Jude Stringfellow's Blog, page 21

Too Excited to Write.

 You know, it's kinda funny actually, but I'm thinking that I'm just too excited right now, to write the book I have in my head. I know I need to. I wrote the first paragraph so that I could get the thinking kickstarted, but then - - life happened. It is what it is. 

    I'm about to move into a real house and out of my really cool apartment. If I had to say that in British terms it would be that I'm about to move into a detached bungalow from my really cool 1st floor flat. The ground floor is the first floor in the US but it's the zero floor in the UK. That little difference made for some pretty confusing discussions when I sat down with folks from over that way - - my idea of a "bungalow" is not a one-story house, but it is what it is in Scotland. 

    The word "detached" means that it isn't what we would call a duplex or a rowhouse here in the US.  It's a single-story house; not necessarily a ranch-style house either - but it's nice. It's a stone house, which makes me happy. It's been around since the 1930s and has been really sturdy all these years. It was renovated about two years back; they tore it out completely and remodeled it from top to bottom! They even took out the fireplace but left the chimney on top of the roof. I noticed that the other day.

    This morning I drove by it and saw three men on top of the roof! The complex is adding a new roof to the house; which of course means that even the roof will be really new! We're starting completely over and I love that fact. The flat, or the apartment has old fixtures, old flooring, old cabinets and countertops. The bathtub is old too. The only new features at all are the bathroom sinks; there are two, and my toilet (1/2 bath) is newer. It may be under ten years old.

    Moving has me too excited. I'm dreaming good dreams. I'm thinking good thoughts...I'm putting ideas into my head about letting the dogs out the back door and not having to walk them on leads down the stairs six times a day -  separately! I have two dogs and can't walk them at the same time. The little dog isn't trained. She pulled away once and that was enough to make the hard decision to literally climb those stairs twice as much as I was before! I don't like that. I won't miss that.

    My thoughts keep me from writing. The book is very complex, and the narrative is rather depressing. I can't be happy and write the book how it should be written. I'm not saying the book is a downer - not by a long shot, but it isn't all rainbows and butterflies either -- not giddy. It's a book about real issues and real anxiety-ridden lives. I need to focus on the characters when I do sit down to ink it out. Being happy and in the mood to pack boxes would not do the work justice. I must wait.

    After I move, after I set up and get the place in order, then I can write. It's not the plan I thought I would have but I'm OK with it. If I only write a couple or three books this year it will be alright - - nothing will suffer for it. I'll be focused and the book will benefit from that focus. I've never been too happy to write before. I don't need to be sad, don't think that. I just need to be able to focus and give my all to the project and that is just not where my head is. My head is interested in looking up new wallpaper, paint, flooring, rugs, furniture, bedding, fence repairs, and LED lights to go under the cabinets in the bathroom and kitchen!

    It will happen. I'll write again. The book will be great. I promise. I just need to get all the jitters out of my system. I need to know I'm grounded and my head is where it needs to be. I really really really can't wait to move. We're talking just two or maybe three weeks -- so close!!

Photo Credit:  Pinterest

God is GREAT!! (Even in the Little Things)

 I really don't know how anyone in the world, past, present, or future, could go a single minute, let alone a full day without thinking and knowing that Jesus is in the middle of literally everything that takes place. He doesn't always act or do things that we want or appreciate; in fact, sometimes, He can be hard to understand.  His ways are not our ways, and that's the one thing I think I've learned over the many years I've followed Him. His ways are best - - even when I flat don't get it - - which can be often. 

    Three days ago I took in a new dog. I didn't rescue her, and I didn't adopt her. I found her on Craigslist, and I answered the ad. I texted the people and asked if she was still available. She was, and I let them know I would give her a good home. We met in Edmond, about halfway between our two houses, and I simply took the dog into my arms and drove her home to become a member of our family. She took to us immediately, and we took to her just as quickly; and completely.

    I named her Kiah which literally means "A New Beginning" or "The Strength of God", depending on the place you look for the meaning.  Some say it is Celtic, others say it is Hebrew. I liked the name.  Kiah is a relatively young dog, she's under a year and closer to five or six months; just a puppy. She's medium-sized, in that she isn't the size of a Chihuahua nor the size of a Great Dane. She's going to be about forty pounds probably; and the best we can tell from her appearance she's most likely a cross of breeds including the Border Collie and Standard Schnauzer.  A Border Schnollie!

    If you know anything about the two main breeds that make up my new princess, you'll know that both breeds were bred to herd; both breeds were bred to run great distances and to do so very quickly. This is exactly what happened the second day I had her! Kiah pulled from me while I was walking her, and she managed to take the new blue retractable leash handle right out of my hand! The second the plastic handle hit the ground beside the dog's feet she took off like a bullet! She was gone!

    I'm in absolutely no physical shape to chase a dog and to be honest with you, no human could have done so no matter how fit they were. That dog was forty, fifty, sixty feet from where we were standing in under a couple of seconds. Zing! The leash handle was about twenty inches from her the entire time, and as it pounded the ground it would force her to run faster to try to get away from it - - as you can imagine, she never managed to lose it!

