Here's the deal- I don't do book reviews. I read an awful lot of books, but my opinion on them is, as far as I'm concerned, not something you want to hear. Why? I believe I'm too polar in my approach to books. As a general rule, when I read a book, what I feel about it is absolute black or white. I either love it completely, or I pretty much hate it.
OK, there are a few shades between. Sometimes. And you may be nudging me to say that a firm opinion is what people like to see when it comes to books. Here's why I won't share those opinions, though- when it comes to books I absolutely love, I have a tendency to rave my head off- and other people have a tendency to think I'm incapable of accepting the flaws or faults with said book, and they get all ginger about discussing books with me lest they despise something I care deeply about. The thing is, I can see the flaws in stories, but there's some little trip-switch in my head that means if I enjoy a book, I only see the good things about it. Likewise in reverse for books that bore me or put me off. So no book reviews.
With one exception- just lately, I hit a mega trough in writing confidence, and became utterly convinced that I was never going to make it. Same old, same old- you saw it all here, anyway. So, as mentioned, I went on a little fit of buying "how-to" writing books that I've avoided my entire life. Look, the exchange rate is really good right now. OK, so I bought no less than six books. *Sobs*. Anyway, I partly bought six because I got so many different answers on which ones were useful and why. So, I thought I'd throw my hat in that particular ring and tell you which ones worked for me, and why.
I'm making no excuses for the fact that, as described, I'm either all in or all out on these :)
First up- Stephen King's On Writing. I've heard so many people say this is a brilliant book for would be writers, and I'd happily concur and say, if you've ever had the urge to put pen to paper, you should run out and get yourself a copy. This book doesn't contain masses of technical advice; it won't tell you how to make your characters more believable or your plot ring true. What it will do is make you laugh your ass off, for one. For another, it will give you a fascinating insight (at times heartbreaking, at times surprisingly touching) into the mind of a man who has written a whole heap of pulp fiction- and a whole pile of critically acclaimed stories like the Shawshank Redemption and the Green Mile.
I'm sitting here right now (albeit busting my Internet ban wide open) because of one particularly notable piece of advice that struck me right out. King advises you need a few things to be a writer, and one of those, above all others, is a room with a door you can close- and the will to close it, and get down to work, every single day.
My favourite bit (other than the whole rundown of his at times terrible childhood, filled with hilariously bittersweet stories about the mischief he got up to with his brother) was the incredible story of how he survived being run down by a truck a few years back. I always remember hearing that Stephen King had been run down and was in a critical condition, and thinking how he was an author who would be missed out of this generation if anything happened to him. The way he relates that whole episode, turning it into an absolute opus on how writing and life are both so worth the struggle, was brilliant. And I particularly loved the black humour with which he described the man who ran him down- as being like a character from one of his own novels, all yokel and rottweiler.
I find it really inspiring to see how someone so successful has been through the same struggles we're all in now, wondering if we're any good, if we'll ever get published, if we've really got something to say that other people want to hear. Above all else, the sense of optimism in a life so full of difficult times was just great.
Go get On Writing, and find yourself brain to brain with one of the greats of modern fiction- you'll feel better for it, once you wipe the grin off your face.
Excerpt from Between the Lines
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Dancing on the graves (only a little bit)
All right, I'm trying to be gracious, I really am. But here it is:
We've got a new prime minister, Kevin Rudd. We've got a new government. And bundled up in all that, despite the ongoing refusal to take Indigenous affairs seriously and the very conservative stance on boat people and various other things, is all this:
Oh, oh- I forgot to add one of the biggest ones- our troops are coming home from Iraq, pronto. And it's about bloody time.
Don't think I'm totally naive to the fact that the new government has precious little difference from the last, or that we've got potential downturn in the economy on the way (if it brings down the cost of living any, I ain't complaining). I didn't even vote for the Labour party in the end, though my preferences helped to nudge them in. But there's one thing of which I'm sure- I'm an awful lot more comfortable with some (some) of the moral standpoints of this government than the last. Since it was a choice between the two, I'll call myself happy.
Farewell to John Howard, good riddance (but good luck) to him- for the first time in 11 years, things are looking up in Australian politics.
We've got a new prime minister, Kevin Rudd. We've got a new government. And bundled up in all that, despite the ongoing refusal to take Indigenous affairs seriously and the very conservative stance on boat people and various other things, is all this:
- We're gonna ratify the Kyoto Protocol and show we take climate change seriously.
- We're going to see our government elect apologise to Aboriginal people for the wrongs that were done in the past (and maybe the present).
