Saturday, March 10, 2012

Five Things I Am Loving About Sabbatical

Between the tax bill, the leaking pipes, and the bee hive in the backyard, I was feeling a bit mopey the other day. So today I decided to concentrate on all that is good in my life right now -- and there are  plenty of things to be grateful for. More than grateful, in fact.

1 - Weekly massage.

I confess I'm still a little guilty about the Friday massage sessions. I excuse them on the grounds of my still-effed-up wrists and the persistent knots in my shoulders.

I have to say that this is more like sports therapy than the soothing, relaxing spa-type massage I originally envisioned, but I feel good afterwards. I have a lot more range of motion in my shoulders and my spine has stopped making that distracting clicking sound.

Yeah, I know. TMI. Anyway, I set the massage up for Fridays because even when I go back to work, I'm going to try and keep Fridays as off days -- and that's probably one of the things that makes me happiest. The fact that I am committed to not returning to the old workaholic lifestyle.

2 - Cooking.

I'm not a great cook, but I am an efficient cook. If you give me a reasonably simple recipe I can follow it and generally get good results. And I really enjoy cooking. I enjoy experimenting and substituting and trying out new tools and fooling around in my wee kitchen. I'm doing almost all the cooking now, which is a big change around Chez Lanyon, but I find it very relaxing. Almost zen.

I've been cooking a lot of fish lately -- trying to eat less red meat. I particularly love salmon, but I made this dish a couple of times and it's pretty good.

We're (me) trying to eat more fruit and veg with each meal. Not to be fanatics, just make a few little healthy changes.

3 - My books are still selling.

This is important because if my backlist didn't continue to sell steadily, I'd be in a difficult situation. I'm not ready to start writing again, and I don't want to start cranking out inferior work just because I need the moolah, so thank all the powers that be that the old stuff continues to move.

And the fact that so many titles are reverting to me in short order helps again. The difference between seventy and sixty-five percent of royalties versus thirty percent of seventy and sixty-five percent of royalties is signficant. No question.

Also being able to set my own prices.

So thank you to those of you who have just discovered my work and are buying up my backlist. Thank you also to my long time readers who continue to recommend me to your reading friends.

4 - TV. In particular Downton Abbey.

Yes, I am hooked. Enough said. I have rediscovered my love of TV. Sure, I am watching a lot of documentaries -- anything you would like to know about collapsing bee colonies? -- but I've also discovered stuff like Downton Abbey and White Collar.

5 - The  possibilities of the months ahead.

I'm only three months into this sabbatical. No, no miracle of creativity has happened. I'm not burning to write again. I am mildly interested (which is a BIG improvment, believe it or not). There is still lots to read and XBox games to play and my garden to work in (and my garage) -- summer and the swimming pool are coming and perhaps some travel. And more reading.

So while the sabbatical isn't quite rolling out the way I'd anticipated (did I have a plan? I can't remember), things are pretty good in the State of the Josh. And I'm thinking they will get still better. It's spring, after all. And that's all about new beginnings.

41 comments:

  1. I had one last book of yours to read, A Vintage Affair. I've been hoarding it, jealously, on my Kindle for months but I cracked this week. And I enjoyed it richly.

    Oh, enjoy this time. Sending kind wishes your way.

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  2. I popped by to read about the weekly massage--which I think is a brilliant idea--and I see my dear old friend Tumperkin here! It's like a double dose of goodness, really.

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  3. Hey! That's right. My very first intro to Tumperkin was through you. You had so many wonderful things to say about her -- and then she spoke so wisely and knowledgeably about Heyer that I knew you had to be right! ;-D

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  4. Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed AVA, Joanna. That's an iffy one for a lot of readers. ;-)

    I do plan to make the most of this time -- I just have to periodically remind myself to stay focused on the right stuff

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  5. I know you are! But what am I?

