Tag: Errands

Coupons, Rebates, Errands, and a Dozen Other Things

by eileentroemel, posted in Life

Last night after a rough week for me, I started thinking about all the things I need to get done.  I’ve had two requests for possibly paid writing assignments, as well as a number of errands to run today.  My brain was going a mile a minute so I did what I always do.  I made a list.  I also set my alarm.

I hate setting my alarm on the weekend because I hate mornings.  Mornings shouldn’t start until noon but that isn’t how the world works.

This morning I woke up at 3:30 in pain (no news there).  It was too early to take my daily meds.  I tried to go back to sleep and only managed to doze.  When my alarm went off, I took my meds and refused to get up.  My brain simply wouldn’t function enough to be upright.

However, I was up, showered, and dressed by 8:15 at which time I hit the computer.  I paid bills yesterday but I had a bunch of other things to do.  I’ve gotten six things of my long long list done this morning.  Actually as I look at my desk, I’ve gotten more because I’ve also started a grocery list.

I need new cartridges for my printer so I ordered stuff online to pick up in the store.  I have to give them an hour.  In that hour, I’m hoping to check off a couple of other things from my to do list.

One of the writing assignments is an editor wants to see one of my crochet patterns in different pictures.  Unfortunately, I’ve given away the item so I can’t just snap new pics for her.  I have to make a new one.  I’ve already had two people offer to take the item when I’m done with it so that’s good.  I need to figure out colors – need two.  I’ll look at the pattern and see what yarn I used before and then I’ll hit my stash.  If I remember correctly, the pattern only took a couple of nights so I’m hoping I can finish it quickly in order to take the requested pictures.

For the other writing assignment, I have to get a rough draft done and off to the editor in a week.  I made a start but when I wrote it I sort of hated it.  I’ve done this before.  I’m often too critical of my own work.  I’ll reread what I have and see if it’s usable and if not, I’ll start over.  The other thing is to see what pictures I have to go with the article.  The editor gave me a deadline but not length requirements which makes it more difficult.

Shortly, Ken and I will run errands and probably pick up lunch.  Then I’m hitting the recliner and writing – article or novel – unless Ken wants to spend time with me.  If he does, I’ll work on crocheting.  It’s going to be a busy day and busy weekend but hopefully I can clear up my to do list and make a fresh start for next week.

A Perfectly Normal Weekend

by eileentroemel, posted in Life

A perfectly normal weekend with errands run and chores done.  It is Sunday morning and all of the normal weekend tasks are done.  Now I have to decide what I’m going to work on.

As always, I have a long list of things I could do but I’ve been really tired and feeling a bit blah.  I’ve also been sleeping a lot more than normal for me.  The last few nights I’ve slept at least five to eight hours.

To me this means I need to take things easy and let my body recuperate from whatever is grumbling around in there.  I’ve been watching Criminal Minds.  I’ve just started the fourth season.  I find myself creeped out, grossed out, and sometimes hoping the bad guy gets away with it.

There was an episode where a woman was killing men.  She was raped and the cops did nothing about it.  She “solved” the issue by enticing men away from their friends and killing them.  Unfortunately, they weren’t the men who raped her but… I had a hard time blaming her.

Along the same lines, one episode was a high school boy who killed his father, his girlfriend’s father and several people in the high school.  The fathers were abusive and the people at the high school were bullying him both in person and cyber bullying.  I had a hard time empathizing with the victims in this episode.

I know this is fiction but when you read the news and hear about all these things, it makes you wonder how sick the human race is.  At the same time I wonder if we treated ourselves and our children better if there would be fewer problems.

It is a complex issue and I know I’m simplifying it but this show makes me think about all sorts of things.

Errands, Bookwork, Snow, and Organizing

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

This morning I got up much earlier than I wanted to but I paid bills, did budget, and placed an order with our butcher shop – Sorgs.  Ken and I ran out to Sorgs through snow and wind.  After Sorgs and bringing the stuff home, we went to Joann’s, Home Depot, and Wendy’s.  At Joann’s I bought material for gifts I’m making.  Of course I had coupons.  While I spent $29, I saved $32 in the process.

