My Weblog

Progress, maybe.........

I have marched my way through an extended "to do" list. So far, I've made it through 9 of 12 items. Still remaining? the desk, a book shelf, and something decluttered in the garage. I'm pretty sure I will indeed do the desk and the bookshelf. I have foolishly waited til it is cold and dark to work on the garage and I don't know if I can face up to that.......

I made the bed. I finished loading the dishwasher and ran it. I wiped down the counters and finished up dehydrating some bananas for snacks at work. I carried trash to the outside bins, two big bags of it. I did a 10 minute pickup (this meant I picked up all the Christmas stuff I bought yesterday to wrap gifts. I ended up putting everything into the coat closet. I refuse to just put this stuff in the garage until I can actually tunnel my way into the spot where it actually belongs.) I also took care of putting away some things in the master bedroom. I ditched about 100 old e-mails. I unzipped and organized some downloaded files. Once again, I vacuumed up mud crumblets. I got to vacuuming and I couldn't stop, so I've finally vacuumed all the way to the far end of the house. I had one very important document that HAS to go in the mail immediamente. It's now ready. So, I haven't exactly been a slug today. I am sure most of you would have accomplished more, but I'll bet most of you are younger, LOL.

I did not have "dinner" as most of you would have had "dinner" but I did throw a chicken leg and thigh into the oven with some spices on it. At least it was "real" food.........And it was protein, not just carbs with some sort of sauce on it.........

I've been wanting to get after the coils on my refrigerator for quite a while now. It's just that I do not have a suitable tool to use. I checked on-line. The tool for this purpose that is designed by Dyson costs $47! I don't think I want to clean my refrigerator coils THAT much!!!!!! I prowled around Dyson's site and Amazon and didn't like anything I saw. I think I have finally decided to order Flylady's Dryer Lint kit. It includes a flexible brush, a vacuum cleaner attachment and a vent brush. I can't possibly move the dryer so there is no chance I'm going to use the vent brush. But, IF I can make their vacuum cleaner attachment fit on the Dyson (duct tape may be involved), then, between that and their brush, I think it's worth an $18 investment. What do you think? Will cleaning the refrigerator coils really result in some sort of savings on my power bill???

I think I have delayed long enough. Time to face the music and see what I can get done of the items that are left on the "to do" list.

Last day............

This is my 5th and final day in a row of being at home. Progress has been made and undone. Geez. I do wish that once I get something all spiffed up it would stay that way!

This goofy dog of mine goes outside and hangs out in the cold and in the rain when I am not at home. This means that today, for the 3rd time in 5 days I will once again be vacuuming the mud bits from the living room floor! I know he can't help it, but maybe he could just decide to stay in the house???? Oh well, vacuuming was on the daily plan anyway.......

I am still ready to do a Pentecostal shout to heaven over last night. It was a thoroughly positive experience. And, honestly, I think it was a positive experience for all involved. I can't help but be impressed with the girlfriend. Imagine being willing to have me in her new home, a day after surgery and in the midst of a move. She in no way pushed herself in, but when I sought her out, she was very congenial. I believe she is going to be a very positive influence in the middle of that situation and I am particularly pleased that the kids respond so well to her. I have to conclude that she must respond well to the kids as well as I know kids sense when they are liked/loved. 

I checked the weather report again today. I guess I'll be doing that daily til a)I get the exterior painting done or b)It's the dead of summer and hot as Hades no matter what, LOL. Anyway, I was happy to see that as of today, forecasted highs and lows have been revised upward. A couple of days ago, there were lows in the forecast of temperatures down in the low 20's. With all the plumbing mess I've had to deal with in recent months, I am very well aware of "exposed pipes". I was pretty concerned about one area in particular if the low temperature really did get down to 23 as predicted! I know there is an insulated cover one can buy for those pipes, but that particular item sells for about $35. I sure didn't want to have to spend that though I would have if it meant not having a plumbing bill which would surely have been MUCH more! Warmer is good when it's under 3 digits, LOL.

So, what about today? Well, obviously I have to vacuum (again). 

I will work on the daily tasks (making the bed, clearing up any dishes, wiping the counters, carrying trash out, "tidying" up, deleting e-mail, dealing with paper on the desk, unzipping and organizing files. Maybe I'll have a bit of time to do some decluttering on bookshelves and in the garage. No doubt I can keep busy.

