My life for the past three months
If you’ve been following my blog, you’re probably aware that I received my book “Reckless Beginning” back from the editor in September. We are now in December and I honestly can’t believe I’ve been working diligently on my edits for three months. After my normal eight-hour day job, I’ve been spending the rest of my days going through the manuscript in dept. Making changes, checking grammar, tweaking and polishing it. The editing process is much more intense than I had anticipated and lately, I’ve felt like I’m drowning and ready for a much-needed break.
When I’m home, my computer sits at my desk screaming for attention, my edit notes pinned to my wall, pop out at me as I walk by and my head is constantly telling me you have 3 hours till bedtime – you can do some editing. Unable to relax at home, without feeling the pressure, I was in dire need of an escape.
Responsibilities at home – leads to separate vacations
The thought of a weekend get-away was appealing, but I didn’t want to take it alone. Normally my husband and I take separate vacations, I went to England one year and the year after Ireland – both alone. We love animals and are paying the price. We have six falcons (my husband is a professional falconer and does bird abatement for a living.) We also have five chickens, one-hundred-fifty pigeons, and two dogs. Trying to find someone to take care of our little farm – so we can go on a trip together is almost impossible – thus we vacate separately. But the intense hours I’ve been working on the book has also taken time away spent with my husband Gordon. A weekend away from the book and quality time with Gordon is what I craved.
An offer we couldn’t refuse
So, when my sister-in-law, Pam joined us for Thanksgiving and offered to watch our animals, we jumped on it and planned a road trip to Bishop the following weekend. A small mountain community located in the Eastern Sierra’s of Califonia which I’ve always wanted to visit. Surrounded by lakes and a spectacular view of Mount Whitney – the highest summit in the contiguous United States, with an elevation of 14,505ft, it promised to be the perfect place to spend a weekend.
A four-hour drive turns into an eight-hour drive
From our house, the drive to Bishop is roughly fours hours. Ha! who are we kidding? There is so much to see on the journey, that it actually took us eight hours.
I love Teepees!
Driving down highway 395, we spot a row of teepees. With brakes screeching, we slid off the highway to check them out. We were greeted by the staff, who happily gave us a tour of what happened to be an RV and Teepee park. A place where you can spend the night in a teepee. How cool is that! I was already planning our next road trip. The teepees were spacious and clean, the view of Mount Whitney was spectacular. I was sold and told the manager we’d be back for a weekend in the near future.
Museum of Western Film History
After spending an hour checking out the teepees, we get back on the road, only to pass by the Museum of Western Film History an hour later. Being a huge fan of westerns and John Wayne, we had to stop. An amazing tour of movies made in the area, along with costumes and props, including my hero John Wayne, Roy Rodgers, Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy, Dale Evans and so many more, it was well worth the stop.
Lucy was the tourist attraction at Alabama Hills
After eating lunch in Lone Pine, we finally get back on the road, only to make another stop at Alabama Hills – an amazing recreational area with an unbelievable scenery of rounded rock formations. A popular filming location. I had forgotten to mention, that “Lucy” – one of our falcons accompanied us on our trip. Being our prized falcon, we decided to keep her in our care. Visiting Alabama Hill with Lucy was one of the highlights of the trip, she was the star attraction. Tourists soon forgot about the landscape they were there to see and instead began snapping pictures of Lucy. It was hilarious, one tourist even gave my husband a dollar!
Just in time for the Christmas Parade
We finally pull into Bishop, eight hours after beginning our trip, only to discover the town festive with Christmas lights and music. The main street bustling with people and hot chocolate and cider served outside most of the stores. Turns out the Christmas parade was about to start. A perfect way to end the day.
The ultimate escape – June Lake
The next day was spent visiting the magnificent views surrounding Bishop, June Lake in particular. This is what I had been yearning. Isolatioation, tranquility, and peace. Not once, did I think about the book, the plot or the characters. Removing myself entirely from the existing pressures of editing was rejuvenating and re-fueled me for the future editing tasks that lay ahead when I return home. Spending time with Gordon was also precious. We reconnected and made memories – something we haven’t done lately.
