to victory!
Feb. 17th, 2025 07:35 amThis is the first year since I started at my current workplace that we don't get President's Day as a paid holiday. (boooooo!)
HOWEVER! A lot of people are taking it as a day off anyway, including my boss. Sooooooooooo I'm thinking there MAY be a certain amount of holiday feel to the day.
To enjoy today as much as I would have if it was a paid holiday feels like a valiant and worthy goal!
HOWEVER! A lot of people are taking it as a day off anyway, including my boss. Sooooooooooo I'm thinking there MAY be a certain amount of holiday feel to the day.
To enjoy today as much as I would have if it was a paid holiday feels like a valiant and worthy goal!
I'm just saying
Feb. 11th, 2025 07:17 amThis year, my brain is convinced that February 14th should be a Tuesday. Tuesday, February 14th -- it just sounds right! Therefore, Valentines Day MUST be a Tuesday. Since it isn't today, that means it must be next Tuesday!
I have no idea where this idea came from. I've done zero checking, but common sense tells me that February 14th is almost certainly not always a Tuesday. I assume this is like how I always think my birthday will be on a Wednesday. Some days of the week just fit with some holidays. And Valentines Day should be a Tuesday.
The practical implication of this bold incorrect notion is that I've done nothing to prepare for Valentines Day, despite it actually being on Friday (this Friday). I mean, I've added "Valentines Day cards" to my to-do list, if that counts.
I have no idea where this idea came from. I've done zero checking, but common sense tells me that February 14th is almost certainly not always a Tuesday. I assume this is like how I always think my birthday will be on a Wednesday. Some days of the week just fit with some holidays. And Valentines Day should be a Tuesday.
The practical implication of this bold incorrect notion is that I've done nothing to prepare for Valentines Day, despite it actually being on Friday (this Friday). I mean, I've added "Valentines Day cards" to my to-do list, if that counts.
The snow we got overnight takes the prize for this winter's 'first snow I'm actually planning to shovel off the back porch'!
We've had some snow, but it's been small enough amounts that I could get away with going out in my sneakers to fill the bird feeders without (much) snow getting in my socks. And mostly it melted off the porch in a few days.
This snow looks deeper (I have not yet ventured out, and indeed am still in my pajamas, not that such a thing would stop me from venturing out), and it's supposed to get Very Cold for a few days, so it'll be around for a bit.Time to buy a new shovel! No, just kidding, obviously we have shovels. There's even one already sort of close to the back porch! Oh yeah, it's all coming together now.
We've had some snow, but it's been small enough amounts that I could get away with going out in my sneakers to fill the bird feeders without (much) snow getting in my socks. And mostly it melted off the porch in a few days.
This snow looks deeper (I have not yet ventured out, and indeed am still in my pajamas, not that such a thing would stop me from venturing out), and it's supposed to get Very Cold for a few days, so it'll be around for a bit.
post-Christmas hurrah!
Dec. 26th, 2024 07:34 amTime for the most wonderful time of the year: the days between Christmas and New Year's! As far as I'm concerned, Christmas is the finale of the year, and the remaining days are like free spaces on a bingo board. You can do whatever with them!
The 'whatever' that popped up on my to-do list today was 'update password list,' which I intended as a reminder to check what's written on the list inside the fireproof safe. Theoretically, it has the current info for things like 'how do I log into my email if I suddenly didn't have my computer' and 'what is my car's license plate number,' which for some reason I can never remember even though I've had the same number for over ten years.
And THIS TIME I remembered the secret incentive -- there is a CHOCOLATE BAR waiting for me inside the fireproof safe! (Previously re-discovered back in July.) HECK YEAH, CHOCOLATE!
The 'whatever' that popped up on my to-do list today was 'update password list,' which I intended as a reminder to check what's written on the list inside the fireproof safe. Theoretically, it has the current info for things like 'how do I log into my email if I suddenly didn't have my computer' and 'what is my car's license plate number,' which for some reason I can never remember even though I've had the same number for over ten years.
