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Wednesday Morning Ramblings

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Check back for an updated picture of this area soon.

I got to spend a little while yesterday using a new brush cutter/weed eater, and today, I’m so sore I can barely stand it.  For one, this cutter is at least twice as heavy as my other one, but also, it’ll take me a couple of weeks to work myself back into decent shape.  The crunch time of the semester doesn’t lend itself to high levels of physical activity, so I’ll have to readjust to working outdoors.  I love the exercise, especially after the soreness works itself out, and hopefully by the end of this summer, my body will be in pretty good condition.

I also hope to make some major progress on the property this summer.  There’s a lot to do, and it will take a tremendous amount of effort, but I feel up to the task.  Each day gluten free, I feel a little closer to my former self.  My left hand still gives me a few problems, especially with typing, and I’m still a little clumsy, but other than that, I’m feeling stronger and healthier than I have in quite a while, so while my health is on the upswing, I’m going to get the farm producing.  Keep an eye out for pictures of the progress.

Since it’s raining today, I’ll probably spend the day indoors cleaning and organizing my place.  I have a lot of work to do to have it ready for the boys in June, and I can’t write there if it’s too disorderly.  My goal is to dive back into book four tonight, so the space has to be clean to make that happen.  Book four is my number one priority for this summer, so I have to roll up my sleeves and get to it.  The story has been gnawing at me for some time, and there are so many wonderful scenes to write.  If the book comes together the way I envision it, it’s going to be a wild ride.  Please, stay tuned.

General Posts

Tuesday Evening Ramblings

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Okay, I recognize and acknowledge the importance of Twitter in today’s new media.  I recognize and acknowledge the importance of sites like Tumblr and Triberr for multiplying outreach.  I accept those realities.  But for the life of me, I can’t figure any of them out.  Literally, they make no sense.  Twitter  is too fast, too chaotic, and too random.  Triberr is just a glitch-filled labyrinth of dead-end links, and Tumblr is like another language with reverse syntax.  Trying to learn these tools makes me feel old and out of touch.

I just want to write my books and blog entries without all this hassle of marketing in the new media, but that’s not realistic if I ever want to be successful.  Somehow, I have to master these outlets, or if not master, at least become proficient with them in order to reach a broad spectrum.  Otherwise, I’ll never grow much beyond my current readership.  It’s a lot of extra time and energy that I’m not sure I have, but over the next month or so, I’m going to try to learn them.  If you hear a lot of cursing and swearing from my direction, you know why.

Please, let me also mention that the Ramblings crossed 20,000 views all time today.  I know that’s not a huge number and there are blogs that get that in a day, but it was a big milestone for me, one that I’m proud of achieving.  Thank you to everyone who reads my silly posts and provides comments.  I appreciate each and every one of you.  Hope everyone has a great night.

General Posts

Monday Morning Ramblings

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It’s a new day.  Finals are over, papers are graded, and final grades are recorded.  Because of low enrollment, I don’t have a summer class this year, and I’m looking at that as a blessing.  The last two semesters have taken every ounce of energy I had to get through, and right now at this moment, I feel utterly exhausted.  I need time to recharge my inner batteries and refocus my efforts on the things that matter to me.  Book four takes top priority this summer, followed closely by the farm.  These two endeavors offer the best opportunity to leave education, and I will give them as much of my time and energy as I can muster.

I probably won’t have much of a social life four the next few months.  Other than getting my sons and attending the two conventions I’ve committed to, I don’t foresee venturing too far from the farm this summer.  If I’m going to regain some measure of mental health and peace of mind, I have to focus my energy on re-establishing momentum on the book and seeing progress on the farm.  Those two things will reinvigorate my spirit and heal me.  Right now, I need that more than anything else.

I’ll get the boys mid-June through mid-July, and I’m hoping to be in a much happier, healthier state of being by then.  The ordeals of the last two semesters have taken their toll, and I’m afraid today I wouldn’t be much good to them, so I’m going to use the next month to heal and prepare for them.  They deserve the best of me while they’re here, and I intend to give it to them.  They will be going to Fandom Fest with me at the end of June, and I’m excited to see their reactions to the festivities that are a con weekend.  They both have such active imaginations and curiosities that the costumes and toys they’ll see there will probably amaze and dazzle them.

That’s all for now.  Today, I intend on cleaning my place and tying up some loose ends on the semester, but I’m not putting any stress on myself in accomplishing either one.  They’ll get done when they’re done.  From this point forward, I’m making a conscious effort to stop worrying about the unimportant minutiae and not waste any more energy on trivialities.  Life is too short as it is, and I need to focus my life and energy on what matters to me.  It’s a small step forward but an important one, and hopefully, by making this change, I can move forward in the direction I want to go.