All Connected

So this is the blanket all put together. I haven't bordered it yet so it isn't DONE done, but it is getting close. Right now, I don't have enough of the off-white to border it so I might try using the dark grey, which is the same color of squares that border the blanket so it might look pretty good.

I am really thrilled how it looks, and while it is really soft, it also has a nice weight to it. It is absolutely my favorite blanket creation so far...might make something like it for myself some day in the future...LOL.

I will mail it to my niece as soon as I am done with it. I asked her if she wanted me to hold on to it for her since it is probably already getting warm where she is, but she insists that she wants it as soon as possible and I am happy to oblige her. I hope she loves it.

It will be weird to be done with it and not have a large project like this to work on...it gives me something to multitask with, and I am sure I will have to find something new to work on. Things like this don't take away from the many, many other projects I am working on for the house so no guilt there.
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Four Years Ago on In My Words...Just Me?

Ordered New Photo Cards

I realized while writing up my Mother's Day and May birthday cards, that I was getting low on my photo cards I use. I create the images on my computer from photos I have taken and then I upload them to York Photo where I design the card and order them. I try to do a few cards from my macros and then a couple that are scenes. This batch is 3 flower macros and 2 texture macros that look pretty cool.

This is a way for me to be creative when most of my other card making tools are not here, and it is  less expensive way for me to send all the cards I like to send out. If you haven't looked at the price of American Greetings or Hallmark cards lately...it has really gone up.

Anyhow, I should be able to get these cards delivered in time to be ready for the Father's Day and June birthdays that are coming up!
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Three Years Ago on In My Words...Getting Creative

Stormy Skies

One of the many things I missed about this valley was the amazing storms we have here. I have always been a storm hound because of growing up here with our beautiful storms. When I was a kid, my parents would encourage us to enjoy the storms (rather than be afraid of them). I am thankful for this because it has meant that I never had a fear of them.

We would sit under a picnic table in the backyard and watch the lightening and listen for the thunder. We would also watch the meteor showers in the summer from under that same table. We were taught to look out far and wide and to enjoy all that nature offered us.

So when I was doing yard work today and saw that the sky was getting that inky black look to it that means a good storm is brewing, I just had to snap this shot with the sun still shining where we were. I loved the contrast and the feeling in the air that the storm was on its way and the charge that it provides.
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Seven Years Ago on In My Words...Technical Difficulties

Finished Rows

Rows Connected

Progress is being made on my niece's blanket...all the rows have been connected and I can start in the second direction now. I love this connection method, is way less tedious and much faster that any that I used in the past when I have made granny square blankets.

I highly recommend this method...super easy, and fast once you get the gist of it. I am hoping to have enough of the off-white yard to do a border as well, but since I have lots of the dark grey, that might end up being the border instead, we'll have to see how it looks when I get the rest of it connected together.
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Six Years Ago on In My Words...Back In The Land Of The Living

Storm Rising

This amazing sky up the street from our house was just too good to pass up. I am not used to having these kinds of storms this early in the year but we have had some pretty warm days this spring and I am sure that has contributed to it.

I have always been a storm watcher...I thank my parents for never making storms a "scary" thing for us. I love all the ion changes in the air around a storm...it feels great. That still air that happens right before the wind starts to blow and lightening and rain make their appearance. Love it!!

I love how dark the sky gets, especially when the sun is still out in other areas...the contrast is just terrific. I took a couple of really cool pics (one of which is being made into a card) before this storm.
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Five Years Ago on In My Words...Tropical Storm Halong

Blanket Update

Pattern laid out on floor

I have been working on a blanket for one of my nieces. This is the biggest blanket I have made in a long time and I really want it to be something she will enjoy. As you can see from the linked post above, I figured out the colors and style of it pretty early on, but it took a while to figure out the pattern and ultimately how many squares I needed for it.

It is going to be 8 squares by 11 squares and quite soft. Today I finished the 88th square and decided to lay it all out on the floor according to the pattern I had picked to get an idea of the look of it. I spaced the squares out a bit because I am planning to connect the squares using the same white that 6 of the squares are made of so the light colored carpet was a good way for me to get a feel for the complete look.

First two squares connected

Once I got all the squares laid out, I was able to stack them according to their rows, so I can start connecting them together. I am using this method to connect them. It is the same method I used to connect the squares in the baby blanket I made 18 months ago for one of my other nieces. I liked how it came out even if it doesn't lay completely flat and the squares look a bit staggered. I like the feel of it (more like one complete piece) and it is definitely less stiff at the junctions. I am hoping to go around the entire outside with a row once it is done in the same white color to finish it off evenly. It should be beautiful when completed.

At this point, I have started the tedious task of connecting all the squares in a particular row together in the order for the pattern...two at a time. Once I am done with all 11 rows, then I will connect the rows together in the right order. Lastly, comes the finishing outside edge.
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Four Years Ago on In My Words...Trying New Things

Fishy Woes

Dexter before the move

I don't know if I have talked much about Dexter the Fish, but he was the sole survivor of all my fish purchases in 2011, and we theorized that he was killing off any of the other fish I put in the bowl with him. This earned him the serial killer nickname, and he then completed a five hour car ride when we moved confirming his toughness. He was a Zebra Danio, which turns out to be a very sturdy little fish. Normally they like to be with at least two others but he seemed content to be on his own.

Anyhow, as a fish owner, over the years, I have come to know that fish do not live very long and it is best to not get too attached. So when I found him in his bowl curled upside down, I was not surprised. I had him for 1 1/2 years and that is pretty good for a small schooling fish, especially when you don't know how long he might have been at the petstore before purchasing.

