A Stormy Saturday

GM from GA and the storm. 

Power went on/off for a bit this morning, but is back on for now. Hopefully holds for a Peloton ride today. Obviously, I'm here and not riding because I refuse to be rushed today. Take that, storm haha. 

I have a couple of picture entries from yesterday. It's fun to look for things. Harder to notice than I thought. Easy to find something pretty, harder to find something humorous or ironic. 

Dear Diary,

Today I saw a sign that frequently feels misunderstood ...

I did a double-take

 

... and an emphatic warning about driving with your eyes open. 

Picked up the new car last evening. Identical twin to the faulty car so now I need to reset the bad taste. Back to being fun and me and something unexpected. It's NOT the same car (I keep repeating to myself).

Of course, won't drive it today because of the storm. All I need is a tree branch to fall on it. It's super windy all day (hence the unreliable power). Will I ever get to drive my car? Good lord. 

The rental had low tire pressure all drive home from the change in temperature. I couldn't find a station with a working air pump on the mountain drive -- stopped 3 times and gave up. It wasn't horribly low, but it kept alerting every 5 minutes -- that was fun. 

I've been under a "car black cloud" and I'm ready to settle in and not have to think about anything to do with cars. I drove 5 cars in one week. 

Maybe I have some super power of opposite manifestation.

Make a declaration. 

Watch the universe laugh and laugh and do the opposite. 

"Summer of ease and unbothered."

"I hate driving different cars." 

"At least this rental will be reliable for the road trip."

A last minute hike was added for tomorrow morning and it fits the bill for me, BUT the rain will continue until just before the hike (as of now). It's a lot of rocks and some granite slopes and I'm worried about slipping if it's wet. This is another hike I don't do when rain is in the forecast for that reason. I know a number of people who've had hard falls when it's wet. 

And, I want to do the hike. Nice option to hike with the group. Big mileage and elevation. Saves me from one of the weekday hikes solo (and a bit boring for these longer hikes). What to do? If I sign up, I won't ride today because my legs need to be fresh. 

I have a little more time to think about it. 

Just looked at the weather for that mountain and I'm out -- sadly. Rain possible at the start and still a lot of wind. They get some big branches down on that mountain. Too much when I can hike another day, the exact same hike, just solo. 

On that note, I'll get going on the workout while the power is on. I'm ready for a good sweat. 

Stay dry if you're in this storm.

Later gators. 

P.S. Roof is holding so far ... fingers crossed.

Asheville Quickie

GM from Asheville. 

I didn't find any "Dear Diary" entries (I looked), but I have a few pictures. I got into Asheville and decided to walk to lunch and Trader Joe's. Since I walk around town so much at home, the walk felt like nothing (even the hill at the end). Limited to one bag of groceries. I wanted to get some snacks for the kids' visit.

Three drinks and a book.
Waiting for lunch. My annual
PSL for the season.

In the bathroom.

Biggest watermelon.
Is it actually a watermelon?

More bathroom wisdom.

Spent the rest of the day setting up the house, little bit of fall decor, making up beds, LFL re-stock (totally empty). It hits differently than a big clean (which will be next visit) so it felt more fun than hard. No point in going crazy when the house will have 8 people staying here and it will be a mess after. 

Ready for 3 toddlers

Looks enticing, if I do say so myself. 

Bear in the street -- no picture. They're filling up for the winter with all the acorns dropping from the trees.

Using the big rental truck to take home a couple of things that could never fit in my car. That's a win for having to drive it. 

I checked in with the car dealership and with a bunch of back-n-forth, we're getting the replacement car this afternoon. I'm proud how I showed up for this situation. Proud of asking for something that wasn't being offered. Calmly. Reasonably. 

New car just in time for a weekend of significant storms. I'm not taking it out if I can help it -- geez. 

(I was looking at weather for Asheville. Looks like our rain is only on Saturday in GA.)

Why do I expect we'll lose power this weekend? It's very likely at BOTH houses with this storm. So many fall festivals impacted and such a disappointment for people getting married. The weekend is another wash -- second one in a row for October. 

