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.
