August 13, 2009

1. All the time when I am away from the computer I think of things to write, then when I get here – nothing!  Think, Eleanor, Think!
2. Getting ready for the trip.  Just a few more things to buy, it seems like I have spent a ton of money already.
3. I’ve been laying off the cardio days of my workout for the last week, since my heel has been hurting.  It’s so easy to fit those workouts in, but also shockingly easy to leave them out.
4. Desperate for a cupcake just now. I may try making these, a lovely portion controlled cupcake activity, this weekend.
5. The most fabulous cakes in the world, however, can be seen on Cakewrecks!  I spent most of Monday and Tuesday “resting” my foot and my mind and attitude, looking at the archive of the entire sight.  This sequence got me laughing out loud. It’s even funnier if you are familiar with the Bud light “Salute” adds and read the captions that way.  I really got the giggles, and it felt good.  I haven’t laughed out loud like that in a long time.

July 16, 2009

1. Am worried that my “sassy number” though shortened in straps, now feels awkward.  It is a little too wide in the bodice.  I mean, it looks OK, I think (party anxiety setting in, so all bets are off) but eventually I think further alterations are in order.
2. Almost all the altar guild paperwork is ready.  must finish (start) the roster tomorrow.
3. And get a haircut, though this has nothing to do with Altar Guild.
4. And get a spare key made for the aumbry.
5. Big moment today at the gym, as Captain Asskick promoted me to the treadmill routine “Turtle 2.”  It wiped me out, but so did “Turtle 1″ back in the old days (june).  I also have, if you look very closely, some sort of dent in my arms, that could be the start of what might be called “guns” by those in the workout community. Woo!

June 27, 2009

1. I went early to water the garden, the thunderstorm not really having done what was needed, and a little girl and her mother were sitting in the gazebo.  The little girl came up and made conversation and helped me water the plants, and this was very pleasant.  If only I could import a cow or two to graze the soccer field.  Then I would feel very farmlike.  Perhaps I should bake a pie and place it in the gazebo to cool.
2. I’ve  commandeered another plot.  Shameless. Tomatoes!  Strawberries! (For the pie!)
3. I think my vacation is kicking in.  I find myself wandering about the house with a completely blank mind.
4. Captain Asskick has been doing a good job, and I am feeling pretty good, even doing pretty good, sometimes very good about eating my vegetables (sans being fried in deliciousness)  I’ve even impressed myself about going on my off days and doing “The Turtle” on the treadmill.  It’s sometimes hit and miss on what is on the three televisions, though you can pretty much see law and order on the one television, I skip the news one in the middle, and the last seems to be things like Dr. Phil, or other talk shows, but today was veggie tales, and I’ve got to say, I enjoyed that. 
5. The laundry situation?  Stil out of control.

June 25, 2009

1. Today an early meeting with someone doing a security check on a friend. (I’m an excellent character witness…”Convicted?  No never convicted.”) Then a visit with Michael and Mommy and a the formation of a plan to go to a movie.  Got the gym workout out of the way, and now am relaxing, with violet settling in for some laptime while I type.
2. Our J2A pilgrims are off on their trip today, and can be followed here.  The twitter feed is on the left sidebar.
3. I’m filling up my new little notebook with projects for summer: wrapping up AG stuff and cleaning house are dominating so far.  I am sitting in my comfy room, and once I get all the laundry put away, I think it will be revealed that I have way too much yarn, and need to get back to knitting.
4. Got to see the awesome AT the other night now that she is back in town.  Here is to the first of many pedicures!
5. Garden updates.  Things are growing, but some creature has been having a nibble.  I think of Peter Rabbit, hopping over and taking a look, lipperty, lipperty, lippet.  Pretty amazing how fast things grow.  I bought a book about gardening in small spaces, and now I want to talk the Fairlington Arbor association into making the area out back a community garden.  I mean, I love my little garden at school, but it is kind of a pain to drive across town!

May 26, 2009

1. At our school, we like to preserve some of our traditions that help give students control of their education.  One of these traditions is arena scheduling.  When you were young you might remember going into the gym and signing up for classes.  You know, in the days before computers.  We do this, and there can be some moments of panic for kids when they feel their classes are not working out the way they wished.  I had one of my gals come up to me rather sniffly, which progressed in to full out tears, as indeed, her schedule did not seem to be working.  We sat down in the center of the gym floor, and I said, “Yup, it does look like this turned to crap.”  Fortunately this made her laugh a little, and I told her we would go ahead and sign up for the few things that we could, and then hand it over to the powers that be and let them sort it out.  I’ll need to get on the phone with her parents and see if the deal breakers are really deal breakers, because what she wants doesn’t seem possible at this moment.  Anyway, we went to BFF the principal, and he gave her a hug and told her not to worry, and then he put it in the RED FOLDER.  So you know it is important.  Because the folder is RED.
2. Part of the interesting thing about arena scheduling is that you can see the classes forming before you and get an ideal of the sort of personalities that you will have next year.  My new ancient civ class is going to be very special.  Longtime readers might recall these 5 lads, and they ALL signed up!  At first I was glad to see that is was my last class of the day, because I was going to need a cocktail after.  But now I have decided, that the group of boys I have, is going to be very special to me, and I mean in a good way.  I had them in 8th and they were not awful, but no picnic.  They have a bad rep around the building, and don’t seem to have a lot of adult connections, or positive academic experiences.  I want to change that.  I think this is the perfect scenario.  I mean, my subject has swords, and samurai and stuff!  We WILL connect with ancient history my friends!  We WILL have positive experiences!  We WILL take field trips and execute battle plans on the soccer field!  As God as my witness, I am going to be these guys cheerleaders, and the whole class is going to have a great time.  This is my solemn vow.  Now who’s with me?! Let’s GOOOOO!!!!!
3. I was crew leader for the ascension service last Thursday, and had a few moments to myself in the hallway outside the sanctuary, and was grooving to some hymns, in which I feel very connected to God, and often think of what would be played at my funeral (on some occasions I consider what might be played at my inaguration to the presidency) because in those hymns I see the opportunity to state out what I believe, primarily in the ressurection.  I am very confident in that.  I don’t always understand how to talk to God in the day to day, but I think I am rock solid on the resurrection thing.  I would like to rely on God more, and think that particularly, the project in item #2 is going to need especial prayer and attention.
4. Testing week.  Always a joy.  Please pass punks.  Love you much.
5. I finally have a little money in savings, and two projects….One: personal training.  I am going to pay to have my behind seriously kicked this summer.  Two: a new(ish) car.  The windshield wipers stopped working today.  On the way to work.  In the rain.  That was fun.  The workouts are a manageble expense.  The car may require some thinking, but time is running out on the red menace, that is for sure.

July 30, 2008

1. Been restless and anxious.  About school, friendship, self worth. I lie to people I should not about my eating.   I tell my counselor it is under control, but I am picturing buying a loaf of bread while I say it.  I think she knows.
2. School is coming. Spent some time in the classroom.  At least 5 days hard work needed, I estimate, to get things tidy and in order.  Another 3 to 5 to plan the general outline and first quarter for the new class.  That time will pay off.  I’ll do it on my return I tell myself, but worry I won’t want to.
3. Mommy and I leave today (I can’t sleep right now) for a junket to MA.  Will See our friend Karin and AT.  One in Rockport, the other Amherst.  WIll admire scenery and eat in diners along the way.  This is her 70th birthday present.  I am taking the computer with me to work on the train, perhaps also to write some emails I don’t want to write: about the bad sociology course, about an issue at church that I don’t have to get into, but feel I ought, on principal, (generally my downfall.)
4. I bought a camera today.  It is awesome, but I’m having a heart attack over the price.  I hope it is the last camera I will ever buy.
5. I am up very late and Violet the kitten is extremely confused.  She is used to being in bed by now.
6. In spite of these worries, I am quite aware that life is very good. 

July 23, 2008

1. I’m getting close on this organizational thing.  It could really happen this time!
2. The storage area is all cleaned up, several trips to goodwill, and to school have moved out things that don’t need to be here anymore, and I am pressing toward the end.
3. Though I am done for today.  I need a break.
4. Fun lunch with Ali.  Then we took AB to the airport.  Too bad they were both working, else we could have taken off for WVA and Commenced to Gamble.
5. One summer workout left to go!  Hooray.  Though it has been really good.  Today was cardio day.  We had to run.  I do hate running.

July 22, 2008

1. Well, things are looking really good to get the Christmas ornaments put away this week.
2. It always gets worse before it gets better.  I had the my sitting/craft room/command and control center pretty much sorted, but now I have to attack the storage room, so I dragged everything out of there into this room, and now it is three kinds of chaos.  But it will get better.
3. Only six weeks of summer left.
4. I have lots of little chores and appointments that need doing in that time.
5. Coffee time now.
6. I want to write something, but I don’t know what.

July 12, 2008

1. Being crew leader is not really that difficult, just lots of checking, and the worry, not that I have forgotten to do stuff, but that I have not done things that I didn’t know that I had to do.  I feel like I am constantly reading through the entire manual.  Constant Vigilance!  I do have a cool four color chart for the seating tomorrow.  It is the perfect storm of a regular service plus a baptism, plus a missioner commissioning, plus the altar guild corporate communion, plus the blessing of new kneelers.  That’s all at the 10 o’clock service.  I guess I’ll try to think about Jesus at the 7:30, because there may be some scrambling at the 10.
2. Painting class went well yesterday, I was timid at first, but the teacher coached me through the rough spots.  The lesson was to paint various objects (abstractly) and in the process destroy some objects by creating others.  It’s abstract all right.  Here is my picture.  It began as a much lighter painting with lots of small objects, but I began to add large shapes and they took over.  I  really like painting.  It’s fun of you can let go and not worry about being right.
3. Michael is back from camp and he and Chris are off of their “man trip” for Father/Son bonding.  It was really great to get to spend so much time with Chris.  I think the last time we were together, without other obligations, was when we were kids. 
4. Next week I need to settle into some sort of routine to get my sociology done, and some school organizational stuff.  Also move on to organizing the attic.
5. Walking the little dog, LIza, is fun.  Simon has settled in, stopped hissing, and is eating.  Kevin and Violet are being quite angelic to stay upstairs without a fuss.  It is possible that Violet has forgotten there is a downstairs.  Paul says Kevin broke out at one point, but was polite in the brief moments he walked among the guests.

July 9, 2008

1. Monday I joined the summer workout group.  It is run by the same company who runs the school year workout, but the owner of the company comes out personally to kick our asses.  He is a friend of mind, but “mercy is for the weak, sir!”, so he gives no quarter.  I am, how do you say, sore.
2. We have two pet guests here.  Liza is one of those tiny snuffly dogs with a lot of hair and spindly legs. She is very friendly and snoozing on the sofa right now.  Simon is a very skinny, very long white cat, who has many medical needs, and keep meowing as if I am doing something wrong.  I probably am, but he has at least toned down the hissing, now that he has been here 24 hours.  He likes being hand fed,  long walks on the beach, and everyone getting out of his way.  He has selected under the chair as his hiding place.  Kevin and Violet have been assigned to the penthouse upstairs, where they are enjoying my newly cleaned room.  Kevin seemed a bit put out yesterday to be kept from his usual daytime nap chair, and would occasionally look at me as if to say, “Could you keep it down please?”
3. Chris and Melissa and I went to see the Air Force Memorial last night, and even though form a distance I haven’t been liking it, up close it was pretty cool.
4. Right before school let out I saw this reusable starbucks cup and I bought it and really like it.  I have never seen one on the shelf since and today the guy at the store told me he gets several calls a day asking for them.  He says I am the only one who brings one in.  Is it oissible they only made two, the one I saw and didn’t buy and then the one I did?  Well.  upon some ebay research, it seems (consider the source, a motivated seller) that store only got 2 or 3 and they are not making them any more.  There seems to be a little bidding excitement around the old cold cup.
5. Next week I am the Altar Guild Crew leader.  I am reviewing my manual.  Yes, there is a manual.