    I frantically screamed for my daughter who was in her room upstairs just above my head, but she didn't hear me. She had her headset on while playing a game. I managed to pull myself up the stairs trying hard not to trip myself because I wanted to chase the dog and knew I couldn't do it - - Laura finally heard me and she came out to assist! Both of us literally whispering prayers at the same time -  I heard her. There is no doubt she heard me as well. It was going to take Jesus to stop that dog!

    My biggest fear was that Kiah would run blindly into the oncoming traffic. Our apartment complex is on a rather busy street; I didn't want to even imagine what could happen. I've seen it happen to several geese who believe people will be kind and courteous -- it's a terrible thing. I prayed. Laura prayed. We both ran in opposite directions hoping the dog would pass one or the other of us - - and she did.

    Twice the dog was able to get the lead caught in the base of a hedge, only to get out of it split seconds before one of us could grab her and pull her to safety.  I nearly collapsed from the sheer exhaustion of trying to run at my age, with the weight I have, and not being the least bit prepared to sprint. Needless to say, I'll be working on the weight thing immediately, but I don't think I can do much about the age thing. It just is what it is.

    Within a few minutes of her coming out of the apartment to help, Laura was able to grab the dog when Kiah finally passed close enough for Laura to do the whole football linebacker tackle thing - - taking down the speeding frightened animal has to account for Laura's new medals I'm planning on buying her; I may end up taking her to dinner at least. She deserved it! Thanking Laura, and most assuredly, thanking Jesus for being in the middle of it. He was - - no doubt.

    The thing is, just an hour before this happened I had purchased not only the new lead, but I bought her a nice little harness as well. I just hadn't taken it out of its packaging. I count the entire fiasco as being my personal mistake! I am so blessed to have the puppy back in the apartment safe and sound, and you can bet she'll not step out of the same without being strapped in tightly to her new harness!

    You just never know when and where you can end up talking to Jesus - - and then thanking Him for knowing what you needed long before you asked for it. 

Photo Credit: Me (This is Kiah)

Streamlining!! ( Getting Ready to Move )

 My bestie came over this evening and helped me go through the closet to give away clothes I no longer wear. I think the oldest thing was about 20 years old, but if I held on to it another 15 years I'm positive it will come back into style! I'm absolutely sure of it  -- but no, I gave it away. It was a pencil-style jersey (light) skirt that pulls up and hangs well just around the lower part of the knee.  Very early 21st Century - - it had to go.

    The closet was stuffed full of blouses, sweaters, long and short-sleeved tees, some winter, some fall, some summer or spring wear, but mainly I had a boatload of button-down blouses! I was a teacher for a while and the wardrobe screamed it. It's one of those easy things to do - wake up, pull on a pair of trousers, a lightweight blouse, throw a longer sweater over it, and call it done. Because I walked a great deal at the schools I wore sensible shoes!  I must have given away somewhere between 40-50 blouses; various styles, hues, patterns, materials, and even some that were rather pricey. I won't wear them. I kept six or seven just in case I ever do need to look a little professional. I won't, but just in case I ever do.

    The sweaters were easy to chunk. I had most of them, if not all of them for several years. I think I kept four. I filled six big trash bags full of blouses, sweaters, long and short-sleeved tee shirts, and two note-worthy pairs of cowboy boots. I never had a pair of fake cowboy boots - - both pairs were Justin and they were working boots; truly broken in. Someone will love them, I'm sure. Hopefully, someone and a few someones will enjoy the clothes, and they'll pay a little something for them so that the good folks at Goodwill benefit from having them in their store. 

    Tomorrow, I'll run the bags up to the local Goodwill drop off and I'll have room in my room to go through the under-the-bed stash!  I have four or five storage bins of tee shirts under the bed, and I think maybe one of them is sweaters as well. I'm not sure, it's been a couple of years since I've seen what's under there, and if I've not worn something in two years I don't need it so badly -- I may end up keeping one or two really special tees, but c'mon.....two years? If I've not seen it in two years I won't miss it.

    After the bed comes the dresser - - that will be a challenge because I do actually wear what is in the dresser! I do however know for a fact that I have too many pairs of yoga pants. I can part with most of them and either live with the ones I keep or get more down the road. I'm going to see how long I can go without overstuffing drawers and shelves. It feels REALLY good to streamline - - downsizing is always a rush. Some people can't do it - - I look forward to it.  (Having Jeannie here helps because she reminds me that I don't need it. She's good like that.)

    The hard part will be the things I need to give away rather than donate. I don't want to keep the things (non-clothes items) but I don't want to donate them either. I want to find folks I can give them to if they're useful. I put a lot of things in the common laundry room here at the complex and they disappear, but I have things I know I want to "bequeath" to friends and my kids. I don't mind sending off a box or two to special people who will like what I end up giving them -- I just need it out of my house!! (Don't tell Lorna I'm giving her the Dachshunds, but I'm giving her the Dachshunds. Not all of them, but she'll get a few.)

