Checking In - Friends Would Worry *hugs*

Just a very quick check-in. I'm running really late today - no special reason, just am. So, I'm checking in because I have friends who would worry if I didn't post on a regular day, and I don't want to cause anyone to worry on my behalf. Have an excellent weekend, one and all, and I'll be back on Monday - hopefully back on schedule and on timing. *hugs* and Slava Ukraini. 

It's A Quick Post Today - The Pool is Calling to Me

I don't have a lot of time today to post. Because of the snow earlier this week, I pushed off my swimming schedule by one day while I dug the house and driveway out. So ... today is that make-up day. I'll be in the pool instead of on the treadmill today. That means I've got about 10 minutes to get this up before I need to get into the car. 

Sometimes it seems like my life is running around in 
circles - one after the other. But ... yesterday turned into 
a really good day after a somewhat rocky start. 

My international Holiday Cards went into the mail yesterday. I still need to do a bit of work on my domestic cards, so those will be sent early next week. DH has "requested" (more like ordered) me to work at the shop today, so my second "day off" of the week isn't happening. And, of course, we're working on Sundays for a few more weeks. Any "spare" time I had is quickly disappearing. But ... I'll get those cards into the mail ASAP. 

My international cards are now on their way. I'll have 
my USA cards in the mail, hopefully no later than early 
next week. I'm running late, and I apologize! 

I didn't make cards this year - time simply wasn't anywhere on my side. I went for beauty instead, and chose a card assortment of five views in each box. They're all lovely, and what you're getting from me was a totally random choice of which card came up in the pile next. I've already started receiving holiday cards from some of you, and I know that my mantle will look very festive within the next week or so. 

My Mind Matters group yesterday was a real joy to 
attend again, and with my friend Claire (Chickie Mama) 
alongside. I've made some friends in that group and I'm 
going to miss them after next week's final meeting. 

Yesterday's Mind Matters group was actually a very good back and forth of tips, techniques, and observations between all of us in the group. Sue was there again, and things are going much better for her Mom now - a really good development - but we were missing Becky. I suspect she thought it was just too difficult for her to maneuver through parking lots, etc with her walker. Next week will be the final meeting of the group and I'm finding that I'll really miss that give and take. They're really great people, every one of them. 

So, I'm out of here and heading for the swimming pool. Have an excellent Friday and I'll be back tomorrow to wrap up the week. Slava Ukraini. 

Running Late! and the Saga of Jack's Car

I wanted to share photos of Jack's car with all of you. But I truly don't have time to locate and reformat them today, so that'll be tomorrow (if I remember). Jack is another one of the 5:00 am group - those of us who gather at the doors of the YMCA, waiting for the gate gargoyle to let us in. He pulled up behind me in the parking lot as I was getting out of my car to walk to the door. He got out of his car, closed the door, turned around and gazed at his car. Why? 

We have a lot of urban deer - they've been eating my 
crocus bulbs, according to DH who is cursing them 
daily. 

Apparently he had been driving north on one of our major streets to get to the gym, when a deer came out onto the road at his side and ran right into the side of his car. His mirror was toast, there were dents all over, the bumper was half-off, and there were large clumps of deer hide stuck in the door hinges. Such a mess! I'm sure Jack spent the rest of yesterday getting his car looked at, quotations made, and a rental arranged after a discussion with his insurance company. Urban wildlife can be a PITA. 

So, since I'm SUPER rushed today, that's all you get. I cooked a roasted carrot soup yesterday which turned out fabulous. I'm anxious to start eating it as soon as I finish up the previous soup tonight. Have an excellent day and I'll be back tomorrow, hopefully a bit less rushed. Slava Ukraini and חיים למען ישראל.

It's Going to be a Very Busy "Day Off" - This and That and a Little Bit of Time Panic

Welcome to December and a month of hurry, hurry and lots of food and many arbitrary deadlines - self-imposed and those of the calendar. For me, it's last days to get Holiday Cards completed and in the mail, as well as Christmas, Hanukkah, Solstice and my DH's birthday. December is a VERY busy month and I'm starting it behind. *sigh*

At this time of the year, my schedule is so full. It's one reason 
why I really prefer my Holiday Cards to be completed by 
the end of November. But ... they aren't quite finished yet, 
so that's one more thing to add to my December. But it's SO 
worth it! Sometimes the beauty of the whirlwind balances 
the terror of the wind. 

