Holy Carp - So Behind

This last week of sickness has really blown my plans to hell and back. I had been procrastinating a bit in "early December," thinking I could recoup later... but, then, chest colds hit and now I am boned. Now it is nearly "end of December," and I haven't even put a dent in my list, really - actually, I have even added tasks. :(

Work that Needs Immediate Attention:

• Need to complete Valentine's Day short story ASAP
• Need to re-write academic chapter ASAP
• Need to write 17 articles for an encyclopedia project by Jan 15 (new paying gig, added this week)
• Need to prep for my courses (ongoing)
• Need to finish up day care paperwork today so I can take it in tomorrow
• Bills and banking and such ASAP
• Prep for job phone interview...? (Not even sure how exactly to prep for that.)
• Try to get a handle on housework before teaching starts, esp laundry.

I also have a couple nifty blog posts in mind to do when I have a moment, so we'll see if I have some time. I will at least do my end of year wrap up and resolutions at some point this week. I would really like to finish up and polish my NaNo novel so I can submit it, so I can start on my Winter 2011 novel project. sigh... I'm going to stop thinking of what I need to do now, since the list just keeps growing.

WORK WORK WORK...

Work Work Work

You know, for an unemployed person, I sure am busy these days.

My NaNoWriMo project is steaming along, at about 36.5k - only 15k until I meet the minimum requirement, which I should reach this week (fate and toddler willing), but the book is meant to be more along the lines of 60-65k, so it will take me a bit longer to reach that. I am also looking for interested publishers. I thought I had one in mind that seemed terrifically ideal, but with further research I am not so sure. I am thinking of playing with the big boys and sending it to Harlequin's e-book off print. We'll see how that goes.

This week, one of my short erotic romances releases for sale, and on December 10th my Christmas romance comes out. I have to remind myself to do those book trailers, ASAP. sigh. In December, I will have to write a couple Valentine's stories if I can find the time, as well, since next term I won't have the time to write much. (Planning one novella for all of next term, so I have to make hay while the sun shines.)

In other writing news, I finished off one freelance gig for a mag in the UK, and some editing work (some for money, some for my upcoming fiction releases), and am now off to re-write an academic chapter I submitted for an edited volume. The editor said he wanted the topic in the book, but didn't like my "flow." So, we'll see what we can do about that. He offered to call me to discuss it, but given the tot's obsession with the phone, that is so not a good idea at the moment. The editor has AIM, so maybe we'll go that way. Though it will be a ton of work to re-write the thing, I have hopes of doing it before the New Year.

I continue hoping to squeeze in some time to convert the dissertation for publication, as well. High hopes, indeed!

In terms of work, I submitted a really important job application (for a Real Job, yo), which was a lot of scurrying. I also applied for another class here for next term, which I actually got (YAY!), so now I am busy trying to prepare for two courses running from Jan to April 2011. It's hard work, and a bit stressful, but really exciting. I am starting to look forward to my courses. Check in again in February, though, as that excitement will likely have worn off by then. The finalized syllabi are due to the dept by December 1, so that is my task for the next while. Then I can start stockpiling lectures and materials, and start working on the course websites. I have a couple more applications for Sept 2011 due in January, and I am hoping the job ads for summer courses will come out soon, so there will soon be that fun, as well.

Aside from all that, which I think is a lot, there has also been the day-to-day mommy/life stuff, but that's a lot less interesting, so I shall spare you. Soon, I need to start preparing for the holidays, as well, so FUN FUN FUN there. sigh.

I hope everyone is well, and bears with me as I often neglect this poor old blog. I will return when I can.

There's my completely uninteresting, utilitarian post. Enjoy!

Wow - Two Weeks Later

Sorry, dear old Blog. It's been a while. It would be great if I could say I have been up to fantabulous things, but, alas, life has been pretty dull, really. We did go to St Jacobs on the train, though, so that was fairly exciting - our one trip out of own for the summer. sigh.

Things are kind of blah - I'm broke, I still haven't been able to afford to apply to graduate, and I put in apps for the fall, but still do not have teaching work for the fall term. yippee.

BUT, I do have some exciting news... They accepted my novel for publication! I will have editing stages, etc., but if all goes well, it should be available for purchase come 2011! So, that's something.