The koi looking feeder fish

I went a month or so, with no fish in the bowl, but then I decided to pick up some new fish while shopping at a store near the petstore. I wanted to try something a bit different and decided to go with two small goldfish. They were both colored like koi and I liked the idea of having my own small koi...little did I know that I had purchased feeder fish (the price should have told me this). The first one died a couple days after getting home and the second one lasted a couple of months. This is a pic of the one that lasted longer before she started to show signs of dying. Turns out that feeder fish aren't supposed to live very long...they are bred for feeding to other fish, not for being pets.

So when I was back at the store near the petstore again, I decided to check out my fish options. This time I decided to avoid the feeders, even though they are pretty, and thought that I might give the Danios a try again. After talking to an employee who reaffirmed that they are sturdy little fish, I got three of the smallest ones in the tank, figuring one would turn out to be a new Dexter.

I haven't taken pics of any of them because I am waiting to see if any of them perish first, but they are all doing well. The larger of the three was being a bit of a bully at first and I had to pull him out and put him in a separate bowl but I have added him back in and they seem to be doing okay now. We'll see how it goes. I hope to get pics of these three friends soon.
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Five Years Ago on In My Words...Naha Harii
Perfect timing since Children's Day is today (May 5th) in Japan

So Glad To Have Found Maru

I swear, this kitty makes me smile...this one is a collection of Maru and some of his favorite boxes...he seems content to just have his head in one if he can pulll it off.

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Eight Years Ago on In My Words...Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

MS Walk 2013

It has only been a week since my last run, but this walk is for a great cause and there was no way I was going to miss it.

My BIL, SIL, friend from highschool, and family friend while growing up all have MS with my BIL being the most recently diagnosed.

Mostly this event is for awareness and fundraising and our group did our fair share. It was a lot of fun to get out with family and friends in honor of those fighting this battle.

There was no timing it (other than your own watch) but I still tracked my 5K walking time and we all enjoyed ourselves.
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Two Years Ago on In My Words...Races

Pop Spring Visit

Pop and P playing on the last night

Pop made a surprise visit this week. I knew he was coming down a few days before he and P got here. It is a bit of a drive to get here from their house but my sister lives about halfway so they stayed a couple of days at her house before heading down.

They stayed at their friend's house while in town, which worked out for me since we really don't have guest quarters at this time. Pop came over to hang out on Monday and we had lunch and just chilled. After P came to pick him up, they called to see if I wanted to have dinner with them over at their friends. Their friend is actually my former 6th grade teacher so it is really hard for me to not call him by his teacher name but I am getting better about it...LOL. We had a great meal and spent some time after dinner singing and playing instruments (I am limited to the singing part).

Then a couple of days later, we met up at another friends for some jamming. Spent the afternoon singing and playing instruments. Their friends live in the house next door to a house we lived in when I was in middle school. We used to hang out with the elderly couple that owned the house before G and G bought it. So it was a bit of a walk down memory lane for me. After a bit, we walked downtown and had some great pizza and beer before calling it a night.

Finally, on the last night, we met up at a local drinking hole where their friend G was playing and singing with her music partner and was planning to let Pop and P step in for a few songs. It was great fun, and fantastic people watching. Pop and P were a bit nervous, but they did a great job and had a good time. Around 11, we called it a night. I said goodbye that night since they were leaving for my sister's the next day to finish up their trek home.

Overall, it was a great visit and I am hoping to see them later this summer when they make their annual warm weather trek down from WA.
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Four Years Ago on In My Words...We Have New Fish

IRL Run

First in real life 5K of the year. It was cold and cloudy, but still a lot of fun. I didn't get my best time, but I also didn't train for it so I am just glad I didn't get my worst time either...LOL.

I picked up my packet yesterday and narrowly avoided ending up on the local news. The director was giving me a hint about where to park when the news crew showed up and wanted him to talk about the race and festival...he asked me to be on camera too, but I was able to beg off (thankfully).

We had to be at the site pretty early so I didn't get a ton of sleep, but that is no surprise on race day anyhow. I parked a bit away from the start/finish line, so I opted to leave my warm up pants at the car. There were about 1800 runners in the 5K portion and then another 1800 did the 10 miler. The course was flat for the most part and that made it even harder for me....I just tried to run as long as I could and then would walk for a bit.

Once I got into the groove, there were a few people that I just tried to stay with for the remainder of the race, and that helped me to push myself a bit. Last curve and the finish line was right there so I ran it in.

This is the first race I have done recently that didn't offer food, or drinks to the finishers. So no new pint glass for me...LOL. I did get a banana and a gatorade from one of the sponsors. I stuck around until the 10 milers started. By that time, my body temp had dropped and the weather also started getting colder. I was chilled to the bone. I stopped for a big coffee on my way home. I got into a nice hot bath that night and soaked with the knowledge that I pushed myself and accomplished a goal.
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Two Years Ago on In My Words...Racing Again

OSF: Taming Of The Shrew

This Shakespeare play was done in the old language, but had some modern twists. It took a few minutes for my "babel fish" to kick in but that was all it took to fall into the story.

Loved the tattood arms of the characters, and the fantastic band. The set was really well done and went well with the modernized storyline. Loved the boardwalk and the clothes.

I really had to consider the story and who tamed who...once again, this matinee was in the Angus Bowmer theater and had an after talk that was interesting and informative.

I saw this one with my SIL on the weekend and we both greatly enjoyed it.
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Next Year on In My Words...Smile 83/100 OSF: Verona

OSF: My Fair Lady

This was the first play of the season for me. I saw it in preview on my own in the Angus Bowmer theatre during a matinee showing.

The actors were on stage when we came in, warming up and getting into their last minute costume details. They included the audience in the show right from the start and it was pretty cool.

The actors were all great singers and actors and I felt like I was part of the movie (since I never saw the play before). It was very hard to not sing along.

The sets were really cool in a minimalist way...not overly done but they had all the elements there so you knew when they were in the study and when they were at the track.