I have accomplished a good bit in the way of "cleaning" the past few days. I am disappointed in that I did not make a list of what I wanted to accomplish over the 5 days off. I think that would have helped motivate me to keep pushing a little bit harder. I have 3 days off, Jan 2-4 this coming week and I want to be sure I do that. The daily lists are great but sometimes I lose the big picture, like not seeing the forest for the trees.

Gonna get going now. Lots to be done. YOU be BLESSED today.

 

 

 

 

It was a good night......

This time, I went to ex-SIL's house. That was SO MUCH better than meeting up in a restaurant. I took with me gifts for the kids and ex-SIL, 2 pints of ice cream, a card game, and Volume 1 of the scrapbooks I created for my daughter over the years. 

I was warned ahead of time that "moving" was happening and that the house was in "chaos". Well, yes, there were boxes sitting around, but if someone is moving, that is to be expected. Ex-SIL was not there when I got there. I got to meet his new lady! I like her. The little kids seem to think she's great. My DGD threw 2 or 3 unsolicited hugs her way during the course of the evening. She is closer in age to my Ex-SIL than my daughter is. I don't know her age, but she has a child in college. I figure her to be maybe 4 years younger than he is. She is a therapist. She works with homeless vets and kids who are "in the system". She works with parents whose children have been returned to them by CPS. I believe this means that if ex-SIL needs help with the kids, she will steer him in the right direction. 

She is moving in with him. She knows oldest DGS is living with him and that the younger 2 kids are in and out of the house. Yet, she's willing to take it on. And, having raised a couple of kids herself, one of whom is not "hers", I think she knows what she's getting herself into. 

As a result of what happened to ex-SIL approximately 10.5 years ago, everyone in that family unit has felt the effects, including him. If he is happy with her, then so be it. Do I approve of the living arrangement? No, as a Christian, I don't. But, I have no clue what her beliefs are and I know he calls himself an agnostic. I can't force "Christian" values on them. I can only seek to live by my understanding of "right" myself. That's a pretty big challenge all by itself without sitting in judgement or trying to push my values on other people.

Everyone seemed pleased with their gifts. Phew! DGD went to bed tonight wearing one of her nightshirts. And younger DGD had to plug his Android charger in immediately. Ex-SIL seemed really pleased with the Starbucks coffee. But, most pleased, I think, was oldest DGS. I got him a tool bag. According to Ex-SIL, DGS had recently gotten some tools. DGS says yes, he has tools but he had no place to put them til now. 

I took the time to write a personal note to each grandchild. The little guys read theirs, and that was pretty much all there was to it. The oldest DGS teared up when he read his. I really want that kid to know that "no matter what" I love him. I think he needs to hear that over and over and over. I am thrilled to have had this opportunity to say that to him again.

It was a good night. The new lady pretty much stayed busy and out of the way. Towards the end of the evening, I sought her out and we talked a little. She even came and asked if I'd like her to take a picture of the kids and I. It was a nice idea, but, this time, I wanted us to just "be". 

As I said, I took along Volume 1 of the accumulated scrapbooks which goes way back to the kids great-great-great-great grandparents and works its way forward through the time oldest DGS was about 2. We talked about the way folks dressed in the old days and how having your picture taken was a special occasion then. We talked about old cars and horses and buggies and how ladies dressed in those days way back when. We talked about how those folks were related to the kiddos. And we say photos of their mother in Halloween and dance costumes and on vacations. The older pictures didn't hold as much interest for them but I got questions like: Did they have telephones then? Oldest DGS was interested to see a "real" telegram which is in there. Their interest picked up when we got to their mother. 

Finally, we picked up the mess and we had ice cream. Oldest DGS was back in his room by then and didn't want ice cream. But he reappeared and extended his arms to give me a big hug when I left. I got hugs all around except from the lady friend. Obviously I didn't expect a hug from her but I was pretty flattered to get a hug from ex-SIL! 

All in all it was a good night. The only drawback was that I ended up with a pretty good headache. Also, the new lady friend had had some minor surgery yesterday and was having her own version of a headache. So, we suffered together, LOL.

