Tuesday Ramblings

Setting up the new house is a lot like moving.  Forcing me to clean through closets, pantry, drawers to find "extra" stuff to use in Asheville.  The funny thing is I have a lot of extra stuff.  Makes me wonder why.  It's coming in handy now, but there's a lot of STUFF hanging out.  And, I consider myself rather lean -- maybe not as lean as I thought.

Ordering so much stuff online (hello, pandemic) is giving me the worst anti-green feeling.  So much wasted boxes, etc.  A goal for 2020 was to be more green which went totally out the window.  I'm revisiting that goal once I can get out and about safely.

Hair day today before the wedding.  Time is flying.  This will be my last SOLO hair gig because I'll be fully vaccinated next time.  A little sneak of more normal -- feels awkward and good at the same time.

Walk at Gibbs Gardens is cancelled -- BIG rain for 3 days.  I put it on the calendar for next week.  The daffodils are the big event at Gibbs and I want to see them this year while I have the membership.  I think they last a little over a month (several varieties).

I planted 3 herbs in pots yesterday.  We are back to a cool snap and it's too cold at night for outside planting.  I'll see how they do inside.  Cilantro, more basil and chives.  Hopefully, temps will be constantly warm enough next week and not suddenly too hot the next :)  Now I see why gardeners get undone with late frosts and such lol.  Who knew.

My afternoon is totally open now.  I plowed through a lot of to-do items yesterday and with the walk canceled, I have nothing happening.  I'll probably do a few house chores and do some reading.  We'll chat books soon.  Maybe a rainy movie night with hubby.  He goes for his vaccine today -- he qualifies in 3 categories as of Monday.

My daily reminder is to enjoy the process.  It's helping.  When I get too focused on "finishing," I remind myself the joy is in the process.  Breathe.  Have fun.  I'm not practiced yet -- keep practicing.  

Have a good day and stay well.  Here are two random pictures of Duke.  He's a crazy little dog :)

Washing bed skirt because SOMEONE peed on it (!!)

Likes to hang out in the shower after I shower.

Asheville Adventures

No new pictures yet, but we had a great time.

Things are coming together.  I ordered a boat load of new furniture that will take a few months, but its in-process.  Stocking and arranging little things in the meantime.

The outdoor patio furniture arrived, but no time to start assembly.  It fit in a crawl space on the side of the house so we have time to make time.

The rug we purchased from the previous owner had a massive smell stain -- we think his dog peed while he was moving other furniture out.  No amount of cleaning or spraying seemed to help (and it saturated the pad too), so we pitched it to the curb.  Bummer, but the house smells fine now.

Whoever said clawfoot tubs were okay for showering was WRONG (!!)  I ordered new shower curtains because my shower was a disaster of wet soppy mess no matter what I did.  I googled solutions and I'll see if a different curtain works (one curtain, shorter and heavier material).  Also, where the heck do you put the shampoo??  Another problem with not a good solution.  Fingers crossed I can figure it out.  Google says good luck and probably not really LOL.

We met and chatted with new neighbors, got takeout (taco stand and GF pizza), walked to coffee and Duke and I ran outside (hills! and I can barely walk today lol).  The rest was cleaning, organizing and measuring.  

We go back on Thursday for a couple of days.  I love this house already.  It's such a contrast to what we have here and that's exactly what I wanted.

After this next trip, switching gears to all-things-wedding.  March is a fun month.

I'm scheduled to volunteer for vaccinations early April.  I'm looking forward to helping.

Next 3 days home with a totally packed schedule.  This is something I'm working on -- limiting belief that being busy is "not me."  This is a different busy and it's fun.  Enjoy the process -- lots of balls in the air.

Have a good day and stay well.  Later gators.

Road Trip

Packed car, 2 dogs and no bathroom breaks.  Easy, right?!

Eeekkk I'm nervous about this drive with the dogs.  On one hand, take my time, give them plenty of breaks ... on the other, that leaves me 4 plus hours with no bathroom break.

I'm leaving midmorning.  Going to have a "sweat" workout to dehydrate myself a little (only way I can go that long without a bathroom stop).  This puts me after morning rush hour too.  Fingers crossed for a smooth trip.

I'm feeling fine after the first vaccine.  On the countdown to 2 weeks when I'll have partial immunity.

I'll be back for a post on Monday.  Have a good weekend and stay well.  Later gators.

In the Books

Pfizer shot #1 -- done and dusted.  

I can open my GA world soon.  Grocery shopping in the afternoon, Target on the regular again, seeing vaccinated friends, getting my preventative stuff (pap, mammogram, colonoscopy, eye exam).  I can't believe it.  And -- volunteering too :)

The first dose was tested between 14-28 days with an 85% efficacy for symptomatic illness.  Of course, a second is needed to boost and give some longevity to the immune response ... but WOW.  My second dose is March 31.  Full efficacy by April 14.  I'll be "covered" for the wedding (with masks still).

GA opened its requirements again so hubby is on the list too.

Only symptom is a sore arm.  Laying low on physical stressors to my body today.  No cold shower and no workout.  

I watched Minari (Prime).  It was good -- the ending left me wanting to know more though.  That was the only disappointment.  The relationship between the grandmother and the son was endearing.  Worth the watch for sure.

I finished Separation Anxiety -- FINALLY.  The final chapter wrapped things up with a nice message, but the book was thumbs down for me.  

