Entries tagged with home life

Entry tags:

Journal Entry of Randomness ...

Random journal entry is random.

Been in a pissy mood for a while now. Writing is frustrating. Too many demands on my time. And thus, life has become frustrating, too.

Parents are visiting. My dad just went home yesterday, and my mom has another week left of her stay. We redid our dining room to convert it into a playroom of sorts. Installed cabinets and then topped them out so they ended up looking like built-ins. They hold a lot of toys, too ... so I am the happy over that.

Rearranged the living room furniture because I had to move this HUGE (~200 lb) armoire out of the dining room. We have an open floor plan for our house, but the actual living room is pretty small. And I really have too much furniture to go in there. But I think we managed to find a room arrangement that fits the space and makes it feel cozy and comfy as opposed to overstuffed.

I found some old color photographs that I took years ago (sometime around 1998 or 1999) -- back when I was still shooting with film. Including my favorite photograph, ever, which is an above-view shot of a Greyhound bus station at night. I so love that picture. I framed a few of those and mixed them in with some of my black and whites, and I think they look nice in the new living room. I want to frame out some more photos to hang in the house. I take enough of the stupid things ... I should probably use them here and there.

The dining room / playroom and living room took most of a week to get done. It was a LOT of work.

My dad also built a new set of bookshelves for me in the office. They tuck in nicely behind the door, and so use that dead space really well. I always need more room for books.

Now that my dad is gone, I'm pretty sure my mom has her eye on some open shelving I have in the kitchen, my daughter's closet, and the linen closet (and probably more that she hasn't mentioned)-- all of which she thinks need to be "cleaned out". They probably do, but I'm not much in the mood to do it. So I'm not confident we'll get to it at all. I haven't admitted this out loud yet, as I don't think it will go over well, but ...

Slowly pecking away at the new prologue for my book. The past few weeks, for the most part, have been the suck for writing. But Saturday was a pretty good day. I managed to close myself in the office and get a good amount of work done. And moved the prologue along pretty well, too. So I was happy about that.

I've become totally addicted to Merlin, this show on Sci-Fi Network. I randomly ran across a marathon of it showing last weekend and watched a few episodes. Didn't take me long to get hooked. So I just got the first season box set at Best Buy yesterday. Yay for BB gift cards!

I'm (slowly) working on setting up a new production art gallery site. I think it's going to take me forever, as I only work on it here and there, when I'm not busy writing or doing other things. But at least it gives me something creative to do with my existing art ... which helps keep me from wanting to buy a lot of new art (because I really don't have the funds for that right now >.O). I do have some things I need to scan and update, though. I used to be so good about doing that stuff right away. And now I have become the suck about it. *shame*

Entry tags:

Busy Busy-ness ... or Something >.O

No writing yet today. I must write at least something today -- even if it's just one or two sentences. Just because I didn't manage to write yesterday, thanks to GS Cookie H - E - Double - Toothpicks, and I don't want to have two non-writing days in a row. Especially since I'm really trying to do this whole turning things in my life around thing.

So far today, I went to my kiddo's school to work on the yearbook. That took about 3 hours. Then, I came home and grabbed some lunch. After my food settled, I took Fae out for walkies. It was kind of hot, which makes me sound like an ungrateful wimp or something, considering we only recently had frigid temperatures and mountains of snow on the ground. But, still -- it was kind of hot. Even so, it was a pretty day, and Fae had a good time. She did really well today, too. She didn't pull that much, and she did really well at not barking and growling at people when I told her to stop. Hopefully, she'll continue to improve if we keep on going for walks. After that, I had a long conversation with hubby about some stuff going on at his work. And then it was time to get the kiddo from school. Came home and played outside with her for a while. Then I trimmed all my rosebushes (two large ones in front of the house and a smaller, potted one that had been inside all winter). I'm super late in getting this done. I really should have done it in February, but they were buried in snow for most of that month. Better late than never, I hope. I also dead-headed my dead, stick-like mums so they can come back this spring. They already had some nice growth under the dead stuff, so that's encouraging. My potted rosebush is already blooming, too. After I finished up all the trimming, I cleaned up our back yard -- which is still quite mushy and muddy, even after two sunny days of drying out. I swear, I NEED to get that yard fixed this year. After cleaning up the back yard, I cleaned the cat box. And then made dinner. And now I'm doing laundry.

