Do You Talk to Yourself?

In honor of Saturday, of fun, I am going to pass around some mimosas for brunch here at the blog. And tell you, I have officially LOST IT. My mind.

See, writers spend a LOT of time alone. We spend a LOT of time in our heads. There are some tell-tale signs when you've cracked. You've spent TOO much time alone. TOO much time with characters speaking to you. When that deadline is looming a little TOO closely.

So here's mine.

Yesterday, I picked up one of my dogs from the vet after she was neutered (and ladies and gentlemen . . . she was essentially a rescue dog--spay and neuter your pets!). She's a tiny little thing, and so, so sweet. And I naturally am babying her post-surgery. And I was talking to her . . . and I lapsed into speaking about myself in third person. AND I called myself "Mommy"--to my dog. It's not like I don't already have FOUR actual HUMAN children.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love my dog. I love all my dogs (I have three . . . Dreamer and her "twin" adoptee, Cosmo--littermates--and disobedient corgi, Chip). And I do talk to them. But usually, it's more like, "Come. Sit. Here's dinner. Let's go. Time for our walk." I sometimes will say, "Chip, where did I put my car keys?" I seem to think he'll tell me one day.

But this was different. "Mommy is going to get you a nice soft blanket. Mommy needs to make dinner for the kids. Mommy needs to do some laundry." I mean, first of all, who is this Mommy person? And second . . . does the DOG need to discuss this with me?

This is deadline time. And now I know I'm losing it.

Anyway else have telltale signs they're cracking under pressure? And . . . more importantly, I just gotta know . . . how many writers talk OUT LOUD (in the head doesn't count) to themselves? Or their pets? And what kind of conversations are you having?

There could be a collective Baker Act hearing.