Things I Know At 2 A.M. | Chickens in the Road

May
28

Three days into my “summer off” and I’m stressing, not sleeping, fretting about how to get everything done, and making lists. There is something sick about making lists for your time off, isn’t there? I wrote a book once called Tropical Heat (Kensington, 1997) in which the uptight heroine sets all sorts of rules for this pretend Hawaiian honeymoon and the laidback hero tells her, “It’s a vacation. Vacations don’t have rules.” How come I can write that down in a book but I can’t do it in real life? I AM THE UPTIGHT HEROINE.

Here is the short list of some of the good things I want to do this summer (the entire list would make your eyes glaze over and includes boring things like finding a dentist):

1. Clean up the gardens (thus the lovely rose pic from the backyard). Since we moved into this house last year, I haven’t touched a thing in the yard.
2. Finish painting/wallpapering the kitchen and front hall.
3. Go to the beach (if I would do something about making reservations, this would be more likely to happen).
4. Learn to use the scanner I got for my birthday (it’s still in the box).
5. Write proposals.

I just need to relax and remember that I don’t have to do all of this at once and on Tuesday because what I really want to do this summer while I’m off deadline is feel the grass between my toes, read some really good books, listen to my children laugh, and watch the bluebirds at my feeders.

What about you? What are the good things on your list this summer?

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27 Responses
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5-28
7:03
am

I feel your stress. I sat down last night with my datebook and chored my way through summer. Ack!

Katie

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5-28
8:00
am

Okay, don’t hate me, but I’m a stay-at-home writer, so my summer is a continuation of all the time. My goal is to write two Desires and have them ready to pitch or submit by fall and to sell another novella to an e-publisher.

Other goals include having a reasonably weed-free yard (this is our first summer in our house, too) with lots of pretty flowers (which means I need to get off my duff and go plant them. :rolleyes:

Carol Burnside

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5-28
8:31
am

1. Learn to play golf.
2. Do something with my yard.
3. Finish the %^*$# book I’ve been slaving over for far too long.

Margery Scott

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5-28
9:50
am

Well, summer is our most busy sesaon at work…so I’m more like to make a to do list for the school year…But on my summer list:

1)at least 2 long weekends at the lake with all the kids
2)this one is for the dh :mrgreen: finish the deck :fryingpan:
3)go to Reno
4)hang out with my kids while they’re home for the summer

kacey

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5-28
10:42
am

I want to enjoy life this summer; kids, husband, bears, whatever comes my way, my goal is to enjoy it.

Jill

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5-28
11:29
am

Putting the finishing touches on the
siding on the house; framing the new
windows already installed; staining
the fence AND
enjoy my flowers
visit family
and enjoy the ‘new’ looking house.
Everyone have a good summer.:smile:

Robyn

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5-28
11:39
am

I am so depressed. I have nothing planned for the summer. I have a couple of activities for the kids, but that’s about it. Hubby’s business is booming (he’s a real estate lawyer in solo practice) and can’t take more than a day off or he gets completely overwhelmed. Good for the checkbook but bad for family vacation time. My folks plan to have my kids up swimming most afternoons and that makes them happy. Had planned on going to Reno, but that has fallen through. Think I’ll go eat another donut and cry in my coffee.

Rene

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5-28
12:02
pm

I will be working all summer, as well as babysitting. Two things that do not go well together LOL. Write a kissing scene, then fetch a sippy cup. Write a fight scene as Barney sings in the background.

gena showalter

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5-28
12:57
pm

Um, freaky summer list-maker here too. I’m trying to balance between “enjoying life with the family” and getting some work done. I’ve mentioned before, me and balance don’t get along too well.

On my summer with the kids list:

1. Go to local farms to pick berries
2. Make it to the city pool more than once or twice
3. Go to nearby amusement park
4. Free downtown concerts
5. Go to the zoo (which is hopefully the only place I’ll run into Jill’s kind of bears )

Amy K.

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5-28
1:35
pm

I HAVE to dig in on the next book. The characters are still being stubborn! *grits teeth* I’m also looking forward to a month-long visit from my older nephew who’s going to volunteer at the dolphin facility where I work.

