If it's not writer's block...

I have installed Greasemonkey on two computers this evening. It lets you write javascript and run it on specific web pages in Firefox. I then hacked up some iffy code so that my default background is teal instead of white when I read manual pages or type LiveJournal entries. I couldn't figure out the call to change the text color as well, but the lack of screaming white on 70% of my screen is a major coup.

Why did I go to all that trouble? Because my roomie gave me a Perl exercise a couple days ago and I have no idea where to start. When I am stalled for ideas, I start fixing tiny things. I tend to call it tweaking: it's like I'm hopped up on crank and sanding a floor. I wanted to pretend that I keep getting distracted from my primary task", but I get tired of staring into space. My idea of not coding is learning about another programming language. Hell, I can suck at more of them this way...

For years I had "writer's block". It just meant I wasn't writing the Great American Novel because I kept winding up with four-page segments that didn't cohere and street maps to make the scenes come into place. Now I understand I have more of a gift to write in semi-diary mode, so I'll do that. That has been teaching me how to keep writing.

Now that I have reconciled myself to my skill and feel good about the product. What's next? Building my skill in making my own text processing tools and system administration approaches. Of course I'm just starting, but that learning curve is difficult. So I stall. What else have I done to avoid avoiding?

• I got a call from fuzzplugjones asking me about promoting his latest project. You see, he came up with this excellent album back in 1997, Felix Culpa, which he has remixed and revved up for re-release. I recommend the album and am likely going to flyer for the pup. However I was in a cranky mood when he called so I got dismissive. I apologize, guy. Perhaps I can make it up to you through subtle online promotion.
  
  
• I also got a call from my girl, rmcoburn. She finally gave a four-week notice at her place of torture. She's been putting up with crazy abuse from them for way too long. I am proud of her for confronting her biggest enemy.
  
  
• I took some albums out of my iTunes stack to free up space for new rips.
  
  
• I also found out I don't know how to hack m4p tunes back into DRM-free songs, so I won't be able to hear a couple Utah Phillips albums I scammed from quem98 unless I unlock them on her laptop and then copy the output. Since it's Utah Phillips, maybe I'll just order the albums and make sure the old man stays out of the pokey.
  
  
• I've brewed two cups of tea. I'm drinking from my smaller mug, which has a bunch of shortcuts for a text editor I use all the time, vi. I was originally an emacs man back in the 1990s, but then I had to carve up more short scripts and decided to conquer my fear of "that thing with the modes".
  
  
• Orbit Gum has a new flavor, Sweetmint. It's nice at first, but it gets cloying after a while. I prefer a consistently tart bite, even if I like the meringue vibe when it first comes on.
  
  
• Hmmm... oh yeah! I'm writing this LJ entry instead of working on code. That includes several preview runs to make sure this bullet stack looks the way I want: each bullet has one line to separate it from the previous one and each maintains indented text for the full paragraph... at least, in friends mode. It doesn't look the same in solo-entry mode. I got it close enough to my desires.

Now it's after 11 p.m. and I need to get to sleep. My bed sits on my left, looking all fluffy and soft. Upon it sits my copy of Mastering Algorithms with Perl, written by someone I know. Hmmm... and my copy of Imperial Life in the Emerald City...

-user has gone offline, Dante