Let me tell you about living in the moment....

   Life is about moments. We are taught to cherish the moments in our lives as they are fleeting and will pass before we know it. Like the moment when you graduate and receive a diploma. Or the moment when your child takes her first step. The moment when your receive your first communion. Or the moment your team wins the championship.

   And then there are the other moments....

   Take the other week. Or leave it, which might be the better option. I was having a LOT of those moments. Feeling ambitious on a busy day, I went to the gym first thing in the morning. However, after my workout and shower, I discovered that I left my phone at home. For a brief moment, I panicked. My list and notes were all on the phone, happily sitting on my desk. I really did not want to backtrack all the way home as the store was just down the street from the gym. Then the panicky moment passed and I laughed and told myself, "Hey, you can remember what you need, don't sweat it." Turns out that I couldn't. We now have multiple cans of green beans. And extra mayo. As well as several unopened jars of olives. We needed milk.

   When I returned home from my shopping trip, I discovered that I had put the laundry in the washing machine, but not actually turned it on. Was this an early senior moment?

   Dinner was also late.

Note to myself, food cooks better if the oven is turned on.

Not one of my better moments.

   Sometimes we bring these wonderful moments on ourselves. Like the time I decided to stop at the bank on the way to violin lesson, the day lesson money was due. Well, I sorta forgot to stop at the bank when I was out running errands earlier, so I didn't really have much choice. NO BIG DEAL. How long could it take to visit an ATM? We left a little early so that we would have plenty of time to stop at the bank near our house. When we arrived at the bank, we discovered our branch was closed. Hmmm, that was odd. Even odder, the ATM was closed. Since when do ATMS close? Okay, okay, no problem, I had time, I would just go to a branch closer to lessons. Mind you, this branch was on the other side of town, but we had to drive to the other side of town for lessons. Our drive took us past the railroad tracks. Where there happened to be a slow freight train. A really loooonnnnngggg freight train. Unusual for that time of day, but again, no problem, I could just use the ATM at the handy bank where I was already sitting in traffic and pay the $3.00 user fee. It would cost a little, but save me time. And it would have saved me time too, except that the ATM kept saying that my pin did not match my User ID. Say what? No way! Time was ticking away and there was still a freight train. I reasoned that if I drove a little out of my way along the tracks to the next town I could stop at a bank there and pick up the needed funds. By then the train should be gone and though we had to drive a longer distance, we would still be on time for the lesson. At that moment, I thought I had it all under control.

   Guess again. That bank in the next town happened to be another branch of our bank and it too was also out of operation, along with the ATM machines. Now the train had long since passed (I think it had reached Iowa by this point), so I struck out across the tracks for any bank that was on the way to our appointed lessons. However, I found I was stuck behind what I can only describe as "reluctant" drivers. Those are drivers who insist on doing at least ten miles beneath the speed limit and stopping at all stop signs for a minimum of five minutes, happily waving all other drivers through the intersection. Unfortunately for me, I remained behind these self appointed traffic managers most of the drive through residential neighborhoods where banks do not have subdivision branches for cash strapped moms desperately trying to make it on time for music lessons.

   The moments crept on until I finally reached a bank that was open AND had an operating ATM. This time my card was accepted with no issues. Go figure. We arrived at violin lesson not a moment too soon.

   There are other moments we cannot help, like the day I agreed to pick my in-laws up from the airport. I had their car and the keys, so I was sure to get there. It was a new car and full of gas, so I had no worries about the drive. I thought about checking to see if the flight was on time, about ten minutes before I had to leave. Guess what, it was expected to be about twenty minutes early, giving me about fifteen minutes to get to the airport. But no biggie. I figured that since the airport is fairly close and my relatives had to go through the time consuming process of customs, I would arrive with moments to spare.

   So I hopped in the car, adjusted the seat and the mirrors and started my drive. However, I did not manage to turn the air on before I started driving. At the moment, it had not seemed important, but as I drove, it got a bit warm in the car. Unfortunately, I did not catch a single stop light so that I could fiddle with the dials. Unable to rectify the situation safely, I cracked open the window and turned onto the tollway feeling the fresh air would do me good. It was then I remembered that I was not driving my car and I did not check for an I-Pass to pay the tolls. Nor did I have any change since earlier I had given in to a momentary urge to tidy my purse and had emptied it all into the change basket. Lucky for me they had an I-Pass and I encountered no traffic. I made it to the airport in fantastic time!
 
    Which turned out to be a good thing, since my in-laws had been wheeled through the airport and breezed through customs. That made me right on time to pick them up. Barely. I had a moment of satisfaction as we headed back home. Before I realized I was in the wrong lane and could not get to the correct ramp for the highway. Not wanting to fight with the taxis, I opted to go the wrong direction and turn around at my first opportunity. In short order, I found a wide enough street only a few blocks away and turned off the main roadway intending to do a U-turn on this side street. Unlucky for me, the turning radius on this brand new car was not as tight as the turning radius I enjoyed on the old vehicles I was used to driving, so I bumped up on the curb in the processes. Oops.

   I don't want to know what my in-laws were thinking at that moment.

   Of course there are other moments. Such as recently when my husband and I decided to surprise my daughter and take her to the circus. We left early so that we might miss rush hour traffic and arrive with enough time to grab some food before the show began. I took a moment before we left to ask my husband if he had the tickets on him. He assured me they were at Will Call and we just had to pick them up. I confirmed he had money as well and decided to leave my purse at home. Who really needs a purse at the circus?

We were successful in missing heavy traffic and arriving early.

   I can only imagine how my husband must have felt at the ticket window the moment he was asked for ID to pick up our tickets and realized he didn't have his wallet with him. Which meant he had no ID. The desperation was on his face when he turned to me, but I was having a moment all of my own. Since I had left my purse at home, I had no ID either. Did we even have money? It was a long drive home in rush hour traffic to obtain these items. When the man asked my husband if he had anything on him with his name on it, he sheepishly replied "My phone?"

   It was a moment of immense relief when the operator was convinced that the two foolish people standing in front of him with the not so common last name and no clue where the seats were located as we had obtained them through a cast member were really who they said they were and gave us the tickets. At that moment, it restored my faith in my fellow human beings.

   A moment later I felt even better when my husband told me he had put the cash in his front pocket so we could afford the hot dogs and other junk food.

   These moments are by no means isolated. Should I mention the the moment when I realized I was the responsible adult in the room? Or the moment when I proudly found the address for an appointment to meet someone, only to find out I was a day early? Perhaps another time. For now I am going to laugh at my earlier moments.

   With the rapid approach of the holidays, I am making every effort to live in the moment, hoping that those moments are blissful, satisfying, and enjoyable, but taking whatever life gives me.

