Averygoodun's Personal File

- I accomplished the task I set for myself today (move and remove. Move a (small) cabinet so as to remove the half tiles underneath it). Unfortunately, I discovered that mastic supports life of the fungal variety. I vinegared the shit out of it, but it's discouraging to know that the battle of the mold is by no means won and will have more casualties than expected. (I knew that, but it still sucks to have it confirmed.) But still. I got those tiles up, and only shorted out the blow drier once. (It overheated, nothing dire.) I did not finish removing the mastic so as to prep the area for tiles, but that wasn't part of the task, so ner.

- Page and I finished Star Trek: Voyager, and a very satisfying ending it was.

- ( I more or less finished that painting. )

The colors aren't quite right in the photograph, nor does the lighting show off the texturing to best effect, but I think I like it anyway. Not sure I'll continue in that direction, but it was an interesting experiment.

- I was able to just chill for most of the day. I have set myself a task a day so that the depression doesn't eat me whole, but I mostly need to rest, I think. So achy and tired... So it's good that I'm able to do what my body requires. I'm lucky.

- I was able to help a friend in a professional capacity this morning. She said, "You've just given me a million dollars! No! Seriously! That's how excited I am about this!" And considering I was feeling pretty sluggish and brain fogged, that's pretty cool. I hadn't even had any tea yet... though I had consumed some magnesium and tylenol...

- Page is doing better, but not well enough yet to take him to his sax lesson tomorrow, which is all good where I'm concerned, given that his teacher is a 1/2 hour's drive away. I'm not up for that.


In other news, I'm trying to figure out a way to get a live furry pet into this house (after Purgatory has reached it's conclusion). We can't afford a dog, no matter how much Page and I want one. And we really, really do want one. But, well, realities being what they are, I've decided that we might get a rat (or two). Rats are the only rodent I have any interest in (besides rabbits, which I am even more allergic to than cats, if that can be believed) given their intelligence level. But, well, Purgatory MUST be finished before we introduce a slinker into the house. Not only will we need the room for its habitat (what a nice name for "cage"), but also because intelligent creatures tend to escape their confines, and I do not want to have to dig through the heap of our basement to find said creature's corpse.

I'd also like to get a betta for my desk, but I think a pothos for my bedroom is first on the expenditure list. One living addition at a time...

Speaking of living additions, I'm starting to think about what I'll be planting in spring. Lettuce for sure. Kale, probably (even if it's just to harvest what sprouts up on its own). Chard, probably. And maybe one of the beds will be devoted to the three sisters, even if I can't eat the corn or beans. It would be cool to try and grow a native species of maize in the traditional manner.

I'm also determined to finish the entryway to the garden this spring/summer. I want to have another garden party, and it would be nice to show that I haven't completely ignored my garden the last couple years (even though I pretty much have). Nice thing is I have a couple more pavers thanks to the basement quikcrete bucket leftovers. And I could probably use one or both of those buckets as lemonbalm and herb planters... Anyway, I need to get outside more often this year. My body has told me it's not negotiable. Even with mossies.

Anyway. That's the state of being here. Pretty good, all said, despite colds and looming flares and a demon in the basement. :-)

Hope all is well with you.

Today was Page's 2nd birthday party. (Yes, he's 9, but he's only had 2 birthday parties, including this one, because, well, I tend to be a party-pooper, healthwise, this time of year. I decided to forego class as well as turn a paper in (5 hours) late so that I'd have the energy to deal with the party prep and all the people this time around.)

It went much better than his first birthday party, which was last year. I think having it here at home helped, as well as the fact that the majority of the invitees knew each other already. Also, Page was the games-master, so all we adults had to do was help with the food prep and such. (Next year will be a make your own tacos party instead of make your own pizza. OMG. It ended well, but O.M.G.)

I am glad I got a box of ice cream so that those who don't like coconut (the majority of the kids) could have a treat.

I'm also very glad I didn't bother washing the floor beforehand.

So, yeah. Kinda proud of myself, even though it would have been an unmitigated disaster without Geoff (and one of the parents) around to help. Still, I'm pleased. And pooped.

