Half a Day Mayhem

Morning.

Thinking I have to be at work later.

Finding out I have to be there earlier.

Discovering a deluge of rain has begun.

Remembering the umbrella is at work.

Thankful for rain boots as I RUN two blocks through the rain.

Saying an unexpected hello to the State Board Inspector.

Ditto to the expired license. (Whoops.)

Telling a client they can't have the appointment they want because it's in my lunch hour.

Realizing lunch hour can be shifted.

Making a client very happy once brain kicks into gear.

What a crazy morning!

Looky who posted on her blog...

So, in addition to my normally spotty posting recently, I now can't post much even when I want to. Lightening struck a couple of weeks ago and took out the only computer we had. It wasn't much, I admit, but it would still surf the internet when it took a mind to. We are now in search of a computer. Definitely getting an Apple this time, but we can't just run pick one up in the same way we do when we run out of milk.

In addition, the riding lawn mower has bitten the dust. That doesn't have a whole lot to do with this post other than to point out that my house and everything in it seems to be crumbling around my ankles.

On a brighter note, we got a puppy. (IS that a brighter note?! Doesn't seem so when I get up at 1am to let her out to tinkle.) I have tons of photos on my phone, but can't upload them...ya know...no computer. If I figure out how to do it from my phone, you'll be the first to know. I promise.

Peace out.

If Self Loathing Could Be Raised to an Art Form

Discipline.

The word makes me cringe. Only because I lack so much.

Do you ever just step outside yourself and take a good, long look at who you've become. Yeah, I try not to, either.

But today I did.

Frustrated by the many good things I want to do...and don't, mostly because of a lack of discipline.

Writing, painting, running, homemaking, gardening, cooking, knitting...blogging... I have so many interests, yet it seems that all I can accomplish is going to work and spending a few short minutes/hours with the family in the evening.

If I do find time to devote to my pursuits, I find myself meandering around getting ready to do it until I actually run out of time to do it.

I look at men and women who lived 40-60 years ago and didn't have the advantages or shortcuts I have today, yet they accomplished so much. (Maybe because, many of my advantages have turned into more distraction than anything...)

I envy those who are driven by their creativity.Those who create almost compulsively. I have just enough creativity to make me crazy. I want to create, then, if I have opportunity, I sit like a lump wondering what to do and where to start. If I happen to have an original, creative thought, it usually arrives at the most inopportune time. Like when I'm in the middle of working.

You want to know when I find myself the most motivated?
When I either get disgusted enough, or guilty enough with myself. "Ooooh, haven't been running or exercised in 3 days! Aaaand you're not eating well! You're thickening up there! Better move it!" *Cue guilty panic.*

"Just do it." Says the now cliche advertising tag line.

Some days, that's easier said than done.

Unabashed Pride

My first attempt at a Picnik collage.And a rather unabashed display of pride in my daughter...

A Heady Rainbow...

Quality Time...with Me

Sunday afternoon...

A thoughtful husband who insisted I rested. He also made sure everyone else was resting so the house was quiet for awhile...

Time on the computer... it's not the Apple of my eye, but it works. (So far...)

A hot summer day at the computer just cries out for an icy glass of Coke. The Real Thing.

A Coke and a Blog.

I think there's a new SuperBowl ad there somewhere...

The Adventure Continues...

More photos from Alabama...it really was pretty up there. I'm enjoying going through the photos again... I really didn't want to leave.

Doesn't this look like a portal into a magical place? Portal

Old Shed
Pine Bough Frame
Gate
Creek My First Time fishing! Cleaning the catch! My Job...Turning on the water to rinse the ick.

Oooh...He's a CUTIE!!!

Ahem. Moving right along....

Deer (?) Skeletons

An ALMOST Interesting Post...

I feel that we are on the verge of getting a new computer for my husband. This cheers me greatly because perhaps, then, I wouldn't have to worry about uploading my pics onto this computer because he's in the middle of some project that I might screw up because I was uploading pictures.

Case in point: This post is NOT going to regale you with my AWESOME Memorial Day weekend hijinks because I CAN'T UPLOAD MY PHOTOS RIGHT NOW.

Darn.

Suffice it to say, I had a MARVELOUS time at an idyllic location buried deep in the back woods of Alabama.

It was a weekend full of fishing, fireflies, tramping through the woods (machete in hand), horseback riding, playing in the creek, rowing across the pond and generally sitting around sighing with satisfaction.

And just as SOON as I can, I'll post some pics.

Conflicted

I love to read. I read voraciously, which has given birth to a love of words. I love to put words together in a creative way to say something rather ordinary. (I practice this on my Facebook statuses which is the best place I've found to say something without saying anything at all.)

Somehow though, it's never occurred to me to BE a writer.

Then a friend tells me about her great idea for a book.

She asks me to help her write it.

Gulp.

I can't even string my own thoughts together halfway coherently; what makes me think I can translate someone else's ideas into a story?

She gave me an assignment to write a short story. Because, as she puts it, "we gotta get OUT there."

So I did.

And I love it.

But it scares me.