So, yeah ... no writing. But a busy day, all the same. Still -- tex NEEDS writing. =D

Entry tags:

...

My brain is made of "Post Title Fail" at the moment. Maybe I'll think of a title later. Or not ... >.O

One more day off from school for the kiddo. Apparently, her school is having trouble digging out its parking lot and sidewalks and stuff. I'm not sure if it's as much a problem of actually digging things out, or a problem of having no place to pile the extra snow. There isn't a lot of extra room at her school. The parking lot is small, and the school is basically at the end of a very narrow little road. It's a nice, protected location normally. But, when you're talking about moving 55-59 inches of snow somewhere ... well, it doesn't leave a lot of space for making big 'ol snow piles. Heck, at this point, it doesn't matter if they take an extra day off or not. We already have to make up so many days it's ridiculous. I think, right now, we're at least a week in the hole for snow days. I'm not sure when they will make up that time, so it'll be interesting to find out. And I don't necessarily mean "interesting" in a good way, either.

Still stuck in GS Cookie H-E-Double-Toothpicks. I can't wait for this whole stupid cookie thing to be over and done with. I managed to find someone to pick up the cookies for me, as I can't be available to get them -- stupid scheduling conflict. And my vehicle wasn't big enough to hold all the cases, anyhow. The person who will pick them up has a cargo van, luckily, so putting the whole order into one vehicle shouldn't be much of a problem. We are supposed to do two booth sales, but I'm having the hardest time getting people to actually sign up for both sales. I mean, it's not rocket science, you know? We have a small troop. That means EVERYONE HAS TO DO BOTH SALES. Otherwise, there's no way we can fill all the slots. So far, I have some people not wanting to do anything for the booth sale ... some people who want to do one booth sale and not the other ... and then the very few who are actually stepping up, realizing that a small troop means everyone has to participate, and signing up for their share -- and even more. I guess that's the way it always is in any group: a few end up doing the bulk of the work for everyone else. That's always been my experience, anyhow ... but it never fails to irritate me. Someone mentioned possibly having a third sale in order to donate the proceeds to charity, and I had to tell them I didn't think it would work because I can't get everyone to sign up for the two they knew about, all along. I don't have high hopes of getting anyone to sign up for a third one. I'm sooo not doing this cookie thing next year. As it is, I just have to hang on and get through March. And maybe part of April. Then, I can be done.

Hubby got me a surprise Valentine's Day gift: an awesome new keyboard for my computer! (And, on a funny side note: Apparently, it was supposed to come on Friday via Fedex. But, of course, our street was "Crime Central" on Friday, which meant the driver couldn't get here. We got it on Saturday, and found a note attached: "Road blocked by cops." Totally made me LOL. ) I know ... it doesn't sound very romantic, but I love it. I hated the keyboard that came with the new computer, although I was willing to live with it for as long as I had to. I used to use the diNovo Edge on my PC, and I missed it so much. It is the best keyboard I've ever used -- at least, I think so. Anyhow, he got me an Edge for my Mac. I'm such a happy camper now! I just love how this thing feels, and typing on it is so much easier. Now, if only my muses would cooperate, so that I could write up a storm. Woot! (Hear that, muses?? Huh? Huh? *pokes them*)

I finally have a bit of direction on my novel, editing-wise. My hubby has a lawyer friend, and she volunteered her husband to read the book. I've totally failed at getting most everyone else interested in it, so I was pretty unsure about sending it to him, especially because I don't know him at all. I think I've only met him once. But he actually read it. And he sent me some really helpful feedback and commentary on it. For the first time in quite a while, I feel like I might be able to tackle this darn thing and actually edit it for real. Which would be so great. Considering that I pretty much couldn't pay anyone to read it, I don't foresee it ever being published. But it would just be a good feeling to know I had really and truly finished it. Right now, that's pretty much all I'm working toward. Just that feeling of being "done" for real.

