Not so 'pit of despair'

I have to say I am a little impressed with myself. I used the time I normally would have been at work last night (library closed early due to weather) to do some cleaning in the 'Pit of Despair'. I now have all my receipts organized & put away and I have my new system in place for 2008 so that it will never get as bad again. [Never say never.]

I can actually see the tops of things in that room, the top of the sofa, the top of my desk, etc. I can see bits and pieces of the floor.

Truly, you do not know how excited this makes me. Clean and organized. The anticipation of it makes me want to do pirouettes across the floor. [I won't simply because I am in the library and I really don't think it kind to share my awkwardness with the world.]

Digging In

No time to talk -- gotta go dig in for the blizzard! The library is closing early today so . . .
hopefully I will be back tomorrow.

Breathe

Today I woke up and looked at the thermometer . . . 40 degrees. 40 degrees! The sun is shining and it is beautiful outside. Even though I know that the temperature will be dropping 40 degrees tomorrow, I'll take it. I'll take the breath. The refreshing day that speaks of hope for spring.

I have found that there are times in my life where I can take a breath. Times when nothing horrible or tramatic happens nor when anything exciting or dramatic happens. It may be a day, a week, a year. Some time frame in which the events in my life are not overwhelming. I can reflect on the past -- what has brought me to this point. I can plan for the future -- where I want to go from here.

I can revel in the hope and reflect on the blessings.

So Chris . . . breathe

5 things

5 current movies I would like to see:

1. Cloverfield
2. 27 dresses
3. I am Legend
4. P.S. I love you
5. Atonement

BTW: I watched National Treasure: Book of Secrets last weekend -- loved it! Not sure that much of it is historically accurate but loved it all the same!

Whoopsie

Okay, so I forgot to post yesterday. Whoopsie.

I had planned on it. Scheduled it into my day. Then . . . nothing.

Sorry.

I have a lot of excuses I could give you but I won't.

I have been thinking a lot about my life lately. I seem to do this in spurts. Think and evaluate my life -- live it -- think and evaluate, etc. Hopefully I am learning something along the way but I can never tell. Until one day it pops into my head "whoa, this is something new, isn't it? wow! this is really working in my life."

Anyway, back to thinking and evaluating. I currently have not come to any conclusions but I have a feeling that I will and that they will be life changing. I think I am due for one of those life changing revelations.

Ending on a happy note: Look at this beautiful baby!

Congratulations to the Kostman's!

The missing piece?

I have been thinking a lot lately about the way my life gone so far. I think that if I would have asked my self 15 years ago, "What is your life going to be like in 15 years?" I would have responded with an answer that in any way resembles my life today. I haven't decided if that is a good thing or a bad thing.

My 15-year-old self probably would have said:

• married
• kids
• maybe a job but not necessarily
  

I don't think I ever had a notion as to what I wanted to be when I grew up. (I still don't. Course I don't consider myself grown up either.)

Out of the three items listed above I (almost) have one. :-)

I am happy, I am content most of the time -- infrequently I have those niggling "what ifs" pop into my brain.

I wonder what my 45-year-old self ::cringe:: will say about this post and about my life. Think I will be a grown up then?

Buff and tough

I have to say I believe my fitness resolution is off to a fair start. I have been shoveling snow and walking the last couple of weeks -- so much so that I don't need to use the aerobics programs I have been recording (because there is no way I am getting up at 6 am for exercise -- I'm sorry but I am not built for mornings).

I am just sore enough to know that I am working my muscles but not too sore that I can't function normally.

And no this is not a self-portrait. :-)

Uncluttered

I have to say that I am getting used to my life being less cluttered.

It is easier to keep my house clean when I don't have so much floating around in it. Amazing how that works! The longer I keep up my routine the easier it is to keep up with the mess. Today I have plans to dust my living room. I don't believe I have ever uttered that phrase!

Feels pretty good.

