The famous "autobiography in five short chapters"

I've always liked this alcoholic's thingy. It's meant to show that the path to change includes taking personal responsibility. I always think of it when I'm faced with trying to change something in my life. That crucial first step is to just realize that the hole is there, and until you remember it, recognize it's coming, see that you're about to fall in, you won't be able to learn to start walking around.

I don't know if it's really written by Portia Nelson, but she seems to be attributed as the author in most places.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS

by Portia Nelson

I

I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost ... I am helpless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes me forever to find a way out.

II

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I am in the same place
but, it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

III

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in ... it's a habit.
my eyes are open
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

IV

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

V

I walk down another street.

Waaaaah!

Connie Willis' book has been out a couple days now, shows as in stock, and hasn't shipped yet! I sent them a crying email.

We don't have it in stock at the store yet so I can't just borrow it and start reading it.

It's on kobo so I'm tempted to buy it! But that would be silliness. I could have cancelled my preorder awhile back and bought it on kobo instead, but other people I know read her so it's a lender. Needs to be in paper form.

When I bought part 1 (Blackout) I not only got it on time, but it shipped early! However the wharehouse just moved to a new location, so maybe that's the problem. Grrrrr!!!

In other news...

Still deciding what to write for nano. For awhile now I've played with the idea of interspersing my story with the heroine's great-grandmother's diary, since it's something she inherited and has been reading. I want to see if I can write something funny.

So maybe I'll do that for nano. I already know the bones of the great-grandmother's story, cause I wrote it for nano 2 years ago. But writing up the actual diary entries will show me whether it's something I really want to add to the book or not. And 50 000 words might be just the right length for the entire project.

Since getting back from vacay I've missed the couple TV shows I was watching--just too disorganized, and busy with other stuff. So I think I'll leave the TV alone so that I'm ready for nano.

And I've been saving up lots of meals in Cafe World to serve while I'm writing. ;-)


In other news...

I've decided to start a completely private blogger blog, for My Eyes Only. It would be the same as keeping a diary on the computer, of course. But this way it's searchable and organized. Lately there's been things on my mind, but I'm not comfortable being too personal on the nets. I don't mind People I Don't Personally Know reading about my life--it's more the whole "future employers" angle. Or if a staff member were to find my blog. I know, I know, it makes for dull reading. What can I say.

Mindy-ninny-ninion <--Minion's first naturally occurring nickname

Friend Mae sent me this story--it's about a 4 year old girl and her obsessive quest to eat the cake her mother just baked. Read it if you want to know what it's like living with Evil Minion, when you get in the way of her and whatever her black little heart desires.

In other news, here's a good close-up of the suckitude.

Yesterday was the first time I saw Halzebub try to hold her ground. That's Minion's tail you see up there. Haley sat there and growled a bit, but eventually Minion tried to pounce her and H jumped down.

And then there's the toddler's fatigued crash on the couch.