- It's goodbye to WorkChoices legislation that saw the removal of overtime and unfair dismissal laws.
- Hello to world-class super-speed broadband.
- The education system will get a shake up (maybe not as big a revolution as the hype claimed, but hell- any progress is good).
- We're going to see our hospitals fixed(er). Bring on the distribution of increased foreign aid from our monstrous budget surplus.
Oh, oh- I forgot to add one of the biggest ones- our troops are coming home from Iraq, pronto. And it's about bloody time.
Don't think I'm totally naive to the fact that the new government has precious little difference from the last, or that we've got potential downturn in the economy on the way (if it brings down the cost of living any, I ain't complaining). I didn't even vote for the Labour party in the end, though my preferences helped to nudge them in. But there's one thing of which I'm sure- I'm an awful lot more comfortable with some (some) of the moral standpoints of this government than the last. Since it was a choice between the two, I'll call myself happy.
Farewell to John Howard, good riddance (but good luck) to him- for the first time in 11 years, things are looking up in Australian politics.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Er... Internet ban?
Yeah, that's still going. I've just fallen off the wagon a wee bit in the last day or two. Well, I had a few hours at the airport yesterday and free wireless, so heck- what else was I going to do? And today I'm sitting in Perth at mum's place and it's just me and the dachshund and the 36 degree heat (that's about 97 for you Yankee types) and I can't be bothered getting on the bus to go anywhere, so I'm gonna do a bit of writing.
What we have tomorrow, of course, is Australia's Federal election, in which we will hopefully act en masse to evict the current government, with their rich-get-richer policies and their bad, bad attitudes. I'll keep you posted on that one- however, I've spent a while looking through all the candidates today, trying to figure out who I do and don't want in. Our political system is considerably different to the American one, though I'm not going to go into it right now. Maybe tomorrow. Nonetheless, it's important to know who everyone is and what they stand for- and I'm afraid precious few people in the country have bothered, though voting is compulsory here for everyone over 18.
Anyway, there's no possibility of getting rid of my local representative, who is the only serving member of parliament in history with a conviction for serious assault. His nickname is Iron Bar, which comes from said assault- a few decades back, when he was the Shire president in an area up north, he is alleged to have beaten the hell out of an Aboriginal man using an iron bar, while someone else held the guy down. The attitude to Aboriginal people doesn't seem to have changed much in the meetings I've had with the guy- and apparently this is a fit and proper person to have represented us for the last 27 years. Don't get me wrong, he does great things for the farmers in our region, which is fantastic. As a person, though? Yeah. He's going last on my ballot paper.
It's going to be a HUGE day tomorrow with this election- by nightfall, we could have a new prime minister. And if we don't, I'll be considering whether I should move to New Zealand or something, because I don't think I can take another three years of this.
What we have tomorrow, of course, is Australia's Federal election, in which we will hopefully act en masse to evict the current government, with their rich-get-richer policies and their bad, bad attitudes. I'll keep you posted on that one- however, I've spent a while looking through all the candidates today, trying to figure out who I do and don't want in. Our political system is considerably different to the American one, though I'm not going to go into it right now. Maybe tomorrow. Nonetheless, it's important to know who everyone is and what they stand for- and I'm afraid precious few people in the country have bothered, though voting is compulsory here for everyone over 18.
Anyway, there's no possibility of getting rid of my local representative, who is the only serving member of parliament in history with a conviction for serious assault. His nickname is Iron Bar, which comes from said assault- a few decades back, when he was the Shire president in an area up north, he is alleged to have beaten the hell out of an Aboriginal man using an iron bar, while someone else held the guy down. The attitude to Aboriginal people doesn't seem to have changed much in the meetings I've had with the guy- and apparently this is a fit and proper person to have represented us for the last 27 years. Don't get me wrong, he does great things for the farmers in our region, which is fantastic. As a person, though? Yeah. He's going last on my ballot paper.
It's going to be a HUGE day tomorrow with this election- by nightfall, we could have a new prime minister. And if we don't, I'll be considering whether I should move to New Zealand or something, because I don't think I can take another three years of this.
Adelaide
Meanwhile, Adelaide- what a great city! I really loved it. I’ve been to Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra before, but I’ve never spent time in Adelaide, and I have to say- on the strength of a few days there, I reckon it’s close to my favourite Australian city. The atmosphere is really laid back, and the place is beautiful- big wide streets, not too many high rise buildings, lots of old buildings preserved, parks, galleries, museums, and a fabulous town centre, especially Rundle Street with heaps of restaurants and cafes. Adelaide is known as the City of Churches, and there are plenty of those- many have been converted into other things, like nightclubs or restaurants, which in my opinion is a great way to retain the character of a town- keep the old structures and turn them into something new instead of knocking them down as they like to do in Western Australia.
