Internet Time Check

Lost my internet connection this morning—the worst thing that could have happened.

One of my authors is missing. At the point of returning edits, waiting for other deadline edits to arrive for checking and expecting a vital email from the publisher, I am cut off from the outside world.

Ahead of me--a blank screen and aeons of time, time to add up the number of hours I spend on line using the grand old excuse of “working.” It beats counting sheep. The number of times I have woken up with my head banging on the keyboard proves that.

Emails and social networking are part of the job. But perhaps two hours a day is excessive.

 I’ve just spent five minutes oohing and aahing over a powerpoint on old age sent by a friend with a never-ending library of brilliantly photographed, philosophical presentations. And then, of course, I had to visit paramotor pilot and photographer George Steinmetz in Arabia's Empty Quarter and muse over the photographs there – all work, all inspiration, all going to the well to recharge energy. So let’s say another hour a day “researching.”

Back to the editing—but I look up every reference, check every grammar point, study all the ins and outs of copyright and trademarks on the Internet. Another four-hour Internet stretch at least. No, I’m not finished. Another two hours late into the night when the family have gone to bed—has anyone written to me? Are there any group messages? Which of the 500 unread emails should I catch up with?

Lost my internet connection this morning—and it’s still lost, thank goodness. I shall finish my edits on time, may even manage week three (correction--month three) of edits on my own poor little WIP.

Green trees frame patches of brilliant blue sky, birds are singing, the swallow babies' flying practice is going well. What am I doing inside, fretting over a lost virtual world when my own world awaits?

No Internet has proved a blessing in disguise to reconnect me to today's reality , real needs--is that really the state of the kitchen floor?

It has also made me realize yet again how lucky I am with this lovely editing job with MuseItUp Publishing where I work with a far-seeing publisher and multiple realities created by so many gifted minds.