Thursday, May 24, 2012

Ups and Downs

I was going to try to write this post funny, but it isn't.  I'm totally bummed. 

I was starting to think I had the potential to start being very productive.  In August, my little guy starts a preschool program that's five mornings a week.  Right now, I only have three mornings plus some weekend time to write.  I have a back injury that's been a problem on and off for a year and a foot problem that's been a worse issue for two and a half years.  We just bought a new car that doesn't aggravate my foot as much, so now I can do things I couldn't do last year.  And my husband's work contract was just renewed, so money isn't as much of a worry.

So I decided to sign up for a summer writing class and NaNoWriMo summer camp.  I enrolled in a Deaf Studies program at the local college to begin in the Fall with classes on weekends and during preschool, but still with enough writing time left over.

I was on this incredible high that only type A, tightly-wound, goal-oriented people can truly understand.   I edited ten chapters over the weekend and wrote five thousand words in the last three days. 

And then my husband said it: he has four weeks of work travel this summer.  Maybe more.  He's not sure about the rest of the calendar year, but his work definitely involves travel - international travel and often for weeks at a time.

How did I forget about that?

So I didn't sign up for the writing class, and I'm going to destroy my NaNoWriMo summer camp account.  I disenrolled in the Deaf Studies program, which is the biggest bummer - I really wanted to do it.  It will have to wait until my son is in Kindergarten.

My husband keeps saying we'll get a sitter - he'll talk to his boss - he'll do something to fix it.  But it's not that easy. 

It's my choice not to send my son to a sitter when his dad's out of town - I think that's too much for him.  I think it's too much for my kids to watch him that often while keeping up their homework and going back and forth between my house and their dad's house.  And it's too much for me to manage for weeks on my own and go to class, even if I did have someone to watch my little guy.  The truth is, I usually don't have time to write when he's out of town. 

The thing can't be fixed.  I just need to wrap my head around it and be given time to find the positive in the situation and figure out how to make the best of it. 

The up side is I will have 15 hours a week not including weekends to write.  That's a lot.

Honestly, if I had only been told I have an extra two mornings a week to write, I would have been so excited.  That's huge.  I write fast, so I could potentially knock out 10-15K or more a week.  I need to keep that idea in my mind and hold on tight.


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I'm still behind on reading blog posts and accepting awards and spider pins.  I'm hoping to get caught up tomorrow.

20 comments:

  1. I'm sorry to hear that things aren't working out in your favor but it sounds like you have your priorities straight. You will figure it out

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    1. An IT recruiter (from my past life) called to ask if I wanted to interview. I laughed - like, literally.

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  2. here's hoping it will be a magical summer with unexpected good things!

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    1. Magic would be nice. Maybe the fireflies will bring it with them.

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  3. I'm sorry. I know you will find some magic way to make everything work, because you always do. You are amazing like that. Hang in there.

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    1. Thanks, Murees. I decided to be OK with it and to be happy I will have lots of time to write.

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  4. Sorry your plans fell apart. But with that writing time, anything could still happen!

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    1. It is a lot of writing time. It will be good.

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  5. I'm sorry you're feeling so bummed. But it sounds like the writing time will be a silver lining, I hope so.

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    1. I agree. I'll still have weekend time to write too. Maybe I can even exercise once in a while. :)

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  6. Aw, it's a shame, but like you said, 15 hours a week for writing is still awesome. And it's great you're a fast writer. I wish I was a fast writer :)

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    1. I was at the coffee shop writing. Someone walked up behind me and commented to whomever they were with how freaked out they were that I was typing that fast, which instantly paralyzed my fingers.

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  7. I'm a Type-A also, and it's hard when things don't go our way. Hang in there!

    Precious Monsters

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    1. I'm much happier when I have impossible goals to strive for.

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  8. I wish I could write that fast. It'd take me a month to write 10K words. I am sorry about those plans falling through, but you'll find another way to make it work. Your son is getting older every day too, so more time will open up for you as he gets more independent.

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    1. I just type fast and drink too much coffee. :) I think the typing thing comes from years of writing code after years of using a typewriter. I got to the point where I could type XML (seriously formatted and really long computer-readable strings) directly into a database with no spellcheck while I pondered life and had a little Oz Fest in my cubicle.

      I think the older they get, the more energy they need from me.

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  9. That is too bad that your summer plans have gotten all messed up. That's how life seems to work. At least you have an extra couple of days. With writing, sometimes all you can do is write when you can.

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  10. Wow, I am awed and inapired by your word output! I'm sorry to hear about having to drop all those things and all the hibby travel, though. And speaking of awards, I nominated you for a Kreativ Blogger award. Check out my blog for details. ;^)

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  11. Wow. You do write fast!! I only wish I had that speed and productivity. Keep swimming...

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  12. So sorry your plans fell apart on your like that... but you seem like the confident type of person who will persevere and do great things with what you have at your disposal. And, man, jealous of your word count. Good on you!!!

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