I visited the famous Haigh’s Chocolates (which was dangerous, as I’m mildly addicted to all forms of chocolate, and this is bloody good chocolate), the old Gaol (which was very interesting and a bit sobering) and the Art Gallery (well, the restaurant, anyway, which was fabulous)- despite lots of people telling me there was nothing to do in Adelaide, it transpired instead that I just ran out of time to do everything that was on offer. So lies, all lies! It’s a great place to visit.
I stayed on the beach down at Glenelg, which was also fantastic- there’s a promenade along the ocean, lots of cafes and nightlife, as well as trams. The whole place is bounded by the Adelaide hills, and the famous wine producing districts of the Clare and Barossa Valleys are not too far away either. I’ll definitely be back there on holiday sometime.
The best part of Adelaide for me was getting to meet someone I know only via the Internet and the Writer’s Forum. It’s the first time in my whole life I’ve met up with someone I’ve only known online, and I have a lot of skeptical friends and family who inform me it’s just not possible to know someone if you can’t see their face when you converse with them. Isn’t it just like the old-fashioned penpal approach, I’m inclined to ask? Not according to them. The realm of the Internet holds too many hidden identities for you to trust anyone you connect with out there, and it’s hard for them to conceive of the fact that there’s a real person on the other end typing away on that keyboard.
Well, I’m very glad to say that I can call them emphatically wrong in this instance. Rachel and I have been communicating over the past few months after meeting on the Writer’s Forum and have gotten to know each other really well. We have a heap in common, and share a pretty similar sense of humour and view on life. She’s been great support to me as I struggle with the writing process, and yet we’d never laid eyes on each other til Monday. Now I can say we have even more in common than we thought, after spending a couple of days touristing around Adelaide and generally hanging out. It’s always great to make a firm friend, and for me particularly great in proving that someone I’ve come to know online is just as lovely in person, because there are plenty of other people out there who I’ve connected with similarly over the last year.
Makes the world seem a smaller place, and much friendlier!
I visited the famous Haigh’s Chocolates (which was dangerous, as I’m mildly addicted to all forms of chocolate, and this is bloody good chocolate), the old Gaol (which was very interesting and a bit sobering) and the Art Gallery (well, the restaurant, anyway, which was fabulous)- despite lots of people telling me there was nothing to do in Adelaide, it transpired instead that I just ran out of time to do everything that was on offer. So lies, all lies! It’s a great place to visit.
I stayed on the beach down at Glenelg, which was also fantastic- there’s a promenade along the ocean, lots of cafes and nightlife, as well as trams. The whole place is bounded by the Adelaide hills, and the famous wine producing districts of the Clare and Barossa Valleys are not too far away either. I’ll definitely be back there on holiday sometime.
The best part of Adelaide for me was getting to meet someone I know only via the Internet and the Writer’s Forum. It’s the first time in my whole life I’ve met up with someone I’ve only known online, and I have a lot of skeptical friends and family who inform me it’s just not possible to know someone if you can’t see their face when you converse with them. Isn’t it just like the old-fashioned penpal approach, I’m inclined to ask? Not according to them. The realm of the Internet holds too many hidden identities for you to trust anyone you connect with out there, and it’s hard for them to conceive of the fact that there’s a real person on the other end typing away on that keyboard.
Well, I’m very glad to say that I can call them emphatically wrong in this instance. Rachel and I have been communicating over the past few months after meeting on the Writer’s Forum and have gotten to know each other really well. We have a heap in common, and share a pretty similar sense of humour and view on life. She’s been great support to me as I struggle with the writing process, and yet we’d never laid eyes on each other til Monday. Now I can say we have even more in common than we thought, after spending a couple of days touristing around Adelaide and generally hanging out. It’s always great to make a firm friend, and for me particularly great in proving that someone I’ve come to know online is just as lovely in person, because there are plenty of other people out there who I’ve connected with similarly over the last year.
Makes the world seem a smaller place, and much friendlier!
Transit
I’m in transit again, for the third time in two months, this time on my way home from Adelaide, where I attended a course on identifying and describing stone artefacts. You may be sure I will be doing everything in my power to avoid setting foot on another plane for quite some time after this, not only because I absolutely hate flying but because I am absolutely sick of being away from home. It’s becoming a case of if it’s Tuesday, it must be Adelaide… Or maybe it’s Sydney. Or is it Melbourne? Brisbane? Agghh!
