Thursday's Pace...

So...

Why is it that any time I spend a good portion of the day outside of the house, that I don't have an easy time of getting things started when I get home? Well, at least on any day other than a MOPS meeting day? It may not help that I didn't get to bed until 2 last night (AGAIN, UGH!), or that I bumped my head on the bottom corner of a CD rack that we mounted to the wall after P was born---right on the forehead, and it hurts---always when I poke at it (it's like a tooth with a toothache), and often when I'm not poking at it. It's interesting to feel, because I have this little bump at the spot where the very corner connected, and a bit of a line where the rest of the portion that connected...uh...connected. It makes me wonder how much P's head must hurt each time he bumps it, and makes me even more afraid of all the damage that could be done, not to mention more afraid of him hurting himself again. :-( He's my baby!!!

I've been thinking about restructuring, reformatting and redecorating around the blog. It looks so plain and dull sometimes. I mean, sure I want the focus to be the content and not the context, but it's got to look nice too, right? I've done a lot of stuff around here---I write my own html for the content in the sidebar (one place I need to clean up), and I've put in the pictures for the header myself. I figured out how to put the picture the header was created from up as the header on my Blog365 profile page. Go me---I did that a while ago, but still. I'm going to go through my bookmark folders too. What I decide is going to stay there will end up in my links sections. I'd love a pull down menu so visitors can visit my favorites, instead of having to scroll down forever to find the site they want to look at. Okay, they'll have to anyhow, but that's not the point. I'm going to make my site look pretty, that's all.

Got any good, decently priced options/advice?

I've even got dinner planned. It's getting late in the evening now (6pm), so it's good it's a quick dinner---taco salad. D's been asking for it off and on.

I'm going to make up a list to make myself accountable:

Dishes (there's not many left)
Clothes
Dinner
Pick up clutter on floor
Vac

That's it for now. Back later.

Relief is...

A clean countertop. It felt so good to wake up this morning with almost all the dishes done (I had another bowl to wash, then T used something this morning), and the counter and table cleared. So, there's not too much to do today.

We went out to the bank (actually got there this time, LOL), and to grab a few things for stuff like the cookies for the church's Christmas in the Park tomorrow. I'd really like to help with the gift bags too, but with having to juggle kids, it's better that we just do the cookies, especially since I'm going to have to deliver the Penny Saver's tomorrow instead of Sunday.

There's still the inside of the fridge and the bottom shelves and drawers to do in there. Maybe that's what I'll go do now. Sometimes it's kinda hard to get things done after going out first thing after I get up, so it's a good thing I don't have a huge pile of dishes to wash anymore!

Things to do:

Inside of fridge
T's clothes
Make Christmas cards list, maybe start addressing them
Bring D to Girl Scouts by 6
Dishes (what few there are :-D)

That's good. And in there I will also work on roses :-)

Fwd: Thursdays's Trek

What can I say? I just have a thing for alliteration! :-S

Today I plan to:

Put away the clothes I folded last night
Put P down for a nap
Finish the dishes
Start cleaning out the fridge
Work more on some roses
Do more of T's clothes
Change the Penny Savers on the floor
Write the rent check
Make a SHORT grocery list (I know we at least need garbage bags!)
Throw dinner in the crock pot (salsa and pork chops)
Take the garbage down to the dumpster

Well, I think that's it. I've got to wrangle a little boy down for his nap!

Wednesday's Plan

Dishes (of course!)

27 flings around the house, of both varieties

Fold whatever needs folded, and put away

Sort things on futon
Pick up the floor

Sort/clear off this desk of all the papers, etc

Start Advent project with kids
Clear mantle
Decorate
Figure out dinner

I didn't get very much done yesterday---I folded one bit of clothes that needed to be folded, and I made dinner, and went to Weight Watchers (where I learned that I gained nearly 2 pounds, oh well). But I was another one of you who were tired. I didn't go to bed as early as I intended to (I had all intentions to go to bed when I put P down, but then I got back up and worked on a few things), but I did go to bed at a much more decent hour than usual and got up, officially, at about 10. Since then I've been working on my dad's scarf, and I will start doing the list again at about noon. :-)

Tuesday's Territory Transformation

Here's today's PODA:

Dishes (of course!)
27 flings around the house, of both varieties

Fold whatever needs folded, and put away

Sort things on futon
Pick up the floor

Sort/clear off this desk of all the papers, etc

Start Advent project with kids
Clear mantle
Decorate
Figure out dinner -split pea soup or salsa and pork chops in the crockpot, or even chicken and salsa in the crockpot.