   The elf tells me that I will need another cup of coffee.

I hope you will excuse me while I take a moment to investigate what this means.

We don't have an elf on a shelf. 

Tis the season for writing...or doing something else

   The house is quiet. Peaceful. The bird is chittering. The sun is streaming through the windows on this cold December afternoon. I have my laptop and a hot cup of French Vanilla Cappuccino. My feet are propped up in my favorite chair next to my little bird. The decorations are up for Christmas, the house is tidy and the wash is pretty much done. These are optimal writing conditions.

   So why do I find myself staring at a blank page?

   Is my season for writing not righting now? There is a pun in there somewhere.

   I am thinking I should give up this precious free time and do somethings else. There are many things I should be getting done before the end of the year. Like calling to get an appointment for an adjustment on my walk aid. It is time to have it adjusted and I need to get new electrodes to keep it functional. I think I am down to the last ones. But before I can call for an appointment, I need to talk to the insurance to find out the billing procedures so that when I go to my appointment, I can make sure the office receives the correct instructions. For three years this has been a problem with the insurance and the office. I am tired of the problem.

   Twenty minutes into the phone call and still no person comes on the line.... Perhaps this is not the day to try and talk to the insurance company. Every five minutes I am sent back to the automated menu to select an option to speak to an agent. After pushing all the buttons, I am then subjected to mind numbing music. Is that ornament on the tree one that my daughter made in kindergarten? I think I am too easily distracted to do this. Discouraged, I hang up.

   Maybe instead I should be investigating my internet/phone options. This is probably pretty important. I have received about a hundred notifications that I had better contact my provider and make arrangements to prevent any interruption of my service. Interruption? Is that like a disturbance in the force? I suspect this could be bad. They are not very clear in all the notifications I have received on just what this interruption will be, so I call to talk to someone. This time I get a real person.  Unfortunately, this person doesn't seem to know what this interruption in service means either. But she is really happy to tell me about what they have to offer; a special price for the next twelve months for phone and internet. Of course, after this special offer period, my bill would be exactly the same as it is now. Kinda. Well, a few dollars more, actually. Mind you, that is a different price than was listed on the last notification sent to me. However, I would be assured of continuous, uninterrupted service, for whatever that was worth. Unfortunately my phone and internet would be different. My phone would no longer be a land line, it would be internet based. Oh, and my wireless router would not work with this new service, I would have to use one of their routers. Available for me to rent. Installation was free though, such a deal, and if it ever broke down, the company would send out a replacement in the next few days at no extra cost. Days during which time I would have no internet. Or phone. Well that sounds like an interruption in service.

   Apparently they don't like to provide me with the service I currently enjoy. If you ask me this really sucks. I rather like the service I have at this time. Overall, it has worked pretty well for us as a family. I don't have to rent equipment at a price that would buy me a new router every year or so, and  if my current wireless router does break down, I simply go out and purchase a new one to restore my internet service right away. Brief interruptions like these in my internet service does not affect my ability to use my phone. Of course, the agent thought I could keep my current package, but it would cost more and provide less.

   Not satisfied, I told the agent that I would have to think about it and review my options.

  The options are not great. My research so far indicates there are lots of companies offering internet. None of them offer land lines. Most want me to add cable TV. All of them use different terms to talk about speed and data capabilities. None of their prices match the advertisements. Conversation via live chat revealed that one company doesn't actually offer the service that they advertise specifically for my area. With every passing moment I am more confused and angry.

   So much for a more productive use of my time. Happy Holidays.

   Since I am not doing much writing, not able to reach an insurance agent and not moving forward against the empire in my effort to obtain a suitable internet and phone service, I toy with the idea of running to the store to pick up a few gifts. This option seems like it would be far more satisfying than my current situation. It also seems a bit like tempting fate.

   Rather than check to see if my bail/bond card is still valid, I cast about for other activities that would keep my afternoon from being a total waste and might help rekindle holiday good will and sense of peace that I enjoyed earlier. Lo and Behold, I find a stack of Christmas cards on my desk and a fresh roll of stamps. Never mind that the Christmas cards were bought two years ago and the boxes need a bit of dusting.... This is just the thing to bring my spirits up and get my creative juices flowing once more.

   As I head up the stairs, I hear laughter.

I think the Elf on a Shelf is laughing at me.

Which is odd. We don't have an Elf on a Shelf.

"Mortal Combat" is for Sissies....

   Earlier this week, I posted on Facebook that "Mortal Combat" is for Sissies. For real fighting and survival skills one only need go to the grocery store during the week before Thanksgiving. It was brutal. And I had to traverse no less than four grocery stores! Between almost being run down in the parking lot, boxed in by a senior shopping cart blockade in the dairy department and nearly being impaled by a five year old in control of a full sized cart, I barely survived with my life, let alone my groceries. There was no friendly holiday spirit. No kind gestures to start off the holiday season. No room for error in navigating the aisles. One misstep and a body would become a permanent addition to the canned goods aisle.

The streets of Deadwood began to clear....

    By the time I reached the check out, I had a glint in my eye. I could hear my mental rifle being loaded as the bullets slid into their chambers and I snapped the barrel shut. I was ready for whatever came next. Survival shopping isn't pretty.

    Perhaps this is why friends and family are tentative about letting me loose at the grocery store. I don't usually get in trouble shopping. Most of the time. Okay, there was that episode where the police were called... But I didn't do anything, except raise my voice.

    I was protesting. Hey, it was legit.

    It was a looonngg line to check out.

    It was the only line open.

    The manager kept closing the checkout line.

    It was NOT MY FAULT.

   It was how the situation was being handled that brought on the crisis....I had been shopping for a week's worth of groceries at the local grocery store. It was pretty busy in the store, and by the time I arrived at the checkout, the line was long. There was only one register open. Patiently I took my place at the end of the line and fidgeted as I slowly made my way closer to the register. The manager appeared. First he moved people at the back of the line to another register, but not turn on that register light. Assuming that he had opened a second register to alleviate the press of people, myself and several others remained in line in an orderly fashion to be checked out. Then, after a number of people moved and the check out process had started at the second register, he announced that the register we were standing at was closed and could all remaining people in line please move to an open line. Meaning the other register that now had a line since there were no other registers open.

SAY WHAT?

   The first time I was a bit surprised. So were the others left stranded in our check out line. But we moved like sheep on the hill hoping to graze in the next pasture, behind the people who were standing in line at the open register. Just when the check out register was nearly in sight, the manager told the lady in front of me that he had to close our line because it was the end of the shift for that clerk and he could not have her work overtime.

   We all moved again, but this time it resembled an orderly cattle stampede. After what seemed days, I finally made it to the conveyor belt and was about to unload my groceries when the illustrious manager announced that remaining customers in line would have to move to another register.