    I can live with boxed-up things for two weeks while we wait for the green light to take them to the house!! I will be too excited about it - -I know me. I'll be doing the dance over and over again - - smiling.  You'll see me smiling a lot if you come around in the next few weeks. I mean, it's true, I smile a lot anyway, but I'm a little giddy now. I even walked over to the house twice today to look into the windows and see myself living there - - neighbors laugh at me, but that's nothing new.

    Soon, and very soon, we'll be buying the couch and chair, the bench for the dining room table, and curtain rods for the bedrooms. I can't believe the people who lived there didn't have curtains!! They thought the blinds were good enough. I like curtains too. I think they add a certain radiance to a room. I want really nice, artistic curtain rods, switch plate covers, and even the covers for the outlets that will or can be seen will be fancy - - not too fancy, but not plain white either. They'll be brass or pewter -- I haven't decided. I'm thinking....just thinking.

    First, we purge!  My room this weekend, and next weekend is the living room, dining, room, and hallway.  The final weekend will be the kitchen and bathrooms since we need those things now -- then...yes...moving day!!  I can't wait. I'm just too too too happy!!  

Meet Kiah - - The Dog.

     So, I did a thing.  This morning, our new puppy Rose was acting all hyper and she wanted to play with Ginger, but my old gal was just not in the mood. She continued to stress about it and finally she started barking and snapping at the puppy to the point that I could tell she wasn't a happy camper.  It's not that Ginger hates Rose, but the pup can be a little extra most of the time and Ginger isn't necessarily into playing...much. She played with Hugo, and I think maybe she over did it then. She's not been all that active since he has been gone.

    I did a thing. I went on Craigslist and put in the words "free to a good home" because that usually means you'll find a good dog or two. I found 12 of course, and some of them were pitty mixes which we can't consider at the complex where I live, and I can't consider it with the dogs and cats that I already have. Hugo was a bit aggressive, and he had to go - - there's no way I will allow a dog to become aggressive toward my other animals or to the people I live near.  We have boundaries.

    Craigslist had a dog whose owners were advertising but without photos. That always makes me wonder if they just don't know how to upload a photo or if they want you to fall for their scam - - you say yes, show up and they kill you! You know, something like that.  Well, I answered the ad and asked if they had photos and if they could tell me about the dog...well, the puppy. She's only about five months old.

    They answered me very quickly, saying she was five months, about 10 pounds and they didn't think she would get any bigger. She was a Jack Russell type but a mixed breed, not a full breed. They sent a picture and I laughed.  I laughed to myself, not to them.  I've been around dogs for a little over sixty-two years of my sixty-two years of life, and this was not a Jack. She was at least fifteen pounds and with those long legs and haunch, she was going to be a bigger dog. They had no idea what they had.

    I always ask the backstory if someone knows it, so I sort of have an idea of what the dog has gone through.  Kiah was abandoned as a very small puppy with her siblings in a box at the local Walmart in Chandler, OK where a soldier took them home and gave three or four of them away. He kept Kiah, but he called her "Puppy" (how original).  When he was deployed in May he gave the pup to his brother and his wife, but their dog simply did not want her near the family, and the new pup was forced to stay outside.  She found a good home with me. She'll be inside, with others, and they already love her.

    I agreed to meet them halfway, as they live about forty miles from where I live, and I gave them $20 for gas. They were pretty happy about it since they needed to come into the city anyway to do a bit of shopping.  They packed her up and brought her to me; we met at the mall.  When he pulled her out of the truck she was long, coarse-haired, and gangly, all legs and tail, her little head was buried in his chest. She's shy and she's a little awkward, but what puppy isn't?

    Immediately, I began thinking about the alternative breeds she could be. I laughed again inside my head and asked myself if I had just picked up a Scottish Deerhound.  Would she grow to be the size of a Great Dane soon? Would I be out of a couple of big bags of food each month? I hoped not, but then again, I really wouldn't be all that upset about it if it were true. She'll be perfect for Rose to play with, and she'll bring a big fat smile to my face in the process.

    Ginger, my little gal, isn't all that thrilled with Kiah, but she's learning to put up with the fact that her mom brings dogs, cats, hamsters, lizards, snakes, and other things home from time to time. She knows she's alpha, I don't have to convince her. She's already let the new dog know this fact.  Kiah (pronounced Ki-ah) is more than likely a Border Collie, Schnauzer, and other breeds. If you go look up the cross between Border Collies and Schnauzers you'll see a dog that strongly resembles Kiah. 

    I'm going to give her Valentine's Day as a birthday. She's a sweetheart and deserves it.  She's already begun to romp and run through the place with Rose, and she's already learned that Frodo has claws and isn't afraid to use them.  Bilbo has only watched from the safety of the countertops.  Though he realizes also that mom brings home whatever she pleases, he's never really been that excited about any of them - - he's that way.

    We're moving soon, and the backyard will be full - - that's the reason I got Kiah. I don't want any unwanted guests thinking they can just go into or through the backyard - - the people who lived there before were OK with it  -- I am not. I also want Rose to have a running buddy - - someone she can bark and run with. I achieved my goal.  Kiah will be a good investment - - well, she was free, but I did give them gas money!! (She'll be spayed in 2 months.  We take her to get her shots next week.) 