I'll spend most of today working on some aspects of DH's website (which still hasn't managed to get on-line, very frustrating!). I'll be arranging things, putting in the different photos he wanted, and making sure the photos in his Dropbox files are at a point where they can be shared (securely) with the customer he's asking to look, bid and purchase. I also have to do the grocery shopping and make my Ogre Juice for next week (although I've got that nailed to an hour or so of time after more than two years of practice). 

I have grown accustomed to my "Ogre Juice" four days 
a week, and would really miss it if I didn't have it. Every 
time I make it, it's a little different. I choose different things 
here and there - what looks good in the produce aisle at 
the grocery store. I add a couple of lettuce/kale mixes to it 
because prepping the lettuce and other raw veggies is where 
the time buildup comes to be a problem. But I always add 
in different smaller veggies - from radishes to chili peppers. 

I saw my doctor for my annual "Wellness Check" for us old people, and managed to pass the tests. I also had a run of bloodwork done, and I'm not happy with a couple of the test results. Nothing major at all, just outside of the parameters a little bit. I'll need to figure out how to tweak those numbers, so I'll contact my doctor about those specific aspects on MyChart later today. She's pretty good about getting back to people relatively quickly, so I should have a plan of attack next week. It's probably going to be a little shift in food choices/portions/frequency, and I'll make it work. 

I had been wanting to get my COVID booster, so when 
my Doctor recommended it and said they could do it 
right then, I grabbed the opportunity. I'm not fond of 
injections, but this one wasn't bad. Her nurse, Brie, was 
fantastic. 

I did get my COVID booster while I was there (although she had no luck talking me into the Shingles or Pneumococcal injections). I had actually had two different appointments set up to get my COVID booster, but something came up each time and I had to cancel. So, I took her up on the offer and her nurse was fabulous. My arm is sore, but the actual injection was almost painless. Bravo to Brie - very talented with a needle. 

I hope everyone has given me their updated address. I'll cull 
through the responses from all of you and update my 
master file today so that I can start printing them ASAP. 
The cards are almost done - I can at least get my international 
cards moving along to all of my friends overseas. Domestic 
cards can take a bit more time - no problems there. 

So today will be busy, although most of it will be spent at the computer. If I get DH's stuff completed early, I can start printing out the envelopes for Holiday cards. I'd like to get them printed ASAP. I have enough cards completed right now to allow me to get my overseas cards posted on Wednesday. I really want to get those going. Then I have a little breathing space for the domestic cards. I also have to get Sharon's gift boxed up and sent to her. I hope she likes it (and that she doesn't get several of them from different people), but there are never guarantees with a gift. She can always pass it along to another if she prefers. The gift is in the giving, after that point, it belongs to someone else and they can do what they want with it. So, I'm out of here to start a busy day. Have an excellent Friday and I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini and חיים לישראל.

Gobble, Gobble, Rush, Rush - A Day Off and A Late Invitation

Today is my "day off", the only one I get this week. It's going to be a busy, busy day. I'll pop in tomorrow to wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving Day, but other than that, I'll be busy roasting a 14 pound turkey. Yes, that's 14 pounds for two people and I only eat turkey the first day. But DH enjoys his turkey (once a year), and he's the one who chooses the bird. 

I guarantee any turkey being hunted to 
be the main meal isn't looking this happy. 
Turkeys are canny, though. They're quite 
hard to catch, and they actually fly quite 
well. 

My middle niece texted me YESTERDAY to tell me she's hosting Thanksgiving and inviting us over to join the family. Just a little LATE, Mary! I turned her down with thanks, of course. The invitation was kind, if a bit belated. Telling her I had a bird in the refrigerator. But really ... anyone with brains would have started collecting their Thanksgiving meal a week or more ago. *sigh* 

Grocery shopping on the day before Thanksgiving is an 
exercise in patience. No choice. The lines for checkout 
will be long, but I simply couldn't get to the store earlier 
this week. Time hasn't been my friend. 