I guess the little guys will head back to San Diego on Monday..........Even though I've not been able to see much of them these last years, it's still hard for me to think of them so far away, but as my DH, Joe, would have said "It is what it is."  The only thing I can do is put them in the Lord's hands til the next time I see them. 

I am now going to take something for this headache of mine. I would like to think it's caused by the weather (we've had all day rain), but I know it's not. But, shortly, I'll be tucked up in bed and it will be better.

I'm pissed........

at me. You have all heard me complain, over and over about my garage. It is overwhelmingly bad. And today it cost me money. 

I have gifts to wrap. And the only gift wrapping supply that is accessible is a total of 2 rolls of wrapping paper. I have no accessible gift bags, no accessible tissue paper, no accessible gift cards, no accessible gift boxes.........you get the idea. Notice that each of those items contains the word "accessible". It is not that I don't have those things. I just can't get to them. So, today, my garage cost me money. I HAD to have tape. I own packing tape, washi tape, and masking tape. No "Scotch" tape. NONE. I searched the entire office, every single little nook and cranny. So, off I went to the store.

I figured that the two closest stores were K-Mart and CVS. K-Mart might have been cheaper, but, I think, in all the years I've lived in this house, I've only been in that store once. I could see myself wandering around in circles for hours and I don't have that kind of time. So, instead, I headed to CVS. I'm in and out of that store pretty often. The added advantage to CVS is that on the way I pass the gas station where I usually buy gasoline. And I was down to about a quarter tank.

So, I stopped and put $20 worth of gasoline in the van. That puts me at about 7/8ths of a tank. And on to CVS I went.

I grabbed the cheap brand of tape. I found a big gift bag which I hope is big enough for my oldest DGS's gift (which is large and odd-shaped). That necessitated the purchase of tissue paper. I have no ribbons or bows for on my packages (no, not true. It's another case of have them but can't get to them.). So, I picked up some curling ribbon. And I have at least 3 gifts that I needed boxes for, so I bought boxes. All told, not being able to get to my Christmas stuff cost me about $15 today and that makes me mad!

 

The Big Day?

If you are reading this blog, I'd appreciate a comment. (D, this does not apply to you, in that you always comment--so appreciated.) It would help me just to know you're out there.

In theory, this evening I will see my grandkids for an hour or so. We'll see. It may not happen. I will need to get in touch with ex-Son-in-Law today to firm up.

The temperature today is supposed to be around 56 at some point, but we are also forecasted for afternoon showers. Well, I try to make it a practice not to complain about rain. I may not like having to walk or drive around in it, but the basic truth is that this area needs every drop of rain we can get. Besides, it sometimes happens that it rains in one area and nary a drop falls in another area. So, whether it will rain where I am is a big unknown. 

I went to bed early last night because my gut was in an uproar. The sleep cure didn't exactly work. I was back up a couple of hours later with more of the same. But, I got a decent amount of sleep and I'm functional at an earlier time than usual. Calls for a celebration.

I have one task that MUST be completed today, I think. That is updating my PTIN, my preparer's tax ID number. This thing is an Obama "tax". I have to pay $63 each year to prepare tax returns. If I were less honest, I'd skip this and just prepare returns on the sly and never let on, but I'm just not that kind of person. So, I have to pay the money.....and it has to be done by the 31st.

Today is Friday, so technically, I'm supposed to wash/wipe down walls and do laundry. There is still not enough laundry to make a load. I think, more urgent than washing walls would be finishing up the hard floors that need vacuumed and steam mopped. So, that's what I'm going to do.

Of course, I'll be taking a run on all the daily tasks as well. I will make my bed, even though I don't see the point. All the dirty dishes I know about are already pre-washed and in the dishwasher, but I will give the sink a good cleaning. I thought I did that, but there are some bits of whatever in there so......... I don't really need to wipe down the counters. They were THOROUGHLY cleaned two days ago and nothing exciting has happened in there since. Also, I've been careful to clean up after myself since...... I will carry some trash outside. I don't think that is going to happen before the crack-o'-dawn trash pickup but the point here, as far as I'm concerned, is to get the trash out of the house........ I will walk through the house and put away random whatever for 10 minutes.........I will delete e-mail, unzip and organize files, and work on the desk and the bookcase. 

