The first few days of this week was a trip to the Finger Lakes, which went well.  Saturday was a drive up and we made it with good timing.  Sunday was a day at the Strong Museum of Play, which was really us on the second floor enjoying the video game areas.  Monday was a walk through wetlands and then resting in the room.  My son worked on his art while I fiddled with Coven of the Gray.  I forgot an important page for Darwin & the Deadland Queen, so I couldn’t work on that.  Either way, it was relaxing and had a fun time hanging out with my son.

Unfortunately, the lower stress levels didn’t last.  The ride home was rough, but a bigger challenge was getting back in time for my son to have dinner AND make a virtual appointment.  It didn’t feel like it would be a problem, but I hit traffic at various points as well as Waze giving me issues.  Had a few other situations that required us having to find a rest stop quickly.  I made it back with thirty minutes to spare though, but I was exhausted by the time I got home.

Another situation popped up that made me upset.  I can’t go into details on it, but I really am getting frustrated.  I understand that sacrifices need to be made, but it wears on me when I feel like I’m the only one being asked to do so.  Not to mention decisions being made without talking to me in the first place.  This issue continued for a while and I did agree to do what was asked of me.  Of course, something else happened because part of the first decision resulted in me basically stepping out of another situation where I was apparently the only one stopping it from collapsing.  You know, people should really stop putting me in cornerstone positions while also sidelining me.  That really doesn’t work out unless I stretch myself thin.

Anyway, work started on Wednesday too.  It was teachers only for two days, so I got my new schedule.  It’s the same as last year with a 9:10 break and a 1:30 lunch.  I’m going to try really hard to stay away from the vending machine.  Need to bring my own water, but I do wish I could figure out a way to refill it and keep it cold.  Reusable ice cubes won’t last in my lunch bag all day.  That’s probably a minor issue with everything else on my plate this school year.  All of our kids go to work sites, so it’s going to be a busy, exciting, and slightly scary time.  This is on top of my own son stepping into high school as a senior and setting his sights on college.

I did try to work on Darwin & the Deadland Queen when I had a moment.  Think it was Thursday evening, but I couldn’t get the section done.  It was a challenge to get things started because I had a nonverbal character and it was supposed to be a game of ‘cat and mouse’.  The situation wasn’t kicking off right because of how this character acts, so I had to do a small job to just after the incident started.  I forgot this takes place in plains instead of a forest too, so the ‘hunting’ tactics I imagined had to get tossed.  A lot of writing a sentence or two then sitting back to think.  Made it maybe a page before I had to go to bed, but I stopped right before it got exciting.  I’ll be happy if this can make it over 3 pages since I just need the action to last long enough to make sense for another character to appear and finish everything.  That’s going to be my goal for today.  If I’m lucky, I’ll get to write the last two sections of chapter 5 tomorrow.  One is a talker and the finale is a chase scene with Darwin, so it should be okay.  Doesn’t help that the notes keep mentioning a wagon that I destroyed two chapters back . . . Oops.

The rest of the week will be getting back into work with students there, my son going back to school, and a court date.  Needless to say, I’m going to be exhausted fairly quickly.  The following weekend has a big Pokémon event, but not one that I feel inclined to spend the entire day at.  Probably just the morning, go get lunch, and go home to write with a possible return near the end.  Chapter 6 is another 4-parter, so I doubt I could finish it this week.  I need to start thinking of posts for November too since my blog is set up only through October.  Anybody know of some good author/life topics?

Let’s set the goals and then post a few Finger Lakes pictures:

1. Write more of Darwin & the Deadland Queen.
2. Get back into the work mindset and clothing.
3. Court.
4. Help son get ready for work.
5. Make art supply list for Halloween costume.  Need leather needles and thread or whatever.
6. Tinker with Coven of the Gray.
7. Pokémon for fresh air and exercise.
8. Grocery shopping for things I can bring for lunch.  Yogurt mostly.  My lunch is too late in the day for salads to make it, so it’s usually yogurt and Nutella sandwich.  Joy.