I've still not figured out where we're going to put the tree. :-| There are few places it can go that it's not right in someone or something's way :-\ I'm not feeling very motivated either. I went to MOPS the morning then to see my mom, and I'm just not wanting to do much of anything. But, they only way it will all get done is if I put one foot in front of the other, so that's what I'm going to do!

Finally, the PODA

So, I promised someone a PODA. I'm sure you just want to see the dones, so after I get done writing this out, I'm going to take 2 ibuprophen (my head hurts and the lower half of my body isn't far behind thanks to walking on those sidewalks yesterday---because of my bad ankle I'm hyper conscious of walking on slippery pavement, and those boots are heavy! I've had the same pair for the last 3-5 years, and they are so good and sturdy that I'm not going to go get myself a new pair any time soon! I LOVE these, and at least if I was going to get a new pair this year, the same place I got them still sells that style! They're guy's boots, not womens, but I LOVE them because I'm not one for the fancy boots they sell in the women's section), then start to work on this list. I've already called the leads that Mary sent my way. No one is ever home, etc. :-\ I think I'll start with D's clothes...

Sort through the baskets of D's clothes in the living room
Clear off and move the computer desk that used to be sitting under where the ceiling is leaking (I'm going to put it by the door and use it to house the shoes and as a place to put things when we come in the door. I'll keep it clear!)
Dishes (of course!)
27 flings around the house, of both varieties
Wash P's and my clothes
Move what's in the washer to the dryer
Fold whatever needs folded, and put away
Put the iron-on letters on my bag (a bit of an advertisement, it's the bag I not only use as a purse but more importantly carry candles in. It's going to say "Makes Great Gifts")
Sort things on futon
Pick up the floor
Sort/clear off this desk of all the papers, etc
Start Advent project with kids
Clear mantle
Bring down Christmas stuff (maybe some of the stuff on the old computer desk can go upstairs too, after D gets home)
Decorate with said stuff

This is a bit ambitious and I'd really like to take a nap, maybe when I put P down, but I don't think I'm going to get to. I need to do too much around here, it's my own dang fault, and I've lazied around enough lately. Some of this may bleed into other days, but I'm going to start now. 15 at a time.

Friday's Fiascos?

My Friday really isn't all that bad. I just wanted to title it in kind. I really would like to change my blog title though. I see so many clever ones during the Thursday Thirteen, I really felt rather ashamed. But if you look in my comments, I guess I made some impressions on some people, so it's not so bad :-)

When I first sat down here, about 4 hours ago, and opened up my main browser to look and see if I had anymore comments on my TT post, I felt really good. I mean, sure I'm not wonderfully super popular (I never expected to be), but at least SOMEONE read SOMETHING on my blog and found it interesting. I don't want a lot of people commenting on my blog, that's really not what it's for (and there are certain people I point towards my blog that I REALLY don't want commenting on it), but I always did wonder who and/or how many people read my blog. Mine's a listed blog, but I doubt a lot of people like to "blog surf" like I often do, with those "next blog", "last blog" buttons, and come upon mine. But I wouldn't know either, now would I, if I don't leave my comments section open, huh?

Now I feel kinda low. I don't think the headache that, when I went in to put P to bed (at 11, ugh!), I realized I'm getting helps any. This time my teeth definitely are NOT to blame. I think this stinkin' place doesn't help any. It's not nearly big enough for 4 people, possibly adding T's mom would just be CRAZY, and I CAN'T STAND IT because the place is LITERALLY falling apart!!! Yes, the leaks in my ceiling still exist and, even though I wanted to call the resident manager at least twice today, I didn't get my phone, fingers and my ear to work together towards that goal at the same time. Sometimes I had the phone in my hand, sometimes I was thinking about it, but not ever at the same time, and any time I asked people to get me the phone no one really did, and now it's kinda too late to inquire about what the last thing he did about it was. He told me something about how he was going to get a new pipe for the water, since the one that has been there gees who knows how long and was getting no water pressure but now is (what difference does that faucet make in water pressure? He replaced that the other day up there) is cracked. I hate having the constant sound of water dripping in this room, it smells funny...I think I will be taking the fellow Girl Scout mom (who happens to know some other tenants here in the park) up on her offer of getting my landlord and resident manager (even though I'll tell ya I think he really is a good guy deep down) in some trouble with the state. Actually, what I would PREFER is just to get out of here. Right now our credit is so HORRIBLE that it's IMPOSSIBLE to buy a home, even if we wanted to do it here.

But, through it all, all I'm trying to do is turn it to Him. He'll get us out of here when and/or if we are supposed to.

