Have been working a bit too hard lately. Hands are hurting again. Took yesterday off and didn’t even turn on my computer. Planning on taking it easy today. Probably just going to write some e-mail and do my best to do everything with ViaVoice. The other problem with working too hard: none of my own projects get any attention. I’m full of fantastic reasons and plans to reprioritize but seem to be suffering from a knowing/doing gap. I know what I should do, and yet I don’t actually do it.

All my fine words last week, and I’m still not writing very regularly. . . Rereading Shogun. I originally bought the book more than 10 years ago, as plane and coach reading while traveling in Spain. No one else on the trip understood why I was reading a book about medieval Japan while traveling in Spain. Somehow I never managed to adequately explain that it wasn’t the subject matter but the fact that it’s an 1100 page paperback. Yesterday, I found a little card marking page 758; the card offers a Fiesta Americana on the 4th of July, “Tu segunda …

At the rate I’m going, I’ll have to to rename this journal “Almost Weekly”. . . It’s this ridiculous Protestant work ethic. Whatever I’m doing has no value unless it’s gainful employment. One would think that by now I would have figured out how to turn that voice off, or at least convince it that taking small steps now toward my dreams will help me achieve gainful employment later. But, sadly, I haven’t figured out either, evidently. All day, every day, somebody else’s projects, somebody else’s words. I’m not complaining, much. It’s more that I’m frustrated with myself. I know, …

Saw Terminator 3 over the weekend. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie more obviously designed for no other purpose than to make someone a lot of money. Problematic plot, shallow characterizations, average action sequences, and an ending left wide open for more of the same. This movie should have never made it to the theater. I don’t normally complain about movie ticket prices, but $10 a head is a bit much for something that is really no more than a special two-hour preview event for a new television series. Interesting trend, though, this summer. Are we really that …

Seems to me we stand at a crossroads. On the one hand, there seems to be a growing consciousness that things cannot stay as they are. On the other, our very inertia propels us toward chaos and catastrophe. I went to the market yesterday, and while walking in the parking lot I seemed to see two buildings: the intact commercial center in front of me and a dark and crumbling shell mentally overlaid. I’m never sure what causes the destruction my inner eye sees, just that it’s a possibility. Finished reading Juliet Marillier’s Sevenwaters Trilogy. Wrapped in a story of …

Saw the new Charlie’s Angels movie last night. Ian is calling it the “Triumph of style over substance.” Lovable fluff. Refuses to take itself seriously. And obvious that cast and crew had a great time making it. I have to wonder though, how many sprained ankles there were, all those flips and kicks and other stunts, all done in insanely high heels. It’s good to see female action heroes, even if they’re framed in a purely fantasy world. I’d like to see a movie that tries to stay as close to reality as possible but still has a female lead …