I’m no longer drowning
With the trip now behind us, I’m back to editing the book, but with a better frame of mind. I’m able to think clearer, write better and make better use of my time. I don’t feel so pressured, my moods have improved – much to Gordon’s liking and I’m excited about getting through the editing stages of the book. The weekend road trip was the answer to many issues that existed and I wasn’t aware of.
What have you done to escape the editing blues? I would love to hear them.
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Love your blog, Tina! Great getaway trip. You’ve inspired me…my husband and I desperately need some down time away from all the demands we place on ourselves!
Thanks, Michele. If you are thinking about it, then it’s time to just plan a trip. It doesn’t have to be too far and even just a weekend, as you can see did wonder’s for me and we saw so much.
I think it is a lesson to use all sometimes we need to stop and take a break. It looks such a beautiful place to escape
We really do and it helped immensely – getting away from the house entirely, truly helped.
Sometimes you just need a break. It is not bad to walk away from what you working on because it does clear your head. It looks like you had a great time.
Highly recommend to anyone that is feeling overwhelmed, to like you said – just walk away and re-group your thoughts and mind
A trip is always a great way to refresh. I always feel like working after a trip.
It did wonders! Looking forward to the next one 🙂
You have seen some spectacular sites. I would come to a screeching halt if I saw a community of teepees also – how amazing is that?!
We did see a lot in two days and definitely going back to stay at the teepees LOL
I agree we all need a break from time to time. It sounds like you may need another holiday after the one you took, but It sounds like you enjoyed.fra
Ha! you may be right.
I am so excited for you to be able to go on a well needed vacation with your husband. You trip sounds fun (I love adventures that include history).
Thank you! It was long overdue. Hope to do another soon in the near future
So great you were able to take a break! I usually don’t get the chance to take long breaks from work, but I like to take small in-between breaks from writing/ editing, like taking long showers, taking an extra hour from my boxing class, or just relax with some youtube 🙂 Good luck with your editing!
Thanks, no matter how long the break, they all do wonders.
I’ve been to June Lake! I didn’t know there is RV and Tipee park. Love those Tipee! What a fun place!
The teepees are on the way to June Lake in Lone Pine about an hour and a half away. Nice to know, you’ve experienced the beauty of June lake in person 🙂
I had a friend go through the grueling editing process. It’s not as easy as the movies make it seem, that’s for sure.
It’s certainly not. I hope the next book will not be as grueling.
I can imagine that much editing would be a daunting task. Taking a break is always a great refresher.
It is stressful at times but taking getaways like this truly help
There is definitely nothing wrong with taking a break. October and November are my busiest months, by December I’m mentally exhausted. I completely understand how you feel!
It’s amazing how it creeps up on you and then one day you just can’t function. The little getaways do the trick.
What a fun getaway! We all need to take little trips like this more often.
We certainly do. More often is the key – I need to remind myself of that.
I like how personal and open this is. Editing is beyond exhausting. I must say, I was more focused on the amount of animals you have. You have how many falcons?! I could barely get through the rest of the article after you started talking about animals haha
Ha! we have six falcons. 🙂 Funny once the kids leave home, we think we have all this free time so what do we do? Get a bunch of animals LOL
I absolutely loved Teepees, they look so luxurious. I love staying in such accommodations. I too get editing blues. I think it is the toughest job to do be it an article or a video as well. The last travel video I made took me 40+ hours approx to select the clips, make changes, and edit it. I prefer going to movies when tired of it.
Movies are a great way to escape too. I’ll keep that in mind
Editing is a much harder job than the initial writing. I’m so glad you got to have your getaway with hubby!
Yes! writing the book was the easy part LOL.
These are great getaway tips. I need a break soon and would prefer to go somewhere tropical.
Love tropical too. Maybe for the next getaway 🙂
About five years ago my husband noticed that my mood would change for about three months a year. During that time we decided to take break and treat ourselves to self care. We travel 3 times a year, 2 as a family and 1 as a couple. It’s so important to take s break and enjoy life.
That’s awesome that you recognized the pattern and actually do something about it. Kudos to you both.
These are great getaway ideas for families and also the working people. As humans, we need to have time to relax and indulge, once in a while.