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by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

With Ken gone, I had a couple days to myself at home.  I enjoyed the time on my own.  At one point I realized nothing had been said.  I was playing a game and cursed the game out loud.  It startled me which also made me laugh.

I’ve finished the projects for my sister and now I’m turning my attention to my own projects.  I have the student worker gifts done and now am prepping to make for the faculty.  This weekend I hope to gather the items and do any shopping I need to so I can settle into getting the items made.

At the same time, I need to finish an article and get it submitted.  I also have a crochet pattern which is going to be published which I need to make up again.  Once it’s made up, I’ll send it off to the publisher for pictures.  These are the three most urgent things on my radar.

I think the gifts will take me through most of November and then I’ll be going back to writing and crocheting in more balance I think.

I’m looking forward and thinking – it isn’t that long until we are in the holiday craziness.  My middle daughter is already talking about where we are going on Black Friday – i.e. which JoAnn’s store we will go to.

My day job will get busy – crazy busy – in November.  I’m hoping with the changes we’ve made it won’t be horrible.  Registration always is stressful with a heavy influx of emails.  I’m hoping for a lighter year as we’ve been steadily making improvements.

From now until the end of the year, I’m going to be busy both at my day job and at home working on projects.  I still have my two bigger projects I’ve been working on and I’m hoping to have those done before the end of the year as well.

Vacation!

by eileentroemel, posted in Life

Ken, Vicki and I took vacation to go to Florida for one of Vicki’s conferences.  On the way we stopped to see Virginia and Stephanie.  It was good to see them and have time with them.  When we were with them we kept it low key and hung out at their house.  We grilled out, played games, and just spent time together.

Florida was hot.  I can’t say I was impressed.  It was hot and muggy.  The hotel staff were rude and the manager was no help.  The conference was interesting.

We did see the ocean, we didn’t make it to the Gulf.  We spent a morning at the Kennedy Space Center.  It was very interesting but a bit overpriced.

On the way back, we stopped to see the girls again which was again another low key day.  We needed it before the long drive back to Indiana.

By the time Ken and I got back to Wisconsin, we’d put over 3000 miles on the car, visited with our girls, and done some sightseeing.  One thing I am very proud of is we saved up the cash to take this trip.  None of it went on credit cards.  We came home and had a little money left over.  

Ken had to be back to work on July 1 but I had off until July 5.  I went back to work yesterday.  It was odd.  I had vacation brain by 10 am I was ready for a nap.

I got my article in to the crochet magazine.  Now I wait to see if they print it.  I got the crochet pattern in to the other crochet magazine, I have to mail off the project for pictures.  I think – maybe – I’m all caught up on emails for both home and work.  I need to finish the wedding gift I’ve been working on.  I have it about half done.  I’m printed two patterns I want to use so I’ll work finishing the gift this week and over the weekend.  I need to pick buttons and sew them on.  Next step will be to buy a gift bag to put them in.

Unfortunately, my scooter isn’t working.  Ken says there is a broken wire and he can’t fix it.  This makes it impossible for me to go to work.  I can’t walk the distance to get into the building.  I’m taking today and tomorrow off.  I have an appointment with DVR to see if they can help me.  If they can’t, the next step will be to see about a loan to purchase the scooter I need.  Hopefully they can move quickly so I don’t have to miss too much work.  I’ll know more tomorrow – I hope.

Shots done… and other random news

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

For the last three weeks I’ve been getting shots of goo in my knees and yesterday was my last shot.  Now I just have to go back for a final check up.  I’ve noticed a decrease of pain in my knees though I still have pain and problems but it is a decided improvement.

Last weekend we went to Vicki’s place in Indiana and Gin and Stephanie came there from Georgia.  My nephew and our friend also joined us so we had seven in Vicki’s apartment.  Considering there were so many we did really well.  The time flew by but I think we all had a good time.  Except maybe Sasha who was not happy that Moo shoo from Georgia (Gin and Steph’s cat) came to visit too.  He was all about love me and she was all about get the hell away from me.  By Monday when they were getting ready to leave she was not having hissy fits every time she saw him.

Circle Magazine has one of my articles in it.  I was pleased to see they printed one after they had contacted me for a few to use.  This is the next thing on my list – get back to writing.  I’m supposed to take it easy this weekend (because of the shots) so I’ll work on the grad gift I still have to make.  However, once this weekend is done I’m going to switch to writing mode.  I, of course, have a to-do list.  There is a grant to write, articles for Circle, a contest, and a few other things I want to work on.

I have vacation to use up so I’ll likely be taking a few days – after my department moves – to have writing time at home ALONE.  I’m very much looking forward to having this time and being very productive.  One thing I have to tackle is cleaning my office.  It is a wreck and I need to handle it – sooner rather than later.

No kids and no pets – it has been nice in the house with just Ken and I.  I have my moments where I miss my kids but mostly, I’m quite content to be without extra people in my house.  Ken and I are figuring out how to deal with each other which is always interesting.  At least there hasn’t been any bloodshed – yet…

Writing organization

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

Writing is wonderful for me.  It takes me away from everything that annoys me.  It relaxes me in a way almost nothing else does.  Yet I find myself being annoyed because I’ll come across a good lead for submitting my work but then I can’t find what I want.  Obviously the creative side is struggling with the logical side of me. 

Yesterday I spent a good portion of the morning wading through piles of paperwork.  How is it that so much paper can be accumulated in so short of a time?  I worked my way through bills, filing, taxes, receipts, and a whole lot of junk.  I handled calls, organizing and sorting.  When it came to the ginormous pile of writing stuff I needed to get organized I felt incapable of tackling it. 

Fortunately my stubborn side (not that I’m admitting to being stubborn) took over.  I looked through my office supplies and found things that would help.  I snitched (with his permission) an organizer from Ken’s side of the desk.  I set up the card table and started the sorting process.  I had no idea it would take so much.

My piles were poetry, projects, research, submission guidelines, rejection notices, and other.  On my daughter’s advice I let go the rejection notices.  They all went into the recycling bin.  Then I started working on sorting the other piles into smaller categories.  I got through the research pile and made a start on the submission guidelines pile.  I also made a list of a few places I had guidelines for but that they were outdated so I needed to go look up the new guidelines. 

That took me till 1 am last night.  This morning I’m up (barely), thinking, and almost ready to tackle these piles again.  I’m hoping to finish them off so I can actually work on writing. 

Lately, I feel like I’ve been lax at submitting things for publication.  I’ve been so focused on books (of which I’m neck deep in three or four of them) that I’ve not been submitting my poetry or articles anywhere.  I need a day where I can focus on that. 

Aside from my writing I still have two other bins on my desk to address – school issues and genealogy.  I’m not touching the genealogy until much later in the weekend but I do need to get the school stuff done.

As always I guess I have lots to do and need to just wade right in…