Averygoodun's Personal File

Yep.


Unfortunately...

( Another to do list. Because the end of vacations are like that. )

I hope to have the energy/ambition to try out the recipe for almond flour, squash gnocchi tonight, even if that means I need to go shopping for fresh herbs. Granted, fresh herbs would also be nice for stuffing the chicken(s) with, so that's not a bad thing.

I don't think Urban Poser bakes her cookies enough, for the most part, but overall, I have been quite pleased with her recipes. However, since I can eat eggs, I have been substituting most of the oil for an egg (and a bit more flour) in her recipes, as that way I can eat more of the results. ;-) (I still have trouble digesting fat. Even yummy fat, like coconut oil. )-:

Now that we're home, I really want to try out her recipe for sourdough bread. However, that can wait until all our tummies have recovered from the travails of travel. Because there were travails. Nice thing is, we seem to have survived the travails intact without too much indigestion. Yay for better digestive health! *cheers*

ION, Geoff and I started watching "Kingdom" the other night. What a lovely, low-key mystery series! If one can even call it a mystery series... There is a mystery, but, well, the series is much more about the characters than the mystery, isn't it? Granted, I've only watched the first three episodes, so I really don't know what's going on yet. :-)

Anything else?

I've been enjoying reading the exchange pieces. I'm being picky about what I read (I'm avoiding things that are likely to be all angsty, dark or otherwise weighty), but what I have read has been fun. I must say I especially enjoyed "Worlds Enough, and Time," though the others I read yesterday were also good. If you'd be so kind, I would love recommendations on the pre-holiday hiatus stuff.

But, I think that's that. Need to go start the day. Hope Wednesday is or was good!

And I should be rewriting my paper into something shorter (I'm a full page over), but I can't be arsed. Oh well.

Saw the pre-sign-up post for the exchange. Hm. I know I said I wouldn't do it again. I know I did. And I still haven't read half the stories from the previous exchange, so I probably shouldn't. But, darn it, I want my prompts used! And I really don't want to write it/them myself.

Decisions, decisions. (Anyone want to co-opt my prompts?)


IRL, I got some free white Siberian irises from a friend this morning. A lot more than I was expecting. I will have to figure out where to put them all, once the ground dries out a bit.

This rain is becoming pesky. When am I supposed to fertilize? I don't want to drown the poor plants by watering already saturated dirt... However, I am glad it's raining. We need it, and seeing as it's fairly gentle, it's lovely to see.

On the plus side, I managed to make stew on Sunday, so we have warm goodness to offset the gray drizzles. Too bad for the no-grain diet thing, though. Injera would be a perfect accompaniment for this rather peppery stew (there was an accident with the pepper container). Ah well.

Page had a playdate with a school mate yesterday, which was enjoyed by all. Unfortunately, I accidentally let their dog lick a bit of my face, so I ended up taking some benadryl last night. Thankfully, all the hives are gone this morning, even if my eyes are still gummy and itchy. (No schnoodle in my future, it seems. Ever.)

Also unfortunately, I forgot to brush my teeth immediately before leaving, and, well, the remnants of black tea, turmeric-laced stew and dry mouth all ganged up on me and made my teeth something out of a horror movie without my knowledge. I swear they weren't that bad when we left the house! *iz really embarrassed* (Page asked what was wrong with my teeth on the way home, so, yes, it was noticeable.)

I think the quite decent night of sleep helped a bit on the exhaustion front. And I didn't get a flush from this morning's niacin. This is good. I think. Also, the new B complex pill I got doesn't seem to be upsetting my stomach, so yay! Too bad it's expensive, but, well, getting and maintaining health is expensive. I should be used to that by now.

Anyhoo... I should go feed myself. And finish reading the last chapter of the business textbook. And the last chapter of the accounting textbook. And so on.

(7 days!)

