Reaching For The Stars

 By Maryanna Gabriel

With writing, one often reads words only to learn they are said much differently.

With the recording process, just as I figure out how to be terribly clever and pronounce words like "assuage" and "waldeinsamkeit" and goodness sakes, "tchotchkes" - I managed to get to the end of half an hour of recording Chapter 22-Pamplona, only to have my stomach gurgle. Maybe it won't sound in the recording.

Ha! Not a chance Maryanna. I could be Smaug in an audition for Lord Of The Rings.

Okay. Lotsa lotsa patience.

Snow is falling softly, nicely covering the showing of daffodil heads in the nearby forest. I like it because I do not feel guilty about living in my recording studio (read closet). But this morning I got some exciting news. A short story I have submitted is being published in the Humber Literary Review, and gosh I am on the moon. Wahoo!!! Sometimes when you reach for the stars you catch one. 

Not Really Out Of The Closet

 By Maryanna Gabriel

Unboxing mystifying recording equipment.  

Well, it is time. Ready or not, I negotiated with my publisher, wanting to record my book myself. My own voice. Intonations. Interpretation. Seemed like the only way to to go.

Holy cow. It's time. It has been quite a sort trying to figure it all out.

My new hangout is my bedroom closet. Sweaters and dressing gown are the room padding as I try and work out sound, my voice, when does a person breathe for crying out loud, and is one supposed to? It is a bit of a puzzle.

While most people are out eating lobster tails and sipping champagne and whatnot, this Valentine's weekend, I seem to be hanging around a coat rack, all stealth with key stroke noises, and trying to ennunciate peter piper picked a peck of... 

Still in the closet. 

The truth is, I wouldn't have it any other way. Off now to cook an Ottolenghi Test Kitchen recipe and put my feet up. God help me when it comes to engineering. "Measure between -23dB and -18dB RMS..." Oh sure. Happy Valentine's. 

You Can't Take It With You

By Maryanna Gabriel 


Downsizing. Feng shui. Minimalism. Whatever you want to call it. 

A move can be discombobulating and a huge sort through one's possessions. Recently, I took the pile of beautiful things I had gathered to a consignment store. The carefully packed boxes were loaded with memories. 

I was surprised that my heart felt heavy the next morning. It was a sense of loss, no matter these things would be better with owners who could use and appreciate them. 

I have been going over my book, Walking The Camino; On Earth As It Is,

in preparation for the next round of edits coming from the publisher. I was reading how I was packing and trying to understand what best to take on my Camino journey. Somehow, these words from Chapter 13 gave me comfort this morning. 

"My past was not who I was. Nor were my possessions. I wanted to travel lightly. The walk was a symbol of what I was striving for inwardly."

I may be home now, but the wisdom gleaned from the experience rides me still. The Camino continues... 

Jigsawing Joy; A Vision Realized

 By Maryanna Gabriel 

Inflation. We are all noticing.

I have been focused on curtains for my new place, and wood doweling, which I like to use for curtain rods, is now over $4/square foot at Home Depot. Shocked, I decided to invest in a jigsaw. I wanted to make the wooden bracts myself. For some reason, wood bracts are difficult to find, are expensive, and come from faraway.

Making Curtain Rod Holders

Branching out. 

The first jigsaw went to my old address. That took me awhile to figure out. I hope she enjoys it as the store could not do anything about it. The second jigsaw has been a quick study, and after I researched blades and got myself sorted on how to insert the one that "scrolled" I was in business. My heart swelled with pride at the sight. I was so excited I decided to branch out and make a toilet paper holder.

The doweling and bracts are placed. 

After weeks of lengthy debate, once again cost and availability dictated my choice but I am happy with the curtains. I chose a very light cotton white, but with faint lines throughout giving them a linen-like appearance. They are the Silverlonn from Ikea and they are giving the rooms the feeling I was striving for, with privacy yet taking advantage of the light.

The funny thing is that when I first clapped eyes on the room this was how I envisaged it, and here we are. A vision realized. 

Et voila.