10 Things I Did to Avoid Writing
I Am Talented at Procrastinating
I am editing book two of Ten Kids, Two Lovebirds, and a Singing Mermaid.
Laziness has struck. These are the ten things I did to avoid working.
Leroy the Cat and I went on a walk. Yes, I walk Leroy. He likes it. We stroll down one street, back home, then we go down another street. It’s very exciting for him. See? You can tell he’s excited.
I stepped on the scale to see how much I weigh. That was a shocker. I got off and on again, off and on and the same mean, terrible number kept coming up. I told the scale it was “total crap,” and a “liar.” No wonder none of my pants fit. Perhaps I will not have cookies for the next two years.
I ran in the woods. Slowly. I hurt my dang knee again. I ran along a river and the next morning it felt like a little elf snuck in and mercilessly shoved a spike into it. So it was more of an awkward limp-run. I felt like an old, creaking woman. A woman was running very slowly. She passed me.
I run through these woods all the time. My knee did not appreciate it last week because of what the elf did to it. I watched a reality show. Don’t ask which one. I am too embarrassed to say as you will think I have lost my ever lovin’ mind, but it has the word ‘housewives,’ in it. These screaming, spoiled, botoxed-to-within-an-inch-of-their-lives women sometimes throw things, like flowers and alcoholic drinks, at each other. (Their faces do not move while doing so.)
They are alternately yelling at each other on full blast, mouths open to the size of the Grand Canyon bearing sharp teeth and demanding that the other women, “Be my friend!!” amid accusations that, “You are NOT my friend!” They also lie constantly. The amount they spend on jewelry could feed a family of four, plus a pet dragon, for years.
It is nauseating. I have no idea why I am gripped by this. What does this say about me? Nothing good. At least MY girlfriends are only a little crazy, except that one, or maybe two, but she does crazy really well and with a lot of class, and some of my girlfriends are downright totally sane and I love all of them.
I called Innocent Husband. We discussed how he has done a very poor job of winning us the lottery and we made a plan to increase his success.
This is Innocent Husband and me. He knows he is bad at winning the lottery, but he has a nice smile and he is warm and huggable so I’ll keep him. For now. I called / texted Rebel Dancing Daughter, Adventurous Singing Daughter, and Darling Laughing Son. Everybody’s doing good, thankfully, gratefully, happily. You know how it is: When the kids aren’t happy, Momma’s not happy.
I pretended I was going to clean my house. Too dull! Too dreary! Boring! I sat down and enjoyed the lights on my Christmas tree and hummed, “I saw someone kissing Santa Claus,” and “Crocodile Rock.”
I daydreamed and took a tour of my garden. I call this “working on my books.”
I took a minute to curse that one person I don’t like and I arrogantly reminded Ms. Karma that she had some work to do. Then I felt very guilty for thinking vengeful thoughts so I took it back.
I made cookies despite my lying, pestering, manipulative scale. I have one life and chocolate chip cookies belong in it. I ate the cookies.
Finally, I ended my procrastination activities and, yes, I edited more of Ten Kids, Two Lovebirds, and a Singing Mermaid Book Two. This took me into the early hours of the morning. I work best between 10 at night and two in the morning when all is quiet and I can let the introvert in me out and about.
I got lost in the story and I laughed and I remembered my fun and funny childhood in Huntington Beach on Deauville Drive and the many people that I loved there, some who are still here with us and some who I will see again one day, up in the puffy clouds, around the arc of a rainbow, angels’ wings fluttering about.
This thought was very soothing to me.
Back to writing.
Ten Kids Number Two will be out, I think, I hope, in the first half of 2026.
Wishing you and yours good health, love, and happiness.
Cathy