Chicken & wild rice soup recipes

​recipe 1 

recipe 2 from AllRecipes

How to keep rice from getting mushy in soup

Memories

​Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:

1. History of the Soviet Union (taken in spring 1989)

2. History of Carnival

3. Metalsmithing

4. Economic History (with Douglass North)

5. Philosophy of Architecture (with William Gass) 

Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling

​Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling 

1. Worked a little 
2. Hung up more art 
   
3. Withdrew funds from inherited IRA
   
4. Checked and rechecked all day for funds from closing on our house, and got snippy with incompetent people on the phone  
   
5. Emptied dishwasher 
6. Started a loaf of sourdough bread 
7. Drove on country roads 
   
8. Discussed future events with Nora
   
9. Discussed mother in law’s future with sister in law and daughter 
   
10. Watched Peter give a thoughtful presentation about Lovecraft and other writers 
    
11. Bought croissants 
12. Had pizza at Cappys
    
13. Brought back more stuff from condo to houses
14. Watched a meh Agatha Christie mystery with Sean and snoozed a bit with my head on his lap 
    
15. Read Count of Monte Cristo 
    

Accomplishments today

1. I went through 5 banker boxes, two smaller plastic boxes, and two bags of bathroom stuff. I filled a small trash can. I filled one banker box up with stuff we’re giving away on Sunday. The rest I’ll put away tomorrow or Saturday. I suspect there’s more toiletries somewhere. But this is majority of it. Bathrooms finally unpacked.
   
2. Hung up 5 pieces of art. Brought in most of the art from garage and figured out where it will be hung up.
3. Did not completely meltdown during last final agonizing steps of closing in selling Stonecreek Street. The idiot buyers sent us an extra $1000 for some reason. We wait until morning to see if we get our money or if the whole thing was a scam. Never ever ever doing a closing remotely again. Maybe just never moving again.
4. Guided Peter from afar. Trying to be at peace with his moods. 
5. Let Sean handle his mom’s birthday gift, the new owners at the gate, Peter and buying new shirts. It feels good.

Peter

​Peter was (is) such a good kid. Just so troubled. I don’t know how people say their kids are “bad.” He was frustrating and an enigma and hard to understand. But good lord, it’s clear he was struggling. I yelled at him a lot, and I also let his moods affect the family (how do we not)… but he was never mean or manipulative or bad, just exhausting. I think how much pain he must’ve been in. And he’s often sad now about his childhood which absolutely breaks my heart.

Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling

​Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling 

1. Prepared a Gift Tax return

2. Had a one armed man listen to the robot keeping my heart beating 

3. Donated a large coat, several jackets and long sleeve shirts, and 3 scarfs to a local group that hands them out to homeless folks

4. Watched several episodes of Survivor 38 to remember people who will be on Survivor 50

5. Enjoyed 10 minutes of super chilly sunset

Today

​I am sitting outside, enjoying the birds and the eventual sunset. It is 54°, and feels like 47. I’m wearing a sweater and a turtleneck and have a blanket over me. But I doubt I will last long enough to see the sunset. It is fucking cold.

Also I ordered a bird feeder and birdseed — first I researched. What is the appropriate kind for Central Florida – this will hang on the hook that the prior owners left us.

We certainly have more bird activity in this backyard. Then we did the old one. There’s a little tiny, cute bird that hangs on our backyard sometimes. And lately, I have been leaving the screen door open to make it easier for Luna to get out, and yesterday the little bird was inside the porch. But he figured his way out again.

I will confess I have not been walking Luna. But she does not seem to be outside either. She’s not even out here for the sunset right now.

I miss Peter & Sean. I’ve done some unpacking. I made a little progress in the garage even! I’ve actually been working for CRI for a change too. Plus a ridiculous number of doctors appointments. I certainly not been eating regularly nor sleeping enough. But that’s cause I’m an idiot when Sean is not around.

Meanwhile I repaired  the decapitated  flamingo

I’ve had white wine and Nilla wafers and Survivor… I’m totally relaxed.

Earlier today, I donated a big coat, some jackets and sweaters and scarves to a group that gives them to homeless people.

Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling

​Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling 

1. Worked
2. Scheduled surgery for a hernia finally 
3. Unpacked 4 boxes
4. Bought a ticket for a board game convention in Feb
5. Finished listening to book 2 of Dungeon Crawler Carl 
6. Made dinner plans with Daughter 
7. Drank wine 

What made you happy this week

• ​Peter driving
  
• Getting my meds
  
• Getting my docking station  
  
• Unpacking 
  
• Sunsets and reading 
• An Italian tv show 

LOOKED UP: Polk Theater and Lakeland Library schedules

 Lakeland library

Polk Theater

Busch Gardens music

Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling

​Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling 

1. Worked
2. Tidied the house more
3. Refilled water bottles
4. Talked to Barbara 
5. Got hair colored
6. Picked up more stuff from condo 
7. Ordered rinse aid for dishwasher 
8. Took photos of a heron for my aunt
9. Saw Treasure of Sierra Madre at Polk Theater
10. Prepped sourdough bread to bake tomorrow 

Recap

​Yesterday was a day. 4 1/2 hours on phone with health insurance company. Enough said. But issue resolved (we’ll see: my meds still aren’t here).

Spent yesterday evening watching Riot Women, a British show about angry menopausal women who start a punk band. And listening to PJ Harvey, Beyoncé, The Chicks, Ani di Franco. LOUDLY. I’m grateful there was no limoncello cream in the house.

Twice started rant-y posts about it all on FB and both were lost before posted. Just as well for everyone’s sake. At least the less social media project is going well.

Then a good nights sleep, and I’m feeling better.

Today: tidy still half-unpacked bathrooms. Work even with only one monitor (I normally work with 3). Make a loaf of sourdough. Enjoy a hair coloring appt. And the return of my boys after a triumphant second week of school this semester. 

#LifeIsGood 

​My dad would love this back yard so much. He really appreciated Sean taking care of me. 

And he’d love these kids. He was convinced each generation was getting smarter. Rather cocky of him as his dad was a math genius who went to Harvard but my dad thought he was smarter than his dad. And that I was smarter than him. However,  I know Nora and Peter would prove his point. 

 

New doctor, good appt.

​I went to a new doctor today. And because of that visit, I got three shots: flu, pneumonia, and tetanus. And blood work in the office, which is actually delightful; my last doctor made me go to quest labs. And I also got scheduled for a Pap smear and a mammogram which are both overdue. And a consult with the surgeon to get a hernia fixed! Different kind of hernia than what Jon had, mine is umbilical.

Definitely got my $15 co-pay worth out of that doctors appointment!

Memories of 2004

​This year is all the same dates… in 2004, we went to the fair on Monday the 19th, MLK day, and I came home and the neighbor was upset cause she just got a call that her dad died. And I thought how sad for her. 

Then two days later —  boom, happened to me also! 

Things keeping me awake

​anxieties -- and with later updates

• My Camzyos prescription — must call Qwanda again after 8 [called Monday, messaged Tuesday; still unresolved. Later, supposedly fixed. Still waiting on CVS to call me.]
  
• My hernia — seeing doctor on Tuesday [great visit! Immediate referral to surgeon, seeing on 1/26]
  
• Peter’s parking pass — ask him, remind Sean [just reminded again 1/20, and he’s doing it now. And Peter did take care of it.] 
  
• Clients 1099s — email him again after 8 [he responded and is taking care of!] 
• Work in general — finish some stuff, ask for more this week [VB asked for my schedule, been assigned work, staying busy. Got compliments from VB and SR.]
• Peter driving solo— meditate, remember to breathe, believe he’s an adult [Sean got him driving in highway and to campus. Peter’s got this. Later, Sean reassured me Peter knows the way to campus better than Sean does. Well, of course, Sean barely knows the way there.]
• Electrical issues with house — have faith, and call solar panel people today [called them, a tech will call about repairing the broken panel, and the guy at ESD is going to analyze our electric bill supposedly.]

What made you happy this week

​Building a cabinet with Sean. Going to the park with Nora. Getting through Peter’s first week back to school this semester. Organizing my baking stuff. Sunsets. Bike ride. Happy dog. 

A good weekend

​Really pleased with this delightful little cabinet in our tiny laundry room. It holds all that needs to be held and does so attractively. 

It’s been a good weekend of little chores slowly pulling the house together: hung up a TV, put up some small hooks, 2 smoke detectors, organized the pantry and the baking area — still so excited the kitchen is so big it has a dedicated baking area!! — unpacked a half dozen boxes, update address with a few more places, biked around our neighborhood again. Nothing rushed, plenty of downtime too. Busy couple weeks ahead so nice to toddle around the house, making slight improvements, in between naps, laundry, visiting with Nora, and dog walks. 

