It’s been a while since I’ve posted. Considering that everyone’s been affected by this economy, I’m no exception. After getting laid off last semester from the adjuncting, I felt a variety of emotions, ranging from relief that perhaps I wouldn’t have to do this anymore to anxiety about where my next dollar was going to come from. Apart from that, I couldn’t break into the library field with the city in hiring freeze and other places perhaps putting my resumes in the digital bin. To add to those injuries, I lost my MacBook during last autumn and that also knocked the virtual wind out of me. Long story short, it has been an extremely painful and disappointing year and I retreated into silence on this blog. On some level, I might have done myself good by not posting my anger about the situation. I let these situations take away my voice. I don’t want them to continue to do so.
Recently, I have been more active on my Facebook and Twitter accounts, but neither is any substitute for blogging. On Facebook, I have expressed myself more through posting interesting links (at least interesting to me) and some of those can be interesting jumping points for topics. I’ve tried to keep the twittering up, though it’s not something I do every day now. Last week, I recently jumped off the iPhone train, so I’m not going to post lunches or anything else as frequently. Unfortunately, my fingers still itch to touch a glass screen and text updates. I feel like I’ve given up cigarettes.
On the plus side, a friend loaned me one of her Macs, a PowerBook. It does the job, but I’ll be happy to have my own computer again, especially one more “modern.” I’m also working (which I won’t discuss*) and I’m teaching a night course (which also won’t be discussed*). And, I have a few good friends, a valuable resource in hard times.
I’ve been reading plenty and I’ve been working on some fiction. But, I want to get the momentum back in writing, which the posts should help. As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, no flight plan, no problem. All I need to do is fly.
*not to be discussed at this time. I know, it limits my topics, but CYA.
So sorry to learn you’ve been stuck with a serious case of the unluckies, man! As you noted, it’s going around. Even the temp work my wife’s been doing has dried up. But I came across a saying the other day that helped me return to a positive attitude:
“When running up a hill, it’s alright to give up as many times as you wish – as long as your feet keep moving.” Dr. Morita Shoma (found it here: http://garr.posterous.com/when-running-up-a-hill-its-alright-to-give-up )
While I’m not comfy with the phrase “give up” I do think it’s important that we understand that feelings of futility and frustration can be normal and is 100% understandable. I’m sure you know this (I did, too, before I read that saying), but I find myself forgetting that this is normal and feeling more tortured than I should. :\ Just keep those feet moving, though. If we all keep doing that, eventually we’ll stumble out of the woods.
At least, I hope…
But I sincerely believe that blogging is important. It reflects the reality on the ground as we, the “grunts” see it. While the newsmedia spins history the way they want, we’re the ones recording *actual* history. So, I hope you’ll get back to blogging. Future alien anthropologists will need to know what being you was like!
thepete´s last blog ..The view from my apt window. *This* is the #Snowpocalypse? More like the #Winterwonderlandocalypse.
thanks, thepete, for the comments. Creating real history and letting the alien anthropologists know about the Shindo – that’s what it’s all about.
It’s an era so painful for everyone that we’d much rather forget it. I sure would. However, I think this era needs to be remembered by future generations.
I hope things work out thepete & siskita household financially in these hard times. And thanks for the encouragement!