everything is medium gnarly

[the_siobhan]

 

23 – Digital Learning Day: What are the benefits of digital learning compared to other methods of learning? What are the disadvantages?
24 – International I Hate Coriander Day: Do you love or hate coriander? If you don't like it, what don't you like about it?
25 – Real Bread Week: Real bread refers to any type of bread that has been made without the use of processing aids or any other additives and includes any type of additive-free bread (e.g. pita, paratha, tortilla, oatcakes, roti, bagels, etc.). Do you, or have you ever, made bread? Do you use a bread maker? If you always buy rather than make bread, do you look for bread that at least claims to be additive-free, made from organic flour, etc.?
26 – Carpe Diem Day: Are you good at seizing the day? If not, what holds you back?
27 – Pokemon Day: Are you or is anybody in your family a Pokemon fanatic?
28 – Tooth Fairy Day: Did the tooth fairy visit you whenever one of your baby teeth fell out? If you have children, did/do you have the tooth fairy visit them when they lose teeth? Why or why not?

I don't read on a computer nearly as easily as I do on paper - or even an e-reader - and then there is the whole access to the internet issues, which is not necessarily a given for everybody. I like coriander (and cilantro). Love bread, have occasionally made my own when I had access to an oven. One day I will seize the day, but that day is not today. No interest or involvement in pokemon. Used to leave teeth under my pillow for a quarter.

March
1 – World Compliment day:  Do you think there is still a place in the modern world for unsolicited compliments?

That is such a weird question. It reminds me of those people who are upset that they can't tell a woman at the office that she has nice tits without getting into trouble. "OH, I can't even give somebody a compliment any more! Political correctness gone mad!"

Of course there is a place for compliments. Nobody minds being told they they are wearing a cute outfit, or that they did a good job on a piece of work, of that they are creative, or funny, or kind. Just leave the body parts out of it and you're usually good.

Well maybe I shouldn't say nobody minds. There is always somebody out there ready to prove me wrong.

***

Contractors made it back into the city last week, and the joists are now up. Progress.

It occurred to me recently that the contractor originally quoted four months. He started the work in December. Yeah, methinks that deadline is going to sail by with a very loud whooshing sound.

I have some vacation days that I carried over from last year, I'm really hoping I can use them to do stuff like paint and get our crap out of storage. They have to be used before the end of May, so fingers crossed.

***

I really want to be doing Write Every Day. I am not. I am trying to, but there is a dry river bed where my creative flow usually resides.

I have decided I am going to assume this is temporary, and is a result of being stressed and juggling a lot of responsibilities, and that the correct response is to be kind to myself about it. So I'm going to stop trying to force it. Instead I will dig out all my old notebooks and sketch pads and just go through them and sort them out so that they are at my fingertips when the taps turn back on.

 

Comments

[sanguinity]

I have decided I am going to assume this is temporary, and is a result of being stressed and juggling a lot of responsibilities, and that the correct response is to be kind to myself about it.

I think that is 100% the correct response, and it absolutely was what I was going to recommend.

[the_siobhan]

I saw a post that said, "If yelling at myself worked I would be better by now" and kind of went, whelp that certainly has my name on it.

[sanguinity]

Yeah, I hear that. Many, many of us could put our names to that.

[houseof9cats]

Just remember not to do it in the grocery store.

[cornerofmadness]

Stress can surely do that. Hope both the remodeling goes ok and the creativity comes back soon

[greylock]

They have to be used before the end of May, so fingers crossed.

I take it you can't get special dispensation from your betters to schedule them at a better time?

I really want to be doing Write Every Day. I am not. I am trying to, but there is a dry river bed where my creative flow usually resides.

The advice to write *something* every day remains sound.

Writers block is a thing, and stress absolutely impacts it, but it's also like a muscle.
Try and flex it, even if it's just they silly ("What are your Deep Thoughts on marzipan?" question. One sentence is better than no words, I reckon.

[greylock]

Did you add to this? I feel like there were bits in here that were not there.

"OH, I can't even give somebody a compliment any more! Political correctness gone mad!"

Boomer! It's wokeism now!

I, seriously, who grew up on the madness of the PC-GoneMad-era, am cautious about compliments for any reason: at work, on dates. But I have no idea how much is prevailing social pressure OR me, being less than forthcoming.

Just leave the body parts out of it and you're usually good.

Honestly, I think this reduces the issue a smidge. If I were to say "nice outfit", for example, part of me assumes she would think "I want to sex you" (or "you've a job interview today, right?").

I'm also uncomfortable with praise. So....

[armiphlage]

Does it help to focus on a specific action under someone's control, rather than a physical or mental attribute they can't readily control?

"That outfit coordinates well - you did a good job of accessorizing"?

[the_siobhan]

Boomer! It's wokeism now!

Nah, Boomers didn't give a shit about offending people.

I was actually quoting a Stuart Lee bit.

[the_siobhan]

Stuart Lee's bit

https://youtu.be/x_JCBmY9NGM

[greylock]

I don't think I know him, and he'd be cancelled nowadays by being white and USING THE N-WORD, but not only does he many some good points, he also goes the Full Alexi Sayle about half way through!

The whole "women who worked as prostitutes" vibe is very relevant now, given how clunky language has become, but explaining why.

[the_siobhan]

I take it you can't get special dispensation from your betters to schedule them at a better time?

Nope. Automatically paid out. And they would much rather give me time than money, so they will kick my ass out the door with the command to take my time.

Which is exactly what they should do to be honest, I haven't taken nearly enough time off for the past couple of years. I'm constantly waiting for something to do with it. I promised myself I would take some time in the summer though, even if it's just to go hiking by myself.

[greylock]

Automatically paid out! I would love that!
I have 500 hours of leave. I am terrible at taking leave, and we're so short staffed.
But mostly I just don't like holidays.

[houseof9cats]

Major building projects generally have two to ten or more project managers all working full time to keep things on track. Without that ... yeah. But progress!

I do the same thing. For example, I spent a day last week just mindlessly writing down markets in a notebook bc it was all I could muster.