Comments on: Must. Write. Again. http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/must-write-again/ falling indelibly into the past Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:16:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: KF http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/must-write-again/#comment-1226 KF Sat, 19 Feb 2005 17:04:27 +0000 http://www.new.plannedobsolescence.net/?p=553#comment-1226 <p>The problem of “first” is huge, and I’ve actually debated with myself which first should be first.  If I get up and go run first thing, will I still be able to sit down at the computer, do some work, and go shower before I need to be at school?  (Perhaps, but unlikely.) If I get up and write first thing, will I manage to fit my run in?  (Even more unlikely.) Is one worth sacrificing for the other? </p> <p> **crickets** </p> <p> I’m unwilling to make that choice.  Which is to say that I’m not willing to de-prioritize running, because it’s the only thing I genuinely do for <i>me</i>, and not for my students, or my department, or my institution, or my career.  So, in effect, I am sacrificing my writing time to my other needs, and persisting in feeling bad about it. </p> <p> On the other hand, what I want to do is find a way to say no to (or to reign in, at least) some of the other stuff in my life so that I don’t have to have two “firsts.” That’s my current challenge. </p> <p> As to running, though:  yes, I am planning on running LA, Mel, though I’m a little concerned about my ability to finish, as of this writing.  (See running log for last week.) But I’ll be there nonetheless, as will a cluster of my colleagues who have promised to dangle a bottle of champagne over the finish line to lure me on! </p> The problem of “first” is huge, and I’ve actually debated with myself which first should be first.  If I get up and go run first thing, will I still be able to sit down at the computer, do some work, and go shower before I need to be at school?  (Perhaps, but unlikely.) If I get up and write first thing, will I manage to fit my run in?  (Even more unlikely.) Is one worth sacrificing for the other?

**crickets**

I’m unwilling to make that choice.  Which is to say that I’m not willing to de-prioritize running, because it’s the only thing I genuinely do for me, and not for my students, or my department, or my institution, or my career.  So, in effect, I am sacrificing my writing time to my other needs, and persisting in feeling bad about it.

On the other hand, what I want to do is find a way to say no to (or to reign in, at least) some of the other stuff in my life so that I don’t have to have two “firsts.” That’s my current challenge.

As to running, though:  yes, I am planning on running LA, Mel, though I’m a little concerned about my ability to finish, as of this writing.  (See running log for last week.) But I’ll be there nonetheless, as will a cluster of my colleagues who have promised to dangle a bottle of champagne over the finish line to lure me on!

]]> By: Mel http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/must-write-again/#comment-1225 Mel Sat, 19 Feb 2005 05:48:42 +0000 http://www.new.plannedobsolescence.net/?p=553#comment-1225 <p>ergh, I’ve got a really overdue article too. more overdue than anything i’ve ever done (or not done) in my life. </p> <p> are you running LA? We are going there to support a friend who’s running it. </p> ergh, I’ve got a really overdue article too. more overdue than anything i’ve ever done (or not done) in my life.

are you running LA? We are going there to support a friend who’s running it.

]]> By: New Kid on the Hallway http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/must-write-again/#comment-1224 New Kid on the Hallway Thu, 17 Feb 2005 20:57:19 +0000 http://www.new.plannedobsolescence.net/?p=553#comment-1224 <p>I’m sort of surprised no one else has commented on this post, because it’s EXACTLY how I feel. What drives me nuts is my internal conflict about “doing it first” - on the one hand, that’s when you’re supposed to write; on the other hand, that’s when you’re supposed to exercise. It’s worked for me, when I’ve done that, but I can’t do BOTH first. And both need to get done. And right now, given my 8 am teaching schedule, there’s NO way I’m getting up an hour earlier (when I have to be up by 5:30 at the latest anyway!). (I would actually consider getting up at 4:30 to write, but to get a full night’s sleep, I’d have to be in bed by **8:30 pm**, and that’s just impossible.) </p> <p> Sorry, this turned into a rant about me; all I meant to say was, I know the feeling! </p> I’m sort of surprised no one else has commented on this post, because it’s EXACTLY how I feel. What drives me nuts is my internal conflict about “doing it first” - on the one hand, that’s when you’re supposed to write; on the other hand, that’s when you’re supposed to exercise. It’s worked for me, when I’ve done that, but I can’t do BOTH first. And both need to get done. And right now, given my 8 am teaching schedule, there’s NO way I’m getting up an hour earlier (when I have to be up by 5:30 at the latest anyway!). (I would actually consider getting up at 4:30 to write, but to get a full night’s sleep, I’d have to be in bed by **8:30 pm**, and that’s just impossible.)

Sorry, this turned into a rant about me; all I meant to say was, I know the feeling!

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