Today is the first full day of my Winter Break and it feels like things aren’t going to be calm in any way. First, I want to say that there is A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT coming tomorrow that I’m surprised I’m not blurting out now. Okay, let’s get to the rest because this has been a really busy week.
My son is with his mom for the first half of the break, so you would think I can dive right into War of Nytefall: Ravenous. I’m hoping to get some done, but I won’t have as much time as I thought. This is frustrating because I started 2020 with a clear plan of when I could write and how I could complete and publish 3 works before the end of the year. I didn’t have any writing time the last 3 weekends and weekdays are a bust, so I needed this period of time. Could have gotten 3 of the remaining chapters done and then snuck in a 4th when my son was back during his sleeping time. This is factoring in hanging out with friends at times, so what went wrong?
That would be the flooring. Everything in mine and my son’s rooms has been moved to the garage, basement, living room, or dining room. Things are moving along, but there’s going to be another spontaneous project done up there. This means, I won’t be able to start moving things up there until the day my son comes home. I’ll have to use the rest of the week to piece everything back together instead of spending time with my son. This is going to suck because I’ll have a 6 week run of full work weeks after this break, which means I need to gather some strength. There’s a constant ignorance of what I’m doing or need. Currently, I’m sleeping on a pull out couch that leaves my neck and shoulders stiff in the morning. My laptop is at the dining room table with my hat rack on one side and a pile of drawers on the other. I feel exposed, so I don’t expect to get much done. Just really want my space back.
A plus side is that I can rearrange furniture to make more space and replace my old exercise bike. That heavy one is in the garage and I don’t like the idea of lugging it back up to plop it in the middle of my room’s walkway. I’ve been looking at foldable exercise bikes, which I can keep in the closet. This is becoming a slight debate because I’m trying to explain it to certain people with strong opinions. Doesn’t help that these bikes aren’t in stores and I have to order them online. Figure this is something I can splurge on because I really need to create a sustainable exercise schedule. Having a bike that I’m not tripping over will certainly help.
What else is going on? I ordered a large box of oak tag to use as backings for my puzzles, so I’ll start setting that up once I get my room back. Won’t be tackling another puzzle until I finish studying a book I got for the GRE. This is a test one takes when one wants to go for a Masters degree. I took it in 2003 and I hated it, but the score doesn’t count anymore. I need to try again and my plan is to study this giant math book and then one for English before taking the test in late March. Once this is done, I can get the rest of what I need to get into a program in the Fall. Geez, I’m really busy these days.
Finally got back into my Instagram and I still don’t know what I’m doing. Going to gradually put up each of my book covers along with the opener for the blurb and the Amazon link. Still not sure how the whole thing works and I’m not a big fan of it only being done through the phone instead of the laptop. Check it out HERE!
Next week is break, so I don’t have anything really planned. Can’t until the upstairs is finished and refurnished. I’m afraid that’s going to take the entire winter break, which feels like a waste. Sucks when you want to get things done fast to enjoy the rest of a week, but the people you’re working with aren’t in a rush. After tomorrow, I won’t even be able to go upstairs until Monday. Yeah, I’m really not thrilled with this mess. Swear, I’m going to scream if Spring Break has something like this too. As it stands, I can no longer predict how my writing and publishing will go this year. I know people keep saying ‘every step is a success’, but there’s a limit. I spent nearly all of 2019 barely writing while the divorce was in high gear. It’s 2020 and everything seems to be rearing up to prevent me from even getting back to half strength as an author. Seriously, the last time I touched War of Nytefall: Ravenous was JANUARY! This is getting ridiculous. I’m not getting any younger and my 30+ ideas aren’t getting any duller. The idea of junking them because certain people routinely throw up path destroying obstacles doesn’t sit well with me. At times, it genuinely feels like this is being arranged at times that specifically stop me from pursuing writing again.
Goals of the week:
- Get some writing done.
- Take Ibuprofen for neck.
- Study for GRE.
- Time with son when he returns. ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ is only event planned.
- Put rooms back together.
- Order exercise bike regardless of complaints.
- Work on taxes, which I just realized is another day that I won’t be writing.
- Take some joy from the event that will be announced tomorrow. (This weekend is feeling bittersweet because of the distractions and the news.)
Legends of Windemere 
I can’t imagine getting anything done with all the turmoil. I hope it all gets completed soon.
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I had hopes of getting stuff done, but it isn’t looking good. Been trying to write for an hour and only got 2 paragraphs done. Had to move my car for the flooring guys, various conversations, my neck is killing me, and the temp is in the teens while my sweatshirt is . . . I have no idea. This is a bigger mess than I expected and I was told that even if the work is done by tomorrow, I won’t be able to move my stuff into the room until later in the week. No idea why.