AND, I will wrap 4 Christmas gifts. I don't have a lot to give, but, hopefully, the kids will accept theirs graciously and with some amount of enthusiasm. I'm pretty sure ex-SIL will have some idea of gratitude for my gift for him. Everything is returnable so if anyone hates or can't use what they  received, they can get something else. 

Oh, I wanted to ask a question: I have now decluttered a LOT of books. (Did you know that typepad refuses to accept "decluttered" as a word??) I mean a LOT. They are going to weigh a ton, much more than I want to lug around. Got any good ideas on how this weakling can "package" them up and still be able to move them?

So, I'm off to make "my space a better place".  YOU be BLESSED today!

Phew!

It's early for me but I'm ready to head to bed. My gut has been crazy all evening. Maybe it's the dried apricots I ate last night? Who knows....... But I should feel marvelously "clean" on the inside when I wake up tomorrow morning.

Well, I just did a quick review of today's task list. I wish I could say I did better. I don't really think I did. All the dishes are caught up. I spent 10 minutes just picking up and putting away little stuff that had landed on the dining room table. I spent some time unzipping and organizing downloaded files. I still have a zillion downloaded files to contend with. I did finally get the the "mud bits" Parker brings in vacuumed up. They had multiplied and I basically had to vacuum the entire living room and dining room again. He was outside with me while I was painting and apparently got more mud lodged in those big webbed paws..........I also vacuumed the kitchen and used the steam mop to clean the kitchen floor. And, of course, I painted.

Besides the pippy stomach, I think the painting may have something to do with why I'm feeling so tired tonight. That is PHYSICAL labor. The ladder I am using does not have one of those fold out "shelves" to hold a paint pan. So, every time I needed more paint on my roller it was down and back up again on the ladder. The leg muscles were just NOT ready to accept that challenge. I gave that up when they started quivering (but just think how much stronger my legs will be for that "workout"!) I finally figured out that if I REALLY REALLY stretched, I could reach the top edge of that beam I was working on. So, the beam is painted, more or less. The ends are painted. The sides are painted and the bottom is painted. The top is neither scraped nor painted. I guess I'll work on that when next it is warm enough to be out there. I will also still need to go back to where the beam and its supports intersect and do some brushwork. I could not get close enough in to cover part of that joint area. Then, it's on to fascia.

I have decided I did one thing wrong in this "how to eat an elephant" project. I actually started in the wrong place. It is fairly evident to me that I will have trouble completing this before it gets HOT. The patio is on the northeast side of the house. It is most likely the coolest spot anywhere on the house. In that it's cold, I should have started on the west side. I think I have to at least scrape and paint the top of this beam now that I've started it. However, after that I may decide to move to the west side of the house.......

The patio gets morning sun. However, in the mornings, it's cold out there! And if I wait til the temperature gets up to where I can work without frozen fingers, I am working in the shade. That means no sun to warm me. No, probably this was not the best plan given the time of year.

So, that's it for tonight. I am now going to head down the hall and pray for sleep which is usually enough to settle the gut. I sure hope so, but if it's not, I now own OTC meds to stop it. 

The faithfulness of God.........

I've been painting. Up on a ladder. Spooky stuff. There was a time when climbing up on a ladder was nothing for me. No challenge. However, since my two encounters with Levaquin and the wasting of muscle that has been a result, climbing is no small feat. Particularly when I am called upon to do it repeatedly. 

I had the good sense to pray for God's protection before I went out there. And, sure enough. On one trip, coming down, I missed a step. However, it was a bottom step and I am completely unhurt. PTL! 

I am more than half finished with what I planned to do today. I'll go back out there again in a few minutes. Just wanted to take a few minutes and catch my breath.

Now here's another thing for which to be oh so thankful. When I left work on Tuesday, I was really shaken. Shaken and depressed. I have battled that feeling ever since. I told the Lord about the scripture that says "The battle belongs to the Lord" and how I was going to stay out of it. I reminded Him where He'd said "No weapon formed against you shall prosper". And every time I've caught myself holding imaginary conversations with supervisors at work, I've repented. While I was outside this afternoon, my cell phone rang. Oh, Lord, it was a call from the store. My immediate reaction was that I had been canned (see, I fought for victory over that fear, but I didn't really have it yet). They were calling, I thought, to tell me not to bother to come back except to clean out my locker. 