    :-D

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  6. It sounds like your sabbatical is turning out exactly as it was supposed to, Josh. Relaxing, reflecting and re-energizing! Lovely.

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    1. For some reason, it's not letting me post a comment unless I reply, so I'm tagging onto Denise! Josh, it does my heart good to hear you sound hopeful. Three months into the sabbatical, I'll take it! Forget deadlines and writing and concentrate on the things that are making you happy. That is what will bring creativity! You rock!

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    2. Thanks, M. I do feel better than I've felt in some time. Which is weird because I'm probably the least organized I've ever been. But somehow I can be more relaxed about it.

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  7. Thank you, Denise! I think the first step is letting go of any expectations -- and letting myself be open to...well, pretty much anything right now.

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  8. Why didn't I knew you were here as well ?
    No need to feel guilty about your Friday massage, nothings better than to treat you with that.
    Enjoy your time Josh!
    Andrea (from LJ)

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    1. Hey there, Andrea! The thing about the massage is it's something I used to dream about. If I ever make enough money, blah, blah, blah...

      The fact is it's probably one of the single most healthy things I'm doing, so it's worth every penny really.

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  9. I'm glad to hear that the sabbatical is having a nicely relaxing effect despite the hiccups. Can I just say that your backlist is a source of delight that I'm working my way through with relish?

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    1. Thank you so very much, Elin! I'm so pleased to hear it.

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  10. Josh

    How has your sabbatical affected your partner?

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    1. He's definitely appreciative of relinquishing the kitchen (although he loves to cook) and he's even more appreciative of the fact that I no longer bound out of bed at the crack on dawn on weekends. ;-)

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  11. Are the eel ins feeling better yet? Massages are wonderful. Is there a chance of PT to learn the special exercises to help also?

    Love that you've found White Collar, besides DA. It's one of my favorites.

    Will you be able to leave the bees in the back yard? Great for pollinating the gardens, as long as they aren't killer bees. are the humming bird back?

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    1. Autocorrect....erg. Are the wrists feeling any better yet?

      Full of questions as normal! Adnil.

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    2. Well...in the last week or so the wrists are a bit better. I think that has to do with switching to ice as opposed to heat therapy. My problem is I am not good about sticking to any therapy for long because the minute I feel better, I start back at whatever caused the initial problem.

      The bees turn out to be on the neighbors side of the fence. I hope they can get a bee keeper to take the hive away rather than exterminating. But the hive does have to go one way or the other or none of us will be using our backyards this summer.

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  12. Have you been watching the brilliance that is Justified? :::grins:::

    And oh so much love for some XBOX games. Strangely, Disney Universe. Okay, I admit it's addictive and oddly fun.

    Not my usual cup of tea but oh... it's crack.

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    1. Not yet! I did discover Grimm which is sort of entertaining and sort of frustrating. They almost get it right but not quite.

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    2. Yeah, that's how I read it. I'm not too enamoured with the lead guy on Grimm. Alcatraz kicks it well. :D

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  13. Your sabbatical sounds wonderful - especially the massages!

    So glad the books are still selling well, and that writing is mildly interesting again - I can only imagine how difficult it must have been having all those deadlines to meet last year. I have one looming and that's been stressful enough...

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    1. The massage is really wonderful. I think massage has to be one of the healthiest things we can do for ourselves. I'm becoming a real advocate.

      The books seem to be steady performers. Or maybe it's just the cumulative effect of having a large backlist. It is reassuring though.

      Even so you can't help looking at all the changes in publishing and wondering what it all means in the long run.

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  14. A weekly massage sounds fantastic and not at all over-indulgent for someone who's been spending as much time at the computer as you do. My massage therapist always scolds me when I come in (every other month or so) because I'm not stretching enough and taking enough breaks from the keyboard. I think all writers should get frequent massages.

    The Kayln's Kitchen blog has some great simply fast healthy recipes. I've been cooking a lot from there recently.

    Enjoy your sabbatical!

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    1. You're so right about following up the massage with stretching and regular exercise. You really do need all of it together to get the maximum benefit.

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  15. I'm one of those working my way through your back list. I love Adrien and Jake and I hope your muse gifts you with at least one more story, and that the muse is very generous and it is a novel length story. And while your muse is handing out gift, another Eliot and Tucker story would be nice.

    I sympathise on the house thing, plumbing is such a nightmare to work through.

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    1. Thank you, Treasure. I try to stay open to whatever inspiration might bring. Because you just never know.

      You would think plumbing would be one of the things that has really improved over the years -- but unfortunately it's one of the areas where contractors and builders often take short cuts.

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  16. As one who finishes her three pt session each week with a massage of the affected area, I can tell you that there are days I think the massage far more beneficial than the exercise. I don't know what I'll do when I have to give them up. Maybe I should make a plan like yours and schedule one day a week for massage long after the pt is finished.

    Glad you're having a chance to relax, ( house woes aside) and refresh, and if you get to travel a bit, and I hope you do, I hope you send us all a postcard. ;-)

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    1. Karan, I've come to the conclusion that the massage is not a luxury. When you figure all the things it can help with -- everything from blood pressure to digestion. Never mind the regular aches and pains.

      Thanks for the good thoughts!

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  17. HI Josh, I must have missed something, I think, but I am delighted to learn that you are taking a sabbatical. I was really worried last year, you did sound horribly stressed and the wrist thing is deeply worrying and as for necks...owww, I can only turn my head about 30 degrees at the moment, despite some specialised medication. Have been referred for physiotherapy and the nice therapist thinks massage and some hydrotherapy - exercises in a warm therapy pool - might be good. I bow down and worship at the altar of the NHS, which may be scruffy and a bit disorganised, but means I get this stuff free!

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    1. Dear AM, I do envy you your national healthcare.

      I'm hoping by now you've had some physiotherapy and are starting to feel the benefits of massage and hydrotherapy.

      In fact, the only thing I find more relaxing than massage is swimming, so that would certainly be my prescription. :-)

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  18. I envy you your healthcare too! I honestly don't understand the logic of people who think they don't want to pay for "other people's" healthcare, when in fact they already pay for it in the most expensive possible way.

    I think massage would do you a world of good. Granted, I know believe massage would do everyone a world of good.

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    1. i've never much liked the idea of massage, and the physiotherapist's version was quite painful, but I have three more sessions booked, and as she said, we'll see where we go after that. I could move a bit more after that and I do need to be able to turn my head!

      Just finished The Irregulars, this was great, I loved it. Green Glass Beads was my favourite, closely followed by Ginn Hale's story. Now to get my greedy mitts on the rest of her stuff! Since I have at last managed to get your blog to recognise me, I shall follow it regularly! Relax and enjoy yourself for this year or how ever long you have awarded yourself!

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    2. Oops. I responded to the wrong message. :-D

      I'm glad you enjoyed the antho. I think readers unfamiliar with BEB will be pleasantly surprised. They always turn out a quality product.

      And of course from a writing standpoint, when you're working with that kind of talent, you always feel obliged to up your game.

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  19. Josh, I just finished Irregulars too. I can't choose a favorite because each has its distinct merit but your characters of Archer and Rake are my favorite :). Rest well Josh and enjoy spring!

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  20. Thank you! I appreciate hearing that. I do have hopes this antho will continue to be a reader favorite for many, many years!

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  21. When you elevate to clicking noises, shouldnt that increase the number of massages per week? I'm still working through your list.

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  22. Clicking noises...?

    I'm so slow this morning. Would that be the sound my twiddling thumbs make? :-D

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  23. I referring to your post:
    " I have a lot more range of motion in my shoulders and my spine has stopped making that distracting clicking sound."

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  24. Oh that! Yes. Years of bad writing habits catching up with my body.

    And my brain too, apparently! :-D

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