In everyday life, one says one is “experiencing technical difficulties” when glitches with computers or other technical equipment get in the way. If one’s everyday life is getting in the way of one’s computer time, is one experiencing reality difficulties?

This week has been fraught with realitydifficulties. Sunday’s difficulties involved teaching, attending Day-Hay’s family Hebrew class in place of Mr. Philately who was off judging (what else?) philatelic exhibits, going on a very boring girl scout field trip, and the impending onset of a migraine. Monday’s difficulties involved a school board meeting that went from 7:00 p.m. to almost 11:30p.m. and a migraine. Tuesday’s difficulties involved school board interviews for a new business administrator from 6:00 p.m. to almost 9:30 p.m., an escaped silkwormand hysteria both of which are still on the loose, and a migraine. Is anyone else seeing a pattern here? (No, I don’t mean the migraine. If I could figure out how to give up migraines, I’d do it immediately.) I think I’m overscheduled. My real live is interfering with computer time.

I’ve been managing to update this journal somehow. I’ve managed to read my e-mail but the longest response I’ve managed to any of it is one “Wonderful!” to my youngest sister. I don’t keep up in forums. I have read only a small fraction of the journals I normally read. I haven’t even managed to do laundry. (Oops, I’m getting confused. Laundry is a reality difficulty---but wouldn’t it be more fun online?)

I think I need a scheduling diet. “Hello, I’m Plankton and I’m a meeting-a-holic.” No, meetings are only part of it. Cutting back on meetings is like cutting back on potato chips. It helps but it won’t do the whole job. “Hello, I’m Plankton and I’m a do-it-all-aholic.” No, not much better. While I can type such things, I doubt I can say them. I’m not even sure I’ll have time to say them in between telephoning to re-arrange doctors’ appointments for the girls.

You’ll notice that I have not suggested giving up the computer---not even once. If I had technical difficulties I could understand a technical solution. But I’m having reality difficulties. The solution has to be in real life. Real life will just have to conform to the needs of my computer time.

But, if someday it doesn’t work and you come to this page and find a message, “THIS SITE IS EXPERIENCING REALITY DIFFICULTIES. PLEASE STAND BY” at least you’ll know what it means. It means I’m off overdoing again---as opposed to just being “off,” as usual.

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