Gonna relax for the rest of the evening and take tomorrow off of church. And then it's back to the grindstone for me. yay. But only a month left of that particular grindstone, and then I get 6 weeks off. That should help a lot.

Right. Just finished up the first week of the semester, right? Right.

Then why do I have over 100 pages to read (after having already read about 100) in the next 3 days for 2 classes (one of which is an intro course)? (And that's not counting the chapter(s) I have to read for the Microeconomics course I want to CLEP out of at the end of this semester.)

Seriously?

*shrugs*

On the plus side, I don't think it's going to be too much of a problem, given how absurdly productive I've been lately. I mean, the house is clean, we still have a few leftovers from last week's cooking spree, I moved and mixed about 3/4 cubic yard of shit compost, AND I've been pretty majorly social without getting too grumpy.

(Granted, there has also been a rather large ingestion of caffeine lately, but if I didn't have a solid base of energy, the caffeine would just be putting me to sleep!)

Speaking of ingestion, I'm thinking of using quince and onions as a stuffing for a couple of chickens I have sitting in the fridge. Any suggestions on spices/herbs/veggies that would go well with all of the above? (If it's any help, roasted sweet potatoes will be one of the sides.) Celery, maybe? Garlic? Sage?

The only thing I haven't done anything toward is the November showing of my work at the church. I really would like to paint an hour a day, but so far I haven't been willing to give up that crossword/dilly-dallying time. But maybe I can start on that tomorrow. After all, miracles are happening here.

Welp, the vacation is over, and we are gearing up for the beginning of school around these parts. ( Read more... )

I am sad not to still be on vacation, but it is satisfying to be getting things done. And, I suppose, that is the purpose of a vacation, to put the satisfaction back into the work. So success!

:-D

- Got my final Word lab to start on. It's due Wednesday. Don' wanna.

- Geoff is home (though not at this exact moment as he's taken Page to the last swim lesson of the session), which is marvelous. We've been walking hand-in-hand wherever we go.

- Lord the acting is terrible in 1st season ST:NG. Absolutely horrible. Not even Patrick Stewart is good. Actually, I think Jonathon Frakes is probably the best one of the bunch, which I find highly amusing. All the others make me cringe. Cringe!

- My house is pretty when it's tidy.

- I've painted this week. Twice. I thought I had finished one of the paintings, but on further reflection, I haven't. It needs glazing for more depth. The other painting is nowhere near finished as it still needs a bajillion layers of glaze to get it to the right colors/intensity. A layer a day should get it there within the next century, though. :-) (<--Artist's math is cool, isn't it? It's like the opposite of Writer's Math!)

- Alone time is happening. Right now! And I expect I can get more of it later on today, too! SO COOL!

- My stomach, while still on the fragile side, seems to have basically recovered from the rancid mustard of yesterday. No more cramping, anyway. Yay!

- Related: we now have non-rancid-mustard-infected food to eat in the house. Double yay!

- Have I mentioned how happy I am to have Geoff back? Cuz I really, really am. Just want to snuggle into his arms and stay there all day. Page wants that too, though, so I guess we'll have to work out a compromise. ;-D

- I suppose I've stalled long enough. Gotta go do my homework. I must say I am really looking forward to Freedom Friday (first day after the last day of class)!

My finger slipped and I bought a Chromebook (Samsung version) for a song on Amazon. First a cell phone (a smart phone at that!), and now a netbook? I do believe the end of the world might be nigh.

Though mostly it's all just for convenience. Page needs to start learning how to code, and, well, combine that with my increased computer needs over the next twelve months, and I came to the conclusion that more than one computer will be needed in this house. (It also means that I will be able to move to a different room and still be able to do my homework, if necessary. Or send the distractor to a different room with it.)

As for the cell phone... I've conceded that it's rude to not have one nowadays. And, well, I'm not going to be sharing my number widely, so I'll know that if I do get a call (in class, say), it's really quite important.

( School-related kvetching )

Page, meanwhile, is doing remarkable well. Today, as we were driving back from dropping Geoff off at the airport, he said his stomach hurt but that it might just be from the anxiety of not having his dad around. !!! O_o !!! If he keeps this up, he will be a very centered, self-aware person, which would be awesome. (As long as it doesn't result in egoism, that is.)

