I’m on summer break! Actually, I’m on vacation. I don’t really get summer break off. I can merely take time off during summer break. I’ve gotten to taking off the week of July 4th, as well as making my weekends longer. Because I had that very long weekend last weekend, I’m only going to have one long weekend in July (minus the week off).
Last week was a quiet one for me. It was just me and the district nurse in my building. I was able to submit reqs, file the INTERs, print out appeals, and finish off the ANTP. I wish I could have gotten to the miscellaneous paperwork on my desk but that’ll be for when I’m back. When I get back to work, my computer will be wiped clean because of the new install of Windows. So that will be rather exciting to figure out! 😉
Before I left the office on Friday afternoon, I activated my auto-reply and switched my voicemail to the alternate greeting. I also switched our office whiteboard to July and took down my former supervisor’s name and added my new supervisor. It was a moment to acknowledge that the change is real. I was in a bit of denial for a bit. But so it goes, as it always does. Change is inevitable.
TV/MOVIES
Ironheart – First three episodes dropped this week and we watched them in two nights. Much hubris, mystery, and intrigue in those three episodes. I’m looking forward to the rest of the episodes. I like that I don’t really know much about the characters outside of Riri.
Murderbot – I am so enjoying this show but the short runtimes of the episodes are maddening! I normally don’t mind short episodes but for this show, I think even five minutes more an episode would have been fine. How is going to end? Will there be a second season? It feel like they won’t be able to answer all the plot points in the last episode. We shall see!
World Without End (1956) – The movie didn’t have my full attention at first but as it went on, I couldn’t help watching. Sometimes the old B movies can be so interesting. Most of the movie was set in the future yet the gender roles were still quite defined yet the women did show obvious interest in the men from the past because of their perceived virility. I rolled my eyes a couple of time (because really, the men are there for a what, a few days and these women are suddenly in love?) but it was still an interesting watch…
WRITING
Since I’m going to be off for a week, I should really get to writing the rest of my story. I don’t know why it’s taking so long. I really could just end it but I don’t want to yet. I’ve said that before, haven’t I? Every time I think that maybe I should work on a different story, Riley Green posts something that inspires me to return to the story I should be writing.
“…When you were at the plate, you had this way of holding the bat that was kinda hot. The way your arm muscles flexed was always something I noticed,” she told him. She ran her hands down his arms. “Hmm, and now these arms have held me. Who’d have thought?”
- Amara to Davis, Worst Way (working title)
It’s a romance novel, if you didn’t already know. The MMC – Davis – is a former major league baseball player and the main FMC – Amara – is a baseball fan who knows him as a former player on her favorite baseball team. But baseball isn’t how they meet. I should really change the name of the story but I haven’t thought of a better title yet. 😉
MUSIC
“Never Met Anyone Like You” – Ella Langley & HARDY – I think Ella Langley is going to be one of those artists whose work I always buy. This song starts off sweet and you think it’s a love song but damn, IT IS NOT. Such a good one!
“Unravelling” – Muse – I happened upon this one randomly. I think I read about it and out of curiosity, I gave it a listen. Then I bought it. (Yes, I still buy music.) This is one appeals to the rock part of me that wants the noise.
- I was randomly looking at Sam Hunt’s IG and “Take Your Time” started playing on my headphones. Yes, this song still lives on my playlists. This song reminds me that I started a story that starts a fella who looks so much like Sam Hunt and I haven’t finished that one yet. The funny thing about that story is that yes, he’s a country singer. It’s a good story, I think, but it needs a proper ending…
- Oh, and now “Worst Way” has started in my ears. Interesting…
- So Threads has become my go-to social media network and I don’t mind the way the algorithm shows me a lot of authors (usually romance writers) and some of the issues they’re having. I’m learning a lot, especially about how some people are using Generative AI to write stories or interact with characters from books (like “book boyfriends”). The way I understand it, Generative AI uses works, usually illegally, to “create” these stories or interactions. What makes it illegal? The works are uploaded or scanned by the AI in manner that breaks copyright and fair use. Here’s my take– if you need something like ChatGPT to “write” a novel because it would be easier, that doesn’t make you a writer. Using your imagination and turning those thoughts into words on paper or computer by your own hand or dictation is writing. And no, your word processing program catching a misspelling or suggesting better or proper grammar is not AI. It’s a tool. If you can’t tell the difference then maybe you need to give it a little study. Not everyone can write something that others might want to read and there’s nothing wrong with that. I’ve written a bunch of stories and I’m the only one who’s read most of them. It’s a compulsion for me and maybe someday I’ll publish them. But if I don’t, at least I didn’t put out soulless crap. It might be crap but it won’t be soulless…
- I’m so excited for Superman. I feel like I might try to convince R to watch it with me opening weekend, even though I’m seeing it opening day. We’ll see. I have high hopes!
- Now it’s Ben Barnes singing his song, “Beloved.” (See, I’m trying to listen to more than Riley Green, I swear!)
Sometimes I wonder why I censor myself on my blog. Much of the time there are things I could write about but I am aware of the possibility of someone happening upon my words and understanding what I’m vaguely telling. Maybe that’s why I write my more private notes in a document. But sometimes, I really do want to write here. Perhaps the challenge should be to write what’s on my mind but in such vague ways that no one could really guess the actual circumstances. Hmm…