Warning: Some Violence and Much Strong Language.HE WROTE: Too Much Stuff
It's 12:37 in the afternoon and I have yet to do any writing. I just sent Jenny an email basically saying: "we have too much stuff to do."
I haven't heard back from her lately because she's probably collapsed in a heap amidst her stuff.
Let's see. This morning, I did an interview with a newspaper in Long Island where our first booksigning is; sent in handouts for National; Jenny and I exchanged numerous emails regarding me being wrong; I had to order my Writer's Toolkits for the three conferences we're doing amidst the book tour; write some letters regarding flights; take care of some stuff for Amazon Advantage; blow the leaves off the driveway (leaves come off the oaks here in the spring, and it's a long driveway) and a bunch of other stuff.
Stuff.
And now I'm tired because of some other stuff and I probably should lie down. Except a friend, Vanessa, who is a vet, kindly sent me information I need for a scene in Chase where he takes his wounded dog in, and I should write that scene, so I can rewrite it several times and get it to Meg SOON. We're meeting on the 5th of April which is way too damn soon.
And tomorrow I have an appointment first thing in the morning; I have to track down my Russian barber who left the place she usually works and is starting a new business, but no one knows where and I like her because she cuts my hair really well and does it fast and doesn't talk to me (even though I do know some Russian, particularly 'don't shoot'); we have a phone interview with someone, I think in Boston?; and my to-do list is now two 'post-its' on my dashboard in really tiny writing now; and my desk is a mess.
So.
Other than the stuff, things are ok.
Except there is no other than the stuff.
23 Comments:
And I thought I was busy--well I guess adding two preschoolers to that mix wouldn't improve your day huh?
A good hairdresser is worth their weight in gold. Track her down--we know you can do it :)
Yeah, If I had your to do list, I wouldn't say "don't shoot" either.
Wishing you some extra hours each day for sleep.
Why don't you start by making a list of the things you have done and then crossing those off? That always makes me feel effective. Good Luck.
Bob, I sincerely offer you a "Poor Baby". As an amendment on what a great man once said "In the darkness, there is light"! It's at the end of the tunnel, it's behind a pile of rubbish, but it IS there. Take the nap.
First of all, thank you both for this wonderful blog!! I am supposed to be working, but I just discovered this page and it is much more interesting to read about you and Jenny. Luckily I work for myself, so I have an understanding boss.
Have ever listened to Guy Clark? Your latest entry made me think of his song, Stuff That Works. Here is a bit...
I got a pretty good friend
Who’s seen me at my worst
He can’t tell if I’m a blessing
Or a curse
But he always shows up
When the chips are down
That’s the kind of stuff
I like to be around
Stuff that works, stuff that holds up
The kind of stuff you don’t hang on the wall
Stuff that’s real, stuff you feel
The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall
If you like it, this is a link to the rest of the lyrics
http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/clark-guy/stuff-that-works-56.html
It always makes me feel better when stuff gets me down, hope it does the same for you.
I can see how Don't Shoot would come in handy at the hairdressers!
When things are piling up and starting to bug I keep this philosophy in mind:
"When the cards are stacked against me, I just play another game."
Good Luck.
Yeah, stuff happens. It's a pain in the neck. But go get the haircut. It'll make you feel better, and ask the Russian gal to shampoo your hair and massage your scalp, you'll feel like a new man. Maybe she'll take pity on you and do the shoulders too. (grin) Then, write everything on the sticky notes onto one big sheet of paper and as someone else suggested, cross off everything you've accomplished so far. After that go take a nap, or better still take the dog for a walk.
It seems to me that you would know "people." People who work at government agencies that don't have names. People who are most likely reading all of our emails already. Shouldn't they be able to hunt down the Russian hairdresser? I would assume they could provide you with home address, phone, work location, food preferences and what kind of books she checks out of the library without breaking a sweat.
If I were you Bob, I would definitely go take a nap. It always helps me when I get all stuffed up.
Item on my to do list:
Remind Bob Mayer; Add to his To Do List: Remind Jennie to take Moot on Gator Tour.
Done. I'm for a lie down, I think. :)
Now see, there's the Mars/Venus difference again. Women go to the hairdresser TO talk. To gossip. To disect every part of their lives - the good and the bad.
But whoever said a good hairdresser is like gold hit the nail on the head. Hunt her down.
Better still ask a spook friend for a tracking device you can plant on her when you finally do so you'll never lose her again. But if she catches you, watch out. You may need to use russian for "dont shoot" sooner than you imagined.
Heh. Jenny's rubbing off on you.
Write down the stuff you've done, so you can look at it and feel the accomplishment. When the panic sets in, consult the "done" list.
Take the dog for a nap.
Pah. Lightweight. It's gone midnight here and I'm still in the office where I've been for the last 15 hours. I've not yet managed to finish my documents, which are still in WP, so I'll be here for probably another hour yet before I can send them to Tokyo. Then of course they'll turn them around during their day (which is just starting) so I won't even get the luxury of waiting for them tomorrow morning before I start on them all over again. This is the the 10th night this month where I've had dinner in the office, including one day/night where I worked 27 hours straight, and the rest of the month won't be much better so I'll swap my stuff for yours. Except for the hairdresser because mine is a joy. It's taken me years to find him so hands off.
There; bet that cheered you up. As your mother always says, there's always someone worse off than you. Back to work now for both of us.
Your grasp of Russian astounds me. "Don't shoot" must be a helpful phrase to know... I understand about wanting the same person to cut your hair. Loyalty is underrated.
Good luck with the stuff. I think it's that time of year. Everyone I know is swamped.
Have you got a neighborhood teenager/goldenager who would do your driveway for you for a reasonable amount? It'd be worth it when you've got this much to do.
Then you can do important stuff, like find your hairdresser. (-: Mine doesn't talk either -- I can just shut my eyes and place my head in his hands, which is not something I can do with everyone. That job will probably turn out to be easier than you think -- the dread factor is just getting you down, now.
Hang in there! The important stuff will get done.
Aw, come on. You love it all, doncha? The leaves on the driveway...the missing Russian hairdresser...the post-its? This is what makes life worth living...this is what people who say "I need to get a life" mean when they think they need to get a life.
I believe what the great man said was, "in the darkness, there is death". But that doesn't really help you too much, does it?
Hang in there. A new day is dawning.
Bob said
"Other than the stuff, things are ok.
Except there is no other than the stuff."
That sounds exactly like how my life is going! Although I can quote Pushkin, I don't know how to say "Don't Shoot". The deficiencies of my education are showing.
Your life sounds vaguely like mine Bob. Just remember, the only one who can control "the stuff" in your life is you. Take care of yourself and let "the stuff" take care of itself. Good luck on the tour. You guys will be great as always.
That's too funny. I took one semester of Russian about 10 years ago, and nobody taught me how to say "Don't shoot." In fact, the only phrase I remember is, "What are you smoking?"
Not that it does me any good. If I tried to say it out loud, it would probably come out with a Costa Rican accent.
Okay, so I have a question and this is really important (grin) Why do I have a little trashbin underneath my name? I'm new to blogging and old, I mean really ancient, and not very computer savvy, so why the trashbin? I went back and looked at old comments and that bin is following me. I'm starting to get a complex. Do Bob and Jenny single me out, "Her writing is trash, lets give her a trashbin." I know some people in the industry who might say that (lol)but "The Gator Team?"
LOL, Robena! If you click on the trash bin, you delete your comment. Nobody else can see your trash bin, except Bob and Jenny, the owners of the blog.
Don't worry. Everybody sees a trash bin when they look at their own writing.
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