As We All Get Busy

There were years when this time of year, well all times of the year, when I was so busy I used to hang a 2 X 3 foot calendar on the kitchen wall. Each day would be filled with schedules for the kids' activities and the few events my husband and I managed to squeeze in for ourselves. Four school age kids, all playing sports 12 months of the year, my husband and I both coaching, me trying to write and both of us with full time jobs. The kids had other things going on besides sports too such as homework projects, volunteer work and social events. I seldom finished laundry before 11 pm nearly every night. Those days are gone and despite people warning me that I would miss them, I really don't. I like having some me time.

But during those years, I kept up my membership in my writing groups. I would miss some meetings and never made the yearly conferences. Meetings were so relaxing as I sat back while other volunteers ran the event and brought in guest speakers. I just didn't have time to get further involved.

Now I hold board positions in both my writing groups. It's not a ton of time but it's more than if I was still sitting back relaxing. I feel like I owe some service to the groups that have done so much for me.

I have a lot of writing work to take care of at the moment, but because I now work from home, I get other things accomplished I didn't used to in the days of the big calendar. Christmas decorations are up and Christmas cards will be done by the end of the week. I used to dread those two chores because there was NO time. Holidays are so much more relaxed when we're not so rushed. We won't put the tree up until my daughter comes home from college. Tradition.

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Allen Saunders

Though I didn't want to do it, I ordered a new phone so I'll be home to sign for it when it arrives. My cell phone reception has steadily deteriorated over the past year. My son who works for AT&T told me something as simple as trees growing taller could cause that. So my beloved iPhone 4 is being replaced by a 6 so that I can make calls through my WiFi connection. It will be nice to not have to stand at the back door or go outside to talk on the phone.

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do." Steve Jobs

Tomorrow I'm going to play some Christmas tunes while I work on the edits for the next Futhark book. I'm excited how my publisher is pushing those books. I can't wait to get back to my WIP, the second Galactic Outlaw book. The first one will be released later this month. I appreciate my publisher more every day when I hear stories of another well known romance small press who is struggling. Authors haven't been paid and are having trouble getting their rights back as that ship flounders. I can't give out the publisher's name but I'm glad they rejected me years ago.

"Being a writer is like having homework every night for the rest of your life."
Lawrence Kasdan

What was the busiest time of your life? Do you love the work you do whether it be writing or the job that pays the bills? Do you still use a landline for a phone or only use a cell? Do you have good reception or is this only my problem? Do you do a lot of decorating for the holidays?