The Time is Flying By - Too Much Still To Do

We're down to the final three in LJ Idol now, and one of those three is my friend ChasingSilver. They are all very talented writers, and they have a longer than usual time for their final prompt, giving them time to celebrate the Christmas holiday before the final story is due. I can hardly wait to see what they have written for the last prompt, and once again I'm so very happy to have shared this competition with all three of you. 

The prompt has now been assigned to the final 
three writers. They're all so very talented, and 
I'm looking forward to reading what they come up 
with. I'm also grateful that I pulled out when I did. 
It's a very hectic time of the year for anyone 
working in retail. 

The holidays aren't creeping up any more, they're off to the races. Sharon's package got shipped via Priority Mail yesterday - keep your eyes open, my dear friend. Chickie and Chickie Mama's gifts are in a bag waiting for our shop Xmas party. DH's gifts have been populating his chair by bits and pieces - a little bit every day for several days now. It's a bit of a tease, and I'm not sure he's been paying any attention, but hi might be. 

All of my packages have now been mailed, and I still 
have two cards yet to mail (sorry but I needed the 
correct addresses and therefore they were delayed). 

I still have two cards to send - I'm quite sure at least one of them will arrive after the date, but nothing to be done about it. I did the best I could this year, and I'm pretty pleased that I managed to get almost everything together in time. Almost. I didn't manage everything I wanted to do, but almost will have to do. 

There are so many different ways to display holiday 
cards. I usually just have mine displayed along my fireplace mantle. 
They make a lovely and festive sight. I just received a card 
from Sea Ivy yesterday - lovely and unique and so very 
welcome. 

I'm getting cards in the mail almost every day now, and my mantle is starting to look quite festive. We have snow on the ground so that it actually looks appropriate for a Christmas, and I've shoveled - the entire driveway and the front and back sidewalks at the shop. I can tell already, it's going to be a LONG, snowy winter. Since last year winter took a vacation from the Frozen Northlands, we're most definitely due for more normal weather. DH has already pulled snow from the roof, and used the snow blower to even up the driveway from my shoveling. 

This is all too true. I am always sorry that sometime 
got scrimped, or forgotten, or maybe not done as 
well as I had wanted. It happens to all of us at this 
time of the year. But we've all done the very best 
that we can, and that's really all that's important. 

I'm cutting this off here, because I'm just thinking about how much I still have to do before I finally get my Christmas holidays off. It's been a very disappointing season so far. I suspect our sales numbers will be in the toilet, but there's nothing to do about that. Hopefully our End of the Year sale will help make up for that. I'd better get moving on finalizing that email to our customers and getting my customers who signed up recently into my database. Have an excellent Friday, I'm off to the pool to get my third swim of the week in. I'll be back tomorrow to wrap up the week. Slava Ukraini! 

Ups and Downs and Gifts and GRRRR - It's a Typical Christmas Season

DH went off the rails last night about a deposit that he had told me to get from my brokerage account. I had done EXACTLY what he had told me, and suddenly everything was wrong. I was quite miffed with him, which added to my general "ick" about the snow we're supposed to get today. I decided to skip swimming until Friday and use the treadmill instead today - work out my frustration on scenery instead of listening to my book while I do laps. I did email a Y friend to let her know I wouldn't be there, but I'm not 100% sure she was there today either - sometimes she does "spin" at a different branch. Oh well. Whatever. I'll be back in the pool tomorrow. 

Honestly, living with DH is sometimes like 
being stuck in a revolving door. If he would 
actually be clear with his instructions, and 
would maybe write things down, and then 
actually listen to me ... but that's pipe dreams. 

I received one of the major gifts I purchased for DH yesterday. I actually got one for each of us because it seemed like something I would also use a lot. It's a powered heated vest - computer heated and controlled with three levels of hot. I charged up my power source last night, got the connector out through the opening where it's supposed to be pulled (I actually had to cut the fabric at that point because their cuts hadn't actually penetrated). I'm all powered and ready to go. Since I need to shovel before I leave for the shop, I might just wear my vest under my coat today and see what I think. I'm actually looking forward to trying it out. 

I didn't want to spend a fortune on a heated vest for DH 
to wear while pulling snow off the roof, and the Voltex 
vest came in at a very reasonable price. If we like them, 
and they last the season, I'll be happy. 