Mary Stella

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5-28
2:03
pm

I LOVE summer.
My list:
Clean house. It looks like I haven’t touched the house in months. Hmmm. Could be because I haven’t.
Write. First draft of my inspirational womens fiction and finish the paranormal YA I’m working on.
Either convince Dh to go to Johnson Space Center with me and DD or go without him. I’ve lived in Texas over 20 years and never been to Houston. I think that might be a sin.
Write some more.
Read Jill’s new book, your PAX The Beast Within and the second in Francine River’s Mark of the Lion trilogy.
Write some more.
Paint my living room sage green. That’s a maybe. I’ve got to decide if I want to spend the time.
Wallpaper my dining room. I’ve never wall papered but MIL wants to teach me. We’ve already picked it out. I love Lowe’s. :-)
Write some more.

mary beth

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5-28
2:58
pm

Could this be a workaholic problem? I’m the same way; it’s tough for me to relax.

Mary

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5-28
4:28
pm

Oooh, berry picking? Good idea, Amy!

For me, my list is short but fun:
1. Finish revisions on book #3, finish book #4.
2. Go to Reno and stalk editors and agents…(bwahahaha..)
3. Attend a wedding in July
4. Teach my son how to read?

Michelle

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5-28
5:04
pm

I don’t have a list. I’m the relaxed heroine. :wink:

Sasha

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5-28
5:10
pm

Am thinking about your previous post where you didn’t have sparkling granite when you finished your book…because it related to my summer goals. The house will be packed up and in the throes of major construction, which means I’ll have time off from cleaning up things. (I always know if I haven’t been writing because the laundry’s done and put away Which means my to-do list should be to finish writing at least two books. No excuses. Someone has permission to smack me if I don’t get it done.:oops:

Steph T.

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5-28
5:35
pm

“Write a fight scene as Barney sings in the background.”

I dunno, Gena, I could probably manage that simply by pretending it’s Barney I’m beating up.

I don’t have a list either, so I guess I’ll kick back over here with Sasha.

Tori

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5-28
5:49
pm

Hi! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I love yours! I get a kick out of your Church of Christ comments. I was one but I fell from grace many moons ago.:twisted: I got your Back In Town book and hope to get it read before I’m put in the nursing home…:rotfl:

Patricia

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5-28
5:54
pm

Oh, and tomorrow is Sunday! Time to air out the burka!!!!!

Suzanne

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5-28
5:57
pm

I’m another one of those that will spend this summer with writing, writing, and did I mention writing? Maybe get some swimming in. If the management here fixes our pool!

Gina

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5-28
6:56
pm

Sounds/looks like you’re a work-a-holic, Suzanne. Takes one to know one. :wigglebrow:

Beth C

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5-28
7:10
pm

I know I’ll have edits to do this summer and I need to write a lot more new stuff.

I am looking forward to the pool with my kidlets and the zoo *g*.

Mechele

Mechele Armstrong

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5-28
7:18
pm

Good luck, Suzanne! I’m sure you’ll get everything on your list done.

I’m looking forward to spending time with my family. :bananadance:

Kelly

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5-28
10:03
pm

I am not a summer person at all. Oh, I suppose I enjoy the lazy summer evenings and afternoons…only if it’s cool enough to sit on the porch outside. But summer is not my favorite time of year at all. I don’t like beaches and water and swimming pools and I don’t like sweat running down my back.;-) So my list of things to do this summer: start getting healthy and finish my inspirational book.
CONGRATS on finishing YOUR book! :bananadance:

Melissa Marsh

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5-29
1:48
am

Oh, those look like my roses! How funny that you posted that, because I keep meaning to post a picture of mine, and then I forget. Today, I got so far as going into the house to look for the camera, but I couldn’t find it, so I gave up on the idea.

Danica

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5-29
2:46
am

I don’t plan much for summer either, except for going fishing. I love to work in my yard, but this year I can’t do much because of health reasons.:no: I guess we do have plans to help my parents get moved up here this summer! :thumbsup:

Teresa H

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5-29
5:46
pm

I want to write my ballet book and just enjoy the warm weather.

Patricia

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5-29
8:22
pm

The relaxing is always the hardest part, isn’t it?

Good things I’d like to do this summer:

1. Finally get my poor, neglected garden completely weeded.
2. Lots and lots of hiking (with pictures!)
3. Get my synopsis finished and make jaw-dropping headway on my WIP.
4. Take my first trip out West.

Fingers crossed I’ll at least make a dent! Fingers crossed for you, too. :thumbsup:

Lynn

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