Saturday, December 04, 2010

Captain Trips

So, I've got Captain Trips. I may be exaggerating.  I feel like I'm not exaggerating, because I took two *gasp* days off from school. Not consecutive days, mind you, because that would be madness! And I've already used two boxes of tissues. I called my sister to tell her that I'm dying, and her response was NOT "You're not dying, you just can't think of anything good to do." I'm so disappointed in her for not giving the right response. To be fair, she's kind of sick too.

I've been in bed for the last few days and now I'm looking for stuff to do that doesn't involve watching the idiots on the TV news talk about how much I care about the deficit. Honestly, I could give a crap how much money we owe right now if it means that people who don't have jobs won't get either jobs or unemployment. But the boredom led me to my other email accounts.

 I started this blog in June of 2004. That's six and a half years ago. Then I look at the number of posts this year and that's only five. Most of those in January. In the process of looking for something in my email, I went to my stat counter and found that I still get visitors. Most of those visitors go to one of two posts: My Mother was a Selfish Bitch or Teachers Get Paid Too Much. The Teachers post is number two on Bing search. That's where all the traffic originates.

Sometimes I think about deleting it all. That thought passes swiftly. But recently I've been using a site called 750 Words, and it reminds me how I used to write for fun, not because "exams are due and that essay question doesn't capture  the essence of what they should know." If you haven't seen it before, 750 Words is based on the idea of Morning Pages, from the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. At the beginning of your day, you are supposed to write three pages of stream of consciousness. Ms. Cameron specifies long hand, but I don't think that's necessary. The amazing thing about 750 Words is that you get all sorts of data from this, and can even create your own metadata.  I am completely fascinated.

Here's a screenshot from today:



















It's too late to join the challenge for December, but I'm trying it, and I wrote for half of the days in November. I've already got four days in a row for December. It's funny, I like the little badges you get for completing things, and I want more of them. If I complete the challenge for December, I plan to donate some money to the site. If it's not PayPal.

Now I just have to remember that this blog exists. But don't get your hopes up.

2 comments:

carmilevy said...

I find it neat how writers - yes, it's embedded in your particular soul; don't fight it - always find a way to get the words out.

You're not alone in struggling to find the time and space - physical, mental, whatever - to engage in the kind of writing you love. The fact that you're discussing it in this manner is encouraging, as the fire is still clearly lit. And burning bright.

Good to e-see you again, Kate. Thanks for the 750Words.com recommendation: Looks like something I'd like, too!

Kate said...

Thanks, Carmi. I'll have to come by your blog again and see what you've been up to.