Writing Novels, & Keeping Warm in the Winter

There isn't much to report on the lampwork front, since all the remaining time after class planning and other basics are finished has been taken by my novel, or by helping my students write theirs. I'm really trying to finish the first draft of mine this month, and that's a lot of words; almost 18,000 words (60 pages) this month alone! It's exhausting but fascinating, including taking a tour of the old state mental hospital near my home that is in the process of being demolished. Here's one photo that I took as research for my novel, which is partially set in this location. Spooky, isn't it? I love the way the photo darkens the closer you get to the hospital. (This is one photo that looks better the larger it is, so feel free to view the enlarged image by clicking it.)


Back to the topic of the blog, though: One thing that has been really frustrating me about my setup is when the gas runs out or the gas inside the tank freezes. It happens too quickly for me, usually right at a crucial stage in beadmaking.

I have been seriously considering upgrading my torch as a result. The installation looks feasible, even with running natural gas. I have to contact a plumber and price it out, though. The cost of the other parts is pretty high, too. So it will have to wait a while.

In the meantime, I have a choice of a) upgrading my MAPP gas source to a bulk tank, which will cost upwards of $100 as a one-time cost, or b) continuing to use the small tanks, which cost less per tank but add up. So for now, I decided to try staying with the little tanks and saving the bigger bucks for upgrading the torch. This means keeping the little tanks warm! I bought a heating pad, and if I can get what needs to be done accomplished this weekend, meaning today (there's a big school event tomorrow), I'll give myself some torch time and test it out. Results will be posted as soon as humanly possible.

Another creative project

Lampwork is on hold while I tackle another huge creative project: National Novel Writing Month, otherwise known as NaNoWriMo. I'm actually working on my ongoing novel while working with my students to help them reach writing goals they set. And what's also great is more media coverage: I appeared in the Boston Globe, Boston's major newspaper, in an article about this writing movement! You can see scans here of the front page and back page, where I appear. The files are large in order to be readable; please be patient while they load. Groovy! (By the way, I don't usually look that serious; my facial expression was at the photographer's instigation.)