2015 Project 365 – Week Nine

Lest I sound like a broken record, I won’t mention the weather. Although, as you can clearly see from the pictures, it was widely scattered rude again. Dr. M has been on his “A” game this week & took some really good pictures. He’s posted them on his blog here, here, here, and here. It’s well worth your time to check them out!

Sunday, February 22^nd

The Squirrel King!

Monday, February 23^rd   

I’ve been a bad mom & forgetting to open the blinds in the morning for Pinky – so I made myself a note.

The trail to the bird feeder…

See – widely scattered rude!!

Dueling cardinals.

The moon!

Tuesday, February 24^th       

I was so very tempted, but since I didn’t think they would actually cause spring to happen, I went with the Skinny Cow ice cream bars instead :)

Turkey in the snow…

Wednesday, February 25^th

I love these little sweet peppers – so tasty & actually somewhat good for me.

I can’t believe I didn’t mention it at the time. You would have thought that I would make Huge Deal of the Occasion, but no… I have let several weeks pass without mentioning that we got rid of Old Blue & there’s a new monster vacuum in town! Meet Orange Betty (I just made that up right this minute – we’ll see if it sticks).

The rude might still be widely scattered, but it sure is purty…

The moon!

Thursday, February 26^th   

One of my favorite pictures of the week.            

Friday, February 27^th  

Campus sunrise.

Campus squirrel – sneaky little dude.

My boss was out of the office at a seminar so I decided to spring myself early from work (note: I drove home & worked from there). Such a lovely day! Here is a picture of me having a hot flash, and of my favorite tree (note 2: I have my phone set up in a cradle on the dash & open the camera program so that all I have to do is poke it to get a picture).

Saturday, February 28^th          

Incoming!

Hope everyone has a great week!

2015 Project 365 – Week Seven

I have been in a funk. I realized late Monday night that I hadn’t written a blog post & thought, “meh.” And the rest of the week was “meh” too. Don’t know why – perhaps I’ll snap out of it soon. In the meantime, Dr. M has a blog post showing all his fabulous birds – he had QUITE the bird week (eagles, hawks, herons…). Go here to check it out!

Sunday, February 8^th

Finally got my disgusting car washed. Woot!

I forgot to tell Map My Walk that I was doing an indoor walk, so it tried to show me where I had been. Made me laugh.

Monday, February 9th  

This is what a granny square looks like when you frog it (rip it, rip it) – I was almost finished & realized that I was too far off to try to fix it.

Tuesday, February 10^th       

I was going to do a 10 on 10 post, but work was too busy – I took two pictures & then didn’t even think about it until I was on my way home. In my “meh” state I decided to not mess with it. This was my “before work” picture.

The temperature in my office. Last week the air conditioner had been on, so I brought a thermometer in. Sadly, even though my hands were freezing I decided that 67 degrees wasn’t low enough to complain about. (Except to you people – to you I will say, “That’s Too Darn Cold for Bug Working Conditions!”)

Dr. M took this really cool picture of the sun – even it was in a funk…

Wednesday, February 11^th

I’ve completed 8 squares (2 designs) for the afghans I’m making. Keep in mind that I’m making four different afghans – these squares don’t all go together. There will be 24 squares per afghan.

I got so many comments about my “blonde” hair when I posted Tuesday’s picture on Facebook that I decided to take another selfie in different light to show that my hair is NOT blonde. Although I think my brain is blonde these days (yep, I’m referencing a stereotype there).               

Thursday, February 12^th   

A friend who has left the Episcopal church for another denomination sent me these goodies – a sweatshirt and a bag with the Episcopal shield on them. Score! Thanks Jayne!

I finished another square. I decided to make all the ones of this design solid colors – because otherwise I’m going to end up with some VERY busy afghans! I really like the windmill design on this one.

Friday, February 13^th  

Another Friday, another sun pillar. Dr. M gets to see these – I have the sun at my back on my morning commute. Steve had asked what a sun pillar was – it’s just a vertical shaft of light extending upward or downward from the sun – which is different from a “sun dog” – those sort of mini suns that appear on either side of the sun.

Campus bluejay.

Saturday, February 14^th        

I had a great Valentine’s Day! I had informed Dr. M that I didn’t want to leave the house on Saturday so he volunteered to go out to get groceries. When he left it was doing this. It’s hard to tell, but the wind was blowing really hard & snow was flying everywhere. Super cold too.  I was so grateful that he let me stay home (where I vacuumed & dusted & did laundry – but DID NOT HAVE TO PUT ON MAKEUP, so that was fabulous).

Here are my Valentine presents – chocolate & flowers are always a big hit around here. And I had asked for one of those solar dancing critters to take to the office (we have a penguin here at home & it makes me laugh), so he gave me a bug. Ha!

The back yard has been very busy, as you might imagine. We’ve had the usual suspects – sparrows & starlings – but yesterday Dr. M saw a sweet little junco.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Throwback Thursday

Speaking of vacuums...

1991 - in our first home together. You can see that I'm growing out the Sun-In I had sprayed in my hair. A whole bottle. Six months before the wedding. Sheesh!

Dr. M in his domain...

Cleanliness is Next to...

I basically have one job in our house. Sure sometimes I cook (!!) & I often get groceries. I also mostly handle the finances. And sometimes I mow (but not today because it's raining). But Dr. M helps or is mostly in charge of those things. There's just the one job that is mine alone, and frankly I suck at it!

My relationship with our vacuum cleaner is well documented, but perhaps I've failed to mention my many other attempts to bring order to our house. I've tried the Flylady system. And the Clean Team. And putting reminders on my computer (yes, there's a reminder on there to clean the toilet). And nothing ever works. Because I don't work - I would much rather read blogs than dust or clean the bathroom. Heaven help ever cleaning out the fridge or the microwave (which just needs wiped down for heaven's sake). And those little drip pans under the burners on the stove? I should just throw those away & start over. Except that seems like a waste of money when the new ones will eventually get grungy too...

Am I posting this here so that I can announce some new leaf I'm turning? To get affirmation or commiseration? Nope. This is just a warning that if you should stop by my house for some reason, you need to give me 15 minutes to toss the joint before you can even get in the door. And don't even THINK about looking at my baseboards!

P.S. Our water leaves behind a yellowish residue that hardens to concrete. What the heck is that? Can I remove it from our stainless (ha!) sink or the vanity in the bathroom ? I've tried a variety of toxic things, to no avail. Or should I just consider it part of the design? Sigh.

The One Where I Reveal My Exciting Life

So! I haven’t posted since Sunday. I’ve been trying to think poetic thoughts & they just meander through my brain & out the other side (which, if you’ve seen the magpie prompt for this week would seem to make for an excellent poem to match the picture, but no.). And I really wanted to join in with Naimh in Official Worldwide Say Something Controversial week but, my mind is a placid shallow pool and I’m not feeling very controversial (well, except as regarding the Republican field of candidates – only I’m not sure my views are all that controversial being as how they’re probably actually mainstream at this point). Since I have no poems or controversies to offer I’ll simply update you on my week.

On Monday I went to bed at 9:30. And promptly stuck my toe through the sheet again. Apparently, as you can see, my “sewing” didn’t really work very well.

On Tuesday I, hmmm, I’m not sure what I did on Tuesday. Oh! I know! This was my view on my way to work for about 25 minutes as they cleared away an accident on one of the two lane roads I travel.

I elected to not attempt a three point road turn since both shoulders dropped off by several feet. And also I don’t know another way to get to work from there. Sad. I shall study the map in case of future traffic jams.

Today I worked really hard (actually, this has been a pretty busy week altogether at work) and walked for about 10 minutes in the parking lot with a coworker. I have a long way to go before I’ll be doing any “walks for the cure” that’s for sure. But, most importantly, Dr. M bought new sheets! And he washed them! Woot! It’s the simple things people.

It’s frighteningly beautiful these days. I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop – perhaps a blizzard next week? Or a summer full of over 100 degree temps? Scary!

Dr. M teaches late on Wednesdays so I’ve just been hanging out with my other best friend.

I know you’re jealous. 

Monday Miscellany - the Patriotic Edition

I missed doing a Monday Miscellany post last week – we were at my Dad’s house & apparently I wasn’t feeling very miscellaneous. Oh wait – I think I posted my Poetry Jam poem on Monday. Or something like that. Most likely I was just being slack. I know you’re really glad to see that I’m not skipping it this week.

·         At the funeral last week I stood in line with the family shaking hands. I enjoyed meeting friends & family from Dr. M’s past. Especially the “young” lady who went straight to him (skipping me) & then when I was introduced to her as his wife, gave me quite the evil glare. I guess she had decided that he’s a good catch & wanted to get to know him again. I was so sorry to foil her plans. (Just imagine that last statement dripping with sarcasm).

·         Regarding the first grade picture from yesterday’s post, I had just had my hair cut & we obviously hadn’t quite figured out what to do with it, and I apparently forgot to tell my mom that it was picture day. You would not have wanted to be in our house when she saw the pictures. I like how pitiful I look. People don’t expect as much from pitiful children. Heh.

·         I took a break from writing this post to vacuum and mop. Which of course, reminded me of this post. Ratchenfrachet. I have such dark evil thoughts when I vacuum. I think that for my spiritual wellbeing I should just stop doing it altogether.

·         Dr. M doesn’t know it yet, but I am probably going to hang pictures this week. If you think about it you might want to pray for our walls. And our marriage.

·         Hey, I think it’s some sort of holiday today. Something about the birth of our nation. So often I think that we would be better off if we thought of ourselves as citizens of the world instead of just this piece of real estate. But for today, I’ll set aside my cynicism & celebrate the pure moxie it took to try to break free from England. Can you even imagine? First there’s the thought, and then there’s the speaking it out loud to other people & then the next thing you know there’s a legal document and George Washington. It’s hard to fathom, isn’t it? We’re not perfect, but we’re pretty amazing anyway. Oh beautiful for spacious skies indeed!

Old Blue

After vacuuming today I felt compelled to write something about the evil machine. As many of you know, I really do hate it. I don't know why I dread a task that takes all of 15 minutes in our small home, but I really really do. It's worse than taking cough syrup! Well, maybe it's not THAT bad.

Anyway, after it locked into the upright position for the 10^th time in as many minutes I thought – I am going to write an essay about how dumb it is for a vacuum cleaner to spontaneously lock upright while you're using it. But, just to prove that I have no control over what happens when I write, the following (Diatribe? Poem? Rant in the form of a poem?) is the result instead.

Old Blue

I have an upright vacuum cleaner.
No, I don't mean its morals.
We haven't discussed those.
In fact, we don't speak at all.

Although, to be frank
there is a lot of "talking"
while I push-me pull-ya
and take aim at walls.

Perhaps my technique
lacks some finesse.
Well, "technique" is too strong
for this spastic dance.

Ramming and shoving
and prodding with the contraption.
Flinging cords and furniture –
loose rugs stand no chance.

In the end I win.
Shut the power.
Shove the beast into
an out of the way place.

Or do I really win?
I hear its cruel laughter
as I scan the floor for debris,
one eye twitching in my face.