Freddie was a entity of his own...he was comedic in a completely unexpected way. I think, since we were in preview, that he was adlibing quite a bit of it, but I hope that some of it stayed in play as it was great to see.

There was an after the show talk with Liza Doolittle and it was pretty informative and cool.
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Another post on In My Words...The Arts

The Arts

This area has a lot to offer. We have a major arts attraction, a ski resort, many lakes, mountains and rivers and several colleges. This means that the population is diverse and active on many different levels. While I did go to college here for my first year, I was rarely able to take advantage of the arts or the ski resort while growing up. We just didn't have the money for those kinds of things when I was a kid. I think I saw one play the entire time I was growing up and it was a field trip from the high school.

Fast forward to today. My uncle works for the major arts attraction. He has always offered to get anyone of us in the family comp'd tickets to plays when they are available. I was able to see a play a few years ago when visiting here with my sister and it was great fun. I had forgotten how much I really like plays and musicals.

Anyhow, a few weeks ago, I had seen a review of a current play and decided to let my uncle know I was interested in seeing it and anything else he could get me tickets for this season. I didn't know if it would work out or not, but I figured I better just put it out there.

He called me within the week with tickets for two plays that same weekend (both of the ones I really wanted to see) and then the following week, he had four preview tickets for another play. So after living in this area for my entire childhood and only seeing one play, I have now seen 4 plays in the last two years, and hope to see even more.

I will write up my experiences for the individual plays in separate posts.
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Two Years Ago on In My Words...Strange Gym People

Making Progress

I am working on a lap blanket for my niece who is currently deployed to Afghanistan. I decided to do a granny square version and I don't have the exact layout of the four colors yet but at least have decided on the colors.

I am working on them a skein at a time, so I have more of the charcoal done at this point. I have about 50 squares done total so far. I only picked up the red this week, but have managed to knock out a few squares of it already. I think I will only being doing a few of the off-white squares as an accent, because I want to use the off-white as the one to connect all the squares when I am done, and maybe as the border as well.

I hope it comes out nice. I picked a soft yarn that I just love! I want to connect the squares like I did in the post I have linked below. I think it makes for a more flexible and finished looking blanket.
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Eighteen Months Ago on In My Words...Finished The Blanket

Geocaching Luck

Signing the log

Today, I went to the Grower's Market with one of our cousins and two of her boys. After we had checked things out for a bit we walked over to a nearby park to let the boys play. I remembered that a geocache had recently been hidden in that park, so I turned on the GPS on my phone and my geocaching app to see if we could maybe find it (even though the phone is not even close to being as accurate as the GPSr is).

With the clues and my basic memory of where it might be, I sent my little cousin off to find it, and he did. He was so excited, even though it was a micro and we could only sign the log. We haven't been able to geocache since last summer so this was a real treat and he definitely has the bug again. I told him, that now since the weather was getting better, we would go more often, and I know of a few parks we can explore that have some in them.

This is one of my favorite hobbies even if I don't get to do it as much as I would like. It gives you the chance for exercise, fresh air and seeing a new place each time (assuming you aren't just doing it for numbers and like finding stupid micros hidden on guardrails).
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Eight Years Ago on In My Words...Geocaching Peeve

Virtual 5K And Overall Catch-up

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the period that I can complete my virtual 5K for this race. I did not officially sign up for this one, but I am participating anyhow and will post a race recap with photos when I am done. I have, once again, not had time to really train for this one....so hopefully, I will get it done a couple of times over the next 11 days and then do one for the books. We'll see how my time pans out.

I have a cousin coming into town this weekend that I haven't seen in at least 15 years if not longer. I am excited to see him and see how life has been treating him.

I am a little bit sore all over from spending about 40 hours over the last week or so working in our yard trying to get it looking okay before the weather gets dry and hot and the ground super hard. The dandylions and I are NOT friends.

I have been able to stay up on my picture taking (even if most of it is of DIY projects) but I am not currently doing any photo projects this year so I haven't been posting much other than to the house blog and some to my FB.

The time has changed and the weather has been terrific which means most inside projects have stalled out, but we are expecting some wind and rain in the next few days I might be able to finish up a few things.

I need to be studying for my computer test, and writing more than I have...thankfully my reading hasn't been too hindered since I still do that most nights before bed. I have another 5K in April (IRL one) and then an MS walk the following week that I am looking forward to, so that helps me to stay in shape, not to mention the hours of yardwork...haha.

Oh and last but not least, I am still on the job hunt....frustrating as it is, it has to be done. I know that at some point, I will get something but in the meantime, frugal is my middle name.
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Three Years Ago on In My Words...Car Crash

Google Is Dropping Reader

This is horrible news. I use Google Reader every day for keeping up on the things that I am subscribed to (blogs, news, etc) and as a diagnostic tool when volunteering on the Blogger Help Forum...what a great loss this will be.

I seriously don't know what they are thinking...why would you push customers to another service even if there is a decline in users...there is still a huge following. I truly think they are making a mistake with this one.

It is funny that for as much as I like Google, I only use about 5 of their products religiously and Reader was one of them...sad to see it go...
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Five Years Ago on In My Words...Perspective

Working Hard Sometimes Hurts

My booboo

I scrapped the crap out of the inside of my finger the other day working on the electrical at our house. Such is the cost of getting things done. I can't do electrical with gloves on, it just doesn't work for me so once in a while, I get a ding or two. This is definitely not the worst of my injuries in the name of DIY but definitely the most recent. It truly stings when stuff touches it...especially soap.



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Last Year on In My Words...12 Year Old Booboos

T-Mobile Outage Reporting

This is the report I filed today with T-Mobile because I really think that some improvements could be had...my phone battery is draining so fast because it is searching for the network.
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This morning, I had perfectly normal coverage for voice, messaging and data on my phone using the Monthly 4G plan on T-Mobile. At 8:30am PDT, my signal completely disappeared. I rebooted my phone several times thinking that perhaps it was a hiccup on my end, but this did nothing.