ETA: And now I only have three tests to go, as it took approximately half an hour to write out just how much (and why) I hated the business class, as our last homework assignment demands. (It's a "Reflection paper".) I guess I should go start preparing for those tests, though. *sigh*

And it's pr0n!!! Beautiful pr0n, at that.

Go lookit!

I'm loving all of these voice posts for that meme (which should be one of the included words, btw). Perhaps one of these days I will get around to setting up the whole shebang myself to do it as well.

Though, really, I should be writing, not listening. Or reading. Or posting. But, well... I'm tiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrred. Thinking while tiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrred is hard! *whines unattractively*

(Jet lag sucks.)

And if I'm not writing, I should be attacking the bills, or taking Page out for his run or doing laundry or catch-up cooking or any of the million things that need to be done after an extended absence.

It also sucks that the next two weeks, minus both Saturdays, are going to be Geoff-free. Darn business travel.


I'm sure there's a plus side to all of this that I'm whining about, but I'm too tired to find it right now. So, I shall go stare blankly at my document and hope the muse is up to shouting in my ear (whispering ain't gonna cut it) for a few minutes before switching to bills. Yay.

(Especially because I've been awake for almost three hours now.)

I don't know if I can blame the weather for my aching bod, but urgh. I went to bed early last night specifically because I was achy, and wanted to nip it in the bud. Ha.

However, it seems what rest I got was enough to rejuvenate my brain just enough to get the ideas flowing for my story. This chapter I'm working on, which I thought I had wrapped up (granted in an unsatisfactory way), is being extended slightly, despite the fact that it is at least twice as long as any other chapter in the story. Damn the whole POV thing! Should have gone completely omniscient!


Speaking of stories and such, I got my exchange prompts. At this moment I am feeling dread rather than excitement, but I think that's just because of the exchange time-frame. I really want to finish "Shelter" before I start thinking about another project (art or fic), and then I basically only have the month of June. *wrinkles nose*

I can do it, but I hope that the bunnies bite harder than they have so far.


Yesterday I went looking for flights to visit my parents this summer, and it seems Seattle is a hot spot for mid to late July. Any idea why? Anyway, flight prices have increased by at least a hundred dollars a person since Sunday, and that's assuming the online travel sites show any tickets available. *frowns*

On the plus side, it seems possible that this is the Universe saying, "No, you really need to fly directly into Vancouver, hon. You are still not up for that long a travel day."

It's just unfortunate that that adds another two hundred to already expensive ticket prices. But, well, it'll save at least a week of recovery on each end. Traveling is so hard on the body.

And who knows, by the time I buy the tickets, prices might have shifted back to being in my favor. I can hope, anyway. (So shush, you, Reason.)


Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand Page just woke up, so I guess that means I need to start the day. *sigh*

Oh, but first, I'd just like to say that Rick Santorum is an ass. But I suppose he's just living up to his name, eh?

1. M (of M&M) had the baby! An as yet unseen by me beautiful girl who is doing well. M had to have an emergency C-section, so she'll be recovering for a while yet. But she survived as well, and that's a huge relief.

Yay for new and continued life!


2. And here I squee again and thank lady_rhian for my wonderful exchange present, "An Unlikely Prince".

Yay for fairytale retellings!


3. And here I thank all of you plus lots for all your amazing reviews for my gift to cosmicoz. In case anyone hadn't guessed, it was "The Note". Also, I really need to thank Shiv and Slogic for their kind words when I wibbled. They were invaluable.

Yay for reviews and awesome mods!


4. And even though it's bloody hot (95/36 till Friday), I am finally starting to pick up steam again. Yesterday I was even able to not have a nap! I still had a long lie-down, but without screwing up my sleep cycle. And I managed to paint with Babe. Nothing worth showing, but then, it was an experiment combining three of the pieces of inspiration I'd had last week in one piece. I think the experiment was a success, even if the painting wasn't.

Also, I pressed on despite my annoyance with the protagonist and was much pleased with Inkheart. It would have been better if the author (or editor) had trimmed 200 pages off (the purple prose, it groweth!), but it was still a good read. I like that she didn't give Meggie time to be an idiot. Too much. I might even read the sequel, though that'll be after more books get crossed off my to-read list.

