We interrupt your Labour Day weekend (for those who are able and do celebrate) for a late-breaking blog. For those of you waiting with bated breath for my weekly updates, I do have a good excuse (and really that excuse may form much of this week’s update).
Over the past week or so I had been contemplating changing what I call my “NASCAR Room” around. It’s really my downstair basement room, right next to my Mom’s sewing/laundry room and my Dad’s workshop (which I have tried to convert into a writing room). I wanted to move my work desk and day bed closer to my TV because, as I’ve gotten older, my eyes are getting worse. I figured if I moved things closer, it would negate some of the squinting and leaning in to see stuff.
However, in talking it over with my Mom, her opinion was that it would make the room look too crowded. However, she made the off-hand remark that I should move the TV and the day bed into the workshop. Of course. that wouldn’t work because it’d be tough to get the day bed through the doors. However, it got me to thinking. What about moving my work desk into my end of the workshop and making that my “office”? I could also move the day bed closer to the TV and make a viewing area. It would be a great way to set my work area and “entertainment area” apart.
I find I spend way too much time on my work computer after working hours, and not being overly productive (too much time scrolling social media). The hope is that, sure I can come in during my working hours (9-5 Monday – Friday) but once that is done, I can either hang out in the “viewing area” watching movies or TV (For example, I was there watching a couple of episodes of Season 1 of Fame today.) or move over to my “writing computer” and work on some personal writing. (Of course, I’ve been wanting to get in that habit for the last year or so to limited success.)
I decided that, after checking the job boards on Friday, I would start on the room reorganization project. It took me most of Friday to get the furniture moved around and then much of Saturday, in between mowing the back lawn and watching the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race from Darlington, to get all the smaller stuff (books, NASCAR diecasts, etc.) moved into place. I decided to take Sunday and just veg and watch TV (the aforementioned Fame and the Southern 500). I know that today is a holiday but I decided to ease back into the work week by getting some things on my To Do list taken care of, including updating this blog.
While I know that me reorganizing my workspace might seem like it would be the biggest news of the week, that honour actually goes to the fact that my nephew, Jack, has headed off to university. His mother (my sister), father and paternal grandfather helped him move in and get settled. His first classes start tomorrow and he seems to be settling in well. I’m not sure if he reads my blog but if so “Good luck, Jack! We’re all proud of you and wish you all the best in this new chapter.” Of course, I’ll be worrying about how he’s doing but fingers crossed, he has the best four years of his life and it prepares him well for the path ahead.
Other than that, it was a fairly quiet week. We didn’t go too far from home, safe to London and Ingersoll for necessities and groceries. I mowed my lawn again. The big excitement upcoming is that this weekend is the return of ReuseApalooZaha, the free swap meet that takes place on Saturday (August 12) in Embro. My Mom and I have already started collecting stuff to take to the event. There is another event taking place in Sweaburg on September 26. However, that conflicts with the Glencoe Fair so we’ll be headed home to the Fair.
In addition to hearing from my friend Jason, I also took a trip two doors down to drop off some NASCAR stuff I was going to donate to Value Village at my friend Adam’s place. It was great to see Adam and talk NASCAR for a bit. Speaking of which, I’ll need to update John Milner’s Track Talk on the happenings this weekend in Darlington and beyond. (Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with my weekly predictions – which are always WAAAYYYY off – and notifications on new articles.) I also heard from my ol’ college buddy – who has stuck with me over the years, Chris. It was nice to catch up with him.
You know, you don’t have to give me a call. You can always just send me a text or voice message on Facebook Messenger to comment on anything I’ve said here or just to check in. Until next week, hope you all enjoy the rest of the Labour Day weekend and have a good week ahead.
johnmilner.ca 