I'll be at the store today, though. No choice in that. And I'll end up being one Alkagizer too few until next week Wednesday when I can make another batch. Nothing to be done about it, though. I always end up a bit skewed when I don't have my Friday, and I don't have it this week - I'll be working the shop for the first day of our Two Day Inventory Clearance Sale. The e-mailer went out yesterday, and I'll send it a second time on Thursday to those who didn't open their initial email. Of course, not all of the email addresses I have may still be accurate, but I do what I can. Customers have already been asking if we're doing our usual Friday/Saturday sales this year, and yes. We are. 

I actually slept until my alarm went off this 
morning, so I'm a bit tight on time. I have to 
grab my stuff and head over to the swimming 
pool. Apparently several of the other YMCA's 
are without life guards this week, so their 
swimmers have been coming over to our pool. 
We're a bit more crowded than usual, as a result. 

So, since I actually slept until my alarm went off and subsequently am running VERY tight on time, I'll wish you a wonderful Wednesday and I'll be back for a very quick check-in tomorrow before returning to a "normal" schedule on Friday. I hope you have a lovely day. Slava Ukraini and חיים למען ישראל.

Swimming and Cooking - A Crowded Day Yesterday

I'm super rushed this morning because I actually got a good night's sleep for a change. I can definitely live with being a bit rushed, and I still have enough time to get this up for the day. I won't get a chance to read and respond to any comments pending or made until later in the day, however. 

I'm a bit rushed, but I'll get it all done 
and posted and off to the pool on time. 
One way or another - LOL. 

Yesterday turned into a crazy-busy day. I didn't even get outside at all until after DH had returned home and we took a quick look at the garden. He pointed out a decimated Hosta and several wild violets that had all been bunny-eaten. *sigh* Damned bunnies! Oh well, if they had to eat some plants, those were among the better ones to have eaten. LOL 

Our bunnies don't usually go up into our flower beds, but 
one certainly did on Tuesday night because we had 
several plants that had been chopped on Wednesday morning. 

Aearwen's offer for her new/old double-wide trailer was accepted, so although there's still a lot that needs to fall into place, one more step has been accomplished in her selling her old home and moving into a new one. It's a chore for any of us, so sending positive thoughts her way will be appreciated, I'm sure. It's always difficult to move from Point A to Point B, and she's moving from a fairly large home into quite a small one with her son. It'll be a new adventure for them both, but there's still a lot to be done before things actually get packed and moved. 

Moving is NOT easy, we've all experienced it at some 
time in our lives. Aearwen has a limited amount of 
time to leave her old home, and move into a new one. 
This schedules can also be a total PITA when you're 
trying to do a major life change. 

Yesterday, the pool was VERY crowded - I almost broke down and swam in the indoor pool, but I love the outdoor pool so much, I just tolerated chain swimming. I think I ended up with either 4 or 5 people total in my lane, and every other lane was equally crowded. We all love that outdoor pool, and it's rather amusing. Without fail, the first people through the doors of the YMCA when they unlock in the morning are always swimmers. I suspect we had at least the first 10 people checking in yesterday. 

We weren't quite THIS crowded, but most lanes had 
either four or five people in it, so it was a crowd 
for the day. Hopefully today will be a bit better, but 
if not, that's OK too. I can deal with swimming 
in chain. I just warn people that I'm slower and they'll 
have to pass me up. 

I did indulge in the kitchen and made another meatloaf. Iit isn't holding together quite as well, but that's because I added one ingredient to it. It still tastes wonderful. So I have that wrapped up and ready to eat. I also baked pears once again, although this time I decided to cut up the pears and add the other ingredients to it, spread the whole mess on a cookie sheet, and then drizzle maple syrup and bake. It turned out quite taste, and I think Chickie might enjoy it also, so I'll bring one for her to have with her lunch today. I think I ended up with seven margarine containers full of the pear crumble. No photos, but it turned out lovely. 

So, I'm plugging in photos and heading off to the pool. I hope all of you have a splendid day and I'll be back tomorrow - hopefully a bit less rushed. Tomorrow is an Ogre Juice day. I'll set up the blender and macerate veggies. Whoot! LOL Enjoy your day and Slava Ukraini. 