If no power, then lots of reading time. I'm reading the above book (The Reformatory). Well recommended, highly reviewed. And BORING. I'm halfway on a 500+ book and it's the same-same for 250 pages. I googled and apparently the second half gets really good so I'm hanging in. I'm not convinced yet, but a lot of reviews say the first half IS boring with a very long setup for the excellent second half. 

I did something last night that I probably have only done as a child. Slept on top of the bed. Used a blanket under me and one over me. I wanted to wash sheets yesterday and not today so I did. Hah. It was fine and not uncomfortable. I sleep in a specific position with the neck pillow so it wasn't a problem. Ta-da -- bed is ready for company. 

I'm trying to figure out my workout schedule this week. I need to get significant hiking time without aggravating anything. New shoes are expected tomorrow. I'm not planning to hike until I get the shoes. All this to say -- should I run today? I want to (as much as I ever "really" want to) but I need to keep my body (and feet) happy for the hiking miles this week. 

Me being a wuss? Me being smart? Eeeek, I don't know. Decisions, decisions. 

Okay, I'm going to pass. I need to get on the road rather early today. My sister is stopping by to pick up donations then I'm leaving. Running and road trip don't work well for my body so I'm not going to push it today. The week opened up since the car gets exchanged today. 

I'm shouting to the universe and calendar gods that it stays open. Doing everything I can on my end. 

Okay, time to get packing up. 

Have a very good start to the weekend.

I'll be on the lookout for "dear diary" moments. 

Later gators. 

Dear Diary and the Dichotomy of Small

Pictures and captions ... not sure if I'll find something everyday, but it's going to be fun to look. This account (sorry, don't know the name -- I don't follow it, just see it occasionally) does it in this format. It's creative. Mine aren't nearly as clever, but, again, fun to practice. If I see the account again, I'll note the name (maybe even follow it).

Dear diary, 

Today I saw a frustrated fungi and ...

(blue ball .. hahaha)

... a leaf practicing levitation ... 

(hard to see)

... and a tree with a heart of stone. 

(but lovable anyway)

I hiked (10.5 miles, 1800 elevation) and my feet were miserable from the jump. I don't think the trail runners have enough support. I ordered new shoes and this should help a lot. Otherwise I was fine. Tired by the end, but it's not a hard hike. 

The 2 hikes I'm training for are 11.5 and 12.5 miles with 2600 elevation. I'm more concerned about the mileage than the elevation. 

I registered for 2 training hikes with the club. One has a 1/4 mile of ridge line and I'm going to challenge myself to do it. It's dangerous if it's wet because it's sloped granite. If rain is expected, I'll drop the hike though. 4 miles are a steep climb up and down all granite before a long loop in the woods. I don't want to die on the ridge line (hah) or get injured slipping on the mountain. 

Hiking for hours left me time to think. 

Something on my mind was I'm missing SMALL things in my day-to-day that make me happy. Like noticing and taking pictures. The day is too crowded. I'm saying 'yes' too much. Leaving that space leaves space for those small things. Time to make a last minute garden donation. Time to read a poem with my coffee. Time to text a friend more thoughtfully.

AND, I'm starting to play SMALL with my life again. Not choosing the bigger life. Go out at night -- eeek, no. Choose harder hikes with a long drive -- nah. Make an effort to plan travel -- I'm too busy. 

It's an odd dichotomy -- missing small bits and needing to play bigger. It's along the lines of what Gretchen Rubin says, give yourself grace and expect more from yourself. Both sides of a coin.

I'm course correcting both (again!!!). My default seems to be the opposite. It happens slowly and I don't notice it early on. Usually some circumstance comes into play that starts the change (appropriately so) but then I continue off course well after the circumstance is finished. 

It feels good to back on track. Even this trip to Asheville. I almost talked myself out of it a couple of days ago because driving a big rental SUV (playing small) is out of my wheelhouse. I'm perfectly capable of driving a bigger vehicle. Going another time to setup for the kids is massively inconvenient. I don't want to get smaller and smaller as I age. I have the freedom and the health to live as large as I want right now and what a life disappointment to not take advantage of that privilege.