   There was only one register open. That line now stretched halfway through the store. Might even have gone out the back door. No way I was going to find out.

    I calmly continued to unload my groceries from my cart onto the conveyor belt. I was no longer listening. I think it was because I was standing in a puddle of the ice cream I intended to purchase. Must have been the ice cream.

   In a loud voice (the one a person reserves for talking to a naughty toddler), the manager told me that I would have to move to the other line to check out, the line I was standing in was closed.

   I said NO. I was not changing lines again. I also used a loud voice. Perhaps my best toddler voice.

   Louder still, he repeated that I had to move.

   My next NO was quite a bit louder. I told him that I was not going to move to yet another check out, he would just have to check me out in the line I was standing in and that he was also going to have to go get me fresh ice cream because I was pretty sure the stuff in my cart was liquid and I still had to walk home IF I ever managed to get out of the store.

   Louder still, he turned on a condescending tone and told me I would not be checked out unless I moved to the other line and that I must move. If I didn't he would call the police.

   As you can imagine, that really made an impression on me. Feeling all cowed and intimidated, I believe I told him (at the top of my lungs) to please do so as I would love to talk to the police. After all, it looked like after forty five minutes of shopping and about forty minutes in line I wasn't getting checked out any time soon, I had plenty of time to talk to just about anyone. I think the staff could hear me at the back of the store. From in the freezer. At the end of the other checkout line.

   Mind you, I didn't swear. Not once. Honest injun. Not to my fellow line sufferers. Not at the poor register clerk. Not at the puffy store manager. And certainly not to the police when they arrived. As a matter of fact, the police were very nice when they arrived. I lowered my tone at the officer's polite request. They were quite understanding when I told them my plight. When they asked the cashier to please check me out, there were cheers from my fellow shoppers. One reminded the cashier to call frozen to bring me fresh ice cream. The cashier was grinning from ear to ear.

The manager, however, was purple.

   The police were not so understanding with the purple manager who would not stop yelling. They didn't like it very much when he told them they couldn't tell his staff what to do. They really did not like it when he called me some pretty nasty names. But it wasn't until he decided to swear at them that they got truly angry and took him out to the squad car to cool off.

   I was content to file an informal complaint with the officer. I didn't dislike the manager or the store. I was just frustrated with the situation and how it was handled. They took my complaint at the register as I was being checked out. After I was checked out, I was offered a ride home by the nice officer, but I declined as I felt I could use the walk to cool down. If they followed me home, they were very discreet.

   After returning home and putting my groceries away, I wrote the store headquarters a complaint, detailing the issues I had encountered. I was disappointed with my experience shopping there and was considering my other options. Unfortunately these options were pretty limited where I lived and would involve a bit of driving to get my weekly groceries.

    The chain headquarters sent me a very generous gift card and an apology. They noted that check out policies and staffing issues were being reviewed at my store location. They hoped that I would consider shopping with them again. Placated, I decided to try hauling out my trusty two wheeled shopping basket and walking down to the store once more. I preferred walking to the store over a drive in snarled traffic, though I was a bit hesitant about what I could expect when I arrived at the store.

    After five blocks, I hooked my basket to the front of the store cart and headed in. The store manager, upon my arrival, abandoned the service desk and disappeared into the office. Shopping was peaceful and check out was smooth. I took my groceries home in a timely manner. Then I called my friends and told them they could put away the bail money.

   I could handle this shopping thing. Without getting arrested. Or taken down in a blaze of glory.

   "Call of Duty" is for amatures.

What, almost Thanksgiving and you're not done Christmas shopping?

   As the holiday season slowly approaches, we begin to think of family gatherings, holiday parties, putting up lights and decorations, finding the radio station playing all our favorite seasonal tunes and shopping for those special gifts for the ones we love....

 Yeah, right. And I have a starring role in the next Hallmark Holiday Movie!

   Truth of the matter is, we were just finishing up our trick-or-treating when every station that has ever broadcasted in the history of mankind switched to Christmas tunes and their advertising partners began to run Black-Friday ads. The stores that hadn't already been brandishing their festively lit trees since September now flicked the switch to blind their customers with tempting displays of treats and trinkets that every shopper needs to fill their holiday lists. Status quo coffee cups turned red (though apparently missing their usual festive decorations) and sale papers began to line the driveway.

My daughter asked, "What about Thanksgiving? Can't we enjoy that first?"

   I am right there with you kid. But can we? Cause there are only HOW many days till Christmas? What do the nephew's and niece's want for Christmas? What should I get Mom and Dad? What on earth do I buy MY kid when she wants something different each day? What toy/gadget will last beyond twenty minutes of play before the boxes become more interesting?  When am I going to have time to go shopping? How am I going to stay in budget with all this stuff I gotta buy and NOT look like the Grinch?

   Recently I heard a friend posing these same questions, so I offered her a suggestion that helped me keep holiday stress at bay. Do an event. Make a memory. If you must shop, shop mindfully. What might your family want instead of toys and stuff? She stopped and stared at me and blinked once or twice. I think she was checking her vision to see if I was really for real, or just a hallucination brought on by seasonal stress. I was for real.

In our family we do things a little differently...

   One year, instead of trying to find that special something for our parents, we shopped for kids in need, buying them clothes, coats, shoes and a toy. Then we wrote a Thank You note from the sponsored child and gave it to our parents. We explained that in lieu of a gift, we used the money to sponsor a child in their name. I still remember the emotional reaction when that first Thank You note was opened and they realized that instead of receiving another trinket, they had contributed to the welfare of others. I had picked up the names and needs of the children through a drive that my office did annually, but have since discovered ways to participate individually though my church, local Angel Trees, the Childrens home + aid website, as well as Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS). Each state and region offer similar programs. Web sites such as Love to Know, and Family to Family can help get your creative juices flowing.

   For us, this was mindful gift giving as well as an event for our family to do together. My husband and I decided what stores to visit. My daughter personally picked out coordinated outfits, selected coats and tested mittens to make sure they were good choices. We had explained to her that we were helping Santa do his shopping for others since he was a very busy guy. After a day being Santa's elves we all enjoyed hot chocolate and treats while bagging, boxing and tagging the items to be donated.

   That first Christmas, our unusual gift giving was a bit of a novelty. Now we often see family members open notes telling them that their favorite charity received a donation in their name. We have continued a tradition of mindful gifts started by my parents. As a family we have enjoyed memberships to the zoo or museum that allow us to take many trips to make memories. We also loved the remote starter for our car to make winter more bearable. (Thanks Mom and Dad!) In return, we try to give gifts like these. If you wonder how you can do the same, think about what your intended recipient would enjoy. Maybe you know someone who would like tickets to a sporting event. Or a trip to the spa to get a pedicure. Mindful gifts and events exist at all monetary levels of gift giving.

    But you might be asking, what about the kids? Don't you have to get something for the kids? In our family the kids are blessed to have more wants than needs. Would this idea transfer to kids?

   A few years ago, I found myself stressed out and tangled up in finding the right gifts for all the kids on my list, especially for my daughter. My husband and I were in a dilemma as she was rapidly outgrowing the "kiddie toys" but not yet wanting the more mature "older kid toys" that stores were offering. We did not want to buy an overpriced toy that would either break or become boring in twenty minutes. Worse, whenever she was asked what she wanted for Christmas, she answered "Boxes." I think my relatives wanted to strangle her. I knew how they felt. Aside from money toward her college education and violin lessons (there are special accounts for these so that the funds are properly applied), I was at a loss at to what item to get my daughter that she would find special or enjoy.

   But my daughter really didn't want any thing. What she really wanted was to go skiing. Daddy often went skiing on with his family on an annual ski trip, and now that she was older, she wanted to go too. But we really didn't have the funds that year. She had no equipment and didn't know how to ski. So we petitioned our relatives. We could afford to send her with Daddy, but maybe they would like to pick up a ski lift ticket? Or a pair of gloves and goggles. Or rental of skis? A half day of lessons anyone? Everyone loved the idea and contributed. It was one of her favorite Christmas gifts. 

   Since then she has received events like indoor sky-diving, horseback riding and a fantastic the craft/sleep over weekend with all her best friends. A toy or two might have been great when she was really little, but memory making trumps all. And memories are what last. If we were going to spend hard earned cash on something, we like it to to meaningful and last. In addition to events, our extended family has purchased mindful items that go along with our daughter's interests. Like the ski goggles and lift tickets, ski lessons and rentals.

   When I finished telling my friend about the events my daughter has enjoyed as presents over the last few years, she had this glow on her face. She knew exactly what two of her daughters wanted. Guinea Pigs and a cage for them to live in. Since she loved animals and caring for them, she was in love with the idea. Her younger children might still pose a challenge, but she was going to give it some hard thought to keep the playing field in her house level. Perhaps a pony ride this spring? A cowboy hat and boots so he could practice playing cowboy in the meantime? Maybe an autograph book with fancy pen and an action figure of one of the characters he would see at a trip to an amusement park? New swim trunks and goggles for a family trip to an indoor water park?

   This year I will do very little shopping. As a matter of fact, I don't intend to set foot in a store until December. Instead I am going to live in the moment and enjoy Thanksgiving. After that I am going to decorate with my family, write out some Christmas cards, attend a parade, listen to the carolers and watch my town light up their Christmas tree. I will help my daughter find an event she might enjoy. When December is in full swing, and only then, will we step inside a store to purchase for the angel tree or charity of choice so that we can make more memories for our family and share the joy of giving.

I might even turn on some Christmas music...shouldn't be hard to find a station.

   

So busy that nothing gets done?

   I consider myself an accomplishment orientated person. That means I tend to complete a lot of different tasks and handle a great many responsibilities on any given day. It usually means I am fairly busy. When people ask me how I keep going, I tell them I use the Ta-Done method. Most of the time this works, Sometimes, however, I get a bit over-busy, and suddenly I find I am getting nothing done. Can you relate? Then hang in there with me...

   Typically I don't make To-Do lists. They are depressing. No matter how much you work at checking items off, there seems to be an endless supply of things that still need to get done. It is like the laundry. Unless you plan on going naked, there will always be more wash to do. I don't recommend going au-naturel, especially if you live near Chicago. It can get pretty nippy outside and you might freeze parts of your body better off not frozen. Not to mention that nudity in general is typically frowned upon by society and can get you in trouble with the law. Wear clothes, do wash. Try not to think about it, otherwise, you may be depressed. And cold. And naked. And in jail.

   What I do to ward off the vicious cycle of the never ending To-Do checklist depression is create Ta-Done lists. Unlike a To-Do list, you don't check off tasks that are on the list, you add them as you complete them. In other words, start with a blank page and as you go about your business during the day, mark down each accomplishment that you have completed. You may cross them off if you like. At the end of the day you review your list. I find it much more satisfying to see what it is I was able to accomplish in a day instead of what I failed to finish.

   But what happens when you get to the end of a day, and the page is pretty empty? You know you were busy and were running around all day. You should have had plenty of time to pick up the stuff you needed for dinner at the store, you should have had time to make those phone calls, you should have had time to pay the bills on the desk, or at least cleared out your email in box. But you didn't get any of that done. The mail is unopened, the car needs gas, you haven't sent the reply to the school email sent out last week, and worse, you just can't bring yourself to make a phone call. There doesn't seem to be enough time to start a task, let alone end it. The page is looking fairly blank. There is no Ta-Dum at the end of the day, just a big Ta-Damn.

   Sproing. Mind and body both stop working, like a watch that has a broken a spring. Looks good on the outside, but nothing is working on the inside. Not just not working, but don't want to work.

At this point, I stop keeping lists, because nothing is getting Ta-Done.

   I tend to blame this situation on having a fairly flexible schedule. Seems that when you have a schedule that is flexible it is easy to swap out tasks, but before you know it, everything gets swapped out. And when you have swapped everything out, what is left? Nothing. Pretty soon you have piles of unwashed laundry and either you wear dirty clothes or you go naked. Naked can be pretty obvious, even to a casual observer. More so in January than in August. Dirty clothes might hide the situation, but you will probably notice a smell.

   Blame, however, cannot be placed entirely on flexibility. People with regimented schedules can suffer Sproing too. I know, I used to have a very regimented schedule but it did not prevent occasional Sproing from occurring in my life. Mind you, they were less often, but they still happened.

    Is there a solution? Sure. Sleep a couple of days. It is less obvious that you are wearing no clothes if you are beneath your sheets. Okay, realistically most of us cannot sleep a few days, but don't you wish? Instead take a shower, do a load of clothes, get dressed, have some coffee and make a To-Do list.

Yes, I just said that. The ultimate hater of To-Do lists just said make one.

   Make a To-Do list with only stuff you want to do. Completing the list should be easy. That is day one. Then on day two, make the list, but only put the stuff you really don't want to do on it. Stay with me, this is the hard stuff. Set a schedule of times that you will do these tasks and determine NOTHING will interfere (acts of God and children are acceptable exceptions to the rule). Then let yourself know that you have to do at least three things on the list or you are going to be consequences, like you have to give up something you really like. This can act as incentive. Perhaps you might give away your favorite outfit. Donate your favorite pair of shoes. Maybe you will take all the chocolate out of your house and throw it away. However, if you are a coffee drinker, do not give up coffee. That would be counter productive.

   Once you have done three hard things and crossed them off your list, do something not on the list, something quick and easy, and write it down, then cross it off. Maybe do two or three of these type of tasks and cross them off. You may feel a bit of a rush. Pat yourself on the back, then return to one of the hard items on the list, complete it and cross off. Repeat these steps until you have completed all your tasks, or at least the vast majority of them. As you complete tasks on the To-Do list, you will have more room to add done items, until  your list turns itself into a Ta-Done list. Much more satisfying.

   Once you are in the habit of making Ta-Done lists, the gloom that was hanging around you at the end of the day should evaporate. Please note, you may find that you still have to give yourself reminders of some of the things you really need to accomplish in a day. Doctor appointments are not optional. Reminders are not To-Do lists, they are assistants for the driven and the motivated. Aids for the busy. Guides for those of us who sometimes can't remember why we came into a room. Put them in your calendar. Whatever you do, avoid making a list out of these tasks! You are going to be working on Ta-Done lists.

   Now, don't expect overnight results. The piles of laundry did not accumulate overnight (though they may seem like they did). It is going to take time. You may need help. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Help is a great motivator. Share your results. Little victories are very satisfying too. Ta-Done lists are meant to be encouraging and everyone's encouragement is different.

   At this point, some of you reading this may say that Sproing sounds an awful lot like depression. My response is that while the symptoms are very similar, Sproing is a temporary (although somewhat debilitating) condition in which typically busy people suddenly seem to get nothing done. The results are temporary disappointment and frustration. It is a condition that can be rectified with simple, self-help steps, much like mine listed above.

    If, however, you suffer from similar symptoms that linger, simple techniques will most likely not produce viable results. I urge you to seek professional help of a doctor, just as I would if you broke your leg. I am not a doctor, just a blogger. Neither anxiety nor depression are light subject matter, nor do I address them as such. Please know, that you are not alone and there are people that can help.

   Some sites to aid in seeking help with depression:
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
7 Cups of Tea
Students Against Depression
Beyond Blue

Because everyone deserves a satisfying tomorrow.

   

The love/hate relationship with our smartphones

   I love my smartphone. In the palm of my hand I can check my email, keep in touch with social media, take a picture of my daughter, plan out my meals, add to my grocery list, pay my bills and see what I am doing Saturday night. It reminds me of appointments, birthdays and special events. I share calendars, notes and photos. I look up places I have never been and my phone can give me the directions to get there as I drive. I can text my mom, jot a memo, alter a spreadsheet sixty feet above a stage (Yes, I have done this on my phone), make reservations at a restaurant, reserve a movie and check out books at the library. I can even make a call from the parking lot of the grocery store (imagine that, using the smart phone to make a phone call - who knew?). I use an Android based phone and have been pretty happy for the last several years with this platform.

So why was I threatening to throw it out the window a few days ago? 

   The answer: Techno-work... The added work that comes with technology. The added time it takes to figure out just how to make all this cool fancy stuff actually work. The irritation when it doesn't work. The frustration of trying to figure out why it doesn't work and how to get it working. The delight when you think you have your problem solved, only to find out that it still doesn't work. The discovery that the planned obsolescence of the device is shorter than your your learning curve to actually operate it.

   Who has time for that?

   Who has the skills and patience for that?

   Not me. I was the one threatening to throw it out the window, remember?

   It started with my nearly new, smarter than me phone trying to automatically update. I received the error message "Insufficient storage available." Not just once, but about twenty times, locking up my

ability to use the device. Frantically I searched (and eventually found) where I could turn off the automatic update so that I could complete the task of finding a recipe for that night's dinner. Once dinner was underway, I decided to look into why I had insufficient space on my phone to do simple updates. Other tasks were put on the back burner.

   At first I was baffled. I had no videos. There were not too many photos, were there? Could I have too many documents? I spent about an hour making sure my photos and important documents had backed up on my cloud, then deleted all the non-essential files. To make a clean sweep of things, I restarted my phone, then tentatively tried updating one app manually.

   There it was, that nasty storage space message once more. And apparently I had accidentally triggered the auto-update thingy, cause now my phone was trying to update all the apps. In addition to the storage message, I now had a message that "Some Apps may not respond due to storage issues." Seemed like I had made it worse. Well, that would have to wait till after dinner. After I did the tasks I had put off while I was clearing my phone.

   So much later, in the time I would have normally been kicking back and relaxing, I went back to the task of fixing the issues on my phone. Techno-work! Once more I cleared all the photos and documents. I googled the issue on my computer (I read this article by IT World and it helped me learn what could be causing the problem and how to fix it. Staying away from the more scary technical issues at the end of the article, I started with taking a good look at my apps. While I did not have that many that I loaded on my phone (there were quite a few useless ones that came pre-loaded on my phone that I could not uninstall), some of the ones I like to use are evidently pretty darn big. So I learned how to move my apps (or at least part of my apps) to my large SD card, which was sitting in my phone, pretty much empty. I also dumped some of the apps that I really did not need, or could easily access and use on the internet, like Twitter.

   After completing this work (I think it took waaayyyy longer than it should have) I once more restarted my phone, crossed my fingers, said a quick prayer, and tried updating an app. This time I managed NOT to auto-update all the apps. After holding my breath for about two minutes, the app updated. Living dangerously, I updated all the apps I use. Unable to hold my breath for the length of time it would take my phone to complete this task, I went and had dessert. When I returned....

Everything was updated. No error messages.

YAY!

   Next I took the time to make sure that all my photos were being saved on the SD card, not my phone's internal memory. I also checked my settings to ensure that my auto-back up features were activated. 

    Having completed all these tasks, I now wanted to see if I could load an app onto the phone that I really wanted, the cool new Project Color app from Home Depot. I am getting ready to repaint a room and I wanted to be able to play with colors on the walls and this app lets you paint the walls in a picture of your actual room. Mom had it on her phone and it was loads of fun, not to mention helpful. But I digress. Could I actually load an app on my previously storage-strained phone?

   I said a prayer once more, entered the Google Play Store, and typed in my desired app. With baited breath, I pressed the install button...

It worked. The app installed.

   I was happy with my phone once more. Which was a good thing as I had no intention of buying a new phone. Moreover, my phone works well with the Google apps that both my daughter and myself use heavily (and with which I am familiar) and plays well with our computer/tv equipment at home. My husband, however, was a little more tentative about my victory. He has been an iPhone user for several years with limited issues and was now moving to an Android based phone. Was he going to suddenly start having issues? Was this an Android problem alone? 