So I called the Contact Us number listed on T-Mobile's site after searching all the pages for a place to report an outage. I wanted someone to confirm for me that there was an issue in my area so I didn't have to keep worrying that something was wrong with my phone. The first machine that answered hung up on me because I didn't give it an account number. The second time I called back, I just said Customer Service over and over and finally got a human being.

The VERY FIRST THING I asked was if they could check to see if there was an outage in my area. I had to give them my phone number and go through a ton of troubleshooting of my phone before they said there wasn't a problem in my area. At some point they realized, even though they were looking at my account the entire time, that I was on the Monthly 4G plan and transferred me. The second person made me go through all the same loops to include taking out my sim chip, always assuming that there was something wrong with my phone rather than with the network. I explained to them that I had perfectly normal coverage, and then I just didn't, and I hadn't changed anything on my phone...but they still did not seem to believe that it could be a network issue on their end. I was then transferred to technical support and went through the same troubleshooting all over again, to included repeating the removal of my SIM chip. While talking to this last individual, he decided to file a report with engineering and this is when it was FINALLY discovered that there was a trouble ticket already submitted for my area and that there was an outage that was affecting all TMobile customers in my area. I do not know why, when I asked all three individuals repeatedly if this was a network outage, none of them saw this ticket but I spent 44 minutes on the phone, rebooting, removing sim cards and batteries and checking settings on my own phone that I could have been doing other things if someone had just been able to check the trouble tickets from the start.

I do not know how the ins and outs of your system work, and what would have kept any of them from seeing this trouble ticket from the beginning, but there has got to be a better way to let customers report an outage in the area (or even just look up that there is an outage). If I had been able to check the website to see a notice or even had a form to report the outage with a possible message coming back saying that they were already aware of this problem, I would have saved not only 44 minutes of my own time but also that of three of your own customer service reps.

It really shouldn't be this hard. I did request the number of this particular trouble ticket so that if I do call back (if it isn't restored in 72 hours), I will have a reference point to start with. I also was transferred back to the Monthy 4G people so that if I do end up without service for three days or more, I can get my account credited since I am paying for 30 days of service at a time.

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 Eight Years Ago on In My Words...Customer Service Miracle

New Hike

View from the trail

Today I was determined to find a geocache and the one I was looking for was supposed to be on this little trail near the irrigation ditch, however I didn't have exact coordinates. As I was driving towards where I thought the trail was, I came to the trailhead of another popular trail system in this area. There is no parking at the trailhead itself, so I decided to turn down a side street and check it out. I hadn't see the other trail, so I figured that the geocache would have to wait for another day (actually, I saw the trail on my way out of the area so I will be easily attempting that geocache soon).

I walked up to the trailhead and decided to give it a go...put my headphones on and started moving out. Little did I know that the trail was going to be very steep, so quickly, I was heading uphill quite steeply and decided to take of my headphones and just enjoy the hike. I felt so out of shape as I could hear my heart pounding in my ears and I was stopping at the top of the little hills to catch my breath and take pics. There were a lot of other hikers, many with their dogs and it was a lot of fun. Due to time constraints, I only went a little over a mile out (had to find a turnaround that I would be able to see on the map later) and about 500 ft in elevation change but it was a good first hike for that area. I also discovered that there are a few geocaches on the trail (although poison oak might be an issue for me in that regard too). My muscles were pretty smoked from the climb and the descent (sometimes coming down is harder than going up), and I am sure I will feel the new muscles I have built over the next few days.

I am looking forward to getting up there a few times a week if I can, until the poison oak becomes an issue, and know that it will be a great addition to my workout regimen. I saw a lot of people that were doing the same trail with no heavy breathing and some were even running up the trail so I know it is just a matter of determination and practice.
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Eight Years Ago on In My Words...Walking Lunges Kiss Ass (Literally) 

Another Virtual 5K

Unofficially doing this virtual 5K in March...unofficially, because I am not going to sign up with the site that is tracking it and giving away the prizes but I am going to do the run and do a race recap.

I signed up for a real 5K in April as well...figure that this will give me some motivation in the exercise department.

Kind of funny...unofficially signed up for a virtual race...how more vague can things get...haha. Anyhow, I am excited to get racing again, it is definite motivation, and I need motivation.
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Two Years Ago on In My Words...Racing Again

Oscar Dilemma

I just finished watching this past year's Oscars and now I have a huge list of movies to add to Netflix, not that they will all be rented rather than viewed in a theater. I use Netflix to just keep my list of "movies to see" so I don't have to keep a list anywhere else on paper, or heaven forbid in my recently rattled brain.

So many good choices were given this year...some I had already put on the list but so many more that I hadn't even heard of, and am so glad that I did. Of course, there are a few that I have to read the book first...big surprise.

And another surprising result of the viewing of the Oscars this year was that there were several movies that I was on the fence about and now definitely want to see. This isn't to say that the Academy knows only the best or that there aren't other great movies that weren't nominated (or even that some of the nominated aren't great movies), but the show is a great way to get some previews you might not ever see on TV or in the beginning of another movie. I do have to give it that.

Performances on the show were pretty good, although I have to admit that I only caught the second half because I had no idea it was on so early. One thing they could have improved upon in the performances was that in almost every case, the mike on the singer's was overpowered by the orchastra and it would have been nice if the sound person had pumped it up just a bit. Other than that, well done.

So you are probably wondering what the dilemma is...well, it is that there are so many movies that I need to see now, and so little time to do it in....
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Seven Years Ago on In My Words...Pre-Spring

Jaws

I am watching the first Jaws, for the millionth time, because it is a great movie and I love it. I have noticed in the many viewings of it that Spielberg did a very Hitchcock thing with it.