I'm also reading Personality Isn't Permanent (Benjamin Hardy).  Kindle read with my digital credits.  I'm curious about his ideas.  

Today is a quick Trader Joe's run for fruit and snacks for the Asheville weekend.  I'll bring lunches and we'll do takeout for dinner for 2 nights.  Car packing for the afternoon.  It's going to be filled to the brim.

I haven't decided when to leave tomorrow.  I thought about an early start (before rush hour), but I might want to workout since today is an unplanned day off.  I'll make the decision in the morning -- leaning toward midmorning instead.  Driving that long with both dogs is my only concern.  They get stir crazy and stopping is hard to maneuver both dogs out of the car safely.  If I leave early, they'll probably sleep more.  Decisions, decisions.

Have a happy day.  Stay well.  Later gators.

Hump Day Updates

Dentist was a bust.  Long story short, I waited 30 minutes to find out it would be another 30 minutes (they had a callout).  No thanks -- rescheduled for the end of April.  Good news is I never took off my masks so I don't feel that was a particularly unsafe waste of time.

Why wait until the end of April?  Because (fingers super duper crossed), I'll be fully vaccinated.  I have my first Pfizer appointment today.  I'm an approved volunteer and get to be vaccinated to administer vaccines starting mid-April.  The shot isn't in my arm yet so I'm being superstitious.  I'll give you an update tomorrow.

Virtual closing went well so we are now home owners in Asheville, NC.  

After the dentist was a bust, I decided to try a hair style I saw on video.  No extra product or prep and it held all day.  It was fun.  Basically a bun underneath and a pulled out braid overtop.  

 

Nothing particular planned for today.  I'll do another cardio workout so I can take tomorrow off.  I hear that even people who feel well after the first shot are tired for a day.  I'll rest as much as I need to let my body do its thing.

I have a movie to watch -- Minari (Prime).  It's new and one of the $20 rentals.  I'm on the fence about waiting for a movie night with hubby, but I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon and I want to see this movie.

I really dislike the bookclub pick and that's clogging my reading.  I only have about 100 pages to go and, yet, can't muster the desire.  I'm close enough that I should finish it so I can discuss at bookclub.  If I were reading on my own, I'd have dumped it long ago.  Separation Anxiety (Laura Zigman)

Next month's pick is Jen Hatmaker's book that was revised.  Kind of bummed.  I read the old version and I it wasn't a favorite.  We'll see ...

I've kept up with my "busy" month so far, but I'm lazy on the cooking front.  Making the same stuff and I'm bored.  I need to get back to recipes, but it's not fitting into my schedule this month.  Since April looks almost as busy, I better figure something out.  Plant based grab-n-go is harder to plan (at least for me). 

Have a happy day and stay well.  Later gators. 

Epic Hair Frustration

I used the tools and potions and my hair looked horrible.  I tried 5 times.  Horrible.  I'm going to simplify things again and see how the next try goes.  Curling iron was a complete BUST.  Couldn't get a curl to happen -- not one.  The fifth time looked like this and it was already falling out and looked strange from the front.  Good news is I think I have a plan for the next try.

I ended with trying the style for the Welcome Party Rehearsal and I like it.  Simple, easy and something different.  I really like a flower in my hair -- I could be "that" person.

My re-potted plants are rocking it -- everyone has new growth.  I've never kept plants alive and this is bonkers to me.  Here are the ones in my bedroom.

The basil from Jen Hatmaker's bookclub box has sprouted!!  Woo hoo -- little tiny basil babies!  (I'm waiting to plant my real planter because it's too cold at night still.)  BTW the book Separation Anxiety (Laura Zigman) isn't good so far.  I'm almost halfway and I don't like it.

I got this basket for our toilet area from World Market.  I really like it -- so much I ordered 2 for the new house's bathrooms.  There's no storage in any of them.

New plates from Crate and Barrel came (these are the salad plates).  I love them.  Pretty with the soft curves.  I always do white dishes for my main collection.  My first white set from my wedding has passed to both kids and is still in use (28 years later).

Today is the dentist.  Last time I was in and out in 15 minutes.  Looking for that speed again today.

I'm feeling better.  Hormones are settling down -- no night sweats last night and that was the first in weeks.  Mood and cravings are gone again.  All I wish now is NO MONTHLY at the wedding.  Allergies are a pisser still -- spend time outside and my sinuses are a mess.  I read that no one is allergic to yellow pollen, it's the particles that irritate.  A mask would probably help ... :)

Hope you have a good day and stay well.  Later gators.

Sofa Surfing Afternoon

I busted through my to-do list and then did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING the rest of the day.  I'm still not feeling well and I decided to give my body a break -- and rest.  I didn't even shower.  

I was home alone for the first time in a couple weeks and I could do nothing without explaining doing nothing.  I watched Lucifer, window shopped online for decor ideas, shopped for a bed and bookmarked every vaccination sight I could find for signups.  All from sitting on the sofa -- I even brought in bed pillows and a blanket for the afternoon.

Back at it this morning feeling a bit recharged.  Hormones are no joke.

Today is full, but paced however I want.  I'm curious to see if the rest helped.  Sometimes I need a little fall apart in the middle of a swirl of stuff.

What I really need is my monthly to come for my body to settle down again.  Broken record.  

Hopefully, I'll have some updates and fun pictures tomorrow.  Nothing much to say this morning (again).  

Have a good start to the week.  Stay well.  Later gators.