Tag: stress

Controlled chaos

It’s been a hectic couple of weeks around Casa Suri, and no mistake.  I’m pretty sure the last time I sustained this level of continuous stress was back when we were planning our (2) weddings.  Nevertheless, life must go on.  Exams must be written, proctored, and graded.  Words must be written.  The garbage insists on being taken out.

Major amounts of traveling are not helping things.  In the next seven days my husband will journey to states that touch all four borders of our country to give talks and go to interviews.  This makes me feel quite lazy to be traveling to only one place: a writing retreat in Dallas.

Though it’s adding to the pig pile of stress, the retreat also promises a much-anticipated break from it.  It’ll be populated by some good friends as well as new faces.  As hard as it’s been to carve out time to critique all the submissions, it will — I know — be well worth it.  I’m hoping for camaraderie, inspiration, good food, and plenty of beer.

Hopefully they’ll be time for the occasional update while I’m away…so stay tuned!

Writer’s Workspace: 9/21

Good morning!  Welcome to this writer’s workspace.  Here’s what’s happening liiiiiiiiiiiiiive at Miranda’s desk:

What I’m working on:  It’s been a tough week writing-wise as I struggle to keep up with developing lectures for the new class I’m teaching this semester.  Still, I’ve managed to squeeze a little bit of outlining and drafting in at odd hours (waiting for the bus, during office hours, during commercial breaks of Dancing with the Stars (priorities, people!), and while I administer exams).  Today, if I can knock out slides and discussion questions on Teotihuacan and write a review sheet for the next exam, I earn writing time.  Maybe even a whole 5 minutes!  Thus, the 2nd draft of ABSENT is inching forward (emphasis on “inching”), as is the first draft of my short story about skull collectors in a Steampunk 1830’s Florida.

Snippet from the screen:  “The dusk crept in and wrapped itself around Elizabeth.  It shrouded the scrub brush of the Seminole swamplands, and with it came a great Charon transport machine, clanking and groaning across the battlefield to collect the dead.”

On the iTunes: nothing but the sound of my own teeth gnashing as I overcaffinate and wallow in stress.  Yay!

Out the window: the Great Deluge of 2011 continues.  Rain, clouds, yuck.

In my mug:  My supply of crack cocaine Numi Chinese Breakfast tea has been replenished (I know you were all worried after last week’s shortage), but our Pur filter isn’t working and the distinctive tang of NYC public water can be detected beneath the tea’s flavor.  Not that this is preventing me from drinking buckets of it…

Keeping me company: His Royal Highness, Mr. Ramses, King of Cats, is launching a full-on cuteness offensive.  Asserting world domination, one nap at a time.

A little procrastination never hurt anyone:  truer words, and all that.  Today I just have one link to share, but it’s a super-special one, I promise!  Check it out: top ten (most hilarious) Amazon reviews of ridiculous (yet real!) products.  Wolf urine, anyone?  I know I’m running low.  Thanks to George for pointing me towards this one 🙂

What’s on your docket today (after you run out and buy your Official Luke Skywalker Ceremonial Jacket with Medal of Yavin, that is)?