So I'm going large today -- large car, "large" decision. 

And, I'm going small. Finding the little moments I love. 

Hope you have a good day.

Later gators. 

P.S. I title the post after I write it. I particularly like this one today. 😍

New Day

The little shift over the last couple of days feels like it's making a difference.

I feel more like myself again. 

When this happens, I wonder if it's hormonal or circumstantial or stress. Something goes sideways and I have to fight to want to do anything. Fight the feeling of burying in the bed and ignoring the world. 

I pushed past that feeling, got a few things worked out, feel more myself again. I hope THIS feeling stays for a bit. 

I'm hiking mid-morning. Weather is cooler so I don't have to get out at the crack of dawn. If my foot stays happy, I'll hike 10 miles. If not, I'll go as long as I can. Trying to build up for the higher level hikes coming up.

I'll leave for Asheville early morning tomorrow and come home Friday afternoon. There's a big storm front again over the weekend and I don't want to drive over the mountain in this rental car durning a storm.  Fast turnaround. 

Get in.

Clean.

Sheets.

Setup. 

Maybe a mountain walk and coffee Friday morning. 

Things we do for our kids. 

This little one was on the porch pillar. Gave him a toss into the woods -- not good for the garden. 

P.S. I donated another 4 pounds of peppers yesterday. That never gets old, always a delight. The food bank was excited to get a midweek donation and that's such a good feeling.

P.P.S. Made a big eggplant stew with the final 7 eggplants -- that plant went crazy late summer. 

I haven't been taking as many pictures lately.

This is part of the off-kilter. 

Forgetting the basics.

I'm not staying present enough to notice. 

I can feel the difference. 

I saw this account on IG that takes pictures and uses imagination to describe them. 

There was a picture of an orange cone up against a stretched out hose -- "watched a cone cross the finish line and win the race."

The pictures are so endearing with the whimsy caption. 

I might give this a try -- one a day. I'll see what I find. 

I've neglected all-things-creative lately. I haven't painted a rock in MONTHS and MONTHS (in part because of my neck). My fall garden is dismal. Planted for the food bank, but MY planting is bonking. I need to clear out the rest of the summer garden next week and get busy. Might be a little late in the season.

I'm not sure I should "declare" anything for October given the summer declaration flop (hah), but I want a focus. 

I have space in the calendar -- filling, but still space. 

I want to use that space for getting back to MY basics. 

Rock painting.

Creative moments (need a Christmas project idea)

Visualization meditation.

Garden.

Spooky reading -- mood reading.

Hiking.

That energy is back today. 

*Please don't be too fleeting* 

On that note, I'm going to get moving for a meditation before the hike. Yesterday I couldn't muster one tiny bit of desire to hike, today I'm excited to get on the trail. 

What a difference a day makes. 

Fresh start. 

I hope you get the same if you need one.

Later gators.

A List and a Ramble

Let's do a list. 

(1) The dealership found a car for me -- maybe next week. Same everything except the tow package which we didn't want anyway. I joked that it was even the same VIN. It's not over till it's over though. We'll see what happens. 

In the meantime, I have a large plug-in hybrid to drive to Asheville with only a reverse camera. Oh boy, this will be interesting driving. I'm going on Thursday-Saturday now. Quick turnaround. 

(2) Planning the neighbor group night out actually went smoothly. Date, confirmed, wow. Pressed the EASY button on this one. 

The ghost tour is from 8-10:30 PM!!!!! My lord. My idea. I'll love it and simultaneously regret it too. We'll go to dinner first so that'll help staying up.

(3) I'm not leaving until Thursday because I spent most of the day at the dealership yesterday. I can't get my stuff together without incredible rushing and it's not worth it. Weather is fine the entire week. I'm going to set up for the kids so it's not "fun" anyway.

(4) Look at the moon this morning. I wasn't sure if the camera would show the nuances. Glow rings, star at the top, sliver moon with shadow. Astrological art.

Now for some reflections -- rant? Probably not, but probably a ramble.

