Tag: life

The smallest piece of magic can shine a light

On March 3, 2012

New mini shrine from the Fable Tribe

This has been a frustrating week. My pain levels have been high, and the kidlet’s sleep has been out of whack (which means that mine has been as well). We suspect he’s working on a molar, but thankfully he had a good night last night, which means that I actually feel human this morning.

In the mail yesterday came my new mini shrine from the Fable Tribe. Which is amazing and magical and has found a home in my magpie collection of inspiration which lives above my writing computer. They just updated on Friday, so if you’re looking for some magic, go and have a look at their etsy store. I was stalking the update so I could grab a specific Glamourkin, and was very happy indeed to be able to nab it.

Not much writing done this week, though I’ve stuck to my goal of trying to get something done each day, even if it’s only a sentence. I’m finding myself a little stuck, which means that I’ve gone wrong somewhere. Need to untangle that. I’m firmly in the middle of the middle of the book, so it could just be that usual middle-of-the-book syndrome kicking in. My plan is to take a good look at my outline and see if there’s something I’ve missed or which isn’t connecting up.

I have been managing a fair bit of reading – on the ninth (and final book) of Mark Chadbourn’s massive Age of Misrule/The Dark Age/Kingdom of the Serpent series. I find myself enthralled and frustrated by this series. There’s so much to interest me, but I feel that there’s huge plot points that feel forced, and the characters are all-too-often sliding into cardboard cutouts. But I’ve found enough to keep me going through the books, so that’s something.

I continue to pare down my online life. I left a bunch of Facebook groups yesterday, and I’m going to be going through and paring down my general reading lists as well. I’m already feeling better for it.

And now it’s a lovely long weekend, which shall hopefully be filled with lots of cuddles from the kidlet.

Making some changes

By Stephanie Gunn

On March 2, 2012

In life, unfracking my life

I’ve noticed of late that my internet time is becoming a stressful thing for me. There’s so much drama in groups and between individuals. It’s gotten to a point where every time I sit down at the computer I end up coming away stressed and frustrated.

And so, I am making some changes.

I’m stepping away from a bunch of online groups and I’m going to stop following people who seem to give nothing but negativity to the world. This means that I’ll likely be cutting down lists on things like facebook, livejournal etc.

I’m pretty much moving all of my blogging over to here, anyway, so no one is going to miss anything.

It’s time to strengthen the connections that strengthen me.

The week that was

By Stephanie Gunn

On February 18, 2012

In life

Australian magpie surveying his domain. Taken using my zoom lens; he was right on the top of a Norfolk Pine.

This week has been frustrating.

I’ve been sick and exhausted and worn out and unable to focus on much at all. This has resulted in not much writing, not much reading. Lots of wanting to do things, but being unable to do them.

When I don’t write, I tend to spiral into depression. One of the things that I’ve been learning in therapy (which should be bleedingly obvious, really) is to take note of the other things that I do get done, especially when my concentration is shot and I can’t work on creative projects.

I’ve maintained the house, cooked meals, played with Liam a lot. We got some new furniture this week – a new wall unit and new DVD shelving, and I’ve worked to fill them. Which included polishing of some very tarnished silver. I’ve exercised every day (doing minimal amounts some days when I was feeling awful). So, I’m still accomplishing stuff, even if it isn’t what I’d really like to be doing.

The good news is that I’m starting to feel better, and I hope that I’m going to be able to get back into some writing work next week. I have writer’s group tonight, too, which always kickstarts me creatively. I don’t have the words to express how much I love my writer’s group.

I am also loving the new camera, and am so happy to have it. I’ve been running around after the kidlet a lot messing about – he’s very used to having the camera shoved in his face by now. I look forward to playing more with photography and expanding my skills.

Wondering where the week has gone to

By Stephanie Gunn

On February 17, 2012

In life

The first photo taken with my new camera, a Canon EOS600D

It’s been a rough week about these parts. I’ve been sick. The kidlet has been sick. Thankfully it’s only a mild cold, but it’s been enough to disrupt his sleep (and therefore mine) and generally make me feel off enough that accomplishing anything that requires a brain has been difficult.

The result is that I haven’t done much work on anything – writing, reading, website. But I’ve actually had enough energy (thanks to prednisolone agitation) to get some things done around the house. We got some new furniture delivered this week: a new wall unit/display cabinet for the lounge room and DVD storage shelves, which both got filled. DVD organisation proper is still to come, though (see lack of brain).

I also got a new toy in the mail yesterday – a new camera! I’ve been using and loving my Canon EOS400D for a few years, and have gotten enough interest in photography where an upgrade was worth it. I toyed with the idea of going for a higher end model, but for what I need, the EOS600D is perfect. Down the track, I may invest in some better glass, but having the ability to video on the DSLR as well as the flip out screen (which I love from my old Canon point and shoot) is awesome. You can see the inaugural photo above, with the kidlet being suitable photogenic 😉