   Informally I asked a few of my friends who used iPhones to see if storage issues existed outside the Android world. I received varying answers. Most did not experience storage issues that I did. But those persons who encountered storage issues had a large number of videos and photos on their phone or used many of the the types of apps that I do. Those that did not encounter storage problems, either were not heavy users of their phones in the way that I used my phone or regularly replaced their phones with newer ones. As a rule, issue free friends generally had more expensive models than what I would be willing to pay for a phone. Some just had better technology savvy than I.

   A quick check on the internet revealed articles like this one from October 2015 - iPhone storage full? posted on Know Your Mobile that talked about how to free up storage space on an iPhone. By the number of articles my search pulled up, it became clear that storage issues were not isolated to Android phones. However, since iPhones do typically come with more GB space than many Android models, the problem of storage may arise less frequently for most users. 

   To allay the fears of my husband, we added a micro SD card with 64GB to his phone (something you cannot do with a similarly priced iPhone) and I began teaching him the connectivity that he can enjoy at home. 

Micro SD card already out of package and in the phone!

   He is catching on quick and I have no doubt that with some Techno-work he will soon be passing me in his phone user abilities. The biggest stumbling block to enjoying his phone immediately is the learning curve to use a device that is different than the one he had previously. Will he be able to master the Techno-work involved to operate such a useful piece of technology?

We shall see if he threatens to throw it out the window.

   Now if I could just figure out how to change and save my favorite channels on the remote to the new tv....wait, is that an on-line manual? Do I have time for this?

   

So you are a writer....

   Several years ago, I felt a strong pull to pursue my dream of writing. Not just now and then, in small snatches, but really commit to writing as a major part of my life. I had no idea what it was I wanted to write first (gosh, there were all sorts of characters dancing around in my head, clamoring for attention, a number of started projects, and a whole lot of empty pages), but I knew that it was not something I could put off any longer. This was something I needed to do.

   Like having to pee when you get off an airplane.

   To put myself in the correct frame of mind to be a "full time writer" (and to prevent making everything else in my life a priority), I began letting others know that I was writing. I made it official on my LinkedIn account and made note of it on my Facebook. If someone asked me "So, what do you do?" I would answer, "I am a writer."

   Generally this would lead to the response, "Oh. What have you published?"

   And I would feel really embarrassed. Because I had not published a book. Or a short story. Or even an article. So I would say, "I really don't have anything published at this time."  Then the other person would usually change the subject.

   Cause you know you are not a writer unless you have been published.

   But this conversation roadblock didn't stop me from writing. Those characters in my head were just a bit too demanding for that. I wondered if I should seek out therapy.

   Even laundry, groceries, a house constantly under repair, and interruptions of a busy life with kids didn't stop me. Slowed me down a little, but never put an end to the words that spilled out on the page. Or rather spilled out on the blank screen. I seldom use paper when I write. My handwriting can be a handicap to a reader, even if it is just myself doing the reading.

   With the growing urgency to write, also came the urgency to share what I wrote. Since I did not have a completed manuscript to submit for publication, I decided to start a blog and share my thoughts with the world at large. After finding a format that I found easy to use, I plunged in the public waters of blogging.

   That was pretty scary. Not scary, like driving down a dark road in the mountains with no headlights on, or scary like discovering that last month's dinner leftovers had been pushed to the back of the fridge, but scary like going to a job interview for the dream position that you wanted all your life and are not entirely sure that you are qualified for.  

   What if no one liked my writing? Who would read my writing? What if no one read what I wrote? What the heck would I write in a blog?  Okay, I already had an idea of what I would write. But the other questions remained real fears until I actually began to post to my blog. I not only discovered there were folks who would read my blog, but there were people who liked it.  A few readers wrote encouraging comments. I had individuals who told me that something I wrote touched them. Still others contacted me and said that I made them smile. I welcome comments and feedback. Some of the subjects I write about are meant to start dialogue.

   My ego was given that boost I evidently needed. Now I could proudly tell others that I published a blog. I really was a writer. There was now evidence.

 Then some creep asked me if my blog generated much revenue.

   At first, I was a little embarrassed, because no, it did not generate revenue. It was another conversation blockade. I was a little discouraged. Maybe a lot discouraged. If I were a real writer, wouldn't my blog generate cash flow? Wouldn't I have a bigger following? Shouldn't there be a ton of people signing up to follow me? Was this a sign that I should just quit? I thought about it. I started looking into topics that were selling in the blog world. I began to do more research on strategy, writing techniques, and formats. Then I got angry.

   So now I wasn't a writer because I didn't generate any revenue? Really? Is that what defines a writer? Don't get me wrong, I would love it if my writing generated revenue. I hope someday that it does. But that was about as stupid as saying a mother wasn't a mother because loving and taking care of her children didn't produce income. Or that a person wasn't a golfer because they didn't pick up a pay check at the end of eighteen holes. Whose business was it anyway if I did or did not generate income from my writing? I had let myself become discouraged by an inquiry into my finances. An evaluation of my abilities based on my social-economic status. To make matters worse, I had let that person change how I defined a writer. How I defined myself.

Without the assistance of therapy, I took a deep breath and stepped back to evaluate my life. I decided to call it my Mid-Life Review.

   Anyone thinking of doing this should probably consider getting therapy. Or a bottle of wine, maybe something stronger. It can be pretty scary to look at the big picture. Fortunately I lead a pretty simple life. My mid-life crisis had not resulted in a sports car. And when I started to take a close look at my new goals, I discovered that I had been on this path a lot longer than I thought. My blog was NOT my first publication - only my most recent. I had written training manuals and material that had been published within the companies I had worked for and distributed corporate wide. I had written chapter stories in the past (granted, for an audience of close friends) and they had begged each week for the next installation. I had created children's stories and shared them with my nephews and nieces as well as with my own daughter and her friends. I have been known to create some wicked memos. I have produced a number of resumes for family and friends and helped with cover letters.  The projects I currently pursue are simply another offshoot of an already well trod path.

   From that point, I decided to only value the opinion of someone who asked me what writing projects I was currently working on. I was not going to be embarrassed by a lack of a publication contract or a dearth of my works on display in the local bookstore. I was going to work with my whole being at doing what I feel I was meant to do, what I feel driven to do. It is like breathing. There are days when the crisp autumn air fills my lungs with life-giving oxygen that rejuvenates me body and soul, and there are days I spend gasping for breath through a stuffed up head and a runny nose, unable to smell the noxious fumes of the vapor rub lathered over my chest. My struggles with my identity were not fruitless, however, as some of my research proved quite useful in both my writing strategy and blog publications. I have learned a great deal about the current world of publication into which I am wading.

   I am not sure how deep the water may be, nor too certain about the current, but as I have left shore without a paddle, I will have to make my way as best as I am able.