Well, no. God doesn't work that way. I was originally scheduled for just 10 hours next week. That schedule has now been revised. I now work 21 hours! My schedule was changed! And, thankfully, they thought to call me and let me know that. I STILL am unable to access the store's employee website to check my schedule or anything else. I tell you, it's all I can do to keep myself from standing outside and shouting "Thank you, Lord!" at the top of my lungs!!!!!

God is SO faithful. In one of my many conversations with Him over the last two days, I've told Him that I know He knows I need A job. And, I've said that I want THIS job. Well, alright then! I not only have THIS job, I have more hours. That's a REAL answer to prayer!

And, now, I have to go try to do some more painting. In less than an hour, it'll be almost dark! Dark brown/black paint and dark skies don't work well together! 

Outside day........

I won't be hurrying out there--it's only 42 degrees right now! But, by somewhere around midday, it should be warm enough to get some outside work done.

The first thing I have to do out there is summon enough strength to pull a BIG bundle of tree branches to the curb, in hopes that they'll take 'em tomorrow. Then I will move to the patio area and scrape the little bit of that beam remaining. And, then, out comes the paint and we get that thing painted. Then if I can still move my right arm, LOL, I'll be starting on scraping the fascia. There are still no days with highs towards 60 in the next 15........

Then it's on to my daily to do list. But, today, I'll be washing hard floors. According to my housekeeping plan (and, looking around, it sounds a little ridiculous to even say I HAVE one), I should also be doing laundry, but I have only a tiny amount of that hanging fire due to the fact that I washed up everything on Christmas Day. (Sometimes I'm a little hard on myself in this area. I'm not quite as bad as I sound. But I grew up with a woman who cleaned things that never had a chance to get dirty in the first place. I'm not THAT person..........)

I have 4 Christmas gifts to wrap. It also sounds a little ridiculous to say THAT, not because it's after Christmas, but because I am not at all sure I should have spent the little bit of money I actually spent. Then I waffle over and wonder if I should slip some $$$ in the gifts to make them a little less embarrassing. 

I figured out that I am going to miss my coveted gardening seminar on the 1st. I have to work. I'm sorry to miss the seminar. It is being put on by "The Tomato Lady", a local LV gardener who has been gardening successfully here in the desert for more than 20 years. She was even going to give out free starter plants....... Oh, well. I need the paycheck so I will go to work and I will smile!

This job has been a tremendous help in more ways than one. December 31 brings me closer to the end of an annual period of time that has been very tough for me. Starting in November, I face Thanksgiving, my anniversary, my birthday, Christmas, Joe's birthday, and the anniversary of Joe's death--alone. But, this year, getting through this tough time has been made a lot easier because I have the job. I'm sure, also, that the fact that Joe has been gone almost 6 years helps. Not so much that I don't miss him. More that I'm getting used to "alone" and in many cases I view the solitude, quiet, and freedom to do what I want when I want as being acceptable in my life. I think this is progress. I'm grateful not to be depressed this year! 

Speaking of Christmas gifts, my mother instructed the person who is handling her finances to send me a check for my birthday/Christmas gift. I haven't received anything. Perhaps it is just because Monday was a federal holiday. I don't know. But, I've avoided calling her because she will ask and I will be forced to tell her the truth and then she will worry. She is and always has been a champion worrier, but at 96, I'd like to avoid making her worry if I can....... The truth is she'll find something to worry about anyway, but I'll be happier if nothing I say or do helps her to do that.

I forgot to tell you that I got a free dozen eggs at TJ's last night. I'd picked up a carton of eggs as I strolled through the store. The cashier opened the carton and noticed that one egg was cracked. She called for someone to bring a replacement, but it happens that was the last carton of those eggs they had. So, she called the manager over and he decided since they couldn't give me a replacement product, I should have the eggs for free. That saved me $1.79! Just another example of the favor of God operating in my life. I DO need reminders of His favor every now and then. Particularly after my most recent day at work.....

