Mike Befeler's Blog, page 66
June 11, 2013
Watching Tennis on Television
How many of you watch tennis on television? With the French Open just completed, we’re now on track for Wimbledon and the US Open.
I played competitive tennis as a kid and in college, but now play a racquet sport called platform tennis. I’d rather play sports than watch them on television, but when I do watch tennis, I prefer to see doubles rather than singles.But over ninety percent of the television coverage of tennis shows singles. I guess I don’t enjoy watching two players on the baseline hitting balls back and forth. I like the strategy of doubles and the net play. The irony is that most people who play tennis, play doubles, yet the coverage favors singles. About the only time doubles is shown on television is when the Bryan Brothers or Williams Sisters are playing.
I’ve concluded that this fits in with our culture of the celebrity. The networks feed the desire to see the individual triumph rather than the teamwork of doubles. Personally, I think the teamwork aspect of doubles adds to the excitement and interest, but I appear to be in the minority.What do you think?
I played competitive tennis as a kid and in college, but now play a racquet sport called platform tennis. I’d rather play sports than watch them on television, but when I do watch tennis, I prefer to see doubles rather than singles.But over ninety percent of the television coverage of tennis shows singles. I guess I don’t enjoy watching two players on the baseline hitting balls back and forth. I like the strategy of doubles and the net play. The irony is that most people who play tennis, play doubles, yet the coverage favors singles. About the only time doubles is shown on television is when the Bryan Brothers or Williams Sisters are playing.
I’ve concluded that this fits in with our culture of the celebrity. The networks feed the desire to see the individual triumph rather than the teamwork of doubles. Personally, I think the teamwork aspect of doubles adds to the excitement and interest, but I appear to be in the minority.What do you think?
June 8, 2013
Boulder Aging Advisory Council
Yesterday, I attended the monthly meeting of the Boulder County Aging Advisory Council. The meetings rotate monthly through different locations in the county, and this time we were up in the mountains at Allenspark. Here’s a picture of my car pool with Mount Meeker and Longs Peak in the background.
One of the subjects we’re studying is how to provide more senior housing options in the county. This is a real challenge given the projected significant growth in aging population over the next two decades. We need to find more flexible solutions that allow seniors to age in place in their communities. Unfortunately, many local zoning regulations go counter to some effective solutions such as multiple non-related adults living in the same home and easily adding mother-in-law units to existing property.
Do you have any good solutions to the housing situation for older adults in your community?
One of the subjects we’re studying is how to provide more senior housing options in the county. This is a real challenge given the projected significant growth in aging population over the next two decades. We need to find more flexible solutions that allow seniors to age in place in their communities. Unfortunately, many local zoning regulations go counter to some effective solutions such as multiple non-related adults living in the same home and easily adding mother-in-law units to existing property.
Do you have any good solutions to the housing situation for older adults in your community?
June 6, 2013
Doing Something Different
I find that I develop habits and do certain things the same way, time after time. This is useful for brushing teeth, taking showers and shaving, but in my writing world, I try different topics and different genres.
My published novels are mysteries, including geezer-lit and paranormal. But I’ve also completed manuscripts for historical, middle grade and young adult mysteries. Then I’ve also written several mainstream novels.
Right now I’m once again trying something different. I’m interviewing a 94-year-old World War II veteran and prisoner of war about his experiences. He has the most amazing stories that I’m trying to capture and document. We haven’t decided what we’ll do with the result, but I’m sure learning a lot and enjoying getting to know him.
In your own life where do you do the same things and where do you try something different?
My published novels are mysteries, including geezer-lit and paranormal. But I’ve also completed manuscripts for historical, middle grade and young adult mysteries. Then I’ve also written several mainstream novels.
Right now I’m once again trying something different. I’m interviewing a 94-year-old World War II veteran and prisoner of war about his experiences. He has the most amazing stories that I’m trying to capture and document. We haven’t decided what we’ll do with the result, but I’m sure learning a lot and enjoying getting to know him.
In your own life where do you do the same things and where do you try something different?
June 4, 2013
Be in the Now, Turn Off the Autopilot
Do you ever find yourself operating in autopilot mode, not really being aware of what you’re doing? A recent small example for me. In the morning I turn on my computer and then go to shave before sitting down to writer. Several times recently, I’m shaving and can’t remember if I turned on my computer or not. It had become a habit and I didn’t even pay attention to what I was doing.