Photo Credit:  Me.

Gearing Up Mentally to Move!

 I wish it was this weekend that we were moving, I'd take off tomorrow, and make it a four-day thing.  This being July 4, we are actually working tomorrow (Friday) and of course, I'm off the following two days. I'll be taking off the 19th (1/2 day) and making it a 3-day thing since we get off 1/2 a day on the 19th. That should work out fine - - and if I can't move into the house until the next weekend, I'll take off that Friday instead.  I want the move to be done well and move very smoothly.

    I'm going to the store today to pick up more medium-sized boxes to pack the smaller things that could add up to space and weight if I put them into bigger boxes. The bigger boxes will be for the much lighter things - - such as linen, comforters, and curtains.  I don't really want to pour myself into lifting these boxes you know. I'm old...and I get a little grumpy when I have to do physical work. 

    I can already tell that my room will have a ton of boxes probably, but I really want to have the strength and courage to either throw things out or give things away. If I don't use it, I need to let it go - - I'm thinking I'll be able to do that for 80% of it, but there's that other 20% that I really don't need. Why on earth do we do that? We keep things we neither need nor use. I don't understand it  - I really don't.

    Looking through my room I can say I'll be donating about 25 pairs of shoes, but then again, Laura and Caity may be the first vultures to land on that pile. I have bulletin boards that will be taken down, gone through, packed, and set back up again, hopefully with fewer bits and pieces of memory I don't need...or will I just keep those memories in a box for when I'm 99 and have a look-see to remember something? I have no idea.

    I have too many (way too many) CDs that will be boxed and stored, I won't get rid of them - - I did that back in the 80s with my LPs and regretted it - - not making that mistake again. I will start going through them and listening to them again. I don't listen to music as often as I need to. I find myself either working, writing, or watching Law & Order - - yes, it's that bad, yes, I am that pathetic.

    There are office supplies and school supplies that will be boxed and donated, I certainly don't need them anymore. To be able to say that makes me smile. I am genuinely not going to need either of those things again because I'm not teaching and I'm working from home with a company that doesn't require that I use any supplies. I have a notebook and pen! Besides my computer, I'm writing numbers down - - OK, to be honest, I have two clipboards too! Done.

    It's funny how time goes by and makes you realize that what you absolutely had to have one moment is useless and even in the way a moment down the road. Amazing, but true.  I don't need a file cabinet.  I don't need boxes of electronic cords and cables. I may have used those cords and cables at one point. I know I did. I have several MP3 players that are relics now by anyone's standards; why do I still have them? I don't use them. One I won't give away because it has a really cute sticker of my kids on it, but it's from 2005. Geez!

    I've asked myself if I'm keeping the art I have now, or if I'm giving it away and starting over. I really don't know the answer. I think I'll just keep it for now, and see how it works. It's not bad, it's not ugly, it's not dated. Two pieces were created by my daughter -  so they'll always stay. I am mentally moving things into closets. I am mentally storing them into boxes today, and making plans to do so in real life - - yes, I'm that pathetic. I also go to grocery stores to think about what I will buy soon. 

    OK, there is one thing that will go - - well, it will leave my room. I have a chair that I call the "Jeannie" chair because it is where she sits when she comes over. It will be out of my room and in the new office!! That's exciting. Ginger uses it to jump from the ground to the bed, but when I move I'm commandeering Laura's full-size bed. It's a platform bed, and doesn't use a boxspring - which makes it 10 inches shorter and I won't need the chair for Ginger! Done!

    I have a few stuffed animals, and I've decided that they will go into the office, not the bedroom. I have a good corner to put them into. It's the same corner where Jeannie's chair will go - - they can guard the chair; cute and efficient. Right now, there are things sitting on top of my dresser. That won't happen in the new house. I have a plan to have everything off the floor and nothing on top of the fridge, the table, the dressers, or the bookshelves that line the entry. EVERYTHING will be in its place when we move - - or it won't be in my house at all.

    I'm not saying the place will be a showcase; it won't be. I just won't live the way I've allowed myself to live because I don't have the space I need to spread out like I do now...or will when we move. The manager put my deposit checks through this week, and I've already put three of the four utilities in my name. I have to wait a week to do the electricity, it's their rule, not mine. I'm going to put in a change of address the week I move so that anything I get will go there, but the mailman is the same mailman and he'll hold it until I actually move -- he's hilarious. It's a good thing to know our postal people.

    OK, well, that's it. I'm planning to plan, and crossing all the T's as well as dotting the I's on this one.  I'm not sure if I'll leave the bed frame in the unit and let the maintenance people have it, or if I'll put it up on Marketplace for free. I won't carry it downstairs -- it's really a nice piece, but I've had it a long time and it's time to start over -- truly making the move to be both happier and content. I love content. Content is valuable. 

    Being content isn't settling - - it's being thankful and grateful for what you have now, and willing to be patient and work on your future self. That's where I am.

Photo Credit: Pinterest.com

The New Book - - Has Started. (Officially)

 Today, because my internet went out on me, and I had very little choice but to play on my computer offline, I decided to write the first paragraph of the book so I could poke myself in the ribs and get started on writing the book in genuine. I have NO idea what is taking me so long to get into the mood to write this book, but I'm just not there yet. I will be. It will happen, but it's just not jumping out of me.

