Last week was the when I finally got to have some full days of the summer job. To everyone who thought I could get any writing in, you were GRAVELY mistaken. I arrive around 7:20 in the morning when I don’t have my son and 8:00 when I do. There are already kids there and the camp opens at 9. They stay in the arcade, so have to get the other two game rooms ready and then make sure things move smoothly in the arcade. By the time they leave for the morning stuff, I have to clean up the room, check all the tablets to see if any need to be charged, and make sure all the game systems are properly set up. Kids enjoy changing the settings and one system needs to have the controllers repeatedly located if it’s left idle for too long. I have to do these checks between every group and during the quiet periods. I’m constantly on my feet.
Now, you might think I can keep a notebook nearby in case I have time. Have you ever met a child? My water jug gets moved around, a piece of paper that had some game passwords was stolen, and I’ve had to hide things that they’re not supposed to get to. It’s summer break, so the kids are no longer interested in structure. This makes the special events really hard to pull off. I attempted the ‘Blindfolded Mario Kart’ on Tuesday and only one group really enjoyed it. Another tried after shouting that they wanted Super Smash and gave up fast. The other groups didn’t even get that far. I’m supposed to do fun stuff with kids who only want to play the same things with no challenges. I’ve had complaints about the NES and Super NES minis that we have because the games are ‘too hard’. I’ve been trying to teach the kids how to play the older games and some are listening, but most stick to the PS4 and Switch.
My point here is that this job is one of constant movement and noise. There is no moment for me to sit down and get my head together. When I do get some silence, I need to clean things up or I’m too tired to think beyond planning for what’s coming. By the time I get home, I’m drained and not getting very far. Things aren’t going to ‘improve’ because next week is when I begin my work as a Pool Activity Leader. This position means I stand in the sun and heat all day at the pool to make sure everyone is safe. I can’t go into the water because I need the higher vantage point. This is twice a week. I’m going to be dead on my feet by the time the weekend turns up.
Keep in mind that I’m not saying I hate or dislike the job. It’s more that it’s a lot busier than I expected. I mean, I knew I’d be busy, but there are moments where I think I need a chair and a bullwhip to keep things in order. Let me put it this way: I spend most of the day in a small room with 15-20 something kids screaming and yelling. Also, I can’t take out my phone for anything. Just a reminder about that for those who want to suggest using an app to take notes.
I had this plan to make this post more positive and exciting, but the 3 days of work were exhausting. I barely managed to finish the September blog posts and I finished War of Nytefall: Eradication this morning. Before anyone cheers, I planned on doing it last weekend, but things happened. As it stands, I had to battle and piss off a few people to get this done with 4 days to work on it. With no other days off until late August, I’m not going to be able to get anything else done. Maybe some outlining if I can muster the strength, but it’s looking more like a Netflix and puzzles summer. That’s being generous because I don’t really get out of work until 6 because of late pick-ups and I want to make sure the tablets are as charged as possible. Means a lot dinner too. Part of me is shouting to use the few weekends where my son is with his mom to edit the book, but I might save that for when he’s with her during the end of August. I can work on a few other things like the fantasy advice tip notes and Sin stories . . . I really need to remember the series titles I come up with for that second one.
In non-writing and camp news, I just put in for Teaching Assistant Level III. I hope to get it by the end of the summer, but I don’t know if that’s going to happen. I need a year of experience as a TA, but I started in November. So, I don’t really have an exact year, but we’ll see what happens. My hope is that I’m contacted by a living person and can ask about getting a full teaching certificate. I’ve developed a plan for this path. My undergraduate degree is in English Writing Arts, so I was going to get a teaching degree in Literacy. They match up and the latter falls under special education. Since I feel that reading is an essential and dwindling skill, I really want to get involved with this. I hope that I only need a few classes and tests here, but we’ll see what happens.
Beyond that, I can’t remember what else I wanted to talk about. I’m making a list of November post topics since October is going to be Monster Maker and something with the War of Nytefall cast. Right now, the topics are: Blogging (3 day theme), Homages, Retellings, Public Domain, and a week of Jung’s Archetypes. That leaves me with 3 more days to cover. More since I might need to do some teasers. If I’m really lucky then maybe I can release Eradication in December like I planned. Probably going to contact my cover artist about this near the end of July after my son’s birthday has passed. Got too much on my plate as it is.