And THIS TIME I remembered the secret incentive -- there is a CHOCOLATE BAR waiting for me inside the fireproof safe! (Previously re-discovered back in July.) HECK YEAH, CHOCOLATE!
happy Christmas Eve!
Dec. 24th, 2024 07:48 amToday's Christmas Eve project: try making mulled cider in the crock pot!
I'm modifying the recipe from Penzeys, in the sense that I won't be following it at all, but it did inspire the plan. We have about enough of all ingredients for two batches -- one today, and one tomorrow if today's goes well.
THE PLAN:
*apple cider
*cranberry juice
(about a 2:1 ratio apple to cranberry, depending on how much I feel like measuring and how much I just pour stuff into the crock pot)
*some vanilla sugar, maybe an eighth to a quarter of a cup or so?
(Penzey's suggests brown sugar plus vanilla extract, but it's not like we have a need for a lot of baking ingredients, and I've never tried vanilla sugar, so it seemed cool and new)
*mulling spices, probably 1-2 Tbsp, or half of whatever's in the little container I got
(I did remember to also get tea bags, to avoid having to strain out the spices afterwards)
*add to crock pot, stir, heat, wait a while
*enjoy!
(the goal is that it will at least smell very nice and festive, regardless of how it tastes -- and it will be a fun Christmas Eve project, so really it's a win no matter what!)
I'm modifying the recipe from Penzeys, in the sense that I won't be following it at all, but it did inspire the plan. We have about enough of all ingredients for two batches -- one today, and one tomorrow if today's goes well.
THE PLAN:
*apple cider
*cranberry juice
(about a 2:1 ratio apple to cranberry, depending on how much I feel like measuring and how much I just pour stuff into the crock pot)
*some vanilla sugar, maybe an eighth to a quarter of a cup or so?
(Penzey's suggests brown sugar plus vanilla extract, but it's not like we have a need for a lot of baking ingredients, and I've never tried vanilla sugar, so it seemed cool and new)
*mulling spices, probably 1-2 Tbsp, or half of whatever's in the little container I got
(I did remember to also get tea bags, to avoid having to strain out the spices afterwards)
*add to crock pot, stir, heat, wait a while
*enjoy!
(the goal is that it will at least smell very nice and festive, regardless of how it tastes -- and it will be a fun Christmas Eve project, so really it's a win no matter what!)
skipping ahead
Dec. 23rd, 2024 07:30 amI've greatly enjoyed my coffee advent calendar (thanks, Door County Coffee!) ever since Thanksgiving. For a variety of reasons, I'm only just today finishing up the last of the Day 6 coffee. And I thought 'I should skip ahead to the Christmas Eve coffee!' (Each 'day' lasts me for about 3-4 days depending on how enthusiastic I get pouring the grounds into the strainer.)
And I'm so happy about doing that! And it feels like a good reminder to myself -- sometimes you don't need to follow the arbitrary rules that you made up about a thing (like opening all the advent calendar doors in order). The rules were meant to make the game more fun; if changing them or breaking them ALSO makes the game more fun, do it! Skip ahead! Drink the Christmas Eve coffee!
And I'm so happy about doing that! And it feels like a good reminder to myself -- sometimes you don't need to follow the arbitrary rules that you made up about a thing (like opening all the advent calendar doors in order). The rules were meant to make the game more fun; if changing them or breaking them ALSO makes the game more fun, do it! Skip ahead! Drink the Christmas Eve coffee!
Christmas Eve-eve-eve
Dec. 22nd, 2024 07:55 amTime for the last shopping trip before Christmas! Aw, heck yeah, going to the grocery store for some food!
Very Important Things To Look For At The Store:
*delicious fruit & veg
*delicious frozen meals
*delicious desserts
*HALF AND HALF FOR COFFEE
*trash bags
*an 'I went to the grocery store' prize, like maybe donuts, or a Christmas knick-knack!
