Blog No. 237
Every year around this time, I go ahead and have a birthday. It’s a day where I mark the passing of another calendar year, thus adding to my numerical age. I’ve been doing it my whole life. I’ve even heard of some other people doing very similar things. I’m not accusing them of stealing, I think more than anything, it’s a coincidence. I’m actually kind of glad that I’m not the only one. Makes me feel like I’m part of a community or something. I do think I am the one who invented the term birthday. It’s because I mark my yearly numerical value from the day I was born. If you ask some of these copycats, I doubt you’ll get as quick an answer. Continue reading “Birthday Post!”
It’s no secret that I’ve overextended myself this year. I’ve talked about it constantly. It’s the thing I’ve found myself butting up against the most lately, so it’s on my mind. Granted, I do find the time to spend on YouTube videos and a weekly Dungeons & Dragons session, but even those sessions have been taking the hit lately. Over the last fer years, I’ve developed Tuesdays into the day that I give this blog a first pass. If work is busy, I may not get anything else done. If not, I can usually get some editing done, or work on odd projects or plan for events. When other folks are free, I’ve even been known go go do some evening writing. It’s a light day, but at least one thing always gets done. 
I’m sure I’ve mentioned it, but likely not as much as I should, but I am part of bringing a great national reading series to Windsor. When Christian and I went to Toronto earlier in the year for the 
I’m calling this one an update, but really, it’s more like a rant. Perhaps a more ranty rant than usual, or maybe all my rants are like this and am just realizing it for the first time. I’m tired. I’m tired to my bones. I thought I’ve been tired before, but this exhaustion I’m feeling right now makes the past seem like a happy wonderland. (As looking back tends to be). I’ve loaded my plate up pretty heavily this year. Between the two books, Bookfest, ChiWindsor, Flags and High Fives, Boxing, events, and this blog, I’m finding it all a little difficult to keep progressing. If everything is going smoothly (and I can force myself to work when the thought of doing any more makes my eyes bulge) I’ve got it under control. The problem comes when I hit the slightest bump. 
Tomorrow morning, I’ll be on the road with Christian, heading for London, Ontario. We’ve been invited to be guests at Shock Stock, the three day horror convention. I’m getting really excited and not just because the three days away are also like a mini vacation (even though it’s a lot of work). There were some cool things last year and there are more cool things scheduled this year. Not only that, but I get to be part of the VIP stuff since I’m a guest. If it’s well attended, I should be able to sell a lot of books. (Seeing as that’s my primary reason for going). On average we do more than ten percent at most events. That is, selling a book to ten percent of the people who walk through the door. Some have been much more and even last year we did about that, but the attendance was way down. An event like this has the potential to be the biggest success yet. 
I just had another school visit at the start of this week. I’m not sure what number that one is, maybe five, maybe more. I do know that every visit has been drastically different from the last. Some times the kids are super excited and at least some are interested and engaged (the others are just happy to not have math to do). Other times it has been like reading to a painting. No interest, no questions, no excitement. The teachers are exactly the same. Some are just happy to have a distraction for the kids so they can desperately try to catch up on work, others are just as into it as the kids. I’m not making judgement calls either way. My very limited experience in teaching has taught me that every school, teacher, and class is different for a multitude of reasons and most people are doing their best. I’m just lucky enough to have the opportunity to go and spread the good word of books. I even get invited back sometimes. 