Fresh, Hot Wastes of Time

It’s taken me years to come to terms with the fact that I am not a self-starter. I have a severe lack of innovation. Throw me at an empty canvas and I shrivel and panic. The sight of all the blank space, all that potential, overwhelms me. Anything could be there. That’s what Shakespeare faced, and look what use he made of it.

However, give me the slightest push in a direction, plant the germ of an idea in my mind, and I’m fine. If you tell me, “Write a story”, I would freeze while giving you my best patented deer-in-the-headlights look. Tell me, “Write me a story about apes”, and I’m off like a shot, researching and writing and happy.

The only time I’m ever able to be spontaneously creative is when I let it happen unexpectedly. If I let an idea bubble up from the primordial ooze of my subconscious, pretend to ignore it until it ripens a little, and then love it and pet it and hug it and squeeze it, I can come up with stuff.

It was this way when I was working on Dread House. I managed to come up with a couple of puzzles because I wasn’t trying to. At a few points I sat down and attempted to force inspiration and ended up running scared. The same with the web designs for STF Magazine, Puzzlecards, and I Am Invisible.

It’s so fulfilling to create things. I hope I’m able to train myself better to do it on command.

I am still feeling restless and out of sorts after having a the most terrible migraine I’ve ever had on Wednesday. I didn’t know if I was going to come out of it alive. If I had been able, I would have crossed the room to get the phone and call hub to come home and take me to the hospital. After about 12 hours it eased almost completely. Not a fun day. I went to see the doctor today and he’s doing some testing to see if there are underlying issues.

You scored as Assault Rifle. You are soldier. Or you want to be a soldier. Or you just like military-grade firearms. You need assault rifle. M16 or AK-47 will make good. Assault Rifle 88% Machinegun 50% Shotgun 44% Sniper Rifle 44% SMG 38% Pistol 25% Revolver 6%

What Firearm Fits You Best?
created with QuizFarm.com

I just called the SC Johnson company about their Saran Premium Wrap to complain about the “Slide and Cut” bar which requires three hands to operate, unless you use your teeth. They’re sending me a coupon to try out the Saran Cling Plus Wrap which still has a nice analog metal cutting strip. That’s nice of them. I do wonder how much more the Cling Plus is than the Premium Wrap – is the Slide and Cut Bar a racket to make people hate it and move to the more expensive brand of wrap?

Hmm.

Caroline just walked up to me, batted her big blue eyes, and asked, “Want some splashes?” She then proceeded to flick water all over me from her hands.

Last night I came downstairs for a bit so as not to disturb Hub while he slept. Apparently I accidentally locked the cat into the living room/kitchen area when I went back up. He was in there for a good 4 hours or more. Well, he had to go potty. He didn’t want to go on the floor or the furniture, and cats naturally want to go someplace where they can cover up afterwards… the only alternative was in the bread nook. I just found it. I looked over at Max, who was looking over at me with the most miserable cringing expression on his face.

*sigh*

It’s my fault for locking him in there, but yuck.

Praise be! (spew alert)