Things I did today instead of doom-scrolling

​Things I did today instead of doom-scrolling

1. Rode my bike
   
2. Read some more Count of Monte Cristo
   
3. Helped husband update beneficiaries for his retirement accounts
   
4. Walked the dog to the mailbox
   
5. Unpacked a box of linens
   
6. Organized all my baking stuff 
   
7. Reconnected printer to WiFi 
   
8. Printed map of campus for husband
   
9. Squeezed the cat ever so gently
10. Napped

Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling

​Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling 

1. Explored Bonnet Springs Park
   
2. Put out a lunch spread for Nora, Jon and Sean, including turkey, ham, 3 cheeses, tomato, onion, etc with my fresh sourdough bread
3. Organized the pantry finally. The door can close. Everything is labeled. 
4. Watched Mrs Doubtfire with Peter.
5. Had the Honda looked at, and like the honest mechanic
6. Went to bed early. 

Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling

​Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling 

1. Rearranged office to set up my monitors and work 
2. Bought a UPS battery
3. Made multiple calls trying to get medical records and a prescription taken care of, no idea of progress
4. Unpacked 4 boxes and 2 bags
5. Read in the hammock 
6. Built a cabinet
7. Ordered a hanging lamp 
8. Watched funny animal videos with Peter and Sean 

Something to journal about

​Which activities, if doubled, would make your life meaningfully better? 

• meditation
• reading
• paid work

Which activities, if halved, would make your life meaningfully better?

• social media
• eating sugar
• fretting

Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling

​Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling 

1. Baked bread
   
2. Cancelled AC contract, got HOA paid, followed up about medicine, downloaded bank tax document 
3. Worked
   
4. Walked with Peter part way to his class, took a selfie which saved me from being hit by two falling palm fronds 
5. Stripped bed, cleaned tub, changed tablecloth, ran dishwasher, washed dishes 
6. Packed stuff up at condo & loaded up the car
7. Coordinated a get together with Italian-speaking ladies 
8. Read some Count of Monte Cristo
9. Listened to Balck AF History
10. Drove to Lakeland 
11. Loved on the dog and cat
12. Unpacked stuff at home

Life is good

 Not getting much work. But Peter is doing great. I am drinking wine, eating cheese, listening to 80s hits, and playing board games online.

USF parking map

​https://www.usf.edu/parking/documents/parkingmap.pdf?_hsmi=2

Diary for today

Texted to Sean:

​The apartment was so cold… it took all day for the starter to rise. So bread got started last night…. Had to go in fridge after two stretch & folds.  We should have bread tonight. Maybe I’ll start another starter now, so I can make more bread by Thursday.

I’d had ambitions to be at my desk by 8… but a warm bed and NYT puzzles distracted me.

Peter doesn’t seem super keen on coming home on weekends. I suspect he wants to stay in college mode, might be easier to study and focus here. Also… if he goes back and forth, he’ll need to remember to bring books or laptop back and forth. That’ll be more stress. 

So I’m hoping I can come home with him in Honda this Thursday, then you drive up in Honda on Sunday with him. Then the following Thursday, I may need to fetch you in the Subaru so he has the Honda here. 

And in future, when we come up for one day, one of us will drive up and back in Subaru. It’s fine — the person at home will survive overnight without a car.  Yes, eventually we’ll get a third car.

It’s not the end of the world if we go for awhile with only two cars. Between bikes, Nora, uber, and just being patient… it’ll be fine.

Between gas, insurance, repairs and purchasing a 3rd car… we will save more than $1000 a month — yes even with a hybrid. For it mostly to be sitting around since we both work from home. We should practice riding our bikes to Publix. And check out grocery delivery for the hot months.  If we spend less than $1000 a month on Ubers and grocery delivery — we’d be ahead of the game.

Also I can’t have tea… I took the tea kettle to Lakeland. Must bring back. But I have a car full of stuff to bring to Lakeland on Thursday. 

Posted on BlueSky:

I’d get more work done if I wasn’t doing laundry and helping the boy buy his school books.

Then again… my employers aren’t sending me enough work so I might as well do laundry, drive the boy around, bake bread, and post nonsense on BlueSky. It doesn’t pay well, but it keeps life interesting. 

Rest is a priority

​Today, I dealt with mildly grouchy son (who was surprisingly well prepared for school today), calling the old pool company, calling one of my cardiology offices, talking to insurance salesperson, and picking up an online order.  

I give myself grace to NOT yet call the AC company to cancel contract, plan a spa day with daughter, make a decision on future adventures out of town, nor cancel an online subscription. *moving all to later in the week* 

Tonight I will make sourdough bread, walk and read.

