The Scribble Pad
The mental meanderings of a slightly loose screw.
AUGUST 08
Friday August 29 - I'm a lazy bugger
Far be it from me to kick my own lazy ass when I'm down, but sometimes I simply deserve it. Have you noticed I'm only on book 30 of my 50 book challenge for the year?
That means I have 20 books to read between now and the end of December, when by now I should have finished...um...God, I'm even too lazy to do the damn maths. I should have done more, okay?
Now I'm facing 4 months of eyestrain. Grumble. Grouch. *Kicks furniture*. **Yelps in pain**.
Thursday August 21 - Facebook and me
Damn this Facebook thing! Twelve years ago, more than that, even, I was on the cutting edge of web technology. I was the first person I knew with an internet connection. I was chatting at the Worldcafe with lovelorn lunatics in Turkey and cute drummers in Finland. I was jacked in, baby.
Now, two babies later, and my brain has ossified. Not only have I fallen behind in the ways of the Old Technology - I haven't been on ICQ since 2003, after my son was born - but I can't even grasp the new stuff.
I set up a page on Facebook. I have a profile and a photo and a wall thingy and some pokey stuff for people to poke me with, should they so desire. I have 3 whole friends. I trawl on by every few weeks to discover that people are, indeed, poking me. And sending me hugs and kisses and ice cream and beer.
Now what?
Monday 18 August - Back in the saddle again
Ventured into a bookstore again on Friday, and was blubbering again in minutes.
Now, really. Honestly. I do think it's time to get a grip, don't you? If I stay away from my fiction any longer, I'll plain old lose my nerve. Therefore, be it known to all and sundry that I will be going back to my books starting this week.
Soon as I have a nice, cold hit of Bailey's Irish Cream. You know...just to take the edge off things.
Like I need an excuse to drink Bailey's.
Thursday 14 August - The left-handed gardener
Oh the trials and tribulations of getting old and decrepit! My right hand has pretty much decided it needs a vacation, what with the years of self-abuse - no, I know what you're thinking and that's not it! - that comes from pounding away at a keyboard, 13 novels and endless articles' worth. Between that and the hours I've spent hacking away at hard, unyielding earth in an effort to get something to actually grow in it, I can say I've pretty much ruined my hand.
But technology saves the day. Enter voice recognition software. Yeah, yeah, I know you've heard it before. But this time I'm serious. Honest.
I've dusted off my Dragon software and I'm working my little butt off to try to get it to recognize my Trinidadian accent. Sometimes I think it's gold, and sometimes I just want to smash the damn thing, but it works, especially when I'm not tired and slurring. It's worth the effort if it protects me from a sweet dose of Carpal Tunnel somewhere down the line.
And as for my poor, decrepit garden, which has gone to the slugs since I stopped working in it, well, I'll just have to muddle left-handedly along. If I get just one tomato out of it - not to mention the feeling of Zen that it brings - it'll be worth it.
