12th Jan 11
M. R. SellarsIt was a day like any other day…
Well, that’s not actually true. It was a day like any other day in the first half of January, when just enough snow fell overnight – and was still falling that morning – that the schools canceled classes and left parents of Elementary school kids scrambling to make arrangements. Of course, what with me working from home – I mean, after all, you can write a book pretty much anywhere if you try, so why not at home… But anyway, what with me working from home there wasn’t as much scrambling as there was re-planning.
You see, I can’t work when I have people in my house.
This is not to say that I don’t love having E K and the O-spring at home. I do. Problem is, they are a distraction, even when they are trying very hard not to be. Either they end up making some sort of oddly repetitious noise that is at just the right frequency for me to be able to hear, or I just can’t concentrate because I’d rather be doing something with them than working.
The long and short of it being, on snow days I don’t get any writing done. I find other work to do. Used to be I’d play scrabble, monopoly, or something else with the O-spring. But these days she’s in that zone where dad is only cool if he has something she wants… you know… like money, or an orange that’s already been peeled and sectioned.
Therefore, on this particular day I parked myself in my office to do other work that comes along with the whole author gig. Answering interview questions, doing research, reminding myself to pay my HWA dues then getting sidetracked and forgetting. That reminds me, I need to do that…
Everything seemed to be plugging along okay. O-spring with her nose buried in her new Nook. O-spring singing. O-spring going all Rembrandt on some paper with her oil pastels. And me, sitting in my office, working and forgetting to do things I need to do.
Then I heard it.
“Heard what?” you ask.
The thing that strikes fear into the hearts of parents everywhere.
“Dad?” came the voice from the next room.
“Whatcha’ need, kiddo?” I asked.
“Ummm… Do we have any ‘Duck’ Tape?”
<silence> <blink> <silence>
Finally I asked, “What did you break?”
<silence>
Eventually the answer came. “Umm… Nothing…”
Snow days. Apparently it isn’t just shoveling the white stuff that’s hazardous to your heart.
More to come…
Murv
Alexx
January 12th, 2011 at 08:37
Bruce is the same way… When I am at home on my infrequent days off he does not seem to be able to focus on his writing or editing. He will hear the TV if it is on, or get distracted by my complaining when I cant find the wire cutters for my jewelry creations.
Here is to hoping for not too many snow days as it is also heck on my work…
have a great and productive day!
Alexx
January 12th, 2011 at 08:54
Bruce just said
“it is hard to talk with the voices in your head when someone else is there
it is rude to exclude them from the conversation”
thought you might be able to relate
Alexx
L. A. Burton
January 14th, 2011 at 17:08
I write late at night so I’m not disturbed by anyone.