the summer of my discontent
I can’t believe Summer is over already, but I also can’t say I’m sorry to see it go. Mainly because this Summer…& really, a bit of last Spring, as well…were kind of a pain in the ass.
I wouldn’t say that I was in a bad mood, exactly, but more that it was a situation where “one of those days” stretched into “one of those weeks,” “one of those months,” & finally “one of those seasons. :coffin
My allergies & sinuses have been out of control for months, driving me crazy. Itchy eyes, runny nose, headaches, coughing, sneezing… It was terribly attractive, let me tell you. NOT!
For a while, I was sleeping like the dead. I could go 10-12 hours a night, then still drag once I managed to get up. Not exactly conducive to getting much done. Then, out of the blue, it flipped. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t sleep. I could be exhausted & still lie in bed all night, wide awake, tossing & turning. Aaaaaaargh!
And that just plain made me grumpy & out of sorts. I stayed home, going nowhere & interacting to no one…& with no desire to go anywhere or interact with anyone. I was either starving & stuffing my face or eating next to nothing. I even let pizza go moldy! :risingghost
I can’t say the writing wasn’t going well, either. Every time I tried to get started, something interrupted me—often revisions or edits on a previous project, which…well, see the Grumpy Cat sign.
I don’t know if I was suffering from a bit of burnout or plain old malaise, but it got so frustrating that eventually I just gave up. I gave myself permission to be lazy & do next to nothing & take the summer to…I don’t know, recharge, I guess.
I started watching Leverage & fell head over heels in love with the show. :spider So much that I’ve since bought Seasons 1 & 2 on DVD, & am keeping an eye on the rest.
And I mowed the yard. A lot. I, who normally mow the grass three or four times a summer, if the neighbors are lucky, was out there mowing every other week. And I enjoyed it! I even started using the push mower for the first time in…well, since I was a kid & thought helping my parents with lawn work was fun. And I enjoyed that, too, even if there were a couple times I thought I was going to pass out afterward. :mummy
I also gave myself permission to write when I felt like it instead of feeling like I had to, or feeling guilty if I did anything other than writing.
And you know what? It worked! I may have been lazy as a stone over the summer, but I’m feeling 100% better now. I may not be mowing as much (the yard is already out of control again) or watching as many movies (except on the Torture Cycle), but I’m back to writing on a regular basis & it’s going great! I’m loving the story I’m working on, & also the progress I’m making with it!
So taking some time off turned out to be a good idea! I may have to do that a little more often just to keep my energy & motivation up. :winkingpumpkin

Happy Hunk Day

never enough novocaine
I’m getting another filling replaced today. Last time, I was fine during the procedure, but as soon as the in-office painkillers wore off, it hurt like bloody hell for almost two full weeks afterward.
:scarypumpkin
So I’m pretty sure no matter what you’re up to, y’all are going to be having a better day than I am. :coffin
But there’s no reason we all have to suffer! Let’s see if we can find some dentist funnies to make everybody feel better…