Everything else seems to be on track - slightly. Sharon ... your package is being shipped today via Express Mail (or maybe tomorrow, but still, via Express Mail). Sorry I'm running late, but with luck and a spare reindeer or two, you should have your holiday gifts before Christmas. 

I'm looking for a spare reindeer to get Sharon's 
gifts to her quickly and efficiently - LOL. 
Maybe this spare reindeer? 

Now I need to think about what I want to cook tomorrow. I want something that will get me to Christmas and maybe a day or two afterward, but we have a hunk of beef for me to cook for the actual holiday, and that will last us for several days. Well ... I don't have to make up my mind immediately on that - LOL. Have an excellent Thursday and I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini. 

Agenda? It's Packed!!!

*sigh* - I forgot to put in my retainers for overnight last night, so I've quickly put them in and I'll wear them until noon today. That means I'll be swimming with them - not really a major problem, but annoying nonetheless. It's going to be a VERY busy day today, and the clock is already ticking. As soon as I get finished with the pool and with breakfast, I'll be hitting the ground running. I have two holiday cards that still need to be addressed and mailed, I have holiday gifts to purchase for DH and for my BFF, Sharon, and I MUST drop by the shop FIRST THING to do a quick financial thing that I forgot to do last night. Well ... no rest for the pure or the wicked. 

It's all about balance, and sometimes my balance 
is really crap. Today I'll have to dance through the day - 
lots to do and several places to go. No time to think 
about it, I just have to pirouette through the whole thing. 

I'm thinking about what I'll make for next week's dinners on Friday, and I have a HUGE piece of meat sitting in a wrapper on my side of the refrigerator. DH picked up a prime rib (or something equivalent) yesterday for our holiday dinner. It was on sale this week and we have to take advantage of those things when buying a piece of meat that costs that much. I love making them, but am always a bit nervous about it too - it's a LOT of money for the meat, and I don't want to be the one who overcooks it. Still, I've done this annually for many years. I have to be confident (and check my recipe - LOL). 

Refrigerators have gotten larger and much more 
efficient through the years. Could you manage with 
just this small space? I doubt you could do that 
these days. I need my side of the 'fridge, and DH 
needs a refrigerator of his own! LOL

I will have to take a careful look at my refrigerator, however. What do I have for meals for the remainder of the week until next Wednesday? I think I still have at least one, maybe two stuffed peppers for my dinners (so good!), and if I have refrigerator room, I might make a quick soup for the remainder of the days until after Christmas. I'm grateful that I'm swimming for the next two days. Swimming always calms my mind. But, today is the final day I can shop for Sharon's gift (yes, I'm guilty and still haven't found the "right" thing for you, GF!). I can't spend a lot of time at this, however, it might end up being a gift card. Unimaginative, but honestly, I always appreciate them. They come in very handy when cash is low and something is needed. 

Today will be a bit of crazy busy. *sigh* It's just the 
way things are going to be until the end of the year. *sigh*

So, I'm off. As you can tell, there's a LOT on my agenda right now. I just have to focus, focus, focus. Oh! And I got the phones at the shop working properly now, so that we can pick up calls for the other line from either phone. It required a bit of intervention from the phone company, but was quick and easy. I thought I had arranged for that set-up earlier, but I actually hadn't. I think I'm going to like the new phones, and their customer care department people are awesome. So ... one step at a time - LOL. Have an excellent Wednesday and Slava Ukraini! I'll be back tomorrow. 

The Loss of a Pet - It's Always Difficult

I'm running late today, so it'll be a short post. But I also had a rather sleepless night, so I'm wondering if it will be possible to sleep-swim. Hmmmm, a thought, for sure! I might find out. I finally had a chance to catch up on posts and emails from friends, though, in the wee hours of the night/early morning. One friend of many, many years posted that she had to have her beloved dog put down over the weekend. She arranged to have them come to her to keep the tension down and allow her pupper to be surrounded by the things familiar in her life. I wept when I read this, and I have tears falling again now. 

This is one of the last photos of Pippin that my friend 
shared with us. Here's her Halloween costume from this 
year. Such a wonderful outfit indeed. Pippin was never 
very fond of winter, however, so I'm sure she's glad to 
not have to deal with another one. 

