I’M ALIVE!! Ok, I don’t really have any deep post topic today. I’m feeling constrained by that medium right now- so I’m just going to riff and we will see where that goes. Feel free to stop paying attention at any time.
I can’t believe it is 7 pm and I am only just now getting started with the things I want to do today. I told DrMrA just last night if I could get this blasted book chapter and a second piece of writing that I’m working on off my plate this week, I’d be a happy camper over the holiday. I could relax and polish up a manuscript- and maybe even submit it between the holiday and the new year…. We carefully went through the weeks negotiation about who would be home early on which nights this week, and who was taking care of what responsibilities with which kids… and when. The handoffs with the babysitter were carefully choreographed. Yeah, well, THAT was last night.
This morning the shit hit the proverbial fan. What’s that they say about the best laid plans?? Ours were bloody beautiful. But a couple of unexpected crises at my job are going to suck some of the little time that there is out of Monday, Tuesday, and probably Wednesday. Leaving Thursday (not my night to work late), and Friday (which, as it happens is an important family birthday for which we have dinner reservations, and the day I pick littleA up from school at 3 pm)…. for writing.
#$!!@
Ok, I’m calm. I can do this, NO SWEAT.
BUT- I’m not doing another book chapter until …say….2015. Don’t EVEN ask me. (I’m still learning about how to set boundaries)
I expect you all to remind me I said that when I pop out some chirpy sentence in the middle of a blog post somewhere about how delighted I was to be asked to do another.freaking.book.chapter.
Yikes. 7:22 now, better get cracking!
**UPDATE** And it just keeps getting better every time I turn around. Last night when called home at 9:22 pm- the kids were still up. The three of them (the kids and their dad) got a tongue lashing about bedtime being at 8:15, and about I don’t want to hear ANY whining about how tired everyone is this morning. Sheesh.
THEN, when I arrived home at 9:45 pm…. DrMrA announced that I am now also taking care of the neighbors dog for two days (WEDS, WAS my night to work late, and THURS)…. cause a relative passed away and they have to travel. (Seriously though-I don’t mind. Really.)
Just keep piling it on. I KNOW I’m being tested.
Blue Lab Coats 
Well sometimes life is unfair! But don’t worry and try to calm down and collect your thoughts and I’m sure you’ll get through this! And we’ll still be here! Go get ’em!
Have I mentioned before HOW MUCH I HATE BOOK CHAPTERS?!?!?!?! The mention of the words “book chapter” makes me cringe instantly. *cringe*
2015 is too soon. Try never. Put the boundary for that one somewhere near the edge of the galaxy. Hand those things off to your grad students. They make for a nice dissertation chapter.
Book chapters are for suckers. I have one due in a month.
jc- @*$!! I DID give it to my student- now I’m doing the editing and getting me to do it is like PULLING TEETH. Frankly, I’d rather have the stomach flu. Blech.
Chapters are teh ebil
I just got a book chapter off my plate too. It sucked. The experience, not the chapter. Not doing one again for a long time.
“The three of them (the kids and their dad) got a tongue lashing about bedtime being at 8:15”
Hey there, Killjoy, it’s not Dad’s fault if pillow fighting goes all the way through extra time into a penalty shootout. These things need to be resolved for the record.
DSKS- I must at least feign anger when ze rules are willingly disobeyed. BY THE GROWNUPS.
It was kind of cute actually, the girls in cahoots with their dad. BUT DON’T LET ON, ok? I totally remember being able to work my dad over to my side nearly all the time.
Ah yes, boundaries…would that I could. Try these next time you are asked something (suggested by my snarky 15 yr old, pulled from the poster about how to say no to sex, drugs and smoking on the wall of his health class):
Could you serve on committee X?
I’d rather just be friends.
Could you write Y?
Let’s go see a movie instead.
I’d love it if you could Z for us.
I’m not that kind of girl!
And my favorite non sequitur: I need someone to Q… No thanks, I can’t. I have asthma.
Thank God no one can read my thought bubbles these days….
Good luck! I just sent off a 1500 word essay, have a 700 word weekly column due later this week and am in the midst of a 100,000 word book. Boundaries??? Do I have any issues with boundaries?
Top Sekrit Book Chapter Sinister Plan: Agree to write the chapter. Then enlist co-authors with whom you will “divide” the subject matter. MUAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!!!!!!!
“Could you serve on committee X? I’d rather just be friends. Could you write Y? Let’s go see a movie instead.
I’d love it if you could Z for us. I’m not that kind of girl! And my favorite non sequitur: I need someone to Q… No thanks, I can’t. I have asthma.”
Michelle, you are my hero.
BugDoc- Cute. 🙂
Thing about books chapters is that nothing happens if they’re late!
Hang in there, friend. You can do it!!!