I think it's a good story. But I think I would be completely embarrassed if someone actually read it. Something that was supposed to be suspenseful ended up a little more sensual than I thought it would.

And now I completely get when a writer says their story took on a life of it's own.

Back to the storyboard.

Remembering the Poor and Neglected...and That's About as Far as I've Gotten

Oh blog, how I've missed you.

There has honestly been no extra time to pay you the attention you deserve.

Or me for that matter.

Remembering to just breathe.

Sometimes, even that is a tall order.

Sometimes, the Only Way to Go is to Stop

So I got sick this weekend.

It really wasn't a bad thing.

It just made it more of a challenge to work on Saturday.

But Sunday?

Oh, blessed Sunday.

It seemed sacrilege to stay home from church on Easter Sunday, but actually observing the Sabbath and having a day of rest did so much for my soul.

My girl and I read the paper (funnies first), had monkey bread, read all 4 Gospel accounts of the Resurrection (could you IMAGINE being Mary and suddenly recognizing someone who you thought was dead was now ALIVE and standing before you?!), we sat on the couch awhile watching a few videos, I read, I rested, we took a walk, we painted, we had mac and cheese for supper and called it a day.

And now-- it's spring break!

I still have to go to work, but not having to wake up a family and motivate them toward the door and the day....

makes me feel like I'M on VACATION!

Funny...I Never Thought of Taxes as "Fancy"

Spring

when a girl's fancy turns to

trying to

CATCH UP

a year's worth of tax information

and get it to the accountant.

Rainbow Leaves

I'm sure I've posted this photo before, but it's one of my favorites and the advantage of this being my blog is that I can post whatever I want. Again.

*grins*

I've Discovered Who I REALLY Am...

I've always had a cat (or three) around. For me, they are easier to care for than a dog who just seems needier. (I love dogs too, don't get me wrong, BUT...)

And the funny thing is, each cat has their own personality, but it's always some combination of:

Aloof.

Independent.

Affectionate.

Bossy.

Coy.

Sulky.

Cuddly.

Oh my gosh.

I think I'm a cat.

Looking for a Piece of Quiet

Tap, tap, tap.

*checking the keyboard to see if it still works*

So is life moving at the speed of light for you too? It seems all I've done recently is work and sleep and start the cycle over the next day.

I'm looking forward to Christmas. We are not traveling and as far as I know, won't have any company either. It will be a lovely, restful day. Can't wait!

For now, I'm just trying to maintain status quo. I've been reading every chance I get. (A practice I've had since I learned how.) I'm working my way through some Madeline L'Engle books. I have Wrinkle In Time and picked that up (and couldn't put it down) and that led to a trip to the library for Meet the Austins which I THOROUGHLY enjoyed. I wanted to BE part of that family!

Today will be full of going out and finding Christmas surprises and later on, seeing Christmas lights and sharing a bit of Christmas cheer with some friends.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Cuz I Still Obey My Momma

So since we haven't heard from either side of the family requesting the glory of our presence for Thanksgiving, we decided to stay home.

Not a hard decision. I like to stay home every chance I get.

Unless I want to go somewhere.

Which I didn't.

Then my mom calls me at work in the middle of the day last week.

Once my heart stopped pounding loudly and I could hear what she said, I realized she was asking me if we would be home for Thanksgiving.

Which we would, coincidentally.

Once she and dad make their tour around the state attending 50th wedding anniversary parties and visiting other family members they've decided to crash our Thanksgiving party.

And bring half our living relatives with them.

I don't mean to be unkind, but I'm glad our numbers have dwindled over the years.

Cause as it is, I'm going to have to make Thanksgiving dinner stretch by making lots of desserts.

Maybe I should tell them to bring a couple more...

Describes Me Perfectly

Kinda the way I feel after working today without an assistant.

Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda

Yesterday.

I coulda cleaned bathrooms.

I shoulda swept the floor.

I woulda washed clothes.

I coulda cooked a meal.

I shoulda showered.

I woulda washed my hair.

But.

There was the Farmers Market. The Library.

There was art waiting to be created.

There were ideas flowing.

There was sunshine.

There were cats to be petted.

Clearly, something much more important came up.

Don't Stand There Arguing. Go Check it Out.

This chick, That Girl,--- whatever you call her...

She's funny.

My Life is Thus

I run.

On the one hand, this is great. I've been getting exercise and working at being consistent. I've run 3 miles, two weekends in a row and am feeling quite smug and self-satisfied. During the week, I'm working on a MWF running routine with weights on TTh. Sounds reasonable, eh?

The second aspect of running has to do with life in general. Weekday mornings start with my early morning jaunt to the gym, then the "game" of beat the clock begins. Rousting a child from bed, packing her lunch, breakfast, clothes, teeth brushing and practically shoving her and her dad out the door to school feels like a day's work in itself! Usually there's a small window of time left to get myself ready and to work. I'm growing frustrated/coming to terms with the fact that other things I love/enjoy have fallen to the bottom of the priority list.

Every now and again, I'll snatch at something I love (like blog writing) grabbing a small piece and wondering how long it will be before I get a more satisfying creative meal.

Until then..