Working with [and against] the timer…

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I’m finding that if I’m working against a clock, it can make me productive, but it can also be a pain in the rear if I’m rushing around and feeling enslaved by the timer.

So, I tell myself, give it a rest. If you have to take some of that time to find the book you need or website, or whatever, then do it and reset [rather than ‘resent’] the timer.

In fact, I’m writing this during a seven minute stint that was dedicated to a story I’m working on. So there you go! Progress already!

Time to reset my Tomato One Timer.

Found another displacement activity…

Quote from my good friend and owner/operator of Bluebird Bakers in Portland, Oregon. Give their Chocopocalypse! cookies a try. Or their Browned Butter Oatmeal. 

Actually, here’s a visual sampling, taken a couple of years ago.

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Okay, back to the quote:

“Learn to make croissants  or something.  If you can make a good croissant from scratch your life is complete, if you ask me.”

So, it looks like it’s time to roll up my sleeves [figuratively, at least], and head back to the kitchen.

Displacement activities–the good ones

Yep, displacement activities, the bane of a procrastinator’s daily life.

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So, let’s look more closely at ones that feed your [okay, my] soul. Feel free to interpret the order of list items any way you want.

  1. Any Leave It to Beaver episodes where Eddie says, “Good afternoon, Mrs. Cleaver.” in his trademark obsequious way or The Beav wrinkles his eyebrows and says, “Gee, Wally.”
  2. Baking cookies, doughnut muffins, or no-knead bread [Recipe #1 and Recipe #2]
  3. Sketching [even if you’re an amateur like me] Pssst! You might surprise yourself.
  4. Reading Write It Down, Make It Happen or The War of Art , two of my favorites to revisit
  5. Thumbing through Your Idea Starts Here

 

Using an image and video for my post today…

Thought I would try some different post formats. I used the mindmapping software Inspiration today. Below is an image file of what I wanted to communicate to you.

Below the image is a video demonstrating a few of Inspiration‘s features. [Reminder: I’m not trying to sell anything–just sharing what I like to experiment with.]

 

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The video is seven minutes long, so feel free to fast-forward at your convenience! Will work on my paring-down skills, I promise.

Genius, pure as the driven snow…

So, I tell my wife that snow is in the forecast for the next day.

“That means one thing–brownies.”

Okay, as open-minded as I am to baked decadence, I didn’t see the connection.

But who was I to question the logic?

Brownies in our immediate future…

Next step: Channel my wife’s genius and may the desserts roll in.

Rain in the forecast? Cafe Beaujolais coffee cake.

A scorcher upcoming? Key lime pie.

Tsunami? Biscuits. Find the quickest recipe on this list. While they’re baking, don your Happy Hippo life preserver, fire up your jet boat, and set your GPS for easterly locations. And if–your preserver now a deadly weapon–you haven’t concussed the dog, bounced off counters, or scattered unsuspecting kitchen appliances, more power to you. Head for the hills, cradling your biscuits and a jar of honey. Spouses can fend for themselves. [Don’t worry about the kids. You’ve already sent them ahead. More biscuits for you.]

But back to where it all started…Alice Medrich brownies. I confess to smirking at the prescribed [and already ample] chocolate portions and letting my inner artist take over. These babies turn out candy bar-like. I first heard the term chocopocalypse term from my Bluebird Baker friend. It certainly applies here.

Dishes undone, part II

My wife and I exchanged gifts last night. [Christmas is, let’s just say, loosely interpreted at our house.]

She gave me a certificate good for seven nights where she takes over meal prep and cleanup to free me up for writing. Turns out I had given her coupons in a previous year [not yet redeemed] that nudged me into the kitchen while she worked on art projects.

It’s inevitable. We’re both going to flash our coupons on the same night.

So either Boo suddenly assumes the bipedal position and reaches for the Dawn or that’s going to be one cluttered sink in the morning. [See previous post– 2017: The Year of…]