It's Been a Good Week

This week:

1. I did something brave. Two brave things actually, but no I'm not brave enough to share what I did with the world.

2. I did something I didn't want to do, but needed to do. (But I still have a giant "I Don't Wanna" to tackle).

3. I did something extremely time consuming but very rewarding.

4. For one day of my long weekend, I found a balance between working and resting.

Not bad. I think I'll need to try all of those things again soon.

NaNoWriMo anyone?

The new site just launched for nanowrimo.org and now the fun begins. Officially the writing starts on November 1st, but things start to pick up in the forums in October as people share what they are doing to get ready. And what am I doing to get ready?

I'm trying to decide if I can really pull it off this year. So lucky you, you get to read my personal debate. On the plus side, maybe as I try to convince myself, I'll convince you to.

1. NaNo often leads to sleep deprivation, neglect of friends and family, a messy house (because who wants to take the time to clean when you have a writing deadline?), and doing just enough at work, but skipping the "extras". Yeah, I should be concerned about that, but let's look at my life currently: sleep deprived, no social life beyond FB and my colleagues at work, messy house, and weeks behind in my planning and organizing the studio. So I guess I can't use these excuses. How much worse can it get?
2. My social life actually improves during November as I make the time to go to write-ins and spend time with people that understand my serious obsession.
3. Creativity gives me energy. I often feel better in November even though I'm busier.
4. I can't decide what to write about. I can't really use that excuse since my best year so far is the novel I wrote when I started 10 days late and had no idea what I was writing about.
5. I'll have to haul my computer to and from school everyday. Yes, it's heavy and adds to my shoulder tension and pain when I carry it too much, but I suppose it wouldn't be that big of a deal if I pull out the rolling back pack again.
6. I've been encouraging other people to do this, and they won't be happy if I drop out and leave them to make the journey alone.

I know there were a few other reasons why I shouldn't do NaNo, but I can't remember them right now, so it looks like the good things outweigh the bad.

My author name/username is robinejm, so look me up on the site and let me know where I can find you. And please, please, please join me in this crazy, life-changing adventure.

-- Posted from my iPhone

Time Wasters

Yes, the Internet and all the cool things there can really be time wasters. But today I want to talk about the serious wasters in our lives, the things that have been wasting the time (or money or energy) of humans for millenia.

For example:
1. Having to go to the bathroom. Yes, I do know that it serves an important biological function by helping remove waste from the body, but seriously, what a waste of time.

2. Eating. While sometimes enjoyable, with the time spent preparing, eating and cleaning up after our meals we could accomplish major things.

3. Travel. When do we get "beam me up" technology?

4. Shopping. OK, there are some people that enjoy this, but I'd be perfectly happy if clothes that look good on me just magically appeared in my closet.

5. Shaving. Couldn't we just opt out of this. No, I don't want expensive hair removal. I just want to check a box and hair doesn't grow any more.

And as long as we're on the subject of what I really want, how about one of those machines from the Jetsons where you walk in one side and come out the other just seconds later showered, shaved, dressed etc?

What do you hate wasting time on?


-- Posted from my iPhone