Running Late But The Pool Is Calling Me

 I woke up early. You'd never believe it, because I'm SUPER late getting to my blog today, but I did. I woke up early. I spent almost a full hour meditating and getting my brain on track for the day, however. So not I'm running late. *sigh* The story of my life - LOL. 

How can anyone be running late at 4:00 am? Well, 
since I need to be out the door in about 20 minutes, 
yes. I'm running late. 

DH has me busy working on stuff for his airplane parts sales, so he was giving me stuff to do last night. It's things I can only do on my home computer - the similar programs I have installed on the laptop just don't work well for this application. So, those have to be done at home. Of course, I'm always bringing some work home from the shop to my main computer too ... so I also spent 10 minutes this morning getting some of that done before I had to leave for the shop. 

I really hate it when my systems become obsolete, 
because I spend so many hours working on them, and 
I know exactly how to achieve what I need. But, my 
main computer runs Windows 7 and an old 
version of Adobe Photoshop (the full version, not a 
mini-version)/ I have a more up-to-date mini version 
of Photoshop on my laptop, but I can't get the results 
from it that I can get from my full version. 

So ... time is NOT my friend today, even though I'm running "ahead" of schedule. I'm really not ... not any more. But, the swimming pool is calling my name, so I'll wrap up a shorter than usual post today and head out for my swim. I have a TON of things to do today, so I don't have any time to really relax (aside from that meditation time) until I finally open for business - LOL. That's a bit of a turn-about. 

I do love the outdoor pool. It's one of the best things 
about summer, even though it is more crowded than 
we usually get for the indoor pool. 

Chickie will be back today. She worked on Saturday - a bit more movement, but it will take the shot (which she described as "BLEGH") a few days to kick in. With luck, the pain management shot will work for several months. If it doesn't give the relief she wants/needs, she'll not be going back for another one. 

Chickie had a one-word description of how her 
pain management injection went - "Blech". It was 
NOT an experience that she wants to repeat unless 
it has sterling results. So ... we'll see how it 
actually does over time. 

So, I'm plugging in photos and heading out to the pool. Have an excellent Tuesday and Slava Ukraini. I'll be back tomorrow. 

Time is Not My Friend Today - A Very Quick Post

Rushed. The only word for today is rushed.. I've got time for a single paragraph, so let's make it worthwhile. BE KIND, LOVE OTHERS, SPEAK WITH THOUGHT AND PURPOSE. 

My morning isn't quite peaceful, instead, I'm totally out 
of time and have to get to swimming. Therefore, I leave 
you today with this peaceful photo of cherry blossoms and 
Mt Fuji. Have a restful day and I'll be back tomorrow. 

Love you all, and I'll be back tomorrow, hopefully with more time. Slava Ukraini. 

Today I'm Rushed - Appreciating My On-Line and In-Person Friends

I'm super rushed today. I actually slept until my 3:15 am alarm, which means I have 15 minutes to put this post together and get it up before I have to get ready to leave for the swimming pool. That's rushed in anyone's book, but here I am, and here you are and we're linking together as always because it gives me happiness to join with my on-line friends every day. 

Our sphere of friends has broadened since the Internet 
became part of our lives. I am thankful to have 
friends all around the world. Many of them, I have met, 
others, I only know through e-chats or posts. They're 
all treasured friends, however. And yes, that includes 
you - my readers. 

The election results are still undetermined in some states, including Georgia which will have a run-off in December. That's unfortunate, but not horrible. It's been interesting to see the way things are falling out and how much "Trump support" didn't help very much. In fact, it might well have hurt more than helped in some instances. All I can say is "I did my part. I voted, therefore I can complain". LOL

You have no right to complain about your 
government or their choices if you didn't 
vote. You'll do it anyway, because it's human 
nature to complain. 

I did get to the Orthodontist yesterday morning and my loose bracket has been reattached. I feel much happier now that everything seems to be doing better. Doc asked me about whether I'd noticed any changes in my bite, in my front teeth, and it took me more than an hour to figure out that "Yes". I do indeed have a change - a serious change in my bite for my front teeth. They're not clashing against each other any more - at all! I emailed him to let him know that. These metal contraptions are already showing results and it's only been a week! I'm shocked and delighted. 

