Toot your horn Tuesday

[Lady Maverick]

Happy Birthday Nancy!!

Tooting your own horn isn't an encouragement to brag, but to accept and own the truth about ourselves. There are many here (me included) that are fighting "stinking thinking". What we say to others is just a small sample of what we are saying to ourselves. Give it a try - say positive things about yourself here and see if you find yourself thinking upon it later.

I just love reading Elizabeth's post when she talks about tackling a challenge. She gives her response to a challenge a name and owns it. Elizabeth's Own Roof Repair company was consistent in repairing those leaks. What a wonderful example of Tooting your own horn without bragging.

[Lady Maverick]

It is back to school schedule here. Also adjusting schedule for sunrise time change. I like to be outdoors when the sun comes up, but now it is rising during the time that I am waking, snuggling, monitoring LO. Sooo...... the cards I did outdoors during sunrise now need to be moved to another time slot. Most of those cards can't be done in the dark so that means trading out cards in other time slots.

LO room being decluttered of toys is having a positive effect in several ways. He loves spending time in his room now. Over and over I am reminded that having clutter (even "good" clutter like toys) messes with our senses more than we know. We seemed to be pulled toward organized spaces.

[Lynlee]

good work LM and LO.
Sensory overload - not a good thing for any of us.

Spent some time today chatting on RI. helpful. I think many of us need to endorse ourselves and toot our horn to get our mind and actions to go in a positive direction. Theme of my chat discussion.

Today - finally got to the grocery store, so I am better fed today.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I need to continue to battle clutter here, especially papers. That's the part of the move that has been least successful.

On the other hand, I do like the kitchen for efficiency. There are bits that aren't perfect but I just unloaded the dishwasher in the time it took to make my tea. And most of that was done while standing on my stress-mat so there isn't a lot of motion involved. There was with my old kitchen. Even when there are steps involved here, they are much fewer than before.

I'm up. Bed is made. Having my tea and chocolate.

Still happy about my time with my friend yesterday. Wish I could see him more than a few times a year because I enjoy our conversations so much. He makes me think in a direction that I don't normally dwell in and it is good to learn that I can go there but then ask myself why I don't go there more regularly.

And, as Donkey from Shrek would say, he's like onion, with many layers. Or a parfait! So we learned more about him yesterday (this is a strange relationship - I spent 2 years working with him but he was my minister/mentor so there were all sorts of boundaries, then I've spent 5 years nurturing this friendship, seeing him only a few times a year but getting him to feel safe with dh and I since we are no longer his parishioners and not in his community so he can vent to us about things he can't to others.) And dh had the nerve to ask him if he has found someone new (the answer is no but I already sensed that from him from our topics of conversation.)

Anyway, from a discipline towards work point of view, I marvel at all he does. He writes a weekly newspaper column, his regular service, is a single dad to two boys 3.5 days a week and is a minister with tons of pastoral responsibilities plus is going to school for a second doctorate. It certainly makes me feel incompetent to be sending my service to the printer on Saturday night when I know he wrote his sermon weeks before (he's about 6 weeks ahead right now.)

So, from a relationship standpoint he isn't a good example but from a writing discipline standpoint, he is. That's why I value the friendship since he inspires me to be better in that part of my life.

Today is a busy day. Worse for dh than me, though. He has a conference call in 15 minutes (and hasn't had breakfast yet.) Then we have our haircuts and I'm hoping to bike down to them (but we may end up driving due to both weather and time constraints.) He has a conference call tonight as well. Plus his NZ client is demanding time from him. He is feeling overwhelmed.

In the meantime, I'm trying to take a 'first day of the rest of your life' attitude today and be positive about all I can accomplish.

It is back to school day here and even after all these years, I feel like it is a 'reset' moment with the slate clean and full of new possibilities.

[Lady Maverick]

** LO successfully launched to school.
** weedeated a section of fence until battery died on weedeater.
** Healthy smoothies made/served/enjoyed/cleaned up
** menu plan updated

Next up -
** MPB daily gross processed
** Trip to store for roast & carrots
** drop 4 deposit bags at bank from long weekend

[Lilac]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANCY!

[Lady Maverick]

ARGH!! I did it again! I fell again because of those *()(#R*#&$ girlie flip-flops. When I put them one, I acknowledged the danger but decided that I would go ahead and wear them while walking on smooth surface (concrete/parking lot/store) and then take them off when I got back home. But I got busy the moment I arrived home and forgot. I grabbed the vegetables scraps from filling the crockpot and headed out to feed them to the rabbit. Down I went with both hands full when I stepped into an uneven place. LESSON LEARNED! Although they look cute and are current style.....I took them off and tossed them into the GWill bag. I really want to keep them but the health of my knees trump my desire to wear cute shoes.

Next up -
** Wash the 4 windows in LO bedroom.
** Iron curtains (I washed them yesterday)
** hang curtains (includes moving a 8' kite)

[DeeClutter]

Back to our place after waiting for dgs9 to wake up and get through his morning routine. Now have to do dishes and get dh's lunch made. Tonight we're going to dinner with a few couples from here. Our dneighbors leave Thursday to go back to FL for the winter. Will surely miss them. In fact he just finished mowing and trimming our yard. Then it will be dh's turn to do theirs.

Spent nearly an hour going over our renewal packet for our site for 2015. Have all my i's dotted & t's crossed (I think). Dh just has to get his initials on each page -already put the date on for him and have our deposit check ready. Lease went up another $50 this year (as it does most years). Now closing in on $2,000/year. Started out somewhere around $1,500 I believe. DS-R's is probably about $400 more than that because they have a very large lot and water front property. Then our septic removal has gone to $.1675 a gallon. We try to be conservative. Figuring one load of dishes is costing us at least 32-cents. But we don't have to pay for the water coming in. Electric we do.

Have a very Happy Birthday, Nancy!

[Nancy]

Thanks for the bday wishes. Good news found the tv channel I was whining about last week they just moved it yea! Watched "the dessert speaks" today! Happy happy day! I slept in. Have new outfit on. S2s x

Watering the back yd. Sprinkler is leaking not good! So I changed it.

Had a sm. Piece of cake that is done early so I can correct bs againbefore lunch w dd & toddler N. Using new coffee pot. Old ones are off the tsble one to donate other in cupboard for backup sm. One in bathroom is extra back up!!! LOL!

New crock pot is in it's new spot, others put away.

[Harriet]

Happiest Birthday wished to Nancy!

Back from the big city, having learned that HRH takes a different route from me to zip around there, just about every time! LOL He comes close to being right (righter - usually both routes would be fine) most of the time, because he just has to drive it so much more than me and knows his tricks. But I showed him a few turns that at least matched his chosen shortcuts.

I did have a while in a pleasant waiting room, and tried to use my time studying some recipes for less-sugar meals. Made a short list of some helpful items to buy and have on hand.