rus vanwestervelt

The Single Moment Holds Infinite Possibilities

Archive for the ‘my365’ Category

January 2nd, 2010 by rusvw

Never Give Up: Inspiring words to guide us along the way

Owen, a student who attends the high school where I teach, shared this video on his Facebook group Small Acts of Kindness (SAK), which he started to give people a chance to share the little things that make the lives of others a bit better. He certainly did just that in sharing this video with me.

The video is about a man named Nick who has no arms or legs, and he has an amazing outlook on life that he shares with others through motivational workshops. Please take the five minutes or so to watch it. Let Nick share his story with you.

I’m always humbled by these stories and encouraged to appreciate my life in ways I never imagined. Nick reminds me that we must never give up, never quit, never stop trying to accomplish whatever goal we might have established. I think that’s what is so refreshing about the new year. If we’re able to give ourselves second chances and renewed opportunities just because the calendar year changed, why can’t we do that at any other time during the year?

I suggest we can, simply by remembering Nick and all that he teaches us in this brief video.

Enjoy this day, and Never Give Up. There’s always a reason to give the goal another try so that you may “finish strong.” as Nick puts it.

Posted in my3*6*5 | 1 Comment »

November 15th, 2009 by rusvw

November’s Muse: 3 Stories…which to pursue?

I don’t know what it is about November and the Muse, but I wish I had the magic potion to hold on to it long after Thanksgiving. I’m not sure if November’s creativity is triggered by my love affair with NanoWrimo (National Novel Writing Month), or if it has anything to do with most of my deadlines and launches with school publications wrapping up in late October. If I look back to my daybooks from the 80′s and 90′s, though, I think I’ll find that, historically, my words have flowed more easily in these 30 days than in any other stretch during the year.

I came across three incidents yesterday that, for each, lasted no more than 15 seconds. In that brief time, my overactive muse created scenarios of each of those incidents. What follows are the three things I saw and the stories that my muse spun almost instantly. Which do you think has the most potential for a longer story? If I get more than 10 votes for any one of them, I’ll develop it fully and post it here before the end of the month….

1. 6:57 a.m. After I drop off Holland at the gym for her morning practice, I head home along the back roads through Lutherville to Towson, when I see three girls walking along the road, toward me in the oncoming lane.

The sleepover had not gone as they had planned, not by a long shot. When Kristin and the others decided yesterday afternoon to invite Ryanne and her friend from Roland Park, Elyse, they knew the night would not be a typical movies-till-3 a.m. event. Ryanne and Elyse always pushed the party beyond the typical teen boundaries. Sometimes they brought a flask of Southern Comfort to share, and other nights they brought along a few other “guests” who would wait in the woods until after Kristin’s parents were asleep. But now, as they walked in silence along Ridgely Avenue, the rising sun stealing what little edge there was to the early chill, each wondered if Ryanne and Elyse would ever be seen again–dead or alive.

2. 5:23 p.m. On our way to Cafe Hon (but still in our own neighborhood), we see a tall, 20-something gentleman running at a fast pace through the gates of Goucher College’s campus, across our street, and along the sidewalks until he reaches Goucher Boulevard. He stops, looks behind him, and rests his hands on his knees to catch his breath. It seems like he has been running for some time.

Seth glanced over his shoulder as he took a moment to breathe. Had the traffic not been so busy along Goucher Boulevard, he undoubtedly would have kept running, straight across the street and up along the quiet street on the other side until he passed out. Were they still close behind? Had they given up? Or had they not seen him at all? He couldn’t get her eyes out of his mind–eyes struck with terror as she pleaded for her life on the very trail he walked nearly every day. Two older girls had stood over the other, their backs to Seth. His natural instinct was to help, of course. To break up whatever little ritual was going on and save the girl. But the sun seeped through the thinning trees and found the knife’s blade. The taller of the two played with it behind her back, balancing it loosely between two fingers as if it were nothing more than a twig picked up along the way. Seth had gasped, and when the pleading girl’s eyes dropped to his, he ran. Now, as he looked back along Squires Road to the gates at Goucher’s back entrance, he wondered if it was too late to save her. He turned back to the busy boulevard. The traffic had ceased between lights, and he had a clean shot of making it to the other side. His life or hers? He took a deep breath, stood tall, and acted on his decision–one that ultimately would change his life forever.

