Monday, March 29, 2010

Yesterday My Brain Went to France

This happens every time I go to a conference. I come home so full of ideas and energy and focus and resolve that I want to run from task to task, make new To Do Lists, type up queries and submissions (if I was invited to do so), make more notes, clean up my work space, and on and on.

But somewhere along the line, my brain freezes. It focuses on one little thing I learned at the conference or a new idea triggered by one of the presentations, and brain goes somewhere else. Yesterday, my brain went to France. It spent a leisurely afternoon in an outdoor cafe, thinking. It was pretending to be a writer's brain taking time off, and it enjoyed every moment.

As a result of my brain's frivolous wanderings, I forgot to do something important.

Yep, I forgot to post to my blog yesterday afternoon. Just plain out and out forgot to do it.

Now brain is back today, but it's kinda busy. I'm supposed to be getting the house ready for company, but I'm letting my brain have its own way while I do the laundry. Brain is thinking about France and letters and memoir and queries and submissions. I'm loading the dryer.

Hopefully brain and body will do a better job of coordinating their efforts tomorrow. I get a lot more done that way.

And the next time brain decides to spend the day in a French cafe, I'd really appreciate it if the rest of me was invited to go along.

12 comments:

Jan Morrison said...

Yay! I'm with your brain. If it is going to go anywhere it oughta be Paris!

Arlee Bird said...

Nothing wrong with a break for the brain now and then, but now how about a trip to the brain gym for a mental blogging workout.
I’d like to invite you and your readers to join us in a blogging challenge for the month of April. Check it out at Blogging From A to Z

Let us know and we'll add your name to the honor roll.
Lee

Jeanie said...

Un peu de temps de là, si ce n'est que dans votre esprit, est une bonne chose.

Elspeth Futcher said...

Your brain went to France? Lucky brain. Next time, my brain wants to go too - to Provence. Merci beaucoup.

Patricia Stoltey said...

Jeanie - Now that's cool. Tu parle francais. My brain could have used you yesterday when it wanted to order lunch. Brain hasn't used its French in more than ten years -- very rusty. Brain ended up with little purple octopus thingies on its pizza because it couldn't remember what was in fruits de mer.

And Elspeth, you too? I also lean toward Provence over Paris. The culture's a bit different, and I love the old walled cities in the south (and the fields of lavender).

Hi Karen and Jan -- I think we have enough for a tour group already. Getting away sounds so great. One of my writer friends here in Colorado takes groups (all women) on trips to France and to Italy. Wouldn't that be incredible?

Arlee, I'm heading over to your blog right now to check out the challenge.

Unknown said...

Were the trees in bloom?

Jeanie said...

Un peu, but mostly I speak Google translator.

Ann Elle Altman said...

Well, that's okay. The important thing is that you enjoy that conference.

ann

Carol Kilgore said...

What better place on a spring day than France? Smart brain you have there.

Ann said...

Brain sounds very smart. There is nothing like sitting in a French cafe sipping coffee as you watch people walk by and soak in your surroundings. Hope brain enjoyed its little holiday.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

My brain is forever in a place other where my body is, Why not France? it's a lovely place.

Good luck in the A to Z Challenge.
from fellow participant.
Yvonne.

Patricia Stoltey said...

Kay -- definitely -- Brain went to the south of France which is a little warmer than Paris.

Thanks to all for sharing my brain freeze day, and greetings to Yvonne who will also be posting from A to Z in April.