Anyway, the course was a great opportunity for professional development. Most of Australia’s prehistoric archaeological record comprises stone implements that were used in the past to kill and butcher animals, grind seeds, and any number of other things. Wood, bone and fibre don’t survive as well in Australian conditions, so they’re generally not represented in high numbers. Every stone artefact, far from being a simple thing, is a little technological marvel. People had incredible skill at selecting the right kind of stone, and striking it in just such a way that they could gradually shape the exact implement they needed- from microliths (small pointy artefacts used to tip spears and knives) to blades for cutting, from scrapers for preparing skins to grindstones for preparing vegetables- not to mention the ceremonial items, some of which are very elaborate.
Over the years I’ve had a few goes at making stone artefacts. Unsurprisingly for those who know me, I suck at it. My second effort at knapping (making tools) was out in the Western Desert with a very traditional Aboriginal group. We were out at a site miles from anywhere, sitting around the fire for lunch, and I was whacking away at my lump of chert- I got a great flake out of it and was mighty pleased with myself. The problem was, in demonstrating that it actually worked, I went to cut my apple with it, expecting that a rock edge couldn’t do much more than pierce the skin, only to find my apple sliced almost in half- and my thumb with it. LOL. Like a freakin’ razor. I got absolutely no sympathy from the Elders, either. It was a most typical wadjella (white chick) thing to do, and I totally deserved it.
This course was great for learning how to cycle back the process of manufacturing artefacts and establish how each piece was made, and what it can tell us about the people who made it and the place it was found. I already feel a lot more confident in my artefact analysis and I’m looking forward to the next time I get out there to apply my new knowledge.
Anyway, the course was a great opportunity for professional development. Most of Australia’s prehistoric archaeological record comprises stone implements that were used in the past to kill and butcher animals, grind seeds, and any number of other things. Wood, bone and fibre don’t survive as well in Australian conditions, so they’re generally not represented in high numbers. Every stone artefact, far from being a simple thing, is a little technological marvel. People had incredible skill at selecting the right kind of stone, and striking it in just such a way that they could gradually shape the exact implement they needed- from microliths (small pointy artefacts used to tip spears and knives) to blades for cutting, from scrapers for preparing skins to grindstones for preparing vegetables- not to mention the ceremonial items, some of which are very elaborate.
Over the years I’ve had a few goes at making stone artefacts. Unsurprisingly for those who know me, I suck at it. My second effort at knapping (making tools) was out in the Western Desert with a very traditional Aboriginal group. We were out at a site miles from anywhere, sitting around the fire for lunch, and I was whacking away at my lump of chert- I got a great flake out of it and was mighty pleased with myself. The problem was, in demonstrating that it actually worked, I went to cut my apple with it, expecting that a rock edge couldn’t do much more than pierce the skin, only to find my apple sliced almost in half- and my thumb with it. LOL. Like a freakin’ razor. I got absolutely no sympathy from the Elders, either. It was a most typical wadjella (white chick) thing to do, and I totally deserved it.
This course was great for learning how to cycle back the process of manufacturing artefacts and establish how each piece was made, and what it can tell us about the people who made it and the place it was found. I already feel a lot more confident in my artefact analysis and I’m looking forward to the next time I get out there to apply my new knowledge.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Tagged! Four things you don't know...
Ack! Tagged! I've seen these going around, I just haven't been done before. Or maybe I have, but I've been too zoned out to notice. Jen got me this time, so here it is- lists of four things you may not know about me:
A) Four jobs I have had in my lifetime:
1. Archaeologist
2. Museum tour guide
3. Bookseller extraordinaire
4. Subway Sandwich Artist
B) Four movies I would watch over & over:
1. The Hunt for Red October (OK, I'm totally sad, I know)
2. 50 First Dates
3. Zoolander
4. From Here to Eternity
C) 4 places I have lived:
1. The Hague, Holland
2. London, England
3. Batam Island, Indonesia
4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
D) Four TV Shows that I watch:
1. Desperate Housewives
2. Anthony Bourdain- No Reservations
3. The Chaser (Aussie spoof current affairs show)
4. Spicks and Specks (Aussie music trivia/ quiz show)
E) Four places I have been (this isn't fair- I've got 193 cities on my Facebook map and you want me to pick four? LOL):
1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2. Hanoi, Vietnam
3. Annapolis, MD (my favourite US city)
4. Genoa, Italy
F) Four people who e-mail me (regularly):
1. Jen
2. Rachel
3. Jenny C
4. Mum!
G) Four of my favorite foods:
1. Indian
2. Italian
3. Good old Aussie BBQ- sausages, steak and salad
4. Thai
H) Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Turkey!