So, goals of the week?
- Avoid melting at the pool.
- Stay hydrated.
- Look over War of Nytefall: Ravenous outline while previous story is fresh in my mind.
- Finish watching Daredevil Season 3.
- Puzzles.
- Work on ideas for ‘So, You Wish to Write Fantasy?’ or whatever I’m calling it.
- For today: Cleaning! Still have dusting and the bathroom to take care of.
- Eat better for energy and get decent sleep.
Legends of Windemere 
I don’t have 15-20 kids, but feel that way about my house full of boys. Good luck!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll need it. Unlike with my own son, I can’t be as strict with strangers’ kids. Telling them no games or cartoons before bed if they don’t share the controller gets me nowhere.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re right about that!
LikeLike
Man. I would last about four minutes before I pulled my automatic to blow a few holes in the ceiling for quiet. You are a saint, Charles. Hydrate is key.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks. No guns allowed, so I’ve had to cup my hands around my mouth for a bullhorn effect.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha haha. I can see that.
LikeLike
I’ve had a few times where I spent a few hours looking after seven kids between the ages of 3 months old and 11 years old… Five of them under the age of five… Your job kind of reminds me of that. Actually, I think I’d take the toddlers… I know from experience they’re easier. There might be diapers and things until a certain point, but they’re also usually pretty good about being willing to try things if you seem enthusiastic. They take naps too, so you get to sit down for a bit. So… Yeah… I wouldn’t want to trade, that’s for sure. Well done for surviving. Keep it up!
Glad you finished the writing. Sorry you had to annoy some people to get the time in. Unfortunately, that’s sometimes the only way.
Good luck with your goals for the week.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sadly, no naps and the kids don’t care about my enthusiasm. They just think I’m being stupid. Kids are much more jaded these days.
LikeLike
😦
LikeLike
Yes, toddlers are easier; even if you have your own children anyone who has ever gone on camps or hepled out at holiday clubs knows there is nothing more exhausting!
LikeLike
I remember having the job of teaching 23 kids at one point and 44 at another (in summer) so I understand your frustration. But I’m not a parent, so you have even more on your plate. Other than lesson planning, writing goes out the window. My hat is off to you for maintaining your blog and keeping up with your goals.
LikeLike
True. The summer is still seeing divorce stuff being handled. Forgot about that arena of stress.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So sorry.
LikeLike
Yikes. My advice would be simple: go with the flow and survive as best as you can. When the madness is over, you can use the experience in your writing. Who knows, perhaps that’s how we ended up with Vader purging the Jedi Academy…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Survival is top of the list. 🙂 Not sure there’s anything I can use for my writing though. I can’t think of anything that I’d adapt for a fantasy story here. Wasn’t it Palpatine tricking Vader that caused the Jedi Academy purging?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Best of luck. When things get busy, writing always takes a back seat. I don’t have young kids and still have a struggle for quality time. Times like this, I just get through what’s ahead of me and hope the quality time returns.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I keep hoping to get something. It’s been so hard this year that I’ve had to wonder if things will improve.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They probably will. Forever is a long time.
LikeLike
Wow, Charles, you do have a lot on your plate! I’m hoping your TAIII goal comes through and you get to do what you really like in teaching. Prayer for that. 🙏🏻 Christine
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. My main goal is making it through camp in one piece.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sounds chaotic! Good luck! 📚🎶 Christine
LikeLike
They steal your stuff? Ugh. I’ve dealt with that in the classroom. They figure out where the things they want are and wait til you aren’t in the room. Luckily, none of them decided my purse was the thing they wanted.
Can your management give you one closet or desk that locks?
LikeLike
They really just see it there and tinker because they think it’s fair game. I don’t leave the room unless there’s a counselor there
We work out of a school. I can’t get any furniture added. The stuff already there has al of the teachers’ things inside. Not that I’d have time to use my notebooks anyway.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then practice this phrase: “Get out of my stuff.” Say it firmly but politely. Kids will sometimes try to say they didn’t know what you meant. Be unequivocal. “That’s mine. Put it down.”
LikeLike