Editing Day Five

Once again I got some editing done. I re-read over last nights post on here *lol*. Clearly out of it as I've got day three twice! I was going to change it but I though No I'd just 'add' to the heading to let ppl know it's actually day four!

I went to my mum's this afternoon to collect my mail (I get everything sent there now since I had mail 'walk' off!) She called me this morning to let me know three things had arrived. So this afternoon I packed myself and the dog up and headed over to her place. I stayed for afternoon tea (She'd made pumpkin scones!!!) Grabbed my parcels and headed home.

On the way home my brother called me on my mobile. Me being the responsible driver pulled over and answered it. (Please note I DO NOT drive while on the phone!) He was calling to tell me that almost four had had an accident! MY BLOOD WENT COLD! I was like FUCK!!!!!!!! Tell me he's not dead!

He's not dead! He tripped and split his head open in the bathroom. (See pic below) My brother took him up to the hospital and they glued it together to minimise the scarring, but I told him not to worry and that scars are cool. We could compare scars next time we see one another :)

So how freaky is that! I had that vision the other day and a few days later almost four has hurt himself. My heart leapt into my mouth when my brother said 'there's been an accident' I can't describe to you in words that moment of panic I felt. But thankfully he's alright. A dose up of Happy gas, panadol and an icy-pole has sorted him out. I told him I'd post him out some fruit tingles this week to help him get better (The kid is obsessed with fruit tingles! I personally can't stand them!)

In my parcels I got books for Uni and my Tomb Raider PS3 game. So this evening I'll be playing Tomb Raider. Should be a good evening.

I'll leave you with a pic of almost fours little head.




He's off his chops on happy gas :)


That's all I've got.

Editing Day Three - Minor setback

I didn't edit at all today. Now before you go off at me I have a very good reason.

I attended a funeral today of a family friend. He was hold (83) so he'd lived his life. But funerals are well... I'm sure you all know.

I used to work for a funeral home in my parents town a few years ago now. That particular company did the service today and approached me if I'd like to come back and work for them. I declined for the following reasons. Collecting dead people is a strange experience (Apart from the being heavy!) I worked there for three month. I look back and think it was two months too long. That job effected me without any doubt. I transported and arranged (Cleaned them up) Quite a few people in that time (People shit and piss themselves when they die!) I dressed them for viewings etc. But the one that was the most difficult was an small child. The tiny body was really very confronting. There was no need to two to three lifters, as you could collect a child's corpse in your arms and move it. That was the moment I thought I can't do this any more. I had nightmares about it, and about one week later handed in my notice.

I left that job and went into Cabinet making (Purly be accident) I had a friend whos husband was / is a cabinet maker. He was after someone to do the inventory for them. I went out and went through every piece of equipment they had, catalogued all the stock at hand, and also put in place an ordering system though Quick-books. How I went from that 'office' job to building kitchens was I just happened to be there on a day that two of his boys didn't show due to illness, and he came into the office and asked me if I knew how to use an electric drill / screwdriver? I did and the next thing I'm putting rails for the kitchen draws onto cabinets, and handles onto aforementioned draws. Which lead to constructing kitchens, and eventually installation. It was hard physical labour, but it was kinda cool I'd come from an I.T Background and before the funeral home had worked for the government.

They (The funeral home) approached me today as they had heard I was no longer at the cabinet place, and thought I might be after some part time work (Kinda spooky as I wrote a post on part-time work yesterday) I was gracious in their offer. But declined telling them I had left the cabinet place to focus on my study and it was costing me a small fortune and therefore I didn't want to jeopardise the situation by not being able to give my all to it. They accepted that, and the conversation ceased.

I attended the funeral (Church), the graveside and the wake. I 'HAD' planned to come home this afternoon (Funeral was at 10:30am) and get some editing done for today. However it's now 9:50pm and I've just got home from my mums. I stayed on for dinner as we had relatives up for this funeral whom I've not seen in years, and to be honest. I'd rather stay for a meal then have to trudge back there tomorrow and spend 'more' time with them!

So tomorrow's plan is to edit in the morning. I've got an appointment tomorrow afternoon. So all going to plan. If I can edit from say 8am through to 11:30 ish I'll be happy with that and it will make up for the fact that I got nothing done today.

Hope everyone reading this is well.

That's all I've got.

Editing Day Two

I managed a bit over two hours today. I worked on editing from 9am - 10am took a half hour break then went from 10:30 to about 12:00. I stopped then as I was starving. So I washed up from last night (I was lazy!) and cooked up some spicy sausage for lunch.

The afternoon was spent reading some more of one of the five books I have to read for one of my classes this semester. Along with spending $162.90 on text books for another class! All my wealth is in books!