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I can’t figure out why either. We had all new flooring put in after the hurricane and we walked all over it. Let me ask, are they putting a finish on it? If so maybe that’s why. (Takes time to dry)
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They’re putting a stain and finish on the stairs. That’s it.
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Maybe you aren’t supposed to use the stairs.
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No other way up.
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With all that going on, I’m surprised you can even think straight. So… Yeah, good luck with the coming week.
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Thinking straight is a challenge. People tell me to try and rest because this mess will pass. Yet, there seems to always be another right around the corner.
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There’s always more chaos and mess, just waiting for its turn to happen. You’ve got to do the best you can amid all the chaos, because you can’t wait for it to pass, or you’ll be waiting forever. It’s just the way things are. You either find a way to navigate all the obsticles in your path, or you don’t move forward. Better slow and painful progress than none at all.
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So far, I’m not moving forward. On anything. Couldn’t even find a spot to study yesterday. Ended up getting driven from the house because of the smell and there was nowhere to go. Library is under construction and it’s too cold to hang out in the park.
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That sucks. 😦
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As of today, I might only get one chapter done before my son gets home for my half of the break. That’s one chapter over the course of 4 days when I haven’t written anything since mid-January. If this flooring thing hasn’t happened, I could finished 4 chapters.
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Sorry. I need to amend my statement. It’s half a chapter. My neck and back are in so much pain from the crappy bed that I can’t do much. It also appears that I can’t start moving back upstairs until a small, last minute painting job is done and nobody is rushing to do it. This break has officially been murdered.
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Some yoga-stretching sorts of exercises help with the neck stuff, too. I hope you get your space all together quickly!
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Thanks. They’re working now with the front door open (teen temps) and power tools going. My current work space is about 20 feet away from this. TV is right next to it. Going to be a long weekend.
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I’d bundle up and wear headphones. I’m also planning on premature hearing loss at the rate I’m blocking out distractions…
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I am bundled up, but my fingers hurt. Might just stay in warm room with this monster of a GRE study guide. Chalk today up to a one section day and hope tomorrow is better.
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So glad to know you have a big announcement coming! 😀
The renovation sounds very frustrating. 😞
I remember taking the GRE. 😖 Hope that goes well for you.
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Frustrating is no longer the word. It’s a nightmare.
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I know that feeling of needing your space back. When things are disrupted, I kinda fall apart. Hope everything gets back to normal for you soon, and I hope your neck feels better!
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Got a bad feeling my neck will be a problem all week. Noticed more things that I can’t do until this situation is over. For example, my TV is in the main room and up high, so you can see it through the windows. All of the shows that I’ve been watching have either brief nudity or gory violence. Kids play outside, so I can’t use the TV until nighttime.
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Hi, Charles. You are busy! Anyway, here’s a link to something that I hope might help you. I posted this a year ago on my blog. How to post to Instagram from a pc. It works! All my Instagram posts are from my pc.
Here’s the link to my post. https://aspholessaria.wordpress.com/2019/02/19/how-to-upload-to-instagram-from-your-pc-without-additional-software/
And if you want to have a look at what I posted, here’s a link to my Instagram pics. https://www.instagram.com/v.m.sang/
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Thanks. Really appreciate if.
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I hope it helps. I’ve found it a great help. I no longer have to send photos to my iPad or phone then post.
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Starting off with a nap is a great idea, though. Naps make everything better.
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I tried. Woke up in more pain thanks to the pullout couch.
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Charles, the rough stuff just keeps coming! At least you put it out there in a blog post so we can give you support. Some of these things will go away pretty soon, like the floor project. And it will look beautiful. 📚🎶 Christine
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My issue right now is that by the time they go away, it’ll be too late. I no longer have the luxury of writing whenever I want. School breaks and every other weekend are all I have. Losing one the big breaks is a severe blow to my plans, confidence, and energy. After this, I go for 6 weeks without a break. I’ll be lucky if I can muster the energy for writing. I really needed these 4 days. Honestly, I don’t real give a shit about the floor. Could have been done in December when my room was already cleared out for the painting. Instead, I cleared our, put everything back, and repeated it less than 2 months later.
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Wow…at the mercy of a company & workers schedule & convenience not yours. That sucks! 🤨😲😳
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Truly. Right now, I’ll have the rooms mostly back to normal by tomorrow evening. My son comes back home at that time too.
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