I've known this particular friend as an online friend for almost two decades now. A very long time. When I first came to know her, she lived in the West Coast, in San Diego. At that time she was one of two friends I had who lived in that area - both have now moved across the country. My friend moved to New Jersey and the other friend of mine moved to Florida. An adventure for everyone, I'm quite sure. 

It is never easy to uproot and move a long distance away. 
I moved across country from New Mexico to Minnesota, 
these two friends both started out in San Diego, one 
moved to New Jersey, the other to Florida. That's a LONG 
way to go. 

There's really nothing like a pet, however, to help you with such a move. Uprooting a life to start a new job or a new life randomly, can be heartwrenching. My New Jersey friend moved to bring herself and her Mom closer to other relations. She now has a loving family close by and her new life seems to have worked out quite well for her. My other friend moved because of health reasons, which haven't been resolved yet, but I have hope that they will be soon. 

I know that my own pets will be waiting for me, and I trust 
that Pippin will be waiting patiently for my friend to join 
her many years from now. The love of a pet is a true 
one, and not even death can end it. 

But, above all else, my heart is aching for my New Jersey friend right now. It's always a hard, hard thing to lose a pet, and her dog was the last bit tying her to the old San Diego life she had led. All of her bridges have now been burned behind her, and she's walking on her own now. I'm writing this to remind her that because of our modern world, we're actually never truly alone any more. She's been my friend for many, many years, and we'll continue to be friends for as long as she will allow me to be one for her. I know all of you have friends like that, so take the opportunity today to reach out to some of them. Tell them how important they are in your lives, because I can tell all of you, my readers, that you're massively important in MY life and I'm grateful every day that you're here for me. So, I'm off to the pool. Have an excellent Tuesday and I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini. 

Running Late - But Not as Suave as the White Rabbit

I'm running a little late today. I had to awaken DH for a doctor appointment, I had my 45-50 minutes on the treadmill and my shower, and I have already downed my first cup of tea. But, it's the 16th of December, and I don't have Sharon's stuff sent to her yet, I still need to address a couple of holiday cards and get them out, and basically ... I'm feeling behind, even though I'm swimming with my head above the water. 

I'm grateful that I'm not part of LJ Idol any more. At this time of the year, carving out the time to get into a quiet space and write for the competition is simply impossible - I live on slightly more than 6 hours of sleep as it is, extra hours in the day just don't appear in my life. 

The new phones at the shop, however, are up and running and wonderful. I need to do some programming into the main line - a welcome message, an activation of the ability for people to leave messages for us that we can return, etc. But that's far less important that having and actual, functional phone. The final step came on Saturday morning when I called the tech team about the transfer that had "happened" but hadn't happened. It turned out a small typo in one thing had stalled things out, and when that typo was corrected, everything worked as smoothly as silk. WHEW! One thing done. 

So, I'm grabbing a very quite bite to eat, then I'm off to the bank for the store, and then I have to work with DH for the day - never an easy task, but at least he usually stays out of my way. No pictures today - I'm running about a 1/2 hour late so I'm out of here. I'll catch up with people tomorrow. Slava Ukraini. 

OMG It's COLD

For some of you who live WAAAAY North, my -7 F temp currently is a yawn. But for me, up here in the Frozen Northlands, where Winter didn't come last year, it's a shock to my system. The main level of my house is frigid. Normally that wouldn't really make much difference. The kitchen, dining room, guest bathroom and living room are all of the rooms on that level. Except ... I sleep in the living room (because I get up at 3:00 am and DH is often up watching TV in the bedroom until after midnight). So ... my part of the house is darned chilly. It was a relief to come down to the computer room, which is nice and cozy and has a small space heater for those truly frigid days yet to come. 

I'm already looking forward to soup for dinner! I can 
tell it's cold when I want that internal warming already - LOL. 

I actually got quite a lot done on my holiday cards yesterday. I've got my insert completely composed and printed out, and I'm just waiting on a couple of mailing label corrections before I send the whole lot on their way. I'm late this year, but better late than not. It's just been one of those years for me, in many respects. As I had mentioned, it's not a hand-made card this year, but whichever of the two designs I'm sending out, it's unique and totally me. Sometimes I just have to go with the flow and do what seems right. This year, this sounds right. 

This is one way of looking at things. Sometimes 
this is the best way. Other times ...