At Home Depot we priced out projects we want to do to the house.  I asked a lot of questions and the people were very helpful.  We picked up what we needed to finish my shelves for the craft room.  On our way home we picked up lunch.

Ken has since finished my shelves.  My next stop will be going to the craft room to organize and put away all my goodies.  For now, I’m working on catching up the checkbook and recording my sales for March.  I’ve also figured out how to automatically calculate a breakdown of my sales – so by month by vendor by book type – in January from Kindle I sold how many crochet patterns, or novels, etc.

Formulas and I in Excel don’t always work.  Stephanie helped me find the right one.  I got it set up, copied and now all I have to do is enter my sales by book and it figures out how to count it.  I can now easily tell which category of book is selling at what percent, percent of sales each month compared to the total annual sales.  I can tell you through which vendor I sell the most books.  Finally I’ve broken it down by category and vendor.  This should allegedly help me focus my marketing.  I might have to do some graphs to get a better handle on it.

In the last half hour, I’ve looked out my window and saw blue sky and driving sideways snow.  Welcome to Wisconsin’s spring!  Goofy weather.

On to organizing.  I am hoping to make my craft room look much more presentable by the end of the day.  I’m also hoping to have to ask for minimal help from Ken.  However, I shouldn’t be moving shelving units around so we shall see how things go.  

More Crochet Projects Published!

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

Yesterday I worked on the computer for the morning – personal business, editing, and so on.  After spending a lot of time on the computer, I crashed on the couch only to be thrown out of the living room – sort of.  Ken wanted to rearrange.

This morning, Ken did the grocery shopping and saved over $14 in coupons and over $7 in rebates.  It may not seem like a lot but every little bit helps.

Today I worked on publishing crochet patterns.  Once I was back on my computer I realized I had more ready to go than I thought.  I got four of the five done.  The last one is going to take a little more refining before I can publish it.

While I was working on the computer, I updated some of the stuff on my web site as well.  In addition to adding these four patterns, I put in new pictures on the home page and changed the background color.

I posted these on Ravelry.com today and already have likes on the site.  I’m thrilled by that.  Hopefully it will translate into sales.

I was hoping to get more done but my legs are bugging me so shortly I’ll be hitting the recliner again.  The good thing is I got two sessions on the computer today and lots accomplished.

Tomorrow I’m off work and plan to be a bit mellow about the day.  I have a couple tasks I’d like to do but in addition I may take time out to read.  It depends on what I get accomplished.

I finished Stargate and Stargate Atlantis.  Now I have to look for a new show to watch.  Or I may just go back to writing every night.  I’ll have to see how the mood takes me.  I do need to finish three projects fairly soon.  I might need a show to watch while I finish those off.

Having said that, I need to get back to marketing – like posting on twitter blurb for  my books.  I’ve been thinking about setting up a nightly schedule but I’m so not good at adhering to a schedule.

I can’t decide if it would be better to say this night of the week, I’m doing marketing and this night I’m doing editing and so on.  Or if it would be better to do a little of each every night.  Marketing from 6:30 to 7:30, submissions from 7:30 to 8:00 and writing the rest of the night.  I’m not sure either technique will work for me but I need to figure out how to get more of this stuff done.

In the meanwhile, I keep plugging away.  These four patterns are proof of it.  They are available on Smashwords and Amazon.  You can find links on my web site http://eileentroemel.weebly.com/ 

End of the Week

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

Spring break is next week.  The past two weeks at my day job have been rough with the hectic pace of summer registration and advising going on.  This week in particular has felt like it was two weeks rolled into one.  I work most of next week and it should be nice and quiet at work.

Our weekends have been jam packed with stuff too.  We’ve either been doing things or we’ve been running errands.  This means I don’t feel rested when I get back to work.  I’m hoping this weekend will be different.

I have a list – as always – of things I want to get done.  I’ve already crossed off the paying bills, submitting to publications, and a couple of other small things.  Next will be making a grocery list, doing coupons, and prepping for the grocery store.  I think I’ll ask Ken if he wants to do the shopping on his own.

