Back when I was writing articles about iPhones I had a discipline and a process. Monday I’d find a subject to write about. Tuesday I’d research the subject and produce a general outline for the article. Wednesday I’d flesh out the details. Thursday I’d produce a rough draft and take whatever photos I needed. Friday I’d edit the draft and upload the article and photos for publishing. For five years and with few exceptions, I performed this process weekly regardless of what was going on in my life.
Now, the Peace Corps wants me to blog my experiences before, during and after my tour. Writing iPhone articles was easier because it allowed me to focus on something that wasn’t personal. Blogging, however, is supposed to be personal and social. At least, the type I think I’m supposed to be writing. Normally that wouldn’t be a problem, but when there are rough spots in my life social is the last thing I want to be, and offering up whatever personal turmoil I may be experiencing to public scrutiny is definitely not something I want to do.
Still, I need to get into the habit of writing regardless of whether or not I feel like it, hence this post and the title. So, if all of this seems a bit forced, well, that’s because it is.
I’ve pretty much completed my Peace Corps tasks. Once I get one more signature and upload a document I should have all my ducks in a row. I then wait to get the official ‘Welcome Aboard’ letter and travel instructions. In the meantime I’ve been readying my house for rental. There’s not a lot that needs to be done, just stuff I should have done but was either too lazy or unfocused to do them. This passed week I ticked off a bunch of things; cleaned out my clothes closet and turned stuff into the Goodwill, touchup painting, first pass at personal document organization and purging, and so on.
That last one is a doozy! It’s amazing how much paper one can accumulate! I’ve filled a 40 gallon trash bag full of shredded paper! And that was just the first pass!
I still have the garage to attack and that promises to be nothing but fun because I’ve found stuff in the attic that the previous owner of my home ‘strategically’ left behind and now I need to figure out how to dispose of it. Stuff like solidified bags of concrete, cans of paint, old blinds and more. The garage needs a good cleaning out anyway. Ah well, it’ll be a good diversion.
By the way, when I had my portrait exhibition back in December at Stardust Video and Coffee I was asked if I’d like to show it again. I knew I’d be too busy and had to declined, but I asked a good friend of mine, Sarah Kantz, if she wanted to take my place and she accepted.
Sarah works in watercolors and her exhibit promises to be something well worth seeing, so please stop by on February first to see her work. I believe she will be showing the entire month too.
GoGeezer 