Half a Day in the Life

Inspired by reading the daily routines of famous writers and that one by Ben Franklin (which he just could not have kept consistently, right?), I thought I’d investigate my own routines. This is really the morning from a few days ago, but let’s pretend it was yesterday’s:

5:00am: Loki puts forth a persuasive argument in favor of waking up. Refusing to accept its validity, Ken and I defensively point out surface flaws and straw men.

6:45am: He tries to convince us again. (Shoot! I should have gotten up 15 minutes ago!) I get up to take care of his urological and gastrological needs. While he’s eating breakfast (he knocks it out of a toy), I brush my teeth and put some jojoba oil on my face. (Both Ken and I are cursed with dry skin–me from my acne medicine, Ken from his genetic propensity toward psoriasis–aggravated in the winter. Our future children may be smart but skin-problem prone.)

I start my coffee: boil water, grind beans, pour beans, pour water, wait four minutes, and press both together.

7:25am: We all pile into the living room to our respective posts: Ken to the couch to continue sleeping (he works at night); Loki to the window, to watch the world for us; and me, to my laptop. Loki quickly follows Ken back into slumberland.

7:30am: Since I have already started writing this, I bum around the internet a little more quickly, and begin editing an ebook, editing a website, and looking for more gigs. I find one possible job that involves handwriting telemarketing materials. I add that to a list of day-dreamable jobs (ones that give me pause but don’t compel me to apply), like Sports Writer or Maple Sugaring Assistant.

10am: We take Loki to the park and play hide and seek among the trees.

10:45am: We return home, and write to-do lists for the rest of the day. I start making a quick cobb salad for lunch.

12:00pm: Ken and I eat cobb salad, with a valuable lesson learned by noon: there are no quick cobb salads.

Full Moon

The moon from my window.

There was a bright spot on the wall. What light is on? I fumbled around the dark bedroom looking for a flashlight or an extra glowy alarm clock with 6s, 8s, or 9s on its face. None to be found. Coming to my senses, I walked to the wall and traced the light to its origin. The window. It was the moon.

The moon’s full tonight, which I like very much in the winter. In this suburbia it takes on the role of a streetlight, offering a better spectrum than the usual dim orangey guys.

Good day today. Productive very early, the kitchen sink is clean, and I finished reading a book. Also added iPhone cases and stationery for a few paintings on my Society6 account. Ken’s adventuring in New Hampshire, while Loki and I are quietly holding the fort relaxing in the living room.

I plan on breaking my too-early-to-bed cycle tonight. I’ve caffeinated myself for a wakeful evening of editing. Let’s see how this goes!

Three Good Things

Three good books, too. From the Plumb Memorial Library.

With the windy rain, it’s a little apocalypsey outside this morning. Otherwise, things are good. Here’re three of them:

• I’ve got a paid (trial) blogging gig, covering news about space.
• The library director liked the art group idea! Free workspace and camaraderie? YES. Just need final approval from the board and it’s on.
• Those three books above? Only half of the pile now on our coffee table awaiting consumption. Enjoying Bossypants right now. Might move onto Space Chronicles next to get in a starry mood.

Happy new calendar, world. Back to ebook work, me.

Waiting for the Coffee to Kick In

Despite the sunshine flooding the room, everyone’s still dozing in here this morning. Traces of last night’s football watching festivities abound: crumpled fast food wrappers on the table, near empty glasses of water for guests, dog toys strewn about. Now, I’m sit at the tiny corner desk, and light snores are coming from spouse and pup alike on the other side of the room.

It’s a good time for me to get some projects done. Or, it would be. C’mon coffee, do your civic duty.