Purge and Delete and Organize

September 28, 2009 by

For the last few weeks, I’ve been cleaning. When you’re cramped for space, every inch counts.

I went through my son’s room and cleaned it up, rearranged the furniture, and threw a bunch of stuff away. I made him have a Donate, Keep, and Trash pile. He did fairly good. The donate items are still in my trunk, though. I really need to get rid of them. I want to give them to a placed called Arc of Texas. They have Thrift Town stores and I feel like the stuff will go to good use.

I also donated two giant bags of my clothes to Salvation Army. This week was about selling off my crappy furniture. I got rid of my two chairs that both Man and I hate (they were terribly uncomfortable). I sold off the bunk beds in my son’s rooms to a lady with two small children and one on the way. I sold the couch (which will be picked up this Friday). I made enough to put down a nice chunk on the new sofa that’s arriving this Saturday.

But this past Saturday… Man and I drove out to Arlington to pick up my son’s new bed. It was a nice afternoon drive and the wait wasn’t too bad. At least the distribution center was highly organized. And Man was happy because there was college football on in the waiting area. We watched the tail end of the LSU-Miss State game. Which was rather exciting, if I’m being honest. ;)

Anyway, got home and put the kid’s bed together. It’s fabulous! See below.

Mamoo-NewBed

I’ve already made use of the two drawers and the two side storage areas. It’s really nice to have all his junk off the floor and hidden away. Plus I now have more room for important things like socks and underwear and pajamas. And his room is CLEAN! Love that.

Yesterday, Man and I went to Wal-Mart and got two filing cabinets which we both needed. We are so organized is disgusting. I finally have a place for all that crap I needed to keep (years back of RWA contest stuff). I finally found a home for all my researching and writing files. It’s wonderful! I love getting organized! I love cleaning house! I love getting new furniture!

I also got back to the WIP. While Man and I had lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings on Saturday I talked through some plot problems and he helped me with them. I thought I had written myself into a corner, so he helped me figure out a way out. That night, I did more researching and I finally figured out my Dark King. Amazing what talking out loud about yoru story will do. And even though he’s not a writer, sometimes he can see the best solution. “Well, why don’t you have the queen do this and that,” he says. And it was like a light-bulb moment for me. He’s brilliant.

So I made some changes in one of the chapters and then finished writing chapter four. I think I can finally go on, now. I still want to have the draft done by December 1 and I’m fairly confident I can reach that goal.

Hard to believe October is right around the corner. Also hard to believe that is time for the State Fair. Where has this year gone?

Another good thing this weekend: my allergies weren’t bothering me as much. I doctored myself up a lot and also slept in Sunday. I didn’t get up until nearly 10 which is super late for me. I needed the rest, though.

It’s Monday, though. Another long week ahead. Here’s hoping for more productive nights on the WIP.

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I’ve had it

January 18, 2009 by

This morning, I tried to vacuum. I have a Dirt Devil vacuum with the pet hair attachment. Half the time it doesn’t work. The other half the time the stupid vacuum cleaner overheats and craps out on me. I can’t even get the whole house done. So that’s what happened today. I was so fed up with it, I put it on the curb with a “FREE to good home” sign taped to it. Then I marched down to Target and got the Bissell Turbo Charged Pet Hair Remover Awesomey Awesome Vacuum.

I got a $20 gift card from Target for buying it there, too. LOL

I put it together and it’s great. And that pet hair attachment really DOES pick up like a magnet! It’s cool.

As I was cleaning, I happened to glance in the mirror. My hair is awfully scraggly and just ugly. So once I got that done, I called a nearby salon and made an appointment for 1 pm.

Now, for me, finding a stylist that can cut my hair the way I want is like finding a good doctor. They’re hard to come by. So imagine my elation when I got in the chair and starting talking to Debra and discovered that shes fabulous! She cut my hair exactly like I told her and styled it. AND she didn’t try to curl my very-natrually-straight hair (plus, it’s baby fine, so you know…double whammy). I scheduled an appointment with her in eight weeks. I am so totally going back. It was worth every cent. I guess I’m going to have to suck it up and realize that paying $8.00 for a hair cut isn’t going to cut it (no pun intended). ;)

Got back the house and cleaned the cat box. Also, the kiddo had pulled the hand towel rack out of the wall, so I repaired that. Then I finished up the laundry and now I’m just waiting on Man and his daughter to come pick me up for dinner. I’m ready… cuz I’m starved. :D

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Life With Man Tagged With: , , , ,

Here and There

July 14, 2008 by

Why does Monday always come so fast? It seems like you blink and it’s here.

This weekend was busy for me, seeing as how I didn’t have my kiddo with me. Saturday I had RWA. Good meeting, as always. Had lunch and then didn’t break from the group until nearly 2. I headed home… only to be stuck on 820 in bumper to bumper traffic. And being stuck in that kind of traffic in 102 degree heat, quite frankly, sucks. A normal 10 minute drive turned into 30.

That’ll learn me to ever get on 820 again. Ever. I will be taking the back roads from now on.

After I got home and out of the heat, I puttered around the house a little bit. I did end up going to Bed Bath & Beyond and made some purchases… which I ended up taking back on Sunday. I don’t know what I was thinking – the 4-tier shelf I bought had no home in my home, so back it went. When I returned it on Sunday, the store completely beat me down. There was this dumb woman in front of me who yakked on her bluetooth the entire time she was in line, didn’t bother to hang up when she got to the counter. And, incidentally, she was brining her coupon she “forgot” the day before to get her $10 back. It took FOR-EVER for her to get her discount and then this asshole butted in front of me in line.

I was highly agitated by the time I left that store. I may never patronize it again.

Anyway… went grocery shopping Saturday night, got home, unloaded grocersy, talked to my mom on the phone for at least an hour and a half. I guess we had a lot to say! While we talked, I managed to polish off a half a bottle of wine on an empty stomach. No wonder I was woozy by the time I hung up! I sputtered out some drivel in Word (i.e., yes, I wrote), emailed a few friends in my drunken stupor and then went to bed to pass out.

Sunday morning I awoke at 6:30 am… to the sound of the next door neighbor’s lawn mower. Yes, folks, you read that right. I was livid! SIX THIRTY AM!!! C’MON! At least wait until 7:30 when it’s somewhat a decent hour. I was ticked. Of course I get the neighbor wanting to get the yard mowed before it got hot (it was another scorcher today) but that’s just downright rude and inconsiderable. It’s Sunday for crying out loud!

My yard remains shamefully unmowed. Ask me if I care. ;)

I finally managed to go back to sleep until nearly 9, though, at which point I stumbled out of bed for a cup of java.

I started laundry and rambled around the house a bit before heading to church. Got home, changed, ate lunch, and then ran errands (see above the BB&B story). Went to Lowe’s to pick up a few small things including a birthday present for my boy. He wants a flashlight, so I bought him his first maglite. Then I went to Walmart which was actually pleasant after the beating I took at BB&B. Got another birthday present for my boy.  It seems he wants to have his birthday at Chuck E Cheese which makes me throw up a little in my mouth at the thought…

After I got home from running around, I cleaned house and only collapsed at about 6 pm with my book. I read in peace and quiet until the kiddo came home and actually finished my book. Now I’m wondeirng what to read next.

I have another story percolating in my head. It’s another fantasy story and I am seriously starting to think my “calling” is YA fantasy fiction. I devour it every chance I get. I love reading fantasy. So maybe it’s time I choose this and just go with it. I’m still at the point of figuring out where I am and what I’m doing, but I feel like I’m getting closer to resolution. This whole last rejection thing has really turned me on my ear and made me do some deep thinking. It’s all good.

I had fully intended to have “me” time this weekend but ended up running all over creation and cleaning house instead. So much for that. However, I did something very important – I read, I cleaned, AND I vacuumed behind the bed and got up all the cat hair. Very important indeed!

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Mom & Son Tagged With: , , , , ,

Whoa!

March 31, 2008 by

Okay – so. I upgraded WordPress and it’s, um, different! I mean, I guess I like it and all but it’s going to take some getting used to. I guess that’s cool… It seems I have to get used to a lot of new things lately.

Friday night, I sort of got a wild hair (thanks to Sandy S!) and went out and bought a new computer system. Oh.my.stars. I love it. It’s a Dell Inspiron with a super fast processor and a HUGE hard drive. I also got a 19″ widescreen monitor and a new HP laser printer. It’s running Vista and I don’t care what the nay-sayers say…I really love Vista. It’s sleek and cool. And … did I mention cool? There’s this really awesome sidebar that you can add widget-like things. I have a Magic 8 Ball and a Virtual Flower Pot along with the temperature and a photo gallery that does a slideshow of all my photos. It rocks.

We had soccer Saturday morning and it was very cool. The high was only 58 or something like that. Plus it had rained, so the boys were muddy and dirty by the time they got off the field (we won though!).

Anyway… It took me nearly all day to get all my software loaded onto the new system and then about 3402984 hours to get all my data transferred. I was going to do it the old fashioned way – you know by copying everything on a CDs but that wasn’t working. And then CD9 got corrupted (CD9 of 12 that is) and I didn’t want to have to redo them all, so I decided to hell with it. I went back to Best Buy and got a Easy Transfer Cable. After four attempts with the cable, I finally got everything (including all my settings) over to the new machine.

Everything is GREAT.  Except for one thing. My wireless keyboard is not Vista-compatible and it absolutely WILL NOT work on the new machine. Even with the updated driver installed. Oh and it has a PS/2 connector and everything on the back of the machine is USB. So I had to get an adapter. Well, guess what? That doesn’t work either. So the adapter will go back to the store and I’ll get my $30 back. I guess I’m going to have to get a new keyboard because I can’t type on this one and I detest it. I want my wireless ergonomic keyboard with the wrist rest. Yes. I’m spoiled.

My entire office was in shambles Saturday night and I still wasn’t done getting everything put together. I finally gave up and went to bed about 11 because I knew I woul dhave to get up and start all over again on Sunday.

Which is exactly what I did. I started over with getting everything moved and organized. One thing the new system has done for me is forced me to organize and clean up my office. The new machine is so quiet. It doesn’t hum. It doesn’t buzz. The fan is so silent I don’t even know the machine is on. I.love.that. (The other machine was awfully loud.)

So Sunday morning, I got up and had coffee, ate breakfast. And when I looked around the house, I coudn’t stand the clutter. Started laundry and cleaned the bathrooms, vacuumed, cleaned the cat box, hung up my clothes. And finally finished tidying up the office.

Man, everything is so great in here now. It’s ROCKS. Plus I have two computer systems, now. I told the kiddo the old machine was all for him. He can play on it now and I don’t have to wait for him to get off to get work done. Hopefully now I can manage my time better.

I’m just gushy about this entire system. It’s my very first brand new computer system. Ever. Yes, ever. The ones I’ve had in the past were all hand-me-downs and I’m so thrilled to have something no one else has touched. Kinda makes me feel all warm inside. :smile:

Sunday afternoon Man #1 came by bearing gifts – a new mailbox! Mine is rusted, beat all to hell, and literally falling off the post. Nothing says romance like a new mailbox. No, seriously. He’s going to install it for me for free. And … he’s my new lawn boy too. I’m going to totally love having a lawn boy. It’ll be nice not having to mow the yard in 5000 degree temperatures. Yes, I’ll be spoiled to that, too. I, of course, told him I’d help out with the lawn. I can’t have a guilty conscious and allow him to do it all alone. I offered to edge, trim the hedges, and stuff like that. If he’ll just mow and bag it – well, that’s just fabulous.

And of course it helps he’s awfully cute. hehe

Okay, I guess that’s it for me. I think I’ve rambled on long enough. It’s time to get going to work and school. Happy Monday, all!

Filed Under: Dusty Tome Tagged With: , , , , ,