What’s Up Wenzday Point #1:
A Note of Clarification —
I found out this week that someone on Triberr is apparently less than pleased with me as a tribemate. Which is funny since she and I aren’t actually tribemates. And since I only found out second-hand that there’s an issue, I’m not sure exactly what kind of beef she has with me. I’m interested in finding out, though. I have a post planned to ponder this mystery, as well as to discuss the various merits and rewards of shadowing tribes.
I also have a post planned for passive-aggressive apologies. In short, if you offer someone an apology, don’t follow it up by holding your hands up in pretend-surrender while uttering,
“Simmer down! Jeezy! What are you all bent out of shape about? OKAY, I’ll be all magnanimous and offer you an apology. Harumph-harumph-harumph.”
THAT? Is not an apology. It’s a way (a) to make yourself look innocent and (b) to come across as the bigger person, while at the same time victim-shaming the person who originally got shit upon. And since I’m a bitch, not only DON’T I buy that shit, I plan to call it out. Be warned, ass clowns of the world.
What’s Up Wenzday Point #2:
This week’s assignment is “to negotiate for something you are not allowed to negotiate for.”
Why? Because it’s something we Americans are NOT good at, in any way whatsoever. I know I am completely uncomfortable negotiating. I always feel as though, by asking for whatever it I truly want, I’m somehow “getting one over” on the other party. I don’t want to be all demand-y. I am horrible at Monopoly because I always make trades in the opposing party’s favor. Winning at life is apparently not my forte.
Set prices upon which everyone agrees are comfortable and lazy; they allow for stagnation of certain self-protective muscles. Namely, being able to ask for your fair share, and sometimes even being able to request MORE than what’s owed to you. Recognizing this logically, however, is not the same as being able to act on it emotionally.
It’s funny — in a regular conversation, I have zero problem saying things straight up and letting people know how it is (whatever “it” might be in that particular circumstance). But when it comes to talking about a product, I suddenly turn into a shy little child. It’s humiliating. And if I DO get the nerve to speak up on my own behalf, it’s usually in a loud voice for everyone to hear, and I refuse to make eye contact, so that the message is directed to everyone at large. This is meant, I think, as a way of gathering witnesses and gaining agreement from my fellow wounded… but instead I’m sure I come off as a crazy person throwing a fit in public. It’s awful.
So yeah. I need big time practice in this exercise. I need to just focus on the person who is potentially fucking with me, or who is able to cut me a deal, or who is able to fix the problem. I need to be able to look that person squarely in the eye (per last week’s Homework) and say in a firm tone, “THIS isn’t working for me. What if we try THAT instead?”
Doing this means I’m not being mean or rude, I’m not being accusatory, I’m not picking a fight, I’m not throwing a tantrum.
Doing this means I’m being strong-willed, respectful, and helpful, since I’m making a suggestion toward resolution. I’d probably get much better results from people if I didn’t lose my shit and resort to hollering. It’s just that… most of the time, people suck, and I wish they’d stop proving me right. I always enjoy being pleasantly surprised.
But… I can FORCE a pleasant surprise to happen. Eye contact and negotiation. Got it. I’ll report back next week on how that works out.
What’s Up Wenzday Point #3:
Goal / Dream / Target / Plan Assessment —
1. Add at least 300 words to my WIP per day (300 words x 7 days = 2,100 words per week).
I only added 450 total words this past week. But really, I’m okay with that. I set the bar pretty low, but it’s still higher than I have likelihood of achieving. Still, if I had only aimed for 500 words total, do you know how many I’m likely to have written? ZERO. So yeah, I’ll take my measly 450 quite happily, thank you very much! Win!
2. Read half a chapter of PLOT & STRUCTURE per day. I’m behind, but still further ahead than where I was before. I’ve completed reading and exercises through Chapter 5. WIN!
3. Complete exercises upon reaching the end of each chapter. (See above note.)
4. Walk two-three miles daily per the course I outlined (2 miles x 7 days = 14 miles per week).
I completed 4 miles this past week. Very good, per my above statements. WIN!
