Kicking Butt on a Monday

I know... Weird, huh?
After a totally crappy night of sleep, I had to drag myself out of bed. But I did, even though there is some kind of bug going around this house that has affected all of us. Not horrible enough to keep That Man home, but awful enough to keep both kids home. After discovering K3 had gone back to bed after his shower and could barely open his eyes due to the pain in his head, I went to wake K4. Same thing. Dang.
Made the required phone calls, poured and drank coffee, started laundry, found something to make for dinner in the freezer and pulled that out, answered a few emails, checked the bank, talked to That Man, checked the fire...
Then, it was on to galleys. Done and sent back. Then, 3rd round edits. Also done and sent back. After that, job search time. A half-dozen or more resumes sent. Spoke on the phone with two prospective employers - one I am very very excited about. *Fingers Crossed*
And it's still so early in the day!
Don't worry, I have a "to do" list a mile long, which includes finishing clearing out the Christmas decorations, scrubbing floors, more laundry, blah... I'll get some writing time in there, too. And maybe a nap. Yes. Definitely.
Oh... One week until For the Love of Isaac comes out! Wait for it! Also, I will be with my writing group at a local greenhouse in February. Info on that coming soon!

Why Tuesday is Good...

This Tuesday has been good...
Here is why...
1. Grocery shopping by myself. Saving $14.00 in coupons and stocking up on a few items. (And coming in way under budget)
2. Beach rental magazines! We've already picked a few houses! Beach 2014 here we come!
3. Baby B. He is so stinking cute! And so smart! And he loves his Nanners!
4. Getting the laundry caught up.
5. One more night until K3's play opens!
6. The van getting fixed and not costing as much as we expected. (Did I mention it crapped out on us Saturday night?)
7. Being able to pick up the van with K3. So strange and so cool. (And so cool that he can drive himself to and from practice every night)
8. Thanksgiving plans coming together.
9. Singing while driving. I cannot tell you how long it's been since I've done that. Seriously. I would have music on while driving home, or to, the old day job, but there was always so much on my mind... I couldn't sing. I did today and it felt so awesome (even though I am glad no one was in the car to hear me). The stress is lifting day by day.
Everything is going to be okay.
Behave!

Finding My Happy Place...

I am.
It's been a really slow process, but I'm getting there. The Happy Place is coming. I can feel it. Some of the stress of the former day job is abating - I think it's very telling that it's taking so long to leave. What I miss the most is my co-workers. And the paycheck. But that's pretty much it.
So... I move on.
I will be spending a lot of time looking for gainful employment. I don't have a choice. But in the meantime, I will focus on my family, and me. I will enjoy this time. I will shake off the depression and the worries and I will do my thing.
And I will rock it.
Behave!

Date Night!

*This was supposed to post Saturday night. I don't know why it didn't. I swear I checked and it was there...
Or date day!
I woke to the smell of coffee, followed by breakfast in bed - complete with the coffee and flowers! That Man said it was the beginning of our date.
It was a good beginning.
We talked over several more cups of coffee, and made more flowers for the bridal shower (these flowers are going to kill me, I swear! But they're so pretty and easy to make - unless you have to make a million of them...Oy!) He had plans to do yard work while I went to my writing meeting.
I skipped lunch after the meeting. I wanted to go, but we're totally under the gun with upcoming events and upcoming visitors (we have a month until That Man's brother arrives and the bridal shower - shhh!!). Plus, it was date night!
There was a massive amount of yard work already done when I got home. I helped, but not too much since I had to make flowers, and at this moment in time, I have only one pair of jeans and didn't want to get them dirty before our date.
We dropped the only kid home off at a friends for the night and went to a local steakhouse to use our gift certificate. The service was phenomenal, the food was pretty good, too, and so were my margaritas. We laughed, talked, and had a real chance to just "be" together. After dinner we did some normal errand running - craft store for supplies, grocery store. Then home to sit around the fire with our adult beverages. Alone.
It was a very nice date!
Behave!

I'm Hungry...

Okay, so I have a little over 3 months to look smoking hot in my mother-of-the-bride dress. I don't have a ton of tonnage to drop, but enough for me. (don't judge me... because this is totally about me)
I am rocking the diet plan, but oy... today... after a solid week of counting calories and exercising (Okay, so no exercise tonight, but that's not my fault - too much going on, though I did park at the farthest spot in the parking lot.) I am starving!
I've been strong. Very strong. It's almost bed time and I know I'll make it without snacking, but let me tell you, I am looking forward to dinner tomorrow. (Oh, and let me just say, I am not an evening snacker. I haven't been since I was pregnant with K4 and eating after 6 made me sick. I just don't ever think of having a snack. Until tonight.) I don't know what I'm having for dinner tomorrow yet, but it will be a little bit of cheating and very yummy. But not too much cheating. Weekends are always my downfall and I must conquer them.
The scale has finally started to work with me and I am thrilled. (Not that thrilled yet, but hopeful) I need new jeans. In a serious way... and I refuse to buy them until I am feeling more settled with the numbers...
But I am hopeful. And serious. The calculations of what I want to lose and the time I have (which is not exactly the little over three month timeframe because there is stuff before that) stresses me out. I made it through the lunch frenzy at work so far. No cheesesteaks, deli sandwiches with sides and soup, fast food, or snack box purchases for me this week. My lunch is packed for tomorrow and fits with my plan.
I will not falter.
And you totally don't care about this! Ha!
Retreat in 20 days!! Whoot!
Behave!

Effort!

Things have been so nuts here lately!
To be able to feel normal again and because of personal need, here are the things I will be putting more effort into... (besides what I always put it into - kids, husband, day job. Those things will most likely increase as well...) Anyway...
1. Writing. I've been slacking. I know I've had some good reasons and that I've had no choice but to step away from the page. Too much lately. (though I have been writing. I am making really good progress on my goal for the month). But I need to make it a priority over some of the stupid stuff that's been going on.
2. Blogging. Obviously, I suck! I look back on my earlier blogs and I remember how much I love this blog! I want to feel like that again!
3. Exercise. Wedding in less than 4 months. Mother of the bride. Need to rock the dress. 'Nuff said.
4. Organizing this ridiculous house.
5. Shower planning. We're working on it, but there are many details to decide on and a pretty hefty guest list. (This is what happens when the bride and groom come from large families)
6. Other social media - I haven't tweeted in two weeks!
7. Email. Anyone that knows me, knows I usually never leave an email in my box unanswered for very long. That hasn't been the case lately.
8. Taking care of myself. Yes, that should go with #3 and does, but I've had the same stinking cold for 3 weeks now. I haven't been sleeping well, eating right, or taking my vitamins. Or doing other things for my good mental health.
9. Keeping up with my "to do" list! I don't know if you remember how much I normally rely on it!
10. Spending time with That Man. I put this separately from the above, because there's a difference between the above and this point. Don't even ask me when the last time we had time by ourselves... that must be taken care of.
We'll see how I do...
Behave!

Tuesday is Better...

Than Monday.
And here's why:
1. We have hot water again! Whoo! (They wanted to charge me $20. to guarantee the part would be here today. I refused, and guess what? The part was here today... hmmm)
2. I voted. I hope you did to. (That's as political as I get. Voting is your right and privilege!)
3. The funky karaoke going on in my house when I got home.
4. Taking a walk with That Man.
5. Hot water.
That's enough for Tuesday. I'm wiped out and still need to write.
Behave!

Back From the Beach...

Sorry for the long radio silence...
I've been at the beach... soaking up the sun (a little too much sun), having fun with that man and those children (some of them)... It wasn't our regular trip to the Outer Banks, but my close second choice. Also, it wasn't just our family, but a scout trip - but since some of the scout families are like family...
Things I learned at the beach:
1. I can go nearly 5 whole days without Internet, my iPhone, and laptop. A good lesson for me. I feel pretty danged free and without worry that my phone or laptop would get broken or sand/water damaged. In fact, my crappy temporary cell ended up locked in the truck the entire time we were there because I did not care.
2. The ocean and cell phones do not mix. Ask K3. He forgot to take his cell out of his pocket and is in the process of ordering a new one.
3. Spray sunscreen sucks. I am sun burnt. So is that man. He has stripes on his back and I have burn in weird places...
4. Horse Flies are the devil.
5. Porta Johns suck. (I knew this from last year)
6. My future daughter-in-law is a trooper. 5 months pregnant and her first time sleeping in a tent for more than a night. It was her first "real" camping trip and she did wonderfully and without K1. We had a blast!
7. That man with a fishing pole at the beach equals a real smile. (I already knew this, but it was good to see) And I have not seen one of those smiles in quite a while.
8. Also, even though I already knew that man is awesome... He willingly dealt with the chaos of picking up my iPhone on the way home.
9. Sometimes you have to make 65 million trips to the closest pharmacy because they have the best tea in the world on sale.
10. Laughter really is the best medicine.
It was a good trip. But I am glad to be home. I missed home. I am not looking forward to Monday morning though...
Behave!

LoTR Love...

.... What I need is a snow day and some LoTR!
Behave!

Monday Stuff

My day started out bad!
Woke up late after a terrible sleep and my truck wouldn't start. Called B. He was too far out to come and help me. So I called a friend who I knew would be driving my way on her way to work. She came to help jump me, only it wasn't working. Now, I'm not stupid. I know how to jump start a car, but no matter what we did, it wouldn't start. She called her husband, and don't you know it started for him - on the first try. My pride was a bit wounded at that, because, after all, I do know how and have done it several times. Not that it really mattered, but still...
I then found out that I'd messed up a bunch of stuff (after being pleased with my progress) and had to go fix it all and then do it the right way.
Needless to say, my day didn't start off very well...
But it got better. Much better.
Here's why:
1. I have the best friends anyone could ask for. I just do. They are excellently awesome and I'm amazed and humbled by them.
2. I somehow managed saved a really huge dragonfly from certain death without hurting his wings or getting dive bombed.
3. I didn't have to cook dinner, or clean up.
4. I got to snuggle baby K and wish her momma a very happy birthday.
5. When we left the baby snuggling and birthday partying the sun was setting. The sky was amazing with reds and oranges and these awesome clouds. The clouds on our right looked like mountains. The ones in front looked like two angels and stayed directly in front of us the whole way home - never losing shape or spreading out like the other clouds had. Pretty spectacular.
6. Sleeping in for a little bit tomorrow.
7. A fantastically beautiful day today. Not too hot and a very nice breeze.
That's a pretty good list for a Monday, especially one that started out so crappy.
Now I must sleep.
Behave!

Reminders...

I'm all good, just in case you were wondering. Yes, it was a real rough spot, and it was shorter-lived thanks to some awesome friends and a fantastic family. There is nothing like the support of people who love you to put things in a whole new perspective. People who will let you say what you need to without judging you, do what you need to do without pressuring you, and people who send you cards that show up in your mailbox at the exact time you need to hear what they have to say. It's all awesome and all I can say is that I'm very blessed. And maybe that's what I needed to discover.
Maybe the rough spot was a reminder to me.
Tomorrow we will discover important things, discuss random dancing, and retreat shopping.
Behave!