3. 7:31 p.m. We have just left Cafe Hon and are on our way to Fell’s Point. We exit 83 South and sit at the traffic light, waiting to turn left on to Eastern Avenue. On the far left corner is an office building, dark with just two rooms on the third floor that remain dimly lit. A silhouette of a thin woman moves about, heading toward the second, adjoining room. The light turns green, and we head to our final destination, Mr. Yogato’s.

Rose lay on the couch. The cool cloth she had placed on her forehead an hour ago was now barely damp and fixed at room temperature. Her head still pounded, the anxiety never abating since she read his status update on Facebook: “Back in B-more to get what’s mine.” She did not know where to go, what to do. He would first go back to the house to find her. She was sure of that, especially with it getting dark so early. And he would most likely wait there until she came home. Probably inside. She never thought it necessary to change the locks. Now, inside the office where she was a corporate hero for Bergen and Brown Associates, the fear of her past finally caught up with her, and she could feel the safety of her last haven on earth slipping away, out of her control, and into the hands of a man she swore she would never see again. She slides her legs off the couch and sits up, the blood rushing from her head, and she feels dizzy. She stands and heads to the sink to cool her cloth one more time, when she hears the doorknob to the adjoining office rattle. She freezes, listens intently to the sounds through the thin walls, and hears the faint whisper. “Ro-ose. . . .” It is her ex-husband, and he has found her. Trapped in the corner office on the third floor of Bergen and Brown, she is no longer a hero to anybody. She moves toward the door, stops at the supply drawer and removes a letter opener. In many ways she feels sorry for him. His last status update on Facebook will need to be updated soon that he got what he deserved, and she can’t, to save her own life, think of what it might be. . . .

Which do YOU think I should finish?

Posted in my3*6*5, Ramblings, story drafts | 3 Comments »

August 12th, 2009 by rusvw

It’s a Natural World: Some Summer of ’09 Photos

Greetings, all:

I’ve been writing in various places, but I didn’t realize that so much time had passed since my last post here. I thought I’d spend a little time sharing my “best of” nature photos from the last few months. All of these photos were taken with my Nikon D300 with a Nikkor 105 mm 2.8 VR macro lens, better known, in all loving ways, as Bellatrix. So here we go. . . .

1. Preflight. This first picture was taken at Full Moon Farms in Finksburg, MD. My son and I were on our bellies in the grass as my daughter was in the middle of her horseback riding lesson. Suddenly, Braeden found this little guy, and I snapped a few photos. As is the case with most of the pictures in this lot, you need to get into their world with a little respect before you can capture it accurately.

grass1

2. Cycle of Maturity. Taken in Marriottsville as we hiked with a close friend. What astounded me most about this cluster of berries is the staging of maturity, all in one tight group. Sometimes, growing up can be a little less attractive than who we turn out to be. . . .

3. In Flight. Taken in Ocean City, MD, on the beach. We were surrounded by hundreds of sun worshippers, and yet it seemed that nature still presented itself in so many ways. Sometimes, all we have to do is be still and open our eyes to all that surrounds us beyond the bikinis and the beach towels. . . .

4. Sleepy Slithers. Taken at Oregon Ridge Nature Center, a baby black rat snake in captivity. I was fortunate that this little guy was so tired and still, as it gave me a little time to play around with my settings. I switched over to aperture priority to increase my depth of field as much as possible. Fortunately, I was able to place the edge of the lens against the glass and stable it for the long, half-second exposure time.

black rat snake

5. Youth Descending. Taken at the Oregon Ridge Nature Center, a juvenile Northern Diamondback Terrapin, in captivity. One of the nice features of the D300 is that it has 51 focal points, a powerful option that, when mastered, will be used quite frequently. I see now, in hindsight, how I could have used that here to manipulate the focal point to the terrapin’s nose to ensure greater focus on the most important part of the picture–his expression. Lesson learned, and I look forward to playing around with this feature more during my next shoot.