I didn't notice before really (not sure why)...it has really only been the last few viewings that it really clicked. I haven't checked any websites to see if it was intentional, or not but I really like the way it was shot and perspective you get from each character.

It is really so good from start to finish...the music, the characters, the plot. It just grabs me in, each and everytime.
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Five Years Ago on In My Words...Toenail Woes

Songs

Songs always hit me hard emotionally. I have heard this song now in two different productions (Grey's Anatomy and The Lucky One), and just love it. The way it is sung is just awesome...I wish I could belt like that. The first stanza really clicks for me. It goes:

All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true...I was made for you

I don't know that the rest of it fits, but that first part gets me everytime and just the way the artist sings it does too.

Song is called The Story and the words are written by Phil Hanseroth. I need to download it to my iTunes so maybe with some practice, I might do an okay version of it.

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Six Years Ago on In My Words...Midnight Salad

Maru Fix

My sister shared this video with me today...loved it and the Sunny Spot one right after it. Needed a little Maru fix for sure and here it is.
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Eight Years Ago on In My Words...Tolerance Is A 9 Letter Word
I wonder if we have learned anything in these eight years. Too bad the linked article doesn't exist anymore...

Adobe Flash Update - Do It Now

Saw this article this morning on Google News and posted a link to it on my Facebook and my G+ pages to alert all those I know that they need to do this update...doesn't matter what OS...just get it done.

I heard about this vunerability a few weeks back when dealing with the Java vunerability (which is on going), but it wasn't being exploited then and now it is. So get those updates done if you aren't on auto update.

I tend to not allow auto updates on my systems so I had to update Adobe on both computers but it was pretty painless (although it tried to reset the auto update feature...LOL).
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Seven Years Ago on In My Words...It's Cold Out There

Problems With Aliens

I have watched this movie a number of times and I do really like it, especially Bill Paxton, but each time I watch it, I am struck by a few things that I just have to document.

1. Subfloor 3: you see them go down to subfloor 3, a bunch of stairs but you never see them come back up the stairs.

2. Taking of magazines: when the Lieutenant tells Apone to remove the magazines from all the soldiers, several of them reload. Wouldn't he see them doing this on their little helmet cams? And in reality, why didn't they just explain at least to the SGT why they couldn't fire in there rather than making them think he was just an @ss.

3. Acid for blood: Okay (this one applies to all the Alien movies) you see people blowing away the aliens with guns and all sorts of weapons that would make the aliens bleed...so how come they aren't bleeding through the ship all over the place? There would be hull breaches all the time, right? It seems like when they are trying to leave via the tunnel system in Aliens, the blowing away of one would make the path completely impassable for any aliens coming up behind the first.

4. Antagonizing the alien: I mentioned this one in a Facebook post at some point in the past, but in this movie in particular, there really is no reason for Ripley to light up all the eggs as she is leaving the "hatchery"...all she does is make her own trip back to the landing pad, that much more difficult. We already know that the entire site is going to be demolished in a thermonuclear blast within minutes so there really is no point to it, and it frustrates the crap out of me every time she does it.
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Last Year on In My Words...Frustration

Maru Is At It Again

Maru's owner has quite a few new videos on there but this was my favorite today. I just love how determined he is. I just found out that Maru has his own Wikipedia page...looks like that kitty has created quite the career for his owner.

The look on his face when he accomplishes what he set out to do is just adorable. And even when he isn't completely successful, he maintains that he meant to be in the position he is in.
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Four Years Ago on In My Words...Tea Is Your Friend

Bravo Focus Features

If there is one thing that irritates me about renting movie discs, it is the tease that most of them are doing these days (particularly anything produced by Sony) regarding special or bonus features. Special features are part of the fun of renting a movie and the stinginess of the movie industry is just astounding.

It seems like to me, if you aren't going to let a user see the special or bonus features, then don't put the icon on the disc. I hate clicking on it thinking I am going to be able to see them, and then you get that nasty little note from them stating that "this is only a rental disc, and if you purchase it, you can enjoy the special or bonus features",...jackasses.

So I have gotten in the habit now of not even clicking on those links anymore because the mean message irritates me so. Imagine my surprise when I went to take a shower after a movie tonight, while the credits were running, and came out to see the disc on the bonus features page. And then I hesitatedly pushed the play button, and the bonus features actually played!! Isn't that nice?

So I wanted to mention that Focus Features was the producer and they deserve a huge BRAVO!!
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Six Years Ago on In My Words...I Got Lucky

Three Things I Love About The Italian Job (2003)

1. Mark Wahlberg....yuuuummmmy!
2. Kick ass safe cracker is a girl!
3. Bad guy is so evil you are just thrilled that he gets everything he deserves!
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Seven Years Ago on In My Words...Fashion Angst

Accomplishing

Felt good about some stuff I managed to pull off today. Didn't get some big things that I have on the list done, but a few small things and that still made me feel pretty decent.

Got some exercise in while making my way to the paint store so I could look at color chips...and think I have found the color for the downstairs hallway and the bathrooms. Need to find a white for the ceilings and then I can get down to it.

Put down carpet pad in the closet that was water damaged last spring and finally put the carpet back in place and rehung the closet doors. Measured and noted a few more things that closet needs before it can be called "done". Will be able to move the exercise equipment from the garage in that room soon!!

Replaced the fan and motor in an old exhaust fan in our downstairs bathroom (which didn't have attic access so really wanted this to work) with a motor and fan purchased at a local DIY...it was so satisfying to put it back up in the hole in the ceiling and have it work just like it should on the very first try. This was truly amazing since we are talking about a 30 year old exhaust fan. Now just need to find a replacement for the cover or paint the cover we have, because right now, it looks terrible.

Took pics of all the hard work to chronicle on the house blog...but don't have time to put up those posts tonight...now it is off to bed with my library book!
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Fourteen Years Ago on In My Words...Many Times (poem to my husband)

SmartWool Socks

I have been a SmartWool wh0re since my sister turned me on to them a couple of years ago. I have many of them...but can't seem to ever have enough.