Also, I don't know if I have posted this link before, but it's quite a neat site, so take a look - it's got to be more interesting than this blog, right?

100 Days, 100 Movies

Well, actually, I am not setting myself a day or movie limit/assignment, but I had to call the post something, so there you have it.

My life is kind of the pits right now, what with post-school identity crisis, unemployment and those pesky wolves at the door who respond to neither garlic nor Wolf-B-Gone®, so, really, who the heck wants to hear about me? Therefore, I have decided to get back to my film buff roots, and start posting more film reviews and such.

I might even live up to the blog's subtitle and focus a lot more on silent films. (Been thinking of changing the subtitle and even the title of this blog, though it'd be strange to have a new blog title after 5 years.)

I generally watch a movie (or some TV on DVD) a day, anyway, so I think I will start posting a review a day, with some videos when I can - no promises, though, as I am sure I will miss some days, or have Real Life stuff crowd in on the action. However, writing reviews is good for my brain and skills, and a lot more fun than whining (which I am sure I will still do from time to time), so I think I will revert to that.

That is, of course, if I don't get evicted in July when I can't pay the rent.

La-di-da, la-di-da.

New Skin for an Old Blog

When I first started on Blogger, way back in April 2005 (before I even started my PhD, if you can believe it), you couldn't change the template without losing all of your manually-entered links. Now look at all the fancy!

I started this blog because I was anxiously waiting to move here and start my new degree, and I couldn't find work so I had time to kill... Funny how life has sort of come full circle on that one. Though with less time to kill now, thanks to tot.

My first blog was, if I recall, a black/blue/green/beige affair. Then it was red/white/grey for a bit. Then I got into the minima templates, but with custom colours, and did that for a long time. But, today, the blog has a new, fresh look - like spilled watercolours. Nice, I think.

Today I put in three of the last four teaching apps, with the final one due on Monday - it makes sense that the blog get a rejuvenation right now, at a transition in my life. Just the same as it started.

ETA: Decided to go with the Victorian poppies, instead - I've always been partial to things that look like old naturalist sketches.

Oh, by the way: FIVE YEARS OF BLOGGING!

I forgot to mention it. On April 17, the day after Charlie Chaplin's birthday (which I also neglected to mention), it was five years since this blog opened.

That's a lot of typing, navel-gazing and repetition.

CONGRATS TO ME!

Drive-By Update

Been working a lot for money, without internet, which has cut into my blogging.

Am doing some extra reading to keep the mind working for the defence, which is now less than 40 days away (see ticker). Wrote a rough draft of my defence lecture, but will do a lot of editing to it, as well as practice, over the next month. I am way behind on my question prep - please make any suggestions that come to mind.

Things are ok, the tot is fine. Been watching a lot of Due South on my off-time. Submitted my final annual progress report, but renewed my student ID. Finished my marking gig. Job interview went very well. Weather is very nice.

Exciting, huh?

Some More Random Thoughts

I know, my posts have been pretty short recently, which could be a good or bad thing. I will try to stay focused enough for longer posts at some point in the future.

However, in the meantime, some things in my head:

- It's pretty frigging cold right now. (Yet, still better than the past week.)

- I'd love to order pizza tonight, but am still boycotting the best pizza resource due to their crazy (rude, incompetent, possibly criminal) Magyar delivery dude. Consumer power is hard.

- It totally sucks that telemarketers can call me and wake up the baby for absolutely no good reason, without any punishment.

- Pride and Prejudice rocks. It always has and always will.

That is all for now.

C'Mon and Say Howdy!

New Blog

I have started a new blog for games, songs, activities, poems, rhymes, etc., for Sprout. I find I am Googling old songs all the time, as my mind seems to be as leaky as a sieve when it comes to everything but the chorus of all the old songs I sang when I was a kid. I don't want to Google them more than once any more, so I wanted a place to put them.

Our song book, here.

FB/Twitter/Blog

So my internet presence has drastically reduced this last month. Perhaps you have noticed; perhaps you haven't. In any case, I don't really want to explain why I'm not online any more - we can just chalk it up to me having to be more disciplined about my computer time... That'll work. However, it's kind of depressing. Increased isolation is not really a good thing. bah.

Wordle Cloud

Neat (even though the link function doesn't work very well).