diamondback terrapin juvenile

6. Deep in the Drill Zone. Taken at Oregon Ridge Nature Center, outdoors in a wild butterfly garden; subject is a Silver-Spotted Skipper. I need glasses for just about everything in my life, including putting one foot in front of the other. What I like so much about the D300 is that the eye piece has a corrective lens, and so I can shoot without my glasses and still focus manually to get shots like this.

silver spotted skipper closeup

7. Spatial Relations. Taken at Full Moon Farms, while waiting for Madelyn to tack up for her lesson. I don’t find this photo particularly strong, especially in its focus. There was the gentlest of breezes blowing, but it was significant enough to move the leaf while taking this shot. However, it was the first macro shot I took with Bellatrix, and I am deeply fond of it for the memory of my reaction when I viewed it in the field.

8. Everlasting Ripples. Taken at Full Moon Farms. This knot in an old log, long since chopped away for unknown and seemingly forgotten reasons, reminded me of the song “Ripple” by the Grateful Dead, where there is no pebble tossed, no wind to blow. Still, the ripple remains as a reminder of the “forever effect” we have on other’s lives. May what we leave behind be as beautiful. . . .

9. Steady Wins the Race. Taken at Loch Raven Reservoir, Box Turtle. My kids found this little guy in the grass, and at first he was predictably shy. I got down in the grass, and we all stayed very still. Within a few minutes, he summoned the courage to move, and once he did, he moved very, very quickly! It took him less than a minute to clear the field and seek cover under the brush by the water.

10. Sunset at Assateague. Like the title implies, this was taken at Assateague National Seashore, at sunset. I was meticulous in the timing of this shot, and I received a little bonus with the boat on the water.

11. Floral Floatation. Taken at Full Moon Farm, by the stables; this flower was one of dozens exploding out of a hanging basket. This was the first picture I shot on “Raw” setting, which takes full advantage of the camera’s 12 million-plus pixels. Unfortunately, when you take a photo like this, and the file is a whopping 16 mb in size, you lose so much of the brilliant, 14-bit color when you have to reduce it to a 1.5 mb file to upload here or place on Facebook. When I print these professionally, the color resolution will be much more vibrant in its full size.

12. Clover Connection. Taken at Full Moon Farm, outside of the indoor ring. I’ve had the opportunity to shoot a lot of bumblebees this summer. I think I like this one the best, though, because of the detail in the wings as well as in the clover.

13. Dunes Infinitum. Assateague Island National Seashore. Once again, shot on my belly.

14. Following Zen. Taken at the exit at the Assateague Island Marsh Trail, just before sunset. Sometimes, you have to go in the other direction to find balance. . . .

14. Thistle To-Be. Taken at Loch Raven Reservoir on a particularly humid mid-morning. Went back a few days later to see how it had bloomed, and it had disappeared completely. . . .

Now it’s your turn to tell me which is your favorite….and why. Thanks for stopping by!

Posted in my3*6*5, Nature | 9 Comments »

July 17th, 2009 by rusvw

Summer of 2009: Day Three in OC

After spending day three in the sun, the humidity, the rain, and then the colder winds blowing off the bay, I know three things:

My son can nearly read grafitti in bathroom stalls (because so many words look and sound quite similar to a word he knows well: Truck);
My son absolutely hates fast rides in amusement parks, and favors a bluish-purple tint to his cheeks mid-way through such rides; and
My days of eating buffet food are over.

Of this third point, I am absolutely certain.

Let me back up just a bit here. Today was Amusement Park day. We decided this would be the best day to hit the parks because the weather forecast wasn’t that great, and we knew most of the weekend traffic wouldn’t hit the parks until tomorrow or later. With that call, we could not have been more accurate. The parks were empty, for the most part, and the kids never had to wait in line for any one ride. This is something they’ve been wanting to do since their first memories of traveling east to the beach, and they were thrilled with all they were able to do today. Two parks–one at the pier and the other at 30th street–was just about all they could handle. It certainly is nice when your kids are telling you they are done at the park!

We then had dinner at the Paul Revere AYCE buffet. The food was fine. Really, it was. But I was not very good in my choices of food, and so I feel rather swamp-moose-ish right now. I don’t see any more buffets on our horizon this trip…

We then took a walk along the boardwalk, where we saw Randy Hofman’s sand sculptures of Christ. More on Randy below.