I am still not going to disclose details of that. Suffice it to say I seem to have been held accountable for a stranger's criminal intent. I apparently needed more "training". It was well done but....... I DO think they watch me. I'm sure they watch all of us. However, after more than 6 months of apparently never having a cash drawer that was short (if I did, they've never told me about it) and calling in sick only once, it seems to me maybe I've earned a little trust. But, maybe no one is trusted in that store. I don't know. A little distrust is a pretty good thing when you have employees handling many hundreds of $$$ in cash on a daily basis. I think the thing that was the most disturbing about the whole event was that the Assistant Store Manager who has been mighty good to me was in on the "training" session. He didn't say much of anything. But his presence made it much more stressful. 

As I see the event, a person with the intent to steal or defraud the store came to my register. I am the only little old lady cashier with visible white hair. So, to a young, BIG black man with criminal intent, I probably looked like an easy mark. I'm sure he looked at me and decided he could easily overpower me if it came to that. I also happened to be operating the register closest to the exit. I didn't stop him or get the merchandise back from him, but neither did the younger, stronger, faster, more experienced person who tried. He simply knew he was "had" as a thief and just walked out the store. And most stores have rules that such folks will NOT be pursued for fear of liability if an employee gets hurt. 

When I was at Target, they had a commitment to "Loss Prevention". They had 3 people on duty every minute they were open. They had multiple surveillance cameras both inside and outside. They had the "no pursuit" rule, but they relied on the exterior cameras to get license plate numbers of thieves. Also, the strip mall where Target is located has security officers (multiple security officers) on patrol all the time. THIS store does not have as heavy an investment in security. 

We are right next door to Costco. I haven't been a member there for some time, but when I was there, exiting the store was difficult and there was always a manager visible up front and 2 people on the exit door comparing carts to register receipts. The truth is, I'm fairly sure Costco experiences their share of theft as well. There is that old saying "Where there's a will, there's a way".................. 

But, be that as it may, I am frequently "busted" for not knowing I should do something. I have, in fact, been told the opposite of some of the things I should know I'm supposed to do, by people who were placed in temporary "authority" over me as trainers. But, when I'm "busted", I learn. That's a good thing. It's also a hard way to learn.........

So, anyhow, I figure I have about 3 hours before I should be gearing up to go outside. I'd better be getting on with life around here. YOU be BLESSED today.

 

Off track.......

So, I did a to do list this morning. And I've been off track most of the day. I have spent an amazing amount of time in the kitchen. Unloaded the dishwasher. Got it loaded up again with every dirty dish/pot/pan in the house.

Here's a don't do for you: I read on Facebook that if you had a pot that had burnt on stuff, the "miracle" cleaning thing to do was to fill it with water and add a fabric softener sheet. I tried that. The only result I can see is two wasted fabric softener sheets. The process did NOTHING for burnt on stuff.

I have cleaned the exterior of the stove. I wiped down all the countertops, even moving everything to make sure I got to every nook and cranny. I also did a lot of decluttering of countertops. My kitchen looks pretty darned good if I do say so myself.

I dragged my rusty butt to Trader Joe's. I had intended to go to Smart & Final. Didn't happen. By the time I was ready to head out it was dark and cold outside. So, in that Trader Joe's is so close to me, I went there. I didn't buy a whole lot. I got some milk and half 'n' half. I did buy a variety of their dried fruit. The stuff is pricey, but way more nutritious than potato chips or other such snacky foods and less costly, ounce for ounce. I came home and ate some dried Turkish apricots. I didn't know that Turkey produces the bulk of apricots grown in the world! I also got a couple of my favorite lemon flavored Luna bars. They have Clif bars in quite a few flavors. I bought one of the oatmeal, raisin & walnut Clif bars, just to give it a try. I made the mistake on gambling on another flavor and ordering a package of 6 from Amazon. I have not been doing well at choking those down. I also got some more bananas to dehydrate.

I cleared several hundred old e-mails from my e-mail account.

I even made my bed. I NEVER do that which made it a tough task. In that I NEVER straighten sheets, blankets, etc., making the bed this one time was a lot of effort. It turns out my new sheets from Macy's have CHEAP elastic in the fitted sheet. This makes me angry. At some point, I'll be angry enough to sew better elastic on them, but for right now, I'm just struggling to keep the mattress covered.