I'm not doing well with the calendar balance. I'm scheduling less so I have more time for the things I need and that time is being sucked up by circumstances (the car being the biggest one, but not the only one). Scheduling less, not seeing results. 

I'm still toying with the idea that this is a bigger problem in my mind, than it's an actual problem. 

I'm annoyed so I'm tossing my hands and saying "seeeeeee, it's not working." But is the issue from my annoyance or not doing the things? Does that make sense? I think I'm piling onto the problem and making it bigger. 

Missing meditation is one thing. Being mad all day about missing meditation is another. 

Something for reflection. 

On another note, I'm taking more control of decisions. It's funny how easily I give away my agency in certain areas and don't even realize it. 

Did that with the car. I felt strongly and no one else agreed. I acquiesced over and over. But yesterday made that decision on my own. Asked to talk to the GM. Didn't tell my husband. This wasn't a committee decision. Did what I felt was the right decision for me. Done. Came home with the rental AND plans to trade the car. 

This feels like a strange moment for personal growth or personal reckoning. Something is shifting or needs to be course corrected. Not sure exactly what or why, but the status quo is not working anymore. Changing feels necessary. Standing up. Speaking up. Being myself without apology. Take or leave me, but this is my life. 

Sounds dramatic, but it feels oddly very important. It's a must-do kind of thing. 

Okay, thanks for listening. Let's end the ramble for today.

Have a good one. Later gators. 

No Car

Latest car news while I'm waiting for my phone to update because it was shutting off randomly. Apparently there's a fix out for it now. New technology, not my favorite thing.

Picked up the car. Got help setting up one of the app features that was giving an error. Tech got out of the passenger seat and it started misfiring again.

They were able to hookup while it was happening. Tons of error codes that have no fixes. 

P.S. They also said they had no idea it was misfiring continuously like that. They thought it was only occasionally according to the report. 

Spoke to the GM and they're looking for a new car to trade. I should know something in a few days. It probably won't be green. 

For now, I have a HUGE red rental hybrid SUV. Oh boy. It's a challenge for me to drive something that large. 

Monday -- The Good Kind??

This Monday isn't my usual Monday love. 

It's a day of my least favorite chores (indoor plants and monthly paperwork) AND we pick up the car. It's going to be a battle. My guess is they still won't "find" anything "really" wrong with the car and then I'm left taking my chances it doesn't happen again. 

Nothing like having a new car that shakes violently, alerts, won't drive ... and a service department that says the computer shows nothing but some engine misfires. "Great news, nothing's broken." I can't even with this logic and attitude. 

Anyway, the cake was a hit. Delicious. Everyone enjoyed it. Yep, I ate way too much, but totally worth it. Cakes by Courtney knows how to do a cake recipe -- especially her frostings. I'm not usually a frosting fan, but I love hers. My grandson said "I love the cream." 

Regret topping with the
toffee crunch because it
was hard to cut.

Black chocolate cake.
3 layers. Tastes a little
like a leveled-up Oreo.

Family said the chili was also "the best." I used a new recipe from Half Baked Harvest and the spices were a little different. She recommends make ahead and reheat for better flavor melding. Of course, it was the first fall cooking of the season and that always tastes a little better. 

I enjoyed the HS call too. Just 4 of us and we used teams instead of zoom. It was a better flow to the conversation. We've also decided to do a text thread instead of messenger to communicate this year until our friend goes overseas again.

UPDATE: Got a call from the car service department with an explanation that seems reasonable. If it is the reason, it won't happen again and then it can be forgotten. Fingers crossed. This was the head service tech and his attitude was a lot better -- and I told him I appreciated that he acknowledged the frustration. I'll pick it up today. 

Also, in other good-service news, the roofer who ghosted us for 2 weeks, stopped by yesterday during the rain to make sure the leak held and it did. Maybe it's fixed too after two floods? He was really kind to stop by to check. 

Maybe Monday is shaping up better than expected. 

THAT would be a great theme for the week. 

The good kind of Monday showing up.

New week, new start. Have a good one. 

Later gators.