Appreciating good health

For years I’ve taken to the system of pre-planning my days weeks in advanced. Every waking hour is assigned to something because there’s just too much going on.

This week, I realized that the only way I am able to plan my schedule to such a fine detail is because I have unfailingly good health – at least until this week when I got a cold. In a blog last year, I mentioned I didn’t have to blow my nose until I was 34.

This week, I didn’t get particularly sick (no nose blowing <g>) but it slowed me down enough that I had to take a two half-days at work due to fatigue.

It’s amazing how quickly a schedule can fall apart and how quickly the consequences line up.

two lost half days result in:

1. Having to delay the WinCustomize 2K10 launch a week since I wasn’t there to help with it.

2. Some minor (but expensive) finished carpentry changes because we had moved to an “on the fly” system for finished carpentry on the new house and a desk that was being built into the wall was at chest height instead of sitting height (long story).

3. I had to get an extension on the book I’m writing. The copy editing came back for my review and I just couldn’t get to it.

4. I won’t even get into the email backlog. I haven’t touched that yet.

5. Several enterprise software meetings had to be canceled putting back multiple projects.

6. Had to cancel a couple of design meetings with partners.

7. Absolutely blew the Elemental retail videos I was supposed to do and narrate. Luckily Jason Ocampo is helping me on that but we’ll still lose a week.

8. Failed to evaluate feedback on ObjectDock 2 in order to prioritize development which put the next beta build back probably a solid week.

9. Didn’t spend any time this week with the kids since I was sleeping so much.

10. I would normally do my Spring cleaning of the beehives. I was able to still feed them but I should be tearing them down for the Spring build up and now the weather is going to get bad for a few days.

11. Has to pass off the work on Total Annihilation changes to Jason Ocampo as I was too under the weather to look at the TA uberfix and other mods this week. I normally lurk on TAUniverse but couldn’t this week.

Luckily, thanks to good project management by Scott (Boogiebac), Elemental beta 1Z2 made it out on time. I also was able to work with Chris Taylor on Demigod update focus this week.

But as Thursday comes to a close, I’m fading which means I’m still not back to full power.

I have a new appreciation for those who manage to still work despite having imperfect health. 

One technique I did make use of was taking a stroll outside to recharge. I took some pictures.

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Pictures from this week…

A view from the edge of the covered pool at the new house.

The pond at Stardock as the sun sets..

“Stardock Creek”

The Stardock building.

The beehives. I need to take off their Winter wrappings and tear them down (fewer of the boxes) to prepare them for Spring.

Cute bunny. It’s a lot closer to me than it looks in this picture.

Elemental: Destiny Ember original manuscript (yep, the final drafts are Fed Ex’d back and forth on paper, no computer at this point).