    The first paragraph turned out differently than I had first intended it to, but that's not really a surprise and it's not necessarily a bad thing either. I was going to go further, but since my internet was out I couldn't use the A.I. feature I plan on using for this book -- which will significantly impact what the book ends up being, if I had to be honest. I plan on using the A.I. feature I used while writing "Mesa", but of course, I'm changing up all of the scenarios, characters, situations, and more. It will be fun!

    One of the reasons I'm going to heavily depend on the A.I. is to see where it takes me; who knows what will happen? I'm going to wing it and see if I like it, and if I do, I'll keep winging; if I don't, I'll clip the wings and go back to thinking on my own. I like having the feature to goad me into thinking outside my little box of thoughts that I so often get trapped inside of. This thing really lights a fire when I ask it to. Sometimes I absolutely hate what it has created, but I do think even when I hate what it suggests I could learn from it somehow.

    The first paragraph of a book should tell you a little about the character who will lead you through the story. It should be gripping, interesting, and have some sort of hook to make a reader think rather than just react. I think I've achieved my goals with the first paragraph of the new book. I can't say that the entire book will be centered around it; that would be misleading, but I will say that it gives the reader insight to the kind of person the lead female character is - she's not the typical garden variety stock trader - - she has depth. I saw to it to add a little history about her so she's well rounded and has a little flavor. It's a good paragraph.

    I don't know yet how long it will take me to write the book. I'm hoping that I can just jump right in and start the process. I need to write it. I need to get it out of my head and onto the printed page -- and of course, because I'm putting all of my books online in eBook format, it will be digital as well. Yep! I hope to have it written before the end of summer so I can get going on the next two books that I plan on writing before the end of the year. It'll probably just be four books this year, but I'm OK with that - - I don't have any real deadlines; I just write.

    I'm moving in about four weeks or so, and that will certainly have a little bearing on the writing but hopefully not too much of a delay. I think I can squeeze it in between the boxes and the new deposits. I just set up my electricity and my gas today for the new place! That may end up being something that the character does so I can add this experience to the book - - it's not the first time I've put services in my name, but this time is going so much smoother than ever before. I love that.

    I know I'll write about Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy store. That will be in the book - - it's not in the first paragraph, but it may be in the second. You just never know. I could find my lead character roaming through Braum's choosing her favorite three-pint pack of ice cream while realizing that she needs at least three to have choices in her life. It could be that her grandfather kept her in ice cream and boots - - it could be that she has decided to go sugar-free and knows Braum's won't let her down if she so chooses!

    The book is on it's way to being written, and that's the point. It's on its way. it has begun, and I can sit back and wrap myself around the first paragraph to write the next, then the next, then the next until I fall head over heels into the mood and write the first chapter!  Like all the others, this one will be about 30 chapters long, about 360 pages, and it will include love, rumor, romance, challenges, sex, money laundering - - and...what? Oh, yeah, I did say that, didn't I?  Well, there you go, one big fat nugget for you!  

    I'll go to the fridge now and see what choices I have! I don't have to wonder too hard - - I bought three tubs of Braum's earlier today when my internet was down -- a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. It's 105 degrees outside!

Photo Credit: C&G Ford Parts

Books and Journals - First To Pack.

So, I am now in the mood to move - - I've packed three boxes of books, and am about to drive to Sam's Club to buy more boxes because my boxes are too big. I don't want to hurt myself carrying them down the stairs when I do move. I need about 20-30 smaller boxes, what they call "medium" boxes I suppose. They are 14"x 17"x 13" I think.  I need tape too. I want to be sure they are nice and secure; nothing like fearing your box bottoms will come out from under the weight of books.

    The books and the journals are the first things to pack, but this time I decided to throw out most of the books since I really don't read them. I buy them occasionally, and because I'm an author I get free books from other authors. I don't read them. I know, I should. I really do mean to, but I never do. I don't make the time, I don't have the time. I am either working, writing, or pretending. When is there time to read anything other than another Perry Mason novel?

    I just finished packing three boxes of journals and I have made a decision to not unpack them when I move but to store them in a good cool place like the storage room or maybe in the closet of my office.  I think we have an attic too, so depending on whether or not it has ventilation, I may store them there. I don't want or need them out taking up space even if I do love them all and hope someday someone reads them - - except when they do, I also want them to remember that I said what I said because I felt that way at that time - - keep reading, I probably changed my mind.

    I have about a dozen larger boxes that I'll use to hold stuffed toys, clothes, linen, towels, curtains, and other lighter things. I really don't want to strain myself when I go to move these boxes out of my apartment, down the stairs, into the car, out of the car, and into the new house. I'm giving away shoes, clothes, coats, and more so I don't have to carry them anywhere other than to the car to be donated. The Goodwill guys come to the car to take them from my trunk. I love that.

