Crisis Mode

I’ve been in Crisis Mode since I returned to the mainland last week, and so I haven’t been posting much.

The term is misleading, however, because there’s no actual crisis.  There’s just a bunch of annoying tasks with deadlines, one after the other, so that I barely have a chance to catch my breath.

None of these tasks are really worth discussing in detail, but a partial list includes:

• Trying to get the tractor fixed.

• Pick up tax documents from the accountant.

• Finish a rewrite.

• Giving up on fixing the tractor and BUYING A NEW DAMN TRACTOR.

• Drop off tax documents at the accountant.

• Getting my tires rotated as per warranty.

• Trying to figure out how to donate the old tractor to the local public radio station, which as it turns out can’t be done.

• Trying to get the old tractor fixed SO I CAN SELL IT.

• Moving money around in the bank so I can add to my IRA, which my form 1040 says I will do.

• Various things re Taos Toolbox.

•  Trying to finish the novella I’ve been working on for decades, it seems like.

You will note how few of these tasks actually have to do with writing.  They’re not cutting into my writing time, exactly, but they’re contributing to the sense of overstretch and exhaustion that makes the writing harder to do.

What I need to do is hire an assistant, but in order to do that I’ve got to win the lottery.

Oh, right.  Add “buy lottery ticket” to the list.