So, here’s the bottom line…I am presently suffering from a horrific case of severe motivational deficit. Since Susan blew out her knee on October 19, I just don’t have any motivation to get anything productive done. Blogging has been about the most productive thing I’ve been able to force myself to do. Beyond that, with having to watch the dogs, handling much of the household stuff, my workload at the office, and everything else that’s been going on in my life, I just don’t much feel like doing anything productive in the Civil War arena.
I SHOULD be working on my article on William H. Boyd in the Gettysburg Campaign, but there’s no motivation to be productive. I continue to tweak the Dahlgren manuscript in my ongoing effort to get it wrapped up, but that seems to be the limit of what I feel like doing. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve been extremely productive all year and I need a break. Maybe it’s the holiday doldrums. Maybe it’s a combination of both. Who knows.
The point is that I’m having serious issues with getting anything productive accomplished. I should be bothered by it, but I’m not. I guess that’s a pretty good indicator that I need a break. I’m hoping that I will be able to get myself cranked back up after the first of the year. Stay tuned.
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One thing I’ve noticed when I’ve had to write for college and grad school; nice weather kills my motiviation to write. I need good miserable rain, cloudy or winter weather to channel my muse. Otherwise, I’m thinking, “Gee, it’s a nice day, I ought to go outside.” instead of writing.
Eric,
The way I look at it, your 2006 has been a very productive one. I certainly don’t know too many folks out there who had 3 new books come out this year.
You deserve a break, and am also sure your creative juices will get a jump start by the new year.
Hang in the Pard.
Regards from the Garden State,
Steve
Thanks, guys. I think I just need a break from it all.
It’s kinda nice getting one.
Eric
Whine, whine, whine. I get exhausted just reading your friggin blog. You’ve got more pokers in the fire than doan’s has pills.
It’s Christmas. Go roll around with the dawgs. (Mrs W probably wouldn’t appreciate the attention, knee and all.)
I suggest a good aged Malmsey from winelibrary.com.
Come 2007 you are free to go bonkers with projects again.
Merry Christmas ;).
Sounds like a plan to me, Dave. 🙂
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Eric
We are all very aware of your tremendous workload Eric, BUT one factor that no one has commented on was the “additional” chores that you have taken on since your wife’s surgery, which BTW should give you an even greater appreciation for her efforts. This is where your exhaustion is coming from. I did my wife’s “to-do-list” for two days – and it almost killed me.
Thank God for women, or we men would never have anytime left to pursue our own hobbies – or any energy left at the end of the day to practice them. 🙂
You seemingly have accomplished quite a bit this year. Its time for you to take care of your wife and enjoy the holidays and re-charge your batteries.
By January you will be chomping at the bit.
Chill! Remember that even God rested on the seventh day. The Sabbath – that day that human beings are supposed to STOP what we ordinarily do and give our minds to higher pursuits and our bodies to a less strenuous routine – was made for our physical and mental health. 24-7 is a prescription for burn out, disease and eventually an early grave. Even if you are BUSY on the Sabbath – or the vacation – it should be doing something new and different to help ‘reboot’ the old mental computer and to give the brain a rest for the same old same old.
You will be surprised to find that you will return to your previous efforts refreshed, reinvigorated and rejuvenated and all the ‘blocks’ – writers or intestinal – will be removed.
😀
Thanks, guys. I guess I will just sit back and enjoy a rest.
Eric
Eric,
🙂 Watch Ohio U. in the GMAC bowl on January 7th. It will bore the hell outta you and give you the impetus to resume work on the Boyd article. 🙂
Stand up and Cheer. 🙂
Steve
Being in the process of helping my wife recover from major surgery since the middle of October, I can relate. Fatigue, stress, concern, doing most of the things that she did on top of working, etc. tends to make one stick to the bare essentials during such times. It also screws up one’s schedule as evidenced by the fact that it is after 2 a.m. and I have to get up for work in about 4 hours.