Tech savvy from the techno challenged - Parents and the evolving world of school....

      Welcome to the new age of technological ease! 

   When your kid started school this fall, did you find yourself suddenly awash in tech overload? Were you suddenly faced with special calculators, Chrome Books or tablets and about a thousand new school alerts that you needed to sign up for (not to mention the ones you needed to drop from last year)? Did your kids suddenly start sharing documents, collaborating with others and tell you that they "need" a smart phone to text their friends? Did the school require you to register and pay fees on line? And was there and unusual absence of notes from the teacher coming home?

   Take a deep breath and slowly let it out. You are not alone. Even some of the most tech savvy parents around have been taken aback at the pace that things are changing. That probably won't help steel your nerves or clear your head, but it might give you some air. If you are like me, without a degree in computer technology, you probably needed some air.

   School are starting to use more and more technology as part of the curriculum. Kids are starting to access technology at younger and younger ages and need access to tablets and computers to complete assignments.... but it is not consistent and seems a bit haphazard.

 

 My Jr. High daughter has a Chrome Book issued from school. We signed all kinds of consent forms and offered up our limbs and copious amounts of blood should something happen to the device. A device we knew very little about, except that it would be our daughter's responsibility to keep charged and in good health. Neither of the High School nephews have one issued from their school, which right now is probably a pretty good thing, since right now I don't know where we would plug in all these devices at night to charge. It seems at the high school they have books and papers. You know, old fashioned open 'em up and read 'em books. Although much of their homework is supposed to happen on a computer, like watching video assignments on YouTube, turning in papers by sharing with the teacher, researching global economy via articles and checking out the latest in War Hammer models... Did I miss something? Why don't the older kids have a Chromebook? Heck, I will plug it in at the neighbor's house if I have to! We have one computer in the house for the kids to use. And it is an older one that works a bit slower than the newer models. It is in the study with a large monitor that faces the door. I won't share my laptop.

   That is my work tool. They would have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands. And quite possibly even then, they may not be successful. If you have ever had malware corrupt two months worth of work, you get this. It also explains why I am adamant about backing everything up on a cloud. If the cloud burns down, I can be mad, but at least it won't be directed at my family.

   I digress.

   Turns out our daughter has a Chromebook and the boys do not mostly due to funding. Okay, I guess I get that. Too bad there isn't an offer for parents to purchase Chromebooks thru the school for the high school kids at a group rate. I would do so in a heartbeat! I will have to suggest this. I am sure my suggestions will make me popular. I am sometimes a very popular person. In the meantime our nephews alternate between the computers at school and our "vintage" computer here. And our daughter will use a Chromebook...whatever that is. Neither myself nor my friends had a clear idea of what a Chromebook was and we were concerned about giving our children laptops to go surfing the world wide web.

   Thank heavens that the school had a parent session to explain Chromebooks. and thank heavens for the world wide web. Cause now I know the difference between a Chromebook an a Laptop. If you want a quick break down...

• Laptops use operating systems like Windows or Mac. 
• Laptops have software and apps stored on the device
• You can install programs, such as Word, Excel, and photo programs
• You can put things on the desktop
• Laptops are meant to be used both on and off the internet
• Battery life can vary depending on price range and specs and programs used.
• Much stored on the device
• Subject to security threats, you will need anti-virus to defend yourself from virus infections and malware
• Price can vary greatly
• Laptops get slower the older they get
• May not update automatically
• Software can be costly, unless freeware - 

Chromebooks

• Chromebooks operate using the Google Operating System
• Chromebooks store software and data on a cloud
• Chromebooks are meant to be used on the internet
• Unable to load programs like Word, Excel, and photo programs. 
• You cannot really put anything on the desktop
• Battery life typically fantastic. Remember, much of the programs used are online, doesn't use as much of the battery to operate.
• Secure - won't need anti-virus software. Practically immune to virus infections and malware
• Price generally cheaper than laptops!
• Chromebooks do not get slower as they age. This is because there is relatively little on them
• Chromebooks are the fastest on the market - especially considering their price point.
• Update automatically
• Zero software cost

   Feel smarter? Yeah, me too. And our school has the kids set up on school accounts which can restrict and monitor their movement. There are features that are readily available in a regular Google account that they don't have. So they can do their homework with relative safety, not use my precious laptop, not complain about the "old computer," and I can feel somewhat comfortable and work on keeping up with school alerts and calendars and stuff.

   Now I was left to update my school alerts and load the band calendar onto my Google calendar. With technology the school uses - like websites and the new mobile web site this is supposed to be easy. Unfortunately the school mobile site don't exactly mirror the regular website. Some stuff is missing and some stuff is not configured so that you can actually get at it. I made this discovery at the dentist office. With a hectic schedule, you do things when you can! First I decided to load the band calendar onto my Google calendar using the button provided to do this on the mobile site. Unfortunately other site text overlay the button, so I could not get it to work. Since that did not work, I tried the family access to set up alerts from the school and teachers. Hmmmm, no link on the mobile site. I went to the full web site and I could access it there - albeit a very tiny tiny version on my very tiny phone screen. I wear glasses to read, NOT magnifiers! Yes, I know, I could do all this later on that fabulous lap top that I won't share, but I had the time now!
 
    Frustrated, I put off what I could have been doing in the "now" to that "later" time I hoped to have free. While making dinner, I had the tablet out for a recipe, so while the food was simmering, I tried to pull up the school mobile site on the tablet. Bigger screen, same issues! And what about my friends? The ones who relied on their phones and tablets? Who only have an old rickety computer, if any at all? I called the school next day and sometime in the following week, the issue was corrected. Yay.
 
    About two weeks later, my fellow parents and I came across the same issue accessing documents for a school based event - I let the school know again and again they fixed, but again I lost the available time I had to review the documents. So we are getting there. Slowly. With a big learning curve. My worry is when we get around this curve that everything will change again and we have to learn all over again.

Wasn't technology supposed to make our lives easier?

Perhaps I will figure that out when I figure out the War Hammer homework...

 

It's my anniversary, but it is not important

   Today is my wedding anniversary! Some 20 odd years ago (8 WONDERFUL YEARS) we were married, in a church, in front of friends and family and God. And here we are...all those years later, still married.

Here we are from all those years ago.

   It's no big deal. Really it is not. Heck, I forgot until someone messaged me yesterday to wish me a Happy Anniversary. And then I thought, oh yeah. Gosh, perhaps we ought to do something. I started to feel guilty even, I mean, cause I forgot the date and everything and had not planned anything special. We are having Sloppy Joes for dinner for crying out loud.

   And then I got a grip on myself and thought, really, it is no big deal! 

