cleverly disguised as a responsible adult

I had a small meltdown last night about my lists. I was worrying about using up my apples, engineering our Halloween costumes, using the veggies that we bought at the farmers' market - including pumpkin needing cooked down, cleaning my house before guests arrive, making a grocery list, taking care of my dog and husband, and dealing with work crap.

And when I type it all out, I don't feel so bad about being stressed.

My base stress level is still high, but since I used up all the remaining apples in a couple pies (one with caramel bits - it's delicious!) and went on a successful grocery hunt tonight, I'm not quite so frazzled. A slice of nearly-straight-from-the-oven pie was my reward for completing piece 2 of 5 for my costume. Piece 3 is a little done, as is piece 4. Piece 5 shouldn't be terribly difficult, since I've made it before in other colors and fabrics. I think I even have all the makeup I'll need.

I think that I've planned out enough meals to use up the veggies. I'm going to give roasting parsnips, carrots, and potatoes a try. I've never tried to do actual oven-roasting, but I have olive oil, fresh rosemary, and kosher salt, so I think I'm probably good to go. Not sure which day will be spaghetti squash day, but it should be this week. Same for pumpkin day - I need to get some more pumpkin done so that my sister and I can make whiskey-laced pumpkin cake. Mmmm.

I've kind of decided that I'm going to not worry about the house. It comes at the bottom of the list. I'll try to keep up with some of the low time-intensive maintenance, but I can't let it add to the things that are dragging me down. Same goes for work. I need my eyelid to stop twitching, so I'm trying to avoid as much stress there as possible.

M'eh. I'm feeling decently accomplished right now and my drugs have kicked in, so I think I should go to bed. I've listened to my new favorite song about 10 times and have a pretty good idea on how the dancing's going to go.

Things to purchase before the weekend:
- Hair clips
- Hair spray
- Green onions
- Guacamole, or the ingredients for it
- Cups
- Plates
- Utensils, but I should check what we already have first.

Things to do before the weekend:
- Finish my skirt Continue twirling in my skirt because it's just too much fun not to! (Circle skirt. Miles of hem. 1.5 full circles of burgundy satin. My life is closer to complete)
- Finish my hair scarf
- Figure out a way to pin flowers to hair thingies
- Write out the Plan for how all the food will be timed
- Clear off the kitchen table and the coffee table
- Heck, let's clear out the rest of the living room, too, if possible
- Convert my sewing room into a guest room
- Work out a couple times
- Not go crazy

Right. Let's get on it.

What I was planning on doing tonight:

• Go home
• Walk the dog
• Take trash to the curb
• Do dance class exercises and drills
• Shower
• Make dinner
• Prep dinner for tomorrow night's game
• Make the gingerbread
• Turn, topstitch, and mark the grommet holes in the Bodice of Doom for Lady Van Laar
• Find a box or something to ship the entire set of garb
• Put away the mountain of clean laundry that is threatening to take over the entire upstairs hallway.

What I ended up doing tonight:

• Rush home
• Speedwalk the dog
• Speed-haul trash to the curb
• Watch my new dance video and have way too much fun with the drumming
• Run through the choreographies, screw up the end of Jimelleh as usual
• Shower
• Combine fruit, oatmeal, eggs, and tea into a very good dinner for a Sabine
• Sit back with a brand-spankin'-new copy of Small Favor that showed up today, a cup of tea, and a blanket
• Read about 250 pages before sternly telling self that sleep is good
• Remind self that it's highly probable that I'll get called at 12:15 by work, anyway, and I could have finished the book by then

This book? Was written JUST FOR ME! I have been laughing out loud all evening and thoroughly enjoying the story. I may yet get Literary Indigestion from it, but I. Don't. Care. So good. eee!

What the crap? My layout seems to have reset itself. Or, it could be back to normal again. Stupid @*#$@&%!#ing LJ.


In other news, when I can get past this "too goddamn busy at work to do anything other than work and, occasionally, breathe" stage, past the "I'm home and I think my brains are running out my ears", and past the "My life is too boring to write anything about, what with the workworkwork and the blearghles", I'll try posting regularly again.

Goals for October:

• Post more often
  
• Dance more often
  
• Workout in general more often
  
• Get rid of one or more customers
  
• Try to not let The Month In Which No Good May Come live up to its name

I spent the first day of the year watching football (yay Wisconsin!), reading hot Unseelie smut (yay LKH!), crocheting (yay yarn!), leveling in Dead Awaken (yay zombies!), fabric shopping (yay sales!), and running around town to find cold remedies (yay tea!).  If the rest of the year continues in this relaxed of a fashion, I'll be a very lucky Sabine.  I don't expect that every day will be this easy, but I can hope.

Resolutions for 2007 - Things That Might Actually Happen

1. I will run a game - plot and system to be determined later.
2. I will play a character who is not crazy.  Or totally afraid of combat.  Or a sociopath.
3. I will bake something at least once a month.
4. I will work to the point where I can run 5k without stopping.
5. I will try to lose ~20 pound, but if I can put on my Heris outfit and not cringe, I'll call this one good.
6. I will accomplish #5 by reducing junk and trying really hard to meet #4.
7. I will paint a minimum of 8 minis so that the center portion of my printers' drawer will be filled.
8. I will continue to love my husband, adore my greyhound, and try to treat my friends as the precious people that they are.

That seems like a reasonable number of resolutions.  Yes, this seems like it may work.

To do today:

1. Win the lottery
   
2. Get plane tickets and hotel reservations in London for July 13
   
3. Win this auction
   
4. Live happily ever after

My favorite pair of pants have been officially retired. The grey khakis have served me well for many years, but are now Unfit To Wear In Public.

A small memorial service will be held Saturday morning in my closet. A luncheon will be provided before an expedition launches to attempt to replace the hole in my wardrobe that, in truth, is not unlike that which mars the derriere of the grey pants.

Rest in peace, my favorite pants. My one regret is never telling you how much I have appreciated you. *sniff*

Today:

• Make good start on Evil Print Driver Project From Hell.
  
• Rock the socks off of today's VB Project
  
• Go to gym and run frustrations away.
  
• Refrain from killing coworkers.
  
• No, not any of them.
  
• No, not even if they deserve it.
  
• Make food so we don't starve.
  
• Tea doesn't count as food.
  
• No, not even in the quantities that I drink it.
  
• Finalize Christmas Cookie List of Doom
  
• Figure out shopping list for marathon cookie baking.
  
• Refrain from losing mind.
  
• Decide who is getting cookies, who is getting "other", and if I have addresses/preferences for them.


• Figure out "other" presents. Order them. Online.
  

Soon:

• Get address changed.
  
• Get bills redirected, phone moved, etc.
  
• Empty and clean apartment. Schlepp couch to Goodwill.
  
• Get sublet for apartment.
  
• Still don't go crazy.
  
• Well, maybe a little.
  
• Wrap presents!
  
• Finish Evil Print Driver Project From Hell.
  
• Clear off dining room table.
  
• Vacuum and clean.
  
• Write cards!
  
• Finish painting minis for fantasy game.
  
• Don't spill paint.
  
• Don't spill any more paint.
  

Not so soon as "Soon", but soon:

• Find place for wedding.
  
• Find place for reception.
  
• Do not kill mother, she's trying to help.
  
• Get toys, kennel, doggy paraphernalia for Rain.
  
• Finish last year's crocheting projects.
  
• Begin this year's knitting projects.
  
• Breathe.