A short time later: I recently got done talking with my wonderful mentor with the candle biz. I found a house nearby in the rental ads that I know is on the market. I talked with her about different things, including how much I can't stand this place. Sometimes I wonder what it is that's holding me back---me and my expectations or me and my fears. I wonder often if it's not the latter. I have big dreams.

At the base it's to take care of my family. Often I may not live up to that, spending too much time on things like the computer, things that center my time on myself and not the rest of the family. But I want the peace of mind of knowing my bills are paid (most of them are, the basic heat, water, electric are, plus phone and cable especially now that they are forever again linked, but there are a few bills that people keep bugging me about that I didn't realize at the time would grow so big---20% insurance multiplies easily, and 20% of an $80 bill is a lot different than 20% of a $2000 one. :-( And those bills have existed since 2005. Yeah, guess what's it's from?). It's part of why I started the candle biz. But I question how much I really want it...

I question a lot of things. My faith sometimes. I believe, but do I believe enough? I want to take care of the family, clear away the bills, but do I really give all of the time I need to to them? Really, right now I want to curl up in a little ball and just weep for a while. Even though it's 2 in the morning, that's not really an option. I need to go to bed. I'm going to do the candle thing next Saturday. I'm a bit depressed because this house is a mess and that stupid hole in the ceiling doesn't help one bit :-( The last thing I want to do is come to God with a greedy heart, asking Him to do for me when I'm not even sure I do for him, and expecting something in return when I do. That's part of what's holding me back with tithing....am I putting what I put on the check because I want to give back to Him and thank Him for giving us what He has, or am I giving back in expectation of getting more back in return? It freezes me and just about brings me to tears.

Well, I guess I'll spend the rest of this weekend deep in prayer, even while I go around and do other things. I should write down what it is in a new apartment that I feel we need.

• 3+ bedrooms, more rationally 4 so his mom can move in. Looks like we're the ones that will be blessed with that.
• 2 baths (I mean, really...she needs her own. We can handle using the same one :-))
• laundry hookups---I've got the machines
• hardwood floors---I can't stand rugs, even though I don't mop in the kitchen often. But that's a bit of a hassle, you don't know my kitchen floor---I can't really tell where it's dirty and where it's not a lot of the time (see the evil pattern? Picture courtesy of my 2 year old. Yes, sometimes we let him loose with the camera because he just loves the whole thing of taking the pictures, with the noise it makes and the flash. I'm his favorite papparazzi subject, according to T):

• 2 floors. None of our apartments have had 2 levels.
• somewhere to STORE things we don't need 24/7 right out in the middle of everywhere. So a basement would be nice. Craft stuff may or may not go down there---if we can have 4 bedrooms plus at least one room or a good amount of space that can handle the computer---something like the cubby hole at the house we went to the estate sale at today would be good, looks like once it was a little closet or something (hey, THAT house would
  be cool, even! ;-))---it would be nice, then I can stick things out of the way and have my VERY OWN, PERSONALLY HOSTED HOME PARTY!!!!! In my OWN HOME!!!!!
  
• open floor plan. I'd like to be able to look from my living room into my kitchen, and especially vice versa
• safety. I don't want to worry about the little guy toddling out a door easily. I want that open floor plan bad---I want to be able to see the main living areas from each other.
• dry basement. This would be the best place to store thing we're not using. And maybe turn part of it into her bedroom for the time she's with us. Or not. But I want a basement.

On a fairly positive note, here's something pretty to even out the possibly bad mood I put you into. The first 14 flowers (5 yellow, 5 pink, 4 purple. Count them :-)) I've made for the workers at mom's dialysis unit....

Today's Journey

Not too creative right now on my post titles. Oh well :-|

Today wasn't too bad. P and I had to wait until nearly noon for T to get home from work. Missed him terribly. Ended up intertwined with him this evening, so that more than made up for it! But I was crabby up until he got home.

I have to apologize, I just got done reading a lot of other people's Thursday Thirteens, so now I'm a bit tired because of how late it is, and I forgot about half of what I wanted to mention. Let's see if I can remember something....

I managed to get a few things done today. Some dishes, folded some clothes, gripped to the resident manager about the water coming from our ceiling (:-( Which hasn't stopped, I'm going to call and complain tomorrow, again), took a SEVERAL bags of garbage that T was supposed to but just hadn't yet. That got me to decide to sweep up the leaves that had collected in our little "patio" area. Here's a look at the pile:


That's all of them collected up. We've got our own pile! But don't go jumping in them because it's on asphalt after all!!! We've got more down the side of the house, but I'll probably just leave them alone until spring.


