Samhain Publishing Ltd Weblog

No thanks! I think I’ll pass.

Have you ever found yourself so busy you wanted to pull all your hair out? As if that would somehow help? I tried it recently. Trust me, it didn’t do a thing.

One month ago, all was well in my world. I was busy with the usual day-to-day stuff each and every one of us has to deal with. Now, I knew the upcoming weeks would throw some monkey wrenches into my usual routine and chances were high my writing schedule would be the first to suffer. But I wasn’t worried. I was prepared. Or so I thought. Ignorance is bliss, isn’t it?

It all began innocuously enough. First off, hubby was starting his summer holidays. The vacation was a planned one, so no surprise there. Then I found out, first-round edits were heading my way sometime in the coming weeks. Again, not unexpected. I also knew my Mother-in-law (MIL) was coming down for a visit during which time we planned to talk to her about the possibility of moving closer to us. My Father-in-law had passed away three months previous and we could see she was lonely, depressed and just plain needed our help. Unfortunately, we lived two and a half hours away so something had to change and fast.

What I didn’t anticipate was the way things were going to work out. I should have known though—Murphy’s Law and all that—but silly me was completely oblivious. Confident all would go smoothly. HA! Famous last words, right?

It all started to unravel when my MIL not only agreed moving was a good idea, but on a whim I decided to check into our number one choice of Senior’s apartments. Little did I know an apartment had been vacated that very day and although the Super had gone through their entire waiting list the apartment was still available. Color me shocked. I’d barely contemplated the notion of my MIL moving, I sure as heck hadn’t thought I’d have to jump into action. But, undaunted, and not one to let a great opportunity pass by (the place was absolutely perfect in every way), we snapped it up and decided to go for it.

And just like that Operation: Moving MIL was set in motion. No longer a far off distant prospect, it suddenly became an immediate, urgent, all-consuming priority. And since my MIL is seventy-eight years old with physical limitations, hubby and I had to do everything. Thus began our three week odyssey from hell. I say hell because you just know moving wasn’t the only thing on my agenda.

Yes, my anticipated edits for The Trouble with Curses came through. So in between packing and arranging for phone and cable service, cleaning the new apartment and generally talking everyone (read my MIL, my hubby and myself) down from completely freaking out, I was working away at the myriad of things my wonderful editor, Heidi, found that needed fixing in my manuscript.

As if all of this wasn’t enough, my darling MIL (unbeknownst to us) decided to put her house up for sale. Selling the house was something we hadn’t even considered worrying about until after we’d moved her out and had the place ready to go on the market. Um, what can I say, the dear thing thought she was being helpful.

—insert semi-hysterical laughter here—

Bear in mind the place was a humungous mess with boxes piled everywhere. And this was a house that at the best of times was excessively cluttered because my MIL never found a piece of junk she didn’t love and absolutely have to keep at all costs. She couldn’t throw anything out. So, as well as unpacking boxes down here, hubby and I have been going up to the house (a five hour round trip) whenever we can to throw said junk into the rented garbage bin sitting in the driveway.

Picture exhausted hubby and I going insane. And inside (where I was truly hoping my brain wouldn’t explode from everything I was trying to organize, keep straight and arrange) I was screaming—can we stop now? Please?! I’m done. All tanked up. Had enough. Full to the brim. Ready for a break. UNCLE!!

Through it all I’d been telling myself all was well. I could handle it. Everything would get done. Relax! Breathe. Ohhhmmmm. Uh, it wasn’t working. Well, I guess it was sort of working because none of us lost our minds, or our cool, but let me tell you it’s not something I want to do again anytime soon.

Alas, with all of this going on, my hoped for calm, peaceful, productive summer of writing went the way of the Dodo. I had hoped to whip my current book into shape for submission by the beginning of September. Uh, not gonna happen.

On the upside, although it’s only been a week and a half since the move, and despite the mountain of boxes still piled up everywhere in her new apartment, my MIL is already looking much happier, sharper and stronger. Everyone is commenting on it, so I know it’s not just my imagination. And that, of course, makes all this work well worth it.

As a bonus, I even got my edits done on time. Something I wasn’t at all sure I’d pull off.

Unfortunately, we’re not done with the unpacking and junk-throwing yet, but I’m happy to say we’re still hanging in there. By a thread, but still… LOL

So, how about you? Have you ever had one of those days, weeks, months?

I’m still in the midst of one and I don’t know about you but if anyone else asks me to do anything right now I have only one answer for them. No thanks! I think I’ll pass. =)

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Anara Bella ~ Romance that’s sexy with a touch of sass
The Trouble with Curses – Coming September 30, 2008
Ready or Not – Out now
www.anarabella.com
www.myspace.com/anarabella