This is not my first trip down the road of sock addiction. I have always liked socks. When I was in highschool I always wore 2 1/2 pairs, every day. Two on one foot and 3 on the other and they always coordinated with my clothes. These days, I can do all that coordinating with one pair of socks!

Okay, back to SmartWool...they aren't the only ones I like but they are in the top three (and that is only in the wool category, I have entirely different brands I like in athletic socks). I also like Wigwam and Goodhew socks but it seems like SmartWool has the coolest colors and designs.

Big draw back of all of these sock brands is that they tend to cost more than anyone would ever want to pay for a pair of socks. In fact as far as I am concerned, in most cases I could buy 5 pairs of socks for the price of one SmartWool pair...if bought at normal prices. I have to say that the price (and this goes for all three of these brands) is due to the fact that these are very well made wool socks that don't itch.

This is the trick. You don't buy any of these brands at full price. I tend to get all of mine from Sierra Trading and ridiculously low prices. I buy the irregulars, when they are running a big sale (like 75% off). These two pairs were actually purchased with a free gift card I got from Sierra Trading last time I made a purchase with them. They didn't cost me a dime, including the shipping. I am excited to try them out soon!
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Four Years Ago on In My Words...25 Random Things

Facebook Break

Last week, my sis decided to take a break from Facebook...a serious break, like she deactivated her account kind of break. While I don't want to do anything like that, the same day, I decided that I wanted to back away from it quite a bit.

I thought that after the elections the political crap would slow down and Facebook would go back to its normal stream of ecards, cute baby pictures, and actual updates from friends and family, but NO SUCH LUCK!

I am sick of all the political crap, and it wouldn't even be that bad if people didn't resort to name calling, hatred and putting everyone in a fucking box. I am not a box person....in fact, I have always absolutely detested being put in a box and have always gone out of my way to make sure that everyone around me knows I do not like being put in a box, and do everything in my effort to not be available for box status.

At this time, Facebook is nothing, but a box labeling place and I am sick of it, so I am staying away. I have a few places that I visit online, that auto post to Facebook and that is fine...I will continue to auto post my reading and my fitness, and perhaps even a few posts from my blog...but for the most part, I will be limiting my visits to Facebook itself.

This isn't an issue of time wasting...as I don't really spend much time there normally...it is just a matter of it being filled with negative crap that I don't need to see everyday. I joined it to stay in touch with family and friends and all of that gets hidden beneath all the politics and advertising so it just isn't worth much of my time. One of my closest friends says she only checks in once a week or so and finds that it is better because she sees the updates from those she wants to see, and is more easily able to ignore the idiotic crap. Perhaps that is what I will do, but right now, I haven't been on there for a week and it feels pretty good to not have that negative aspect in my life.
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Five Years Ago on In My Words...Done Messing Around

Un-natural Relationship

Okay, normally a post starting out this way would not be about a heating pad, but this one is. I have a SoftHeat heating pad that I just can't live without.

So I have had the pad for a while but it was only occasionally used when I had an issue with a pulled muscle from a workout or something along those lines.

A few months ago, I took it out because I had an ear ache and some of the home remedies I had seen on the web mentioned laying on the offended ear with heat and moisture applied. It seemed easier to use the pad (which is made to allow for use with a moist towel), than to run back to the microwave reheating a washcloth every ten minutes. The pad worked fabulously for what I needed.

So it was still out when the temperature outside really dropped, and I started to use it once in a while when I was working on something on the computer. I would put it behind me and it would keep me warm while I was writing. Last month I decided to lower both the daytime and nighttime temps on the furnace. I actually set up the program on the thermostat to warm the house back up just before getting up and to turn it down before bed. This means the house is a bit chillier inside but hopefully it will save some energy and money.

Needless to say, at night while reading, I have gotten in the habit of laying on the pad before bed and then within the last week (when we have been in the teens at night), I have even found myself snuggling with it in my sleep. It has an auto shut off after about an hour which is a great feature for safety and peace of mind. I am only days away from giving my pad a name...which should tell you something...right now, only the house and our truck have names.
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Four Years Ago on In My Words...Futenma Shrine Visit

Why I Love Kinsey Millhone

From G is for Gumshoe by Sue Grafton:

"What really bugged me was the suspicion that nobody would have even suggested that a boy detective do likewise. I didn't want to see that old lady again. While I admired her spunk, I didn't want to be in charge of her. I had my own ass to worry about. Why does everybody assume women are so nurturing? My maternal instincts were extinguished by my Betsy Wetsy doll. Every time she peed in her little flannel diddies, I could feel my temper climb. I quit feeding her and that cured it, but it did make me wonder, even at the age of six, how suited I was for motherhood."

This segment set me into fits of laughter while in a hot bathtub reading it. I just love the character Grafton has created here and she just gets better and better.
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 Seven Years Ago on In My Words...One Of My Best Rants

Amazon Kindle Fire 7 Inch Review

I am sorry, but all the hype about the Kindle products is just that. I am in the process of setting one up (thankfully it is not mine, I'll stick with Nook, thank you very much), and am so disappointed in it. It seems like the only reason Amazon even had this product made is so that they could push their sales on you more than just over your computer. Really the fact that the ebooks are proprietary, there is no charger for the wall included and that every time you turn it on, you are forced to deal with stupid ads just solidifies my belief that Amazon has gotten too big for their own britches.

I am trying to set this thing up so my Dad can use it for listening to his music (which he has on iTunes and isn't planning to move to the Amazon music store) and for searching the web. He received this device as a gift (didn't ask for it) so please no comments about how he shouldn't have gotten an ereader if he wasn't going to use it for reading...the point is that it is advertized as a tablet more than an ereader and the issues I have with it are not about the ereading part of it...it is about the money grubbing lack of consideration that Amazon seems to have for their customers.