He's actually been really great lately. I think it's the whole gamut of things we're doing - physically, mentally and emotionally - not just one or two things, but whatever it is, it's working. Hmm. Not being in school is almost certainly one of the elements... :-/

But, I mean, not taking into account when he's super hungry or tired, we can ask him to do something, and he'll do it! This is monumental! I just hope it continues for this entire developmental stage!

But now I've stalled for long enough. Need to go get a midnight snack and head to bed. Too bad the most pleasant part of the day is that which is designated for sleeping...

Because it hasn't reached the time of year when I start to wheeze...

List of plants that survived (so far; still very early yet):

Front yard:
( Read more... )

Backyard:
( Read more... )

I think I have to revise my statements about Fall being my favorite season. Early spring (before the allergies set in) is so, SO wonderful. Life! Life literally popping out of the ground! With color and everything! Wheeeeeee!

On the other hand, I'm starting to wonder just what we're going to do with all the (inorganic) stuff that needs to be moved for this summer's backyard renovation. The planter boxes have a temporary home lined up, but the other stuff.. Oy.

And I quote:

"[Page] appears as an above average intelligent child who gets bored and distracted when not engaged in his work.
"He will benefit from modifications of his work as well as extra challenges as needed."

*cackles with righteous justification*

But then, this is a day of good humour.



I am Blue/White
Take The Magic Dual Colour Test - Beta today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Personality Test Generator.



It's been a good day so far. I've found out that you guys actually DO like my work (I know, I know... but that's what an inferiority complex does!), I got an hour of gardening in without any new mosquito bites (and almost finished shaping the garden! Tomorrow will have the garden the shape it needs to be plus more weeding/prepping), and I came home from the farm (with cherry tomatoes... for the potluck tonight) and found a power company guy here. He asked me what I wanted, and I said,

"TAKE THE F***ING TREE DOWN!!!"

Only quiet and polite-like. And jubilantly.

It turns out that I may also get the wood, which is nice because a) it's maple, which is a lovely hardwood of some value, b) I want some "interest" for the backyard, and c) it would be nice to have a little for future artwork.

And in half an hour, I get to go out for a potluck with church friends. It will be a short visit, but that's okay. The mosquitoes will be coming out by the time we have to leave, anyway. :-)

And now I need to go clean the greens for the salad we're taking. :-)

I love being a Gemini with Pisces rising. My horoscopes for today:

Gemini
Lately you've become so engrossed in the exciting changes going on in your life that you may be missing some long-range opportunities. Try to move your focus away from current tasks and toward what's left to tackle on your ambitious to-do list. It's time to think about your future -- and start laying the groundwork for the new direction you want to take. The scope doesn't have to be too wide -- just contemplate where you'd like to be by the end of the year.

Pisces
A sweeping momentum carries you through the entire day, and it's quite a ride! But don't get too caught up in the excitement or laughter that surrounds you. There are many details you need to pay attention to if you want to keep on a positive track. Thinking big or getting distracted by long-range ideas won't help you right now. Instead, listen to the words people are using and the dates being chosen. These small details will have a huge influence.

HAHAHAHAAhhahahahahaha!

Fortunately, I don't take newspaper style horoscopes seriously. Most of the time.


I've had a good and productive day. I was annoyed the DDoS attacks meant limited LJing, but on the other hand, I got eight out of ten things crossed off my to do list. I know there is a correlation, even if I don't want there to be.


( Health and girl stuff )


Dinner was yummy. I put a small pork roast on top of a bunch of granny smith apple and onion slices and coated the roast with coconut oil and an almond crumb mixture (roasted almond crumbs that were left over from ages ago, cinnamon, white pepper, salt and mustard powder). God, that was good. I also parboiled and roasted a bunch of "baby" carrots in coconut oil, and they were faboo as well. The burned ones were dessert.


Aaaannnnnnd... that's about it. I need to go watch season 5 of Buffy with Geoff. Yes, that's a need, not (just) a desire. ;-D

Happy Thursday to you all should the DDoS boogieman strike again.