Relaunch of my blog: August 3rd
Sorry for the lack of continuity here, folks…
Well, it is summer. But in spite of the waves of warm and sunny weather that have hit Tofino (some years it never gets hot here!) I have still been in writing a lot. Just not on this blog.
That’s because I’ve been thinking a lot about this whole social media experiment. It is over a year, now, since I launched myself on both Twitter (@jwindh) and out here in the blogosphere. And there really is a learning curve with all of that; here’s much more to social media than just understanding the technology, how to Tweet and Retweet, how to post to your blog or comment on someone else’s.
So I’ve slowed down on my own blog this summer in order to rethink where I am going with all of this: what I am trying to do with it, who I am trying to reach.
I see a lot of authors out there who blog about writing – or how to self-publish, or how to promote yourself or your book. That’s interesting to me as a writer, and I like reading and commenting on their blogs. But it is not really what I want to be blogging about.
But what does interest me – as a writer, photographer, and broadcaster – is thinking how everything is connected. And that’s the angle I will be taking with the relaunch of my blog – posting some thought-provoking little pieces to get the brains churning, and hopefully to stimulate some discussion, too.
So please tune in August 3rd, for the launch of the Jacqueline Windh Blog v.2.0.
Does this warm your heart?
I can’t help acting when I see something is wrong, or could be done better.
I’ve firmly come to believe that some people are just genetically wired that way. That’s why we can’t help becoming activists – we are genetically programmed such that we just cannot stop and do nothing when we see something is wrong.
But it is hard to live with, when you feel compelled to act on everything you see that could be better. Partly because it distracts you from other things that also should matter in your life (like earning an income, or personal relationships). And partly because it is frustrating when you hit roadblocks, and can’t influence or exact the changes you see are needed… Read more…
Help! How’s my blog working?
As I approach the big 10,000 views to this website, I am starting to get worried. I’ve been pretty active on Twitter and in the blogosphere for over a year now (not just writing – also reading and commenting).
I keep seeing the same advice: Build your brand. And that is fine if you are only interested in, or only working in, one thing.
But I am interested in everything. To some people, that might look like I am all over the place. (Which, in a way, I am, I admit… )
But the thing is: everything is connected. And that’s what I am most interested in – the connections. So this is what I write about Read more…
Home-grown Tofino tomatoes. In June!
And I thought I was an ace at growing tomatoes in chilly Tofino.
Yesterday, Merry Bewick down on Chestermans Beach called me up and asked if I would come over and sign a copy of one of my books, that she had purchased as a gift.
I’ve been carefully tending my tomato seedlings since March. I’ve done a great job, I must say – some are approaching a foot in height, and a few even have buds on them.
So imagine my surprise when Read more…
What’s SUP, dude?
I finally got to try out a SUP – a Stand-Up Paddleboard. A lot of my adventure racing friends have been raving about them these last couple of years.
Norm Hann was our instructor – giving us a chance to try out something new, as well as to find out about a new and different way of getting a core workout. (The core muscles are all of the big muscles in the centre of your body – stomach, back, glutes – that support and stabilize the rest of your body. A strong core helps prevent injury as well as makes you stronger all-round). This morning clinic was one part of Read more…
Sneak preview of my photo show
I’ve had fun, these past couple of weeks, working with my photography. I left my previous job (consultant geologist to the mining industry) ten years ago to focus on my outdoor and nature photography, both here in Clayoquot Sound and around the world. After a few years, I started writing, too – I found it easier to sell my photos to magazines if I could offer an article with them. In 2004 I published my first book, The Wild Edge, which I both wrote and photographed, and since then it seems I have Read more…
Happy Birthday, Blog!
It’s a year ago today that I started this blog, and about one year ago that I signed up for Twitter. It’s been a learning process for me – surprisingly, even learning about myself! I feel that it’s time to assess how the social media have been working for me, and what directions I should take with them.
(And – apologies for the long absence on the blog. Between the long travels, as well as trying to meet several overdue paying writing commitments, I made the executive decision to focus on the prior commitments. But I’m back now!)
First of all, the blog. Well, to be honest, I didn’t really know Read more…
Look at these great swimmers! This is a photo of Benjamín Caceres (20) and Bárbara Hernandez (24) after one of their training sessions swimming in Magellan Strait (we’re talking the frigid waters that separate the southernmost tip of the South American continent from the island of Tierra del Fuego, water T around 7ºC or so). That’s me in the middle, with the dry hair. I didn’t swim with them here – I am just proud that they are my friends!
I’ve known Benja and his family for six years, and I’ve just been down visiting them in Punta Arenas, Chile, for a couple of weeks. Benja had already done his Strait swim before Read more…
Something Weird’s up with LAN Airlines in Lima (or, When Life Deals You a Bowl of Lemons, make a Pisco Sour)
Note: this post was written last week, Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, during a complete unforeseen stopover in Lima.
Ha! It says that Lima is "the best airport in South America". Ha! I say again.
OK, I thought I’d be fine for my travels back to Canada because I would not pass through Santiago de Chile (airport affected by the recent big earthquake); my routing was Buenos Aires – Lima – LA – Vancouver. Especially after checking in in BA: they gave me my boarding passes right through to LA. All seemed good.
Then I got to Lima where, upon disembarking, the screen showed my 1:05am flight, at Gate 21, to LA (along with a whole bunch of other LAN flights) as “Delayed”. So those of us with the same connection lined up and waited patiently… I heard the Australians in front of me being told that the flight was now going at 5:40am, but then Read more…
Sunbaking in the South American summer (what it’s really like)
Yup, for all of you who were jealous that I was escaping Canadian and winter and heading south, thinking I was drinking margaritas on the beach in my bikini, well… here’s what things are really like down here! (So if I don’t have much of a tan when I get home, maybe you’ll all understand why?)
OK, yes, it is the peak of summer, but this is Patagonia. Unfortunately, you can’t tell in the picture how windy it is! Not only is it high-latitude (53-54 degrees where I was, in and south of Punta Arenas – roughly equivalent to the latitude of Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands). But in addition, the plate tectonic accident that has placed Antarctica symmetrically over the south pole (for now, anyway) means that, unlike in the northern hemisphere, the winds that swirl around the globe in the latitudes Read more…