It's my final swimming day of the week. Although I'm looking forward to being in the water (and it will seem truly warm after standing outdoors waiting for the front doors to be unlocked), I'm going to be VERY cold while I wait outside with Rosemary and the other crazy 5:00 am people. Meg is at the White Bear Lake Y on Thursdays for a spin class instead of swimming, so it might just be two of the oldest people standing outdoors today. Lucky me! LOL

On the other hand, there's a lot of truth in this also. 
Which way will YOU go today? 

When I get addresses onto the envelopes, the cards will be on their way. I'm working on that today. SO ... if you had an address change within the past year - make sure to message me with an updated address just in case. I want my late card to still reach you by Solstice or Christmas, if at all possible. I'm off to the pool. Maybe I'll have a quick cup of hot tea before I leave. (That actually sounds REALLY good - LOL.) Have an excellent Thursday and I'll be back tomorrow for a treadmill day (and the treadmill's room is quite cozy - LOL). Slava Ukraini. 

I Have to Shovel, Cooking and Etsy (and Other Things)

We got a little bit of snow overnight, which means building shoveling into my morning. Thus, when I awakened at 2:00 am, I wasn't inclined to go back to sleep for the final hour. Instead, I turned on my lights, did my meditation, and am starting my day with a little bit of room to breathe, So, it's 3:20 am, my first load of laundry is in the washer, I'm scheduling my day in my head (a LOT to do, and I forgot one thing at the shop, so I'll have to pop over there to collect it on my way to the co-op this morning). After the co-op, then on to the regular grocery store. On the way home, get the car washed (I have an annual pass for the car wash - I love it - it's new, quite close to the grocer so VERY convenient, and they do a great job). Finally home to do some cooking, and I'll work on Xmas cards for the rest of the day. I can do holiday shopping on Friday. 

We got a light dusting of snow overnight, so I'd like 
to get out and shovel the driveway and the walk before 
I leave for the gym. If we keep a handle on it, we won't 
have a driveway of solid ice. I hate it when we have 
ruts in the ice to get into the driveway, and I want my 
newspaper guy safe when he runs up to put the paper 
at the front steps (I bribe him well to do that, plus 
he's a really nice guy). 

I've received cards from Tinnean (thank you my dear, it's awesome as always. Since you injured yourself, I wasn't expecting one from you this year *hugs), and Shirebound. Shirebound's lovely card is on one side of Shruti's magnificent card, with a card from a high school friend - Pam - on the other side. It's early days yet, though. I'm focused on getting my cards out into the mail ASAP. I'm running really late this year and apologize to each and every one of you. Time has NOT been my friend. 

I am running late with my holiday cards this 
year. I apologize in advance. I'll have them out 
within a few days, but for me ... well, I'm late! 

I also have to cook today, or at least figure out what I'm going to make on Friday (more likely). I'm thinking a nice batch of stuffed peppers for Friday. That sounds lovely right now. I have to finish up last week's soup first, though, and tonight is chicken night, so I don't really have to worry about a "cook" until Friday this week. 

I love making stuffed peppers over the colder months. 
They cook up fairly quickly, are easy for portion 
control, and taste EVER so good! One of my absolute 
favorite Fall/Winter meals. 

I had two Etsy sales that I pushed out the door yesterday. At least one of them was a good amount, making the time spent worthwhile. I've actually got Etsy down, but they keep changing their interface, and I can't find everything I need to alter anything on my posting. I'll have to find a bit of time next week on the laptop to push a lot of buttons and find how to edit things on my product pages. It used to be easy, but now everything is buried under a new something - I don't even know what to click on to access my pages for editing. *sigh* Still, I printed out the monthly sales reports and was a bit surprised to realize that I'd sold something off Etsy almost every month this year. 

Etsy certainly isn't a barn-burner for sales for us, but 
it is moving product that sells quite slowly in the 
store, so every sale is a plus. It gets a little convoluted 
regarding our sales books, but that's DH's problem. 
I did print him out the monthly summaries for this year, 
so that might help at year-end. Maybe - LOL. 

I'm dressed for the pool, and grateful that I'm not part of LJ Idol any more - at least as far as writing goes. I really don't have the time to devote and they only deserve my best efforts. Hell, if I didn't do my blog at 3:30 am, it wouldn't happen at all because the time simply wouldn't be there. The story of my life - living a full life in bits and pieces - LOL. Have an excellent Wednesday and I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini.