Wow, it seems like a long time between posts doesn’t it? That’s because, well, it has been a long time between posts. I took an impromptu and unplanned hiatus from the blog for about a month. (Quick note: impromptu and unplanned mean the same thing, I should probably delete one of those. Nah.) The reason for the hiatus was to settle down and focus on finishing a story I’ve been working on for a while.

Now I suppose I could have, theoretically, been blogging while finishing the story. But it is well documented I can’t do two things at once. I once tried to blog and chew gum at the same time and was nearly hospitalized.

I’ve always been envious of people who can do multiple things with ease. Effortlessly moving from project to project without missing a step. I have a friend who can simultaneously write a novel, paint a picture, go to school and work a full time job without breaking a sweat. She never seems stressed and always claims to be thinking of a new project as well. This amazes me.

See, I’ve never been an octopus. That’s what my mother used to say, “I’m not an octopus, I can’t do eight things at once.” And neither can I. To be fair I’ve never actually seen an octopus do eight things at once either. Technically they could do eight things at once but I think we put too much pressure on octopi.

Unrelated side note: An OctoPie would be a great idea for a dessert. A pie cut in eight pieces, each piece would be a different flavor. Peach, blueberry, apple, rhubarb, etc. A confectionery mixed sampler with a flaky crust. This, on second thought, would be almost impossible to make and/or bake. So…nevermind.

Side note to the side note: The paragraph above is a good example of why I need to focus. Without proper concentration my train of thought derails and spills silliness all over the page.

And so my hiatus.

When I’m writing a story I tend to immerse myself in it. I try to embody the characters, often talking out scenes and conversations as I walk around my house. My daughter caught me doing this once and asked,

“Are you taking to yourself Daddy?”

“No,” I said, “Pete and Alice are talking about the circus.”

She nodded, “You know that makes no sense right?”

“It would if you were in my brain,” I told her.

“That would be scary,” she said.

Yes, yes it would.

And now my story is done and submitted electronically to various magazines who will promptly be sending rejections very soon. Or not. Who knows? Maybe I’ll get lucky. That’s not why I write anyway.

I write because its fun and I get to walk around my house talking and laughing to myself like a crazy person. If I get published that’s just cake.

Or eight slices of pie.

In the meantime it’s back to the blog.