Very Important Things To Look For At The Store:
*delicious fruit & veg
*delicious frozen meals
*delicious desserts
*HALF AND HALF FOR COFFEE
*trash bags
*an 'I went to the grocery store' prize, like maybe donuts, or a Christmas knick-knack!
basically we should stop working now
Dec. 16th, 2024 07:40 amIt is surely not more unusual to have Christmas fall on a Wednesday than any other day of the week, but it FEELS unusual. I think it's safe to say that everyone at my workplace will at least be trying to do as little work as possible next Monday and Tuesday, which really makes THIS week the last week of work before the holiday.
So: important Monday things for the last week of work before the holiday:
*coffee
*read some emails
*snacks
*send some emails
*hydrate
So: important Monday things for the last week of work before the holiday:
*coffee
*read some emails
*snacks
*send some emails
*hydrate
two caturdays till Christmas
Dec. 14th, 2024 07:34 amIt's sunny! And COLD!
Good news: the 'assembly-needed' Christmas gift has been assembled! (lol now to store it until Christmas...)
Great news: my new winter sneakers arrived yesterday, and I'm so excited to try them out! warm toes AND dry AND comfortable while walking outdoors??? could it be???
I was listening to a five minute morning meditation today, and it suggested setting an intention for the day, and the thing that immediately sprang to mind was 'find the joy.' There's SO MUCH happening, much of it bad, even more of it uncertain. But I have to believe there is joy to be found, and experienced, and delighted in.
Good news: the 'assembly-needed' Christmas gift has been assembled! (lol now to store it until Christmas...)
Great news: my new winter sneakers arrived yesterday, and I'm so excited to try them out! warm toes AND dry AND comfortable while walking outdoors??? could it be???
I was listening to a five minute morning meditation today, and it suggested setting an intention for the day, and the thing that immediately sprang to mind was 'find the joy.' There's SO MUCH happening, much of it bad, even more of it uncertain. But I have to believe there is joy to be found, and experienced, and delighted in.
the 10th at 10
Dec. 10th, 2024 07:32 amGoing to the dentist today, and I may request that all future appointments get made for the 10th day of the month at 10 am. This has been BY FAR the easiest appointment day and time I've ever tried to remember! A true delight!
Also just went down an absolutely wild ride of internet rabbit holes searching 'who should you gift at Christmas.' (lol maybe I should gift myself a nice tip for all the haircuts I've given myself this year!)
(oh wait, that is probably covered by all the presents I've purchased for myself over the past few weeks...)
Also just went down an absolutely wild ride of internet rabbit holes searching 'who should you gift at Christmas.' (lol maybe I should gift myself a nice tip for all the haircuts I've given myself this year!)
(oh wait, that is probably covered by all the presents I've purchased for myself over the past few weeks...)
maybe just one more...
Dec. 9th, 2024 07:15 amThis is a dangerous moment of the holiday season -- technically speaking, all our Christmas gift shopping is done, with the (I think?) final delivery due today. (Hooray!)
And there's still wrapping, of course, although we cleverly picked gifts with an eye to wrap-ability this year. (Oh yeah, we planned ahead!)
But mostly the danger is that I will look around and think 'hmm, now that I'm done with all that, maaaaaaybe just a few more small things for me????? I have already purchased myself MANY gifts even before today, but today is the day I got a promotional email saying 'Cyber Monday is back!' and thought 'orly? I mean, I could just take a peek, right?'
And there's still wrapping, of course, although we cleverly picked gifts with an eye to wrap-ability this year. (Oh yeah, we planned ahead!)
But mostly the danger is that I will look around and think 'hmm, now that I'm done with all that, maaaaaaybe just a few more small things for me????? I have already purchased myself MANY gifts even before today, but today is the day I got a promotional email saying 'Cyber Monday is back!' and thought 'orly? I mean, I could just take a peek, right?'
Christmas caturday
Dec. 7th, 2024 08:52 amThere are THREE caturdays before Christmas, which is Very Exciting! So far today I have mostly read fanfic and puttered around, which is an exceptionally great way to spend a weekend day. (Any day, really!)
Other Very Exciting Plans For Today:
*find the Santa and watch the day's video in my computer advent calendar
*drink some coffee from my coffee advent calendar
*start the crochet project from my crochet advent calendar
(lol I just really love advent calendars!)
Other Very Exciting Plans For Today:
*find the Santa and watch the day's video in my computer advent calendar
*drink some coffee from my coffee advent calendar
*start the crochet project from my crochet advent calendar
(lol I just really love advent calendars!)
*oooooohhhhh noooooooo I keep getting distracted by shopping!
*but it is a day for writing!
*(and also shopping)
*definitely writing!
*and also some holiday decorating
*maybe just a lil' bit more shopping
*gotta get back to that writing...
*but it is a day for writing!
*(and also shopping)
*definitely writing!
*and also some holiday decorating
*maybe just a lil' bit more shopping
*gotta get back to that writing...
DAY 28: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Nov. 28th, 2024 08:14 am*three days, 5000 words!!! WE CAN DO THIS! (also Thanksgiving, we can definitely do Thanksgiving too)
(*HOW IS IT DECEMBER 1ST ON SUNDAY, NO THANK YOU, I DID NOT AGREE TO THIS)
*I was feeling burned out (and bummed out) about writing yesterday, because I pretty much ran out of story, BUT then I had a fantastic conversation with![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
starandrea and now I am excited again!
*here's the (NEW! IMPROVED!) plan: dragons
*no, really, hear me out: dragons are great
*dragons can definitely fill 5000 words
*have dragons been mentioned in the story AT ALL prior to the 45,000 word mark?
*no
*but I did mention a rock earlier, because it was funny, and WHO'S TO SAY the rock isn't a dragon egg? NOT ME
*except YES ME, because I'm apparently going to spend the next 5000 words pretending that makes sense
(*HOW IS IT DECEMBER 1ST ON SUNDAY, NO THANK YOU, I DID NOT AGREE TO THIS)
*I was feeling burned out (and bummed out) about writing yesterday, because I pretty much ran out of story, BUT then I had a fantastic conversation with
starandrea and now I am excited again!*here's the (NEW! IMPROVED!) plan: dragons
*no, really, hear me out: dragons are great
*dragons can definitely fill 5000 words
*have dragons been mentioned in the story AT ALL prior to the 45,000 word mark?
*no
*but I did mention a rock earlier, because it was funny, and WHO'S TO SAY the rock isn't a dragon egg? NOT ME
*except YES ME, because I'm apparently going to spend the next 5000 words pretending that makes sense
DAY 27: THANKSGIVING EVE
Nov. 27th, 2024 08:05 am*FOUR DAYS TO GO
*6200 WORDS TO GO
*yesterday I reached the bowling part of the story, only to remember that I don't love bowling? so that turned out to be only about 350 words, lol
*MOVING ON FROM BOWLING
*there's not much left on my list of plans, but in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'm thinking maybe some family cameos
*not that those haven't already happened in the story, but they could happen more
*also the classic circling back to whatever I wrote about in the first few sections
*time to mention that stuff again, as if there was some kind of plan to this story!
*6200 WORDS TO GO
*yesterday I reached the bowling part of the story, only to remember that I don't love bowling? so that turned out to be only about 350 words, lol
*MOVING ON FROM BOWLING
*there's not much left on my list of plans, but in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'm thinking maybe some family cameos
*not that those haven't already happened in the story, but they could happen more
*also the classic circling back to whatever I wrote about in the first few sections
*time to mention that stuff again, as if there was some kind of plan to this story!
