by Doranna
I’m not talking about the Frankenstorm, bless its little heart. Although plenty of people are, and I wish them the much safety, dryness, and trees that don’t fall down.
Nope, it’s the LymeStorm.
The LymeStorm is making me face what I can and can’t do–and forcing decisions about what of those things is the most important to do–both privately and professionally. Although when you’re writing for a living, the two are heavily intertwined.
I love this blog. I love chatting to people here. I love posting videos and pictures and I even love making fun of myself.
But it turns out that blog time is writing time. It turns out that I’m sacrificing one set of words for another, because I can no longer do both.
Blog time is also social time. It turns out that I’m really sporadic on FaceBook–another place where I can keep up with people I care about–because…right, I’m using up those efforts with the blog.
You can see where this is going.
Or maybe not!
Because I’m still going to blog, but I’m not going to do it on a deadline basis. No Monday/Wednesday clockwork posts! Just…whenever I feel like it. That might be once every two weeks or it might be once a month. I’m going to try it this way through the end of the year, just to see how much difference it makes.
Because I have the power to make a choice that’s not easy but is healthier!
So I hope this means I’ll be on FaceBook more often. And this is hardly fair, but because Patty of the utterly charming Write Horse feature is off at World competition this weekend with awesome Buckshot (!!), I haven’t had a chance to see how she’d like to handle things relative to this change. We’ll let you know about that!
So here I am on FaceBook! Friend me!
And if sporadically dropping by here at WordPlay to see what’s new doesn’t float your boat, it’s easy to get these blog posts in email. Or in RSS
In the meantime, because this wouldn’t be my blog without some dog fun, here’s Dart Beagle at agility practice last weekend, putting in some of his best agility runs to date. Good puppy!
(He’s just turned three years old, but I have a feeling he’ll be “puppy” until the end of his days. Head on over to FaceBook if you want to see the evidence of this from his weekend activity…)
On the first run, he missed taking the out-jump after the chute near the end, and you’ll see that I don’t mention it to him. I was asking him the question: “Are you ready to take responsibility for this combination?” and his answer was a completely, gleefully honest failure to even notice it.
Stopping him to re-do the sequence would have been demotivating and unfair. It’s my job to prepare him for such blind out-combinations, and asking him this question tells me he’s not ready yet. So now I support him with handling in courses until he is. 8)
The second course has some combinations that were really, really hard for him. I was so proud! PS the table is set about a bazillion inches too high for him. He likes it.
Love the video, especially the snoozy moments. I think blogging on your own schedule makes perfect sense. Of course I already follow you on FB (that’s how I get reminded to come read the blog). 🙂
Dart Dart Dart Dart. What an incredible accomplishment, getting that level of cooperation out of a hound. He is almost giddy happy with himself isn’t he?
On the blogging I’m sure there are writers who can blog and Facebook and promo without ever missing a word of their writing. I’m not one of them, for sure. When your blogs come out they show up in my e-mail for my enjoyment (and distraction!)
Be well
Heather, I’m glad to see you and Mona on FB!
I really felt it was important to blog on a regular schedule–to be dependable–and I’ve done it for years. But there are so many options for RSS these days, and so few Units of Durgin energy–!
Mona, you nailed it in one. Giddy happy with himself, yes! This is what I’ve been trying to build in him–it’s the only thing that will create focus plus speed (as opposed to just being giddy happy in general, sans the proud of himself factor).
With Connery it’s also all about the Celebration of Self, but he’s not giddy about it. Just knows he BAWHSOME!
Dart’s so much fun to watch–and so FAST.
I hope when you do post here you’ll include videos & pictures that you’ve posted on Facebook. I simply cannot add another social media to my already crowded days (same decision you’re making but in another direction) so I’ll be “beagle-deprived” and “Duncan-deprived” (not to mention Doranna-deprived)…but I’m sure you’re making the right decision for your health and your writing, because you have a long history of good decisions.
Dart is a blast! I think if I do things correctly, he could grow into a driven, responsive little guy in trials. Until then, he keeps me humble.
Very humble.
Yes, I’ll post videos and such here! Fer shure. I understand the choice completely. For a long time I resisted this, wanting to do it all–but it’s become more clear to me that too many people I need/want to interact with are on FB, so–for the moment and since I have to make a choice–the blog becomes sporadic while I see if I can mesh with FB.
(I don’t trust them, is one thing. They keep changing the rules.)
I understand the limited amount of energy issue! I will call when I get home! Dart is quite charming!!
Snoozy moments is something I could manage. 🙂
It’s definitely a good news, bad news scenario for things other than snoozing. The good news is that I can still do a lot of the things I used to, the bad news is that I can’t do them as long or as often, and so on any given day I am forced to choose.
I do feel fortunate that some of the things like making music tend to invigorate more than tire me out.
A friend used to tell me “don’t should on yourself.”
Robert’s Rules(this Robert) start with be kind to yourself.
Patty, it could be an interesting change. As in, I felt free to write that second blog today, whereas when it was on a schedule, I just didn’t. Could be that the flexibility allows me to remain decently active here.
Robert, “don’t should on yourself” is probably my life lesson!
I like how Dart goes *BOING* off all the obstacles. It’s really kind of adorable, lol.
Geeky side note: We watched the Enteprise episode “A Night in Sickbay” today. Porthos has three brothers: Aramis, Athos, and… D’Artagnan! (Not stated outright, but Archer says “four males in the litter named after the ‘four musketeers’.”)
He’s pretty silly when he’s having fun.
Teeters aren’t normally a BOING! That first teeter is a big BOING because of the little 2×4 at the end. That’s being used to train some dogs on the teeter, but Dart never sees it–he decided to BOING over it. See? Silly!
I loved Porthos! Well, first season Porthos, anyway. They did change dogs, or else the one they had changed a whole lot…
Totally understand the cut back due to lyme disease—I didn’t have it nearly as severely as you, but it just leveled me a couple times in the last few years—think it’s gone now and hope it doesn’t come creeping back. Love the energy that Dart has—just like a puppy even at 3!
I’ve been overcommitted for a very, very long time, and been struggling with how to deal with that for just as long. The Lyme is just forcing some decisions, especially as the treatment drags on. (I’m complicated…it’s going to take about twice as long as initially estimated.)
I hope your Lyme stays away, too!!
Half the reason I put these videos up is so that I can watch them over and over! ;>