We ended our day by driving along Coastal Highway and into Delaware to see the Fenwick Island Lighthouse. More on that as well below.

We’re taking it easy tomorrow. I plan on waking at 5:20 to hit the Inlet for sunrise and see what Bellatrix and I can capture…Then it’s back home and then to the beach for the day with the family.

Huh. “Back home.” We’ve come to love and appreciate this wonderful condo so much that it feels like home to us. We wish we could express our gratitude for the gift they have given us this week…. <3

Ok. On with the pictures, annotated slightly for your viewing pleasure. :)

Holland roller

Holland kicked off the day with a ride on the roller coaster–the one her father will never get on because, well, it goes up and down and around really fast.

braeden happy

Braeden, happy. Now this was taken before he went on any rides–after which, he was mostly: Braeden, sad and purple.

maddy happy

When isn’t Madelyn happy when she’s on a horse?

Ok. Things got a little interesting thereafter. In the next three shots, you’ll see the before, during, and after stages of Braeden on a ride that went around and around, a little too fast.

before the whippy ride

Awww….Look at how happy they are before the little ride begins to spin…

during the whippy ride

Please note how less than happy (and noticeably bluer) Braeden is, midway thrugh…

after the whippy ride

In the words of the Bubble Boy from Seinfeld, Braeden’s looking….Not. Too. Good. ;)

out of morbid manner

Speaking of purplish tones…Madelyn did NOT like the Morbid Manor ride. :(

hurricane hang on

She did manage to hang on to dear life during a ride on the Hurricane…

Tornado in mid air

And she handled the Tornado in mid-air, mid-spin, as if she were almost bored!!!

Artistry no. 1: Colorful ducks dangling by a string….

ferris sun

Artistry no. 2: Around the Ferris Sun…

holland learning how to drive

Now, to appreciate this fully, you have to understand that Holland believes that she is superior in every way to her sister. We have been telling Holland for months now that she’s just a few short years away from seeking out her learner’s permit to drive. She saw bumper cars as a good way to get some practice, especially when her sister was in the ring. What better target than to ram your helpless little sister at full speed (what? 1 mph?)…and not even get in trouble for it? What she didn’t expect was that her sister would have an agenda of her own (once she realized she had to depress the pedal on the floor to move the darn car…)

little sister paybacks

Ha! Little sister paybacks are priceless, aren’t they? :)

I leave you with five pictures that I took after the bathroom incident, which I will explain to you now. :)

Near the end of our wonderfully filling buffet at the Paul Revere eatery, my lovely son, as if on cue, told me that he had to go to the bathroom. I sometimes wonder if small children feel the need to pee in every new bathroom they might encounter, for some odd, territorial reason. Well, tonight was no different. And boy did he put on a show for all of the other men who found the need to pee at just about the same time…

Upon entering the stall, Braeden immediately noticed the “three words” that were written on the stall door. “The people who work here probably did that when they were bored, or something,” he said, to which I replied (as I always do): “Go to the bathroom, Braeden. Focus on going to the bathroom.”

The man waiting for his young son to finish up in the next stall smiled casually; he understood perfectly.

And that’s when Braeden began sounding out the words (Here’s where I find fault with such wonderful programs like The Letter Factory).

“Uck. Uck. With an F. Hey! That looks just like Truck! I wonder–”

“Braeden,” I interrupted. Please, I beg you. Just pee already.”

“Why would people want to write about trucks in the bathroom?”

Then he noticed that the second word began with my first name.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I wanted to rip that door from its hinges and read how my name could possibly be associated with That Other Word.

“That’s enough, Braeden. Just stop there so we can hurry up and get back to Mom and the girls…”

He agreed, and when I flung the door open to his bath stall when he had finished, , I found a lifesize graffiti of text and words, telling me–SHOWING me–what the carver would like to do with an undisclosed number of Russian women.

Niiiiice.

