Blocked and Busted

My cousin C busted my chops today because I haven't been blogging. I wouldn't call it a nag-fest exactly but she did mention that I had written that I would be posting at least three times a week. And oh, by the way, did I remember saying that?

Then M, my brother, piled on and said he didn't read my blog very often but last time he looked the post was old.

Ouch.

I forgive them both. M because he passed along a brilliant new collective name for the doom and gloom blogs he does read daily (purveyors of pessimism porn - both alliterative and funny) and C because she fed me (including some of her mom's nut roll for dessert - yum).

The thing is I've been blocked. I don't really know why but I guess between the stress of the lay-off, major car repairs, the new job, the cold/flu bug I caught from the plague carriers at my new job, and the immediate return of pain and fatigue with my new full-time work schedule, I lost any smidgen of creativity that I may have once had.

But today I learned something new. Guilt and harassment from family are a sure cure for writers block. Who knew?

Treatment starts and so do I

I thought I had started treatment at the Fibro & Fatigue Center. But no. All the stuff I've been taking and doing has just been the preview. Last week I got the results from all my tests so now there's a concentrated battle going on in my body fueled by IVs, medications and supplements to rid it of viruses and to make me well. I have hopes fueled by my doctor who was excited and optimistic. The other fuel - well, that's making me feel queasy all the time and draining me of the ability to think. It will get better. I will get better. That's my mantra as I try to visualize everything bad flowing out of me.

In the meantime, I'm getting the bug to get some exercise and to be a little creative. I've been doing some easy exercise videos - only 20 minutes of gentle aerobics and strength training. Just enough to get movement without crashing and burning. To help with the creativity bug, I broke out the scarf I started knitting two years ago. The scarf will look good with my brown tweed coat which needs wearing this fall/winter. If I ever finish it. I've even been thinking about dragging out my old sewing machine to see if it still works.

I'm also getting my hair cut. I'm not sure I'll like it - in fact, I'm prepared to spend the winter watching my hair grow out - but it's time for something different. I've had pretty close to the same style for at least 10 years - shoulder length or so with long layers. I'm going for a chin length bob.

I've been checking out other blogs. I need to get some pictures on mine. Once I have some pictures to add. And figure out how to post them.

How cool is this? Stuff to think about and do.

This creativity thing is hard

I just realized how long it's been since my last post. So I'm trying to come up with something interesting to write.

Hmmm...

La, la, la...

Nope, nothing.

Sigh.

How not to clean

I have people coming over tomorrow.

I should be cleaning.

I am writing a blog post.

It's amazing how easy it is to write something when the alternative is cleaning.

The Day Job

My day job has been filled with job evaluations for the past week or so. As a result, I don't seem to be able to write at all. Job evaluation is all data and structure - figuring out how jobs fit into the framework of our company so people can be paid appropriately. When I get into it, I can feel creativity being pushed to the back of my brain. There's simply not enough room for it when everything is about hierarchy.

Or so I tell myself. Could this be an elaborate excuse? Yup, probably.

Plus, after this many years of it, job evaluation is mind numbing. Really. There are only so many times that a person should be forced to look at survey results. A numb mind is not a creative mind. (Yes, another elaborate excuse.)

Whatever the reason, in order to get myself back on the blogging track, I'm trying to fill the creative well. Any suggestions?