Random things

Random things — long rambling post

1. Who sent me this?! I received this (first photo) in the mail recently with no note. Skitty is not sure if she wants to give up scratching the rugs. But she agrees it’s very pretty. [It was Laurie!] 

2. I’ve always wanted a dollhouse, but I’m way too practical about the cost and the space that one takes. And I don’t want to commit to such a huge project if I’m gonna drop it like a lot of other projects. So I found a great compromise of this little dollhouse bookshelf from IKEA. My plan is to do a couple vignettes on the shelf and perhaps that will scratch the itch enough. Or someday it will evolve into a full size dollhouse.

In the meantime! I have acquired a dining room/game table! And a deck of cards. And a bar cart. And last night I went to a fun event at a local eatery that was doing a craft night to make a miniature bookshelf. So now my little entertainment room has books too!

3. In moving and packing and unpacking over the past few months, I have gathered more than $200 in Barnes & Noble gift cards that we haven’t used over the years! This is insane. So tonight I’m off to buy a brand new physical book. The book is Sara Kendizor‘s Last American Road Trip. She’s a political writer who is often depressing to read, because she has been right for the past 10 years, obnoxiously so. This book is supposed to be a little more lighthearted as she takes her kids on a road trip around America… an America, she believes will soon be gone. But! Supposedly it’s fun to read anyway. As much as I hate how much she has been right the past 10 years, I want to go pay full price (with a gift card! ) for the book as a reward to her for her hard and difficult work. [HA! They don’t have it in stock. Maybe should’ve checked before driving here. But… I’m sure can find something else to buy.]

4. I am proud of myself that I have changed how I operate so that I can spontaneously rush off to the bookstore after reading a review of Sara‘s book. I have used a To Do app (called Things 3) that lets me sort items from my master to-do list to certain days. And I have always had various tasks appointed for a certain day. Of course I would not get to them all because I over-scheduled and some tasks would get pushed to the next day and the next and the next. The system worked for me… Until it didn’t. Recently I had enough. I decided to go with the “experts” who say we should only have three (or at least very few ) priorities in a day. I’ve changed how I manage my to do list and now have way fewer “necessary” tasks each day. So when I have free time, I can either refer to the *optional* list of tasks. Or I can lay down and take a nap. Or take off for the bookstore on a whim. I am loving my less productive system. I am much more about protecting my energy than being productive anymore.

5. My co-pay for doctors is $35. I got my $35 worth today at the Dermatologist because I remembered my list(in my Things 3 app!) of questions. Nothing was cancerous, good. But I did leave with four ointments for various issues. From my scalp to my ankle! (No photos!)

6. Today I learned that William Goldman who wrote Princess Bride… also wrote and won Oscars for Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid and All the President’s Men. Talented man.

Working on the condo

​Home improvement time! 

• Toilet repair
  
• Re-screened patio
  
• Wall repair
  
• Bifold door repair! 
  

Exciting. 

Hired someone to do all that. I’m over here cleaning out the tub, doing laundry, and re-organizing my To Do list system.

This will make life more pleasant for the next year of living here. Especially after stage 2, when we have new counters and sinks. 

23 lbs down

​207. I’ll be close to 200 when I see the doctor. I’ll be under 200 at Dragon Con.

I’m now talking multivitamins, eating protein more consciously, and I swear I’ll start exercising soon. I need strength training. I want to stay strong and healthy, not just skinnier. I want to be healthy, skinnier and able to walk 10,000 steps a day around Italian hills. 

Being organized

​Things 3 for my To Do list, blog for some journaling. Paper notebooks for other journaling. I don’t want my words or habits  stuck in apps. 

Bluebirds

​I’ve been wanting to buy a good-sized piece of art for our living room. We moved into this house 6 months ago. I want something new and from a local artist. Figured I’ll find something at an art fair eventually, but that white wall is making me itch.

At the same time, I have a lovely handmade quilt (art sized, not bed sized) made by a friend. And I have not been able to find a place to hang it.

Doh!

My good financial move is: I hung that beautiful quilt in the living room. Maybe we will replace it some day with a painting; or maybe the quilt will be there forever. But now I don’t have a big white wall staring at me making me want to buy the first thing I see. I can take time and find the right piece. 

NOTE: yes, it’s off center. I was doing it solo and having to stretch. Sean will help me rehang it properly (and clear that mark off the wall I made) this weekend. 

Is it perfect for the space, no. I wanted something horizontal. But it will do for now, and makes us smile thinking of the bluebird of happiness, birds in general in our backyard, and of our friend Linda. 

What made you happy this week

• ​volunteering at Nora’s race and a good long conversation with her
• Removing a ton of shit from my to do list to stop feeling overwhelmed 
• Sean and Peter having a good time at Cape Canaveral
  
• Making new friends at trivia — Jen, Kaitlyn, Chad
  
• Flamingocon Discord issues resolved and restarted with a bang
• More Fcon posts and activities 
• Trying out three gaming locations in Lakeland
• Pizza at the place next to HP Guild 
• Estate planning 

Race day volunteering

​I did not need to be here this early. Could’ve slept another half hour. But I got to see the moon. And do some stretches.

I’m gonna be tired from all the standing. I could’ve stayed in car until 6:30… but I got eager and came out of car at 6:15. 

But it’ll be exciting when runners start passing. 

Nora fell and scraped up her knee pretty bad a week or so ago, so she said she’ll be slow this race.

Apparently the race goes in opposite direction than I thought! The runners are here, 7:05. 

I got photos of Nora, but I’m right in front of the sun so she’s probably not visible

I have nothing else to do unless there’s a medical emergency

There’s hundreds and hundreds of people. Nora was in first 10%. They’re still coming. A few are starting to walk. I can’t see end of line yet, and it’s been more than ten minutes.

People have elementary age kids out running (mostly walking) with them. And kids in strollers. Good for these people!

Ok nearly everyone is walking now… and it’s still at least 75 + people to pass me

The theme is watermelon. I missed a chance to photograph a couple runners in watermelon costumes.

But I did photo the shark!! This is insane , they’re literally hobbled by the costume.

Ok a man who looks like Willie Nelson, at least in age, just walked by. Oh he’s jogging again… (No photo)

We could walk this with little Clementine in a stroller while her mommy runs. Or we could volunteer with little Clem in a stroller

Somehow there were more people than I thought.. and yet… it’s over already. At least my job is already over (technically not yet, I have to wait for sheriff’s officer)

Some of these runners are college students from the university here on the lake and they ran halfway around the lake to start the race. Ran the race around the lake and now they’re running halfway around the lake again back to the university. Remember being 20? I certainly did not appreciate it enough.