Now there is something to be said for not wasting a lot of brain cycles doing something like turning on a computer, but it does beg the question. Am I paying attention to what I’m doing? At the time I was turning on the computer was I thinking about something I had done the day before or thinking ahead to something I’d be doing in the future? I clearly wasn’t in the present.
I know I can easily get lost in the past, trying to relive some event that didn’t turn out very well. Likewise, I can stress over things that are off in the future. There is something to be said to be in the present, live it and enjoy it. This doesn’t mean giving up on planning. But the planning exercise is something that is being done in the present.
The present moment can be an interesting and exciting place. Do you find yourself operating in the past or future and missing the present?
Now there is something to be said for not wasting a lot of brain cycles doing something like turning on a computer, but it does beg the question. Am I paying attention to what I’m doing? At the time I was turning on the computer was I thinking about something I had done the day before or thinking ahead to something I’d be doing in the future? I clearly wasn’t in the present.
I know I can easily get lost in the past, trying to relive some event that didn’t turn out very well. Likewise, I can stress over things that are off in the future. There is something to be said to be in the present, live it and enjoy it. This doesn’t mean giving up on planning. But the planning exercise is something that is being done in the present.
The present moment can be an interesting and exciting place. Do you find yourself operating in the past or future and missing the present?
June 1, 2013
Life, Writing and Other Miscellaneous Activities
I’ve received a number of comments from people who have enjoyed pictures I’ve posted after I take walks.
Here's the background. I write every morning when not doing events or family activities.
I typically take a break in the middle of the day to play platform tennis twice a week and walk on other days. This is my mental break as well as a chance to get exercise. If I remember, I take my camera along and snap a few pictures.
Then in the afternoon I do administrivia and social networking.
What's your daily schedule?
Here are a few pictures from the last week:
Here's the background. I write every morning when not doing events or family activities.
I typically take a break in the middle of the day to play platform tennis twice a week and walk on other days. This is my mental break as well as a chance to get exercise. If I remember, I take my camera along and snap a few pictures.
Then in the afternoon I do administrivia and social networking.
What's your daily schedule?
Here are a few pictures from the last week:
May 30, 2013
Superheroes and Superhumans
Do you watch Superhumans on the History Channel? We’re inherently intrigued by people who have special powers. I think back to when I was a kid and how much I enjoyed comics about superheroes.
We have a game we play with our grandkids and other young friends called Heroes Unite. It’s a card game featuring Spiderman, Hulk and Captain America. Needless to say, it appeals to all ages.
And speaking of age, since I write mystery novels about geezers, I like collecting examples of older people who exhibit superhuman capabilities. Here are a few:
Hiroshi Hoketsu was the oldest competitor at the 2012 Olympics in London, competing in dressage at the age of 71. He’d like to be in the 2016 Olympics but is concerned because his horse is getting too old.
Lucile Bledsoe is still flying and giving flying lessons at 90.
Eamon de Valera was president of Ireland at the age of 91.
Olga Kotelkko, age 93, holds 17 world records in the Senior Olympics age category 90-95 including every track and field event.
Nola Ochs graduated from college at 95.
Herman Wouk published his latest book, The Lawgiver, in 2012 at the age of 97.
Father Geoffrey Schneider is the oldest active teacher in the world at 99.
Grandma Moses was still painting at the age of 100.
What are your own examples of super humans?
We have a game we play with our grandkids and other young friends called Heroes Unite. It’s a card game featuring Spiderman, Hulk and Captain America. Needless to say, it appeals to all ages.
And speaking of age, since I write mystery novels about geezers, I like collecting examples of older people who exhibit superhuman capabilities. Here are a few:
Hiroshi Hoketsu was the oldest competitor at the 2012 Olympics in London, competing in dressage at the age of 71. He’d like to be in the 2016 Olympics but is concerned because his horse is getting too old.
Lucile Bledsoe is still flying and giving flying lessons at 90.
Eamon de Valera was president of Ireland at the age of 91.
Olga Kotelkko, age 93, holds 17 world records in the Senior Olympics age category 90-95 including every track and field event.
Nola Ochs graduated from college at 95.
Herman Wouk published his latest book, The Lawgiver, in 2012 at the age of 97.
Father Geoffrey Schneider is the oldest active teacher in the world at 99.
Grandma Moses was still painting at the age of 100.
What are your own examples of super humans?