Ok. The final five. The first four are of the day’s sand castles created by Randy Hofman, who has been building such castles since 1981 on the boardwalk and 2nd street. Amazing artist. You can find out more about his mission and his artwork here. I have to tell you, that when I was shooting the FORGIVE photo, I got chills. I’ll have to explore that more later with you in another post.

The fifth and final picture is of the Fenwick Lighthouse. My sister and her husband are beginning an east-coast tour of all of the lighthouses on the atlantic shores, and we visited this lighthouse while thinking/missing them greatly.

thank you Christ

open up heart to christ

last supper

forgive

fenwick island lighthouse

Enjoy this blessed day. May it bring you the strength it brings me with each new rise of the early morning sun…

Posted in my3*6*5 | 3 Comments »

July 16th, 2009 by rusvw

Summer of ’09: Day One in Ocean City

It’s amazing what a 3-hour drive will do to calm your tensions and anxieties. When we left Baltimore around 3 p.m., each of us was a little stressed about getting ready for the trip, packing, and taking care of last-minute needs around the house. As we headed toward Ocean City, MD, however, we could feel those tensions falling away with each passing town. By the time we reached the Rte. 50 bridge over the Isle of Wight bay that serves as the gateway to Ocean City, all of us had long-forgotten those worries that plagued us 160 miles to the northwest.

We are here in OC thanks to a most gracious gift from a family back home. I have had the honor to teach their children for the last 7 years, and they offered their condo to us in appreciation for the work we’ve done over the years. To say we are grateful is quite an understatement; they have given a great gift to our own children, and we thank them.

After we unpacked our bags, I immediately set up the laptop to tap into my beloved world and friends across the globe. What shocked me most, though, was that I learned on Facebook that a wonderful friend, whom I have not seen in 10 years, was down here as well. Thanks to iPhones, Blackberries, and Facebook, we had reunited within the hour on the boardwalk at 8th street.

Andi and I have known each other since our awkward days in elementary school. She is absolutely one of the most wonderful individuals on this blessed earth, and I am so happy that we were able to see each other, even if it was for a few minutes.

rus and andi

As we walked along the boardwalk, Amy took wonderful pictures along the way with her brand new Blackberry Tour. Here are just a few pictures that captured “opening night” of our vacation in OC…

madelyn on beach1

holland on bw

braeden on beach1

kites on beach

madelyn on beach2

Holland handstand

braeden on beach2

sunset over church

Posted in family photos, my3*6*5 | 2 Comments »

July 1st, 2009 by rusvw

Morning at Loch Raven

Just a few pictures that I took this morning at Loch Raven by the Warren Road bridge. I remember fishing here with my father back in the late seventies; since then, the place has been known more for its drug deals and incidental murders than anything else. Very sad.

Faith in a seed, right? Thoreau got it right a long time ago…This little plant was growing out of an old log that had been chopped down years ago.

This last picture was taken yesterday while we were fishing at Ft. Howard on the upper Chesapeake Bay. Good to see these ships are still sailing…

Posted in my3*6*5 | 1 Comment »

June 29th, 2009 by rusvw

Does an exercise regimen make us better writers?

I am in my fifth week of working out more consistently than I have in years, perhaps even a decade. In 1992, I lost nearly 40 pounds as I worked on the final stages of my first novel. The writing was some of the best I’ve ever done, before and since, and I stayed in that “writer’s zone” months after the book was finished.

In 1999, I became a vegan and exercised regularly. The combination of those two things helped me drop 80 pounds and cut my cholesterol levels in half. It was the last time I heard my doctor tell me I was in better shape than most my age.

I was also writing like crazy. I was leading workshops in writing all around the region, publishing pieces on writing in newsletters and other writing publications, I had my own monthly column in a family magazine, and I was journaling 2-3 times a day.

When I stopped my vegan ways and dust gathered on the treadmill, my writing slowed down. My daybook entries were filled with frustration, and most of my writing beyond my daybook was weak and sporadic, at best.

But now, in just these first five weeks of resuming a disciplined diet and exercise regimen, my writing is taking off again. My daybook entries are entirely about the art and craft of writing, and my mind is clear in solving many of the problems I faced with my stories, even just weeks ago.

In a nutshell, I’m seeing a direct correlation between establishing an exercise regimen and becoming a better, more disciplined writer.