2. Italy
3. Mauritius
4. Montana
I) Things I am looking forward to this and next year:
1. Going to Turkey and Italy in August
2. Finishing Between the Lines once and for all
3. Getting fit(ter)
4. Seeing the mighty Carlton Blues rise out of the bottom 8- that's all I want- 8th place or higher- dammit, I just filled in a member survey informing them of my wishes, so I expect them to listen, and also not fire the club president over his dodgy business dealings because hey, we all need a second chance and the guy is totally loaded, and if he goes I've going to start drinking or something. Sigh. Bring back the Aussie Rules football season is what I really want, obviously :)
The only person I think hasn't been tagged is Precie! Go, go! If you haven't been tagged and you wanna tell us all four things, please consider this an open invite from me :)
A) Four jobs I have had in my lifetime:
1. Archaeologist
2. Museum tour guide
3. Bookseller extraordinaire
4. Subway Sandwich Artist
B) Four movies I would watch over & over:
1. The Hunt for Red October (OK, I'm totally sad, I know)
2. 50 First Dates
3. Zoolander
4. From Here to Eternity
C) 4 places I have lived:
1. The Hague, Holland
2. London, England
3. Batam Island, Indonesia
4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
D) Four TV Shows that I watch:
1. Desperate Housewives
2. Anthony Bourdain- No Reservations
3. The Chaser (Aussie spoof current affairs show)
4. Spicks and Specks (Aussie music trivia/ quiz show)
E) Four places I have been (this isn't fair- I've got 193 cities on my Facebook map and you want me to pick four? LOL):
1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2. Hanoi, Vietnam
3. Annapolis, MD (my favourite US city)
4. Genoa, Italy
F) Four people who e-mail me (regularly):
1. Jen
2. Rachel
3. Jenny C
4. Mum!
G) Four of my favorite foods:
1. Indian
2. Italian
3. Good old Aussie BBQ- sausages, steak and salad
4. Thai
H) Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Turkey!
2. Italy
3. Mauritius
4. Montana
I) Things I am looking forward to this and next year:
1. Going to Turkey and Italy in August
2. Finishing Between the Lines once and for all
3. Getting fit(ter)
4. Seeing the mighty Carlton Blues rise out of the bottom 8- that's all I want- 8th place or higher- dammit, I just filled in a member survey informing them of my wishes, so I expect them to listen, and also not fire the club president over his dodgy business dealings because hey, we all need a second chance and the guy is totally loaded, and if he goes I've going to start drinking or something. Sigh. Bring back the Aussie Rules football season is what I really want, obviously :)
The only person I think hasn't been tagged is Precie! Go, go! If you haven't been tagged and you wanna tell us all four things, please consider this an open invite from me :)
One Crowded House
I fulfilled a bit of a dream on Friday night when I saw Crowded House play in Perth. They played at the Supreme Court Gardens on a beautiful summer evening- 10000 people packed in, Augie March in support, and a great night had by all.
There are some bands whose music ends up inextricably woven into your life experiences, so much so that a few simple chords can bring the memories reeling back in technicolour. Crowded House were everything to me in my turbulent teens- like many families, mine went through a break-up; I struggled with bullying and identity at school; more than any of that, I battled against clinical depression without knowing what I was facing. It was like punching in the dark sometimes at an unseen enemy, and the only thing that could ever make me feel better instantly was the sound of Neil Finn's voice. My best mate and I were crushed on the day they announced their break-up in 1996. We recorded the final concert and we used to watch it every month or so, singing along and forgetting all the rest of our worries.
I look back on it now and roll my eyes, but it also makes me smile to think that times were simpler, everything seemed so much more serious, and we like all teenagers thought we were the hottest thing in the world- I think we all need to have those times to get over taking ourselves too seriously! My best friend and I went together to the reunion concert on the weekend, and the band still has the same effect on me- no matter how down I'm feeling, I can't help but feel better with a bit of Mean to Me or Something So Strong. And there's something even better about standing at a concert like that with someone who's had my back since I was 13, who's seen me singing into a hairbrush in my PJs, shared M&M fights at 2am, been ready to pick up the conversation no matter how long has passed between calls- the two of us there singing like loons made me realise we've both made it, partly thanks to each other, and we've done bloody well.
