(DA) Doing the right thing

I was tired today when I got into work. 5pm is not the best time to start a shift when you're already tired, but at 9:30 when the show ended I just wanted everyone out of the building so I could lock up. 

The staff were gone, and I was waiting around for some patrons to collect their families and trickle out the doors. 

By 10pm I had enough. I wanted to leave, and had less patience to wait around for other people's families. 

The building was locked up by 10:30. But when I got outside I saw a young girl sitting outside the doors waiting for a ride. She said her ride was just around the corner and told me I could go, but there was no way I was going to leave her alone in a darkened parking lot, outside a locked building; even if I just wanted to go home to bed. I let her know that I never let my staff wait alone and I would do the same for her. 

As she had said, her ride was just around the corner. I don't think I had to wait an entire 2 minutes before car headlights pulled up. She thanked me for waiting and her parents were thrilled that I hadn't left her alone and had been thoughtful enough to wait with her. 

It felt good, and in the grand scheme of my day was nothing and took no time but it meant a young woman had a safe wait for her ride, and that is enough for me. 

Besides I'll just sleep in an extra 2 minutes in the morning. 

-Brandolyn

(DA) Productive Procrastination

It's shocking that I can spend an hour in Petsmart ultimately to ask 1 question about a bone (and be productively training my dog during it) and yet I can also spend 5+ hours a day procrastinating.

A productive hour for 1 question, and 5 hours for nothing. What's the difference?

I would rather spend 5 hours a day writing than avoiding work, but I often find myself sitting down to a task only to remember 4 other ones I should complete first. Now, some people wouldn't consider putting off writing to do dishes or laundry or vacuum or get groceries 'procrastinating'. These are tasks that have to get done. But by doing them I'm still avoiding the task I want to do. I consider it "productive procrastination".


Eventually I'll get my plans under control enough to be able to do it all.

-Brandolyn

(DA) Feel the burn

I realized today I've jumped over the line from "casual active person" to "Active Person."

I realized this today while walking to a chiropractic appointment, after taking my dog (and a friend) on an early morning walk. I was conscious that I had put my friend through an 'abnormal' amount of physical activity in the last 24 hours and was hoping I hadn't scared that person away from hanging out with me ever again.

In the last 24 hours we had completed the 10 Kilometre MS Walk, then after some snacks we went to play close to 3 hours of squash, then the next day he goes for an hour long walk with me and my dog before we walk to the bus stop, which is another 40 minutes away!

It doesn't sound like too much, but I didn't even hesitate. And today. after all that I even biked to work!

I guess I'm going to be sore soon. but it is soooo worth it.

-Brandolyn

(DA) Thank you

A deep and sincere thank you to all my friends and family who donated to the MS Walk, and showed me their love and support over the last few weeks leading up to it.

I had 30+ people walk with Brandy's Bandits this year, and probably had a hundred other friends and family who couldn't be there but showed their support in texts, emails and donations. So far, in 2014 my team has raised $3,300 for MS research and we still have donations coming in.

The love and support I feel from my family and friends means more to me than I can say, their love and support helps me stay healthy, and drives me to get better when I'm not.

-Brandolyn

(DA) Roads

In my stories, like in life, there are always several roads for my characters to choose from. They are varied, straight, winding and riddled with obstacles.

But again, like in life, the characters who prepare for obstacles, often find successes in their journeys. Their resolve, resourcefulness and determination is admirable to readers.

Roads are not only travelled by cars, buses and trolleys. They aren't all straight and planning goes a long way.

-Brandolyn

(DA) Rapid Heart Rate

Today I was the passenger in a car with my sister when we had a "premonition" moment.

I don't really mean that we saw the future, but we saw the following events unfold in slow motion and knew exactly what was going to happen. From the first sign of the white ball bouncing down the lawn toward the road, to the two girls dressed in various shades of pink racing after it, to the panic stricken father racing against time to get to his daughters before they reached the road.

We saw what was coming and had stopped several yards away. There was no immediate danger to the kids, but they girls and the dad had no idea and the panic on the father's face was heart breaking and heartwarming at the same time. When he got to his kids just before the grass ended, the reunion, relief and reassurance of safety was almost tangible. He embraced his girls and right there had a chat with them; I'm sure about road safety.

Love and desperation in its truest form. Beautiful, terrifying and rare.

-Brandolyn

(DA) Doctor Who has books!

I just finished The Stone Rose by Jacqueline Rayner one of many Doctor Who stories. These books are associated with BBC's Doctor who, but are basically other people's stories about the characters and what happens to them outside of the show.

Doctor Who: The Stone Rose by Jacqueline Rayner  is the first Doctor Who book I've read. It's not the first in the series, and I have more of them on my bookshelf but I hadn't read one yet. I didn't know what to expect, but guessed that since the story revolves around time travelers, that it wouldn't be detrimental to read one out of order. Now that I know what to expect, I am really looking forward to them.

For those of you who don't know, Doctor Who is a TV Show in the Science Fiction/ Science Fantasy genre. The show and characters are all over nerd culture and it's easy to love with the sweet, funny and heroic characters in the show.

You don't need to know the show to enjoy the book, but it helps.

The book really impressed me. The writing wasn't out of this world fantastic, but I did have concerns about this book potentially ruining some of the continuity of the show. I was impressed to see that it didn't.

I can't say much about the book without giving anything away except that when I read the first couple chapters I thought to myself "This is a bit predictable", and couldn't have been more wrong. Every time I thought I could see something coming there was a plot twist that got me more and more excited about the story.

If you enjoy dedicated friendships, heroes, time travel, ancient Rome and mysteries then you will enjoy this book. If you love Doctor Who & The Doctor and Rose, then you will love this book.

This book is suitable for all ages. There is a bit of implied violence, but nothing gruesome. The time travel in the story can be a little confusing, but there are no adult themes and although it appeals to adults as well, it is also very suitable for young readers.

-Brandolyn

Have you read any other Doctor Who books? What were your thoughts? The next one on my shelf is Doctor Who: The Clockwise Man by Justin Richards.