As my mom says: “When do you actually work?”The answer is complicated. I try to fit in a bit of work here and there when nobody is paying attention. This morning I had the kids until 2 pm. And now I have a few hours to get a proposal done and type up this little bit of mumble. Then I have to head back into the house to start supper. (I'm at my big desk in my big barn right now with a lovely breeze flowing through the window) Typical day in the summer. Normally, I would be more of a morning person and get up very early every day to start work. Except I have to pack lunches, haul my 5 year old teenager out of bed, argue with her, feed her and get her dressed and started on her day. I would much rather be off on my bike right now. After supper usually involves lots of dishes and laundry and corralling Charlotte to bed which includes more arguing. Then more dishes to wash. By this time I am usually exhausted. During the school year it is usually a bit easier to get in my hours although with the new kid, (6 mos.) this coming year may be will be a bit more complicated.
In architecture school I was usually up until at least midnight and I often was at my $3/hour work study job in the library until 1 am. Then early classes. It is very hard to imagine how I did it. I guess I must have been in my twenties or something.
The Home Office
I often work at home when I really need to get things done. With a 900 s.f. house there isn't any place but the kitchen table most of the year but when summer comes, I get to work out at my big oak desk in the barn loft. There is no cell phone signal and no internet but I do have a land line. I am able to focus incredibly well in the barn and I often listen to previously downloaded podcasts of books from Librivox or I simply listen to the wind and the birds. Occasionally my daughter invades the space to play with toys or swing on her swing. I built the barn myself over several years with pine from our woods and hemlock framing from Kerber Lumber, a local mill.
Architect trees bear
Another one for my Urban hipster friends:Pa Ingalls ain't got nothin on me! If this had been three or four hundred years ago I would have been called “crazy white dude who chases huge bears up trees and then throws plant pots at them” by the locals.
This particular huge black bear Ursus Americanus Americanus showed up on our porch while we were watching Hugo which was a pretty good movie although the automaton will probably show up in a few scary dreams in coming days. (mine). In the spirit of “putting the fear of Bob” into this bear so he wouldn't come back looking for handouts, I charged out the door yelling, shining flashlights and letting adrenaline do all the work. Instead of running into the woods he climbed up this tree. This happens too often to me. I need to re-think my approach – perhaps less rapid. Did I mention that this bear was really big? My wife thinks I'm crazy now. Crazier. At least I was dressed this time.
Here is a picture with gentle sheep:
