Pretty good

Let's start Wednesday, middle of the week, end of the month. If I had to give myself a grade for where I am and what I have done this week, I guess I would score a B+. Okay, maybe a B. But, really now, there are no grades that have to be given out or even thought about. I certainly don't want to have to score the flip side when weeks haven't gone so well. Let's agree to dismiss the scoring system. Good thought.

I've managed to run 3 miles each of the past two days and that feels pretty good. Monday was at the gym with the temperatures soaring and yesterday outside with at least 12 degrees cooler than the day before but pretty blustery. I would think it adds a little to the workout when I am battling inclines and force of wind. I'm pretty happy with myself about getting out there at all. I'm prepared for a run at the gym or outside today depending but like I said, feeling pretty good.

I am working my time to get around to pounding out more editing to my novella, Crossed Wires. After I managed to work the prologue into a chapter last Saturday, I'm going to repeat myself and say I'm feeling pretty good about that, too. It's amazing what focusing on the job at hand can do and I seem to be somewhere within the confines of that zone. You know, that place when I am working and not fretting. It makes a world of difference and it shows.

So, middle of the week, looking forward to a new month. Sounds pretty good to me.
TT

Go!

What an enormously productive weekend! Did I get everything done? No, but did you see the extensive list I spouted out yesterday? It was a little insane and expectations should be more realistic.

But the actual amount of items that were completed were very high. So I feel very rejuvenated about starting this new week. I feel as if I have some real momentum to take this feeling with me a little longer. Here we go, Monday. Ready. Set...
TT

Get to it

I've had quite a bit going on this morning and it's only 10:30! Good thing...I have lot's more I want to do!

There needs to be more organization outside with this new deck completed. I have to say it was more than well worth having it done. I've managed to spend more time outside and plan on spending even more. There are some things that were taken off the old deck that need to find a new home even if it means disposal. Some things you keep around and don't realize they aren't needed until they get moved. I have some of those type of items and others that shouldn't have been in the places they were placed. Some adjustments to the new stairs will get some attention. I have more paving stones that need to be rearranged and then some general clutter busting.

Grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, and indoor chores also need to be addressed. I'll also carve out a few more minutes for writing to add to the very good use of time I managed yesterday morning. Some real progress was made on my Crossed Wires story! Moving on, moving forward...got to get to it!
TT

Switching ignitions

I'm in the waiting room of the car dealership. I made the earliest appointment possible on a Saturday to get this ignition switch recall completed on my car. I could be out for a run. I should be out for a run but things need to be taken care of and since I needed to wait the weeks to get the part, I didn't think it would be wise to put off the completion any longer. It's supposed to be a two-hour wait so I came equipped with my laptop.

They serve an incredibly small cup of coffee, in a tiny styrofoam cup, each one poured out individually by a fancy machine that gives you twelve options. I had to search the buttons lined up on the machine to finally located the only button that could satisfy me. 'Regular Coffee' was the closest answer to my question. I watched attentively as it poured a small amount of hot water into the cup. Wrinkles in my forehead must have appeared as I watched it fill a third of the tiny cup with water but then the brown liquid followed, but I still wasn't sure. It was caramel colored and I was getting apprehensive it might be sweetened or have added milk. I stood still and waited, just a little longer, hold on, let the fancy machine do what it's supposed to do. Then it stopped with still a quarter of the cup empty. I thought it had a room for more. Ah well, I'll take it and I did.

I am planning to try a little writing. Surprise! I think it might be a year since I shoved everything away and left it to collect dust. Well, maybe not an entire year but a substantial amount of time. I needed to clear my head. After attacking an entire draft of a novel and starting re-writes, then writing three other shorter pieces, completing one novella, I was feeling isolated and stripped of all confidence. I decided the best thing to do was to learn more. I've scoured and researched more writing sites, articles, and information than any other person could in the same amount of time. I don't have actual statistics to back it up, but come on, if you know me I have a tendency toward obsessive at times? Nah...not really. Well, maybe. Refer above to the coffee paragraph and the mention of running at the very beginning of this post.

The only thing ever holding me back is myself. It's always the case. So, what if I take all that information and apply it without thinking about all the possibilities and outcome? Just work, because it is.

I have some time waiting in the car dealership. It's time to switch faulty ignitions and open up one of those dusty documents.  I don't think it would be wise to put off the completion any longer.
TT

Finished Deck!

 


How about that deck?! Yes. Finally. Yesterday afternoon, I came home from work and found all the work was completed on our new outdoor living space. It's nice and new and smelling of sawed wood and...

I could go on and on but more importantly - it's done!
TT

Easter Menu 2014

Easter Menu 2014

Artichoke Spinach Dip

Fried Zucchini and Eggplant

Oysters Rockefeller

White Spinach Lasagna with Lobster

Shrimp with Marinara Sauce and Polenta

Roasted Asparagus wrapped in Prosciutto

Banana Creme Pie with Fresh Strawberry Sauce

I'm still looking for other pictures. We seemed to have taken them with all different camera's and devices. Organization for getting the meal together was superb! Not so much for the photography of the food.
TT

Not done but moving on to menu's

Are you tired of hearing about the progress of the rebuilding of my deck? Double that and you might have the feeling of the frustration I feel living through it.  They will NOT finish by Easter (which is tomorrow)! We did get the upper level completed so we DO have an area that is usable. That is a step in the right direction and it IS looking wonderful. How can I really complain?

They put that temporary 'safety' rail up for me so we wouldn't fall off the edge until the crew comes back on Monday to finish (hopefully).
It will work out fine.

Now, I'm putting the final touches to the menu for tomorrow. Nobody seemed to be able to come up with any solid ideas and the suggestions that were thrown out was a total mish-mash. White Lasagna, Red Sauce Pasta, Seafood...I listened to them go back and forth and not come up with any sort of menu plan. I decided to take it all into my own hands and not go through the negotiations of collaborating with any of them.  That would take more time and energy than I had.

I thought, pasta, seafood.  Okay - They all love the white sauce, spinach lasagna so what if I added lobster?  There! One down.  Red marinara sauce with garlic, grilled shrimp!  There - another. How about some Oysters Rockefeller as appetizers which uses the spinach again.  Aha!  Now, I'm on to a theme. It's going like that. I've got to spend a little more time fine-tuning it but that's a plan.

I'll spend some time today making sure I can get my ingredients. I can spend some time on prep work to save myself time tomorrow. Clean the kitchen, get out the chairs and wine glasses, toast to spring-time...wait. Save that for tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.
TT