The hardest thing to do is flossing with braces, and 
since I need to brush my teeth after EVERY time I 
eat anything, I'm flossing often. I'm getting better 
at it, but it's not easy. I use Platypus floss tools 
for them, and it works quite well, but it's an art 
I'm still learning to master. 

So, I'm going to plug in photos and get ready for the pool. Have a truly excellent Thursday and I'll be back tomorrow (hopefully a bit less rushed, since tomorrow is a treadmill day). Be kind, help people, smile and make someone's day brighter. Slava Ukraini. 

The Eight of Wands and What Decks Do You Like?

The Eight of Wands for direction and decision was today's guide for meditation. Thoughts about why I'm taking the course and what I want from the Tarot were the focus, and it was a valuable exercise in analyzing those two questions. Of course I know why I'm taking the course. It's been a long time since I've worked with the cards and I want to get familiar with them once again. But what I want from the Tarot is quite another question. 

One of the more standard definitions for the 
Eight of Wands is what you read above. Of 
course this isn't for the reversed card, and it 
most certainly isn't a definition carved in 
stone. But it can be helpful. 

I know there are many ways to use Tarot. Some people choose a card for the day every day. That card will guide their actions and direct their thoughts, steering their courses of action through the choices that face us every day. Other people actually carry a small deck with them and use a card to help them make decisions about things that may be important in their lives when those times crop up. I've usually not carried a deck along with me, but I might look into a small pocket deck. Having something handy might not be a bad idea. Still ... I love the deck I've chosen to work with and it doesn't come in a smaller, portable version. 

My friend Aearwen, during our weekly 
chat yesterday afternoon, mentioned that 
the Tarot deck she always loved the most 
was this one - the Aquarian Tarot. It's 
rather art neauvou in appearance, but it 
does have lovely imagery. It doesn't 
speak to me, however. 

I once knew someone who would choose a card first thing in the morning to guide their day, and then choose another at mid-day and another at sun's setting to fine-tune that guidance. Some people I've heard of will always consult the cards when major decisions are in the balance - "Should I buy a car?" "Should I get a puppy?" "Should I look for a new job?" etc. Those types of questions are certainly good reasons to ask the cards for guidence, but I'm not sure that's for me. I tend to be a decisive person all around anyway. 

The deck that most people are familiar with is this 
one - the Rider-Waite deck. I come firmly down 
on the side of "I don't like this deck" school of 
thought, although I'm quite sure I own at least 
one with this imagery. It's a good basic deck, with 
very clear images. But it really doesn't resonate 
with me at all. 

So today I'll be thinking about why I want to work with the cards. Although it might be something as simple (or complex) as scratching the psychic itch I get whenever I think of picking a deck up again, it might also be something that has a deeper rhythm behind it. It's probably beyond time for me to take a serious look at why I've wanted to work with Tarot for decades, and then actually dedicate myself to working with it more seriously. In any case, a good deck takes a long time to become an extension of thought and process, so I'll continue to carry my deck along with me and see what card I draw today for personal guidance. Have an excellent day, please spare positive thoughts for those suffering in Ukraine, and work, consciously, for peace - a goal so many state and so few achieve. Slava Ukraini. 

Tarot and Imprinting - Working On Resonance and Vibrations

It's so easy to get sucked down the Rabbit Hole. For some people that might be watching a film and trying to find other films with those actors, using that director, or in that genre. For some it might be searching out other books by a favorite author (I admit to falling down this rabbit hole fairly often). Today I got sucked down the rabbit hole of wanting to find other available courses by a spiritual instructor I'm currently listening to. And, of course, I chose this morning - a morning without extra time, to make that dive. 

It is so very easy for me to jump down into an internet 
rabbit hole. Without a firm deadline or time frame, I 
can stay searching things out for hours. It's my own 
personal hamster wheel. 

I did remember that I had to wrap this up within 30 minutes, and that's not easy to do across three platforms and adding illustrations to my off-the-cuff text. So ... I'm rushed, and I was silly, but I also found there were several additional courses or single lessons she was teaching that I might find interesting after I'm finished with the full month of exploring the Tarot. 