I did a quick search online to see if there were any established studies confirming my belief, but no matter how I typed in the search words and phrases, I came up with absolutely nothing, even searching through ERIC.

The generic cause-effect relationships seem obvious to me: If I lose weight and exercise, then

my self-esteem will improve dramatically;
I will manage my time more efficiently;
I will interact more with others in social circles and communities; and
I will be less afraid of success (and failure) and will take greater risks to see projects through to completion.

Easily, each of these generic benefits can be applied nicely to writing.

If my self-esteem improves, I will feel better and more confident about my writing.
If I manage my time more efficiently, then I will have more time to complete the tasks i begin.
If I interact more with others, then I will gain more experiences to use in my writing, as well as have opportunities to share my ideas and gain valuable feedback.
If I take greater risks, I will discover more genuinely who I am as a writer and what I am capable of accomplishing.

So even if there aren’t any studies out there (if you know of any, though, do let me know), I have to believe that my grad school mentor, Philip Gerard, got it right when he told us: Working on a book is like running a marathon. You have to practice hard every day at it and be in the best shape of your life. If you don’t, you’ll never get the damn thing finished.

I think you are right, Philip. Thanks for the lasting advice. I can now visualize that published book just on the other side of that FINISH banner at the end of the race. . . .

Posted in my3*6*5, Philosophy of Writing | 3 Comments »

June 24th, 2009 by rusvw

Using Alternating Points of View in Fiction (CNF as well)

Today is only the fifth day of summer break, and I cannot remember another summer when I’ve been out of the starting gate so ahead of where I thought I would be, less than a week following the last day of school. You see, I took the time in May, believe it or not, to devise a summer writing schedule.

Here was the plan.

Beginning on Saturday, June 20, and every day following, I would place my writing above all else.

Now, that sounds pretty selfish, especially when you have three kids you are raising, and your wife does not get the benefit of having nine consecutive weeks off. Still, I was unwilling to compromise.

So how did I make it work?

I did not change the morning alarm on my Blackberry, and I made writing the first thing I did every day. That means, by 5 a.m., exactly 13 minutes after my alarm (“Early Riser”) brings me out of my sleep, the coffee is already brewing, and I am downstairs, in my writing sanctuary (never mind the washer/dryer, old refrigerator, and cat litter box), selecting the morning’s playlist (based on what I am writing), and putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. This gives me, at the very least, a solid 2-hour block in which to work on my writing.

That’s been my schedule since June 20, and It has paid off enormously.

Today, though, was a bonus payday. Here’s why. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Good Books, my3*6*5, Philosophy of Writing | 1 Comment »

June 17th, 2009 by rusvw

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 (25/365)

I’m back.

There are two more half-days left until summer break. Both are final examination days, and there’s that rare mix of excitement and stress in the air, as the anticipation of summer looms behind the worry of grades and test scores.

This was my big day to get much of my paperwork taken care of, as exams were for periods 1 and 2–both planning periods for me. I did get a lot accomplished, and I was fortunate to have Brent and Lenore stay after school and help me clean the room. (The pizza was quite good, too). They are wonderful individuals, and I am grateful to know them.

In the middle of cleaning, though, I received an email from the registrar’s office at Towson University, where I teach both undergraduate (fall and spring) and graduate (summer) courses. One of my students felt as if my style was too laid back for her, and so she dropped the course. as a result, my enrollment dipped below the minimum allowed, and the course was cancelled.

Correction: my course. I designed and wrote the course in the past 6 months, pitched it to the folks at Towson, and it was ready to fly. I’m sad about the loss of summer income, but I’m more saddened by the fact that I won’t see this class become fully realized with student-writers.

I know there’s always next summer, and the option does exist in the future to teach this as an online course, but the sting is strong today. It makes me feel quite like the failure in many ways.

I know doors will open up, and I will use this time to work on my writing more fully. I will invest more time into Lines as well, but there’s still an emptiness that exists right now.

I will cope. It will all be fine. But still . . . .

More later, probably. I’m signing out now. It’s 2:37 p.m.

Posted in my3*6*5 | No Comments »

June 15th, 2009 by rusvw