Teddy Radiator (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
teddy_radiator) wrote2015-07-06 01:08 pm
teddy_radiator) wrote2015-07-06 01:08 pm
Entry tags:
Well
No, that's not just an opening salvo. It's what I'm seriously considering throwing myself down.
Not really. Just kidding. I think.
I'm in this weird kind of limbo lately. I honestly can't remember feeling so frikkin' useless in years. I don't have the impetus to write; I spend my days half beating myself up for it, and half beating myself up for beating myself up for it. All in all, I feel battered. I think I'm officially in a funk. So much that I just feel bad talking about it. So many others are going through terrible things, and here I am, whining because I can't write. I really should shut up about it.
Independence Day went off very well. We invited the mater over for pulled-pork barbecue, slaw, potato salad, baked beans, chips, iced tea. Dessert was one of those rainbow-style cakes that Ace of Cakes sells in stores. I bought it thinking it would probably be all style and no substance - in other words, look great and taste like cardboard. I was delightfully surprised to discover that it actually tasted lovely:
It did, however, split right down the middle during the night, because it was so soft. I usually place the top layer upside down to give myself a flat top, but because the cake itself was so light it split itself alost in half, as you can see from the back side of the first photo. Still, it tasted awesome, and was a breeze to make. You can also see that I left too much blue for last, though :). It was fun to make AND to eat, I will admit.
After two months of really busy work, we have little to none this week. It always scares me when they do this crap. After a couple of months of not worrying about bill paying, now we will struggle for who knows how long. Flexible work is wonderful, except when it isn't.
Just came across this collection on Pinterest, For My Book Loving Friends. Work has stalled on the SteamLib, while I wait to be able to afford wood for the bookshelves. I don't know that a library can call itself a library without bookshelves, but right now, we don't have any, and that depresses me as well. Still, pictures are going back up on the wall this week, and I have a new footstool for the reading chair. I thought I'd cheer myself up by posting photos - at least it means I'm doing something!
Just ignore the rugs - they are temporary and hopefully we'll have something a little more suitable soon.
We also bought a new uplighter for the room - it also has an Edison bulb in it, but they don't photograph well when they are turned on - at least, not the way I photograph them.
The curtain rod is actually plumbing parts and is f*&^ing heavy, but it looks great. We hope to have some better curtains as well. We are in that 'make do with whatever ya got' stage right now.
We are finally done with the alcove that leads to the SteamLib. We repurposed an old track light and took down the huge light that was there. It was too big for the space anyway, and TheHubs™ clanged his head on it at least once a month. We replaced the dining area light with it, and it looks much better there.
Some repurposed wall art:
These tiny floating shelves were given to me by my mom - they were a bastard to get even because they were cheaply made, and the holes in the back weren't level. The vase and sphere on top were repurposed but the small buddha is new. It was a steal, but it has the look of being old and weathered. I love the way it looks there. We actually found a gorgeous turquoise blue one, but it was too wide for the shelves :( It looks nice on the mantle, though.
Finally, the license plate guitar is finished except for the strings and strap holders. It will hang in the alcove on the inside wall (on the side where the wall art sits). Overall I'm pleased with it. It could be better, but for a first attempt, it's pretty good. Next time I'm going to go full House of Blues on one - bottlecaps, beads, plectrums, whatever I can glue to it. It was a fun project, but man did it kill my hands. Those license plates are tough!
Not really. Just kidding. I think.
I'm in this weird kind of limbo lately. I honestly can't remember feeling so frikkin' useless in years. I don't have the impetus to write; I spend my days half beating myself up for it, and half beating myself up for beating myself up for it. All in all, I feel battered. I think I'm officially in a funk. So much that I just feel bad talking about it. So many others are going through terrible things, and here I am, whining because I can't write. I really should shut up about it.
Independence Day went off very well. We invited the mater over for pulled-pork barbecue, slaw, potato salad, baked beans, chips, iced tea. Dessert was one of those rainbow-style cakes that Ace of Cakes sells in stores. I bought it thinking it would probably be all style and no substance - in other words, look great and taste like cardboard. I was delightfully surprised to discover that it actually tasted lovely:
It did, however, split right down the middle during the night, because it was so soft. I usually place the top layer upside down to give myself a flat top, but because the cake itself was so light it split itself alost in half, as you can see from the back side of the first photo. Still, it tasted awesome, and was a breeze to make. You can also see that I left too much blue for last, though :). It was fun to make AND to eat, I will admit.
After two months of really busy work, we have little to none this week. It always scares me when they do this crap. After a couple of months of not worrying about bill paying, now we will struggle for who knows how long. Flexible work is wonderful, except when it isn't.
Just came across this collection on Pinterest, For My Book Loving Friends. Work has stalled on the SteamLib, while I wait to be able to afford wood for the bookshelves. I don't know that a library can call itself a library without bookshelves, but right now, we don't have any, and that depresses me as well. Still, pictures are going back up on the wall this week, and I have a new footstool for the reading chair. I thought I'd cheer myself up by posting photos - at least it means I'm doing something!
Just ignore the rugs - they are temporary and hopefully we'll have something a little more suitable soon.
We also bought a new uplighter for the room - it also has an Edison bulb in it, but they don't photograph well when they are turned on - at least, not the way I photograph them.
The curtain rod is actually plumbing parts and is f*&^ing heavy, but it looks great. We hope to have some better curtains as well. We are in that 'make do with whatever ya got' stage right now.