Seriously? An over 11 hour charge to use the computer for this thing is just ridiculous...hopefully the charger for my mother's Nook Tablet (yes it was included in the box) will work for this thing too, because if they have to spend even a cent more on this, it is a cent too much.

Amazon, you should be ashamed of yourself.
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Three Years Ago on In My Words...Another Disappointment from Sony

Willpower

So I knew this entire week that we were going to have the warmest weather of the week on Tuesday so I made a plan to go exercise outside. I am trying to work myself up to a few workouts that involve miles.

So the sun was out and we were getting up to 48 degrees (which is warm for the last few weeks). I had to run an errand so I ended up at the park a bit later than I wanted, and the temp started to drop.

The loop I have at the park is about .8 miles so I really wanted to get 4 laps in so I would get over 3 miles in but I wasn't convinced that I was going to be able to pull it off. While on my first two laps, I kept telling myself, just get through the third lap, you can do it, and it will be almost the three miles. While on the third lap, I was congratulating myself for doing it but had this nagging in the back of my head that I need to just be tough and get that last lap in to get over the 3 mile mark.

Fortunately I started feeling pretty good near the end of the third lap, so I was easily able to just keep going (this was helped by the fact that the lap area was flat and not at the hill that I knew was coming up). Once I had committed myself to keep going, it was easier to just keep going.

I finished up the 3.36 miles in 48 mins or so, which was not my best time, but I only ran a small portion of each lap so that is why. I did some stretching at the end. I felt good that I pushed myself through it.

On another note, I parked under a tree and there was an American Robin party above my car so I had to wash it in the driveway, in thirty degree weather, once I got home so that I wouldn't have bird poop frozen to my hood and roof for eternity.
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Three Years Ago on In My Words...Slacker

Photo Projects Gone

It seems like both projects that I have been involved with the last two years have disappeared, or have become so complicated that it isn't worth my time anymore. I need to go to their flicker sites and pull down my pics too because I don't need them to be publically viewable but I don't want it to ruin any of my blog posts, so I need to think about what I am going to do first.

I also plan to a do a search on the web and see if there are any other photo projects I can do instead. Hopefully one that isn't only once a month...I can probably swing that...LOL

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Three Years Ago on In My Words...I Believe

Letter To Fox Television

This is a copy of the letter I wrote to the Fox Network today...I wanted them to know that I stopped watching any shows on their network due to their greedy idiocy (not that they care).

To Whom It May Concern:

I have been a loyal Fox customer for many years and I know I am not alone in this when I say how disappointed I am in Fox right now. Not only did you drop the ability for your loyal customers who might not be able to watch a program when it airs, from watching a show online the next day, you are no longer provided as an On Demand option on my cable network. I can only imagine that this comes from greediness on the part of the Fox network.
 

What I don't understand is how this benefits you in any way. The average person can watch any Fox show without even needing to have cable or dish service, for free with commercials (which is where you make your money). If the same user were to watch the program online the next day (as of last year), they would still be watching it for free and they would still see the commercials (so you are still making the same amount). Now, if they happen to miss that particular show, they have to wait 8 days to watch it (which means they can't watch the next show that airs since the shows are 7 days apart so now they are perpetually stuck having to watch online over a week late, over and over), it is still free and they still see the same commercials (so you are still making the same amount). So all you are doing is pissing off your customers, but not really making any extra money from the entire thing (except what you might be making from the 3 companies that have signed on to this new program you have). On top of this, a customer like me that pays for HD cable (a step up or two from standard cable), can't even get any Fox shows On Demand, where I would see the same commercials and you would make the same amount.
 

This makes no sense to me and doesn't get you any extra money. At this point, I have stopped watching all the shows I used to watch faithfully on your network. I pretty much only turn Fox on for sports now since it is not worth my time to try to coordinate online viewing of shows I might not be home to watch. So the result is no extra money for you and now to top it off you are losing customers. Please stop being greedy and just provide great programming like you used to do without making us (your customers) jump through hoops.
 

Thank you for your time.
Former loyal customer,

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Seven Years Ago on In My Words...Explanation Needed

2012 Reading Challenge

Woohoo! Just finished the book that puts me at my goal for 2012 (which is to read 40 books this year). It doesn't seem that we can set up next year's goal just yet, but seeing as I am reading two and have two more to pick up at the library in the next day or so, I would say I am well on my way!!

 

   

      2012 Reading Challenge
   

       

         
       

     

        Mishka has
            completed her goal of reading 40 books in 2012!
     

     

       

hide

     

     

        40 of 40 (100%)
     

       

          view books
       

 

   

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Two Years Ago on In My Words...Book That Changed My Thinking

Aunt Becky's Annual Meme

Thought I would add myself to the meme club...let's see how it goes...

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
Drove to Lake Tahoe...what a fun adventure that turned out to be!

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I think it was to be more flexible and fitter...I am probably the same but I should get points for at least not being less flexible or less fit, right?

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
According to Facebook, several of my friends did...but no one close, close to me...LOL

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Fortunately, this was not a year for loss...whew!!

5. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Floors would be cool...oh and a job!!

6. What countries did you visit?
Didn't leave the country this year, sadly...

7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why:
June 29. First time ever pulling a trailer...complete success!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Meeting my 40 books read goal and moving day...LOL

9. What was your biggest failure?
Still being unemployed???

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a nasty chest cold that turned into bronchitus (my first time), that I would love to never repeat.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My Makita cordless drill....love that thing!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My cousin Mynde who is fighting breast cancer with the most strength, poise and grace of anyone I have ever seen.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Pretty much the entire political engine...I couldn't wait for it to be over.

14. Where did most of your money go?
HOME IMPROVEMENT!! LOL

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Bunco!

