Wednesday, March 12, 2014

What Lemons, Stalactites, Powerpoint Presentations, Home Improvements and Hiatuses Have In Common


You've probably heard the phrase, "When life throws you lemons, make lemonade," but what I haven't heard is what to do when you run out of space to store said lemonade. My fridge can only hold so much of the citric-acid sugary goodness, but that's beside the point. Lemons aren't the point either. So what's the point? It's possible to have so much good and so much not-good happen all at once. Or totally weird things, like finding a stalactite above the ceiling in my office. I'm not kidding. A slow, unnoticeable drip has, over the years, formed a calcified deposit that looks like a strip of cave bacon.

I just said bacon ... (dang it, now I'm hungry ...)

This, among other reasons, is why I've been something of a social network recluse lately. Time is not my friend at the moment (spring daylight savings doesn't soften the blow). I don't mean to complain about time management, but it would be nice to have more of it. An unavoidable transition is taking place on my end. The day job is more demanding, the kids are getting bigger, the house siding is falling apart, and the call for a new novel is ear-piercingly loud. Add a few classes I'm teaching at my old college in a few weeks (never saw that coming) and I'm relearning the art of the powerpoint presentation.

Thirsty yet? I've got a few pitchers of lemonade!

(I should set up a stand ... I'd make a killing!)

But these aren't bad things. They're challenges--challenges that need facing. That's the difference. And to meet those challenges, I need to sign off the Internet (for the most part) for the next couple of weeks. By then I should have enough steam (and a few pitchers of lemonade behind me) to keep this blog on the level. Until then, keep being as awesome as you always are. And let me pour you some lemonade.

What are your thoughts on time management? Is it hard to unplug from the social network, or easy? What's on your plate lately?

I'm David, and I forgot to say "Woven copy edits are done!" 

26 comments:

  1. Cool the edits are done!
    Some things just have to go when you have too much lemonade. That's why I've eased back my posting schedule. I have things to accomplish before April and I won't post when I can't comment.
    Now, where's my lemonade?

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  2. I'm still trying to figure out the right balance of everything. But that's so cool that you're going to be teaching! I teach college classes part-time as my day job, and I love it (most of the time. Not the grading, though).

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  3. Yay for the edits done! Try using the lemonade to get rid of the stalactite. Or better yet, send some to me. I'm on a doctor-prescribed lemon juice regiment to de-calcify my kidney stones. Ha. I've been searching for excuses lately to avoid these dreaded edits and the internet is probably the biggest excuse. I need to try harder. Good luck!

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  4. Congrats with the copy-edits:) Time is a limited commodity, but that means you're doing something you love, i.e. when time flies...well, you know the rest:)

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  5. My time management is nonexistent right now. My kids have places to go, lessons to attend, I have books to write and a house to clean, dinner to fix, a church calling to tend to. So...yeah. My blog has suffered a LOT. But I'm glad I'm keeping busy and enjoying life. Hopefully I can get back in the swing of things online someday, but right now, it's just not going to happen. Good luck with all your awesome things going on!

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  6. Life is so stinking bossy. I can still say that, can't I? I think taking a hiatus and getting done is only smart. Good luck wiping out the stalagmite! See you when you get back!

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  7. Can so relate. I've been super busy at work so except for following blogs am not on Twitter or Facebook much. You can only do so much. Good luck clearing up more of your time.

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  8. Congrats on finishing the copy edits! Hopefully, you'll be able to get everything else finished quickly.

    As someone who replaced siding with her husband once...good luck! :)

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  9. I have not heard the term "cave bacon" before.

    I think it's all too easy to unplug from social media. There are sites I haven't visited in forever because I got out of practice. But that's only true for me. There are tons of people who probably find it a lot easier to dip in and out.

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  10. I'll trade you some of my lemon bars for some of your lemonade. :) Good luck with all of your wonderful 'opportunities' I've come to believe time management is an illusion. Usually you just hang on tight and hope the river doesn't wash you away.

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  11. Congratulations on the copy edits! Next come the galleys. Woot!
    I was feeling the strain in January and February -- day job + family stuff + writing dealine = majorly stressed

    Then I had 10 snow days, and I kicked that manuscript! (They weren't in a row, but there were several weeks in a row where I only worked 1-3 days.)

    I'll be in school teaching until the end of June, but at least I crossed one thing off my list!

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  12. YAY about Woven edits! That is exciting. The other stuff... well, I completely understand! Hang in there DPK!

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  13. Can I just have some TimeWater, please?

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  14. You gotta do what you gotta do. Time is the most expensive commodity known. Hopefully you'll get to trade up some of that lemonade for it.

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  15. I brought 150 thirsty dwarves. Stop making lemonade. Just put the lemons and they will put the tequila. ;)
    Bravo on the edits!

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  16. Maybe you can franchise out lemonade stands. :) Hang in there - I haven't figured out the time management potion yet either.

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  17. Dave, I have had kids, gone to grad school, worked full-time, been home full-time and started the parenting over this past year when my son had cancer. There are seasons in life, and the ebb and flow of them means that our time commitments constantly need evaluation and adjustment. Sometimes things can take priority, and other times, they must take a back seat. This is life. All the best to you as you find your way through this particular chapter in your life.

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  18. I don't even drink and I love Al Diaz's (Father Dragon) idea. I wish you all the best in facing challenges and if I had a bigger social life and my own computer then maybe I'd worry about my online time. Right now I'm scrambling for enough just to keep my blog going and doing my ghost writing gig. See you when you get back.

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  19. It's good that you know when to step back and dig in to real work. Everyone understands the need for a blog hiatus. Time offline is always time well spent. Good luck and godspeed.

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  20. Wow, no wonder you need to sign off for a couple weeks! Time management is always hard, but it always seems to be a little bit easier when you're not a slave to the internet, heh...

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  21. I've just come through six months of this, David, so I feel your pain. And since I've just set up the launch date officially for Torn Canvas, I guess i'm kind of doing it again. But with a little more discretion this time.

    Have fun with the teaching. I'd love to be a fly on the wall for those. :D

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  22. Hi David - the stalactite or mite .. sounds a right pain to deal with - but so glad the copy edits are done .. and it's better to be busy than not - though it's not comforting when there's so much going on ... if only we could wangle a few extra hours into the 24 hour day - gosh what a world of difference ...

    I'm sure all things will work - all the best .. and it's one step at a kind ... cheers Hilary

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  23. Time management is always a challenge. I don't think I do it very well.

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  24. it's always good to do what you gotta do to make it work. I think in april while everyone is a to z-ing...I may take a time off for my writing. yes and yes! and yes...please pass me some lemonade and a slab of bacon :)

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  25. Boy, can I relate. Get editing job. Move. Lose cat 5 weeks, start unpacking and remodeling, find cat on death's doorstep. Nurse cat back to health while planting orchard. Get a call that mom's at death's doorstep. Refer editing job to someone else. Septic tank overflows. Can't get a plumber. Who wants to do my taxes? I just put 6 cans of powdered lemonade mix away because I don't have time to mix it. I drink water instead and pray that I can do the most important things. Why am I here? I needed to commiserate and yours is the perfect post. And I love the look of your blog. Even better than before.

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  26. Best of luck getting things back together, or downing that lemonade... I totally understand how things can get busy, and somehow springtime is always the worst.

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