The one disappointment I have is the amount of time it it taking to clean up my spare room. It seems I can work for an hour (or 4) and it looks the same as when I started. But I will keep on keeping on and someday -- far in the future -- I will be able to show you an embarrassing before photo and a spic and span after photo.

Now I am going home to shovel the four inches of snow off my driveway so I don't have to shovel six inches tomorrow!

5 things

5 of my favorite comfort foods

1. hot cocoa
2. french fries
3. York peppermint patties
4. sausage & mushroom pizza
5. mint chocolate chip ice cream

Brrrrrrr

I'm writing this as my eyelashes and nose hairs are thawing out. It snowed most of the day today and then it got COLD!

I walked to work today! Because I knew I wouldn't be able to get back into my driveway when I came home from work. It only took 2 hours to shovel and my so nice neighbor plowed the front sidewalk.

I think God was helping me out with my exercise program because I got a lot of exercise in today!

And yes, this post will not be going up until Friday morning (casualty of no internet at home) but I am writing it on Thursday -- that should count!

Now I am going to sit back and eat a nice big bowl of chili, read a little, and maybe later I will have a cup of hot cocoa . . .

Determination

(the act of deciding definitely and firmly)

Mmmm . . . my first wind is waning. I haven't worked on the "black hole" all week. But, I am determined not to fail in my tasks. They are all achievable. (Is that right? . . . achievable? . . . that does not seem right . . . anyway)

Tonight I have determined ( I like that word -- determined -- it sounds strong, doesn't it?) to work for at least an hour on the "pit of despair." An hour is not that long. I can do it!

As for my bedroom -- still beautiful! -- my kitchen -- almost beautiful, just have some dishes to load in the dishwasher -- and the rest of my house, I have been keeping everything picked up and looking good. Yeah me! I do need to vacuum. My cat doesn't seem to be following the rules very well. She just drops hair wherever she likes and leaves it there for me to pick up. Crazy thing!

My spending resolution is going well. I have cut some of my spending and modified some of the other. Overall, I am seeing a change . . . not really in my lifestyle but my priorities.

My health resolution is going to be the hardest, I think. I have gotten up earlier than normal and done some exercise programs. I haven't walked to work much recently and I need to get back to doing this!

Okay, I am starting to get excited about this stuff again.

What's that?

I think I feel my second wind blowing in!

Winter Wonderland

A week or so ago temperature was fluctuating so much that we had some days of very heavy fog. The fog caused the trees to become frosted. I was going to take some photos of them -- but alas, I never got the chance. However, a friend e-mailed me these the other day. These are way better than any I would have taken:

This one is actually just up the street from me.

Here are a couple more:

Photos courtesy Bryan B.

Pretty huh?

By the way, the temperatures are no longer fluctuating. They are just cold! It is winter.

Busy week

Today is the start of a busy week. Besides my normal work hours, I am going to be helping my grampa & gramma out at their house. Then I work a Saturday shift.

But the reward for all the busyness will come on Saturday. I am going to National Treasure with some friends! Yeah!

But it is only Monday!?!?!

5 things . . .

5 things that blessed me this week:

1. Knowing I had friends praying for me
2. Hearing from old friends unexpectedly
3. Meeting a new friend (I hope)
4. Reevaluating my priorities (you wouldn't think this would be a blessing -- but it is)
5. Sleeping in a newly deep-cleaned & rearranged bedroom tonight!
   

Every once in a while

Every once in a while there comes a week or day or moment when I can revel in the blessings I have been given.

This is one of those weeks.

You will have to wait till tomorrow to see some of them. Today I just wanted to take a moment to soak up the blessings. They remind me how special I am. Sometimes I can forget that. In the hustle and bustle of life and work, in the demands of the people around me, in the choices I make everyday. I need to remember that I am special. Created. Loved.

And blessed.

My hope and desire that I can help those around me -- friends, family, acquaintances -- feel special -- blessed.

Neatorama

I was thinking this morning about how lucky we are that we can grow and change. Not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well.

