Happy “don’t-believe-anything-you-read-online” day! The internet is
a strange and dangerous place on April 1st. All sorts of shenanigans to
get one into trouble, or at the very least, mocked for getting sucked
into something no one else in your circle did…
a strange and dangerous place on April 1st. All sorts of shenanigans to
get one into trouble, or at the very least, mocked for getting sucked
into something no one else in your circle did…
So if you are online today, bravo, brave soul! Tread lightly, and carry a dose of skepticism…
So yesterday I had not one, but two ham dinners that were eerily
alike. Ironically, neither meal that we attended was supposed to include
ham at all, but last minute decisions at both places resulted in a
less-than-varied menu for hubby and I all day. Needless to say, we were a
bit disappointed. And of course I’d bought a ham for us, because I
*knew* ahead of time that there would be no ham served on Easter. Now I
have a huge ham taking up space in my fridge that will have to wait
until next weekend to be dealt with.
alike. Ironically, neither meal that we attended was supposed to include
ham at all, but last minute decisions at both places resulted in a
less-than-varied menu for hubby and I all day. Needless to say, we were a
bit disappointed. And of course I’d bought a ham for us, because I
*knew* ahead of time that there would be no ham served on Easter. Now I
have a huge ham taking up space in my fridge that will have to wait
until next weekend to be dealt with.
I don’t understand why people feel like a holiday meal has to be
the same meal every single time the holiday comes along. I mean, why not
mix it up a bit? Make prime rib one holiday, ham the next, turkey the
next, and then throw in some *really* original fare like lasagna and
spaghetti. The tradition of eating a meal together will not end just
because someone decided to make pasta instead of ham or turkey. Or at
least I don’t think it will. It is April Fool’s Day, I guess. So maybe
it really would tear apart the space-time continuum…
the same meal every single time the holiday comes along. I mean, why not
mix it up a bit? Make prime rib one holiday, ham the next, turkey the
next, and then throw in some *really* original fare like lasagna and
spaghetti. The tradition of eating a meal together will not end just
because someone decided to make pasta instead of ham or turkey. Or at
least I don’t think it will. It is April Fool’s Day, I guess. So maybe
it really would tear apart the space-time continuum…
Today is also the day that my day job schedule changes (no
foolin’). Rather than working 8:30am – 5:30pm, I’ll be working 9am –
6pm. The upside is, my mornings don’t have to start out with a hefty
dose of stress anymore (trying to make it on time – I’m always late at
8:30)…which will undoubtedly be an improvement on the whole work day.
The downside is that I have to work until 6pm (which will impact
dinner/evening activities), and take my lunch an hour later, which will
require some getting used to both for me and the dogs (I go home for
lunch to let them out daily). Still, I think overall it will be worth it
once I settle in.
foolin’). Rather than working 8:30am – 5:30pm, I’ll be working 9am –
6pm. The upside is, my mornings don’t have to start out with a hefty
dose of stress anymore (trying to make it on time – I’m always late at
8:30)…which will undoubtedly be an improvement on the whole work day.
The downside is that I have to work until 6pm (which will impact
dinner/evening activities), and take my lunch an hour later, which will
require some getting used to both for me and the dogs (I go home for
lunch to let them out daily). Still, I think overall it will be worth it
once I settle in.
Speaking of schedules, I just spent the last four days furiously
writing the holiday short stories that were due on Easter. Why? Because
instead of writing *last* weekend, I was working on bookkeeping (which
needed to be done, but it could have waited one more week). And due to
unforeseen events during the week prior to that, I wasn’t able to get
them done earlier.
writing the holiday short stories that were due on Easter. Why? Because
instead of writing *last* weekend, I was working on bookkeeping (which
needed to be done, but it could have waited one more week). And due to
unforeseen events during the week prior to that, I wasn’t able to get
them done earlier.
This is something I really need to work on with my writing –
working ahead, instead of working right up against a deadline. Yes, I
tend to work better/faster when deadlines are pressing in, but it’s also
very stressful, and there’s a much higher chance of failure. The thing
is, I’m normally very good at prioritizing and using calendars, and I’m
disciplined enough that I really shouldn’t need that “deadline
adrenaline rush” to get stuff done. In college, I had no choice – my
schedule was just that tight, but that hasn’t been the case for many
years now. My only excuse now is being lazy about spending time
prioritizing and scheduling my projects – and that’s a really stupid
excuse.
working ahead, instead of working right up against a deadline. Yes, I
tend to work better/faster when deadlines are pressing in, but it’s also
very stressful, and there’s a much higher chance of failure. The thing
is, I’m normally very good at prioritizing and using calendars, and I’m
disciplined enough that I really shouldn’t need that “deadline
adrenaline rush” to get stuff done. In college, I had no choice – my
schedule was just that tight, but that hasn’t been the case for many
years now. My only excuse now is being lazy about spending time
prioritizing and scheduling my projects – and that’s a really stupid
excuse.
So this week, one of my goals is to sit down with a list of all the
current and future projects I have planned, and schedule them out so
they’re not only in lists, but on my calendar as well. I’m also going to
schedule out business items like bookkeeping, reviews, formatting,
cover art – the whole works, so that I know where my priorities need to
be in any given week. I’ll need to be somewhat flexible, of course
because books don’t always fit into a set schedule, but I should be able
to predict within a week or so how long it will take me to finish
drafts. And if I have set publication dates to meet, I can prioritize on
a weekly basis to ensure I hit those deadlines.
current and future projects I have planned, and schedule them out so
they’re not only in lists, but on my calendar as well. I’m also going to
schedule out business items like bookkeeping, reviews, formatting,
cover art – the whole works, so that I know where my priorities need to
be in any given week. I’ll need to be somewhat flexible, of course
because books don’t always fit into a set schedule, but I should be able
to predict within a week or so how long it will take me to finish
drafts. And if I have set publication dates to meet, I can prioritize on
a weekly basis to ensure I hit those deadlines.
Organization, peeps. It’s not overrated.
Yes, this means that the Memorial Day stories should be complete
before that holiday weekend, so I won’t have to spend another five days
frantically pounding out words. Theoretically, anyways.
before that holiday weekend, so I won’t have to spend another five days
frantically pounding out words. Theoretically, anyways.
What else is on my list for this week? Well, let’s see…
– Finish the horror short for Easter
– Scene for THHG
– Work on scenes for the other drafts I have started according to the new schedule (scheduling will happen Monday night)
– Edits and print formatting for Sleep With Me
– Start taxes
– Work out details for new “sponsored” ebooks to be offered in the BSB store
– Workout 3x (Mon/Weds/Fri)
– New budget (our pay schedule at work is changing too, which requires a new bill-paying schedule)
So it’s shaping up to be a very busy week, but hopefully I’ll end
it with a much better sense of what I need to be working on when (and
another book nearly ready to release on the 12th!).
it with a much better sense of what I need to be working on when (and
another book nearly ready to release on the 12th!).
Here’s to organization…and to keeping a good sense of humor throughout the day. 
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