We are finally done with the alcove that leads to the SteamLib. We repurposed an old track light and took down the huge light that was there. It was too big for the space anyway, and TheHubs™ clanged his head on it at least once a month. We replaced the dining area light with it, and it looks much better there.
Some repurposed wall art:
These tiny floating shelves were given to me by my mom - they were a bastard to get even because they were cheaply made, and the holes in the back weren't level. The vase and sphere on top were repurposed but the small buddha is new. It was a steal, but it has the look of being old and weathered. I love the way it looks there. We actually found a gorgeous turquoise blue one, but it was too wide for the shelves :( It looks nice on the mantle, though.
Finally, the license plate guitar is finished except for the strings and strap holders. It will hang in the alcove on the inside wall (on the side where the wall art sits). Overall I'm pleased with it. It could be better, but for a first attempt, it's pretty good. Next time I'm going to go full House of Blues on one - bottlecaps, beads, plectrums, whatever I can glue to it. It was a fun project, but man did it kill my hands. Those license plates are tough!
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You know, someone is selling a license plate guitar on easy for $175. If it's worthy he time and money, you might be able to sell a few since yours seems to have more character thant he one being sold here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/237953544/license-plate-acoustic-guitar-art?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_mid-art_and_collectibles-mixed_media_and_collage-other&utm_custom1=9fb94e06-0a3a-4746-a40a-d4a4e6df5009&kpid=237953544&gclid=CNm6rYiBx8YCFVNufgod1XsGlQ (https://www.etsy.com/listing/237953544/license-plate-acoustic-guitar-art?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_mid-art_and_collectibles-mixed_media_and_collage-other&utm_custom1=9fb94e06-0a3a-4746-a40a-d4a4e6df5009&kpid=237953544&gclid=CNm6rYiBx8YCFVNufgod1XsGlQ)
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Wow, there does seem a market for those guitars, doesn't there?
The one I did was a cheap plastic Disney guitar, so I had to glue all the pieces on. I think she must have used those rivets on hers, which is very cool, and possible with a wood guitar. I would love to try my hand at something like that, but I have no clue as to how to start. The people that create these are very close-mouthed about the how-tos. I had to improvise on mine a bit.
But I would love to try another one, just to see if I could do it.
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And the cake is making me hungry. But I'm a cake!whore of the worst sort. Cake, cookies, muffins, brownies. Any bit of a spare tire I have I can blame solely on those things there.
And the writing will come. Right now, I'm having a dry spell too and sitting here fretting and feeling like it's time to hang it up. It probably isn't and it probably isn't for you too. Everyone needs a breather every once in a while, even obsessives, you know?
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The cake was surprisingly good for a mix, and one that's rather gimmicky to boot. It was light as a feather and very tasty.
Thank you for the vote of confidence, babe. I'm struggling right now, but I keep telling myself this is just temporary.
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Here's hoping the writing funk passes soon.
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Ah well... Onward!!
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I wonder if the summer is making us all drag a little. *hugs*
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I hope it's just one of those summer slumps. I think so, anyway.
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I LOVE that vase. Guh. And the clock. Not that I don't admire everything else, but those two especially speak to me.
And the red. Love that, too. :)
*hugs* I think everyone's in a bit of a creative slump at the moment when it comes to fandom. Even me, and I don't usually slow down that much over the summer. It's a weird year for fandom creativity, at least for me.
Mmm, cake. :)
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As I told TheHubs™, I get just as big a kick out of moving furniture from one room to the next as I do buying it new - it comes to life in a totally different way. Pinterest has been my friend this summer! ;)
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I also want to put that cake in my mouth.
Maybe focus on something other than your writing for a while? I often find if I'm in a writing funk, getting my creative juices flowing in another area (like my artwork), or even spending time reading really helps. In any case, definitely don't beat yourself up about it! The more you focus on negative things, the more the negativity will grow. Allow yourself to take a break from your writing without the guilt. I think it's normal for most creative people to have ups and downs.
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Thank you for your advice. It's true that I've been channeling my creativity into this decorating, and so it hasn't gone to waste, but I've been writing diligently for some time now, and this is the longest dry spell I've had since 2009.
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By the way, we ate one of those cakes awhile back. My youngest pooped the freakiest shade of blue and thought he was dying. Hope you fare better, lol.
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Yes, I know about the, um, blue poo. We both understand your youngest's alarm. Most disconcerting!
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I haven't been able to write in about six months, for all intents and purposes. So Sympathies.
Hugs.
Looks fantastic!
Keep heart, it'll come back. Just let yourself unwind before going at it again. You'll get there in your own time. Don't rush it.
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The cake looks very tasty. As you say, it really doesn't matter if it falls apart as long as it tastes good. I recall when I was a kid I made this stupendous chocolate cake but forgot to grease the pans, so the layers all fell apart and it ended up a big brown heap that looked like...well, you can imagine. But we frosted it, and instead of slicing it we would just sort of carve off bits and then frost over the exposed cake, and it was great :)
I'm sorry you're having an awkward spell with writing/motivation/etc. Are there methods you've used before to shake yourself out of a funk? Scheduled writing times, or tackling a list of prompts, or trying a different style, or working from visual prompts? Or perhaps experimenting with a completely different creative outlet -- tatting, perhaps? Watercolors? Painting tables or covering screens, to quote FitzWilliam Darcy?
No doubt this too shall pass, as they say...