I know it's been a little while since I posted here (on second look, only since Sunday, whew!). School just started, so I've been busily scurrying from class to class with not a lot of time for translating or writing. Kee has her mitts on Late Night Radio, and I hope she has an idea for a couple of lines to make an ending. I could possibly end it as is, but I think it needs something.

Anyhoo, not dead, but not writing either.

Let's just pretend that the piano book no longer exists, shall we? I'll update you on it if and when I ever spend more than 1 hour a day on it. *shame*

I figured out a direction for the end of "Late Night Radio" to take, but I'm no good at actual last lines (as anyone who has ever read my other blog will attest to). So I'm still struggling with that. But I'm amazingly satisfied with even that progress. Yay me!

For Monday, April 17

Paid Work in Progress: piano book
I managed to squeak out about 1-1/2 book pages, but most of that was musical notes, so no biscuit for me.

Creative Work in Progress: Late Night Radio (short story)
I forced myself to ignore that horrible, cringe-inducing moment when I pick up something I've written by hand and type it into the computer. I made a lot of changes (improvements, I hope) to the couple of pages that I'd previously typed up, and was adding my written additions, but then Hannah wanted to play a CD-ROM game, so I graciously helped her get it set up. Now that I'm about done farting around, I mean, doing important work on the computer, I guess I will try to finish up.

On Wednesday, I took names and kicked ass on the translation job. I translated *7* book pages (thank the 7 dwarves for all the sheet music included in this thing).

In the meanwhile, I had a meeting with my co-instructor for the class I will be teaching this summer semester (starting in a week). It seems easy enough.

I have also started the first of three novels that are required reading for a class I am taking. I am 650 pages in; only 150 to go on this one. The other 2 are shorter, fortunately, so I will probably go back to translating during the day and reading in the evening, but I couldn't afford not to finish this really big one, so I've been reading practically straight through (when we're not watching horrible translated American movies, like something with John Ritter and a live-action Jungle Book something or other.)

Creative writing? Not so much, but still swishing around in my head, like the literary contents of a Slurpe machine.

For ...All the days since my last post...Yeah, I know, Nee.

Creative Juices: At an all time low.

Guilt factor at my laziness: At an all time high.

Pride in my highly accomlished sister's sick-too-it-iveness: Ditto.

I have been hiding myself in books lately. The reading of, not the writing of (Yeah, I know, Nee). It's my escapism factor. I have been going through a book a day since I started working. It seems to keep my stress level relatively low, considering. And then, about the time that I think I've got it in me to get some work done on the writing, SOMEONE is hogging the computer.

No more empty promises. I'll get back when I can.

Work in Progress: piano translation

It is not even worth trying to tally up the amount of work I accomplished today. Let us never speak of it again.

My creative writing projects are probably on hold due to a big chunk of my brain (and time) being taken up with reading 3 novels in preparation for the upcoming semester. But I'm still leaving my pile of notebooks and a pen next to the bed, since I seem to get into writing/creative mode around bedtime.

Work in Progress: piano translation, Part 3, Section 2

I finished 3-1/2 book columns today. Not bad considering what a hard time I had concentrating.

In other news, I sent off a second entry to the Bulwer-Lytton contest. It's basically the plot of my dragon short story in one sentence, but oh well. It works as both.

Sunday was mostly taken up with organizing the mounds of papers floating around our office and my side of the bed (i.e., my study area)--but still no taxes done!

At bedtime, I sat up and hand-wrote 4 pages on "Late-Night Radio." I crossed out half of one page and started over, but still. Those 4 pages are the complete "transcript" of one caller to the advice line. Two down, one to go.

For Saturday, April 8:

Work in Progress: piano book, Part 3, Section 2

I managed to do exactly as much work as on Friday (2-1/2 book columns=8 hand-written pages). Go me! I probably would have managed a little more on both days, but I got bogged down in searching for some terms online. It's not as easy as you might think, but there's not always a one-to-one correlation in terms, even technical terms. And also, I am not a pianist, so my years of clarinette-playing are only taking me so far music-terminology-wise. Oh, well. Onward and upward!

Creative Writing Progress: It's a little odd right now. Several of my darlings are suddenly popping up: "Look at me! Look at me!" Kind of like a room full of 4-year-olds wanting attention. Except when I turn to look at one, it hides, or runs away. But I have managed to jot down a few things on one of the kid books and on the short stories "Late Night Radio" and "Dirty Work", so I'll just have to take it as it comes to me. I'm not too fussed. Yet.

Work in Progress: piano book translation

Started Part 3, Section 2
Finished 2-1/2 book columns (= 8 hand-written pages)--not too bad!
I may work on it some more this evening, and definitely over the weekend.

I sent in my ONE entry (read 'em and weep!) to the Bulwer Lytton contest. Here's your reminder (*cough* Kee *cough*) if you're planning on entering. I probably will be late with my U.S. taxes, but I know where my priorities are, people!

Speaking of Kee, I know you have that big meeting out of the way now, so I want to hear about your blazing writing progress this weekend! (Consider yourself kicked in the butt!)

The Catch-All Post for Wednesday, April 5, and Thursday, April 6

I proofread 39 pages of our translation on Wed., then the other 54 today, and John emailed it to the author. Tomorrow: back to the mines! (i.e., Part 3, Section 2)

I hand-wrote about a page on the second half of Dirty Work while Hannah was at ballet. I got some feedback on it from Kee, so I'm adding that to the pot to let it stew for part 2 and final revisions.

In a bout of anxiety about the upcoming semester, I've been a posting fool at my other blog, mostly photos and captions, though. When I get nervous, I tend to get a bit manic, but I don't manage to harness all that extra energy for anything useful, like writing or working. Rats.

Hello? Kee? Where are yooouuu?

I got very little (work- or writing-related) accomplished today. bleh.

I spent all weekend rereading the two articles my 2-page homework assignment was based on, then today writing, and after John gives it a quick proofread, I'll send it off to my teacher. Only 3 days late! It's my second-best time!

Tomorrow I have English tutoring in the morning, then piano proofreading in the afternoon. woo

For Friday, March 31

Paid Work in Progress: piano translation
Status: Part 3, Section 1
Start Date: March 10

Section 1 is FINISHED! Well, the translation. John is typing in my work, and then I will proofread the whole section, then we will send it off to the author for review. Only 150+ pages to go!


Creative Work in Progress: Dirty Work (aka Godred story)
Status: FINISHED! the first half and sent it off to my "reviewers" (i.e., guinea pigs--if they don't fall down foaming at the mouth, then I will consider the first half a success).