May 28, 2013
Character Names
Where do authors come up with character names? Sometimes I will come up with a name before I start a manuscript. Other times I will search for names using a phone book or brainstorming on appropriate names. I also keep a list of names as I write a manuscript so that I don’t have ones that are too similar.
Yesterday, I was editing a manuscript I wrote four years ago. I came across a name I had used for a minor character—Matthew Krawley. Something struck me as familiar about this name. Then I remembered that in the last year, my wife and I had watched all the Downton Abbey episodes on DVDs ordered from Netlix. I Googled Downton Abbey and up came the character Matthew Crawley. I had come up with almost the same name, years before I saw the series. Needless to say, I’ve now changed the name in my manuscript.
Have you ever used a name that was too similar to a well-known name or come a cross an example in something you’ve read?
Yesterday, I was editing a manuscript I wrote four years ago. I came across a name I had used for a minor character—Matthew Krawley. Something struck me as familiar about this name. Then I remembered that in the last year, my wife and I had watched all the Downton Abbey episodes on DVDs ordered from Netlix. I Googled Downton Abbey and up came the character Matthew Crawley. I had come up with almost the same name, years before I saw the series. Needless to say, I’ve now changed the name in my manuscript.
Have you ever used a name that was too similar to a well-known name or come a cross an example in something you’ve read?
May 25, 2013
Mystery Series
I just got word that the sixth book in my Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series will be published by Five Star in May, 2014. With four books out and the fifth, Care Homes Are Murder, being published next month, it’s nice that there will be slightly less than a year between books.
The book coming out in 2014 is titled Nursing Homes Are Murder. You might think that my protagonist, Paul Jacobson, is slipping in health and needs to enter a nursing home. Not so. In this book he’s asked by the police to help with an investigation of a sexual assault at a nursing home by going there undercover as what Paul would call, an “inmate.” His snooping gets him in trouble and he has to use all his geezer resources to stay alive and help catch the perp.In addition to this series, I now have my first paranormal mystery, The V V Agency, published. It’s been busy with a lot more to come.
May 23, 2013
Waving My Hand under the Manual Towel Dispenser
Do you ever become so automated that you can’t function properly?
I spent 39 years in the computer industry, but I don’t consider myself a gadget geek. In fact I’m happy to get by with my laptop, email, Word for writing my novels, and the Internet. I don’t text, and a cell phone is to use for emergency calls and when I’m traveling.
I recently read a book called The Paradox of Choice on how we become overwhelmed by choices in our modern world. Rather than a few breakfast cereals to consider, we have a whole six-foot high aisle in the supermarket.
But the subject at hand. We also have become dependent upon tools of automation. When my laptop went through its death throes two years ago, my writing suffered, and I had a panic attack.
But we can all enjoy some humor with this world of automation. In the old days, restrooms had paper towel dispenser where we pulled out the towel by hand. Now we have automated genies where we wave our hand underneath and the towel appears. The problem is, not all buildings have converted over. I finally have become used to the new dispenser, but, recently, I found myself waving my hand under a towel dispenser, and nothing happened. I shook my hand more vigorously until I finally noticed that I was trying to convince a manual towel dispenser to operate as an automated one. No wonder it wasn’t cooperating.
The lesson—I’ve got to pay attention.
How have you been led astray by technology or lack thereof?
May 21, 2013
My Secret Life as a Romance Writer
In addition to writing geezer-lit and paranormal mysteries, I’m now a card-carrying member of Romance Writers of America. This is only natural since I have geezer romance and paranormal romance in my mystery novels. My writing friends, Lynda Hilburn and Karen Graffenberger, have been encouraging me to join RWA, and I finally succumbed and also signed up for Colorado Romance Writers as well.
This last Saturday, I made my first foray into the world of romance writers by attending a mini-conference put on by CRW and Heart of Denver Romance Writers. Lo and behold, I found fellow mystery writers and online mystery critique partners, Becky Martinez and Darla Barton, attending.
And another surprise—one other attendee of the male persuasion, a brave soul who joined me in the group of fifty plus (number not age) romance writers. I was not alone.
The conference was terrific. Speaker Kristen Lamb wowed us with her insights and recommendations into the effective use of social media. I took copious notes, including a full page of to-dos, and came home to immediately update my blog site. I’ve also vowed to finally use Twitter (groan) effectively. Yes, I’m officially twitterpated.