16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
PSY – Gangnam Style

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?  About the same...
ii. thinner or fatter? About the same
iii. richer or poorer?  Definitely poorer...haha

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Anything fitness related...I was a slacker for most of the second half of the year...

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Muttering under my breath at stupid former renters and property management

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With lots of family

21. There was no #21. I don’t know why there was no 21.

22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Nope, already there

23. How many one-night stands?
None

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Grimm

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope.

26. What was the best book you read?
Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
My Ipod broadcaster so I can listen to something other than the radio...

28. What did you want and get?
Didn't know I wanted them, but got a fantastic scarf from a friend, and a terrific golf club from Gpa.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Help

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Turned 43, and spent the day alone, watching movies, and playing games...nothing too exciting.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Hearing from a long lost friend.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Stripey socks rule!!

34. What kept you sane?
Jocelyn and exercise!

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The War on Women

37. Who did you miss?
The boy

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Shirley

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012:
It is possible to eat too much chocolate.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Work is never done...if it isn't part of a song, it should be...LOL
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Last Year on In My Words...A Year In Review

Snowflake 2012

This is my snowflake for 2012!! You can make your own on this site if you want...pretty fun! This is in addition to the ones I cut out of paper for our windows in front.

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Five Years Ago on In My Words...Mum Lights

Teeth Whitening

Okay, I have been using this recipe I found on Pinterest a month or two ago and it seems to work really well. I thought I would share it.

Please note that you do NOT want to do this more than once a week. I think if you did it too frequently, you could damage your enamel, so just be patient and only do it once a week or use some other method of whitening. I do not want to be responsible for anyone stripping their enamel.

Use a small dish (I use a soy/wasabi dish) and put in:

1 tsp hydrogen peroxide
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp water
Dab of toothpaste (for flouride and flavor).

Mix with toothbrush and brush teeth for two minutes. You do not have to brush hard...just brush like you normally would. Rinse well after (to get rid of the grit).

I noticed a difference after the first time and a ton of difference the following week, and I drink one cup of coffee a day and one cup of tea a day.

Super easy, super cheap and it works.
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Four Years Ago on In My Words...My Digital Snowflake...I need to do one of these for this year too!

Not The Best Labeling

I saw this carton of milk at the grocery store yesterday and I thought it was pretty funny. I am sure they did not intend for the message to imply 0% Organic but this is what it looks like.

What is funny is that the milk below it says 1% Organic and the next one down says 2% Organic but I am thinking that unless you purchased Whole Organic, you wouldn't be getting your organic money's worth.
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Three Years Ago on In My Words...My Christmas

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Here is a little look at the baby tree at our house. I just love this little guy...need to make sure I keep him watered so he doesn't dry out...am excited to put him in the ground in the spring!!

Isn't he just cute???

Full view

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 Seven Years Ago on In My Words...The Trees and Snowflakes

Jingle Bell Hell 2012 Race Recap

Borrowed from Jess

Distance: 3.27 miles or 5.26K
Elevation Change: 200+ft
Weather: 37 degrees, 11 mph winds, hail
Time: 47.5 mins
Laughed: Yes
Hell: Yes!!

This year I have been really terrible about my running (even terrible about my walking for that matter), so when I heard about Jingle Bell Hell 2012 from XLMIC and RunWithJess, I just knew I had to commit and see if it would help me get back on track with my outdoor exercising.

Reading Blog Update

Finally got around to updating my reading blog with my reads from November! Check it out when you get a chance!

Only read 4 books in November but they were really great reads and highly recommended.
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Last Year on In My Words...Last Year's Tree

Productive

Yesterday was a pretty productive day, even if I didn't find everything I was looking for. I had putting off the errand running I needed to do, but the lack of food in the fridge forced my hand and I figured if I was going to do it, I would try to hit as many other things I could.

I started out by treating myself to breakfast at a local restaurant (making sure to stick to the diet), and then I was off. I managed to hit two home improvement stores, three groceries stores, and one birthday gift stop. I got the truck oil changed, vacuumed and washed. I made an appt for January that I have been putting off. Stopped to check the mail and discovered my first a little surprise from a friend before heading home for the night.

Obviously, there are still things that need to be done errand-wise, but at least I made a dent. I am going to head out after lunch and see if I can find a small potted tree so I can finish our Christmas tree decor, and make a visit or two to folks I haven't seen in a while.

It was a nice feeling of accomplishment knocking out some small things that have been hovering.
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Six Years Ago on In My Words...Countertops

At Least One Thing

So I posted on one of my other blogs yesterday about how I am trying to focus on getting one thing off the "to do" list a day rather than procrastinating my life away because I can't get it all done today. Yesterday's thing was to replace a outlet in one of the bathrooms with a GFCI outlet, which I did. I managed to accomplish other things yesterday but that one thing was the "absolute have to".

Today, the "absolute have to" was to finish Christmas cards, and work on a scarf that I want to get in the mail. I knocked out the Christmas cards this morning, however not in time to get them sent since the mailman had already come. I also managed to watch a movie that I have had from Netflix for ages while doing it, which was great since keeping two movies for months at at time is not efficient use of my Netflix dollars.

I plan to catch up on The Walking Dead tonight while working on the scarf if I can. I know I have more than an hour's work left on it but it will at least be something. I will probably check in with the help forums for Blogger that I volunteer for as well just to see if any of the users I am currently helping have updated the thread. How is that for an exciting plan?

I don't know for sure yet what the "absolute have to" is going to be, but I am thinking it will entail a larger electrical project (6 switches and 3 sockets), mostly because I think they are all on the same circuit so if I am going to turn the power off, I might as well knock them out all at once. We'll see. If not, there is tons more on the list that can be the "absolute" for tomorrow.
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Eight Years Ago on In My Words...Bathroom Kitty (another great Chase story)