Episode 9: Writing: Where Research You'd Do Anyway Becomes Part of a Career Path

Every now and then I rediscover why I wanted to be an author. Because only in a creative writing field can you legitimately spend hours working on research. And by research I mean cool facts I would have looked up on my own anyway that can now be turned into something I use in my working life. Okay, semi-working. I haven't exactly gotten published yet. But I will.

I spent a good chunk of time reading about Lady Jane Grey today as part of a piece for my Creative Writing in London class. I found stuff on Jane herself, stuff on her father-in-law John Dudley, the reason why she was beheaded even though Mary I was willing at first to give leniency, paper dolls of the Tudors. I even found out that Thomas Seymour, Elizabeth I's brother Edward's uncle and Lord Protector (pretty much ruler when Edward became king at nine) married Catherine Parr, Henry VIII's last wife, and when she died made advances to Elizabeth. Tudor history is so entertaining!

Plus I got to write a piece I may have even done for fun one my own and turn it in as credit for my class. That just shows what a great fit writing is for me. It's wonderful when you can find something you love and live off it. Like working in a bookstore. That too would be great.

I also used a Blake Shelton song, Austin, and wrote the other piece I had to create for Tuesday. I love that song and I made up this whole background to their relationship and who Austin actually was, where she came from, etc. It was a little challenging, but also very fun. I wonder if Blake Shelton would appreciate a copy?

The most exciting point in my lazy day was doing laundry for the first time. It's going to be a little hot over here the next few days and I was running out of tank tops. I read a book once (13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson for those of you who've read it. Dad.) that the washing machines over her do a kind of sluff, sluff, rest motion. Which is kind of true. They do seem to do a spin and then rest motion. Although they aren't as gentle as the one in the book.

I admit, I've never seen a washing with a window to see the spin cycle, so I may have stood there (okay, sat there. Standing implies I was just checking to make sure it was running) and watched the washer run for a few minutes. And I may have giggled like a child. I'm not quite sure.

I did have a little difficulty getting the washer started. And yes, I fully expect this section to elicit laughter. First of all, I stood there for a few minutes trying to understand what section I put detergent in. This is before I even put anything in the washer because as daughter of a good cook and overpreparer (in a good way :D) I know to read all the directions before you start anything.

The detergent section had three different sections: prewash, main wash, and conditioner. I couldn't figure out if I just put detergent in one? All three? What is conditioner? Finally I figured since the sign said only put a little in prewash that you put some in main wash and prewash. And since the conditioner section was the only full enclosed section, I figured that was for liquid detergents. Yes the British speak English, but sometimes that is another language entirely from American.

Anyway, I now placed my clothes into the washer and tried to close the door. But I couldn't figure out how to get it shut. The handle connected somehow and there was a red lever/button thing on it which I figured you pressed down to release the door after the cycle. But I couldn't get the handle to engage and didn't want to shove it against the washer and break it somehow. It would be just my luck to spend the weekend with my clothes trapped in a washer. Eventually I got the door to close.

After that there were no major problems. And seeing as all my clothes look alright, aren't missing pieces, and don't smell weird or look discolored, I'm going to guess that I did it right. Woo-hoo, go me! Doing laundry on my own in another country.

Tomorrow or Sunday I will have to go grocery shopping (again) because I really want to eat real food, like pasta, and don't have the ingredients to make anything other than a sandwich. I will also need to buy more gluten free bread. So I can make sandwiches and toast! Because I need food for field trips.

And that's pretty much it, except for the fact that two of our kitchen chairs have gone missing and we don't know where they are. And I may be a bit oblivious since I didn't even really notice it when I wandered into the kitchen to get breakfast this morning. I didn't notice it until Carlie said something.

Today's lesson: writing is the only profession where procrastination can actually be productive. Ciao