Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Writing Wednesday: Of Deadlines and Trash Bags

Here’s what it’s like to be a writer on a deadline: Your head is so wrapped up in your story that you’re not really present in your own life at all. You’re off somewhere far away, your brain working on the tale even when you’re not at the computer.

Then you go downstairs to get a cup of coffee and decide to change out the load of laundry you ran last night...only to find when you look in the washing machine that you somehow washed a box of trash bags with your towels.  

Here's what was waiting for me inside my washer this morning:


No clue how this happened, the trash bags are kept on a shelf about 5 feet away from the washer. But there it was–and I didn't have time for this! Had to pull out all 20 of the bags, shake out every single towel that was in there since they were covered with tiny pieces of cardboard. Then I had to sweep up the mess those pieces left all over the floor. Then I had wipe out the inside of the washer. Then I had to start the load over again. Then I had to decide whether to save the trash bags themselves or toss ‘em. Just couldn’t bring myself to throw them all out, they were perfectly useable. But I couldn’t put them away wet.



So I hung them out to dry on the deck, grateful at least that it’s a windy day. Yes, this is my clothes drying rack, full of trash bags.

And that’s what it’s like to be a writer on a deadline. 


How about you? Done anything really stupid lately because you were distracted?

11 comments:

  1. LOL!!! I can imagine doing something like that. :)

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  2. Ha Ha! I can relate to doing weird things like that myself. But unlike you, I think I would've tossed the bags rather than take the time to dry them. :)

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  3. I do this when I'm NOT on deadline, Mindy! Welcome to my world. ;)

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  4. I wash tissues that I carry in my pocket. It saves on buying boxes and I don't have to iron them. In some driers they become confetti. Great if you're heading for a parade. My husband said one more time with the tissue decor on all of the clothes and I'll become the chef clothes washer without his help. Now that provided motivation and helps me remember to check my pockets. :-)

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  5. I'm usually pretty good about checking pockets. So how I missed an entire 20-count box of trash bags I'll never know!

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  6. Oh, Mindy. I laughed so hard I cried. Thanks for sharing! 😊

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  7. So sorry, Mindy! I would of saved the trash bags, too. I'm all about recycling. Sounds like maybe the box fell into the washer. I've had that to happen where something fell into the washer. Blessings and brighter days rest of the week.

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  8. That is hilarious! Thanks for sharing!

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  9. Check out my blog and see what my husband made for me, because of my dryer sheet obsession. haha! He and our son and daughter-in-love worked on the video together. mimionlife.wordpress.com

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