5. Identify and submit one online application per day, Monday through Friday.
I submitted 1 application. Which is more than zero. WIN!
6. Contact and pester those who have already offered projects. FAIL. Better luck next week.
7. Spend 15-30 minutes daily minimalizing the crap in my office during January 1-15.
Organized my desk drawers. One belongs to my 8yo daughter, so I left that one alone as it’s her crayon/marker/pen collection and doesn’t really need much work. Another is my supply drawer and looks much better now. A third drawer is now dedicated to stuff that needs to be filed. The fourth drawer is for bills and finances. WIN!
8. Spend 15-30 minutes daily organizing whatever crap is left in my office during January 16-31.
9. Take a “Before” picture of my office on January 1, 2013. — DONE!
10. Attend the following gatherings in January 2013:
Thursday, January 3: Critique Group @ 7pm. — DONE!
Monday, January 14: Book Club @ 7pm. — Skipped it because my hubz had to work that night so I didn’t have the car at my disposal. Better luck next month. *sigh*
Saturday, January 26: Author event @ 2pm.
What’s Up Wenzday Point #4:
My Wippy-Doodle!
As indicated above, I added 450 words to my current Work In Progress, *Greene Market*. That’s no big whoop. I know. Shaddup. But I also sent off the first part of Chapter 1 to a critique partner. I’m still waiting for her own piece so I can return the favor. On the one hand, I’m very excited to hear her feedback; on the other hand, I want to throw up because what if she hates it and tells me I should feed it to wild coyotes? I think I can handle individual fix-its, because no piece is ever going to be perfect. But to learn she can’t stand the entire thing? That might make me cry the BIG cry.
I also managed to add another 800 words to my “sekret projekt”, *Bites of the Apple*. No new news on that front. Just wanted to let you know it hasn’t disappeared.
What’s Up Wenzday Point #5:
Bonus Material —
We haven’t watched any new movies in the last week, and I’m still working on the same daggone books I’ve been slogging through. I know. I’m so boring, right?
I do have a confession to make. One of my guilty pleasures is watching teen-oriented shows when I’m on my own, usually as I’m folding laundry, eating lunch, or killing the treadmill-beast. I recently finished the first season of *Being Human* (the US version) and was quite excited when Netflix emailed me an announcement that Season Two is now available! I’m so embarrassed to admit I even watch this show, much less that I like it as much as I do. But it’s cute, you guys. This werewolf is best friends with a vampire, and they rent a house that is haunted by a ghost. The three of them each have issues (DUH) and pull together to figure shit out. The story is fun and the dialogue is quite enjoyable.
Another show I like is *Pretty Little Liars*. I’m such a geek, I read the series of books upon which the show is based. The mystery is interesting, and I have enjoyed watching the friendships developed as the bad guys close in. I’m eagerly awaiting the third season to become available on Netflix, because even though part of the team of antagonists has been revealed, a cliffhanger suggests there is still much more to the story.
While waiting, I have buzzed through the first season of *The United States of Tara*, which is about a woman who has Dissociative Identity Disorder (or what used to be called Multiple Personality Disorder). There is speculation surrounding a mysterious “incident” which caused her mind to fragment, and her family rallies around her when she decides to go off her medication to figure out WT-flying-F happened to her.
Tara’s husband is a dream, as he deftly handles her various “alters” (personalities / identities) with finesse. Her sister Charmaine is a fuck-tard cunt who thinks Tara is faking the whole thing for attention. Either that, or Charmaine has blocked out the incident herself, and that’s why she is so hostile about it. My money’s on the second option; I’d prefer to find out she’s a victim than to assume she’s simply a bitch. Look at me with my glass-half-full, positive outlook! There is hope for me, yet!
And that’s what’s up Wenzday.
Hope your Hump-Day is full of hump-ish good times.
I’d love to hear what’s up with *YOUR* Wenzday.
Please tell me about Happiness Project,
how your Homework is coming along,
and what movies or books you have loved lately!
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