SPEAKING of Books!

I'm trying to sell some of the ones that I got for Uni last semester. They are novels. Combination of fiction and non fiction. If you're interested in them (I'll sell them at half price + postage which is $5.00) let me know in your comments and I'll get in touch with you with a list + price. All prices are negotiable! I'd like to make 'some' money back to help pay for this years books.

When I first started Uni I worked part time. However as I got further into study, I let my part time job go a) Because is wasn't what I wanted to do (I was a cabinet maker) and b) it took a fair bit of my time away from being able to do assignments. (read when I wasn't physically at the Uni Campus I was at work!) My marks improved when you compare 1st year to 2nd year. However not working means I can't claim my books etc back on tax :( Which sucks. As I did have a great accountant who got me anything and everything I was allowed too. But now I don't work - thus not paying taxes. I can't claim anything. Would I go out and get a part time job to rectify this? Simply NO I get buy on the super tight budget I made, admittedly after rent I have fuck all left! But it does me.


In other news.... It's hot, like HOT and I'm off to laze in air-conditioned comfort and watch TV as my life goes into decline quicker as according to the news today those who watch a lot of TV die sooner! All I can say is Meh - at least I died happy!

That's all I've got.

Editing Day One

Today was the day I started the two hour editing in the morning freeing up my time in the afternoon to do as I please.

I got an hour of editing done. Before relatives just 'dropped' in. Good thing I shopped last week! I was a nice 'host' and offered them tea and coffee and tim-tams. It was my Aunt (my mum's sister) and my cousin (Her son) They are the 'nice' relatives. So I didn't mind the unexpected visit. Though it still puzzles me just how hard it is for people to phone someone up and say we're near you, is it ok for us to drop in!?'

So I got back into it this afternoon for about half an hour. The afternoons are NOT a good time to edit, well not for me anyway. It was hot, my mind was elsewhere. So I stopped, and read more of this book I've got to read for Uni. It's getting better, which is a good thing. As there's nothing worse than having to 'read' a book that is shit! In a non Uni life if I start to read a book and find it boring, I return it to the library unfinished.

Plan of attack tomorrow. Get out of bed a little earlier (I got out of bed about 9:30am this morning!) Get whatever I need to get done, early, then settle in from about 9am to edit for two hours. I'll reward myself with the 11am news should I manage this feat.

As for writing more of the unfinished story. Well that hasn't happened. I think I need to concentrate on editing what I've got so far. THEN look at finishing it off. Though should the urge to write come over me, then I will write more. But right now I've got plots / story arcs / and re-writes floating in my head.

That's all I've got.

Procrastination is my middle name

I’ve got a list of things I’ve got to get done, but I just can’t be arsed to do them. Which isn’t a god attitude to have seeing as I’ve got five weeks until I’m back at uni (Then I’ll know what busy is!) I’d like to have my Novel edited and well in a ‘good place’ before I go back to school. However my best intentions seem to just float away with the day.

For instance today I did the following:

Got out of bed
Make breakfast (Honey on Toast)
Had a cup of tea (Vital for the start of my day!)
Put two loads of washing on
Read some of Orpheus Lost (Compulsory book for Uni this Semester)
Made pasta bake for lunch
Ate pasta bake
Read some more (Got a little bored)
Spent the afternoon watching TV
Pulled in washing and folded it
Re-heated leftovers for dinner
Currently writing this blog before contemplating watching a movie.

NO WHERE in there is ‘edit or read through novel’ I’m seriously needing a self kick in the arse right now. I need to be stronger with my motivation. I need to push myself. An hour of editing in the morning, and an hour in the afternoon. OR two hours before lunch then have the afternoon to do whatever. If I try and go with this (Starting Monday as I’m out all day tomorrow) and actually make some head way (I’m yet to actually finish the book!) I’ll feel better about my self and the direction I’m NOT going right now!

So starting Monday the 11th of January 2010. I plan to edit for a minimum of two hours a day. By the end of the first week (Friday) I’ll have 10hrs of editing done, and HOPEFULLY this will put a decent dent in the editing process.

So… to enable me to do this successfully bloggers. I will write an entry each evening this week. With an update on how my editing is going, / gone. How the story is progressing. This will be good therapy for me, I see it as taking that first step to removing procrastination from my life right now. There’s a time to act and there’s time to procrastinate. Procrastination needs to be earned, and I’ve NOT earned it right now.

On a totally different topic. I’ve been asked to be a ‘guest’ writer in February for Scoman. I am proud to say I’ve taken up the offer. So watch this space in a few weeks time. I’ll link to my ‘guest blog spot’ and you can share the love with Scoman also.

That’s all I’ve got