When I put my list together this morning, on paper, I copied the stuff I'd posted on-line and added some things to it. I ended up with 14 items. It's almost 9PM and I've only fought my way through 6 of them. Most of what I did took more time than it should have because it hasn't been done on a consistent basis. Darn! Well, I think I can work my way through a few more items before I give up and go to bed. But, I learned that if I did some of this stuff on a consistent basis, each time I did it would be easier and faster than it was today. But, tomorrow I can just start again.......

Primarily, tomorrow will be an outside day. It is the only day in the next 15 days with a forecasted high anywhere near 60 degrees. We have some coming days with highs forecasted in the low 40's.......I will do a little bit of scraping to finish off that beam I worked on last painting day. Then I'll work on getting it painted. I may decide to do some additional scraping after that. I think I am ready to move on to fascia--the part around the patio area. And, I will haul some of the wood debris from the downed tree to the curb for Friday's pickup.

I pulled a Trader Joe's entree out of the freezer for dinner tonight. I was disappointed in it. It was supposed to be a combination of chicken, orzo, spinach, kalamata olives, and feta cheese. Well, pretty much, if it contains feta cheese, I like it. However........ The "spinach" was really just tiny flecks of green stuff mixed in with the orzo. I had actually counted on that for a serving of vegetable today--WRONG! And the orzo was mushy, very mushy. The texture was pretty bad. I have to admit Parker got some of my dinner......

Well, that's about it for now. I'm going to go put my groceries away and empty a couple of small trash cans I missed for yesterday's pickup. Then I plan to spend a few minutes tidying up my bedroom. 

creating a plan........

So, God has given me another day. What shall I do with it? 

Well, first I will spend some time with Him and I will get on the treadmill. I have not been doing these things as often as I should and I'm making yet another decision to fix that! Even if I only do these things on the days I don't go to work, I will still be better off than if I don't do them at all!

I guess I will be vacuuming the living room/dining room again. I just did it, but......... I got down on the floor last night with my rubba scrubba and my hydrogen peroxide, prepared to take care of a bunch of carpet spots. Yeah, but...... As it turns out, there are little clumps of mud all over the carpet. It's been rainy lately and the ground is soft. Parker goes outside with his webbed paws and gathers mud. Then he comes pack inside and the little bits of mud on his paws end up on the carpet. I don't see how I can clean carpet spots til I get rid of the mud......

I MAY be headed to some sort of grocery store. I am out of milk. I am out of half'n'half. I have used up all the evaporated milk and the sweetened condensed milk I owned. I'm down to a bit of leftover eggnog and some coffee creamers I begged at Carl's Jr. on Christmas night. I will buy some fruit for dehydrating for snacks at work and replace things I'm out of and, hopefully, head out of the store.  Oops, I think I have to buy dog food too.

During the warmest part of the day, I'd like to go fill the van with gasoline. I do not like to see the tank below 1/2 full. It's almost down to 1/4 now. Normally I would have stopped on my way home from work to fill up, but I've been getting off from work after it's cold and dark outside. Cold and dark are not words that motivate me to stand outside and pump gasoline! 

I'm cleaning bathrooms today. Months ago I had a weekly cleaning schedule that seemed to work well for me. Then I worked bazillion hours over the summer. Now I am working oddball days. Some weeks I work Monday, some I don't. Some weeks I work Thursday, some I don't. I never know which days I'll be home til I get my work schedule. This has confused me and really messed with my weekly schedule. I've decided that what I need to do is work my schedule on the days I'm home and do whatever I can on work days. If it turns out I have no energy on work days, I can skip that day's tasks as my schedule bounces around so much I'll surely be around here to work that day's scheduled tasks the following week. So, today is bathroom day.

Of course, I also need to keep up on my daily tasks--kitchen maintenance and desk. And, hopefully I can do some decluttering on a bookshelf or two. I have a total of 19 shelves on 4 bookcases. I'm working on shelf #10. I really do want to see if I can free up some space, perhaps by moving a book case out of here. I am trying to keep only books I love and will probably read again. I'm trying to get rid of books I "should" read or "should" read again. I'm also getting rid of books I once loved but will probably never choose to read again. 

So that's what I hope to accomplish today. Let's see how much I can get done. At least, I am motivated! That always helps.......

YOU be BLESSED today.