by I think I’m going to love my job. The only reason I say think is because I still don’t see how it’s humanly possible to do it! Right now there are three kittens in the section I’ve been assigned to. When we really get going there will could be over 100. Every day I have to do what they call a “deep cleaning” of each cage, while feeding the kittens every three or five hours, depending on their age. Based on my current rate of “deep cleaning” I should be able to complete my entire section in ten hours. Then there’s 100 kittens to feed every three or five hours. How on earth?? They swear it’s do-able.
One nice coincidental thing happens every day. I eat my lunch while sitting in Carl Schurz Park, by Gracie Mansion, overlooking the East River. My view is of the very Island I’ve been researching and writing about for the past two years. I can’t tell you the satisfaction I feel gazing at it. Just knowing I have a book coming out about this place.
I’d planned to start my book with a hanging that took place where this lighthouse now stands, but I’m going to use that chapter in a different way, it turns out. It took a lot of convincing to get me to open the book another way. But I love the new opening as well.
I have no idea about the kittens work, but I am interested that you plan your books out by chapter. I hope to be doing something similar, when I get started writing my PhD thesis. That’s right! I was offered and have accepted a spot at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. I am as happy as a dog with two tails. I think I will start up some sort of website and think out loud for some things. I am recently a fan of Austin Kleon and have his two little books: ‘Steal Like and Artist’ and ‘Share Your Work’. Man! That’s ‘Show Your Work’! I have a fixation on ‘share’ which may say something. Anyway, I am now starting on the next chapter in my life. Lots to do this summer! 🙂
Very exciting. When I start I don’t have a sense of chapters, by they way. It’s only as I get going. When I’m done, it’s shocking how easily chapters can be shuffled. Easy is not the right word, but it never ends up being a big deal in the end. Once you emotionally let go of the arc you were working on you can plunk them down anywhere.
Ooh, good advice on the chapters, thanks!
My post was so full of typos it’s amazing you could figure out what I was saying!