Textcalibur!

It’s that time of year again. To any Muslims out there, I say Mubarak Ramadan. As Syria grinds to a halt in observance of this, the holiest month of the Muslim calendar, I find myself with the rare opportunity to breathe and collect my thoughts. Somewhere in between the breathing and collecting I’ve managed to peek at my emails, which were uniformly concerned at the lack of updates on this blog. I suppose I have been a bit neglectful.

I suppose it’s only now dawning upon me why so many professional writers advocate the utter surrender of any other professional designs a would-be writer might have. Unless you’re an apathetic nine-to-fiver with no aspirations of ever ascending the corporate ladder, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to pursue a dayjob and write as well – at least not to any significant extent.

That means that I’ve been very busy with my not-so-secret business venture. To shed some light on what can be taking so much time, in addition to setting up and managing a home- and office maintenance company, I’m currently involved in a number of training courses, working as an instructor across Syria. In fact, I just got back from the north of Syria and in about a week’s time I’m heading out there again for some more courses.

Naturally it’s an exciting time for me professionally, and I’m learning more than I could ever have hoped to do elsewhere. Not just about business mind you, but people, life, religion and everything in between. Syria’s diversity extends beyond its geographical demeanor and only truly reveals itself when you allow yourself to be immersed in her kaleidoscopic nature.

That does come at a price, as mentioned. I simply haven’t the time to write as much as I’d like to, but one does what one must. Currently this seems the more prudent way of securing my current ‘I know I shouldn’t have material goals but I’m only human’ goals which are a flat in Damascus and another in Lattakia (lovely, vibrant city on the coast of Syria). The Spyker C8 Spyder will have to wait a bit longer, I’m afraid. Damn, that is a beautiful car, though.

In an effort at balancing the two contrasting aspects of my life, I’ve opted to write more poetry and less prose, at least as long as work continues to avalanche over my naptimes. In a somewhat redeeming turn of events, one of those was even published: The Damascene Dancer. Of course I continue to work on Saint John, but given that weekends in Syria last a whopping 24 hours (Fridays only!) I find myself straining to find the time to mellow out enough to immerse myself in the convoluted story so far.

So! Right now, I must prioritize. Oddly enough, I find myself far more practical than I’d bargained for and have opted for food over intellectual sustenance, materia over idea and cold, hard cash over lukewarm rejection slips.

Now stop emailing me! I’m alive!