If you’re reading this I am currently away from work for a while. I don’t write about my job or where I work on this site, and this post will be no exception, other than to say I will be away from there for two weeks.

That’s a good chunk of time in my mind. I’ve been wanting some reset time for quite some time. Usually, I take my time in small chunks or around typical holidays, so I have seldom had any prolonged time away. I’m pretty fine with this, but I have often fantasized about just having time to work on projects. I am trying to decide what I want to try to get done over the next two weeks.

The trap I fall into when doing this is biting off way more than I can chew, then getting stressed, and doing none of them, getting upset about this, and returning to work disappointed I wasted my time away. Again though, I can’t remember ever having two weeks in a row before. I will obviously be strapped for cash. I am already there, a week without pay will just make it worse, so I need to come up with projects that either cost nothing, cost little, or actually make me some money (like listing crap on eBay).

Here’s my checklist:

1. Organize the Spare Bedroom, set up recording studio, hang masks, etc
2. Do unemployment and finances
3. Vaccuum all carpets (spring cleaning)
4. Do all laundry and donate or throw out clothes
5. Do all dishes
6. Relax, read a book (maybe two shorter ones), see a couple movies, etc.
7. Do one crafty project (clay, paper, or PDF project)
8. Do one thing on my websites todo list
9. Sell 5 things on eBay
10. Clean bathroom and kitchen and mop floors

I am going to confine myself to this list. Nothing else. I am also going to be satisfied if I knock off most of it. I originally wanted to make a list of 10 things, and it looks like I have, even though I cheated on a couple, since some will require I do other things first (have to clean living room before I can vacuum, etc.). Some of these things will take up a lot more time than others. I also want to throw a whole lot of stuff out!

That’s it. Wish me luck. Will report back as I get some of this knocked out!

Not sure why, but am having problems updating my site. So if you see posts come and go this is why.

Sometime ago I started beating up on marketers on twitter. I don’t get them, and I really don’t think they get the medium, so I heap abuse on them whenever I can. I know it’s a quixotic quest, but I’ve been having fun doing it.

Check out puppypotpie.com

I spent considerable time on the CSS on this site, getting it to appear as closely to the output generated by MS Word or MS Frontpage as I could.

Anyway, not a lot to be said about it. Lots of inside jokes not worth explaining. Be sure to reload to get additional cartoons.

I just finished reading Steven Erikson’s book “Toll the Hounds.”

I am going to come right out and say it I found this book to be painful. I’m not a fast reader at the best of times, and Erikson is a challenging read, but he’s such a good writer that he’s worth the effort one has to put in. Usually. And maybe that’s the case this time as well, but I honestly didn’t start enjoying this book until I was 700 pages into it. For a 800+ page book this is a lot to slog through to get to the good stuff. I probably would have quit reading it it wasn’t the 8th in a series, if I didn’t already have momentum behind me. I do have a sense of accomplishment. I’m glad it’s done. Irony has me looking forward to the next one, but mostly in the hopes that it’s a better and quicker read!

There’s only two more left. Once I have them all I’ll probably take another run at the series, read them in order, but I am already dreading the day I wrap back around to the 8th book!

I’m working on a book with @mindofchester (Anthony Imperioli). There’s that’s it. Almost short enough to tweet. But for the longer version keep reading:

As most anyone who follows me online knows I string sentences together like the best of them. I’d call it typing, not writing. I like playing with words, like trying to be clever, funny, moving, like to get a reaction. Usually this is accomplished by being an idiot. Sort of like masturbation it’s the easiest way to get off. I’d like to do more sophisticated writing, short stories, poetry and the like, but that requires a lot more effort, so I tend to just go for the quick fix.

I have a website dedicated to this very goal: jackassletters. So a while back I created a twitter account (@jackassletters) with the goal of promoting my letter writing stupidity.

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