The new deck I purchased is this one, and I really 
love it so far. I bought it from TarotArts, although 
Amazon has it for the same cost. It's stunning. The 
illustrations are totally nom. 

I did take my new deck to the shop with me yesterday and did a thorough shuffle of the cards. I find shuffling, or even handling Tarot cards to be difficult in most cases. I have small hands - great for the intricate work I sometimes do (although my eyes aren't as good as they used to be for in-depth color work). Small hands and large cards makes for difficult shuffling. And it was a new deck. So I spread them onto the countertop and mixed them. Then did that again, and continued, until I had performed the ritual four times. Now they are thoroughly mixed and turned this way and that and I can begin to infuse them. 

I've worked with Tarot on and off for 50+ years. I 
know that the cards can resonate with people - 
differently for each one. I am attracted to some 
decks, pushed off by others. I've learned to 
follow my intuition in these matters, and I'm 
quite pleased with my new deck. 

I believe that the cards need to have a resonance. I knew from the time I opened the cards and looked at the imagery that I had chosen correctly. This will be a good deck for me to work with. But the cards have to understand me as much as I have to understand them. That will take some work. For the next week (or more), I'm just going to carry the cards along with me. They'll be in my backpack to and from the shop, they'll sometimes be in a pocket when I'm running an errand. They'll be in their protective bag, but they'll be with me. Eventually we'll resonate well together. That's my goal at least because I really want to use this deck. Being impatient, however, will accomplish nothing. Patience will pay great dividends. 

Getting a deck imprinted isn't quite as easy or as 
blatant as imprinting on an animal, but the cards, 
inanimate as they are, still have resonance. That 
resonance can be fine tuned so that it works 
easier for the reader. That takes time, but I've got 
plenty of time and the desire to really have a good 
deck that I'm comfortable with. 

So, I'm off to the swimming pool. Sorry about the brevity and single focus of today's post, but"tempus fugit". Please spare prayers for Ukraine and all who are oppressed around the world and I'll be back tomorrow. Namaste and Slava Ukraini. 

Fitting The Pieces Together - Yesterday Worked Like a Charm, Almost

OMG, yesterday was SO busy, but I actually got almost everything completed. I got the groceries. I actually managed to attend both of my Zoom meetings, although I had to leave a bit early from the second one. I worked with Customer Service at my HSA account holder for almost 45 minutes, and finally succeeded in obtaining the access to my accounts that I needed, getting the information necessary for my accountant. 

Everything locked into place, yesterday, and 
I actually had all that I needed for the tasks 
I was doing. It was remarkable, and rather 
satisfying (if a bit rushed). 

I slammed together my Ogre Juice in record time, prepping a lot of the veggies faster than I have ever used a cleaver before, and had it blended and in the refrigerator within 1-1/4 hours. I sorted through the invoices and other papers from last year, gathering up what was needed for my income taxes. I actually was on the phone with Marlyn on time, and had the chicken in the oven very quickly after we hung up so that I could get to my accountant by 6:30 pm for our tax appointment. And, I had everything I needed for the appointment - no need to drop by the office later with information I had forgotten. 

I'm really hoping this will NOT be me, but I won't really 
know until I actually indulge and get live. I'm determined 
to get live today, and to get some serious work done on 
the next product line I want to add to my listings. 

The only thing I didn't get to was getting the Etsy to go live. That's on today's agenda. I also didn't get to Half-Price Books with two boxes of old paperbacks - I'll try and get that done tomorrow. But all-in-all, it was a very good and productive day. I didn't even turn on the television until late in the day. I figured it would be more depression with the war, and it was, so I guess I wasn't wrong. 

This photo is actually of my local Half Price Books, 
with the AAA Travel Agency right next door to it. 
I have two boxes of books I need to take over, but 
no time right now to do it. Maybe tomorrow. 

Today, it's back to the pool in less than an hour, then a quick breakfast and heading out to the shop. I'm determined to get the Etsy live today, and to start work on the next part of my Etsy offerings - the Swarovski crystal cubes. I have those almost ready to go, but I'll need to do the price listing off-line and copy it over to the price form. It's the only way I can figure to get such a long list done correctly and within a reasonable time. So, if I'm somewhat caught up at the shop today, that's on my agenda. 