I took a picture of the sky while I was out there, but it looks darker than I remember. It was still nice to see a bit of blue peeking out of the clouds.

Tonight's going to be another late night, but not completely because of P. He went down fairly easily tonight. But it was later than I wanted (which is always 8). I didn't finish dinner until after 8, but then that's in part because of being intertwined with T. We were cuddling for at least an hour---but no need to ask where the time went!

I played around a bit again with Paint Shop Pro earlier today. I made the new banner you see under my description, and the new plug button too. It's not how I really wanted it, and I think I might revise it, but it did about what I wanted anyhow, so I guess it doesn't really matter. Oh, but when I pasted "plug" it was still a bit of a surprise.

Can't have anything other than water now. I haven't had anything to eat since dinner, which is only possible because of the horrible medicinal taste from the stinkin' mouthwash they prescribe when you have dental problems like T and I do. :-| My mouth still hurts from yesterday, but at least I have my "picket fence" back, right? I'm going to try to work really hard to keep it!!!!

Dishes (isn't it always?) - M
Clothes
- Monday - kid's - D
- Tuesday - mine - P's is in
- Wednesday - T's
- Thursday & Friday - collect up anything else
Dinner
- Monday - pork chops in the crockpot - done
- Tuesday - cream chipped beef (buy a toaster first. Long story) - changed to crockpot chili - will get the toaster and make this maybe Friday
- Wednesday - Friday - gotta figure this out
Prep rent check
Post office prep
- fix/make any swaps that still need to be packaged
- hope that I finally get the payment for the stuff I'm going to send T3 so I can send all I need to
- drop stuff off at the post office
Phone calls
- P's 2 yr - made
- Eye appointments for everyone (mine 1st because I NEED new glasses - and now we have vision coverage. REALLY GOOD vision coverage!!! :-D) - all 3 made
- Gyn appt. - just as I thought, with the problem :-( guess I need to get on the paper work :-(
- GP about event monitor/palpitations (I've had very FEW since I used that thing!!!)
Paperwork
- candle biz
- college loan consolidation

Christmas list

This is what I have left to do before Christmas. It comes from an email I wrote to the Flying group :-) Half of what I have left to do I will do Christmas eve. But it will all be fun :-)

Make candy
Make fudge
Make cookies D and B like
Prep lasagnas for Christmas
Shop for Christmas dinner - done
Wrap dad's gift from my mom - done
Wrap mom's gift - done
Wrap DD's last gift - done
Wrap dad's afghan - done
Make snowflakes - in progress
Make bear for P

Thursday's Adventures

We'll see if we can keep this up :-)

Breakfast
Dressed to the socks
Put in a load of T's clothes
Put some crushed tomatoes, pork chops and some spices into crockpot
Fold the towels
Fold my clothes
During P's nap
- 5 minutes of walking on treadmill and/or some Tai Chi (DVD)
Lunch
Dishes
Sweep kitchen floor
Finish addressing family/friends Christmas cards
Fold T's clothes
Continue cycling through the loads of T's clothes

Wednesday's Adventures

Well, since it seems to have worked so well for me today, I'm going to set one up for tomorrow while I'm thinking about it. :-)

So, tomorrow I intend to....

Breakfast
Dress to socks
Fold P's clothes
Wash my clothes
Gather towels
Toss garbage that has collected
Reclaim Christmas cards (long story short, P got ahold of them yesterday. Took them out of their envelopes. Only managed to rip one envelope. The card to T's grandma!!!)
Fold my clothes
Go to Parent's Orientation for Project Know one way or another
That looks about it for now. Now to get my butt to bed!!!

Tuesday's PODA

Lunch for P and I - done

P's clothes - in the washer - in the dryer
My clothes - not yet, but I did fold up all T's clothes (the washroom had started to look like a shambles because of the. Long story short, with P sleeping when he's usually getting ready for work, T just started putting his uniforms and shirts in the washroom so that he didn't wake P up), and collected his together to wash them tomorrow. No need to gather mine---I've already got them in all in my hamper. I'm the only one who's internalized that idea. :-| (moved to tomorrow)
Trash out - after I get D from G S (moved to tomorrow)

Finish mail prep - probably this evening - only did this and some dishes. :-| I've got to get P to bed, so hopefully before I go to bed I can get his clothes to the dryer, T's clothes in the dryer folded and the dishes finished. - finished mail, dishes, and folded T's clothes in the dryer :-)

Just gotta dump the liquid left over from the chicken in the crockpot, then take my shower and go to bed. I'll start up a PODA for tomorrow. :-) Take care!