On the writing front, I’ve been neglecting that aspect of my life.  Tsk tsk.   My son asked me why I wasn’t working on my WIPs.  My answer to him was because he won’t get off of my computer!  (True…)  But, that’s not really it.  I do have a laptop. 

I didn’t renew my membership with my local RWA chapter.  (sorry Rosebuds)  I have a couple of reasons.  Time being the top of the list.  Crappy excuse, but there it is.  I’m questioning.  I still have stories running through my mind constantly, so I know the creative spark is alive.  But, the dedicated time to work on it is my problem.  I don’t want to play at writing.  I want to actually sit down and do it.  I know I can’t write in five minute spurts like some do…I’m too easily distracted or want to edit what I did before, especially if I come back to it and start to reread to know where I was, etc. 

I’ve been working 9-10 hour days, add an hour plus commute (each way) on top and I have complete mental burn out by the time I get home.  I’ve used the writing of others to feed my passion for literary expression.  Tess Gerritson rocks, by-the-way.  I know others write and juggle a full time job, but I haven’t managed to make it work the way it should since I started a new position.  It has it’s good and bad points and I wouldn’t trade for my previous alternative to save my life right now.  (That job now sucks for all left doing it…which is what I thought would happen and why I changed jobs!)   I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the job stress will let up and allow me to focus again.  Here’s hoping!

It happened earlier this month between British and French NUCLEAR SUBMARINES.  Both carrying Weapons of Mass Destruction… Now, I realize the North Atlantic is a bit cold and the water a bit murky, but what the…?  I don’t care that they were going at “very low speed” and the damage was minimal.  What if they hadn’t been going slow or bumped into each other at different angles than they did?  Those suckers carry Titan NUCLEAR missiles for God’s sake. 

I picture a scenario where an accident, similar but with a different outcome, triggers something really awful… Like Russia thinking the crash and resulting explosion of armed missiles was a bit close to their territorial waters so they shoot their own nuclear missals – of course they do this before the British and French can say it was all a mistake and now it’s too late – WWIII.  Okay, I’m probably being a bit melodramatic, and I realize the British and French are not at war this century, but still.

Russia isn’t that stable these days… Come to think of it neither are the North Koreans, most of South America, and, let’s not forget, the Middle Eastern countries.  Wouldn’t take much to set any of them off.

 It doesn’t matter what political party you belong to.  The fact is, this is a wonderful demonstration of our country’s ability to learn that race does not dictate one’s ability to lead.  Now, how Barack Obama will lead is yet to be determined, but the fact that he will be given the opportunity to show us is, in a word, AWESOME!

All of a sudden their hillside was flooded by the light of a thousand arc lamps, blinding them with its intensity. When they could finally see, a man in shining apparel stood before them. “Do not be afraid,” he declared in the ringing voice of a herald.

“I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David
a Deliverer has been born to you.
He is the Lord’s Messiah.”

Uh…. NO

2.) Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Morning if I get up, otherwise, I drag until evening.

3.) Do you take any kind of medication daily or regularly? If so, what? 

Thyroid and other hormones.  I’m gettin’ old.

4.) Do you ever have naughty thoughts about any of your friends significant others?

No. 

5.) What are your favorite comfort foods?  Um.  Fried Chicken, casseroles, chicken fried steak, cream gravy, creamed potatoes… ya’ know, comfort food!

6.) Would you rather direct a porn or star in one?

Direct… I’ve always been bossy and not that brazen.

7.) Have you ever seen a “donkey show“? Would you ever be interested in seeing one?  Uhhhh.  Gag. Me.  GROSS!

The point of this post is to 1) let my friend Amie know that I do still read her blog; 2) I was inspired by her NAS blog; and 3) let everyone know that I am still alive and kicking and do still have those writing goals, just need time.  So, here is my take on Amie’s thought process:

• Dear Father Time:  Please, slow down so I can catch up!
• Dear Boy:  Washing regularly will help you attract girls.  Your hair… wash it.  It is gross!
• Dear Daughter:  While I love seeing you and your friends, a bit more notice would be nice though.  P.S.  You’re welcome for the groceries.
• Dear Venus (the dog):  You will eventually see the groomer.  I won’t shave and torture you personally… I hope.  You poor thing, you look like a mop!
• Dear laundry pile:  … Eventually.
• Dear House:  …Ditto.
• Dear Boy:  The trash goes out the same days every week.  They haven’t changed (no matter what you think.)
• Dear Employees:  Please leave me alone long enough to actually complete your performance appraisals if you want to receive them before Christmas.  I KNOW you want any bonuses that may be coming.
• Dear Boy:  You have your own bathroom!  Use it and stay out of mine.  Amie is right…BOYS. ARE. GROSS!
• Dear WIP:  I have no words to explain myself.  (I know. You just want words!)

Me.

That evening I had to go to the high school to sign up potential booster club members for theatre.  Also watched an amazingly good student written production which was a series of vignettes about being a teenager today. 

Sunday was my chill-out day and I managed to cook dinner and do some laundry.  I was not motivated…

So, now starts another busy week.  Tonight was Meet The Teacher night at the high school.  My boy can’t fake me out now.  I know when he has All-Region choir practice and when math tutorials are now, so he will correct that miserable test to bring up his score! 

After meeting my boy’s teachers I helped in the Theatre room so we could get parent email addresses.  We want to ensure communication this year.  For some reason, teenagers are just not the best source to get information from.  For some reason they have more productive text sessions with friends than conversations with parents in order to pass on information. (No, way!  you say?… I know.  Who could imagine such a thing… *sigh*)

Tomorrow is the choir department meeting (more money out of my pocket…)  Hopefully, that will be all for this week. 

It is hard to concentrate on other things when issues are hanging over your head.  While waiting on the outcome of my job future is a pain, I must admit that the familial front is the more daunting of the issues.  What truly pains me is that my baby…repeat…MY BABY starts high school 10 days from now.   When he was born, this day seemed so far off.  Seems like only yesterday he was in the infant seat coming home from the hospital.  *sigh*  On top of that there are daughter and mother issues.  Separate.  My daughter and then with my mother.  **bigger sigh**

I think I am due a vacation.  I mean away from everyone and everything.  No cell phone to be bothered with, no laptop to get email that can bother me, etc.  I would have to take the AlphaSmart though.  When I wasn’t sleeping, I could write.  I’ve done some of my best stuff in hotel rooms when I travel for work.  Amazing what solitude in a town where you know no one can do for you.  

I’ll really need to figure a way to do that…