If he does, I will take tomorrow to work on publishing three crochet projects and editing Wayfarer 10.  If I can get all that done and still have energy to work at the computer, I will try to do some more submissions.  There are a couple of projects I want to work on as well so I’ll see what Ken wants to do and how I can help.

I took Monday off work and I’ll be hanging out at home alone.  I’m looking forward to not setting an alarm for the next three days.  I’ll have to I suppose so I don’t sleep too late but in theory no alarms.  I’m glad it’s Friday and I have three days to do what I want to do with no commitments to anyone other than Ken.

Shopping on a Saturday

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

What was I thinking?  I hate shopping at the best of times but shopping in Walmart on Saturday.  Ugh!!  It was busy with lots of crying kids.  My husband got crankier with every purchase.  I had three app rebates to coordinate, prices to compare, and coupons to organize.  I saved $3.75 in coupons and $10.80 in rebates for my apps and .55 cents in another app.

Then we moved on to Farm and Fleet.  Ken got new shoes because they were on sale.  He went in by himself while I talked to Vicki on the phone and took pictures of receipts.  Our last stop was the new Firehouse Subs.  Ken went in by himself and got our lunch.  It was quite good.

Next I have to organize our route for the pop up libraries and getting the books organized.  We are going to try to hit as many as possible today put one or two books in each one we stop at.

Then I’m coming home and crashing.  I’ve had enough of people, shopping, and noise.  I want the peace and quiet of my house.  Hopefully I will have the energy to work on hand towels.  I’m going to try to finish them this weekend but I’ll have to see how my energy level is tonight and tomorrow.

I’m trimming all the editing and publishing off my list for tomorrow because I need some down time with my feet up.  If my legs feel okay, I may have time to work on the computer but more likely, I’ll just work on crocheting.

Wishing for Two of Me

by eileentroemel, posted in Life, Writing

Tomorrow, Ken and I are going to work on a plan for the closet.  I’m hoping we can get a plan in place so the closet can be a more useful space than it currently is.  I’m also hoping we can spend as little as possible on the closet.

After lunch we are going to take a bunch of my books and drive around to pop up libraries.  I’m hoping this will be a good marketing tool.  I’ve got a flyer to go into each book which shows the books I have available.  We also have a family commitment in the afternoon.

My Saturday is shaping up to be busy.  This means I have a lot to get done on Sunday.  I’d love to get the edits entered on the computer for Wayfarer 10.  If I could get it done and start the publishing process that would be wonderful.  I have some crochet patterns I have to organize and put through the publishing process.  Though, I just got submission guidelines for a crochet publication, so I may look at those to see if I can submit anything there before I publish it independently.  I wrote a new article which I want to edit and get out there.  Last night when I couldn’t sleep I turned on my app and recorded what may be part of that article, a blog post, or a new article.  I couldn’t sleep and just spoke what was on my mind so I’ll have to see about that.

I have several hand towels to make up.  Each one takes me about an hour to do just the crocheting on it.  The prep work is already done which was time consuming.  There are 16 left to do and I’m hoping I can finish them off this weekend.

Additionally, I have to make some phone calls, deal with the checkbook and a few other personal business things.  I’m hoping to get these tasks done today after work.  If we have the funds, there are a few things I want to pick up.  So I’m going to have to find the time to go shopping as well.

I was hoping for a quiet weekend but as I’m writing all this down, I realize it is going to be a crazy busy weekend again.

Busy, Busy, Busy

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

Yesterday I came home from work, paid bills, worked on editing, and booked a date for going to Paint Nite.  Ken and I had our normal Friday night meal of Toppers pizza and he went to bed.  I tried to settle into something but couldn’t.  I finally decided to watch some training I’m trying to knock out.  Doesn’t this sound like an overly exciting way to spend a Friday night?

Today, I went through coupons and wrote up a grocery list, made a fleece blanket with a crocheted edging, helped my mom, ran errands, watched two movies and crocheted, worked on pulling quotes

from books to use for marketing.  It’s 10:30 and I’m ready to crash for the night.

The blanket is fleece – Packer pattern – which I crocheted around with some funky yarn.  I think the edging turned out nicely and I’m pleased with the result.  Believe it or not, this is a simple single crochet around the blanket.  It’s the yarn that makes the funky pattern.

