. Also, let me know if you enter so I can read your day as well. You can find full contest details at http://www.judithheartsong.blogspot.com

Anyway, here goes . . .

My Ideal Day
By Josi S. Kilpack

Seawater clings to my skin and the tropical flora seem intent to convince me nothing in the world exists but this—right here, right now. Somewhere up the beach fish is grilling while beans boil in a covered pot. Mangos are in season and their ripening scent competes with that of the flowers all around me.

Can you smell it?

The call of a thousand sea birds fills the sky and my hammock creaks amid it’s swaying. The Ocean breeze creates a whispered symphony as it travels through the palm leaves above, behind, beside me. His footsteps approach while the waves crash and crash and crash upon the shore. They keep rhythm with my breathing until he whispers in my ear and breath deserts me entirely.

Can you hear it?

The air is thick and salty, each wave sending a tribute of itself toward the heavens when it breaks upon the beach. The sand is soft and supple on my feet and the world is moving back and forth as the hammock sways. Back and forth, back and forth. His hand lingers on my cheek, my neck, my shoulder and we try and see if it's a hammock built for two.

Can you feel it?

Sky as big as it’s ever been, the flat and flawless countenance broken only by the constant motion of sea. His eyes are as blue as the ocean surrounding us and the grasses and ferns are as green as green has ever been. The sun is made brighter by the reflection of whitened sand as his footprints are sucked back into the sea with every wave that rolls upon the beach.

Can you see it?

I am late for nothing and no one depends on me to be fed, or cleaned, or delivered. I have no deadlines, no appointments, no bills to pay, or calls to make. There are no excuses to fill my mind. There is no distraction from our course. And he is here too, as free as me. We have nothing to do but find us again; the us that sometimes gets lost in the laundry and board meetings, the carpools and lawn mowing.

With a little luck, the journey back to us will take all day.

*this book was published by Deseret Book May 2007. More information and more chapters are available on my website www.josiskilpack.com

CHAPTER ONE
January 21st

The invincibility and insecurity of adolescence had made everything so easy. They had met through an internet social networking website used mostly by teens, mybulletinbored.com. So many young girls—looking, searching—for someone to make them feel special.

If only Terrezza hadn’t led him on. He’d been so careful, building her trust, and assuring himself that she was the one. And then she’d betrayed him just when he thought she finally understood. She’d tried to leave after he’d worked so hard for them to be together. She wouldn’t even give them a chance to make things work and he’d known from the beginning that he could never let her go home. If she just would have accepted his love, and loved him in return, they could have been so happy.

He parked the car, then went around to the trunk, scanning the area to make sure he was alone. But January in Alberta Canada kept very few people from coming this far out of town. Plus, night was gathering fast. After opening the trunk he hefted his load onto one shoulder. Though not an official landfill, that detail hadn’t stopped the residents of Jasper from using this place for years. Old appliances peaked out of the snow and the corners of black garbage sacks fluttered in the wind. He navigated the unsavory and uneven ground cover in order to reach the middle. He wouldn’t risk leaving her on the outside edges where she could be easily discovered.

An old stove sat at an odd angle toward the middle of the area and in the gathering grayness of evening it looked like a tombstone silhouetted against the sky. That’s where he would leave her. When he reached the stove, he hefted the body, wrapped in a blanket he’d bought at a second hand store this morning, and laid it on the ground.

“It could have been different,” he whispered, his words carried away on the wind. He wanted to see her again, look at her face, but he resisted. She was dead, he needed no more reminders of what could have been. Obviously, she wasn’t the one.

Turning around, he headed back toward the car. It was forecasted to snow tonight and all day tomorrow. He was counting on the snow to take the place of her burial. As he walked he reflected on the years that had led up to this, all the girls he’d met online, all the opportunities he’d been afraid to pursue in person. But now he needed someone to share his life with. It wasn’t about the thrills anymore, the explicit online chats he’d been having with girls for years—it was about love and having a life with that special someone. He’d been wrong about Terrezza, but he wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

Back at the cabin, he packed his things and circled the day March 21 in his planner. That would be exactly two months from today—plenty of time to make a new game plan, plenty of time to analyze what had gone wrong and mourn Terrezza properly. After all, he loved her.