   It is a date on a calendar. I can't even remember how many years. My niece Chloe was born that year. So however old Chloe is, is how long we have been married. Not like some kind of prison sentence that I am counting down the time until I break free. The years are not important. The date is not important. Having a fancy dinner and a date to celebrate is not important, though we might do that later as a great excuse to have a fancy dinner and a date.

   What is important is that we took a terrific vacation together this year as a family. A really cool and memory packed vacation in which we enjoyed our time together. This is not our first trip, nor is it our last. We take trips together fairly often. We explore new places, meet new people and enjoy new things together. This time around we enjoyed camping, walking, hanging on the beach and Disney.

   That was important.

    Also important, my husband's fractured elbow is healing quite nicely. His follow up visit to the doctor confirmed this and now even the sling he was wearing is optional. First he was fortunate not to need a cast or splint, now he is free of the pain in the neck sling. As long as it continues to heal as well as it has been, he should have no after effects from his injury! He can drive and do normal activities as long as it doesn't involve lifting more than 10lbs. I am so grateful for this.

Shoes optional

All ready

   Another thing that is important, the kids started back to school and we seem to be getting down to a routine of sorts. Okay, so we are in what, week 3 or 4 or something like that and starting to get a routine. We tend to be a little slow at things sometimes, and good things should not be rushed, like routines. I like routines, even if they mean we have to get up early again. School provides great opportunities and experiences. Ones we cannot offer them at home.


   Routines also provide me with valuable time to write. And clean house. And do wash. Wash is important. Everyone here refuses to go naked. Even if shoes are optional.



   Yet another thing that is important is being together as a family. We do that a lot. Sometimes we are celebrating birthdays. Sometimes we enjoy watching the kids play in the band at halftime or at a recital. There are barbecues with friends and family get-togethers and birthdays too numerous to count.

   Other times what is important is goofing off. We are good at goofing off.

Last year's fancy anniversary dinner.

     Perhaps one of the most important things in our marriage is God. Our center and our foundation. He is patient and kind. Understanding and considerate. There in our sickness and health. He does not get jealous or say hurtful things. He is slow to anger, quick to forgive. Hmmm...some of this sounds familiar. I think I heard some of it somewhere. Maybe at our wedding a long, long, long time ago.

   This year we celebrate our anniversary with Sloppy Joes and a cake I baked today. Looks pretty with our wedding cake topper, don't you think? 

Our Wedding cake topper on today's dessert to go with the Sloppy Joes

   Our niece Chloe is getting married next week. We look forward to celebrating with them the start of a crazy, wonderful journey. And if I can impart anything to the young couple, it is that anniversary dates are not important. 

It is all the stuff that comes in between.

My crazy busy summer - are we back to school already?

   If you read my blog waaaayyyy back in June, the last time I had a sane moment and posted content, you might remember that summer break from school was not all the idealistic dreams I had hoped for. I wasn't enjoying reading a great book out on the patio swing, I wasn't bike riding with my daughter, and I sure wasn't enjoying a break from the routine of our school schedule. As a matter of fact, due to rains and a little water in the basement playroom, my dining room looked like this....

   I anticipated this to only last about a week.... oh foolish me! Instead, the weather remained unsteady and wet! We discovered that we had two cracks in the foundation that needed sealing. Not serious, they were small, but this would be a project to take care of before our much anticipated and planned vacation. So after having the area marked out by JULIE service, we dug and dug (by hand) and sealed on the outside. Then we took down drywall and sealed from the inside. Thankfully, when the next set of storms hit (just about three days after this work was done), we stayed nice and dry.

   At the same time, I had already arranged for stone to be delivered to the driveway where we park the camper while the camper was away at the shop being prepped for our vacation.

   It is all about timing, right? With the help of my mom and nephew Colin, we soon as the drive looking good.

   Did I mention that our nephews and my brother came to live with us temporarily? They have been a tremendous help.

   But our adventures were just beginning. Fortunately I had the air conditioning fixed before we started work on the playroom.

   Which we found out needed insulation (it was insufficiently insulated), so we tore down the two outside walls  to the studs (as seen above) and began to insulate properly. Next would come the green board and spackling and priming and painting and trim...

   Doesn't everyone start a major house renovation right before leaving for vacation?

   Not long after we started, it was vacation time... And we had already booked and paid for vacation, so darn it, we were going!

   And go we did, for two blissful weeks we traveled to one of the hottest parts of the country in the middle of July. My daughter was really surprised as we told her we were going to the Dells. How, you might ask, did our 11 year old not figure out that we were not going to the Dells when we headed south - as far south as Florida?

She has sneaky parents.

   We told her that we were going to spend the first week of our vacation south, where it was warm (the day before we left for our vacation it was only 55 degrees) and then head back up north to the Dells for the second week when the weatherman had predicted warmer temps. And I told her I wanted to go to a state that had a beach. When we were headed onto Disney property, she asked if we could visit, but we noted how expensive that was, and that we were just following GPS to the highway that would take us to our next campground. Thank you Disney for having highway signs on the roadways. It wasn't until we pulled into the Fort Wilderness Campground that I handed her the box with our Magic Bands.

She was truly surprised. 

   We loved our stay. I have to say, the campground was the best place I have every stayed on Disney property. I could live there. They have no mosquitoes. They have magic bands. I spend the next month tapping everything with my wrist trying to get it it activate. I need a magic band for everyday life. The second week of our trip we spent time recouping from our theme park adventure and visited space ships, the beach, one of the oldest cities in the United States and gas stations with chickens roaming between the pumps. I kid you not, there were chickens.

   While we were gone, Mom and Dad took on the Playroom Project (as I have named it).

 They had some help from our nephews, who learned a great deal about construction. Probably more than they wanted to know.

   We returned in time to pick up the primer and paint and begin the finishing work.

    Which was a lot of work. After we painted we could see where we spackled. Grrr. So that was redone until we were satisfied.

   Next came the trim and ceiling molding.

And I could not put that stupid brown cabinet back into the nicely repainted room, so it received painting. And the handles received painting. And I managed to paint myself in the process.

On the face.

      I give new meaning to face painting.

   But finally, this long project is near an end. We have sorted what was going back into the playroom. Donated to charity. Put up shelves. Put away toys. The results are wonderful. Still need blinds and curtains. Probably could use a new area rug. Will need a new plug for the electronics shelf (hey the rest of the plugs were moved up and replaced!)

 But alas, as we started to relax, our summer drew to an end. School shopping ensued. Ice cream socials and parent technology meetings took place (the latter during a tornado...but more on that another time).

School bell rang and we were back to routine of lunches and early mornings.

   But not before my hubby fractured his elbow.

   You did not think we could end summer on an easy note did you? And is that a dripping I hear in the utility room ceiling? 

Crap.