I’m a puddle. Rather, I was a minute ago. After coffee on my deck at the campsite, I settled at my table inside the table to write. Two hours later and the heat has turned my RV into a sauna. I’m not complaining! I love our glorious Manitoba summers, especially at the lake.

Plus, I have air conditioning.

In my last entry I mentioned how my plan for this novel-in-progress wobbled after two grant applications were denied. The one thing we can be very sure of in life, is that everything changes. Last week I found out that a jury of my peers found this project worthy, and I have been awarded a Winnipeg Arts Council grant. The cash infusion is welcome (so very welcome!), but the knowledge that fellow writers studied my plan and deemed this book sound wraps my heart in a hug. They have faith, and so mine is fortified.

My rockets are fired, and I’ve been steeped in story ever since. It is a playground, these worlds of thoughts and ideas and characters come to life. There may still be changes to my intended plan, but I am back in it, and having the time of my life.

Back at my camp after a short but happy, loving and soul filling trek to the East Coast with my sisters and mothers to visit my aunt and uncle.

I have hot water! Sort of. I wasn’t able to get a clear answer via phone and text message from George as to whether the new part was installed while I was away. On arrival I inspected, and no new part, however it did look cleaned up a little. I think. I resorted to the old turn it off and on about 200 times trick (I jest) and it finally ignited for the first time this season! This morning it needed another 25ish, but, ahh! Looking forward to a wash in my tiny tub. I suspect my luck won’t hold and I will need to bite the bullet and replace what’s there. As George said, because of the age of this vintage lovely, a new part will be hard to find. I am hoping I can install a tankless water heater, which is what my neighbour, Dave, did. On my way out yesterday, I called Steve (George’s brother, who also does RV work, lives in the area, and installed Dave’s unit). I am hopeful he can do the work, even if we need to get creative about fitting a new part in an old space (size).

I am eager to dive solely and obsessively back into my new novel-in-progress but will have to share time with other projects–besides adding plants to my camp garden, I mean. Two auditions coming up quick, and so I will take much of these next few days to prep.