Daily Dose

Thinking About the Weekend

2 Comments / Daily Dose, Day to Day /

It’s only mid-day on Friday and I’m already looking longingly at the weekend, in my Filofax. What to do, what to do?

Stay home and clean house?

Go out and do something fun with TW?

Stay home and clean the house?

Go out and do something fun with TW?

The house could use a really good cleaning and maybe I can pretend it’s spring while I’m doing it? Spring seems like an awfully nice thing to think about, though I suspect it’s just going to skip us this year.

Or, if we go out and do something fun — what might that fun thing be? A museum? A just drive until we get lost or find something interesting? A movie, (gasp!)? A new restaurant?

Decisions, decisions. What should we do? (Assuming the weather doesn’t jump in and make the decision for us…)

Thinking About the Weekend Read More »

The Good

4 Comments / Daily Dose, Day to Day /

I am tired of grouchy people and snarky comments and while I don’t really want the world to be all rainbows and puppies all of the time, a little more “If you can’t say something nice then just move along to something else that interests you”. I don’t mean that folks should avoid debating and sharing alternate points of view on social or political topics or even when it comes to something like designer damn Rice Krispies treats. But sometimes it would be nice if people just quietly rolled their eyes and moved along. In fact, I’m gonna do more quietly rolling my eyes and moving along — because odds are high that I’ve been a part of the problem, from time to time…

Speaking of moving along, JMP is doing some serious moving along.

Here he was in these cute pajamas last September.

Here he is in these cute pajamas today.

The Good Read More »

February In Review

Daily Dose, Day to Day, Filofax /

Thank goodness February is OVER. I’m done with it. There’s a reason why February is a short month and it has nothing to do with cycle of the moon or sun or anything calendar related. It’s because February is a DICK.

But, it wasn’t really all bad. I kept my “To Dos” manageable and have only two things left un-done. One was a carryover from January and I must do that in March. Sooner rather than later — I must fix my coffee pot. The grinder is clogged or something and it won’t grind beans — so I’m stuck using pre-ground coffee, which I keep buying so I’ll have coffee even though I have a ton of beans. Gah.

I didn’t quite manage the #tcblove photo a day challenge. I was late for two of the days, one because I’m a procrastinator and the other because I forgot TW had a dental appointment and it would be dark before we left the building. Oops. I suppose I could have not planned to take that photo in the afternoon and managed it on time but see that procrastinator thing? Also, work is NUTS right now. I skipped one day completely because the theme just didn’t work. In fact a lot of days the them didn’t work for me — I’m not a marshamllowy kinda person. lol. It was fun, though. I’m glad I did it and I’m looking forward to 17 Days of Green in March.

Still not finding time to art journal, though moving a handful of gel pens to my desk did cause me to do some doodling a couple of times. I’ve got plans to schedule art journal time into March and since that’s helped me get a ton of work done on JMP’s Christmas stocking, I think I might see some success with that next month. I hope.

All in all, a good month — consider February sucks so hard. Onward!

February In Review Read More »

Granddddddddd Opening and Boy, I’m Tired

2 Comments / Daily Dose, Day to Day /

I did not get any sleep last night. Well, I got some but not enough. Let’s not talk about that anymore, though. It makes me grouchy and I’m trying to overcome grouchy because it’s been a pretty darn good day.

TW and I went to the grand opening of Mariano’s today. Crazy. A grocery store grand opening? Me? Really? Yes, really. And it was fun. We spent too much money on interesting (and also yummy) things. We’ll try harder the next time, to stick to my normally thrifty only what’s on the list AND on sale sort of ways. DOUBLE freaking COUPONS on Wednesdays? How awesome IS THAT? Totally awesome. Can’t wait.

In other good news, Michelle belle sorted out an insurance problem AND she finally managed to find a dentist and get an appointment. That’s been a pain for her so I’m glad things are moving along the right path, finally. Also, thank God for insurance.

More good news — TW’s check came, right about the time I’d decided it was going to be a month late and we would be back to scrounging pennies (OK not really, just pulling money from savings) while we waited for it to arrive.

Also good, a present I ordered for her finally arrived or I think that’s what is waiting for us at the post office. We’ll find out for sure tomorrow. I hope it’s cool. I hope she likes it.

There are books I’ve been waiting ages for at the library waiting for us to pick them up and I’m excited about that. Flavia freaking de Luce, y’all!

And, JMP was busy talking to Grandmaaaaaa today. If I wasn’t already in a fairly good (though tired) mood, that would sure to cheer me right up.

Click to see the video.

I would, however, like to just call it a day right now and go to sleep for a very long darn time. So. Tired.

Granddddddddd Opening and Boy, I’m Tired Read More »

Girl Scout Cookie Time

4 Comments / Daily Dose, Day to Day, Foodie, Kid Talk /

It’s Girl Scout Cookie Time and I made sure to have some cash in my pocket today when we ran errands — sure enough, the girls were outside of the Starbucks, which is right next to the Robeks we usually stop at after a trip to the Navy base.

While we waited for our Robeks, I asked TW what kind of cookies she wanted. She said, “I dunno, who is the baker?”

Duh, either Little Brownie Baker or ABC, how the hell did I know? I could have walked out there and looked at the boxes and then come back and asked her again which kinds she wanted but whatever. I’ve never tasted a difference between the two, I think TW is just weird.