It was hard not to be discouraged. It’s okay, he told himself as Canada disappeared through his rear view window. You’ll love again, and this time everything will be perfect.

A couple weeks ago I allowed #4 to use glitter for her self-portrait required by her kindergarten class. I knew when I admitted to actually owning said glitter that I was asking for trouble. However, what's a 5 year old girl's self-portrait without glitter?

I told myself that I would FOR SURE put the glitter away when she was done. Ha. When I saw it in the basement a few days later, sitting inocculously on the coffee table I ordered myself to stop what I was doing and put it away RIGHT THEN. Ha, ha.

Today, I put on my gas-mask and took my antibacterial wipes downstairs to clean the basement where my children sleep and watch TV (i.e marinate) I do clean the basement every three months whether it needs it or not. Amid crumbs, banana peels, dirty socks, scattered puzzles and children's possessions that had reproduced themselves like rabbits, I found glitter. No longer in a container on the table, it was everywhere. It was all my fault--I knew better. But there was nothing left to do but clean it up.

I set to work and two hours later was vacuming up said glitter. And vacuuming and vacuuming and emptying my vacuum in hopes of better suction and vaccuming some more. I'm sure I got most of it, but glitter is kinda funny. A little bit (that, say, doesn't get sucked into the vaccuum) goes a very long way.

Finally, I turned of the vaccum and scowled at the glitter embedded in the floor. Then I paused, and realized how totally cool it looked. All over my ugly carpet are this sparkly little pinpoints. Were I younger and posessed of a more energetic imagination, it would have looked like some magical land where I could escape and pretend I was a princess.

So, I put the vacuum away and now, rather than wondering how long it will take to get rid of the glitter, I'm wondering how long it will stay.

I've been asked many times how I got started with my writing. There is a long and a short answer--I'll give you the short one.

First, I loved to read. From 7th grade on I was always reading something. I'm not a fan of classics (ain't smart enough), but I love a good story with strong characters and I've read thousands of novels in my life.

Second, I enjoyed writing. I never planned on being a published author--the idea never crossed my mind--but I liked to write. Mostly, I just wrote for school and when someone ripped me off (I made a lot of money that way), but I liked it. The one year of college I attended was filled with writing classes that I loved.

Third, I was put on bed rest for a pregnancy. I read everything I could find. I watched a lot of TV and eventually found myself with a story idea and all this time on my hands.

By the time I had the baby, I had most of the book done. I belonged to a book group who found out I'd written this story and asked to read it. I didn't use much of their feedback until I received a few rejections, then I took their suggestions seriously, did a rewrite and sent it off. The book was Earning Eternity and it came out about six months later.

There is A LOT more to the story, but in 500 words or less, that's how I got started. A friend once said "Thank goodness for bed rest." I had never looked at it that way, but it's very true. In my case I don't believe I'd have ever written a book if not for having a time where there was literally nothing else to do. Funny how those hard times work out now and again.

(originally posted at www.josikilpack.blogspot.com 9/20/07)

Cre8buzz is a new social networking site geared toward adults, with no ads, and, the really unique part is that it 'ranks' you according to how many people are coming to see your page, how many comments you leave on other people's pages and how many friends you have. Right now I'm #4 in the fiction community. They have a nice crisp look that, while it allows for some personality, it's over the top. I've been on it for a few days and it's a lot of fun. Many of the same people I read blogs from are on there as well.

Another big difference between it and other sites like My Space or Facebook, is that it's in Beta. That means they are still testing it out. Just anybody can't join up, however, if you happen to know someone already on there, they can invite you. Annette Lyon is the one that invited me, and I'm enjoying it. I'm sending this out to see if anyone else wants to be a part of it. If you do, send me your email address and I'll get an invite out to you.

bgwewriter posted a great article about it at http://www.profy.com/2007/09/14/cre8buzz/

Also, my exclusivelylds.com blog posted yesterday at www.thatgoodpartexclusivelylds.blogspot.com if anyone wants to take a peek.

And I've eaten about 8 sugar cookies so far today, in case you were wondering.