An Air of Abandonment

While a cup of tea grows cold
cops with assault rifles stand
on the corner of Broadway
we are meant to feel safe
their presence, my teeth on
edge, passing in a wide berth
broad smiles for the camera
tourists click, shutter, and stand
behind the metal partitions
there is safety in numbers
how many exactly will calm
the mob mentality on a threat-
level-orange winter day?


All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2011 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

I'm thinking about the demonstration happening in Egypt tonight and I'm nervous about it.  Even though the military has reassured the protesters that they will not attack...my stomach is tied up in knots over them. May they be safe, may they be safe, may they stay safe are the words that run through my head.  The protests are necessary. Civil disobedience is necessary for change to occur. Yet, all I can see in the long term is that this is only the beginning.  I'm not just talking about Jordan and Egypt.  I'm thinking about humans on a global scale and the way people are becoming more desperate as  the chasm between the haves and the have-nots continue to widen. The collective consciousness knows things cannot keep going the way they are going and changes must occur.  May we find some peace in these growing struggles.


All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2011 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

What Next?

Last week, I took a week off of writing.  I gave myself a much needed break.  Some head space to chill.  It's usually not a good thing when I am NOT writing.  I go a bit off-kilter and I start to lose it a little. That's not really what happened last week.  I just needed some air.  I mean, I felt constricted and I felt as if I was working ALL THE TIME and it became difficult to broach the computer or the blank page.  So what did I do?  I read a little, I crocheted a little, I played some Scrabble (my favorite game), watched some cheesy musicals and sci-fi movies and even sketched.  It did the trick.  

I also printed out my manuscript some time during the week.  On that day, I had 79 pages (double-spaced) and I was completely thrilled.  Even with all my complaints, it's really happening.  This novel is really coming alive.  And it's AMAZING (not the writing, the fact that it's getting done)!!  I thought I would have a first draft out by the end of this month but I guess it will take a bit longer to finish it.  I need to be more diligent about putting time into it.

Late Saturday morning, I worked for about 4.5 hours and managed to write another 2,000 words. Yay! (That included breaks to put in a couple of loads of laundry to wash and dry). Anyway, tonight I added another 500 words.  So I'm pleased with myself (I'm not bragging. I just mean that I'm proud of myself.) For anyone who doesn't know me very well those are not easy words for me to come by.  I push myself very hard without ever really giving myself credit with the work that I am accomplishing.  So this is me giving myself a pat on the back (for a change). With the new word count, I am up to 86 pages and over 26,500 words.  Hoorah!!  I'm shooting for 50,000 for the first draft but let's see where this story takes me.  I've printed out the last six pages I've written and have neatly placed them in my bag for my morning commute.  In the meantime, I'm signing off for tonight because my eyes are tired and bloodshot and I need to get up early tomorrow for work.

L~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2011 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.