The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Sometimes You Just Need a Foxhole to Hunker Down Into

       This past Friday I was off work. Well, it was well-earned day off. It wasn't like I was playing hooky or anything like that. I had worked an extra 107 7 hours last week, meeting with parents during parent-teacher conference week, and this was considered "comp time."

       However, I worked on my day off work. I met with my teaching partner until close to noon. We planned. Then I headed to a coffeehouse (The Corner Coffeehouse in Ferguson) with my laptop in hand, and I wrote.

        I wrote despite a group of senior citizen men who were having a raucously-good time in the middle of the shop.

       I wrote despite a woman sitting in the booth behind me who intrigued me. She was coloring-in an intricate coloring page. Had she heard of zentangles? I really wanted to lean around the back of my booth and ask her, but since I didn't want to be disturbed with what I was doing, I wasn't going to bother her.

       I wrote despite being the last person left in the shop when it was just about to close and despite me feeling like the lone employee left was itchin' to get me out of there.

       Howboutchoo? What have you done lately despite... ?

       

18 comments:

  1. With the TV blaring, the phone ringing, the cat running like crazed beast because someone likes to wind him up...everything I do is DESPITE. Kudos to you for writing in a coffee shop. I'd be taking notes on patrons :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda--I once did that at a winery in Rocheport. The drunks figured out I was spying, and I had to leave... quickly.

      Delete
  2. I am in Linda's boat, everything around here is in despite! You know Natalie Goldberg wrote in coffee shops all the time and recommends it. I have thought of it but I never even get that far! I might have to try it this winter though as I am losing ground here at home!!!! Good for you!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Claudia--Well, I certainly ain't no Natalie Goldberg. But I would recommend trying out the coffeehouse. A change of pace is sometimes nice.

      Delete
  3. I have jumped through all the hoops at work, and completed my Student Learning Objectives and Unit Of Instruction, DESPITE the fact that I am retiring at the end of the year, and it will never be used in the manner required.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Val--But don't you remember? You're going to sell me your UOI. It WILL live on after you've retired....

      Delete
  4. All of my "despites" are at home. lol I love going to a coffee shop with my laptop where I can write and people watch at the same time, undisturbed. If I'm home, the general consensus is that I have my "mom" hat on and can drop whatever I'm doing to do something else...although I've finally been at this writing gig long enough that the fam is starting to understand that when I say "I'm working," I really mean it. So, lately it hasn't been the human family that interrupts my work. It is the fur babies, and I write DESPITE the four-legged dances requesting a walk or a treat or a belly rub, and DESPITE the 10-pound purring lump on my lap that rubs her face against my hands while I'm typing. Wouldn't trade any of it. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa--Considering your success, perhaps we ALL need to put your obstacles in place for ourselves... and see what happens with OUR writing.

      Delete
  5. Thank you for the reminder that I need to be writing "despite" it all! I am fortunate that I can close the bedroom door after dinner and not be disturbed for a short time. It's my weakness of "fun" things on the computer that distract me. Glad you had some "me" time from your job.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NoExcuses--I remember not too long ago, you spoke of sharing your writing with someone else. (Or am I confusing you with someone else?) What's been going on with that lately?

      Delete
  6. Yep, I finally got the house back to me and Mister Man...and now the house is falling apart. Despite missing walls, broken lights, and backed-up bathtubs, I write.

    I write a lot about falling-apart houses, now that I think about it. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cathy--Backed-up bathtubs are better than backed-up toilets. Right? ;)

      Delete
  7. I write everyday DESPITE it all, however, I need to tackle some "serious" writing work DESPITE it all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lynn--Since I've gotten to enjoy a couple of the SEVERAL books you have in the works, I agree.

      Delete
  8. How awesome that you can stick to the task at hand despite all the distractions. Kudos to you!

    Pat
    Critter Alley

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat--Oh, it comes in spurts, dribs and drabbles...

      Delete
  9. I guess many of us write despite it all. What a good reminder that it's too easy to allow it to become an excuse.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tammy--I think we all need to remind each other and prop each other up and prod each other...

      Delete

Thanks for your comments. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by...