Sorry, Blog

I'm under pressure this week - marking and dissertation deadlines. Blogging has had to be sacrificed.

Hope to be back soon.

Declan's New Blog

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.
-- Elizabeth Stone

More on that theme here.

I Forgot...

I had something great in mind to blog about when I woke up this morning, but it's fled straight out of my mind. Oh well, let's just pretend I wrote something major-superfly, then, can we?

But the main thing is that it is now creeping into mid-August, and I am very nearly pooping myself with stress over everything that I hope to do this month. Why, oh why, did I take a few days off after that last chapter??? UGH.

Tasks for today:

• tax letter written and emailed
• student loan form filled out and faxed
• bursary thing filled out
• find a better webcam program (with sound)
  
• Dr M's articles compiled onto disk
• Dr K's bibliography finished and emailed and printed
• Dr K's articles compiled onto disk
• read and note at least one film theory article for dissertation
• play with Declan
• wash the dishes
• call parents
• go to store for t.p. and milk

Tomorrow, it is library day. Yippee.

Oh well, onward and upward.

*hangs head in shame*

So, yes, I've decided to give in, and try some scrapbooking - largely under the assumption that scrapbooks are harder to destroy, mentally (and physically) than are electronic forms of memory. I know, this is SO Soccer Mom. However, I will like the creative aspect, and I am sure there will be times in my, and even Declan's, life where we will all be grateful I chronicled his life in such an elaborate way.

I have decided on three scrapbooks to start: Declan's Arrival (pregnancy and birth); Declan's First Year; and Declan's Holidays (this will likely be multi-volume and will be for birthdays, holidays and vacations). For the yearly one, I think two pages a week would work. I plan on having a handwritten note about the item/event, including weight/height stats from the doctor's visits, etc, with relevant pictures and mementos.

So, in future, scrapbooking materials will always be welcome. Not only the Dollarstore and hobby shop variety (stickers, letters, etc), but recovered materials, too, such as ribbons, foil, old greeting cards, etc. Just save these kinds of stuff up for me, and I will start a bin for them. I will also gratefully accept photo suggestions, as I plan on using a mix of photo-paper and printer-paper shots throughout. Also, notes and descriptions of good times are very much appreciated, as well.

As to starting another blog... I may. Don't know, yet. It is too soon, maybe. For now, this scrapbooking project, and perhaps a paper journal, will be my focus.

It's Over

I was forced to delete Declan's blog today, which has hurt me more than I can say. I don't even know if I want to keep blogging at all now. I won't delete this blog, as I have put many years into it, but I am not sure if I will ever update it again. I am uninstalling chat programs from my computer and dropping off the internet. It was something I probably shouldn't have gotten mixed up in, in the first place.

I'm in so much pain right now, I can't really say any more right now.

Am I Using This Blog Effectively?

Writing about values improves relationships

SARAH BOESVELD

From Thursday's Globe and Mail

July 24, 2008 at 9:18 AM EDT

It may be time to shake the dust off that old diary if you want to rejuvenate your relationships.

According to a study published in this month's issue of Psychological Science, writing about values you hold dear can conjure feelings of love and connection that may help strengthen your social bonds and decrease defensiveness.

University of Michigan researchers asked a group of college-aged men and women to write a paragraph about a value they considered important, such as peace or their relationships with their families. Another group wrote about a value they didn't find important.

"Those students who wrote about their most important value [felt] overwhelming positive emotions and those feelings made them less defensive" and more open with people, said lead study author Jennifer Crocker.

Dr. Crocker says thinking about a challenging situation you will probably encounter in the day - such as a stressful meeting - and writing about your values first thing in the morning will help alter your perspective and push you through it.

"It helps people shift from 'What do they think about me?' to 'What do I want to contribute or create from this situation?' "

In a self-conscious and egocentric world, writing about values that transcend the self may help people think about others a bit more, Dr. Crocker said.

"It connects you with something more important than your ego. It reminds you that there's more you care about."

Blogging Lost an Elder

The World's Oldest Blogger, 108-year-old Olive Riley, died on Saturday.

RIP

sad sack

I'm generally lonely and bummed out right now. I know that doesn't make for very interesting blog reading, but, let's face it, blogs really aren't all that important, anyway.