Ken’s been sick all week and taking the time to watch those two movies was good for both of us.  He got rest instead of doing yard work.  I got to crochet (and maybe take a mini nap).  The afghan I’m working in is gorgeous.  I’m loving the color combination and the pattern.  I’ve got a number of projects going with none of them making it to the final stage (until I finished Ken’s blanket today).  It’s been hard to crochet but today I just pushed through it and did the crocheting.  My mind seemed to settle and go to a place where it needed to.

I was able to settle into the marketing task I needed to work on.  It isn’t done.  I still need to do more but at least I made progress.  Normally I’m up late, working on something.  Tonight I may actually go to bed early – well for me.

Tomorrow, I plan to work publishing a short story and more of the marketing things.  I also want to watch more of the training which I believe I’ll be able to crochet while I watch.  I’ll have to see what Ken wants to get up to but I want to crochet so long as my arm isn’t hurting.

Normal Weekend Errands

by eileentroemel, posted in Life, Writing

Bills to pay, errands to run, and writing tasks to get done.  This is what I should be doing.  Yesterday I wandered off to Nasco for some craft shopping.  I picked up one thing for a project I want to try and canvasses so I can do some painting.

Today is going to be all about business – writing and personal.  I have spreadsheets to update, marketing to do, and bills to pay.  It doesn’t help that I’ve got a headache – again.  I think it is from the change in weather but it could be anything.

I’m sitting here knocking out one task after another and thinking I should be doing more.  I know I can’t but still.  I read through a proof this morning.  Format looks good.  I just have to approve it but since it is available for preorder electronically, it has to wait until next weekend.

Ken is off cutting up a tree for my sister.  We hope to get it out of her yard today.  It came partially down in a storm last weekend and she had people take it the rest of the way down.

Since it’s pay week, I have to make a grocery list, clip coupons.  Once Ken does the grocery shopping, I’ll have to do some food prep.  My list of other things to get done is long as well.

Hopefully the headache will ease off so I can get lots of things done while Ken is off cutting up wood.  It’s easier to do some of the tasks while he isn’t around.  He’s already been up and gotten laundry started.

Last night I watched Sense and Sensibility (the long version) and Emma (with Kate Beckensal).  The Emma was a version I’ve not seen before.  It was well done.  The S&S is one of my favorites but I found myself saying oh this is the spot in the other version where Emma Thompson does this or whatever.  It amuses me.  The ironic thing is even though I just watched this version – which I like very much – I now want to go watch the over version.  I spent a couple nights watching Pride and Prejudice and wouldn’t mind watching it again – the one with Colin firth which is six hours long.

I might have to do Shakespeare next though because Vicki and I were talking about Much Ado About Nothing.  I’ll have to see how things go.  If the writing is flowing, I’ll be too busy.

Right as Rain??

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

When I wake up at 5 am and can’t go back to sleep, I just know it’s going to be a blah day.  Errands are run, bills got paid yesterday, and Ken and I are back home.  He’s mowing the yard and I’m doing the grocery list.  I clipped some coupons but mostly I just want a nap.

My joints hurt today, have been hurting all week.  The damp weather is wreaking havoc on them.  The only thing I can do is keep the worst of them warm and hope the dampness will end soon.  I’ve gotten through several levels of editing both Wayfarer 8 and Wayfarer 9.  I’m hoping to put the final touches on Wayfarer 8 this week and work on production at some point in the very near future.

I finally dug out the other short stories I want to publish.  I’m going to start the edits on those and see how it goes.  A few of them are flash fiction which means they are extremely short.  I may put them into a short compilation of stories so I can make it economical for people to purchase.

I dug up a bunch of leads for marketing my crochet patterns.  I just need to figure out how to do some of them.  I’m hoping if I can get them listed in a couple of more niche oriented places sales will improve.

It’s only 10:30 but I feel like I’ve put in a full day.  I guess that comes from waking up too early.  It probably doesn’t help that sleep was nearly non-existent last night.  This is the way it goes with me.

The sky has gone from gray and gloomy to blue with a bit of white clouds.  Perhaps we won’t get the rain they said but I’m not holding my breath, my joints say rain is coming.