My MacBook

MacBook

This is my MacBook where I planted my seed. It grows slowly in the womb of ones and zeros.

This is where it shall come to pass that birth is given to a micro universe.

There is so much to do yet. I am going for a final edit.

This week I've spent most of the day going about getting published the old fashioned way; through an agent. All the while I do this, I am prepared to hit the "Publish NOW" button. If I am prepared to hit that said button, than it means I am prepared to have an agent want to see it. This involves a lot of work.

My MacBook is my work space. Thank you, Steve Jobs.

Kitty

Kitty

Marty did not mean to laugh when Joel asked her if she had coffee. 

“We have coffee.” She pointed to the shelf where there was a cat asleep next to a red can of Folger’s coffee. 

Kitty was doing what any good natured tabby cat would do; sleep. Marty’s store was no Safeway. It was not even a 7-11 by any stretch. She would make monthly trips to her local Sam’s Club near Gunnison. She was sure to stock Ice cream for the reach in freezer, (this was consumed mostly by Grandpa Henry and Jessie.) Various chips, canned food, bottled water. The people who came to her store were frequently lost. The road up the hill dead ended onto Joel’s property. They would ask for gasoline (which she did not sell) or water or softdrinks, and sometimes Henry’s stash of ice cream bars.

It did not dawn on Joel that his quest for coffee seemed strange to the store owner. That’s why she asked him if he was lost.

When Joel reached for the can of coffee, Kitty did not flinch or skip a beat of his well deserved nap.

Inky the Crow

When Joel walked into the Little Store at Miner’s Pass, he was greeted by a squawky “Hello”. There was this crow dancing on a perch near the front counter. 

Inky the crow came to Dr. Finn’s veterinarian clinic several years ago. His left wing had been shot and the bullet had shattered the bones.  Marty patched him up as best as possible, but he could never fly again. Marty offered him her home and he accepted. She found it was like having this very bright being, if not a black feathered clever child.

Inky knew several things to say; "Hello." He had mastered,

"Fuck, I mean heck." He must have picked that up from Doc Marty trying not to cuss. "Shush don't say that Inky."

Search and Rescue Helicopter Pilot

Search and Rescue Helicopter Pilot

Dr. Marty Finn was a search and rescue helicopter pilot. Here she had successfully landed on this rock. There were two climbers stranded there because one had a broken leg. They talk about how that lady pilot skillfully saved their lives. 

Marty was ten years old when her mother passed away. Poor old Henry raised that girl alone.

Henry Finn had been a pilot for the county with search and rescue emergencies for thirty-five years. After some major heart problems, he was forced to retire.  Henry also flew the SAR helicopter the county stored at Miner’s Pass landing strip.

 Marty was determined to follow in her father’s footsteps. She had learned to fly the Cessna 182s single engine plane her father owned before she went away school to became a paramedic.

She was also determined not to let her past heartaches show.

People that knew Marty well, knew she was an injured soul.

She had this in common with Joel. 

Miner's Pass Little Store

Miner’s Pass Little Store

Did Joel wonder if he had stepped into the “Twilight Zone” when he came into the little store? There was this woman playing space aliens with her daughter. It was December, and Miner’s Pass could be pretty boring for the child. Mostly it was the mother who wanted to play theatre; the girl would have been fine reading a book or watching TV.

Joel only wanted coffee. He was out of coffee and snow was in the forecast. Snow on Miner’s Pass could mean one to four feet easily. It’s better to stay in and not go out. The little store was barely a quarter mile from his place. They had to have coffee at that little store. Beau and Joel had a Jeep. No big deal.

This mother and daughter were funny and sweet. There were old memories and emotions. Joel would prefer to feel nothing.

Miner's Pass is Not a Sad Story

DJ, scratch that sad violin music record!

“Miner’s Pass” is not a downer. I wanted to set the stage; to show Joel’s history.

When we first meet Joel, he enters the Miner’s Pass little store. He seems just a lonely quiet man to Marty Finn.

One of my favorite things about the Hobbit books by J.R.R.Tolkien was his use of maps. This is not a Hobbit story by any stretch. I just wanted to make a map of Miner’s Pass.

Beau the Border Collie

Beau

Beau was ten months old when Joel rescued him from an animal shelter.

They had an instant mutual affection for each other. Beau knew what to do around young kids and that of course was to herd them, oh and give dog kisses. Beau loved those kids.

One day his Joel came home without them. He grieved with his master. Beau ended up saving Joel from his unbearable grief. Forcing him out into the sunlight, insisting on a game of Frisbee.

Bright, handsome, and fearless, Beau is the hero in this story.

"Far End of Blank"

by Joan Crow Cimyotte

I’m at the far end of blank today.

They said it all, it went away.

Just like a broken glass on the floor.

It’s gone. Wont hold water any more.

Give it up, let it have a rest.

Close it down. Turn it off. It’s what is best.

All the ones and zeros will bounce around all night.

The ghost in the machine says it’s all right.

Make that pledge about tomorrows plan

Let my dreams point the way and

when I open up my little MacBook

I don’t just fart around on Facebook.

Miner's Pass is not science fiction.

This is my painting of a bright red-orange orb. It is a type of UFO that many people have reported seeing.

Miner's Pass is not science fiction. One of my characters is an avid UFO buff. She claims to see them a lot. Never mind she is made fun of, it's her family that loves her freakishness. And now, Joel loves her.

Downtown Denver "Ice Castle Canyon"

One spring afternoon, Joel had taken his family to a Rockies Game. Even though the weather was nice this day, Denver had a spring snow storm the day before. On their way out of the stadium area, his wife was crossing the street pushing the stroller with both babies in it. Joel had faltered behind because his shoe was untied. In a split second a drunk driver hit his young family killing them.

This painting is my latest offering to go to Stella's Coffee House on South Pearl St. It shows the North side of the city. The Colorado Rockies play very close to this scene. Just a few blocks from here is where Joel lost everything.

The Book Cover for "Miner's Pass"

Sometimes good things happen to good people; people who had bad things happen to them. Joel Sherman is a survivor of two horrific tragedies. He just doesn't believe in good things anymore, at least not for him.

He had chosen a reclusive life on a remote Colorado mountain with his dog Beau.

While driving his Jeep home, Joel and Beau are pushed down a hill by an avalanche.  Joel was facing a certain death with broken bones, cuts, unconsciousness, and stuck at the bottom of a snowy ravine. His dog Beau finds help. He is rescued by a quirky strange woman. Marty Finn made him laugh. He had quit laughing.

"Miner's Pass" is a fun story about forgiveness and joy.

Building platforms.

First thing a writer must do, I have found, is build a platform. I am learning what this means. This is not traditional carpentry. This is learning the ropes of the E-World. I feel like I've been dragged kicking and screaming, led to the top of the bungie jumping tower and told to jump. Wait a second, I'm not attached to a bungie.

This is my painting of Fairplay. It is a place mentioned in my novel. The cartoon show "South Park" takes place near here. To get to "Miner's Pass" you could take this road to get to the San Juan Mountains.