Relaxation?

It's the last day of my fall break and a friend and I agreed that it's high time we both just take a day for ourselves. To finally relax.

The SO and I had a great debate and discussion about nature "versus" nurture, I worked on a revision to the Christmas cards, and then I was able to get onto our current obsession (Diablo3).

I do a lot of work for a portion of that game's community and it's a bit of an inside joke that while I spend many hours with it, I never get to play. Partly because my laptop physically cannot run the program and because only the SO has an account to play. He does let me play whenever I want- it's the handy thing about sharing the hobby of video games. We each know when are good pausing points to sneak in conversations or reminders, etc.

I do wish I could have done more fun things for myself during this time. Our next big break is Thanksgiving weekend- that's not relaxing at all! Lol. However, I did get a lot accomplished, even if it wasn't exactly what I had put on my To-Do List. The To-Done list is looking pretty good.

I am feeling emotionally better lately and am still working hard on letting the negativity go.

Dinner Delay

Not much to report tonight. Trying to work on card because it's World Card-Making Day, but there's a family dinner that I have to help get ready for. Sigh.

Seasonally Started

It's official!

The seasonal projects are in full swing for me now. More than 20 weather-appropriate cupcakes are done, the coffee man appreciated his gift (even though I could tell it was now too small for him after washing), finished putting together a birthday package, moderated more live streams, switched out to my cool weather clothes, and after hours of pining by the front door- my holiday craft order arrived!

It's all of the remaining supplies for this years' cards arrived today but I had hoped to work on them midweek. I'm determined to get a solid start tomorrow! We're having guests over for dinner because there was too much chicken defrosted with the new fridge frenzy.

The weather has cooled off considerably, next week should see a few days with a high in the 80's, and the nights are starting to get chilly! I absolutely love it! Autumn is pretty much my favorite season. All the great things about Winter but much less harsh- cooler weather and only some holiday obligations to fret about.

After a few talks with some friends who have given me tons of moral support during my mental insanity lately, I realized that I spent the entire Fall "Break" doing things for someone else. Not much different from my day job except the hours, access to internet, and less injuries from others. LOL.

Sigh.

Gotta keep taking a breath and looking at all the silver lining. Maybe I can somehow collect on all of these good karma points that I'm racking up soon.

For The Love Of Food

I was sitting here thinking about what I spent my day focusing on and realized that's it's all been about a refrigerator.

This is the part where while I'm feeling grateful, I'm also rubbing my face in my hands.

The old one was at least my age and (understandably) has been on the fritz for the past few months. This past week, it didn't feel cold inside but it was sputtering by. With two milks and one creamer spoiling in three days before even being opened, FMIL was inspired to go searching for a new one.

We spent some of yesterday clearing off the top of... its layers and the other visible surfaces full of memorabilia. This morning, we spent preparing areas for all the pets to go when the deliverymen got here, clearing adequate space from the back gate because there wasn't much of a way for them to get through any of the doors and still have, you know, arms.

Cleaning out the one cooler around, cleaning other spaces because they were suddenly accessible, and then the SO was able to pry the old appliance out of its spot so we could discover what has made it behind there through the years. That was the hardest and it required protective eye wear and breathing through our shirts as masks. We emptied what we could a half an hour before the new one came.

They were prompt and efficient and for that we're very grateful. I was scrambling to grab the frozen and other items out while they sorted out an issue of the removal service. Luckily, it was worked out and I move fast. Honestly, if it had been up to me, everything would have already been out of there before anything arrived.

The new piece was assembled, drinks of water were given, and then the SO and I scrambled to buy another cooler and some ice. FMIL washed the new surfaces and then we had to wait five hours before putting anything back. Stuff went to waste, mostly because there was still too much being saved to fit in the coolers and some had to be shoved in a plastic storage bin with some ice.

Hours later, everything that could be salvaged made it back inside and it is beautiful. Sorry for the mini-rant, it's just been more stressful than I would have liked for the process to be.

I have also reviewed more footage, watched live web streams, moderated the chat, finished up some crocheted cupcakes, and painted a t-shirt for FMIL's beloved coffee bean provider. I met him last week at the farmer's market.

There's a specific type he discovered by accident with his wife that FMIL adores. For a while, she wasn't able to get it but teased him when it finally arrived: "Good! I had to drink Folgers while waiting for this!" His mock horrified answer was: "Friends don't let friends drink Folgers!" It's been a joke that the quote should be put in a t-shirt. Well, that's where I come in. I heard that as an idea that I could totally figure out how to do!

With stencils, foam brushes, three little bottles of fabric paint, a little bit of time, and some free-handing later:

It's a more "PC" paraphrase of the quote and wow it looks much better in the picture than it does in person. LOL. Definitely a homemade feel to it in real life. We're going to the Farmer's Market tomorrow, so I hope he gets a kick out of it.

Silver Lining

Doing my best to purge myself of my anger and to stay productive and positive.

Really is like a full time job sometimes when you have... issues. I should get into that another time.

More crochet work, more reviewing of footage, impromptu and informal production meeting of sorts for brainstorming upcoming events, got tons of laundry done today, and chopped my bangs in half. XD

I would have cut off more, but I'm not completely dumb. The SO took a shaver to his head today and we'd both been talking about getting much needed haircuts together. When in Rome...

FMIL has been pretty busy too. She has been hunting for a new fridge all over town since ours has been on the fritz lately. It would not be fun for any of that to spoil. Well, anymore than it already has lately. Sigh.

After some research in-store and online, she found something she was happy with and it should be arriving tomorrow! That meant tidying up the old one and the area around it. It's a really old appliance and... it wasn't a pretty task.

I cannot wait to go to bed tonight. The clothes are all clean, I took a nice warm shower, and the sheets were washed too. It's going to be heavenly! Hope the sleep is as rejuvenating as it promises. There's someone else who has been very cuddly and spunky and enjoyed the clean sheets too.

 The little prince here has loved the suddenly cool weather at night and open windows.

Reviewing Reels

Watched/ listened to a lot of recorded footage of web show streams today while working more on crafts and projects. Partly for inspiration and partly for freelancing.

It's been nice to not have to deal with the live chats since I sometimes get frustrated by people who aren't paying attention to the streamers' answers to the same questions over and over again. That or moderating in general. With the kids I work with, it's much easier to deal with because I feel as if they don't know better but adults who are putting themselves in those situations are another story...

At the same time, I sometimes forget that it's a recording and I can't have that instant gratification of immediate interaction with other viewers or the streamer. I find myself silently screaming out answers or saying geshundheit to a sneeze. It's a weird and delicate balance for interacting with humans on the internet. For sure.

Pretty sure my mind is a pile of mush right now. Tomorrow is going to be a much more physically active chore-full day. 

To Done List

Getting better at getting things done during this break.

Short of mopping everything completely, the floors are done; the back windows with baked on dog slobber are now clear; I've gathered my gift stash into one location to take inventory; prepared packages to mail to friends later this week; continued doing editing work for a friend; started the process of switching out my seasonal wardrobes; and have crocheted a bajillion more cupcakes.

Oh yes.

I've had the cups made for a few weeks now during my yarn-depletion-project and now have enough scrap yarn/ new colors to make the tops and decor. I hope to use them as simple little gifts this holiday season.

To-done lists make me feel much more positive about my productivity than eye-balling my to-do list! :P Oh man, it's already October.