Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Summer Doldrums


Does not feel like July around here at all. July is usually hot and humid. It's been clear and crisp and sunny and warm (but not too warm) and breezy - like a warm Spring day. But it's July. WTF? Not that I'm complaining - if summer was like this all the time I'd be quite content - though it would be nice to have some hot weather - just a wee bit.

So, it' gorgeous out, the mulberry tree outside my window here is loaded with berries that the birds and squirrels love (and that the cats love sitting in the window watching). I just took a nice long walk. I have plenty of things that I could be doing. I have laundry that's waited long enough. I have to get my house clean for a writer's group meeting on Saturday. I have a book I need to finish reading (an advance copy of Stephen Elliott's The Adderall Diaries) and get sent to the next person on Thursday (I take my commitments seriously). I have emails that need to be sent. I have to get ready for a poetry reading Thursday night (my first solo in about 3 years). I have gardening to do (weeds to pull, plants to plant, maybe some harvesting if I'm lucky). I have to clean cat litter boxes. I need to find a recipe for Donna. The list goes on.

But I'm feeling somewhat unmotivated. My husband is away for ten days - and of course for this trip that we couldn't afford for me to accompany him he has a really nice room with a spa in the bedroom (what a waste). It's been a long time since he's been gone this long (and yes, he just left yesterday - why am I complaining?) - and maybe it's because we're not going to get any vacation in this summer (and what he's doing this 10 days is NOT vacation) - I guess it's the summer doldrums.

6 comments:

neve black said...

Awww...I'm sorry. You have some extra time to write, right?

It's been quite gorgeous in Cleveland lately too. That-sa so nice-a!

Alana Noel Voth said...

An advanced reading copy of Stephen Elliot's new book? You lucky, LUCKY lady. He is so. Amazing. How is it? :-)

Best of luck to you with your upcoming poetry reading. That's awesome. :-)

Danielle said...

oh erobin..i wish i could come over and join you and your lovely weather..:-)

wait one day more and then the "i m man free horray"-part will kick in..:-)

Craig Sorensen said...

Sorry you're going through the doldrums.

I think maybe Neve has the right idea. Get into some serious writing, and enjoy this bizarre but lovely weather.

Erobintica said...

Hi Neve, that's the thing - it would seem that I'd have "extra" time to write, but I don't really - there's enough going on that I don't have any long uninterrupted stretches of time - which I need to get going and get into something. Maybe once this reading is over I'll be able to focus more on writing.

Alana - follow that link - there's still a link up at the Rumpus for folks who are interested. The book is good. I'll be writing about it when I finish or at least writing about something (which I assume is okay - guess I'll check first - I'm all so new at all this). But I like his writing and today went to my library and checked out the only book of his they have - "A Life Without Consequences" - guess I'll have to order his others. But I want to read them.
And thanks for the luck.

Danielle - hahaha - at one time I probably would have been already doing the man free dance - but lately Mr. E and I have been very happy together - so, I'll probably be missing him all the more. :-)

Thanks Craig, I think that maybe when I'm done all the reading I have to do that the itch to write will hit. At least that's what I'm hoping.

Donna said...

Well, thank you for making time to find that recipe for me, Robin. Man, I know what it's like to deal with the business trips. My whole spring felt like one big business trip and when a weekend is involved it's especially harsh. I hope your days fall into a rhythm and it passes quickly...and I also hope you find time to write somewhere in there. It often takes us by surprise.