    I'm looking at my bulletin boards on my walls and I see a bunch of really fun and cool memories on them. I'll probably keep them, but I may get a few more cork boards to make a half wall of the stuff and have even more memories on them. That way I can spread them out a bit and it can make a bit more sense. Right now the hodge-podge resembles my brain at 10:30 p.m. just before going to bed. It can't make up its mind what it wants to think before retiring. It wants to think it all.

    Moving lets me clear my head, my mind, my body, my soul, my thoughts, my memories, and my space. I'm not going to take anything to the new place that I won't use or want.  There is going to be a lot of trash bags used in this move. I'll be going through the kitchen this week and then the living room. I'll do my bedroom this weekend when Jeannie comes over so she can be the one to do the casting - - she's really good at it. 

    The clothes will all be donated. I don't want to throw out good wears if someone else can use them. I've mentioned it, but my shoes have dust covering them. I don't wear shoes unless I take the dog out or go to the store, and believe me, I can get rid of 28 pairs and I won't miss them because I don't wear them - - ever. I used to wear them. When I worked out of the house I wore them. I wanted to have all these nice things and there they sit - - not being used. They will be given away. Someone will want them.

    The bathroom stuff will be 90% thrown out before I travel to the new place because I want to start over! I'll keep what I can, but most of it will hit the skids.   I have about 200 copies of one of my books that I'm thinking of donating too. That way if they sell people will have donated the money to the Goodwill and have a book to read that's new. I'm not going to sell them at a book signing. I just won't do that, and they can be sold for $5 or something and be useful to the charity.

    Maybe if someone really cool buys one of my $5 books at Goodwill they can tell a friend who will look them up on Amazon and buy more! That's a good plan. What do you think? I do a lot of pretending, so why not pretend that works? I think it could; why not?  Stranger things have happened. Besides, books in the closet not being read is silly -- giving them away to a charity that I believe in is a better option.

    Boxes and boxes and boxes  - that's the plan for the next few weeks.  When I hire the people to move my things I want to be able to rent a U-Haul and have all my boxes loaded before they have to load the heavy stuff, so that it goes easier, smoother, nicer, and lovely - - they load the heavy stuff, take the heavy stuff out first, and I unload the boxes, and drive the U-Haul back. It makes perfect sense to me.  

    This move should be economical in the sense that a U-Haul will cost about $77-80 for the day, and the guy(s) helping will be paid about $200.  The only other expenses for moving will be the couch and chair I'm ordering online and that's free shipping. (I will tip)

    I figure, if I get it all packed and ready to load it will take about an hour to load, and an hour to unload, and I'll take the U-Haul back within four hours which could actually cut the cost down, but even if it doesn't, I'll be in and out soon. I don't want to bring anything whatsoever that I'm not going to use. It's time to get serious about clutter - - I'm not that bad in the first place, but it's gotten worse in the past few years.

    I have a ton of LITTLE things - - little boxes of jewelry, little boxes of trinkets. I don't need them. I really really don't. I hate to say it, but I'm probably just going to give most of it away and be done with it -- I'll keep a few pieces I love. I just don't wear jewelry - - I don't go anywhere to be seen with it. I have 1000000000 CDs and that will probably not change. I will probably end up keeping them. You just never know when you may need to pop in a CD and chill to something ancient and Celtic  -- I'm lying, I actually do know when to do that.

Photo Credit: Me.

Preparing the Move! (about a month away)

 We have about a month before we move into the new place.  It would be great if we knew exactly how many weekends we have, but it is what it is. We have put up with the way management is where we live for over eight years this time and several other times that we have lived in the complex. It's a unique experience to say the least.

    We are at the end, however, of an era. Our manager will be stepping down -- or sideways really. Her daughter-in-law will be the new manager, and since she's in her 40's I think, she'll be around for the next 30 or 40 years probably. Our landlady, or the manager, will remain on site two or three days a week because she'll come up and visit with her kin. She's like that. We'll see her, hug her, talk to her, have coffee or tea with her, and remember to remind her to remind her daughter-in-law that we're still her favorite.

    The weekends will be our purging times. This weekend I'll make a decision to plan out all that I'm going to purge, and then next weekend, when Jeannie comes over, I'll do the first round of clothes and shoes and whatever is under the bed. Whatever is under the bed turns out to be more clothes; mostly t-shirts that I've rolled up and stored away, thinking I would rotate them into what I end up wearing. I'm not kidding, I think I own more than 100 t-shirts. That needs to change.

    I glanced over at my shoe rack today and noticed several if not all of them were covered in dust. There's a reason for that; I don't wear shoes. I do own shoes! I own a lot of shoes. I own a lot of boots too - - that has to change. I don't need them, I don't wear them, I don't use them, they need to find good homes. This time next week, they will be donated. I will have so much more space -- and so much less to take over to the new house.

    By this time next week, I'll have walked through the new house without all the things that were in it when I first walked through it. The old tenant is gone, the house has been sanitized but still may need to be fixed. The electrician and plumbers are coming out in a week or so to go through it and see if they need to do anything. I'll take a boatload of photos of every corner of the place to better pretend! I love pretending. It's what I do, and I do it well.

    I'm going online now and finding the right sofa, chair, nightstands, and curtains. I'm thinking of when I'll go to Sam's Club and buy things in bulk that I can store in the storage room; toilet paper, paper towels, Tootsie Pops!! Who am I kidding the Tootsie Pops will be stored in the pantry in the kitchen for easier access!!  I buy them in big boxes on Amazon for $15 for 100 suckers - - it's a very good price for a very good product.

    It won't take long to pack up the rooms either. We're already collecting boxes and trimming down. We see something we don't need or want to bring over to the new place, and it goes into the donation boxes in the living room. They're filling up quickly.  I won't decorate the same either; things will go away and new things will appear in their place. We've stared at the same art for over 8 years - I brought some of it with me from God knows when - - one piece in particular is over 30 years old. I love it, but it will be donated. 

    I'm purging the mugs in my kitchen. I'm buying new ones, and making new memories. I'll take the pots and pans I have, but soon buy new ones and donate the others. That's down the road as far as purging is concerned. I am mostly getting rid of things I don't use that someone else could use. I use my pots and pans every day - - there is a difference. The fluff goes first. I have six coats and I think I use one. I mostly wear hoodies in the winter, but I will keep one coat in case of emergency.

    Since both Laura and I work from home, there's no reason to have fancy dress clothes hanging in my closet. I don't go anywhere and I'm not returning to the classroom or an office anytime in my lifetime - - those clothes will be donated. It's amazing how much I accumulated when I worked out of the house; I wanted to have different clothes to wear. I not only managed to have different clothes, I have so many things that I could work two months without wearing the same thing. That's not necessary. 

    I know this will be my last move too; unless my books take off and I need to move to a place I find more interesting. Since I believe this is my last move, I want it to be fast, smooth, and easy. I have a month to plan that, and that's what I'm doing. I am hoping to make quite a few trips to Goodwill for the clothes and items, but we also have a method here at the complex where we leave good items we don't want and someone who lives here may want them.  We put them in the laundry room and if they're not gone in a couple of days, we take them to the trash.  That will happen first probably, and then Goodwill.

    Planning is my forte. I love it. My plans have plans. I write about planning - - like I'm doing right now.  I am in a great mood!! I think I'll run over to Home Depot and find the plants I expect to buy later and the cleaners I'm planning to use - - it's all a part of the mind games and pretending. You can't know how happy it makes me to do this!!

Photo Credit: Reddit.com

    

    

I Did it!! I Joined Sam's Club!!

 Sam's Club is about a mile from my house, maybe slightly further, but I won't be measuring - it's close to my house. I decided to join it so I could buy really cool stuff at a reduced price, but also so I can walk the place about 8 laps a week and get my steps in. If it's hot outside I stay cool and if it's cool outside I stay warm. Sam's Club is going to be an even 70-72 degrees; so yeah, it's a good bet I'll be happy during my walk.

    I joined at the regular club price of $50 a year so that I could buy stuff at a reduced price and since I don't live that far away, I don't have to have it delivered. If I did want to have it delivered, I could have joined with the premium club option and paid $100 a year, but still -- that's amazing considering the free delivery! They don't want you just getting a couple of items of course, but it's a good thing when you order 10 bags of this, or 12 boxes of that - - which again, I won't need to do.

    Their dog food is good actually, it's manufactured by another recognized brand, but sold in a Sam's marketed bag - - the same food, literally 1/3 less the cost. I'm OK with that, but more importantly, Ginger is OK with that. The 25# bag of jasmine rice will have to wait until I move so I don't have to lug it up and down the stairs -- I can wait on the 52# bag of cat litter too!

    Some of the things I will buy from Sam's include packages of meat, larger blocks of cheese (I can slice it), and big boxes of breakfast bars. Today, because I could, I bought a big bag of cheesy garlic bread flavored Lay's potato chips - yes, I did! I almost bought some walking shorts, but they were all too short! What's up with these marketing people thinking we all want to show off our butt cheeks? I don't want shorter shorts because I don't want to burn my legs on my car seat! It's a real thing here in Oklahoma...heat that is, heat is a very very real thing.

    You know you're in Oklahoma when you see people fighting for the shady spots in the parking lot, not the slots closer to the door! We think down here!  Something else I really liked about joining Sam's was the big box of coffee creamer - - you heard me, the BOX of coffee creamer. It's a half gallon of the stuff, and it's only 35 calories - - and dang good!! So very very good. It was $3.42...which is unheard of in most parts of the world; not the price, but the coffee creamer! Coffee creamer is unheard of in most of the world! Crazy people.

    Hamburger meat is $4.48 a pound, you buy 3 square pounds at a time, freeze them, and you're good. The bread comes in two loaves, use one, freeze one.  They have these massive beef franks that were 12 for $10.42 - - each one of these hot dogs would go for $6.00 in a stadium somewhere - - on a bun of course, but that's just such a deal. I bought a box of Bevita dark chocolate sandwich cookies (breakfast) for $12 I think, and I think ( I want to say ) it has 24 cookie packs and there are 2 sandwiches in each - - so 48...I was wrong, I looked. It's 25 packs of 2, so 50.

    A huge bag of Seattle's best coffee is $12.48 and 3 pounds. Yes, three pounds of coffee made from Starbucks - - because Seattle's Best Coffee is manufactured by Starbucks. The same size bag of Starbucks Verona style is $17.48 - - it's the SAME THING!  I'm not trying to support Starbucks, but I will buy good coffee when I see it - - we bought a big box of Chex brand cereal too; Strawberry and Vanilla flavored. Crazy? We think not. I bet I end up loving it.

    Besides the Oil of Olay bath wash that I have my eye on, and will buy when I move, there are just so many other things at the store that kept me thinking I made the right decision today. I may not buy gallons of olive oil or ranch dressing, and I may not buy 15 pounds of ground beef at once or a variety pack of 60 cookies (think party or Vacation Bible School) but I will buy some of the lesser bulky things - a sack of potatoes is $4.36 for 10 pounds. I can split that with a friend. I will end up buying my Rx glasses there - - if I ever order them. I use readers.

    Basically, Sam's is there to help me lose weight, have fun, and shake my head at the free demonstration foods on Saturday - - I could make a meal of it every week! I may make a meal of it every week. You just never know, and they give free stuff away to members during the hours of 11-2 so yeah -- I'm there! I'm doing it.  Call me suburbanized - - it's a real thing - - another real thing. 

Photo Credit:  The Oklahoman

Pretending!! (New House Stuff)

 OMG...I am very happy!! We got the house!!  It was about 99% sure, but now we're sure-sure.  The landlord is putting the deposit check through, so that means it's ours. I can't wait!! As usual, when these things happen in my life, I start thinking of all the things I won't miss - - and this time is no different. I say this time is no different, but here I am not counting Laura as one of the things I'll not miss because I'm dragging her with me!! That's right, the woman is still going to be my roommate!!

    The other two children who I gave birth to think Laura and I should split up and live separately, but every time I tried Laura either lost her job, or I lost my job, or both of us lost our jobs at the same time - - making it virtually impossible for one or the other of us to split off. It wouldn't have mattered, we would have needed to stay with each other to help the other one out. We're pathetic...I know, but she's the one with the loaded guns and she's really scary in the early mornings. 

    Well, turns out Laura is a great roommate. She pays half the bills, or just about half, and she's really good at taking out the trash, putting things together that I buy that need to be put together, and she's even halfway decent at cleaning parts of the house that others see. Her room is still a disaster zone, but who really cares? She can close the door. Well, NOW...she can close TWO DOORS!!

    The house has three bedrooms and a really cool storage room that is actually larger than any of the three bedrooms. It doesn't have a window, which in the UK would make it a box room. It's 14' x 14' whereas our bedrooms are all 12' x 12'. We each have our own bathroom too, but we will have to share the common rooms. The house is made of stone, has a very good interior and exterior structure, and has been remodeled about two years back, making it really modern and really nice. 

    We have a backyard for the dogs and for my new plants, a carport for my car, (Laura doesn't drive), and a driveway for Jeannie! I'll actually end up parking in the drive unless and until we have bad weather; then it's inside the carport for me. There are other really cool features that we simply don't have at the apartment, and those are a garbage disposal, washer and dryer hookups, a larger-than-necessary refrigerator, an extra bedroom, an extra bathroom, and the extra storage room for sure. 

    Because the floors are heavy laminate, I'll buy a Roomba-type vacuum cleaner and watch the thing chase the cats! That should be fun. I can mount a laser pointer on it for extra giggles. The back door opens to the backyard, so I won't have to take the dog down a flight of stairs 8-10 times a day, and though it doesn't have a dishwasher, I don't use one. I wash my own. There is, however, an actual pantry for my food. This apartment has one too, but for 9 years I've used it for other bits of storage. 

    I'm going to have a real-live dining room-- one I can put a table in with chairs, runners, centerpieces, and yes, food on plates and force my roommate to eat with me. I can force her by threatening not to feed her -- she typically complies. She'll be on one side of the house, while I'll be on the other, and let me just say I can't be more thrilled...well, I mean sure, I could be, but I love having her as a roomie because it gives me someone to complain to. The poor dog shouldn't have to hear that from me. 

    I've been on Amazon for a couple of days now simply pretending and taking snippets of literally all the things I think I want to buy - - but you know me, I'll end up not buying most of it, talking myself out of it for whatever reason. I'll have a clean house finally, not a stuffed-to-the-brim house. I have been looking for a good reason to get rid of 30% of what I own and just live like I know I should. I don't need so much of what I've accumulated...this weekend and every weekend until I move, I'll make trips to Goodwill..this makes me happy.

    Each bedroom has two windows I think, and each bedroom has a good-sized closet with wonderful shelves. I checked with the electric, gas, and water companies today to get an average of what the bills have been over the past two years and it really is within our budget. Two people lived there before, so it should be about the same. I do shower and bathe a lot, and I do end up cooking a great deal of the time, but I think we'll be able to pull this off with grace and love.

    If Laura ever does decide to leave me she'll have to find her own place to live - - I think I'm going to stay put until Jesus comes back. That's the plan anyway. Good plan.

Photo Credit: MentalFloss.com