March 30, 2008

1. The outing to the cherry blossoms was fun, albeit DARK and COLD, because we were there so very early. 
2. At past the last minute I took up AB’s invite to the Leukemia Ball.  Even though I was have a mental breakdown getting ready (I haven’t been out among strangers in a while) it was fun.  Jay Leno was the entertainment and he did a long set that was pretty funny.  Also since we were only 5 at a 10 top table, we were able to have two salads.  I am sure other people saw me swapping plates, but it gave them a good story to tell.  “And then this woman, who was the only person there wearing pants and no eyeliner, switched plates so she could have a second salad!”  I was also wearing black crew socks with my heels, instead of pantyhose, but you couldn’t really tell, and it was much more comfortable.  I only had about 15 minutes to get ready, I did what I could.
3. I went for a three mile walk today.  Walked from Paul’s shop to home.  Didn’t go very fast.  Stopped to read all the historical markers, etc.
4. I’ve been reading some funny blogs by pets.  I like the way they do it, but I can’t imagine doing that myself.  I look at Kevin, and I do not hear his writer’s voice, or what he would like to say.
5. The new nationals park looks spiffy on TV.  I want to go and sit in the $5 grandstand seats.

March 28, 2008

1. Hooray for the sweet, sweet scent of Friday!
2. One hat finished.  Another pretty close. 
3. I’ll probably go with them, but I have to say that my parents are insane!  They are planning to go down and see the cherry blossoms at 5:30 tomorrow morning.  They crazy!  It is a cute little tradition they have.  They take their picnic tables and snacks, and go down while they can still get a parking place.  I haven’t been in quite a few years, so if it is not too cold tomorrow morning, I’ll probably go, as I crazy as well.
4. Dinner with D & C and Ali tonight.  Sushi place.  Better eating than last night’s Chinese Food binge.  We talked about trigger foods at the meeting, then I came home and ordered some.  (Trigger foods being those that you don’t really control.  I cited butter as one in the meeting.  There is no way that I ever just have a bit of butter.  My hand starts shaking on that butter knife like I’ve got a palsy and then BOOM, I’ve got slices of bread and butter cued up.) After last nights Chinese foods, I have to add that to my list.  There is just too much of it, and I keep eating it, even when I am full.
5. Unfortunately, I didn’t hang on to my 10% to get my keychain.  Easter is just too full of lamb and candy.  I didn’t gain much, but enough to bump me back over the mark.  The leader of the meeting (all hail the leader!) would have given it to me any way, but I said no. I want it legit.  I feel pretty confident that I can get it this week.
6. The interesting thing is, that just this week I started to feel like I see a difference in the way I look.   I don’t see quite as much butt (though still plenty, a small change) as I used too and my face looks thinner.  Now that could be my expensive fancy new face cream, but I do feel that over all things have shifted a little.

March 26, 2008

1. Everynight when I sit and read or watch TV, Violet comes and sits on my lap and takes a nap.  It is very nice, I am glad she is a lap cat.  Kevin sometimes tries to get in on it, placing himself above her, but he is 16 pounds, so it is a little tougher to deal with.  He usually ends up shoving her out of the way.  I still like it though.  They best is if he gets settled first and she sits a little lower on my legs.
2. I had to take a survey about my school and there was a question “I am satisfied with my job,” and I marked “Somewhat dissatisfied.”  I am trying to figure that out.  I guess I feel a little bored.  I feel like I am saying the same old things and that no one is really interested.  I mean I find population pyramids fascinating, but perhaps I am the only one.
3.  Hat # 1 is coming along well.  Two meetings yesterday allowed me to get about 2 inches done.
4. I need to clean my upstairs.  Too cluttered.
5. There was an article in today’s post, about a youth organization near the new Nationals Stadium that is having trouble paying its property taxes, which have risen like crazy now that the area is developing rapidly.  I wish a big money machine like professional baseball or a stadium group, could support them, or that the city would cut them a break.  I mean, don’t baseball and kids go together?  Sports a positive influence, etc, etc?  Noblesse Oblige? Come on Nationals!  Be a pal!

March 25, 2008

Things I choose to do, but if I don’t want to or don’t have time for I don’t:

1. Church services
2. Coffee with AB and Ali
3. Random crafting and knitting
4. Spend time with Paul
5. Write in this blog

Things I’d like to do regularly:

1. Coffee with Mommy
2. Dinner with Mom and Dad
3. Write/call my family and friends
4. Contribute to the ABC, posts and comments
5. Keep a journal

I’m still thinking.  I might add more.

March 24, 2008

In an attempt to determine how I am spending my time, and if there are things that can and should be dropped I am going to list all the commitments I currently have.

1. Work
2. Survey Committee (Need to organize interpretation of the data and then discussion groups)
3. School Rep for Teacher’s council on Instruction (Once a month)
4. Team Meetings (Twice a week)
5. Staff Meetings (Twice a month)
6.  Social Studies Meetings (Once a month)
7. Project for Social Studies (Due in May)
8. Social Studies Lead Teacher
9. Workout Group (Twice a week)
10. Counseling (Once a week)
11. Altar Guild
12. LEM (Once or Twice a month)
13. Lector (once a month)
14. Adult Acolyte (once a month)
15. Vestry (once a month)
16. School Board (once a month)
17. School Board Scholarship Committee (Once a Year, Though I came up with a bright idea that now I have to write up)
18. School Board Demographics Committee (what the hell?  Like the Survey committee, deals with numbers and I am over my head.)
19. Knit 4 hats for Day school Silent Auction
20. Acolyte Training (4 Weeks)
21. Planning for Acolyte Training
22. Sunday School (every sunday til June, continues next year.)
23. Breast Cancer 3 Day Training (M,W,F, S, S)
24. Discernment Committee
25. Host a baby shower for a friend.
26. Vestry Greeter (most of April, after the 11:15)
27. Help with the International Dinner at school (4/24)

March 23, 2008

1. I about can’t stand that I have to go back to work tomorrow.  Does anyone really love to go back to work after vacation?  Does anyone really love what they do?  I would like to enjoy what I do.  I think I really need to look at my schedule and cut out everything I can, because I think it helps if work isn’t just one more task I have to do, and if the other things that I like to do, like write and be creative and spend time with friends don’t have to be pushed to the bottom of the priority list.  I’ve lost balance, and I don’t want this that I take on to be such chores, which is what they feel like when there are too many of them.
2. I’m worried about hanging on to my 10%.  I ate too much this weekend.
3. Tomorrow’s another day.  Etc, etc.  Interestingly, I really noticed the difference in the way I looked this weekend, and several people commented on it, which hasn’t happened before.
4. It was really nice to be at the 11:15 today.  The Easter service is always a good one, festive and happy.  I love those hymns too.  Last night at the vigil I helped with the reception rather than go to the service.  I was feeling pretty churched out at the moment.  Today was really good, and I realized that one of the places I feel pretty peaceful is at church. (At the services, not the numerous meetings.)
5. Just when you think you can’t go on…a major newspaper holds a peeps diorama contest.

March 20, 2008

1. Though I am still sniffly, I feel much much better.  Yesterday I went and got my hair cut, with of course, a side trip to the yarn store that is, inconveniently or not (depends on how you see the spending of my life saving on wool) next door to the hairdresser.  I also did some laundry and made some soup, so it was a flurry of activity compared to the past three days.
2. I am on task to make a set of hats, out of my favorite Bug Mexico yarn for the day school silent auction.  I need to step it up and focus, but I keep thinking of new things to do like one of these I cord scarves, and such.
3. So today I made my 10% at weight watchers.  I’ve lost 24.2 pounds since last  may. It took me a long time, but I am glad I didn’t quit when I wasn’t trying very hard.  I’ll get my groovy 10% keychain at the meeting next week, so I really need to keep it off for at least a week.  Hooray for me!
4. Things really ramp up churchwise over the next 4 days, I am to help with Altar guild stuff tonight at the Maundy Thursday (not Monday Thursday, as I used to think when I was a kid) service, and then I am the crew leader for Tenebrae tomorrow night.  That is an ancient service, highlighted by the fact that after I turn off lights, plunging the church, and presumably our souls, into darkness, I get to fling a metal folding chair against the stone steps to symbolize some sort of earthquakey Resurrection thing, and then the last candle which was taken out, is brought back in symbolizing the eternal light o’ Christ, etc.  Hallelujah!
5. Now, before the wild rumpus starts, Paul and I are off to some activity, a trip to the library, and perhaps a veggie sub, or other taste treat.  Maybe coffee with Pennie in the afternoon.  Who knows what the day will bring!

March 18, 2008

1. Another day, spent mostly quietly.  Napping, a little laundry, a school board meeting in the evening.  Am feeling better, but still not 100%.
2. My only shopping crisis today was when I walked over to Starbucks for a coffee and the paper, they had no Washington Post.  (Sorry NY times, you have great writing, but I am not as familiar with your layout, and you have no comics, or local news.)  There were also lots of people there, and it looked like all the comfy chairs were taken.  So I gave up on Starbucks and went to the bagel place instead.  They were also out of papers!  Was this some sort of conspiracy?  I was finally successful at the Rite-Aid next door, and then went back and had a bagel.  No comfy chair, but that’s ok.
3. I’ve been thinking about my college roommate Cathy a lot lately, wondering how she is.  She has been really good about sending me Christmas cards every year, and of course, I am terrible at responding, or sending cards of my own.  I didn’t get one this year, so I guess she has probably given up on me, and I can’t write her, because her card last year said they were moving.  I have an old email address for her, so I am going to try that, but before I do, I am going to get out five Christmas cards and address and stamp them, and put a note on my calendar every year on December 10th to write a note and mail them.  I have a few people I should do that for.
4. I don’t know why I have such a hard time with simple things like keeping in touch, or mailing cards.  I guess I always think, oh I can do that tomorrow, and the next thing I know months have passed.  It really is a terrible part of my personality.
5. I watched Terminator 1 and 3 (watched 2 last month).  I never noticed before, but the police psychiatrist is the same guy in all three.  Nice.  2 is definitely the standout of the series.  #1 has the surprise of newness, #2 has the best plot, and #3 has the best terminator, because not only can she form complex weaponry, but she is wearing a fabulous red leather suit and never gets a hair out of place.

March 17, 2008

1. I have been on the run since school ended Friday, and am now settled down to be just sick for a bit.  I went to Altar guild crew this a.m., came home and slept for a little.  Then I went out to get Kevin’s Valium (poor boy is tense again) and while I was waiting I went to Blockbuster.
2. Side note: I have netflix, and I love it, but occasionally I need a little filler movie action, particularly on times like spring break, when I can settle into some serious watching.
3. Further side note: At the top of my netflix queue is Battlestar Gallactica season 3, which comes out tomorrow!  Finally!
4. And yet another note:  I know I could go get it as soon as it comes out from the aforementioned blockbuster.  Shut up.  When it comes by mail, it provides some pacing, rather than gobbling it all down like candy.  I love Netflix.  Today I was just weak, okay?  Much to my sorrow.
5. So anywho, I went to Blockbuster, killing time, again, because of the prescription, so this is all Kevin’s fault, and I picked four movies, and the clerk proceeded to tell me, that my total was $19, and did I know that I could go pick out three more movies, and get all of that for only $10.45, if I but renewed by Blockbuster super fancy elite membership, which of course I let expire when I got Netflix.  Now I am dosed up on medicine, and am not functioning really well, (for example I spent about five minutes just staring at a cake display at Safeway, trying to figure out what to do when they said the prescription wasn’t ready) but my pea brain does seem to think that 10.45 is less that 19, so I say ok, and go pick out three more movies, which was very pressured, because a line is beginning to build up, and I am becoming the people I hate.  The calculation I did not make was that they charge for the membership too, of course, and so yes, I did get lots of movies, but I ended up paying $24 all told.  I am idiot, of course.
6. Tragic or not, now I am ensconced in my big chair with, a diet sprite, some chicken noodle soup, two cats, both phones, a computer and seven movies.  I hope this will be a combination that leads to good health.

March 16, 2008

1. Very busy with church, more church, hosting an open house for the guy downstairs, and being sick.
2. Hate being sick.