So here's to us, and to Crowded House- I'm looking forward now to lots more years of great music.
There are some bands whose music ends up inextricably woven into your life experiences, so much so that a few simple chords can bring the memories reeling back in technicolour. Crowded House were everything to me in my turbulent teens- like many families, mine went through a break-up; I struggled with bullying and identity at school; more than any of that, I battled against clinical depression without knowing what I was facing. It was like punching in the dark sometimes at an unseen enemy, and the only thing that could ever make me feel better instantly was the sound of Neil Finn's voice. My best mate and I were crushed on the day they announced their break-up in 1996. We recorded the final concert and we used to watch it every month or so, singing along and forgetting all the rest of our worries.
I look back on it now and roll my eyes, but it also makes me smile to think that times were simpler, everything seemed so much more serious, and we like all teenagers thought we were the hottest thing in the world- I think we all need to have those times to get over taking ourselves too seriously! My best friend and I went together to the reunion concert on the weekend, and the band still has the same effect on me- no matter how down I'm feeling, I can't help but feel better with a bit of Mean to Me or Something So Strong. And there's something even better about standing at a concert like that with someone who's had my back since I was 13, who's seen me singing into a hairbrush in my PJs, shared M&M fights at 2am, been ready to pick up the conversation no matter how long has passed between calls- the two of us there singing like loons made me realise we've both made it, partly thanks to each other, and we've done bloody well.
So here's to us, and to Crowded House- I'm looking forward now to lots more years of great music.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Checking in
So, day 7 of the Internet ban, and I've been on this morning to check my email, Facebook and blog posts- and an hour and a half later, without having strayed to look at *anything* else, I'm still bloody here!! Talk about your time sappers.
It's been a great week, actually- very much like a recovering drug addict, I've had the shakes at times, but I'm discovering time and activities and interests that I'd forgotten, and I've come to one conclusion- the Internet eats your brain. Eats it.
So, this week we went to the city, had lunch with family, I re-read BTL in chronological order and- newsflash- didn't think it sucked like I did last week (interesting phenomenon noted- time off Internet= less self-critical), worked my butt off as usual, hosted book club, got back into making some jewellery, cleaned the entire house and actually washed the damned car- good Lord, if it weren't for the Internet I'd be running the whole world :)
Anyway, now I've had my communication fix, I'm back off line. I've got the day off work, and I'm cracking the knuckles, ready to get down to some serious writing. With no means of procrastination, that means it's on. Hopefully by next Friday I'll have achieved enormous amounts of positive progress that I can report back. In the meantime, I'm much more relaxed and my brain doesn't hurt quite so much. A good thing, that.
It's been a great week, actually- very much like a recovering drug addict, I've had the shakes at times, but I'm discovering time and activities and interests that I'd forgotten, and I've come to one conclusion- the Internet eats your brain. Eats it.
So, this week we went to the city, had lunch with family, I re-read BTL in chronological order and- newsflash- didn't think it sucked like I did last week (interesting phenomenon noted- time off Internet= less self-critical), worked my butt off as usual, hosted book club, got back into making some jewellery, cleaned the entire house and actually washed the damned car- good Lord, if it weren't for the Internet I'd be running the whole world :)
Anyway, now I've had my communication fix, I'm back off line. I've got the day off work, and I'm cracking the knuckles, ready to get down to some serious writing. With no means of procrastination, that means it's on. Hopefully by next Friday I'll have achieved enormous amounts of positive progress that I can report back. In the meantime, I'm much more relaxed and my brain doesn't hurt quite so much. A good thing, that.
Friday, November 2, 2007
So long, farewell!
OK! I'm off. I feel like I'm going on a real holiday or something.
That's just too sad for words, isn't it? LOL.
I'll be back to update my week next Friday, and to check all my emails and Facebook everythings (gad, by then I'll probably have two thousand invites to be a vampire or a zombie or a whatever- NOT HAPPENING, PEOPLE!). In the meantime, I wish you all happy productive times, and I'm going to miss you!! Hopefully you'll all survive without me. Snrk.
Ciao!
That's just too sad for words, isn't it? LOL.
I'll be back to update my week next Friday, and to check all my emails and Facebook everythings (gad, by then I'll probably have two thousand invites to be a vampire or a zombie or a whatever- NOT HAPPENING, PEOPLE!). In the meantime, I wish you all happy productive times, and I'm going to miss you!! Hopefully you'll all survive without me. Snrk.
Ciao!
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