games

BraveWrite, Week 2

It’s Hump Day, people! The best and worst day of a work week.

I have felt entirely sapped of my energy and I am hoping I can turn it around today. Fingers crossed! I don’t need to sleep in and waste the day away doing nothing which is what yesterday taught me.

My mom came over and helped sand, clean, and put the first coat of Tremclad on our awful metal railings. They look better already after that. However, being productive didn’t quite get me out of this weird mood slump I’ve been in so here’s hoping today’s the day.

Anyways, I hope you are on your way to a wonderful weekend and may my BraveWrites help you out!

 

September 12th

She stared out the car window and watched the rain streak down it. Her mother talked at her, but she didn’t hear the words. Only emptiness.

But she was #encouraged by their want to help and surprised when they confessed their own visits to a psychiatrist. Maybe there was hope.

 

September 13th

She watches as her mother takes another drag. The cigarette’s blue-tinged smoke shimmers in the light and dissipates.

A silent, slow threat.

And she sheds another tear. Greying skin, ragged coughs, the crimson drops that spell the end. She waits for #cancer to claim her mom.

 

September 14th

Video game consoles litter the house, attached to various TVs. She turns on the xbox 360 and plays Assassin’s Creed. Her character scales rough pick, runs across clay tile, and lives.

She envies his freedom though she is the #gamer.

 

September 15th

Her brother pushed her under the water as part of the game. His hand was like steel on her head and she fought to surface. To suck in oxygen once more.

Panic had set in as time slowed. When he finally released her, she was ravenous for air.

Her #umbrage was now rage.

 

September 16th

The #vibration of the nail file on her toes unnerved her and served as a reminder. She was unwelcome here.

She was no pretty girl who wore make-up, fake nails, or got her hail done. She was a tomboy whose hands were filthy and rough.

But she stayed in the salon.

 

September 17th

She stood with her friends and their boyfriends in line, waiting to have her prom ticket checked. It was clutched in a white-knuckled fist as her anxiety took over. Her companions laughed and gasped as they entered the hall.

She suffocated internally on the #pizzazz.

 

September 18th

Her #alacrity had nothing to do with a fear of failure. It had everything to do with her need to prove them wrong. She was tired of the comparisons that ground her spirit into dust. She was tired of fearing whispers and taunting looks. She’d stand strong.

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Forging Ahead: Alarm Clocks and My Word Count

Managed to get up at 5am again, but I will admit I hit the snooze button once. Like most people these days (I think), I use my cellphone as my alarm clock, and utilize the most annoying songs to wake up to: Meow Mix and I’m a Gummy Bear, respectively. While they wake me, they don’t force me to get up, and thus I downloaded an alarm app.

It has been… a work in progress.

It’s called Zelda Alarm (I do love The Legend of Zelda games), and I can choose songs from the various games to use. I currently use Deku Nuts Palace from Majora’s Mask, and it wakes me up even when I’m past the exhausted point. It makes me press keys to replicate the six note ocarina songs, forcing cognitive functioning right away.

My only complaint is it only seems to have two songs, and I’d love for that to change soon! But if you struggle to get up like I do, it has helped (plus putting my phone further from my immediate reach).

On to a different subject now, I was pretty tired after yesterday’s shoveling, and my word count was under half of the day before it. My word count was 551, but at least its something, right? Small steps are just as important as the big ones. Lack of sleep and winter were not my friends, and I forgive myself for it.

Today, I forge ahead despite yesterday’s failings.

I do need some advice, if any are willing to share. What are ways you take breaks from writing  (or whatever activity, chore, etc) that don’t keep you from returning to writing (or whatever activity, chore, etc)?

Usually, I find a show with short episodes, and try to just watch one which equals a 20-minute break. It’s easy to keep on point at the start, but once I get into the show, I’d rather watch it than write (sadly). I worry reading will end up the same way, too, and playing games on my phone does get me quite off track.

Part of me wants to try just walking on the treadmill for a period of time, but I think I will get bored of doing that, so I’m open to suggestions!