The way things are going in our lives are does not have to be the way they will always go. We can change bad habits into good. Or good habits into bad.

It is not always easy . . . in fact it is most always hard . . . to change.

I haven't always been the neatest person. (The sister and brother are rolling their eyes right now.) But not being neat didn't mean I didn't want to be neat. My priorities were different. I didn't put the effort into keeping my life neat and organized. Now 3o years into my life I am taking the opportunity to create a habit of neatness. Organizing my spaces and eliminating excesses.

Now that will be difficult! But I am up for the challenge . . . I am hoping . . .

Junkpile

I have been going through some things (per my New Year's resolution) and I am amazed at all the junk I have collected over the years.

I cleaned out my closet and came up with a bin full of clothing that I never wore or would never wear again. Not a little bin but one of those bathtub-sized bins. And that was just in my closet.

As I was cleaning I was scolding myself:

"Self, you are not going to have to do this again! The next time you buy something or get something as a gift you are going to throw something or give something away! Understand?!?"

I was duly chastised.

Today, I was reading this article about modular homes . . . I would have a lot of throwing to do to fit into one of these things!

Uh . . . a little insight?

Going into this past weekend I was a little sad because I no longer had internet access -- transitioning between two services. I thought to myself "what am I going to do?"

Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that I am either surfing the web way too much or my New Year's resolutions are working extremely well.

I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned out this weekend! Yeah. This week I am going to clean out my bedroom and clean all my carpets. My kitchen counters are clean; my laundry is done. All my clothes are hanging in the closest -- which, by the way, I can actually get into!

Previous to this time there were two rooms I wouldn't show company, or family for that matter. My bedroom and the spare room.

We won't discuss the spare room as yet. Maybe someday soon!

5 things I will miss about my internet connection

Okay, I am switching internet providers and today was the last day of my old digital cable connection. I won't have my new connection for a little bit ( I hope it is only a little bit). In the meantime I will be using the wireless connection at my library.

5 things I will miss about my in-home internet connection:

1. Surfing the net in my pajamas
2. IM-ing my sister at all hours of the day
3. Instantaneous (almost) access to information
4. Recipes search
5. Easy access to e-mail, blogs, etc.
   

Fudge-errific!

This is the fudge recipe I used for my Christmas gifts. It is so easy and so good!

1 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
1 12 oz. pkg of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 T. water
3/4 c. chopped nuts (if desired)
1 t. vanilla

Line cookie sheet with waxed paper and set aside. In a medium microwave-safe bowl combine chocolate chips, condensed milk, and water.

Microwave uncovered on high for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave about a minute more or until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. (I had to microwave it longer but I heated it in 30 second increments.) Stir in nuts (I used almonds) and vanilla.

Pour mixture onto the prepared cookie sheet. Spread into a rectangular shape. Make sure to keep it thick enough for pieces but thin enough to cut into pieces.

Chill for 30 minutes or until firm. Cut into pieces.

For nutrition information click here, or completely ignore it -- as I do! :-)

Procrastination

I don't know why I procrastinate. I rarely does me any good. Just puts off the inevitable.

Which, I guess, is the point.

I am currently putting off taking down my Christmas decorations. I really can only do this until Saturday when they have the curbside tree pick up.

My poor tree.

Maybe I'll wait until tomorrow. :-)

Happy New Year!

New Year's Resolutions:

1) Manage my finances better by altering my spending habits -- cutting out some of the luxuries-- and saving more.

2) Manage my household better by keeping the clutter down -- spending at least 10-15 minutes per day picking up my messes :-) -- and tossing/selling items I don't need or use.

3) Manage my health better by walking to work as often as possible and continuing to be cautious about what and how much I eat.

4) Manage my spiritual life better by keeping up my devotional/prayer life -- establishing a daily routine that will be harder to deviate from than my current method of "when I get to it."

5) Put a greater focus on the well-being of others rather than myself by expressing my appreciation to others in my life through words or actions.

Only five, that shouldn't be too hard, right?