Rest is productivity. Note: I count baking sourdough and reading and walking as rest. They aren’t chores. 

What made you happy this week

​What made me happy this week 

• A very successful Flamingocon
  
• Hanging out with Mike May
  
• Being in tune with Sean all weekend
  
• Seeing Peter eager for a new semester
  
• Getting fence approved 
  
• Getting mortgage issue fixed 
  
• Sunsets
• Sourdough
• Dinner with Jon and Nora

Sean’s birthday cake

​new family tradition!

Instead of focusing on the number of years for a birthday, this year our family has begun to celebrate the successes and triumphs of the past year. @sean.brodrick is the first birthday of the year in our family. 

Our daughter @empressacadia made this fabulous carrot cake with macaron decorations. I wrote some of Sean’s accomplishments of the past year on wooden stars attached to wooden dowels. No candles to blow out! And a record of successes to keep afterward. 

Packing up 23 years of a family and moving was a huge accomplishment. As was getting Peter comfortable enough to pass his driving test last spring.

Selling a house

​Stonecreek house: still not sold

New extension of another ten days. But they’ve agreed to pay the “carrying costs” — utilities, insurance, tax, interest on loan — from today forward.

Good lord. Now that it’s costing THEM money, maybe they’ll get their shit together.

Funny enough things went sideways also when we bought the Stonecreek house 23 years ago. 

Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling

​Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling 

1. Put things away and vacuumed enough to break a sweat!

2. Wrapped Sean’s birthday presents

3. Read 3 chapters of the Count of Monte Cristo

4. Organized some Flamingocon stuff with emails and chats 

5. Co-hosted a lovely birthday dinner

6. Participated in tax continuing ed

7. Wrote out birthday cards for friends with January birthdays   

Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling

​Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling 

1. Fixed a mistake
2. Canceled duplicate internet
3. Chose a D&D race and class for every workman who’s been in our house this month inspired by the obvious dwarf/wizard electrician who came today 
4. Recognized I’d reached limits of my stress tolerance and laid down for an hour 
5. Begrudgingly took training on AI program being foisted on us by employer 
6. Bought four wee liquor bottles
7. Created a new family birthday tradition to celebrate the celebrant’s accomplishments of the year
8. Built the perfect sized table and created a “landing spot” for foyer
9. Learned a lot more about solar panels and learned how much more I have to learn 
10. Read first two chapters of The Count of Monte Cristo 

Workmen as RPG characters

​I’ve had so many workmen in the house, I need to start classifying them as D&D characters. 

• Our electrician? Totally a dwarf (the Tolkien kind — he wasn’t an actual dwarf) wizard 
  
• Electrician assistant? a half elf wizard’s assistant 
  
• Dishwasher repair? a barbarian rogue 
  
• Handyman? Human Paladin
  
• Locksmith? Ought to be a rogue with that profession, but he was charming and did more than expected:  so maybe human warlock
  
• Cleaning lady? Halfling fighter 
  
• Fence installer? Half-orc fighter
  
• Fence salesman: human bard 
  
• Garage door inspector? Human ranger
  

 

New cardiologist catches on

​

I recently moved. Moving medical care. Catching up new cardiologist to my heart health:

• Fantastic blood pressure
  
• No blockages, surprising for an overweight middle aged American who eats junk
  
• Genetic anomaly that if it was gonna kill me would’ve done so in my youth
  
• Electrical system completely whacked out, 100% supported by pacemaker
  

I could see him reading my chart wondering what I was about…got to genetic issue, and I could see his face relax as he saw I do need cardiac monitoring. Then got to electrical and fully understood why I’m a cardiac patient. It was fun seeing his face settle into: ok, that’s what we’ve got going on. 

I rarely see a general cardiologist anymore ‘cause I need two different specialists. And he caught on that I won’t really be his patient. But you have to start with the cardiologist first. 

Reading this week

​I’m trying to finish an audio book, book 2 of Dungeon Crawler Carl, started in 2025. 

I’m trying to read a short Shirley Jackson novel that Peter gave me for Christmas because it’s important that he sees me enjoying the gift he picked out. 

AND I’ve arranged to read first chapter of Count of Monte Christo in the FB literary  group this week. 

AND I agreed to do a group read of Black AF History with another group, which I got on audio because I’ve heard that author Michael Harriet reading it is the best. That one I need to do 3 chapters this week.

