Neighbors of blogville--do not fear. I am letting the account go down to free for a while. I haven't been using it, and just can't pay for something I don't use! I'm not leaving entirely, though. This is just for a bit, maybe the first of the year or so. I'll still be checking my email, so you can still reach me if you want, and a lot of you know me already on facebook. So, this is not goodbye! I love this place too much for that!
 

This has been one of the busiest summers in memory. I am exhausted, and still have a month to go! My next trip begins the day after tomorrow, but this is the one I look forward to all year--Girl's Vacation. We are back in NC this year, happily, with four days on the beach. Yay! Then a few more days playing at my friend's house, then back home...to go camping again with the inlaws. But I'm not thinking about that right now.

In other news, I have discovered the scariest word in the english language: Cancer. Especially when your doctor uses it to you, after you get a biopsy. Yup--I just found out today that I have a skin cancer that needs removed. The doc (or more correctly, his nurse) told me not to worry, it isn't the scary kind, but it does need to be removed. However, not worrying is a little easier said than done. I am a bit freaked out right now--and don't even know how to tell anyone. Hubby doesn't even know, just you folks. Crikey. And for those of you who know me on facebook, please don't say anything over there.

Not much else to report--I broke a toe; the motor on our cooler died leaving us in 100 degree heat with no air; the upstairs bathroom sink sprung a leak which went undetected until it started running down into the garage...nope, not much else at all.
 

Well, at least it has been less than a month this time, and a week of that was excused. Yes, the second of this year's record 4 inlaw camping trips is gone, firmly behind us where I can forget all about it. Hopefully soon. I leave again next week, this time for Yellowstone. Part of me is excited--is has been years since I've been there, and it is beautiful. I just wish I weren't going with my inlaws. *sigh* Do I really need to say that I am sick of them?

My writing has also been at a standstill. For this time between trips, I don't want to get started on something, and then have to drop it for a week and a half when we leave. The ideas are still there, more and more all the time, crowding around only to disappear when I do halfheartedly try to get them down. Not that I've been trying very hard.

What I need is a schedule. That solves all the problems, doesn't it? Figure out what to do with my days, and go from there. I'll get on that.

So, for now, I hope you are all doing well, and I'll be back to visit soon!
 

I got a few things over the weekend, some of them good, some indifferent. I made a list!

1. A slight sunburn.
2. A sore back.
3. One-third of my veggie garden planted.
4. Some reading done.
5. A few movies watched (You've Got Mail, Crybaby, Truly Madly Deeply, Homefries)
6. Spam!

Normally, this last one would not be a big deal, but it was here at WDC! This is the one account I don't expect to get spam, and this morning I popped in here to see that I have the electronic equivalent of a guy in a trenchcoat on a corner saying, "Hey buddy, wanna buy a watch?"

Geez.

What did you get this weekend?
 

After what seemed like an eternity of fake fur up my nose, I got the hat done. It looks all right, certainly not my best work but not too bad for such a rushed job. The fake fur was terrible to work with; it showed an enthusiasm greater than that of my cat's floating hairs in getting into my nose, mouth, and eyes. I swear it is still lurking all over the house, ready to pounce when I least suspect.

Anyway, here is the hat:

** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **

Of course, now that it is finished, I no longer have such an urge to work on the rest of the stuff.
 

I'm feeling just a little cranky today. Probably the result of not enough sleep, compounded with not enough time. *sigh* Not much to do about it this week, either way.

The other day, I realized that I need to get working on the Girl's Vacation presents. May is half over, and I will be gone for half of June. Vacation is at the beginning of August, which gives me two months to get them finished, when all the working time I have is combined. This worries me a little, though I can cheat on one and use something I already have, just add to it. I am worried, though, that they won't like the gifts. Of course, it seems like I go through this same uncertainty every year...

Today, however, I need to make a hat. My 10 year old has a school program next week, with a dress rehearsal tomorrow, and he needs a Davy Crockett hat by the time of the dress rehearsal. Of course, he remembered to tell me that last night. Ugh.
 

Well, I got nothin' today.
 

I am so tired today--not sure why, as I went to bed at a decent time last night. Really a decent time, considering Hubby is out of town and I don't usually sleep well without him here. However, I can't seem to stay awake this morning, and keep dozing off in my coffee.

Not long ago, I thought I had an idea for a new story. The more I think about it though, the less I like it--and there doesn't seem to be anything else in the idea bank right now. I'm not sure what to do about this, as it hasn't happened before. There are a couple of older, half developed ideas that I could play with, but why isn't there anything new?

In the fall, my youngest will be starting the big K. I'm sure I've already whined about that here, so I won't bore you with it further, but I've been putting some thought into what to do when he is there. Originally, the plan was that when I finished school, I would stay home with him until he went into first grade, then I would get a job. Since graduation, though, I've realized that I want a career in writing--and making some money at it this year only helped that realization. So...I finally talked to Hubby about it, and told him what I want to do. It was kind of scary, because I was pretty afraid of what he would say, but he is actually okay with it. I think. I still feel like I really need to get something published the year baby is in Kindergarten, though, to prove that I can do it.

With all this in mind, I actually have a plan now as far as what to do. Until the time he starts, I am going to just write. Not edit or revise anything, just write what I can. Then, when he starts school, I will have about 3 hours each morning in an empty house, four days a week. I figure if I spend two days on new things, and two days on revision, that should work out pretty well. I guess we'll just have to see.

Hope you are having a good day!
 

Organization! Okay, not really. There are parts of me that are very organized, and chaos tends to drive me crazy, but my surroundings do not reflect that.

However, this morning I have been doing really well. I've managed to check off a number of things from the daily to-do list, and plan on getting a lot more done--if I can only stay off the damn computer games for a while. This shouldn't be too hard, since I played last night until 3am, and my neck and shoulders are aching from it.

For mother's day, I went to see the new Star Trek. Has anyone else seen it yet? What did you think? I think last week, I saw two other movies, older ones I hadn't seen before. They were on tv, so I'm sure there was some editing, but I still liked them both, much more than I thought I would. First was 50 First Dates, which was cute and funny and for some reason has stuck in my head--just wondering how some of the day-to-day details of life would work. The other was Million Dollar Baby, which I had not been interested in seeing, but impressed the hell out of me. Wow. And besides, there is something sexy about Clint, even at this age. Of course, this was cemented by watching Fistful of Dollars the next night--and he is damn hot in that. And have you noticed that young(er) Clint bears a strong resemblance to Hugh Jackman? Double yum, there.

Anyway, hope you all had a great weekend, a good Mother's Day, all that!

 

On Thursday, I had big plans for the weekend. Hubby was off on Friday, and we were going to spend the whole thing doing yardwork, getting the flower beds and gardens ready for planting. Unfortunately, it rained all weekend, and Friday I was sick sick sick, so I mostly just sat around all day.

Saturday, because I still wanted to get something done, I ended up cleaning an entire room. I don't just mean dusting and such, I mean the deep cleaning into corners and closets and the backs of the drawers. We got rid of an entire vanload of stuff to the local charity, and it feels amazing! I can use all the space in my closets, walk around without stubbing my toes--it is great! Makes me want to do it to the rest of the house.

I found out just a few minutes ago that the son of a friend is getting married next month. I haven't seen him for a while, and still tend to think of him as the 10 year old I used to babysit. Kind of gives me a strange feeling. Hopefully, it will be when we were already planning on visiting (this is happening in SD), so we will be able to make it.

Hope everyone is having a good day, full of...whatever makes your day good.