Overspringshandlinger ~Words for Wednesday and More.

In Danish we have a wonderful word "Overspringshandling". The dictionary gives me 'procrastination', but I do not think it is a perfect fit for Overspringshandling. Because ... at least as I see it procrastination is synonym wiht putting off, not doing something until later, and so on - the emphasis is on the not-doing-now part of it..
Overspringshandlinger are the acts (handlinger) you're doing while procrastinating. The emphasis is on the things you do, while avoiding what you should do.
Let's take an example. Today I had three important thing on my agenda: Poetry Monday, Magazine editing and cleaning in my project room. Just after breakfast I sat myself down to write today's poem. It is Poetry Monday after all. First I checked my mail, answered the questions contained therein, and opened MSWord. But I had to go to the bathroom, and a cup of tea would be nice, too. In the bathroom the tub needs a cleaning, and we could do with some clean towels as well. I did this. The laundry basket is full, so I take it to the laundry place, but someone already started a load, which has just finished. I have to hang this first. Later I return to brew my cup of tea, but the sink needs cleaning, the dishwasher is full of clean stuff and needs emptying, and all the towels and so on also could do with a change ... I do this. Then I sit down to write. The Writer comes in and asks if I would like a cup of coffee - sure I would, as I forgot the tea. After the coffee break, another visit to the bathroom, and a photo session with yesterdays' Eco-printed papers. I finally sit down at the keyboard. But oops - the Words for Wednesday are in an open document, and I really had a nice idea last Wednesday night. Before I realise what happened, my fingers are dancing over the keyboard, typing out the tale I did not write last Wednesday.
This is Overspringshandlinger. The act of doing something good and needed in order to not do what you really should be doing ... is it the same as procrastination or not?

At least I wrote a little bit of Susan's story, using the first batch of these words in no particular order:
Church
Hazel
Hollow
Red
Whirlpool
     and/or
Cave
Mary
Near
Rapid
White

This is happening in the first school-year at Unicorn Farm.

The bells could be heard all the way from the old church on the mainland, this meant it was a windy day at Unicorn Farm, very much so. Susan saw Selma from the blue team draw her wand as they neared the hollow place in the road, where the wind would come against them from over the sea. A few greenish sparks flew from the end of her wand, but the expected whirlpool of warm and calm air did not envelope Selma.

Tähti came to her and asked for her wand. Selma handed it to her with a sinking feeling in her stomach. Having your wand taken was the ultimate punishment, and Selma had felt less and less capable these last weeks.

Tähti swished Selma's wand in an intricate pattern, then examined her wand closer. Susan walked a bit faster, overtaking the Swedish apprentices and saw Tähti test Selma's wand. She swung it through the air, and a few, feeble sparks flew.

Then she handed Selma her own wand, and made Selma cast some simple spells. An abundance of greenish sparks immediately flew from Tähti's wand and Tähti nodded slowly.

"Sour notes," she said.

"Sour notes?" Selma repeated, but in her mouth the statement became a question.

"I am sure, you were one of the last of the blue ones to have your wand sung," Tähti said.

"Yes," Selma replied. "I was then next to last, Grani was the last. But what has that to do with my seeming inability to learn what you all try to teach me here at the Farm?"

"Everything." Tähti said in a comforting voice, "Ever since I first saw you, I realised that you were neither stupid, or slow or anything else. We've been busy, but Thora and I have kept an eye on you. Now I'm certain that I or Thora hit a sour note when singing your wand. Let's hurry back to the Farm and sing you a new one. It is made of hazel, right?"

"Right," Selma replied, a tentative smile adorning her face.

... to be continued.
And the room still needs a cleaning, the magazine still some editing, and the poem is not yet written ...