She’s also annoying and did not want Samoas (Little Brownie Baker FTW!) so I only bought one box of those to send to Sassymonkey and the Fake Husband. She’s also annoying because she likes Thin Mints — I do not. Thankfully she does like Trefoils and Tagalongs — so I bought those and was happy enough.

This led Elly to be completely 100% annoyed. We bought Trefoils for godsakes and NO SAMOAS? What is WRONG WITH US?

I blamed her mother, rightfully so — there are some things I’ll take the blame for but not buying Samoas, nope. That’s all on TW. (But next year I’ll remember and buy a box of them for Elly and we will make sure TW doesn’t touch them.)

Now I’m off to eat a Trefoil. Or 12.

Girl Scout Cookie Time Read More »

It Would Be Weird…

2 Comments / Daily Dose, Day to Day, Personality /

Our Dominicks’ grocery stores closed at the end of the year and since then grocery shopping has been a little… off.. around here. To make it better, we’ve gone to Tony’s Finer Foods a couple of times — which is nice, but we’re spending a lot more money than we used to spend.

I’ve been anxiously awaiting the opening of the Mariano’s in Northfield and the Heinen’s in Glenview because surely those stores will help me get back into a good grocery shopping routine. Hopefully.

The Mariano’s is opening on February 25th. We got a nice flyer with a coupon for free coffee and my first thought was… “Maybe I should take the day off and we can go to the grand opening!”

Which is weird, isn’t it. Much weirder than the people who stood in line for hours to get into a Trader Joe’s in Boulder last week (or was that just a couple of days ago.)

I’ve stood in line for weirder things — a four hour line for Burger King is the weirdest thing but this would definitely be weirder than that. Much weirder. Still, I’m tempted…

It Would Be Weird… Read More »

I’m Weird Or I Just Follow Different People? Or Both?

3 Comments / Daily Dose, Personality /

Rita wrote this post, I Reject You, Higher Standards, and while I found it interesting — I cannot relate. At all.

I don’t find other people’s pins or Facebook status updates/shares to be stressful. I don’t find myself or my life to be lacking just because someone else posts photos of their beautiful, tidy house or smiling, happy teens.

Sure, I felt quite a lot of jealousy when the Almighty posted about going to Oahu and got a little teary-eyed when she mentioned she was going to the Windward Mall, (which is RIGHT NEAR WHERE JMP LIVES), but it wasn’t stressful. I didn’t begrudge her the awesome trip to Hawaii. I didn’t blame her or feel extra bad because I’m not in Hawaii right now (and don’t know when I’ll be there again.)

I admit to feeling a little grouchy, on occasion, when my southern friends and family post their wonderful sunshiney photos while I’m looking at 3+ feet of snow on my front porch but it doesn’t cause me to lose sleep or feel unhappy about visiting Facebook or Instagram. I love their photos. I want to see more of their photos.

I also don’t feel any overwhelming need to like or comment or share the things in my stream. If I see something I like, I “like” it. If I see something I feel like commenting on, I comment. If I see something I want to share, I share. I don’t worry that others in my stream are getting their feelings hurt because I’m not liking, commenting or sharing their stuff. Does that make me a bad person?

See what’s happening there? Rading Rita’s post makes me wonder if I am a bad person or lacking in some gene or another because I can’t relate to her post. (It’s not just Rita’s post, hers is just the most recent in a long line of “Pinterest makes me feel bad” type posts.)

Rita’s avoiding Facebook and I guess maybe I just need to avoid reading posts like hers, lest I begin to feel badly about myself for not feeling badly about myself because you all post about your awesomely amazing lives and I do not?

I’m weird, right?

Or, maybe Rita’s following some really exceptional people and I’m not… nah, y’all are all exceptional. I’m just weird.

I’m Weird Or I Just Follow Different People? Or Both? Read More »

Productive!

3 Comments / Daily Dose, Day to Day /

How come there are some days when I just can’t get anything done and then there are other days when I get EVERYTHING done? What is the secret to having more days like today and fewer days like, all the other days when I don’t manage to get anything (except work) done at all.

Oh. It’s that whole work thing, isn’t it? Darn. I need more weekends and fewer weekdays or something.

I’m kind of psyched for the holiday tomorrow and hoping for another day when I get EVERYTHING on my to do list — DONE. Even if most of what’s on my to do list is to clean the damn house. Lofty goal, I know — with three dogs and three prairie dogs and TW’s quilt-in-progress, it won’t be easy but dammit — I’m gonna do it.

And, I’m going to finish two books tomorrow and I’m going to work on JMP’s stocking for at least an hour. I’m also not going to WORK at all. Not one bit. None. Nada. Zip.

See — lofty goals for President’s Day. Pray for me.

Productive! Read More »

Bad, Good, Bad, Good

1 Comment / Daily Dose, Day to Day /

That’s how my day went.

From violating Facebook’s terms of service (which I didn’t do) to an early Valentine’s Day dinner at Circa ’57 with TW. It was one of those days of bumping up and down, highs and lows. And, it was exhausting. Freaking exhausting.

I’m going to end my day by sending Sassymonkey a long “while you were out” email. She loves me (but not as much as I’m going to love having her back home and hard at work where she belongs.)

Maybe I’ll even have time to write some real blog posts about the ups and downs that happened today. Maybe.

Bad, Good, Bad, Good Read More »