LJ Idol and Closing the Store - Deadlines Loom

My first story for this new season of LJ Idol is due no later than Saturday. I have stuff written, I have the bones of what could be solid, but I've no time to work on it and when I look ahead, my "spare" time will simply disappear as we get the store ready to close down. I'll try to whip this tale into shape, and I'll write for as long as I can fit it into my incredibly crowded life, but my writing may have to be my blog, not LJ Idol this time around. That's not making me happy. I enjoy the competition and the challenge. But I've got a bigger challenge for my next six months - finally closing the store and getting my life back. 

It's always something else in life - one more thing that 
you need to accomplish, one more goal that you have 
to reach. I don't think anyone actually reaches all of 
their goals and desires by the time they die. It's rather 
contrary to human nature and the progression of time. 

But, I'm a stubborn person. Even though I know I can't have it all, I still reach for the full cake instead of being happy with the piece on the plate in front of me. I'm an eternal optimist, generally, and I'm a stubborn fighter. Still, I can't really do without more sleep - I only get 4-5 hours a night as it is. I'm walking perilously close to the precipice, and falling, although invigorating, isn't healthy. 

Happiness is the journey, not the finish line. There are 
times when I need to collect my small happiness things 
and look at them. They're actually pretty special, and 
when looked at, they're uplifting the way happiness 
should be. 

The pool calls to me today, for the final swim of the week. It's looking like we'll have excellent weather for swimming today, so I'll enjoy it. I'll continue listening to my book, just swimming back and forth for as long as I feel I can get away with it. In the outdoor pool I'm generally averaging 45-50 minutes, indoors I'm usually a bit shorter than that (because I can see the large wall clock easily in the indoor pool). Either way and either pool, however, I'm getting exercise that I absolutely need; one positive thing in my life right now. 

Swimming laps is boring, but since I listen to books 
while I'm swimming, the time just flows by. I get into 
the story and swim on "auto pilot". 

I'm going to wrap this up and start my day. I'm rather determined that it will be a good day. I guess Chickie came back with a cough, so that might be interesting. I guess I'd better sterilize the telephone receiver when I get into the shop. If it's a cold, I really do NOT want to catch it. LOL Enjoy your Thursday and I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini.