I got up early this morning so I can be sure to be on time to work, 'cause Book Doc is working today and how bad would it be for me to be late on the day I'm working with her? Oh yes, very bad, indeed. However, instead of just doing my normal routine, I did extra stuff today. Like fill the birdfeeders. Of course, I first had to spill the huge 20 pound bag of birdseed, first. Cleo enjoyed watching me clean up the dune of bone-colored safflower seeds. She just sat on the floor register, as the heat enveloped her five pound body, and smiled at me at I swept up the drift. The birds were grateful, though. One chickadee sat in a shrub as I filled its feeder, "chick"ing at me. It was within arm's reach! Hungry, cold bird. It's -10F (wind chill) this morning. c-c-c-c-cold.
Tonight is my exercise class, the one I THOUGHT was a gentle stretching and strengthening class but turned out to be kinda hardcore, with weights and aerobics and endless sit-ups. The one that knocked me out with pain for a couple weeks. Tonight, I'm going, no matter how tired, no matter how sore. I'm going and that's that. I simply must start to take my life seriously.
I'm going to create a rather rigid schedule for myself, too, just as though I were a pet. Sleeping times, feeding times, exercise times. Dang it, I would be vigilant about it for a dog; I need to care for myself at least as well as I would for a pet!
So, no more staying up reading past midnight. Nope. No more several hours-long sessions on fun (read: waste of time) websites. No more shaker of salt at hand. Less booze, less coffee, less junk food. More water, more veggies, more portion control.
I am 5' 2.5". I weigh over 155 lbs. I'm officially overweight. And my muscles are atrophying.
This will change and I'm begging you, dear reader (stranger, Sister, or friend), to leave me a message encouraging me. I need the help and support. I really do.
This poem sums up what it sometimes feels like to be at the bookstore, looking out the window at the busy intersection.
Written by Z.G. Tomaszewski
38 Seconds at a Stoplight. I’m Inside the Bookstore.
Behind windows, I am your audience. I stand to look and see you chewing time by misremembering moments, your look straight ahead says helpless.
With the green flash flicking light upon your face I notice your discontent. You accelerate beyond the intersection, your tailpipe spits and sputters… waves a curling black-tipped cloud; exhausted you seem, but not sleepy.
I remain standing on the other side, eyes glassed over. From inside the store there are worlds of words— spines gasp for fresh breath, trophies that collect dust, because I choose to read you.
I'm entering to win this book. I hope I win! It sounds like fun and it's the first in a series. I love reading series; I get attached to characters and want to see more of their lives. Geez, I sound like a stalker....
Anyhoo, I hope I win, 'cause then I can talk about it to bookstore customers!
Win an ARC of Y S Lee’s A SPY IN THE HOUSE, the first novel in the Agency series! Enter at http://yslee.com/2010/01/the-first-lines-contest/.
I like this site, just found it today (courtesy of Mr Handsome).
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I've just spent the last ... well, far too many minutes... looking for pictures to turn into magnets to either give away or sell at the bookstore. I've made some before and they've been pretty popular. The Sexy Reader/Librarian is always a hit.
Um, 'specially with the guys. So, I thought I should find a sexy GUY reader. No joy. There is not a SINGLE pic out there in G00GLEland to find. Sheesh. I did, actually, find a couple pics of sexy dudes reading, but their pics had copyright info splattered all across their hotness. I even looked for sexy celebs reading, hot male models reading, vintage men reading... no luck. HUMPH! Women find men who read VERY sexy! I might start asking customers to volunteer to pose. We do get some cute guys in the store. Of course, usually, they're young enough to be my son, but, whatevs. Ok, gotta go clean the "nest" for Movie Night! "Emma" is on "Masterpiece" tonight and Book Doc is coming over to watch with us! YAY!
(My post title sounds like a super geeky rap artist and his featured guest artist.)
So! Cali Girl came and went and it was just LOVELY to chat with her for hours. We sat around the house gabbing, crying, laughing, got hungry and went for brunch. We went to my FAVE place to go for breakfast/brunch, Cheri Inn. Always delicious, always charming, always filled with light. She liked it, too. Then, we went to the bookstore, because I really wanted to show her where I spend my days. I love the bookstore. I'm happy there. I feel like I belong. It's wonderful. Also, it's a beautiful space and I was showing off. Book Doc was there, so my best friend got to meet her! Yay! After that, we wandered around the 'hood a bit, looked in the windows of some other shops, gazed at the yoga place up the street. Too bad I couldn't show her the inside - it's GORGEOUS. The whole back wall of the main room is windows. With a garden outside. But it was very cold, despite the vigorous sunshine, so we had to move on. Where did we go next? The Library, of course! I am a geek. Also, I had a book that was overdue. Additionally, I am still very proud that I had a small part in the restoration and expansion of our beautiful public library system (I worked for the foundation that made it all possible). I love the library. What a wonderful, precious resource. All those books (and music and videos)! All for FREE! Lovely. It was so wonderful to see Cali Girl, to share a little of my life with her, in real time. To see her beautiful face and beaming smile. I miss her terribly. So, spending time with her was just a very special treat.
The next day, Monday, I went to Bro's to beat him at chess. But, once again, he kicked my tushie. I was obliterated. What the hay-ell?!?! I need to practice. It's so much fun to play, though! I really enjoy it and am looking forward to playing again. He's talked about how his apartment complex is like a wild animal petting zoo, because there are dozens of deer and turkeys, not to mention myriad squirrels and birds, none of which seem all that worried about human nearness. Probably because lots of the apartment dwellers like to feed the critters! We saw both deer AND turkeys when I was there. It was AWESOME! Turkeys are BIG! And move awkwardly. And will battle each other for zucchini bread. They loved the zucchini bread I brought over (it was pretty stale, but they didn't mind).
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The rest of the week went by in a bit of a blur. The Pain came back and moved in for a while, taking up my attention, thoughts and breath. Today, it's a lot better. I have high hopes for tomorrow being better yet. Book Doc is coming over to watch Emma with us! We're gonna have a movie festival! YAY! I love Jane, I love Emma, and I love to have people over for dinner and a movie!
ooooh, I better take down the Christmas decorations. The tree still looks so pretty!
It's going to be warm today - into the 30's! Dressing in multiple layers has become automatic - at least two (but three is better). I remember when it first got cold this year; it was like I'd completely forgotten how to dress for cold weather. I hated the thought of always having to wear all those layers. Now, I don't even think about it. It's like the memory of warm weather has disappeared and all I know is cold.
Last winter was much colder. I do remember that. I remember thinking it was a heat wave when it reached double digits. We've rarely reached the single digits this year ('cept maybe overnight a few times). And there's been a reliable layer of fresh snow on the ground, so everything looks pretty and clean and bright. It's been a good winter so far!
I think I'm dwelling on this subject because I just saw an ad for a Caribbean getaway (some resort or another). The picture was so beautiful, all blue water, golden sands, green palm trees. And there were no people in the picture. It was easy to imagine being there. Lovely and quiet and warm. ahhhh....
Last Monday, I went over to Bro's to play chess. My assumption was that I would kick his rook all over the board. I WOULD WIN!!!! Nope. He beat me three times in a ROW! I'm looking forward to our next matchup, when I will concentrate harder and I WILL WIN!!! hee hee! Really, though, win or lose, it's so much fu to play, to hang out with my Bro and play chess. I love it!
I never thought of it before, really, but a hot beef sandwich with mashed potatoes and extra gravy is a way to serve leftovers. Pot pies, too, are a way to serve leftovers. Shepherd's (or cottage) pie - same thing. Leftovers. I love all those dishes, but typically hate leftovers. huh.
I want to go to the Cottage for a hot beef sandwich (and a glass of milk), but Mr Handsome is in the middle of something and wants to wait about an hour. An HOUR! I'm hungry NOOOOOOoooowwwwww!!! Yup, that's me, whining. Luck, lucky man - gets to listen to me whine like a baby about paying for someone else's leftovers.
We had my co-workers over for dinner and games (which was a lot of fun, actually!) and I made a pot pie, using some left-over roasted chicken and veggies. It was delish! I'm quite proud of it, actually. Might do it again, if we ever have the right leftovers and some puff pastry. 'Cause I'm not up to making my own flaky crust. No, my pie crusts are like soggy cardboard that someone found at the bottom of a dumpster. Frozen puff pastry is a wonderful invention! You can do all kinds of stuff with it! Super-easy desserts, the afore-mentioned pot pies, tarts, bread sticks... it's fabulous!
At work, there's no way to have a private few minutes to eat lunch, so I usually have to scarf down, in a few bites, whatever leftovers I brought. This has resulted in a lot of cold stew, cold baked chicken, cold mac 'n cheese. ick. The solution? Sandwiches!
Remarkably simple solution, really. It just takes effort. And I am soooooo lazy in the morning. But I always make sure I get my coffee!
Bubba, playing with a catnip carrot he got for Christmas: kitty is baaaaaaaked.
Mr Handsome and Bro, New Year's Eve We're playing Mexican Train Dominoes. It's really fun! Our Happy New Year champagne:
I had my first exercise class last night. The instructor is very new and I kinda felt like she was just exercising with herself, y'know? Not paying attention to the class, not correcting anyone's form, offering suggestions for lower-level people, not reminding us to breathe or counting for us. I am, maybe, a high-maintenance exercise student. Yes, I need to be reminded to breathe. Nonetheless, I did get a good workout and am sore, in a good way, today. We're supposed to get 3-5 inches of snow today. It's been really cold, but not brutal. The sun has been shining. It's been pretty! Cleo is in my lap right now, helping with this post. I am her personal heating device. I'm hoping to go over to Bro's tonight, to kick his ass at chess.
I've got a lot of books. A LOT. I just bought two more bookcases, so I can stop tripping over the (several) bags of books I've got. Of course, the bookcases are still hanging out where Mr Handsome and I left them a few days ago. Just randomly. I need to clean out the spare bedroom first, before I can move them in there. And that is going to be a HUGE job. I could have done it this weekend, as I had some time off. But I had too many books to read! Oh, the irony. So, I've read the entire Percy Jackson series, both Hunger Games books, and something else... what was it... hmmm, can't remember. Anyway, I've read a few books this weekend and I should really do some housework. But, I won't. I'm going to read Wolf Hall instead!
Well, almost every day I plan on writing something, adding a pic, communicating. I dunno, it seems like I don't have any THING to share, y'know?
I did consider having a "Mascara Competition" feature. I need mascara, I REQUIRE it. Without it, my eyes disappear, or look puffy and swollen. Strange. I look strange without mascara. I never used to wear mascara, I just wore eyeliner and a little shadow for definition. I work a strong brow and lip. I was working a mid-century eye. This first pic (minus the nose stud) is a super-close representation of my look back in the '90's.
Here's Audrey to show us how it's done.
Anyhoo, My face has changed and I now need mascara AND eyeliner AND shadow and it just takes so long to get ready to go out, even just to the grocery store. Geez oh peets.
OOP! The pizza just got here! Gotta go! Thanks for reading and I'll be back.