Other than that, things are ... eh. I've been feeling kind of under the weather for the past couple of weeks. Just draggy, tired, and a little achy in general. Along with an occasional slight fever. I'm not sure what's going on -- if anything. It could be that I'm just kind of burned out on my life, in general. Things have been pretty tough at home for a while now. Hubby is super busy at work, so I'm basically doing the single-parent thing. As well as trying to bring some kind of cohesive order to the house by cleaning out stuff we don't need. And all the cooking and cleaning and laundry I usually do. Toss in the whole lack of activity by my writing muses and ... yeah ... I have not been a happy camper, overall. In fact, I think I'm going to head to bed here in about ten minutes or so. Oh yeah ... I'm pitiful. >.O

Entry tags:

Tunneling Out ...

Wow ... it is still snowing. A LOT!

Hubby and I (well, mostly hubby, since I'm a total wimp ... but I did help as much as I could!) tunneled out of the house today to shovel off the driveway. Hubby is out there now, moving one of our outside cars so that he can brush the snow off of it before parking it in the driveway again. Sadly, the sidewalk and driveway were already covered with snow again before we even finished shoveling the first time. And I don't mean a light dusting of snow, either. It was at least a good inch or inch and a half. The snow on our deck is so high. Unbelieveable. I really think there is more there than when we had that big snowstorm back in December. It is almost as high as our patio table! I think we are going to try shoveling some of that off in a little while. But poor hubby -- he needs a break! (And a nice cup of hot chocolate, I think.)

Our power is flickering. Not so horribly bad, but it still has me worried that we will lose our electricity. Which would be bad, as our stove is electric, and, of course, the microwave and toaster oven are also electric. We wouldn't have any way to prepare food, which makes it pretty impossible to remain "snowed in". But, of course, the roads around our house and our parking lot (we live in a town house) haven't been plowed. We hire someone to keep our parking area plowed, which is part of our HOA dues, and that guy came twice last night to plow the whole thing. Of course, now it looks like he never even came -- just because the snow is falling so fast out there.

I hadn't eaten any breakfast this morning. Hubby and kiddo got up earlier than me, so they had already eaten and everything by the time they were ready to head out into the snow. I just got up and immediately went outside with them. Needless to say, I was starving. When I saw the power flicker, I came inside and got a bowl of cereal. Not the nice, warm meal I would have liked to have, but it's better than nothing. I was planning on making chili this afternoon, so I hope the power holds out for that, at least. I'm also not sure if we would have heat if the power went out. Our furnace is gas, but I think the thing that turns it on is electric. >.O

I got the rest of the stuff into the Master Closet last night. So, that's one task pretty much done. We still need to haul off the old closet stuff: the shelves and shoe racks that we took out of there, and the boxes from the new Elfa stuff that we had installed. Of course, the weather hasn't been cooperating with that plan, so I still have tons of stuff piled up all around my house. Frustrating, but I'll just have to live with it for a bit longer. Both of the closets we had done look great, though -- so that helps a lot with giving me a better attitude. *nervous laugh*

I also finished my fan cel yesterday. Maybe I'll manage to scan and post it sometime in the near future. I have some artwork that I need to scan, too. Lotsa Saiyuki stuff, and some Saiunkoku, too. I'm just not sure when I'll be done with the computer switch-over so that I can have all the software, files, and images I need on the new computer.

And, so far, that's life today -- here in the snowy wilds. Hee!

Entry tags:

Today I ...

Took a mini "photo safari" into Vienna (Virginia ... As opposed to a more exotic locale). I'm not sure if I got any decent photos. I've been in quite a funk lately, so I didn't feel very inspired. Still, the weather was gorgeous, and I loved being outside.

Trimmed back my rosebushes. Poor things ... I've neglected them horribly, and it shows. It took quite a while to get them trimmed, but it was worth it. They look so much better now.

Did a butt-load of dishes. I'm not sure of the exact measurement that makes a "bott-load", but I washed a LOT of dishes!!