I'm done done done done done done done done DONE!!!

It only took nine straight hours today to finish it, too! Thank god it's Saturday, eh?

But it's done, sent off and now I can relax and maybe do something that won't drive me absolutely bonkers!

Yay!

(Or do housework. boo.)


Now to go eat something. Yay!

You know that big paper thingy with all those words explaining words in it? Yeah. My picture is in there as an example of lethargy.

So. Tired.

I'm trying to encourage myself to work on my exchange piece (not even halfway through), but it's like... work or something.

So. Tired.

Babe developed a nasty cough yesterday, so stayed home from school today. Unfortunately, that did not translate into him sleeping in. He's feeling better. I swear he siphoned off my energy while we were sleeping.

So. Bloody. Tired.

On the plus side, I managed to get the living room floor mopped and the rug spread, thus removing the tripping hazard (big under-rug thingy) from the upstairs hallway. And I did not spill beet soup on the newly laid out rug. Nor did the roll of tissue fall into my soup.

Sometimes, it's the little things that count.

But now, to work.

I just wish I wouldn't regret caving on the sugar issue. I'd really like some chocolate or tea or cookies (actually, I will be making some cookies later) or cooooccccccoooooaaaa.

*sigh*

Instead it's millet or amaranth with maple syrup... And maybe a nap after? *hopes*


But now back to work.

Our pipes are clogged. Instead of using the snake (which I am pretty sure is what is needed), Geoff used chemicals to try and dissolve the clog. Thing is, I'm pretty sure the clog is made up of not-well-ground food bits, like beet skin... I don't know if chemicals work on those kinds of clogs.

Anyway, it's a nuisance because until the drains are clear, I can't run the dishwasher, or even wash the dishes by hand because there's nowhere for the water to go.


Babe's pipes are also clogged. Snaking, however, is the last option.

( TMI on the parenting front )

Speaking of poop, I am scared rather shitless by the idea for my exchange piece. The epic-ness is... daunting. My giftee will get a good gift, even if I chicken out of the epic gift, but I would really love to do the epic gift. I'm just not sure how to do it. Problem is, I don't know how to get from point A to point B. Not without turning what is already epic into something unachievable (in the limited time we have).

However, maybe I should focus on what is achievable. Both in creative endeavors and otherwise.

I went for a walk today using my knee brace for the first time. I think it worked nicely. I can't wear it for anything other than taking my exercise walks as it's prone to cut off my circulation if my knee is bent, but my knee doesn't seem nearly as tired as it has been after walks.

I made beef-beet soup last night and it was quite tasty except for being under-salted. I was going to make gluten-free bread today, but I'm not doing any cooking until the drains are clear.

And that brings me full circle, so I'll stop.

Cheers, all.

In trying to stay on the up and up, I will not whine about the never ending winter, especially as I know several of you have winters far, far worse than this Every. Single. Year.

I will not whine about crabby toddlers, as I know that Babe is one of the sweetest, easiest children on the face of the planet.

I will not whine about lack of energy, as it is my own damn fault, nor will I whine about why it is my own damn fault. Though I may hum Margaritaville under my breath while I refrain from whining.

However, I WILL say thank you to odogoddess and warren61889 for their wonderful gifts in the exchange.

I WILL say thank you to everyone who left me such kind and wonderful reviews on the gifts I made for ozratbag and ayerf. I will even answer those reviews soon and thank you individually.

I WILL say thank you to ginny_weasley31, shiv5468, scatteredlogic and everyone else who made the exhcange possible this round. You are all awesomeness personified.

I will also say thank you to those of you who have read and reviewed SMHC, though I will not whine about the temptation to finish it off with a bang next chapter. Which I won't do. I promise.

And, to finish off this not quite whiny post, I will list seven things I am grateful for and hope that negates my need to whine.

( Read more... )