Friends, Family and Finding Time

The word of the week is normalcy.

Dec 23 - Time

It's the final phase of the holiday season... and I can't wait for it to be over.

But not for the reasons you think. This year has been a very interesting one, full of ups and downs, challenges and many other things that combine to make it memorable.

What I'm really looking forward to is having time to do what I want to, day-to-day. By that I mean if I'm working, I can write a little or a lot that day, depending on my energy levels - without a deadline looming over me. Except the self-imposed one of getting my novel's third draft finished by the end of 2014, which I think is much more sensible and achievable.

I think what I'd really like is just to be able to tidy up all the loose little odds and ends that have been accumulating in my day-to-day life over the last year. Little things that need doing but have fallen by the wayside for various reasons, but still needing to be done all the same. As well as those things I'd like to complete and be done with, which would be nice.

I think the first thing I'll do is catch up on my sleep.

Dec 24 - Journeys

When it comes to friends, I've been very lucky.

Some of my friends I've known my entire life, since as far back as I can remember, which is saying a fair bit. Most of my friends I've known since grade school and it's been fantastic to have them there along with me for my journey, good and bad, all this time.

Other folks are so lucky, and one only realizes this when you contrast the different paths we all take. One of my favorite authors, Joe Michael Straczynski, recently posted about this very subject. About how he's not had any friends carry along with him since his earliest days and he speaks about how this has affected his life. It's very interesting and goes to show that you should really think about the perspective that you are bringing to the world compared to that of others around you which you may not realize.

Or you could be Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, who have become best buddies late in life. I don't think it gets any better than this:

Dec 25 - Shhh, Santa!

Christmas Day was a nice quiet one for my family and I.

Since I had the day off, I spent a good portion of it relaxing and writing in equal parts. The relaxing was over with fairly quickly, as I had the usual household things to do and in between those I tried to fire my muse up - with limited success.

By late afternoon, my muse had FINALLY woken up and my writing stepped into full-on productivity-mode. I blazed away with a few breaks for my wrists( still not enough for my left arm, dang it )and wrapped things up with a VERY happy and VERY tired smile a little after midnight.

It was a very good Christmas.

Dec 26 - Lack Of Materials

Boxing Day's all about bargains - IF you want them.

Nobody NEEDs things, not really. Sure, I'll be the first to admit I'd LIKE newer tech, this or that, but I don't NEED anything right now. I've a TV, a computer, a good smartphone and lots of little doodads / gizmos I've picked up over the years that still work just fine. I've got past the 'shopping bug' that used to have me eagerly pore over tech sales to spot bargains, to the point where IF I'm looking for something, it's because I need it, not because I want it. Shopping for tech's fun, sure, but it's costly and sad to say, most tech dies within a few years, give or take, with some lovely exceptions. 

Such is its nature.

The big family purchase of the season was a new laptop for my parents, which I helped to source for them. And set up - that was a foregone conclusion. Happily, there will be no more complaints about a lack of speed and so forth. Though I suspect the 'help me with this' questions will continue apace. Good thing I love them so much.

Bonus: I found a WONDERFUL article covering almost every aspect of the computer buying process, in fairly simple terms. It was really useful to me to bring myself up to speed on what's out there in the current market, clarifying all the bits and pieces to help me make an informed choice; check it out.

With Black Friday, Christmas and Boxing Day all rolling together to assault consumer's wallets, something has to give. There's only so much money out there and in my opinion( based on observations )the 'extra pressure to buy' is forcing people to search even harder for bargains.

Dec 27 - Busybody

Having seen how it was at work yesterday, I thought today would be a little less busy.

Boy, was I wrong. Even more people were out and about shopping today than yesterday, which really died down in the afternoon once the massive crowds of early-morning bargain hunters had staggered back to bed after getting up at four or 5 AM to wait in line.

By the end of today, I was pretty darn tired, I tell you. Thankfully, so was everyone else on the Island and the last couple of hours was basically customer-free. Which meant we could actually tidy up and stock a few things before the store closed and we staggered off into the night to go home.

While giving thanks that we didn't have to work at the mall next door. THOSE folks are retail heroes!

Dec 28 - Words!

Today was a writing day only.

It is also day that saw me dragging myself around my apartment, fairly well exhausted from running around nonstop at my day job. Not a particularly good combination, but I had no choice but to make it work.

Which I did. By midafternoon I was plugging away solidly at my Dark Crystal submission, making changes according to feedback I've received as well is my own observations from editing my work. I took a few breaks here and there and as the clock rolled on towards midnight, I called it a day.

A very good day overall, I might add. I'm very pleased with what turned up on the page, especially as I took the extra step of reading it out loud in order to have my year catch anything that sounded awkward or even a few little errors that managed to slip past my beleaguered eyes.

One more round of editing, I think, then I'll send it in and let the waiting game begin.

Dec 29 -Sapping Strength

It's like Christmas all over again at work, in reverse.

Since the full-time technician is way, the tech office is filled to the brim with returned items that need to be cleaned up according to our company privacy policy. Dozens and dozens of boxes of all sizes and descriptions fill the room, along with the usual computer / techy work that still needs to be done.

Unfortunately, I keep getting pulled out of the office to help out on the floor and only get half as much done as I feel I should. Tomorrow I'm in be spending the entire day in the office, the matter what anybody says, managers included. I've had enough of continuously dropping whatever tech task I'm supposed to be doing in favor of running out to answer silly questions from people who have no intention of buying anything this soon after Boxing Day. 

It may be my tiredness speaking, but I truly feel that I need to put my foot down or I'm just going to end up playing yo-yo again.. And end up still having a ton of work left for the regular tech when he comes back on Tuesday.

Which wouldn't be a very nice Christmas present from me, I think.

Immediately after work today I went over to my parents place for a belated Christmas dinner. My sister had spent the afternoon cooking up a storm and presented an incredible spread that we all enjoyed, along with each other's company as we watched a few animated Christmas specials together. I'm very grateful that my family is all here to spend time with in BC and I'm looking forward to spending more time with them in the coming year.