Volunteered for the afternoon at Kiddo's school. Ended up doing a lot of laminating ... which is OK, as I find myself strangely fascinated by the laminator.

Helped the kiddo with her homework.

Went to a friend's house to watch their kiddo -- who happens to be one of my kiddo's best buds. That's where I am now, and why I'm posting this with my Blackberry. I don't think I'll make it home before 9 or so tonight. A long day. -.-"

Entry tags:

Running on Empty ...

Which sounds rather depressing, doesn't it? I don't feel I'm particularly depressed. Or particularly anything. Except tired.

Hubby is out of town for his grandfather's funeral. The funeral and cremation were today. I think the interment will be on Monday. He's scheduled to come home on Monday, simply because that was the first chance he could get a non-stop flight. I'm totally selfish, but I really wish he was coming home tomorrow. I miss him, and I hate it when he's out of town.

( Read more... )

Entry tags:

Bit of a Ramble ...

I sense a hodge podge of a post coming on. Wheee! (or maybe not so much ... *nervous laugh*)

Been feeling generally icky and under the weather for the past couple of days. Doesn't help that I didn't sleep well last night. The good thing is that I know this will pass in a couple more days -- like the "curse" that it is. Bleh. It makes me regret being born female. Seriously. 'Nuff said, I think. >.O

Watched too much HGTV yesterday. Learned a few things: (1)I get nothing done when I have the TV tuned to HGTV. I can't tune those shows out for nothin'. (2)Everyone who doubted me when I wanted to go blue with black highlights for my kitchen should grovel at my feet! No, really -- I have, in the five years we've been in this house, slowly been adding new touches/redos in the kitchen, many of which employ this color scheme. So, if seeing it in person wasn't proof enough that it works, the "Spice up my Kitchen" show yesterday redid a kitchen with teacup blue walls, white cabinets, and black countertops. Gorgeous! And, see? I do have taste. Well, I mean, other than in my mouth, that is. (3)I want black granite countertops in the worst way. (4)I should stop watching HGTV ... because, yeah, now I really want the new countertops. *cries*

Fae is tormenting Sister Kitty. Sister Kitty is on the top stair leading up to the third floor. She snuck out of the office while Fae was sleeping. Sadly, I got up (disturbing Fae's slumber) before Sister Kitty made it back to the safety of her kitty bed. Now, only a child gate separates them, and Fae will not let things go. I can feel Sister Kitty's hate vibez from here. Poor kitty.

New books are the LOVE!!! ♥ ♥ Got an Amazon delivery last night: Book #5 of the Dresden Files (which I can never find in the store), and two books by Abigail Thomas. I'm in bibliophile heaven!! Many thanks to

steffannee, whose wonderful Amazon b-day giftie made all this happiness possible.

I'm making chicken noodle soup tonight. Provided I have all the ingredients. If I don't have all the ingredients, I'll make ... hmmm. I don't know what I'll make, but it won't be chicken noodle soup.

I decided to try and use my Dreamwidth account as a dedicated writing journal. I've tried this in the past here on LJ, but it never worked out. Hopefully the third (millionth) time is the charm. We shall see.

And, it's time for me to go pick up my daughter at school. =D

Entry tags:

Adventures in Cooking ...

I tried out a new recipe tonight: Peach-glazed Chicken. I found it in a magazine, and it sounded pretty good. And looked easy enough, even for me. I made it with a Caesar salad and some rice. And you know what? It was a pretty darn good meal.

I'm always a little astounded when I can manage to pull something together that seems like an actual "meal" sort of thing. Because I'm not really domestic. And I'm not all that into the whole cooking thing. I guess I don't hate it, but I don't particularly enjoy it, either. I pretty much don't get anything out of it, either way; it's just something I do because I "have" to do it. If that makes sense.

Anyhow, my inner domestic DIVA was quite proud of me tonight. You go, girl. ^.~

Current Mood: tired

Entry tags:

Done is Done!!

For today, anyhow. >.O

Sooooo ready for this day to be over. It started out OK, but just went downhill in the afternoon. I guess not downhill as in being "bad", really. Just tiring.

( Read more... )