Basically I’m behind on all of them. Must pick one, focus, and get it out of the way. Also I need to do more driving or walking to finish the two audio books. 

What a lovely problem to have. Feels like I’m back in college.

Think of a good thing about 5 people you know

​1. Sean: hardworking, clever, adores me for some reason

2. Peter: clever, smart, pushing his boundaries

3. Eleanor: resourceful, helpful, creative, gorgeous, loves her family

4. Barbara: organized, a leader, confident, loyal loving friend 

5. Warren: resourceful, hardworking, knows his own worth 

Home improvements

​mirrors hung 

Light hung by front door, next to Nora’s faux stain glass window 

Fans hung in LR and DR (plus my office and Sean’s office)

Today — selling a house, keeping busy

​Short version: Imma sit outside and read and sip wine for a little while. Wine is Coopers Hawk Riesling. The book is a regift from my son from his Literature of the Occult class. Outside is 74°. 

Long version:

Today we signed papers virtually to sell our old house. The virtual notary process was *not* smooth, but at least our part is now done. I also worked more than 3 hours for the first time in a couple months (don’t be jealous, the paychecks have been atrociously small). 

I managed to also:

• *bake bread
  
• *supervise a handyman putting up 4 fans, 4 mirrors, one ceiling light and other things
  
• *take all the ornaments off the Christmas tree
  
• *schedule an appliance repairman and a birthday dinner
  
• *pay the pool guy for THE LAST TIME
  
• *pay new lawn guy for the first time
  
• *and tidy up enough to find 3 Hershey nuggets with toffee and almonds 

It’s now wine and chocolate and sitting down time.

LONGER version of the virtual closing as told to my friend Stacy:

Oh it happened. It took 2 1/2 hours because we had to fill things out three times, the third time on a phone screen because their software could not work on our computer. WTF

And the lady was a dingbat. Gold star to me because I only yelled at her once for continually talking over us as we struggled to fill out forms on a phone screen. WTAF

We did this virtually because their office is in Broward. But OH OH OH guess what I discovered between attempts 2 and 3? They HAVE AN OFFICE IN LAKELAND where we could’ve done this in person.

The lady on the phone, in Broward, was not aware there was an office in Lakeland and suggested maybe it had been closed and merged with another office. So I called the Lakeland office in front of her (via camera) and proved they had an office here and it was open. But by then the software finally worked by phone and we decided to grit our teeth and finish.

Biggest real estate transaction of my life and I’m PISSED OFF.

Also we don’t get our money until buyers do their part which is … Weds, so they say this time.

I wandered off a couple times for stretch & fold the sourdough because she kept having to do things on her end and find witnesses on her end (why were there no witnesses planned for a scheduled meeting?)

And she got annoyed I wasn’t on camera during those parts. Whatevs. My sourdough is not waiting 2 1/2 hours, lady.

And there were so many debacles, i forgot the first one: she scheduled the meeting for noon. So she set the timer for the zoom-like software for 11:59 pm. Which is… MIDNIGHT. Had to cancel and start over.

Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling

​Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling 

1. Worked
   
2. Sold a house
3. Made bread and “Veggie sketti” — also known as vegetables and spaghetti
4. Supervised a handyman installing 4 fans, hanging 4 mirrors, hanging one light fixture and more 
5. Coordinated a birthday dinner and an appliance repairman
6. Paid bills  
7. Enjoyed a sunset
8. Started reading Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hull House
9. Cleaned a bathtub
10. Selected boardgames for an event 
11. 
    

What made you happy this week

​What made you happy this week 

• Window clings from Nora
  
• Gaming vacation with friends
  
• Otter! 
  
• Rembrandt again 
  

LOOKED UP fancons

​for Peter to meet writers

Upcoming Florida fan cons 

LOOKED UP e-bike tours Europe

​e-bike tour Normandy 

E-bike tour Hadrians Wall

Self guided Europe e-bike tours 

Moving musings

​Our old house fit our needs when we moved in 23 years ago. 

It fit our needs less over the years, but it was cheaper to stay and we were heavily invested in the community we’d built in that location. 

Enough has shifted in past couple years that it was finally time to let go and move on.

That’s why I’m not too emotional about it. It’s time. It’s actually been time for a while… but until 2025, we didn’t have a location to move TO. Then suddenly, we did. And our new house fits our needs so well that letting go of the old house has been easier than I expected.

But still, I lived in this house 23 years. Longer than anywhere else in my life. Raised my kids here. Faced my mortality here. 

It’ll always be in my heart.

Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling

​Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling 

1. There was doom scrolling. Now we’re in a war with Venezuela? 

2. Inspected every book & cranny, and packed up last of our old house

3. Saw Rembrandt annd other Dutch artists, shared knowledge with 2 ladies, bought souvenirs. 

4. Drove 3 hours to HOME, listening to chapters of book 2 of Dungeon Crawler Carl 

5. Unpacked and washed all the dishes from Peter being solo for a week (must fix dishwasher)

6. Planned meals for week

7. Got son’s spring schedule of classes

8. Discussed writing and fan conferences in Florida 

9. Enjoyed evening stroll with husband

10. Started new loaf of bread AND finally discarded some starter because I have too much 

LOOKED UP peacock bass fishing

​where to fish for peacock bass 

Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling

​Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling:

1. Slept in, then finished reading Track of the Cat, by Nevada Barr.

2. Spent serene half hour on back porch hoping to see the otter again. 

3. Helped pack and tidy up vacation rental.

4. Hugged all my vacation buddies even though I’ll see them all again literally in 8 days. 

5. Left vacation town and went to new  home in new hometown: snuggled pets, unpacked, opened mail and packages, grocery shopped, cancelled utilities at old house, repacked. 

6. Created a 2026 Bingo card of goals and predictions, as suggested and done by my daughter.

7. Drove back to old hometown, despite the car’s best effort to not start, and my best effort’s to screw up the GPS, and my best efforts to get a speeding ticket (thankfully passed by an idiot bigger than me just as the cop pulled out). 

8. Had expensive dinner with husband  across street from for hotel in old hometown paid for by his employer. 

9. Decided to learn more about brandy, and started with a gigantic sidecar cocktail which got me quite buzzed. 

10. Toddled on back to the room in a hotel half a block from our old church, in a building I still refer to as new even though it’s approx 20 years old, because I remember when it was built but have never been in it.

LOOKED UP Brandy

​how to drink brandy

I want to try Calvados, made with Normandy apple cider 

Worlds Best Brandies

Top Brandy cocktails 

Had a Sidecar made with Remy brandy last night. Delicious and right amount of sweet. 

2026 bingo

​This is Nora’s idea. Some items are bigger than my life, beyond my control. Some are already planned for, some are a stretch to get done. I still need to put in a grid. 

1. Get hernia repaired (march)
2. Pay off mortgage 
3. Ride Ft Fraser trail
4. IT 
5. Try brandy ✔️
6. Volunteer at bookstore crawl in LKLD (april)
7. Attend Tampa Christmas boat parade (december)
8. Get average nightly sleep of 8 hours a night for a week 
9. Go to Busch Gardens 6 more times (before Sept)
10. Go to Bok Tower, hear bells (before Sept)
11. Go full week without social media, at home  
12. Get solar power working ✔️
13. Bike Boca Grande
14. Attend Scottish festival in Dunedin (April)
15. Sell gold jewelry
16. Take Nana to Venice symphony 
17. T&T get married (June)
18. Increase in Dems in Florida legislature in November 
19. 3 resignations from cabinet 
20. Finish 4 cross stitch projects
21. Nora gets a new job
22. No hurricanes hit Florida
23. Attend Dice Tower (July)
24. Buy bike trailer
25. Spend two hours doing urban sketching Munn park, LKLD

January Ins & Outs

​Ins:

• -Reading 
  
• -Evening walks
  
• -A schedule built around actual energy and not delusions
  
• -Spending time with the kids
  
• -Projects for new handyman 
  
• -Fresh eating
  
• -Refreshing sleep
  
• -Fresh start 
  
• -Wearing slippers all day
  
• -Pedicures
• Days free from social media 
• Taking steps to deal with hernia 

Outs:

• -Cardboard boxes
  
• -Achey feet
  
• -Staying up past midnight
  
• -Regret
  

UPDATE

A good month. I never did get a pedicure, but that is okay. We are ending the month with SOCK weather, so no need for a pedicure. I cut back a lot on social media, but never took a whole day off. Lots of reading, lots of getting rid of cardboard boxes, lots of time with the kids. Not enough walking or healthy eating though.

Sleep log January

​1/1 — 5:19

1/2 — 4:01

1/3 — 4:13

1/4 — 

Theme or word of the year 2026: FRESH

• ​fresh start
  
• Fresh food
• Fresh bread
• Restart
• Fresh air
• Fresh outlook
• Feeling fresh
• Refreshing sleep
• Refreshing exercise
• Freshly clean