It's my last guppy day of the week, and I'm 
looking forward to a good, hard swim. I always 
love my swimming days, but I'm happy I'm 
only doing it three days a week. It's a total 
time crunch! 

Have an excellent Thursday. It's hard to believe we're on the backside of the week, but we've crested the hill that Wednesday represents and are on the downside swing towards Sunday when we start climbing once again. Be kind, be positive, and have an excellent day. I'll be back tomorrow. Peace! 

I'm Rushing Through My Morning - Maybe I Can Relax A Bit This Afternoon

It's 6:45 am right now, my first load of laundry is in the dryer, DH is in the shower, and I've rushed through my emails - always so many to look through, answer or discard, and move on. My goal is simple, I want to get to Mississippi Market as soon as I can this morning, then a quick stop at Whole Foods for some Bison, then a stop at the pharmacy to talk to the owner about a prescription issue, and finally, put one load of groceries away, start laundry load #2 washing, and then head out to my local grocer for the remainder of my shopping. Under ideal conditions, I would have all of this finished by 10:00 am. I doubt conditions will be ideal - I'm already running a bit late, so I think I'll be an hour behind ideal. But it's the thought that counts, right? LOL

Today I'll be rather like a bee - buzzing on my planned 
route from place, to place, to place. To get everything 
finished on time, I've got to get going. This is a 
rushed post today. 

I usually never make the Wednesday Zoom meeting for my WildFit class - making the Friday call and just catching the Wednesday call on the saved recording. It would be nice to actually be part of the Wednesday call at least once, though. These are people I'm seeing on the chat boards and answering questions for during the week, and I always love to see what people look like when possible. 

I have to say that into Week 7, I'm still thrilled with 
my WildFit program. I'm learning a ton about 
nutrition, and I'm even losing weight which is 
nice (even wonderful) but wasn't the absolute 
goal I had in mind. 

I started WildFit on the last week of February, and today, I realized I've lost 7 pounds so far. Considering I joined to learn about nutrition with weight loss a hope but not a goal, I'm extremely pleased. I've been sticking to guidelines carefully because I'm learning a great deal about nutrition and how the body reacts to various foods. I guess it's working to my benefit. If I'm being totally honest, even though my Doctor would prefer that I only loose an additional 10 pounds, I'd rather lose an additional 20. But ... one pound at a time. I'm quite pleased. 

It's crazy to be this rushed this early in the 
morning, but such is my Wednesday this 
week. I'll be back tomorrow with my more 
normal level of rushed. LOL

So, as you can tell, I'm very rushed today. I'm getting out of here and starting (continuing) my day. Have an excellent day and please, be kind, stay safe and wear your mask. I fully intend to be back here tomorrow with clean clothes and a well-stocked refrigerator. 

Time and Attitude - How Well Do You Wait?

I'm not sure why I feel rushed today. There's really no reason. I'm actually a little (very little) bit early sitting down to write my blog this morning, but I feel as if there's a breath at the back of my neck telling me to hurry up, no time, must rush through. 

Life is a limited time special, so it seems as if we
should always hurry up. Sometimes living in the
fast lane means we don't take time for ourselves,
and that's something I would regret. So I try to
not hurry up too much. 

When those voices speak - the "hurry up" the "not enough time" and the "push it through no matter what" voices - they can lead to sloppy work, poor decisions, and major errors. These are the times when I take an etching out of the bath early and ruin the previous two hours of work. These are the times when I push a bit harder against the saw blade and end up with a chip that takes an extra amount of time to sand out (or makes the piece unusable for the planned purpose), and these are the times when I can let my temper and impatience take the better of me in heavy traffic - never a good idea when behind the wheel of any vehicle. 

Time is rarely actually on our side, but we can make it work
for us. We can multi-task, and we can take advantage of those
off-times to think things through in more detail. 

Impatience isn't always bad. Drumming my fingers while waiting for water to boil is also conducive to viewing the next twist in my latest chapter take place in my head. It can allow me to duplicate the rhythm from the latest song, or it can allow me to think of the colors I want to grab for my next project. Impatience can force me out of bed in the morning, and it's the clock ticking to remind me (sometimes somewhat firmly) that I don't have a clue about what I'm making for my solstice cards this year. (OOPS! Have to get going on that one.) 

