Man. This was one of the best fathers’ days I can remember. I woke at 5:30 and drove out to a park that I hoped to paint at and it was closed until 10:00. So I drove to a park that does not close in Mishawaka and got to paint a bridge instead.

Then I took a walk in the Shiojiri gardens nearby and thought about my time in Okinawa (22 years ago…). I then went to the Veterans Memorial Park and painted a tree.

After that the park was finally open, so I went to Baugo Creek and walked the trail. I had hoped to paint one more study but there wasn’t really enough time to do that since I wanted to get home and spend some time with my family.

I did see some cool things in Baugo Creek and look forward to returning to paint there in the future.

These swans were not happy that I found them, but it was cool to be so close and to not scare them away.

Summer is here, and I’m going to write like a madman to finish this novel. Then when fall arrives, it’ll be time to find an agent.

I know what I have to do. No one can do it for me. Time to get it done.