So, I ask myself – what have I been doing this summer rather than updating my blog?  Well, I have been working on my writing, but here are a few other things I’ve been up to:

a) surfing Kijiji for everything from a new apartment in Toronto for Liam, to a circa-1980 caramel-coloured Scandinavian leather chair/ottoman for Don’s birthday (I think I was actually looking for an old wooden double headboard at the time – a rare item as it seems people used to be a lot smaller and only required 3/4 beds rather than doubles, queens and kings);

b) painting – walls, not canvases. In particular, recycled Sky Blue (Walmart, $13.88/gallon) for Liam’s room and Aqua Whisper for the kitchen at The Lazy Loon. What a great job for somebody, making up names of paint colours;

c) avoiding vacuuming up dog hair and weeding flower beds, while hoping housework becomes Don’s new retirement passion;

d) Googling everything under the sun – I’ll be writing away, pause to look up something pertinent to the manuscript, then an hour later find myself browsing all-inclusive vacations or walking tours of Ireland – go figure!

e) reading – most recently (I even bought this book) – The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous (Suzanne Crowley) – reading is actually classified as “working”, fortunately;

f) thinking about facilitating a course as part of the Acadia Lifelong Learning program – an introduction to writing for children – this is also actually classified as “work”;

g) eavesdropping on conversations from Inverness to Bridgewater, Quebec City to Queen St. West in Toronto – this is also classified as “work”;

h) helping Shannon get ready to live in France for the year – this apparently involves upwards of 400 forms/applications to be completed;

i) catching up on the sleep I miss while “brain writing” between 2:00 and 4:00 am most nights!

Are you an expert at avoiding the task at hand? Did you do anything equally interesting this summer? Scattered thoughts welcome:)