It's funny how the locations we wait it make a
difference. Waiting next to a babbling brook is
much more pleasant than waiting in a waiting
room for a dental appointment. 

All of my life I've practiced patience, waiting casually (usually with a book in my hand because reading is essential to my life and off-time is the perfect time to read another page or thirty). I wait in offices for my appointment. I wait at stoplights (no book in hand for those times, though). I wait in lines for the movie or in the theater for the show to start. 

It's always now - not the past and not the future. Try
to make it the BEST now you possibly can for
yourself and the people who are around you. 

But there are the times when I take time into my own hands, and my own schedule rules. Between the time I awaken (ideally at 3:15 am, but sometimes earlier) and the time I leave for the gym (no later than 4:45 am), I force my brain to wake up. Between reading and answering emails and writing this daily blog, (whatever comes out of my subconscious for the day), I'm getting my thoughts in order. I'm telling my inner voices to work constructively. All things considered, they obey pretty well - LOL. Have a totally fabulous day and I'll return tomorrow for a VERY busy day. *sigh* 

Today is a Topsy Turvy Day

Today is a topsy turvy day (is that phrase even used anymore?). I have to compress my day into less hours, and make sure everything is ready for dinner tonight before I leave home at 2:00 pm for my final tattoo session with Heidi. It's going to be a total rush for me today, and I'm already at the gates, ready to burst through for my six hours of intensity. Just a reminder for my SFADM, Aearwen - no phone call today. I'll be on Heidi's bench getting my eyeliner touch-up. 

I enjoy topsy turvy cakes, although they are
a bit in the past. Still, this was was really
nicely done. 

I have to put a positive shout-out to Marcus Theaters. I had stupidly purchased my "Avengers Endgame" tickets for the incorrect theater location (their software was a bit glitchy, but it was my error, when it came down to it). I was fortunate that seats were still available in a pretty good location when we arrived at the theater on Sunday morning. But it meant that I had double-purchased my movie tickets. 

Marcus Theater Oakdale is my favorite movie theater. From the
reclining seats to their $5 Tuesday features with free popcorn,
they go out of their way to make movies fun and affordable
for everyone. 

When asked for a review, although everything was fine except for the tickets, I still had to give them a poor review because it seemed the only way I had to contact them and let them know that there was a problem. After all, it said on their website that ticket sales were final after the date of the show. But yesterday afternoon I received a phone call from the Manager of the theater where the original tickets were issued. After a really nice conversation, he is sending me several passes for future films and has made them for any of the Marcus locations. It was very sweet, and it was great customer service. My low review has just become a high one! 

Doris Day was America's Sweetheart through the late 50's and
into the 60's. She was Mom and apple pie - all the good. After
retiring from the screen, she made animals her focus and did
wonderful things to help shelters and animal rescue centers. 

Doris Day died, and also Peggy Lipton from the original "Mod Squad" and "Twin Peaks". Apparently Doris Day was rather like my mother - really couldn't handle thoughts of death at all. She left no burial instructions because she couldn't bear the entire thought. I can understand that - my Mom was the same way. Peggy Lipton was a bit of a shock, though. She was only five years older than me and I loved "Mod Squad" when I was a teenaged girl. With the death of these two women, we've closed doors on two eras - the 50's and the 60's. 

Peggy Lipton was one of the "Mod Squad" and won a
Golden Globe for her role in 1970. I loved the show -
these were young adults when I was a teenage girl, and
they were doing real and exciting things (and drove around
in a great woody station wagon with a surf board on top). 

Tonight is a Project Runway night, so tomorrow, if all goes well, I'll be posting the fashions and the result. After tonight we'll be in the final six! Have an excellent Wednesday, and spare a thought for me as I have to drive home from my tattoo artist at the height of rush hour with tearing eyes. Ugh! This will NOT be a fun experience, but it has to be done. I need to be in the pool by the end of next week! Enjoy your Wednesday and I'll be back with fashion tomorrow.