If we were having coffee, I’d worry about souring the milk with my mood, but then I’d remember the simple pleasure of sharing my burdens, and those worries would evaporate like the steam used to heat said milk!
I’d tell you I’ve been ill this week. Not from the cold which seems to be going around (I dress like an Eskimo, even in this relatively mild British weather). But from a stomach bug. I spent the majority of my day off in bed yesterday, chugging pepto bismol like Doug Heffernan in King of Queens. It’s been a sick fest for the whole household – my youngest has tonsillitis and I had to take my eldest to the emergency doctor last night. Had to drag myself out of bed and peel myself into the Eskimo suit first, but we got there.
At this point I’d change the subject, beg you to tell me your news because, clearly, I need a distraction!
I don’t like to talk about work, mainly because of confidentiality issues, but I had a stinker of a job and it’s stayed with me for days. It involved a Domestic Abuse case, which just made me sad. If I worked for an agency, I’d be able to debrief. But I work for myself, so I usually pour my emotions into my writing. Grace Jameson was born from my experiences, and the process was therapeutic.
By now though, I’m sure we’d have talked it out (being mindful of confidentiality), and we would move on to other things. We’d laugh, because there’s always something to laugh about – if only what I look like in my outdoor wear 🙂
The topic would move to happier things. Like the fact I’ve finished the fantasy novella at last, which will form part of an anthology of three (one of the writers being my good friend Gina Briganti).
Then there is the inspiration I gain from all the marvellous bloggers in my circle. People like Gene’O, who brought to my attention the 1000 Voices for Compassion project, aiming to unite 1000 bloggers to all post about compassion on the same day (20th February 2015). I’d tell you how pleased I am to be on board, and encourage you to add your name to the list. You can join the fun on twitter too, just use #1000Speak.
I’d also tell you I’ve had fun over at Comparative Geeks this week with David and Holly, but then who wouldn’t? I don’t have to hide my inner geek there – it’s wonderfully refreshing. This is another thing I also have to thank Gene’O for, because I get to share my obsession with Arrow on a weekly basis (you knew I had to get it in there – just one more time). The show starts next week at Sourcerer.
So, since I’m no longer crying over soured milk, having embraced my inner geek, gained inspiration from this wonderful community, and shared all your wonderful news. I’d take my next coffee to go (since I have to work). No doubt I’d point out that you can join other friends for coffee by visiting Diana’s place – the Weekend Coffee Share is organised by Diana (Part Time Monster) and there’s an easy way to link-up 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Mel
Melissa Barker-Simpson 
I hope you and yours are all fighting fit again soon!
Thank you for bringing the compassion project to my attention by the way – I’m definitely going to check that out 🙂
You should – one of your poems would be absolutely perfect (though any post you want to make would be fab). Thanks for the well wishes – nothing keeps us down for long (we’re all as stubborn as mules!) 🙂
Congrats on finishing your book and I hope you feel better soon!
Thank you. I think the pepto did the trick! At least I feel well enough to let go of the bottle 😉
Wow, sorry about your week. Having sick/hurt kids is horrific enough. Add being sick and having a stressful work week and it’s no wonder you’re having a sour milk kind of day. I hope it gets better. And that you can always find a way to hug (and give shouts outs to) your inner geek. Thanks for sharing coffee.
Thanks, Robin 🙂 We’re all on the mend, which is great. My youngest has such a stubborn, beautiful soul, so she doesn’t allow things to drag her down! My eldest too is feeling better and she has a wicked sense of humour so she’s been a constant source of entertainment! 🙂 I might be feeling a little run down, but I’m truly blessed.
I’m sorry to hear it’s been a bit of a crappy week and hope you are feeling lots better now. The 1000 voices for compassion project sounds wonderful and I’ll definitely be signing up. I hope your next week is better.
Thanks, Rebecca. It’s Arrow week so I’m sure it will be much better! (Damn, I really can’t stop dropping that in there!). I’m glad to hear you’re on board with #1000Speak – I’m so excited about it 🙂 Have a lovely week ahead – I’m looking forward to your Monday post.
Thank you! And I shall be avidly reading your Arrow posts. 🙂
Thanks, that’s lovely 🙂
Oh Mel, im sorry youve had such an awful week. It catches the family and spreads its ugly tentacles over everyone! Sending Green Arrow hugs (hmm those biceps) to you and wishing you a speedy recovery. Cant wait to read your novellas.
Green Arrow hugs are awesome – I feel better already! Thanks, Eloise 🙂 I’ll look forward to catching up at the coffee house. Have a great weekend.
Coffee with you is such a highlight for me! Congratulations on finishing your novella! Woot! I’m in the proofreading stage of mine, fifty percent through.
My warm wishes are with you and your girls, though I must say that I wasn’t too worried, or I wouldn’t have come over and braved the germs. Nothing keeps you down for long, indeed!
I’ll look into the 1,000 voices project as well. Compassion is a powerful voice that makes a true difference in tough times.
Thank you, as always, for the good times!
You are welcome, my friend. It would be wonderful to add your support to #1000Speak – your compassion knows no bounds and you have a lot to share.
Thanks for the warm wishes – I’m feeling much better today and it was great to spend time with you too.
Have a fabulous weekend 🙂
And you as well!
Well done on finishing your novella! Hope you’re feeling better soon!
I’m sure I’m going to regret asking this at some point, but what is Arrow? Probably something else that’s cool and that Germany’s completely ignored. x
Oh my god, oh my god! How can you not get Arrow! – I might have to contact the television broadcasting network and ask them what they’re thinking! Arrow is based on the DC Comic character Green Arrow and it is totally awesome!! Thanks for stopping by 🙂 It was great to hear from you x
I finally made it even though I’ve been retweeting this link all day, hee hee. Fabulous post. Sorry to hear you’ve been sick. My wife is down with something similar today.
Sweet that you mentioned #1000Speak, and great that you gave CG the love.The are awesome people, and also good bloggers to read. They were some of the first bloggers I made friends with here.
Thanks for your help today. I appreciate it very much.
My absolute pleasure – I love weekend coffee share 🙂 And CG are truly awesome so the appreciation is heart felt. I hope your wife feels better soon.
Hope you’re feeling better. Sickness bugs are not fun, especially when combined with ill kids. Sorry to hear that things are difficult at work, confidentiality can be tricky sometimes especially when you need to talk things out. I have this sometimes in my job although with different issues.
Thank you for sharing about the 1000 voices for compassion I’ll definitely be joining in.
That’s so great, Rosie – it’s a wonderful project and I really am thrilled to be involved 🙂 Thanks for your well wishes and for stopping by.
Sorry you’ve been sick. I had a terrible bug last weekend and it’s no fun. I hope you recover quickly.
I would empathize with you about your domestic abuse case. I don’t know what your line of work is, but those cases are terrible to witness. And the victim frequently goes back, because it is the status quo, and she sees something good in him even if nobody else does. Sometimes, with those kind of cases, I just need to talk my emotions out because I get emotionally involved in them, even though I really shouldn’t.
Thank you for sharing the 1000 voices of compassion. I think I might have just found my topic 🙂
Yay 🙂 It’s an emotional topic but an incredibly powerful one – compassion is vital. Thanks for your understanding. It does help to talk things through. And thanks for the well wishes 🙂
No fun being sick and even worse when your little ones are sick as well. I hope you feel better! And find some time to self-care. 🙂
I’m feeling much better today, thanks, Taylor. I’m actually sat with my laptop on my knee, trying to spruce up my author site…it’s sooo boring!
Ugh, being sick has a way of souring moods, so it would be understandable! It’s bad enough to be sick ourselves, but when the kids are sick and need extra attention, it sure makes you wish parents had sick days 🙂 I hope next week is better on the work front. Nice job finished the novella.. you’ve definitely been busy!
Thanks, Janna 🙂 It’s looking like a pretty quiet week, so I might take one of those ‘sick’ days while the girls are at school!