I’m writing this Friday night before I pass out, but I can’t tell if the post or the collapse will win this race.  A common statement among people I know is that this week felt like it went on forever.  Not always in a bad way, but there weren’t many moments to breathe.  Ended on Friday the 13th too, so maybe that’s what caused all the trouble.  Had a really full and big moon for the last night or two as well.  That would explain a lot of what I was getting thrown my way.

Now, I got 1.5 chapters done last weekend, which was a great start.  It would have been more, but I had some errands that stopped me from finishing the half.  My plan was to do that throughout the week, except I found that the universe was destined to make me routinely collapse on my bed by the end of everything.  The big chapter I wrote was actually an all villain one because I had a few scenes that got pulled from the flanking chapters.  She hadn’t made an appearance since the prologue, so I needed to give her more time before she became more hands on.  I’m enjoying this character because she’s kind of a like Chastity Sullivan, but with less shame and morality.  Basically, I’m writing a very lustful and conniving character who is smart enough to know that she has to avoid going up against Clyde without a secret weapon.  Very different from the more arrogant villains who have littered War of Nytefall.  I’m looking forward to writing her again next weekend even though she’s spawned from a rough source.

School was busy because we had field trips, a dance on Friday night, and I had to run around helping with a lot of other things.  Only one week left before a two week break, so there’s a lot to be done.  The field trip went off smoothly and the kids I was helping did great.  I managed to snag two puzzles (Detective Pikachu 1,000 piece and Prince John from Disney’s Robin Hood 1,000 piece) as I followed one kid through the toy section.  I mean, I literally had to do a quick scan and yoink as I power-walked by because this was a kid on a mission.  As my dad said, it sounds like I got my steps in.  My legs are kind of numb as I write this.

*eyes getting heavy*

Briefly, I’ll say that the Friday dance was a lot of fun.  I brought my son who got to meet several of my coworkers and students.  He was really nervous and had some crying fits before we left the house.  Almost had one at the dance, but I was able to take him for a walk and show him the classroom I work in.  He was amazed at the fridge, washer/dryer, and kitchen set up.  Though not as amazed as he was about the small rocking chairs we had.  The thing that had him nervous was that there were ‘so many teenagers’ and they were ‘so much bigger than him’.  After pizza and sweets, he got the courage to hit the dance floor and got into.  It was when there were fewer people out there that he began making friends and showing off.  At one point, he told me he met a girl and pointed at someone with a big grin.  Made it through the whole party and now he’s in bed.  Tomorrow is a big day for him with his morning activities and then we need to start moving my stuff into the basement for the painting happening the week he’ll be with his mom . . . Well, that’s as good an opening as I can find.

Possibly the biggest drain on me is from a week long issue.  As usual, I can’t go into details, but the ex-wife and I were butting heads for most of it.  Culminated in a rough therapy session that gave me flashbacks to our marriage counseling days, which was a massive drain on my mind and body.  We have a major difference of opinion on something with my son and there’s no middle ground that we can find right now.  By the time this post goes live, I’ll have already met with her again on neutral territory and maybe things will have taken a better turn.  I unleashed a lot of what I’ve kept pent up for the last year, but I don’t think it meant anything.  All it really did was exhaust me by the end of the week and stop me from writing the last two sections of this chapter.

Oh, did have a parent/teacher conference for my son.  We’re pinpointing his strengths and weaknesses since it’s the first one of the year.  I’m seeing how his actions at home mirror what I see in the reports.  Best thing is that he tries, participates, and everyone thinks he’s a joy to have around.  I find these very important because it means he can socialize when he gets comfort.  With how he gets nervous, I worry that he can grow into a person who avoids others and that can really hurt his future.  More so than the toe-walking, head-banging, arm-flapping, and any other physical tic that people focus on.  If you can make people happy that you’re around then you’ll have friends wherever you go, which is a good life to lead.

I have no real plans for the week.  Getting things ready for painting and writing a bit whenever I can.  I’ll be doing more with my blog preparation than the novel.  Might take a night to work on a blurb for War of Nytefall: Eradication.  We’ll see how tomorrow’s ‘Volunteers Needed’ post goes.  I really hope to get people asking for specific topics, so I can get things ready and more unique.  Talk more about that tomorrow though.

Goals of the week:

1. Get room ready for painting.
2. A little blog work for March.
3. Work on any volunteer requested posts.
4. Write a chapter or two of War of Nytefall: Ravenous
5. Read more ‘Overlord’.
6. Finish this circular puzzle before I have to pack away the table.
7. Remember gloves when cold in morning and umbrella when raining.
8. Cry to bed after scheduling this post, especially since it just took me 4 tries to write ‘scheduling’ (5th try!) without screwing up.  I’m out . . . But only after writing and scheduling (YES!  First attempt nailed it!) because I’ll be awake and active once this goes live.  Later.